Scratch Built Hensoldt Scope

[JohnG]

I meant "how thick is it?" The clean hacksaw cut was easier than I expected. That's why I built the stem. I was able to keep it square and the saw pressed up against the ledge of the knurl to make a straight cut.

Here is a mock up with a washer on top and the aluminum base. The backside is just plastic for now.

 

[Pedro]

Looking great! I'm going to try to cut up a brass pipe cap for the base, but yours looks great! The nut I have is about 1/4", don't have it on hand to measure though. I can check later if you like.

I like the washer on top look, I'll bet you'll be able to rig it up to turn, which would be super cool. You might even be able to hand cut a basic straight knurl and it would look great, but perhaps grinding another aerator down would look better. I'm definitely leaning toward going with your parts now that I see how they look. Really great work!

 

[propmainiac]

Thats looks great!

 

[JohnG]

Thanks for all the support!

I do want to make the top spin, that would be a nice feature of limited utility but maximum pride. I have a plan for how to do it.

I successfully tested cutting a hole in some scrap to seat the base. Next up will be finishing the top and cutting the copper for the back.

 

[tomm1999]

This does look awesome. I'm in the middle of s scratch built one for someone from aluminum. Not an easy project.

If these will fit better for you I can pick them up: http://m.woodcraft.com/product/141063/replacement-knurled-brass-nut.aspx

 

[Pedro]

This does look awesome. I'm in the middle of s scratch built one for someone from aluminum. Not an easy project.

If these will fit better for you I can pick them up: http://m.woodcraft.com/product/141063/replacement-knurled-brass-nut.aspx

Those are the ones I picked up (happened to be in Portland last weekend), about 3/4" diameter so on the small side but they do look good.

 

[JohnG]

Happy Days,

My second aerator arrived, and the grind down method couldn't have gone better. I attached the aerator to the stem I created, stuck the stem in a drill and pressed it against a metal file = really poor man's lathe. It worked!. I hacked it off as i did in post 18 and stuck a flattened dime in for now.




And here it is on my stubby mock up...



Also, thanks for the offer Tomm, but I don't think I need them.

 

[cjchiu]

And here it is on my stubby mock up...
View attachment 633966

That looks sweet. Actually, someone should make a snub nosed DL44 and attach that scope.

 

[Pedro]

Looking good!

 

[JohnG]

More progress on the knob. I found some washers that fit inside the hole after grinding it out a bit. Basically, I glued two sets of two together and then glued them inside the two parts of the knob. The second washer hangs under the top piece and fits nicely in the bottom section.





For the top I converted a shorter version of a bolt like this....


to this...


by hacking off the nut top and then grinding it down to fit.


All put together it looks like this...


Now the top ring spins. It's still not totally done, but I'm done for today.

 

[mrwax]

It's a lot of work, but the results are looking to be worth it. Any idea what size of washer you used? I'll probably pick up that aerator you found at home depot and give this a shot, I'm sure they've got washers about the right size for that aerator too.

 

[JohnG]

I think they were 5/16. The code on them at Home Depot is "AAA" check standard and metric against your aerator.

 

[propmainiac]

Nice work!

 

[JohnG]

The knob is basically done. I just need to do some finishing sanding. I think I'll just glue some flat-head screw heads to the top to complete the look,

 

[mrwax]

Looks awesome! I appreciate how you broke down the most complex external bit into much more manageable components. Do you have any plans to recreate the small platform on top of the base that the knob rests on? You can see them in the pics from scottjua's excellent thread on the many Hensoldt variants:

View attachment 635026

 

[JohnG]

I have a washer that sticks out below. That acts as the round base atop the aluminum block. Is that what you mean?

 

[mrwax]

Yup, that's exactly what I meant, looks good!

 

[QCWolf]

I love this! Great work!

 

[JohnG]

Last mock-up before final assembly and painting.

 

[Pedro]

Looks awesome! I'd love to see some little screws on top of the knob though. Can wait to see it painted!