Re: Firefly "Vera" Build - WIP
Spent 12 hours yesterday grinding steel! Totally underestimated how long that part would take. But all good as I still enjoyed every bit of it. I haven't worked a lot with metal, so it's all good learning curve stuff for me.
All kit parts have first coat of primer-filler. (When I say "coat" it's like 3 or 4 actual coats at a time). Of course they will all get a sand and second coat of primer-filler.
So this is what I'm starting with, Denix AK47 receiver. Vera uses a Saiga Shotgun receiver, but the Saiga is based off the AK, so very similar, although some mods will be made for accuracy.
Lot's to grind off the AK as the bottom surface needs to be flat...
That took longer than you'd think! :lol
My spare receiver is missing the charge handle for the slide...
As I've now opted not to use the existing AK trigger (I'll spring-load the trigger that comes with the kit), I'll use the AK trigger to replace the charge handle...
That'll work!
The grip goes pretty much where the original grip use to attach...
I'm super stoked how tight the grip is once attached, which is really important when using a plastic grip for a metal receiver! ha ha.
The kit is designed to work with an airsoft Saiga and comes with a cavity for the grip to plug into. I'll glue this in to use for extra reinforcing...
Ironically, when I added a screw either side of the receiver (to make it more accurate to the Saiga), they both skimmed the top of the cavity, pinning it down. That grip ain't gonna budge!
Vera has a short upper "fake" barrel. Found a nice steel tube for this...
This front section had to be ground back to allow the fore grip to slide over...
Also, rather than have the existing Denix barrel and the tube barrel extension just meet together, I opted to grind away some of the Denix barrel so the tube could slide over. This "sleeve" will give the barrel extension more strength...
After 11 hours of cutting, grinding and filing these bits are ready for a lick of paint...
I need a lie-down... :sleep
Spent 12 hours yesterday grinding steel! Totally underestimated how long that part would take. But all good as I still enjoyed every bit of it. I haven't worked a lot with metal, so it's all good learning curve stuff for me.
All kit parts have first coat of primer-filler. (When I say "coat" it's like 3 or 4 actual coats at a time). Of course they will all get a sand and second coat of primer-filler.
So this is what I'm starting with, Denix AK47 receiver. Vera uses a Saiga Shotgun receiver, but the Saiga is based off the AK, so very similar, although some mods will be made for accuracy.
Lot's to grind off the AK as the bottom surface needs to be flat...
That took longer than you'd think! :lol
My spare receiver is missing the charge handle for the slide...
As I've now opted not to use the existing AK trigger (I'll spring-load the trigger that comes with the kit), I'll use the AK trigger to replace the charge handle...
That'll work!
The grip goes pretty much where the original grip use to attach...
I'm super stoked how tight the grip is once attached, which is really important when using a plastic grip for a metal receiver! ha ha.
The kit is designed to work with an airsoft Saiga and comes with a cavity for the grip to plug into. I'll glue this in to use for extra reinforcing...
Ironically, when I added a screw either side of the receiver (to make it more accurate to the Saiga), they both skimmed the top of the cavity, pinning it down. That grip ain't gonna budge!
Vera has a short upper "fake" barrel. Found a nice steel tube for this...
This front section had to be ground back to allow the fore grip to slide over...
Also, rather than have the existing Denix barrel and the tube barrel extension just meet together, I opted to grind away some of the Denix barrel so the tube could slide over. This "sleeve" will give the barrel extension more strength...
After 11 hours of cutting, grinding and filing these bits are ready for a lick of paint...
I need a lie-down... :sleep