GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Topic started by: YEMX on October 28, 2018, 01:03:59 PM
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I posted about this build many moons ago- but I failed to update, and life got in the way, and now I can't find the old post. ::) There's not much that's factory with this Rapid, as I bought this Mk2 action back in '14 from Chip Smith (of the Sumo Action fame).
It came with some parts- but overall, it was bare. I originally bought it with the intent of making an Elan clone, as those are EXTREMELY hard to find (for what I wanted to pay). To be honest- an Elan is really not all that special. I just like the look. So really, I wanted to do an Elan TRIBUTE.
Over time though, I went back and forth about what I wanted to build- a benchrest rifle, a "normal" build, bottle or tube reservoir, every conceivable configuration. But I always came back to that Elan design...
As I was debating, I gathered the parts that were common across the board. Most of the parts are from RAW, custom or otherwise. I did get some parts from the UK via ebay. Here's a rundown, from what I can remember:
Aftermarket valve
Some parts to quiet the action
Spring guides
MFR barrel shroud
CZ .22 barrel (I lucked into that one!)
FX reservoir adapter (custom made at RAW)
FX 65cc reservoir (Elan reservoir was 65cc, but was much larger)
Bottom fill adapter
Scope rail to convert factory rails to a normal dovetail size
Here's the action, in all it's glory:
(https://i.imgur.com/msj0EUV.jpg)
RAW sold me (and assembled) the CZ barrel/MFR shroud. I had them add a LDC adapter to the end as an integral part of the MFR shroud. They did all the work so it was a drop-in piece. Motorhead did the assembly and tune work- I was looking for 12 fpe, like the original Elan. He worked his magic. He added an SSG that he made for Rapids... So this Elan tribute is really something special, compared to the original. This Rapid is as efficient as it can be, with our current level of technology. When I received this Rapid back from Motorhead, I nearly cried. To finally see a dream gun come together, and it looks even better than what was pictured in my head. I've always wanted a Theoben Rapid, and then the Elan when it came out, but I was never in a position to buy one... WAY too expensive!
Which brings us to this post. I need to put it in a stock. Again, this is a tribute build- not a clone. So what to do? Overall, it should FEEL like an Elan. I struggled with how the stock should look... The inspiration for this build boiled down to three rifles/stocks:
Of course, the original Theoben Elan:
(https://i.imgur.com/6CnU79H.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/h30lgSl.jpg)
Then there's the Vanquish:
(https://i.imgur.com/5OCU74J.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GOpiqZV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/V6JDPFE.jpg)
Then there's the McMillan A4 stock, which is used on the USMC M40A3 (and newer) precision rifle:
(https://i.imgur.com/VD7iXur.jpg)
Here's the humble beginnings of my Elan/Vanquish/A4 stock:
(https://i.imgur.com/EK4Fzm1.jpg)
The build plan is unconventional, to say the least. Wood, XPS foam and a blend of fiberglass and CF. You can't see it in the picture, but that's actually two pieces bonded together with double sided tape, so I could quickly shape the sides of the stock, and ensure a small semblance of accuracy between the two sides. Areas that need re-enforcement will be solid wood, the rest will be filled in with foam, and once the outer shape is made, the whole thing will be wrapped in either a combination of fiberglass and CF, or just CF. I'll be using Epoxy resin, instead of Bondo type resin, since the Epoxy resin won't eat the foam. I'll also need to figure out what I'm going to do for the fill nipple... I'm thinking of a cut-out that's similar to what's on some Daystate guns:
(https://i.imgur.com/aPEolTL.jpg)
It's not a very good shot, but you get the idea- it's a slightly over sized cut-out for the bottom fill...
Anyhoo, I will keep y'all posted. I'm kind of just figuring this out as I'm going... Next up will be initial fitment of the action, and opening up the trigger hole. I'm also going to be using 2 screws to attach the stock, like on the Mk1's. I'll probably pillar bed the rifle. Maybe not. Who knows? ;D
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Tom
have you ever thought of a Rapid Pistol ?
you have the makings of one
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Tom
have you ever thought of a Rapid Pistol ?
you have the makings of one
I have, but I have too many projects, too little time/money. It's getting harder to find bare Rapid actions, and I don't want to pay for a rifle, just to make it a pistol ;) That sure is a gorgeous pistol you have there though!!
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Apologies for the bad pictures. Hopefully you can see where I'm going w/the stock idea. I did some inletting, so I can see how the Rapid is going to sit in the stock. Slowly but surely.
