Tom's MGC DL44

[thd9791]

I did some more detective work today, because the spacer is weird

i used (I think) Scott J's photo, Mortifactor's show photo and the NBC stuff.

First, I traced the damn thing by hand from two similarly-sized blown up photos

Then I sort-of did the same thing with Photoshop. I traced the nuts on one side and laid them on the bracket side

Same general thing, the rear screws hit eachother.

So, then I did some investigation on the spacer to see if it better lines up with the nuts or the disc screws. It's not 100% but educated conjecture that what it really lines up with was "on purpose." Seems to line up squarely with the nuts on the other side, and not so well with the 3 screw disc

Though it's really close, honestly. While I'm not in the shop, I'm modeling what I think is going on. Unless there is something in the magazine (metal, a bracket inside?) the spacer has to be solid. now, Scott lined his up perfectly so the screws just miss eachother. I'm thinking screws that don't go all the way through the spacer.

 

[thd9791]

I should really change the title of this thread.

I had been studying photos for months, chewing over the witness statement of this blaster and other stuff... and then I decided to say "screw it" let me literally trace it and see if it lines up to my estimates.

Using mortifactor s photo... i pinch zoomed it to the same size as my MGC. Then i traced the bracket and disc to my liking.

I had to mostly eyeball the top of the brwcket using that 3/4 view and a real M19 footprint, taking into account the extra 1/8.. the thickness of the vertical side

I did it. And yes that disc is probably 1-1/16" which doesnt line up to an easy whole mm size. This is an estimate though, dont take it as gospel

I traced each surface and then patched them together on cardstock and folded it. Now ill have a template to slide onto right angle stock and cut!

 

[thd9791]

for reference - ignore my red circles haha

 

[thd9791]

Okay so im slowly getting metal shipped to me while the shutdown is still going on here

First piece was supposed to be a half inch chunk of aluminum. They gave me 5/8 and its crooked so im going to have to level it off and take it down to 4/8 or a half inch. Any recommendations of tools for this? Without a lathe..

 

[scottjua]

Oh that's gonna suck without a lathe... Sorry to hear they can't cut stuff straight. Where'd you order from?

 

[thd9791]

Oh that's gonna suck without a lathe... Sorry to hear they can't cut stuff straight. Where'd you order from?

speedy metals, the only place that would cut a half inch for me of 1-1/8" stuff

I have a metal supermarkets garage in the suburbs here but they haven't been responding to my orders, probably the pandemic/industrial orders can take preference

I have managed stuff with a ******* file.. maybe I should bug someone haha... or get an angle/bench grinder

 

[scottjua]

it's expensive in shipping for such a little thing, but send it to me and I'll face it how you want.

 

[thd9791]

it's expensive in shipping for such a little thing, but send it to me and I'll face it how you want.

Ill message you, thats super generous

This is a long story - ive xacto cut probably 7 or 8 templates for the bracket. Tracing some, eyeballing others, etc.

Today, after getting the wrong angle stock in the mail and mailing it back i went back to look at the prop. Looks to me like the piston set is similar height to the back of the bracket. Thats an inch and a half. So thats the stock i bought to replace it.

That would make the face of the bracket with the disc on it 1 3/8. It turns out the large part of the bracket is square. I made a line in photoshop and it matches the width and height (though the bracket isnt perfectly square.. crooked sides)

Around 2 1/2 in width too.. got some other guestimates and used these to correct some shapes on my template.. but my latest one still needs fiddling especially with the shapes of the inside of the upper feet... the dimensions are really close

 

[thd9791]

mortifactor said the disc and bracket were two different metals. So, i found a metal designer that sold some scrap...

1" and 1 1/16" steel 3mm discs!


seen here with my Denix hoth gun

 

[thd9791]

I think these are M3, had them leftover from another build. This is on the 1.0625 disc not the 1.0 disc

 

[coolhanluked]

Great build thread brother! The blaster is coming along nicely and its fun to read.

 

[thd9791]

Thank you!

I finally got true right angle stock - and im pretty convinced its 1 1/16..

1"

1.0625"

The bracket might be a tad longer in the body but i got 1.5" stock

 

[thd9791]

Heres a little Al Roker angle

 

[coolhanluked]

Thats what i used

 

[newmagrathea]

Thank you!

I finally got true right angle stock - and im pretty convinced its 1 1/16..

1"
View attachment 1318359
1.0625"
View attachment 1318360
The bracket might be a tad longer in the body but i got 1.5" stock

View attachment 1318361

Where did you find the stock?

 

[thd9791]

Can't post to live auctions, I'll PM ya

 

[Halliwax]

looking good tom

 

[thd9791]

Since this is a rare item, I decided to go slow with a hobby metal hacksaw at the longest estimate for the barrel length, just behind the sight. So... it was precise but took way longer than I thought! Like 2 hours....

there is some metal rod in the barrel, doesn’t seem to run through to the magazine area. The rod ends underneath the front sight.. floating. The barrel has a very short metal plug too, right at the end. By cutting behind the sight I cut the tip off the internal rod.

some sample angles with an Anakin Starkiller flash hider, I kinda want a fresh one for this build eventually, a bare metal finish to start with

 

[Halliwax]

Since this is a rare item, I decided to go slow with a hobby metal hacksaw at the longest estimate for the barrel length, just behind the sight. So... it was precise but took way longer than I thought! Like 2 hours....

View attachment 1319149
there is some metal rod in the barrel, doesn’t seem to run through to the magazine area. The rod ends underneath the front sight.. floating. The barrel has a very short metal plug too, right at the end. By cutting behind the sight I cut the tip off the internal rod.
View attachment 1319153View attachment 1319154View attachment 1319150View attachment 1319151
some sample angles with an Anakin Starkiller flash hider, I kinda want a fresh one for this build eventually, a bare metal finish to start with
View attachment 1319155View attachment 1319156View attachment 1319158

Damn man... good for you

 

[scottjua]

Weird... there's at least 4 variants of barrels then. Lol... The hardened rods in them SUCK to cut for REAL. hahaha

BTW I have an extra AS flash hider if you need.