2012 update
Progress has been slow but steady with this build. For those of you new to this thread, it is for information only, do not do this at home. I am a fully licensed gun dealer and maker, have been playing with guns for over 50 years, been a cop for over 27 years and have the facilities to precision machine metals. No hand tools, no guesswork, etc. and the people working with me are trained machinists with backgrounds in firearms, ballistics, etc. For those of you who are self apppointed keyboard cyber secret police :rolleyes please note everything done here is legal, licensed, and done in a safe manner. For the purpose of this thread, the firing pin on the Charter Arms revolver has been removed so it can be considered an inert weapon ... the only way it can hurt someone is if it fell on their foot.
:confused OK, enough of the cyber stasi disclaimers but I hate hearing from "experts" (know-it-alls living at home with their parents) warning me about sleeping in a cell with "Bruno" if I build guns, modify guns, etc. and post the info. Again, I have federal, state and local licensing to deal in live firearms.
Here is how the parts look. The upper is a hand finished, hand selected Steyr replica from Rich Coyle. It is the latest and greatest version of the RAC BR Blaster upper. I had considered buying a real Steyr upper for this build, but this new version of the replica upper convinced me it may not be needed.
Having access to some details from the recently sold actual prop I posted some high rez photos that resulted in some changes by Richard Coyle.
Since this will be a "shooter" the parts attached to the real Bulldog must be solid, allow overpressure venting, and be attached securely. This is a .44 special and even using light loads or blanks will subject the entire prop to extreme physical forces as well as heat and overpressure. If this isn't built solidly, it could become a hand held grenade. Here is a shot of a side panel being fitted.
For display purposes, I will be acquiring a second cylinder which will be modified to prevent the gun from being fired. Technically this is a real gun and the laws are specific about a firearm being left unsecured so a backup cylinder will have 5 dummy round premanently installed and the cylinder occluded to prevent the fitting of any real ammo. It will also be displayed with no pin.
Yes, it will be fired first from a Ransom Rest or something like that at first, as a safety precaution. I will wear a shooting glove when I shoot it by hand.
THANKS to Rich Coyle for his efforts in continually improving his venerable blaster replica. The new upper looks smooth and shiny, and the new ammo box should be another improvement. Hope to get this to the range this Spring.