Firefly Mal Pistol Screws

brushbrushbrush

New Member
Hey guys, this is my second post about my Mal pistol from Firefly, you can find the first one with all the pictures and build logs here; http://www.therpf.com/f9/malcolm-reynolds-pistol-firefly-220450/. The main reason that I'm making another thread is that I cant for the life of me find any screws that would look remotely like in the show, they are alwys either too big, too small or don't have the knurling. I am also wondering how I should use the Rub 'n' Buff I ordered t make it look good and not just like a hunk of poorly painted wood and plastic. I was thinking of using black spray paint as a base coat then adding the bronzey highlights with the Rub 'n' Buff. Tel me what you think of this idea, any help at all will be greatly appreciated :)
 
I've hunted high and low for those thumbscrews with no luck. I ended up finding a few pairs in the junkyard. As for the paint, thats exactly what I did for my resin pieces. I sprayed painted them black and used a rag to apply the rub n buff.
 
IMG_1060.JPGIMG_1061.JPGIMG_1063.JPGIMG_1064.JPGIMG_1068.JPGThanks man, may just have to compromise the accuracy of the prop and maybe mod a screw to look a bit like in the show :( This is what ive done so far with the gun, its not exactly screen accurate and its a bit lop sided but for a firs ever build, I dont think its too bad :)
 
I have a request to a machinist to make some of those thumb screws. but he's neck deep In a project run. so I haven't gotten back to him yet. I could check and see If he has some free time this week.
 
Thanks man i appreciate the offer but me being in the UK would mean extortionate shipping which at the minute I cant afford, I will see about getting them custom made wen I get paid :)
 
the thumbscrews were custom machined, thats why nobody has ever been able to find them. There was a small run of accurate replicas that could cross fit with the actual props but those have long since been gone.

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Here's mine I turned for my Mal pistol project. I overheated one of them when brazing the screw in place, so the steel tends to get rusty.



PM me your address and they're yours. Just promise to finish your build!
 
Now my predicament is how to paint it, do I want it weathered, kinda like in the show or do I want it "factory fresh". I may need everyone's help with this decision :). Also, do I want it painted like it is in Firefly or Serenity like the QMX replicaor do I want to mix them together as the Firefly gun has a more black hue to it while the Serenity one is more golden :/? I have also never used Rub 'n' Buff before so I'm not sure how it will work with the wood and the plastic, I take it that it is oily and slippery but that is all I really know about the stuff.

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Now my predicament is how to paint it, do I want it weathered, kinda like in the show or do I want it "factory fresh". I may need everyone's help with this decision :). Also, do I want it painted like it is in Firefly or Serenity like the QMX replicaor do I want to mix them together as the Firefly gun has a more black hue to it while the Serenity one is more golden :/? I have also never used Rub 'n' Buff before so I'm not sure how it will work with the wood and the plastic, I take it that it is oily and slippery but that is all I really know about the stuff.

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Krylon makes a brass metallic spray paint. and then you could weather as desired...
 
I just want to take a moment to say that i am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of this forum, who are always willing to help a noob out with nay problem and, as I have learn even send them parts that they need, free of charge. Thank you kurtyboy for sending me the leftover screws, safety and barrel ring for free and thank you DrewSmith007 for the offer and had either of us been a little closer to one another I would have accepted but I did not feel right you having to pay extortionate shipping which at the moment, I cant afford. Thank you very much everyone who has helped me with the build and i will hopefully post photos tomorrow once I have al of the parts on the gun. Then I will be truly read to paint and finish off my first build :)
 
I had about half an hour or so today and got the screws and the safety lever attached, had to file down the screws a bit to make them fit properly and friction fit the lever so that it will move which I think is awesome :) I am also not quite sure what the thin bar is for, any help would be awesome :)

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I had about half an hour or so today and got the screws and the safety lever attached, had to file down the screws a bit to make them fit properly and friction fit the lever so that it will move which I think is awesome :) I am also not quite sure what the thin bar is for, any help would be awesome :)

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Looks like a watch band stem. not sure what that would be for. nice part's.sure wish someone would do a run of those. hint hint. probably would not be much interest tho I guess...
 
Hey, new member here just thought I would give my two cents.

I know this issue for the build has already been answered but I thought I would in case anyone else is having the same problem. I made the screws for my Mal pistol from knurled nuts from home depot. They aren't exact, but they are very close. Best part was cost, is they only cost me a few bucks.

I hope this helps anyone out there if they are having similar problems.

Cheers, folks.
 
Thanks man I was going to try making them from screws I had lying around my garage but a few rpf members were kind enough to offer to send them to me :)
 
Not sure but were they using the watch band bar as a detent to hold the safety from just free spinning? pretty sure I've seen a few mal pistols set up like that. Check to see if there's a small hold drilled in the flat of the safety that would be facing the flat of the gun's side.
 
This is looking awesome man! I never did get the right screws for mine. As for painting, I've repainted mine since my last post, I rub n buffed the whole thing and then hit it with watered down india ink for the blackened metal look, it came out pretty good.

Can't wait to see yours finished!
 
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