(https://i.imgur.com/XNC9XRL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mOAd6Hz.jpg)
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Tiny bit more work done on the stock. I did the minor inletting. Not finished, I still need to get rid of the waste material that's marked in Sharpie... I did that just to double check fitment of the two sides.
(https://i.imgur.com/D8Jn9ij.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Y1wVJOb.jpg)
Yeah, it looks ugly- I'm no woodworker! But I'll clean it up before I move on to the outside shape. I want to be sure of a good fit. Anyhoo, that's where the stock's sitting now. Again, I'll keep you posted.
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This is what I have in mind, when I finish with the stock:
https://youtu.be/aqwhcfQZT8U
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Always wanted a Rapid. The one Tofazfou owned for a few years was my holy grail.
The custom work Ernie, (220 Swift) does on them is unreal! :o 8) 8)
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...The custom work Ernie, (220 Swift) does on them is unreal! :o 8) 8)
Ernie has been working on my Dawson .30 off and on since '13... I've been lusting after a 220 Swift build for over a decade. When I had a chance to snag a Dawson action and one of his Competition triggers, I scooped it up! I had it sent directly to Ernie. I was out of the country at the time, so I've never even held any of the parts... I actually bought the .30 barrel from SeanMP instead of TJ direct, since the barrel was so new. Bob and Sean had just developed it. I have no idea when it'll be done, but man, when it is... Y'all probably won't hear from me for a while! I'll have to have RAW make a stock for it, if they'll even do that since AF acquired them... Here's to hoping!
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Errrr, I forgot about that acquisition. Wonder just what has changed. AF is famous for not listening to customer feedback. Not a typical RAW trait.
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Really liking the profile with the plus that bottle is hidden within forestock ... been waiting on this project to happen ;D
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Really liking the profile with the plus that bottle is hidden within forestock ... been waiting on this project to happen ;D
Projects have been backing up, and I also needed to get my workshop in a workable condition (still moving stuff into it, organizing and such). You kinda gave me that kick in the pants to say "Frak it, just get it done!"... So thanks for that Motorhead!
When done, the stock will look more like the Vanquish stock (but NOT a copy), as the wood is really just a "backbone" for the XPS (pink or blue insulation foam) foam. I'll shape the foam so it's more swoopy and curvy. Around the foam, will go CF and/or fiberglass and epoxy, like in the video. Areas like in the front where a bipod will be mounted, or where swivel studs (not sure if I'm going to use them yet) will be all wood, so the studs have something solid to bite in to. I think I'm going to just stick to the single mounting point as well, it's just easier.
I'm excited to get back on this project! I just wish I had more time to dedicate to it. But it'll get done soon enough, now that I actually have the tools to get the work done a bit faster and more accurately!
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Errrr, I forgot about that acquisition. Wonder just what has changed. AF is famous for not listening to customer feedback. Not a typical RAW trait.
I'm hoping that the only thing that's changed is the financial backing... I don't think that RAW would benefit from cranking out their rifles at "Production Speed". RAW is much more suited to building to suit the customer. I also hope that they keep their custom work available. Not just for myself, but for others as well! They made nearly all the parts on/in this rifle! They're also (or were?) the only company that makes a semi-custom stock for a rifle I will eventually have (Dawson), in a shape that I actually want (LRT stock). I KNOW I'm not the only person in that category!!
Everything said and done, I just hope that RAW basically stays exactly the same, but with a bigger bank-roll.
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+1! ;)
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I might not be using CF!! The price difference between CF and fiberglass is huge! From one supplier, the price difference is about $7/yd for S2 fiberglass, and about $40+/yd for Equivalent weight CF... If I see this at other suppliers, I may just use fiberglass and be done with it... I might try some CF "tape". I was eyeing 12" wide unidirectional tape... that's more comparable in price (around $8/yd) to fiberglass. Although I'm not sure I need the "extra" that CF provides. I don't tend to abuse my guns. I dunno. I'm gonna do more research as I work on the stock itself.
EDIT: I will NOT be using CF... it's waaaayy too expensive!!
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Whew! I had to sift through 11 pages of posts before I finally found this one!! Okay, I've FINALLY been able to make a touch more progress on this stock project. I needed to get my workshop more in order (still a work in progress), and get some of my tools in order, and order a few tools... It'll still be a while, though. I'm working on getting my micro mill up and running, then I need to tram it, THEN I can do some stock work... Anyhoo- here's a few pics of the little work I've been able to get done so far.
