Han Solo DL-44 blaster: ESB Bespin, Hoth , ANH Hero & Greedo Killer

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Ok not the most exciting part but I got the side greeblies & scope mount painted,

I tried to weather the scope mount based on the pic's of Han's Bespin Blaster (I know one pic is of Luke's )

I'm not going for dead on just an approximation, I may have over done the bottom right corner but I'm pretty happy overall

 

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Also got the denix, rubbed down, not sure if I should have left original black on but the surface was so bad I felt I needed to sand it smooth

also filed a little more off the barrel so I'm a bit happier with where the flash hider sits now

 

[Roterteufel]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Looking good!

 

[Gatekeeper]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Cool progress pics. Makes me want to build more of these...

very fiddly getting the nuts & washers on inside the magwell

Hehe... tell me about it. Nearly drove myself crazy messing with all those spacers, rivets and nuts down there... I wanted to save the Bespin mount I have for a decent and more accurate MGC build (hopefully, an accurate Bespin flash hider will be available too some day. I'm kicking myself for selling the Boba Debt FH I used to have...) so I made a quick n'dirty approximation of the Hoth mount using some spacers and a furniture bolt... turned out rather satisfactory.

 

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Finally felt brave enough to have a go at bluing the denix,

Took 3hr's & I used the whole bottle of Aluminium Black, not sure I was doing it right,

heated the metal & followed the instructions but not 100% sure about the finish, is it a bit light & mottled

what do you think?

I does look kinda real to me which is nice, but its not an even finish

I've oiled it with silicone gun oil, as I was worried it might rust without it, so will have to clean down if I'm going to paint it or try again

I may be just too used to seeing painted black blasters,

maybe I go with it for now, I can always redo it at a later date, not planning to do much gluing in the build so should be able to take it apart again

think I might be happier once I've weathered it

 

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

I had been basing my build on Han's Blaster in these pics,

I wasn't going for 100% accurate (as obviously the parts aren't 100%) just an approximation,

I've still not seen a decent pic of the left side of the blaster,

looking closely though, I have a nasty feeling that it didn't have the V8 pistons on the left side (like Luke's)

too late for me as I've drilled mine now!

maybe mine is just going to be an idealised version :lol

to my mind Han's blaster should have pistons, that's how I think of it anyway

 

[Jedifather]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Actually, the finish looks pretty good. A lot darker than I thought Aluminum Black would do.

Now does it actually color the metal, like bluing, or is it just a coating that can scratch or wear off/

 

[scottjua]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

My thoughts exactly. Looks great to me.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Now does it actually color the metal, like bluing, or is it just a coating that can scratch or wear off/

I'd describe it as a surface coating. If you did not like it, you could sand/steel wool it off but that is also great if you are trying to get a weathered affect. But if you put it on properly (light thin applications and not try to get it dark in one shot) it is more resistant than paint. One of the reasons I like to use it is because it is not as thick as paint. That's why I love it for weathering and carbon scoring. Also, if you need to touch up an area, just put some AB on a cotton swab, dab, and rinse.

 

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Thank you,

Scottjua, I actually kept referring to your pics from the ANH Hero build you did for Avbat I loved the finish on that, not sure how you did it

I think that Aluminium black is a chemical reaction like bluing but couldn't swear to it

I've got it sat well oiled at the moment (oiling it made such a difference to the colour)

I think I will stick with it for now rather than painting over it,

like I said before I think I'm just used to the finish on painted black blasters & need to get used to it

- - - Updated - - -

If I wanted to touch up a light area with the AB would I need to remove all the silicone oil first?

 

[scottjua]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

I used gel and liquid perma blue rather than aluminum black. It took a few coats, but I got it looking closer to steel.

I had them cure in a wd40 coat. I know its not like barricade, or gun oil, but it does the trick.

I ALSO found that when weathering, WD40 on a paper towel or on some steel wool will do the trick for light swipes.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

I think the coating look good, too. The initial appearance is indeed mottled, oiling the metal gives a deeper sheen. Let the oil soak in for a while, it will even out the colour.
AB does oxidize the surface, i.e. it works like steel bluing in a sense. Cold bluing an alloy is not as permanent as hot bluing steel, naturally.
No need to remove oil - AB comes off easily (a bit too easily sometimes.) Just scrape or sand to desired degree of weathering. (This goes for zinc guns - AB sits firmer on aluminium.)

I used gel and liquid perma blue rather than aluminum black. It took a few coats, but I got it looking closer to steel.

scottjua - is this the Birchwood Casey Perma Blue for steel? If it indeed works with zinc, then I'll have to try it.
Also, yes, I sprayed the newly blued parts with WD-40 as well. Seemed like a good thing to do.

 

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

I'm not 100% sure about what you mean by curing?

I've given the mauser a few good coats of Silicone oil which I rubbed in & then a coat which I've just left to sit

It's just sat on the dining table now

Is that right? When is it cured & ready to work with?

Do I just wipe it down?

Thanks for the help

 

[scottjua]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Yes the stuff for steel works on denix and mgc mausers.

The instructions say to coat with barricade and let sit over night to cure so on steel parts that's what I do, but on the mausers I've just used wd40. I'm impatient so usually I don't make it a whole day. Then just wipe down.

 

[Jedifather]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Cool, thanks. :thumbsup

I'd describe it as a surface coating. If you did not like it, you could sand/steel wool it off but that is also great if you are trying to get a weathered affect. But if you put it on properly (light thin applications and not try to get it dark in one shot) it is more resistant than paint. One of the reasons I like to use it is because it is not as thick as paint. That's why I love it for weathering and carbon scoring. Also, if you need to touch up an area, just put some AB on a cotton swab, dab, and rinse.

 

[harryhoudini]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Subscribed!!

 

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Ok, you're going to have to bear with me a little, I seem to be obsessing over the finish on the mauser :lol

I still can't decide if its right, again I think I'm just used to seeing painted black blasters

I think I am going to keep it blued rather than paint over it (too much time & effort invested )

I let it sit oiled again overnight,

I've had a little go at weathering some of the edges with some wire wool, hopefully it's pretty subtle but to be honest in a couple of places I think I took off too much (on left side of trigger guard in last pic) like I said I think I'm obsessing now,

If I wanted to touch up at all would a cotton bud with some AB on do the trick? would I need to take oil off first?

I may not bother,

I won't do any more weathering as I figure it'll get knocked about & weather naturally anyway


Just need to get on with putting it together now, am I likely to have any trouble epoxy gluing the side greeblies onto the oiled mauser?

 

[Gatekeeper]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Looking good. And if you're epoxying greeblies onto it, it might be an idea to sand the area first anyway.

 

[scottjua]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

Looks [pretty good dude. Roll with it!

 

[Country Paul]

Re: Han Solo ESB DL44 Blaster (my first attempt at a metal blaster build)

thanks

finally got all my parts laid out & did a first assembly

I haven't glued the side greeblies over the trigger yet,

I used a small rubber washer between the scope mount & mauser

Need to weather the flash hider

pretty happy so far