M79 Grenade Launcher -Scratchbuilt **NEW 40mm Grenade Pics **

[AmazonChitlin]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

That's pretty sweet. I was about to ask where the rest of it was until I looked it up online. Does that use the same rounds?

It does use the same rounds. It's a direct replacement for the M203. The sights on the M320 are awesome, too. In addition to the typical iron sight, it has a laser sight! Each one also comes with a laser rangefinder, which is always fun to play with. :love

Awesome job on the M79! I would have begged and begged for you to make me one if I was still a kid playing war, haha.
I also love the idea of turning the grenades into flasks! I'm going to need pics!:lol

 

[BornKilr]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Whatever you do, don't paint the grenades with blue tips!! Those are paint rounds.

Yeh, since you have access to the real deal, what color are real 40mm shells? I find a lot of color schemes online, but many are replicas or airsoft versions, so I'm not sure what's accurate. I would like color schemes for both regular frag shells and the longer smoke/flare type (They hold 2 shots as opposed to one!.) I'm preferably looking for how they would have been in Vietnam. Also, I'd like to be able to do a few like they looked in Terminator also if anyone has any info on those.

 

[AmazonChitlin]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

There were a few in Vietnam...though I'm not sure what would have been issued more. I'd assume that it'd be the standard frag grenades which would most likely be the M397. It's basically green with a yellow tip. It does have a metal casing though, which could vary in color somewhat. I'll show some pictures.

For an HE round you have a few more options...and as far as I can tell, they all came out in the early 70's. If you wanted a little variance, I'd go with a M406 which has a more round top. Still yellow and green.

I don't know of any that are both smoke and flare...There IS a canopy smoke grenade that shoot to around 300 or so feet and a parachute deploys so that it makes a sort of smoke canopy as it descends. The designator depends on the color of smoke you want:
M676 is yellow, m680 is white and M682 is red,

Bottom left is the M397. Top row 5th in is a M406

Middle row, 5th one in is a M397A1

Far right is the M406

Third one in is the M676. The top of the round is the color.

That last one really threw me off. I had to look it up!

Also, I came across this site while looking for the smoke grenade!

http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/grenade/40mm_ammo.html

 

[BornKilr]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Man, those are great. That gives me a bit to work with. I just have to try to track down a OD metallic spraypaint. Not sure how/if I'll be able to do all the text though. Unless I print on clear adhesive material, but then you'll see the decal. Have to think about that.
Thanks for the pics.

 

[AmazonChitlin]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

No problem!

I wonder if you'd be able to get a stencil about that size...for most of the text (on the green ones) it doesn't have to be neat...hell, messed up/overspray is the military way!

 

[BornKilr]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Finally got a few more pics taken showing the finished trigger guard and full launcher. Still gonna redo the front sight but got a few other things going on right now. Almost have the 40mm grenade prototype flask ready, but having leakage issues. Will post in separate thread when ready to see if there's any interest in having more made.
Also in the shot are a scratchbuilt WIP smoke grenade and a few resin casts of a real grenade I made. The helmet cover is legit Vietnam era M1 cover over a vacuformed helmet. Getting all these ready for the Vietnam zombie costume for DragonCon this year.

 

[TylerHam]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

What type of wood is that? Love the grain!
Great job!!

 

[BornKilr]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Thanks. It was just some crappy scrap pine 2x6's. I've found a good combination of 3 different stains I use on pine that has been working pretty well. Gives it a much deeper grain than I was getting with one color.

 

[AmazonChitlin]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Awesome job on that smoke grenade...well hell, on everything!

 

[michelmoermans]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Very nice work! Want to do that one for a long time myself... How did you do the grain on the wood? Did you use some kind of homemade tool or a specific painting technique?

Thanks in advance,

Michel

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Outstanding...

This has been on my "To Do" list since I first enetered this hobby, with aspirations of a full-sized T2 Arnie.

Great job.

 

[Railtech]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Nice work, looks just as detailed as your LAW build. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BornKilr]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Very nice work! Want to do that one for a long time myself... How did you do the grain on the wood? Did you use some kind of homemade tool or a specific painting technique?

Thanks in advance,

Michel

No special painting. Its just a hunk of construction grade 2x6 pine board, sanded, shaped and stained. Since most of the things I do are on a budget and pine is always the cheapest wood, I've found several stains that work well and bring out the grain better than others. On this particular piece, I used both Minwax Gunstock and Red Chestnut stains. Apply one first and let slightly dry then apply the other one. A few hours later I repeated the process. I think I did that 3 times on this one. Then a heavy coat of gloss is what really caused it to pop. Although, its probably much too shiny and clean for a Vietnam era weapon.

 

[CrowTeeRobot]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Wow, this is outstanding, sir, Absolutely love it! What'd you use to make the break action hinge and latch?

 

[BornKilr]

Re: M79 Grenade Launcher - Scratchbuilt WIP

Wow, this is outstanding, sir, Absolutely love it! What'd you use to make the break action hinge and latch?

That whole 'metal' receiver area is sintra plastic with a metal rod as the pivot point. It was three layers wide with the center section overlapping. The latch is also sintra, but because it is very thin and somewhat fragile, I may add a couple magnets to assist in holding it shut.

 

[BornKilr]

Finally figured out how to make the 40mm grenade replicas to go with this prop. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, since this costume is for a convention, I wanted these grenades to serve as mini flasks. After reading that most resins weren't food safe, I had to rethink how to create these. Because of the double duty they had to serve, they aren't as accurate as resin casts or airsoft versions, just close replicas. But then again, you can't drink a shot out of those!

I'm still tweaking the bottom of the casing but this is basically how it will look.

As for the color scheme, there seem to be multitudes of variations, so I just picked a few I liked, but that may change before I'm done. When I work out a few more details, I'll be posting a JY thread to gauge if anyone is interested in a run. I'll also have a picture demonstrating the flask capability posted, hopefully, this weekend.

 

[dangerstudios]

Are those easter eggs I see?

 

[Seligmann2011]

Can you send me a detailed materials list to build it?

 

[partsguy17]

If you have a materials list/plans can you send them to me? :thumbsup

 

[CarterM]

I would love a copy of the list/plans for the gun and the grenades too! I'm thinking of building one that will shoot airsoft grenades, hmmm...

Very nice build!!