Solo DL-44 Blaster Bespin Build

andyroo · Sep 25, 2018

And so it begins...

I've had an MGC Mauser hanging around for a while, so I thought I'd put it to good use and after being inspired by the lengthy ESB DL-44 discussion thread I thought I'd have a crack at the Bespin version.

So I've picked up a replica scope, bracket and flash hider from Field Marshall and started it today.

Whilst I was waiting for the flash hider to come out of the dishwasher (don't tell the wife) I got to work on the scope. I started by sanding down the seam line and gave it a base coat of bronze:

Then finished off with a top coat of satin black:

So in between household jobs, I've done some minor weathering (as in the top pic).

Next to come is the nerve wracking job of drilling the hole for the scope mount - well not so much the drilling, more where exactly to drill!

Quick q: what's the general consensus on fitting the flash hider? Do you tend to cut the end of the barrel off or just grind the forward sight off?

jonis · Sep 25, 2018

Dont cut the barrel, just grind the forward sight of!

andyroo · Sep 25, 2018

jonis said:
Dont cut the barrel, just grind the forward sight of!

OK, thanks for the advice!

Put some ally black on the flash hider whilst tea was in the oven and picked the lettering out on the scope:

Wipe off the excess with a wet wipe et voila!

FolkyPatrol · Sep 26, 2018

While the blaster is disassembled, can you tell me how the flash hider is mounted to the barrel?
Do you have to cut the barrel and block the flash hider with a screw on the barrel ?

andyroo · Sep 26, 2018

Some progress made today:

Filed the front sight down, ally blacked and silicon oiled it. I'm past the point of no return!

Slid the flash hider on until it sat snugly but that meant too much of the barrel was sticking out the front, so I've put an o-ring on the barrel so it fits nice and firmly now.

I feel like the exposed part of the barrel is too long though so I think I might need to shorten it a bit. Anyone care to comment on this?

Next up was drilling a hole for the scope mount, I feel I've got it in an as accurate position as I can. It's a bit difficult to tell the exact location from the promo shots since the scope mount isn't straight:

But here's my attempt at accuracy:

Managed to put the spring back in. It was a complete pain to fit the nut onto the scope screw - the screw could do with being a couple of mm longer.

So here it is at it sits:

So I still need to do some more weathering to the flash hider and scope mount front nut. I'm thinking of redoing the weathering on the scope bracket too. I'm not sure what paint Field Marshall uses but it's bloody difficult to get off so I couldn't quite get the effect I was after. I might sand it back completely, repaint and re-weather.

Bradberry00 · Sep 26, 2018

Flash hider should come back a bit in my opinion but don't physically shorten the barrel.

andyroo · Sep 27, 2018

Bradberry00 said:
Flash hider should come back a bit in my opinion but don't physically shorten the barrel.

That's what I was thinking, but then the barrel sticks out of the flash hider too much. I'll take some pics in a bit

andyroo · Sep 27, 2018

FolkyPatrol said:
While the blaster is disassembled, can you tell me how the flash hider is mounted to the barrel?
Do you have to cut the barrel and block the flash hider with a screw on the barrel ?

I put an o-ring on the tip of the barrel and slid the flash hider over it. It holds it really well.

andyroo · Sep 27, 2018

OK, so with regards to barrel to flash hider ratio, I think there's too much barrel showing between the body of the gun and the FH. But the muzzle peeks out just the right amount (I think) so to me I think the barrel will need shortening a bit. I could to with a bit of advice at this point! This is how it sits with an accurate amount of muzzle peeking through:

So if I push the flash hider all the way back so it fits snugly with no mechanical fastening this is how it looks:

So you can see the barrel sticks out well past the end of the FH by about 4mm.

When I put the muzzle end of the barrel flush with the end of the flash hider, it still looks like there's too much body end of the barrel showing:

Obviously all these configurations aren't accurate which leads me to the conclusion that the barrel's too long.

Anyone fancy chiming in on this?

scottjua · Sep 27, 2018

it should be cut right behind the front sight ramp.

Anakin Starkiller · Sep 27, 2018

Nice build. If you ever decide to replace the trigger with a real Mauser part, or replace the plastic grips with wood ones, please let me know. I'd be interested in the MGC parts.

Thanks

andyroo · Sep 27, 2018

Bugger, thought as much.

Now seeing as I've filed the sight off, I've got no reference point.

Anyone with an MGC fancy measuring from the muzzle to the back end of the sight for me? (Preferably in MM! [emoji846])

andyroo · Sep 27, 2018

Anakin Starkiller said:
Nice build. If you ever decide to replace the trigger with a real Mauser part, or replace the plastic grips with wood ones, please let me know. I'd be interested in the MGC parts.

Thanks

Sure thing. Love the sabers I got from your latest run btw!

Anakin Starkiller · Sep 27, 2018

Thanks

Bradberry00 · Sep 27, 2018

andyroo said:
Bugger, thought as much.

Now seeing as I've filed the sight off, I've got no reference point.

Anyone with an MGC fancy measuring from the muzzle to the back end of the sight for me? (Preferably in MM! [emoji846])

11-12mm

andyroo · Sep 27, 2018

Cheers!

Dann · Sep 27, 2018

scottjua said:
it should be cut right behind the front sight ramp.

Correct, the end of the barrel should line up with, or very slightly protrude from the counter-bored hole in the flash hider.

andyroo · Sep 28, 2018

Right, so today I cut approx. 10mm off the barrel (couple probably nip a couple more mm off to be fair). So here's how it went:

Solid barrel! I've not had one with a solid barrel before - no big deal, it just drilled it out a bit for a more authentic look:

So it looks a ton better but like I say, it could probably benefit from a couple more mm being chopped off:

I've re-weathered the scope mount, weathered the scope mount nut and done a bit more weathering on the FH - here's the finished product (well I just need the left side greeblie...)

Dann · Sep 28, 2018

andyroo said:
Right, so today I cut approx. 10mm off the barrel (couple probably nip a couple more mm off to be fair). So here's how it went:

View attachment 845406

Solid barrel! I've not had one with a solid barrel before - no big deal, it just drilled it out a bit for a more authentic look:

View attachment 845407 View attachment 845409

So it looks a ton better but like I say, it could probably benefit from a couple more mm being chopped off:

View attachment 845408

I've re-weathered the scope mount, weathered the scope mount nut and done a bit more weathering on the FH - here's the finished product (well I just need the left side greeblie...)
View attachment 845416 View attachment 845415 View attachment 845414 View attachment 845413 View attachment 845412 View attachment 845411 View attachment 845410 View attachment 845417

Nope. Do not remove any more material from the barrel. It looks great how you've got it right now.

I've seen the mistake made time and time again, folks cut the barrel too short on their ESB blasters because that's how they think it should look. And it ruins the whole blaster, at least in my opinion!

Yours is looking great!

And dangit, I wish at least one of my MGCs had the regular grips like yours! Both of mine are the red 9 versions. I'm just gonna have to fill a pair in.

andyroo · Sep 28, 2018

Cheers Dann!

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