My PKD Bladerunner pistol build.

[B1RDY]

Slowly chipping away at this kit.

 

[B1RDY]

Can't stop working on it but still a few parts to work on.

 

[B1RDY]

Last picture for tonight. I just had to take a picture with the grips on.

 

[Gregatron]

As I continue to compare the kit to reference photos, I also continue to be amazed by the high level of accuracy in the shapes and detailing of the parts.

That being said, it appears that the curved leading edge of the clip holder (the front-most portion, where the vertical steel tube attaches to the bottom of the barrel) appears to be too long, and sticks out a few mm more than it should. I need to do more detailed comparisons with the reference before I attempt to modify it, but it’s an easy fix. Just a bit of sanding to reshape the curve and slim it down.


Also, while I’m reasonably sure that the slotted fillister screw on the right-side cylinder cover is probably the way to go, the screw stands very proud of the cylinder cover when installed. Whereas in some reference images (and the stunt castings), it actually appears to be recessed into the screw housing, with around 1-2mm of distance between the top of the screw and the outer surface of the screw’s housing in the cylinder cover.

The easier solution would be to lower the height of the cylindrical screw housing by some 1-2mm, but the reference for this area is scarce, and I’m still not 100% sure that the thick/tall fillister screw is accurate. In the photo of the stunt casting shown above, the side edge of the screw looks pretty thin (akin to the Tomenosuke, actually) but it’s hard to tell, because underneath the screw appears to be clay from the mold or excess rubber from the casting, or something. Looks kinda gnarly.

Thoughts?

 

[robotprops]

Gregatron, you raise some interesting points. (And I think you are far more meticulous than I could ever claim to be.)
The stunt castings are probably the closest thing we’ll get to the hero gun as it was filmed. Perhaps it’s that view of the slotted screw that made Tomenosuke design their blaster with the shallow head. I stick to my opinion that it’s the deeper head, because that’s what I found on a Weaver scope, but it’s certainly up for debate.

When I receive my kit I’ll have a look at the clip housing. I have a real Steyr one and a reproduction one to compare it to.

Joberg may have some input here. Is Andy still around? He’s a wealth of knowledge.

 

[joberg]

Most of the parts from the gun came from the Steyr. Andy is still around here and on Propsummit.

 

[Gregatron]

Gregatron, you raise some interesting points. (And I think you are far more meticulous than I could ever claim to be.)
The stunt castings are probably the closest thing we’ll get to the hero gun as it was filmed. Perhaps it’s that view of the slotted screw that made Tomenosuke design their blaster with the shallow head. I stick to my opinion that it’s the deeper head, because that’s what I found on a Weaver scope, but it’s certainly up for debate.

When I receive my kit I’ll have a look at the clip housing. I have a real Steyr one and a reproduction one to compare it to.

Joberg may have some input here. Is Andy still around? He’s a wealth of knowledge.

If you could post some photos of the real Steyr clip housing pieces, that would be very useful, thanks.

 

[Gregatron]

And here’s Adam Savage’s stunt casting. If the screw is a fillister, then I’m thinking that the bottom edge must sit flush with the top surface of the clip housing, as opposed to the cylinder cover having a little round platform that the screw sits on top of.

 

[robotprops]

Well, I thought I had a Steyr housing. I moved a few years ago so it may be stowed away. I do have reproductions from Coyle and Georgedawestie. They’re virtually identical since they’re cast from the real thing. I do have what I think is an authentic Steyr clip cap which fits the Georgedawestie housing perfectly. It may be a back up Tomenosuke. I’ve lost track of the origins of some of this stuff over the years.
The first one is the Coyle.
The one that has a date stamped on the left is from Georgedawestie. The area that I think you’re concerned with, Gregatron measures 18mm on both.

 

[robotprops]

And the Tomenosuke is identical is well. This is the Tomenosuke on the top and bottom.

 

[Gregatron]

Thanks! I'll get to measuring the front of the clip housing when I get a chance.

Meanwhile, the vertical edge on the rear of the clip housing is totally straight, whereas the Anders kit (and some photos of Coyle guns I've seen) have a half-moon cutout on the upper left corner, to accommodate the screw head and/or cylindrical screw housing on the gun's cylinder cover.

The Tomenosuke's cylinder cover does not appear to have that screw housing (just a hole), and so the "screw well" (for lack of a better term) seems much deeper. Combined with the thinner slotted screw the kit comes with, that seems to be how the Tomenosuke replicates the recessed-screw look of the original props.

Either way, I wonder if the hero's Steyr clip housing had that half-moon cutout or not on the hero. This area is really hard to gauge from the reference photos, because it's almost always in shadow, and everything being painted black doesn't help.

 

[Gregatron]

Received the Bulldog mainspring assembly. Now I just have to modify the inner grip to accommodate it.

 

[Gregatron]

...cut the slot for the mainspring into the inner grip. Cleaning it up with putty, then I’ll shoot it with some primer.

Probably gonna have to cut to spring down to merely simulate the working part, rather than actually having all that spring tension pressing against the resin hammer piece.

 

[robotprops]

Is this set up for working triggers and hammer? Or is your spring addition an aesthetic add on?
Is the kit built to advance the cylinder with a trigger pull?
I’m impressed to see that it has a working bolt. I think it’s the first resin kit to have that.

 

[Stonehavensteve]

...cut the slot for the mainspring into the inner grip. Cleaning it up with putty, then I’ll shoot it with some primer.

Probably gonna have to cut to spring down to merely simulate the working part, rather than actually having all that spring tension pressing against the resin hammer piece.

Is there any chance you could photograph this against a ruler for scale comparison.

I'd like to see how my guesstimated resin version compares.

Cheers

 

[Gregatron]

Is this set up for working triggers and hammer? Or is your spring addition an aesthetic add on?
Is the kit built to advance the cylinder with a trigger pull?
I’m impressed to see that it has a working bolt. I think it’s the first resin kit to have that.

No. The triggers can be pulled, thanks to springs sandwiched between the frame and the triggers, but there are no internal mechanisms to connect the main trigger to the hammer or the cylinder. So, yes, the mainspring is just an aesthetic add-on for accuracy.

 

[Gregatron]

Is there any chance you could photograph this against a ruler for scale comparison.

I'd like to see how my guesstimated resin version compares.

Cheers

Note that the uncompressed spring makes it look 1/2” longer than it is. The length of the rod is about 2”.

 

[robotprops]

No. The triggers can be pulled, thanks to springs sandwiched between the frame and the triggers, but there are no internal mechanisms to connect the main trigger to the hammer or the cylinder. So, yes, the mainspring is just an aesthetic add-on for accuracy.

I figured. That would be a lot to ask from a resin kit.

 

[Gregatron]

Mind you, the level of functionality that IS in the kit is still really impressive. Sliding bolt, spring-action triggers, opening/spinning cylinder, removable clip. Very cool.

 

[ComeradeDog88]

Took the advice on replacing the knob with the “hero” version screw. Found one with some rust on it to add to the weathered factor and authenticity