(https://i.imgur.com/eyPi3gM.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/fqKeXss.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xdEAHpm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ydwREwh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dG0YWDQ.jpg?1)
I'll be getting some foam cutting tools today, since I can't find my original tools... I hate moving... Also, I do need to do more filling in with foam, and of course, there's shaping the outside. I hope the pictures convey the gist of what I'm trying to do... Once I'm done "inletting"/shaping, I'll still need to cover the outside with fiberglass...
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My hot wire cutters came in- did some trimming:
(https://i.imgur.com/EDxXn5n.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/54UOQIQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9CSxiqj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Wq0Cw1w.jpg)
I had to do a little work on the trigger opening- I think it was (is?) a tad small. Still a lot more work to do, but I hope you can see what I'm trying to achieve. It'll get there.
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Now we're seeing some progress .... keep after it and stay focused !!
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Now we're seeing some progress .... keep after it and stay focused !!
Absolutely! I want to see this build done just as much as you do! Right now, I'm trying to decide on how I want to shape the outside of the stock, and also, how I want to finish the "inlet" of the stock. Once I figure out what size screws I need to mount the stock (front and rear screws from my other post you commented on), I can finish up w/the remainder of the inlet... I'm going to map out the holes and slot for the trigger area tomorrow. I need to finish my mill so I can more accurately and cleanly massage the cut out for the FX reservoir. It's coming along!! I really need to take my time and figure out how I want to shape the exterior though...
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One of the things I always admired in the Rapids is the o ringless breach seal design. Never knew why more makers didn't use it.
Unless it is the required precision needed.
Kife
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One of the things I always admired in the Rapids is the o ringless breach seal design. Never knew why more makers didn't use it.
Unless it is the required precision needed.
Kife
It probably IS the precision required, in addition to the complexity of just the bolt... It's a relatively huge piece of metal, there's a spring in there... It's awesome, over-built and TBH, expensive. The Rapids are tanks. It's not conducive to "mass production". One of the reasons I love Rapids.
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I missed an MKII a few months ago in one of the classified sections here in Canada . One day I’ll own one in .177 . Nice work on the refurb/ build . What a great project .
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I missed an MKII a few months ago in one of the classified sections here in Canada . One day I’ll own one in .177 . Nice work on the refurb/ build . What a great project .
Thank you sir! I couldn't have done it w/o Scott and RAW though- he did the assembly/tune and added a SSG, and RAW made the FX reservoir adapter... They made this build possible!!
Plus a lot of people here are such enablers!! ;D
On a slightly serious note, I do hope this build motivates others to build something cool!
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Small progress... I did some work for the receiver/trigger area:
(https://i.imgur.com/dT5QHlh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Xz5Smdc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/81PQG8w.jpg)
The angle and lighting is bad, but the piece w/the trigger cut out and stock screw holes fits quite well... I'm actually quite surprised it turned out that good...
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Little more progress
Better shot of the trigger area:
(https://i.imgur.com/zCtNGDX.jpg)
Cut out the fill nipple opening:
(https://i.imgur.com/Hzm3p8Z.jpg)
Started marking out some of the shapes I want:
(https://i.imgur.com/BsLMaCI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yNKKi3H.jpg)
One of the mistakes above you probably noticed was the butt-plate area, and the bottom is cut off. TBH, that was a good mistake- it'll allow for the rifle to ride a rear bag better... So I'm keeping it. Also, I took some measurements from the stock I'm using as a pattern, and luckily, my stock is already a touch thinner than the original pattern. Less work!
Anyhoo, not much work done. I'm still waiting for that foam cutting tool so I can make more accurate cuts easier. TTYL
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I got the foam cutting guide I've been waiting on, and am waiting for the glue to dry- I had to assemble it. Once the glue's dry, I can trim down this plug and get ready to make the mold...
The mod to the stock is pretty much done- I filled in the cut-outs on the sides. I'm gonna get some filler/primer and start getting the stock ready for paint. It's about as much as I can do until I send off/get back the parts that need work... But I'm sending a few projects at the same time, so it'll be a little while before There's any real updates...
But the Cothran valve is coming in!! So I can send the parts off soon...
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The new hot wire foam cutter fence is finally done (I had to assemble it), and I got a little bit of work done...
(https://i.imgur.com/BCdpLiz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/d7OdwFy.jpg)
I wanted the taller cutting fence so I could make more accurate cuts in the foam. I had to make a slight step in the trigger area. I made the filler piece of foam larger, so I could accurately cut away the waste when the glue is dry. Since I'm using gorilla glue, and its basically a strong expanding foam, the hot wire cutter goes right through it. Tomorrow I'll cut away the waste and open up the holes. I'm still waiting on RAW to let me know what kind of screws I'll need. Now all I have left to do is shape the stock and cover it w/Epoxy and fiberglass...
