Alrighty, here's a quick one for y'all. In the run up to seeing Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (which was awesome i.m.o.) I got into a Tarantino buzz and since I had been thinking of getting a 1911 airsoft for a while, it seemed like a good opportunity. Since I got the BMF wallet many years ago, and Sam Jackson's Jules is my favorite character of the bunch, his weapon seemed like the natural choice, even though I'm not a fan of pearl grips.
Now, PF aficionados will already know that Jules carries a Colt 1911 copy in the form of a 9mm STAR Model B. Well, there is no airsoft out there of the STAR, and there are quite a few differences between them, so I decided to see if I could at least get a little closer.
Some (but not all) visual differences (apologies to the gun enthusiasts if I don't get the tech terms 100%) aside from the caliber:
Fist thing to do was find a suitable gun to mod. The best all-metal candidate I found at a local retailer (I didn't want to wait, lol) was a WE Matte Chrome model. It has no markings (aside from the "45 APC" stamp on the barrel at the ejection port) so would be ideal for when I eventually have the STAR markings laser engraved onto the slide.
The grips were done first. I found surprisingly few (=none, haha) pearl grips readily available that were a good match, so I decided to see if I could make a set or paint. After a few failed experiments with mixing metallics and white paint mediums, I remembered that I had some leftover pearlescent powder from when I screen printed my Star Lord jacket fabrics. Turns out that by mixing the powder with clear epoxy glue, I could spread it out in a 'swirly' pattern that at least looked similar to the screen grips. I modeled a set of grips shaped like those on the STAR, but made to fit the 1911 (and cover the plunger tube). Unfortunately, the differences in overall grip fram shape meant I couldn't get it exact in shape, but I think it sells the look overall. Then followed a hell of a lot of sanding to get the epoxy smooth.
The result (with a coat of satin varnish):
Next came what I figured might be one of the more difficult parts- the mag release. I don't have a mill or lathe, and I didn't just want to 'freehand' grind the texturing on the button, since the STAR has a perfectly smooth dome. I've done some 'redneck turning' before, using a regular hand drill held in a vice as a lathe mount (DO NOT try that at home, kids) but the mag release is slightly L-shaped and would not fit in a drill chuck. So, I modeled and 3d printed a little cylindrical 'holder' for it that I could mount in the chuck. I realized the mount would be VERY fragile so I had to turn it slowly and not apply too much force. Luckily, it worked great!
Getting rid of the grip safety was basically impossible, but I was at least determined to get the shape a little closer, since the standard 1911 version is very blunt, and the STAR is much sharper. I did this one freehand with the dremel... a bit nerve-wracking since there was no margin for error and I didn't want to mess it up. The STAR is still pointier, so I'll take it off and do more grinding later, but for now it'll do.
Another thing that was bugging me about the airsoft I got was the finish. The matte chrome looked almost painted, not like the worn nickel plating on Jules' STAR. I didn't really know what kind of coating the airsoft had- if it was paint or proper plating, so I did some tests on a hidden spot. This was the scariest part to do, since I could potentially ruin the entire finish. But some 10-year-old chrome polish did the trick!
Dull/matte original finish still on the slide, polished on the grip frame:
Current status:
When I have more time, I'll take it apart again, tweak some things and get the slide engraved.
Now, PF aficionados will already know that Jules carries a Colt 1911 copy in the form of a 9mm STAR Model B. Well, there is no airsoft out there of the STAR, and there are quite a few differences between them, so I decided to see if I could at least get a little closer.
Some (but not all) visual differences (apologies to the gun enthusiasts if I don't get the tech terms 100%) aside from the caliber:
- Plunger tube (STAR doesn't have one)
- Mag release (textures on 1911, smooth dome on STAR)
- Grip safety (STAR doesn't have one and that area is shaped differently)
- Grip shapes
- Slide Extractor (the Colt doesn't have one)
Fist thing to do was find a suitable gun to mod. The best all-metal candidate I found at a local retailer (I didn't want to wait, lol) was a WE Matte Chrome model. It has no markings (aside from the "45 APC" stamp on the barrel at the ejection port) so would be ideal for when I eventually have the STAR markings laser engraved onto the slide.
The grips were done first. I found surprisingly few (=none, haha) pearl grips readily available that were a good match, so I decided to see if I could make a set or paint. After a few failed experiments with mixing metallics and white paint mediums, I remembered that I had some leftover pearlescent powder from when I screen printed my Star Lord jacket fabrics. Turns out that by mixing the powder with clear epoxy glue, I could spread it out in a 'swirly' pattern that at least looked similar to the screen grips. I modeled a set of grips shaped like those on the STAR, but made to fit the 1911 (and cover the plunger tube). Unfortunately, the differences in overall grip fram shape meant I couldn't get it exact in shape, but I think it sells the look overall. Then followed a hell of a lot of sanding to get the epoxy smooth.
The result (with a coat of satin varnish):
Next came what I figured might be one of the more difficult parts- the mag release. I don't have a mill or lathe, and I didn't just want to 'freehand' grind the texturing on the button, since the STAR has a perfectly smooth dome. I've done some 'redneck turning' before, using a regular hand drill held in a vice as a lathe mount (DO NOT try that at home, kids) but the mag release is slightly L-shaped and would not fit in a drill chuck. So, I modeled and 3d printed a little cylindrical 'holder' for it that I could mount in the chuck. I realized the mount would be VERY fragile so I had to turn it slowly and not apply too much force. Luckily, it worked great!
Getting rid of the grip safety was basically impossible, but I was at least determined to get the shape a little closer, since the standard 1911 version is very blunt, and the STAR is much sharper. I did this one freehand with the dremel... a bit nerve-wracking since there was no margin for error and I didn't want to mess it up. The STAR is still pointier, so I'll take it off and do more grinding later, but for now it'll do.
Another thing that was bugging me about the airsoft I got was the finish. The matte chrome looked almost painted, not like the worn nickel plating on Jules' STAR. I didn't really know what kind of coating the airsoft had- if it was paint or proper plating, so I did some tests on a hidden spot. This was the scariest part to do, since I could potentially ruin the entire finish. But some 10-year-old chrome polish did the trick!
Dull/matte original finish still on the slide, polished on the grip frame:
Current status:
When I have more time, I'll take it apart again, tweak some things and get the slide engraved.
