Field Marshal ANH DL-44 Build

[TatooineMachine]

For me the Han Solo DL-44 blaster is my favorite and one of the most iconic. A good friend of mine bought me a Field Marshal ANH DL-44 kit with all the steel parts! So here's Chris's beautiful kit, pre machined, as it came out of the shipping box along with Dark Energy Creations pewter T track and machined radial engine pieces. My goal is a hero look for display!

After disassembly, I wanted to smooth out the casting dimples & seams, remove the DENIX stamped lettering so this looked closer to a real C-96. I've followed many of Scott J's builds and enjoyed DiggsBarklightr's "No Filler" build and thought I'd give this a try...

Denix logo removed & casting dimples

Hammer seams removed & knurling detailed

Put the trigger on a diet - this isn't done, it still needs a little work

Hammer dimples removed

Upper dimples removed

Casting seams removed in the bolt

Bolt knurling detailed

I'm happy for my first few hours of work. Ordered Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black and will go by the sporting goods store today to pick up the Birchwood Casey Aluma Blue for the steel parts!

 

[mrwax]

Looking good! I'm slowly working through this same kit, I'm trying to not let perfect be the enemy of good as far as the Denix mods are concerned, but it's tempting to try and fix every little thing.

 

[russellsch]

Man, oh man, this thing is already looking fantastic! Congrats on getting your -first- DL-44! Careful, they're like chips... you can't just have one.

 

[DiggsBarklightr]

Looking good! I'm slowly working through this same kit, I'm trying to not let perfect be the enemy of good as far as the Denix mods are concerned, but it's tempting to try and fix every little thing.

That’s what I said too and every time I looked at it or someone asked if “are you going to...” it started to eat at me a little.

 

[DiggsBarklightr]

I echo the above, looking great so far!

 

[Win7ermute]

Looking at this kit and the Lando blaster from Solo I'm kinda shocked no-one has done an all-chrome DL-44. Am I wrong ?

 

[TatooineMachine]

Made some good progress today - Blued the barrel, flash hider, upper, trigger, hammer, and touched up a few things.

 

[TatooineMachine]

Worked on the scope too!

Progress group photo -

 

[russellsch]

Man, that is really looking fantastic! I can't wait to see this baby all assembled!

 

[TatooineMachine]

Man, that is really looking fantastic! I can't wait to see this baby all assembled!

Thanks Russ! I decided to disassemble the scope mount and sand out all the casting grain to a smooth texture, then reblue and oil.

 

[mrwax]

Thanks Russ! I decided to disassemble the scope mount and sand out all the casting grain to a smooth texture, then reblue and oil.

Get ready for a lot of sanding. I did that to mine, it was worth it, but it takes some time!

 

[TatooineMachine]

Chamfered the sight hole

Blued and a little more accurate...little blurry too!

 

[Dann]

Smoothing out that cradle is indeed lots of work, but it is definitely worth it!!

 

[russellsch]

All these gorgeous build photos... you guys are making me wanna build a hero! Stop it!



I'm kidding. I like it. Keep 'em commin

 

[DiggsBarklightr]

All these gorgeous build photos... you guys are making me wanna build a hero! Stop it!



I'm kidding. I like it. Keep 'em commin

What sucks is when I was doing mine was when I’d complete something and then realize I forgot to take pictures of the process/progress .

 

[TatooineMachine]

I tried DiggsBarklightr's screw vs. pin and it came out pretty good!

Opened up the hammer hole

Denix hammer was a little sloppy so I used a teflon washer to take up the slop

Ground off the screw

Test blueing

A little steel wooling

Tried the same type of idea DiggsBarklightr's used for the faux milling marks

Test blueing

Sanded the steel scope rings - PITA!

Blued and oiled

Few shots of the faux milling

Scope rings next to upper

Scope mount sanded, blued, and oiled - looks way better than the cast look!

It's coming along

 

[DiggsBarklightr]

Looking great!! Wish I would have thought about using the zip-tie on mine, nice idea. A lot easier to hold.

 

[TatooineMachine]

A little more progress

I need to adjust the grips, shorten the grip screw, age the brass grip escussion, weather the grips a bit, paint the scope bar and outer thumb wheels, add the disc, glue on the front grill, and it'll be just about done!

 

[Dann]

Looking good!

I've found that the disc is easier to do before bluing. Cut out a making tape circle and stick it in place, then do your bluing or painting.

 

[TatooineMachine]

Thanks Dann, with the aluminum blueing that will be pretty easy. I bought Scott’s stencil kit for the scope mount rail and thumb wheels, so I’ll work on that too!