... and primer
... and sand
... and fill
... and... ;D
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Did some more work on the stock. Not much. Cut down the waste, opened up the holes for the fill nipple, stock screws and trigger/safety.
(https://i.imgur.com/BanU6VG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AE8fQkU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8UDVvQb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UHHpCDG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QX6JHMP.jpg)
It's rough looking now... But I think it'll clean up well. Anyhoo, I filled in some gaps and such with some left over PC-7 from my BS4 build, so I'm gonna let that dry and figure out how I want to tackle shaping this stock... I'm also going to probably make a cover for the fill nipple, so I have a bit more to grab. I can remove the cap as is, but just barely.
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This is gonna be "Sweet"! 8)
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This is gonna be "Sweet"! 8)
I hope so... I've never really made a stock before. I'm going to have to go real slow...
I'll say this: Next time, I'm going to use thinner laminate wood, like for model airplanes. Maybe even thin plies of bass wood. All the shaping will be on a foam layer... Then do the same thing, cover with epoxy and fiberglass... Shaping wood is too nerve wracking... ;D
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This is gonna be "Sweet"! 8)
Agreed, following with interest especially after watching that Carbon Fiber tutorial!
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Not really much of an update- I did a little shaping of the stock today... Overall, the shape and size is there. What's going to take a little while is going to be from the grip back. I do have a pattern to work from, thankfully. It's a simple stock, mostly just rounded edges- just like the M40A3 stock mine is loosely based on. I filled in some gouges in the foam and I did some work around the trigger guard and fill nipple cut-out:
(https://i.imgur.com/s0m2EO4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lALuZkR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nKvHg1k.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/a3jRErn.jpg)
Again, other than some more sanding before the fiberglass, this is going to be the overall shape from the trigger guard forward... I'll post some more when I get more work done. ;D
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Agreed, following with interest especially after watching that Carbon Fiber tutorial!
I hate to burst your bubble- but I've looked at the price for CF for this project and it's too cost prohibitive :-[ :( ... I posted that vid mostly to show the basic process I'm going to use to lay the fiberglass...
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I hate to burst your bubble- but I've looked at the price for CF for this project and it's too cost prohibitive :-[ :( ... I posted that vid mostly to show the basic process I'm going to use to lay the fiberglass...
Is it that pricey?
They kit (https://www.easycomposites.co.uk/#!/starter-kits/carbon-fibre-skinning-starter-kit.html) is 90 sterling for the large format, that seems pretty reasonable.
I guess shipping across the pond would not be cheap but surely there must be something similar available locally.
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wow that's coming along nicely. I wish I had more time to work on projects. Can't wait to see the final project. Keep us posted.
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Is it that pricey?
They kit (https://www.easycomposites.co.uk/#!/starter-kits/carbon-fibre-skinning-starter-kit.html) is 90 sterling for the large format, that seems pretty reasonable.
I guess shipping across the pond would not be cheap but surely there must be something similar available locally.
You know, I never thought to search for a kit in the States... I was pricing out the CF fabric and the epoxy separately. That wasn't including the base coat... I actually did find a kit for $80 U.S.
http://www.gorillacarbons.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=51 (http://www.gorillacarbons.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=51)
It looks like the same components list as that kit in the linked video, just a different company. This one is Stateside. You know what, I WILL give CF a try!! This kit looks like a good deal! Thanks Jack!! ;D
I'm gonna be up front: I'm not a fan of CF as a look... I appreciate CF because of the benefits it offers as a material. As of right now, I don't know if I'll keep the CF bare, or paint over it... I'll worry about that bridge when I come to it. I'll get that CF kit when the time comes...
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wow that's coming along nicely. I wish I had more time to work on projects. Can't wait to see the final project. Keep us posted.
Thank you!! It's slow going. I'm trying to take my time and really think about how to get the shape I'm after...
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Well... I got into a bubble and threw that whole "take my time" stuff out the window. ;D The stock is 80% done at this point. I'm not changing the shape. All that's left to do is figure out how and with what to seal the inletting, fill in the gouges in the foam, and finally- skinning the stock in CF. I know, it's not perfect. But it's comfortable to me, and it's getting covered anyway. Anyhoo, without further jibberjabber:
(https://i.imgur.com/IXhnk09.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/k47rUiX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uTOdHUb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fpoofOg.jpg)
I'm going to have to email RAW again, I'm still waiting on someone to tell me what the screw sizes are, so I can make some pillars and epoxy them in before I skin the stock.
