How to use flash hider for MG-81 rifle for ANH Solo blaster?

[rickrickrick]

I need some advice from people who have done this before.

I am building my first ANH DL-44 replica, and recently bought a replica flash hider for an MG-81 rifle from a member here. The flash hider was machined to be screwed onto a real MG-81, which means the back end is just open, with threading inside.

Any idea of how to mount this? I need some sort of transition from the flash hider to the muzzle of the Denix broomhandle. I have no machining capabilities or talents - is there something off the shelf I can use? Or am I looking at getting another expensive custom piece tooled? I have no idea what the gauge of the threading on the flash hider is.

Any words of wisdom welcomed!

Many thanks in advance!

Rick

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

The little hole in the top of the knurled section looks like it might be for a set screw. Does it slide onto the muzzle of the Denix, or is the opening in teh back too small? If it slides on, you may just need to put a small machine screw in that hole to secure it in place.

 

[Lichtbringer]

No idea.

I´m still waiting for mine beeing delivered, so i had no chance to have a look on it yet.

 

[Shingouki28]

I used a small piece of wooden dowel (actually the tip of a broom handle) and it fits in perfectly. Then all I have to do is drill the hole for the barrel and slot it over. Alternatively, you could use a lump of epoxy putty to fill it and then fit it/ drill into that?

 

[superjedi]

I had a similar situation while building my Greedo Killer blaster. The opening in the flash hider was larger than the barrel diameter, so I just rolled a piece of thin styrene and inserted it into the flash hider, then pressed it in place onto the barrel.
I had to try several times to find the right length for the styrene "coil" so it would stay in place by pressure.

 

[scarf man]

You need to put a bull barrel on the mauser like the original.
The mauser used in ANH was reused from an earlier film called Naked Runner.
In this earlier film, the mauser had a thick (bull), long barrel which threaded on to the gun to make it a carbine (short rifle).

 

[rickrickrick]

Yes, I realize there's a bull barrel on the ANH mauser. I believe I read that the diameter is 3/4"?

As you can see, the barrel end of the flash hider is open, the opening being about 1 1/8" in diameter.

So there's my problem. It's not as small as something I can wedge in - there will be a fair amount of space even given the addition of a bull barrel.

Rick

 

[scarf man]

Then you need to use the set screw, thats it.

 

[jinxed]

Rick,

Hey! Well, I am in the same exact boat. I got one too. Wish I would have asked more questions before buying. Being new, I didn't know what to ask. I assumed a machined flash hider of this sort posted on the RPF would not need verification of fitment to the denix/airsoft mauser offerings. No excuse on my part though. Everyone knows who's at fault with assumptions.

As for the part, I too was surprised when I saw the big open threaded end. I searched the box expecting to find another piece. After 2 days scouring the hardware stores for some passable option, I have little to show. It seems to do it right, it's going to need a custom machined piece. In essence a bull barrel that expands up to a threaded section to accept the flash hider. I suppose something fancy could be done to dress up the "down the barrel" view, but not needed.

I am sending pictures and a write up to a friend of mine that is a machinist. I have no idea if he will be willing to make the piece or what it would cost, but at least it's a start.

This may have been one of those "lessons learned".

Although, aside from not being compatible with the Denix Mauser...I love the machining of it. And being steel it can be parkerized which I like.

Hopefully we can come up with a solution and have a couple of nice blasters to show for it at the end of the day!! Let's put our heads together. I will update what I find out.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[micdavis]

I can't believe some one even bothered to make a replica like that. Unless of course it was intended to go on an MG-81.

I swear some people take this make it exactly like the original (no matter how stupid it is) thinking way too seriously.

 

[rickrickrick]

Unless of course it was intended to go on an MG-81.

I believe that's exactly why they were made in the first place, which is why they're steel. Not just a replica, but a functional flash hider for an active MG-81.

Seems to me using just a set screw won't make it centered on the barrel, but I could try it - if I can find the right size screw! That hole on the side isn't threaded, either. I guess I could make the bull barrel whatever diameter it's supposed to be, then wrap something around THAT - under the flash hider, out of view.

Rick

 

[Lichtbringer]

Hmmm, i informed myself over the various available options before i started the ANH-Hero. So i knew there was a run of these long ago, and that they are up to now the best produced variant. But i had to learn that i missed it, so i was looking for another acceptable flash-hider - but i found none i liked.

I accepted already the fact that i had to machine it myself - and then this "machined flash-hider for sale" thread appeared. :love It´s as close to the original as possible (better as i can do now), atm. - if you want metal, and no casted one this is the one you want.

Sure, first you need to make your Mausers barrel thicker, and then you have to assemble the f-h. But you need this thicker barrel, otherwise the blaster will look very strange. You can do this with a tube and some epoxy, Aves, other 2k-material. As i havn´t received mine yet, i have no definite answer/tip/suggestion now - but thats the general way.

If that is already a problem for you ..... have you already thought about how you want to make the scopemount? THAT is the hardest part at the ANH-Hero.:love

The ANH-Hero is the hardest to make DL-44, the ESB is MUCH easier to make. Maybe you want to make that first, to get some practice - and take your time to think your way to handle the ANH-Hero problems?

As soon as i have done it, i will post my way in my existing build-thread.

 

[rickrickrick]

Yep, already made a quickie ESB DL-44. Yes, it's MUCH easier - probably one of the reasons it's so popular, and easier to get parts for.

R

 

[Hirohawa]

Any updates to this. I am in the same boat with the same part.

 

[Lichtbringer]

I manufactured me this bullbarrel with adapter-part:

Pics of the build from the middle of the site (post 88 and following) http://www.therpf.com/f9/han-solo-esb-anh-all-metal-blasters-step-step-92790/index4.html


On my MGC:

 

[rickrickrick]

Looks great! Wish I had machining capabilities/skill!

Finishing mine has dropped into a low priority spot, so it is sitting unfinished.

RRR

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

I have seen people use copper tubing from Home depot to fake a bull barrel. Basically you cut a piece to the right length, fit it around the actual barrel, wedge in some other material to take up the excess space, and then fill the back of the tube with epoxy and sand it smooth.

Dan

 

[Lichtbringer]

I have seen people use copper tubing from Home depot to fake a bull barrel. Basically you cut a piece to the right length, fit it around the actual barrel, wedge in some other material to take up the excess space, and then fill the back of the tube with epoxy and sand it smooth.

Dan

That´s what i did first, on my test bed Denix:

Not that bad, still not with a wide part for the flashhider, but for someone without machining possibilities for sure a good start.

 

[Gatekeeper]

I went a similar route for my bull barrel/flash hider combo - had an aluminum blank machined, tapped the ends and shaped the chamfered edge for the barrel transition. Flash hider attaches with a nut on the inside. Not 100%, but it has the look.

 

[kurtyboy]

I've got the bull barrel from an MR LE which I will accurize by removing their crappy front sight and adding the t-track/'antennae'. It was my best bet since I just don't have the skill to do the chamfered end myself.