My Beginners Vintage Graflex Builds & Now More! Heiland Vader Update

[JPL427]

I think You should flip the black shroud 180 to align the back with the bulb release?

 

[NathanM]

Yeah, I just incorrectly put it on real quick for the pic. Thanks for noticing though! I would've msised it, lol. Alignment on these things gets confusing even though it seems like it should be the easiest part. Thanks!

 

[NathanM]

Small Heiland Update.

I've started the process of gluing the t-tracks down. Much more solid than the 3M tape.

I also drilled out the Heiland shroud for the d-ring.

It wasn't that hard. I did a progressive drilling out with my hand drill. Becays ethe Heiland shroud has a tapered lower section where the grub screw sits I opted to start at a very slight angle into the shroud from both sides and then neariong the end of drilling, angle back up to drill out the holes.

I probably should've filed the middle section below where the cotter pin of the grub screw sits but for now it works. The d-ring is slightly angled incorrectly but I can adjust it so the two ends of the d-ring meet up in the middle.

I'm loving this d-ring though. It looks nice on the shroud.

 

[NathanM]

Alright! Heiland Vader is done!

Itsss VFX a mix of vintage and repro. Aesthetically, I think I nailed it. It’s not exact but it looks good and for the price compared to an MPP that’s the best I could hope for.

The parts worked out as follows:

- Vintage Heiland 3-Cell Tube
- Vintage Heiland Matte end-cap
- Vintage Heiland Shroud
- Vintage camera bag d-ring
- Vintage Exactra PCB
- Roman’s Black Bar Clamp
- Wannawanga T-Track Pre-Cut x7
- Wannawanga Wire Kit
- Wannawanga Bulb Release
- Repro Bubble-Strip off of eBay

As of right now, I only have one more build in my ANH Luke Saber. All the parts are here so I just have to do it.

I also started the Obi-Wan journey, but that’s not so much a build as it is a hunt.

 

[NathanM]

Been a bit since an update. I got some new parts in.

An M19 Scope joined the ranks. I think after some back and forth in my own head, I’m going to use it for a Luke Bespin build. I originally was thinking a Han build but I just can’t get over the markered up muzzle bit. I’ll probably end up doing a Stembridge build for a Solo DL-44. And because I’m not going to use a live-fire Mauser for Luke, I think Field Marshall’s Steel Replica is the best option for a base. I also like that Luke’s Bespin is a fairly easy and straightforward build for my first.

I also scored a set of vintage op amps that will suit my Obi build quite nicely. And I just realized I hadn't even posted that recent acquisition as I spilled the beans in other threads, lol.

Here's that!

Halfway there! I have a lead on a pommel but that Booster and Balance Pipe will be a bitch, so I'm supplementing for now with Roman's pieces in their place. Waiting on the parts to get it together.

 

[NathanM]

Alright! A bit of an update.

I'm getting lazy with the ANH build. Just need to cut and glue and rivet and it'll be done. Oh well it'll happen.

I started to build the Obi saber. I received the repro Balance Pipe and Booster from Roman as well as the FX spacer. I went with that spacer because my build only uses a bolt for the top assembly with the grenade neck and vane bolted to the Balance pipe. With the FX spacer I can screw the grenade into it as well as the Booster on the other end.

I aged the two repro pieces up a bit with a combo of paste blue and enamel paint burned off. Then used metal polish to seal them. Also bashed them a bit with a hammer to add wearto them. I need to cut the top bolt to sit level in the Balance pipe cone. I'm waiting on. a lot of 80's vintage AS hand wheels to sit n it until I source a real one.

I alos dove into the op amp and washer search. I found some nice looking old op amps that sit at the right heiiht and width. And found a source for some washers. I need to bore out the op amps to add a bolt for attachment to the clamp but I'm nervous to do that with the tools I have.

I also started to source parts for a Luke Bespin DL-44 or Han DL-44 build. Not a fan of Han's Hoth version so I think I'm leaning towards a Luke DL-44 and a more classic longg scoped Han DL-44 instead.

Real M-19 scope, walnut wood grips from Field Marshall, and cast resin Greeblies from Boba Debt.

We'll see where I get with that. I may need to slowdown for a bit. Spending far more than I expected when I started with this, lol.

 

[NathanM]

Been awhile for this thread but I finally got around to start assembly on this kickass Sloth Furnance repro PCB.

Pretty easy actually though I haven’t soldered yet.

This will go on my Heiland idealized build.