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I used an airsoft gun as one of the main patterns for this gun- and I just happen to have found the other parts of the stock- namely the cheek piece, it's knobs, and the "spacer system" for adjusting LOP. Basically it's a bunch of spacers you remove or add to make the stock fit you better.
Well, I was definitely wrong about "not changing the shape" of the stock... ::) Using the cheek piece and the butt-pad as a pattern, I have a little more work to do. No big deal. I might also cover the cheek piece in CF- this airsoft one seems real flimsy.
After doing some thinking, I did have to remove some foam and replace it with wood... Had I done this earlier in the process- like I should have, I wouldn't have to worry about it now. Oh well. It's getting done. I have to put some wood where the Picatinny rail is going to go, and where the buttpad will go. ::)
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I cut out the foam from the back end and the fore end of the stock last night, and drew up the wood filler pieces. I cut the wood filler pieces today, and have epoxied them into the stock. Now I'm just waiting for the epoxy to dry. I used PC-7 for the back and JB Weld for the front. The reason I used JB Weld for the front piece of wood, is because the wood fits tighter because the foam was cut out better. So I don't need as thick of an epoxy. The foam for the butt section was not cut out well, so I'm using the PC-7 as both a filler and an adhesive. I also filled in some of the larger gouges in the foam with the left over PC-7.
(https://i.imgur.com/AhwEwjk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QDXusaJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UoT27kN.jpg)
The last picture you can see how the adjustable cheek piece is going to sit. I also adjusted the stock's body line, to match the front edge of the cheek piece.
I've got an idea on how I'm going to more accurately shape the back half of the stock, so that it fits both the cheek piece and the clone spacer system as close to perfect as can be... I'll just have to take pics and show you, I probably won't describe it well enough...
I'm waiting on some Z-Poxy so I can seal the foam. I'm going to use Bondo for shaping, because it's cheaper, and will be plenty strong. The polyester resin attacks foam though, hence why I have to seal the foam before any Bondo work. Anyhoo, more to come.
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RAW won't tell me the thread pitch for either of the screw holes... ::) I kind of expected that, but I'm still a little surprised- they're just screws. Anyhoo, I ordered a stock retention screw for a Rapid, but also ordered a stock screw set for "gas ram rifles". I'm crossing my fingers that one of the screws will work in the rear stock hole. If not, it's not that much money wasted. So we'll see in a few days.
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Not much of an update- I got my Z-Poxy in, along with my measuring cups and brushes (those cheap acid brushes)... I started coating the foam and the inletting in the Z-Poxy. It seems pretty darn nice so far! When the time comes, I'm going to just sand the inletting a bit for tooth and spray paint it black... Tomorrow I'll get to work on shaping the rear of the stock. I did order some bedding pillars as well.
Getting closer! I'll definitely be done mid-April!
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A little bit of stock work. This thing is turning into more of a craft project, than a stock project! :-[
Anyhoo, pics:
(https://i.imgur.com/mJpddqd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/klqu07W.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wSKhPOC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sKkpLxu.jpg)
I've still got to add at least one more guide (I'm calling those ribs guides), then I'm going to glue some foam in between and run my foam cutter along the guides, making the shape I want. Before that though, I'm going to brush some epoxy over them to really lock them in. I've also got some epoxy clay to fix the the grip area that I stupidly ruined while trying to fix the back of the stock... ::) I have to use epoxy clay, because I found out that polyester resins don't stick well to epoxy. It's fine the other way around though, go figure. Bondo is made up of polyester resins... Polyester resins eat foam. I can seal the foam... using epoxy. Which the Bondo doesn't stick to... It's a vicious cycle... I know I could seal the foam with something like Mod Podge, but I dunno... I want to make a good solid substrate for the CF wrap. Mod Podge and a dicey bond between epoxy and Bondo doesn't sound to me like the makings of a solid enough substrate... Or maybe I'm over thinking things again. I dunno.
Anyhoo, word vomit over. I'll update again when I have something better to show.
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Personally find such projects very satisfying & time invested far better than watching TV or other mindless endeavors.
Loving it ... as you were ;D
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Personally find such projects very satisfying & time invested far better than watching TV or other mindless endeavors.
Loving it ... as you were ;D
Agreed!! ;D
I should be getting the stock screws and bedding pillars soon as well... Making progress!! I should be ready to do the CF wrapping sometime next month!!
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I got both the bedding pillars and the stock screw(s) from RAW... Also- a bit of good news:
My gambit paid off!! Remember, I bought those stock screws for a "gas ram rifle"... I was hoping one of those screws would work in the rear screw hole... IT DID!! ;D ;D Honestly, both screws look like M6 or something. I'm going to the hardware store tomorrow to check on the threads... I hope they ARE normal metric screws... That way, I can get some longer ones... Anyhoo... More to come!
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Here's to hoping I didn't just glue my Rapid to my stock!! Here's a pic of the pillars:
(https://i.imgur.com/dHOKP95.jpg)
Oh, for anyone who's interested, both the stock screws are M7 coarse. Which the hardware store doesn't have ::)
Front pillar is 17mm long and the rear screw is 7.8mm long. Or there about. More than enough thread engagement in the receiver. I'll let y'all know tomorrow how it turns out!
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I...
Did NOT glue my Mk2 to my stock!! ;D There's some clean up, and some double checking, but I'm pretty satisfied with the pillars...
I'll get to work on the rest of the stock soon... I've got to order the epoxy clay...
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Long time, no updates...
I've finally got my mini mill mostly set up, so I've been thinking. I'm going to redo this stock. I've been re-thinking what I want to do with the airgun, what features I want, and how I want to transport it. What I've got so far is I want a folding stock. I want this rifle to be as compact as possible. I really want something like the Manners folding tactical stock:
(https://i.imgur.com/EQXO7P3.jpg)
But that hinge is proprietary and isn't for sale. So I'm leaning towards an Accuracy International AT 2.0 chassis:
(https://i.imgur.com/WI2vGbX.jpg)
Or at least something similar. Not exactly sure yet. Maybe a stock that's similar to the AT chassis, but uses a KAK Shockwave pistol brace w/butt plate to keep the weight down. I'll keep y'all updated though!
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If you can pull it off, your gun will be awesome. Wish I had one of those actions. What a great foundation.
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I'm gonna absolutely try!!
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After some thinking and really rough fitting, I'm going to use the Armada chassis I have. Well, parts of it anyway. I've already started work on it, milling away the plastic I don't need. I'll post some pics when I have something better looking...
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Not too much of an update, but this is what's left of the Armada chassis:
(https://i.imgur.com/HX8ITbV.jpg)
I also trimmed down the EBR hand guard, so that both sides are about equal. This "chassis" is going to be dirt simple... There's going to be very little work involved. I'm still going to cover it in CF to really seal in the flavor...
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A small update:
My mini mill is pretty awesome!! I still haven't fully trammed it, but it'll do for this project... The "inletting" is much more accurate and clean this time!! There's still lots of work ahead, but you get the idea.
(https://i.imgur.com/KdlSrvp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rhAYcaL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AlVuWS3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WAVB6Vu.jpg)
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Tom , maybe I missed it bu what happened to the fibreglass stock ? I was really looking forward to seeing it completed . Wish I had the patience for this type of work .
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Tom , maybe I missed it bu what happened to the fibreglass stock ? I was really looking forward to seeing it completed . Wish I had the patience for this type of work .
That was a wood/XPS foam/carbon fiber stock... I still have it. I'm deciding how I want to proceed with it- I kind of got myself into a corner and need to figure out how to get out of it. I'll finish it sometime this year. I may even start over with it...
I'm on this folding stock/small package for transportation kick right now. Hence the change.
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After thinking it over, I'm going to start over with the other stock- I still want to finish it, but I definitely didn't think enough on the process when I started it. I WILL get around to doing up Ver. 2.0 of the "Tactical Elan" stock, but I want to finish this folding one up and enjoy the gun for a while. I'll probably get started on that V2.0 at the end of summer or some such.
Not too much progress today- I've finished gluing the two sides together, filled in a few spots on the Armada carcass, and am now just waiting on glue and epoxy to dry. Once I have the Armada carcass epoxied to the chassis, I can fit the EBR hand guard. I should be finished assembling this "chassis" by the weekend. Then I can smooth it all out, round the edges and do any little finish work while I wait for the 1st. Then I'll be covering it in CF. So maybe middle of June I'll be completely done with this chassis.
After that, I think around August I'll start on V2.0 of the Tactical Elan stock. With the processes I've been thinking on, that stock should only take me a month to make, from start to finish. I'm actually going to start on some parts for it real soon...
Okay- change 1 billion... ::) The pattern I've been using is an airsoft stock. I'm just going to modify it and just use it... It's the same overall shape that I was trying to make in the first place- the trigger guard will be a little different though. Not sure what I'm gonna do with that. Anyhoo, I'm doing initial fit right now. I'll post again for sure. Again- same game plan, wrap it in CF once all the modification and inletting is done.
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I did some more work on the stock today- I'll post more pictures tomorrow... It's coming along. I'm kicking myself for not doing it this way sooner. There's still a lot of work yet, but *knock on wood* things seem to be moving along smoothly. We'll see after tonight.
I trimmed down all the ribbing that was in the way of the action, and partially filled what was left with resin. That'll give the stock some stiffness back- it IS just an airsoft stock afterall. I pretty much filled in the grip area's ribbing, and right now I'm working on the butt area. What I did was partially fill the butt area with resin, then I rough cut some XPS foam to fill the butt area in, and cut it flush w/the stock half. There's still a gap between the resin and the XPS. So I sprayed in some expanding foam (probably too much) and capped it off w/the XPS foam. *crossing fingers* Once I capped off the expanding foam w/the XPS foam, I flipped the stock halves face down, so that everything is flat, then put some weight on top to keep everything as flush as possible. I really hope this works.
(https://i.imgur.com/hHdoJvl.jpg)
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Some more work done on the stock...
Overall:
(https://i.imgur.com/ilJsCNy.jpg)
The cutout I made for the Mk2 receiver- This was originally shaped for the airsoft clone of a Rem 700, but I cut it square for the Mk2 receiver:
(https://i.imgur.com/n6eGEJo.jpg)
You can also see the resin sections between the trimmed down ribs of the stock. I also need to fill the bolt handle cut-out.
Clean up of the butt area. The deeper gouges are fine, as it'll give the gorilla glue somewhere to go, and it makes a really good key for the gorilla glue. Another good shot of all the resin fill:
(https://i.imgur.com/zQZED0T.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fhqNtja.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vjCBTKv.jpg)
There's still more work of course, but I just wanted to update the thread a bit.
I hope I can find some small screws at the hardware store- Of course I either threw them out or lost them, thinking I wasn't going to actually use the stock like this. ::)
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That is simply put ... AWESOME fabrication skills !
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That is simply put ... AWESOME fabrication skills !
I appreciate that! I truly do. I'm kinda muddling through this... I'm just doing things based off of what makes sense to me, and what I've seen done on youtube videos of various different hobbies. I'm kind of just combining all these ideas together, and hoping for the best. It's kind of why I keep going back and forth with the stock build. I can't decide how I want to do things... I'm going to see this version through though, no doubt. I have about 2 weeks left until I can get that CF wrap kit, so I should be done w/the work by then. If not, cool... I'm really not trying to mess this up at this point!!
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Just some more pics...
(https://i.imgur.com/HEOOYrS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Q2sptLH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jI7TNQC.jpg)
Again, lots more work to do, but that'll give y'all an idea of what it'll look like when done. I've decided I'm not gonna mess with the back side of the stock, around the back of the receiver. I know it looks kinda goofy (and it's the reason I chose not to use the airsoft stock itself initially), but as long as the rifle is secure, and it's comfortable, I'm not concerned with the topside at this point...
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Stock project on short holding pattern- I need more casting resin. I'll have to wait until the 1st. Which is fine- I'll be ordering the CF wrap kit on the 1st as well.
I tried making a filler piece for the area between the bottom of the receiver and the stock- With wood, It was just raising the receiver too high for my liking. So I'm just going to fill the bottom with some casting resin- like I did with the stock halves. I'll just have to make sure to level the stock very well, and make multiple pours, since I definitely don't want to go overboard with it.
SIDE PROJECT RANT:
I just received another clone Law Tactical folding adapter in the mail. After taking a few measurements, I SHOULD be able to make a folding stock after all... But not for this gun. I'll try it at another time. For now, all the measurements seem to support the idea that I can in fact install that clone folding adapter into a modified stock and have a folding tactical type stock... I might have to trim a bit off the folding adapter, but at less than $40 shipped compared to well over $100 and even over $200 in the case of the real Law Tactical folder, it's a steal. I know there's cheaper folding adapters, but I want a push button variant, and inexpensive side push button folding adapters just don't exist. It's an idea I've had in my head ever since I saw the folding Manners tactical stock. Anyhoo, I'm kicking around the idea (again) of making a short run of folding tactical-type stocks for Mrod's, Brod's and anything else I have (or can make or get) a pattern for. I'll start another post when I get around to re-starting this stock(s) project... The stock pattern(s) I have in mind are not my own- they're just airgun versions of real stocks...
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Question ... Whats with the relief slot for cocking handle on the stock ? when the action clearly is above it ???
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I'm betting it was stock for something else he was thinking about adapting to it
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He said the stock is from an airsoft gun.
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Question ... Whats with the relief slot for cocking handle on the stock ? when the action clearly is above it ???
I'm betting it was stock for something else he was thinking about adapting to it
He said the stock is from an airsoft gun.
Yep- it's a former airsoft M40A3 stock. A poor copy, but more than adequate for my purposes.
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At first view ... and NOT reading along ... missed that little snippet. MY BAD ... sorry :P
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At first view ... and NOT reading along ... missed that little snippet. MY BAD ... sorry :P
No worries!!
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I just picked up some more resin, styrene sheet and found some screws that will work when putting the stock halves together, but I'll probably have to sand down the heads of the screws. I've got to take my time and make sure I'm doing all that I need to in the correct order... I'm at a point where if I mess up, I'm going to have to get another stock and start all over. Slow and steady is the name of the game here. Tomorrow I'm going to double/triple check everything before I do anymore work. We're getting there!
I know that I'll be using 3 different adhesives when assembling the stock halves together. Gorilla glue for the cheek rest/butt/thumb hook area, PC-7 for the grip area, and regular epoxy around the perimeter. The screws will lock the halves together while everything dries... After that, I'll set up the stock and make sure it's level, then start filling the bottom around the trigger area slowly, so I don't fill it up too much. I just want to level that area off. Then I can fill in the front section where a bipod would go (not going to use a bipod)... I'll post pics when I start working on this again.
I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about a trigger guard...
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I did a little bit more work on the stock. Not too much, but it's finally together and the major areas that need to be filled are filled in. I still have a lot of little work to do. In addition to doing final fit of the action. We're gettin' close ladies an germs! I still haven't filled in the trigger area with resin yet (to level it off), as I need to think about how I want to plug up the gauge and stock holes and what to do about a trigger guard... I think I might have a plan of attack now though. I'll keep y'all posted.
(https://i.imgur.com/0GOW1sC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0aMacjB.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PUzXluw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GDKXtwu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YwTL0HP.jpg)
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So far, WOW!!! Is about all I can say. Just WOW!!! ;) 8)
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So far, WOW!!! Is about all I can say. Just WOW!!! ;) 8)
Thank you!!
Just wait until you see what stock's I have planned for next!! I think you'll like them!
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I haven't forgotten about this project- I've just started fiddling with the stock again- I'll post pics tomorrow; I filled in some dead-space around the action area using some resin and epoxy clay. I Also did some filling in around the outside of the stock.
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Still plugging away at the stock- I definitely made a big mistake filling in the low area w/resin ::) Of course, right? ;D Anyhoo, I'll correct it as soon as I get more fuses for my mill. I blew the last fuse I had making a part for my lathe's saddle. Those fuses should be here soon.
I'll post pictures up when I have something better to show... Getting closer! This stock is so close. I can't wait!
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The fuses for my mill came in yesterday... Aaaaand, I don't have enough bed travel with the stock clamped in the vise. So I'm going to have to order a clamping set so I can clamp the stock directly to the bed. ::) It's always something... I'll keep y'all posted.
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Small update. I tried a few ways to hold the stock in the mill, but it's just was not working out. So I was going to start over again, AGAIN. :( Kinda set the A4 stock aside as I didn't want to just scrap all that work... I started a new "inlet block", which WAS going to be the core of a new stock...
(https://i.imgur.com/cATFYRu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Py8D4Vf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ps213sl.jpg)
Still not perfect, but much better than my 1st attempt, and much stronger. It fits better, and the lines are more crisp. I used Maple this time around... Yes, that's two halves I individually made using the mill, then I glued them together. This is where I had an "ah-ha!" moment... As I said, I didn't want to waste all the work I did to that A4 airsoft stock I have... So I removed the receiver inlet area from the A4 stock and after shortening the inlet block and fitting it to the A4 stock, I glued the inlet block in. Inlet problem solved!!
(https://i.imgur.com/2u07DRm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AkKyeJH.jpg)
These pics are just of the fitting up. I hadn't actually glued the inlet block to the stock yet. I used PC-7 epoxy to glue the inlet block into place. I gouged up the mating surfaces w/my Dremel prior to epoxying the two together. I forgot to take pics of the Rapid in the stock all clamped up in the vice, I'll take some tomorrow- I just don't feel like doing it right now. I'll let the PC-7 fully cure (48 hrs) before doing anything else other than taking pics. I'm quite happy with how it turned out so far, and I didn't have to waste the A4 cloner stock I worked so hard on. There's definitely more shaping and filling work to be done, but I can finally put the Rapid in the stock and it actually fits well. It even has two screws to secure the stock, like the original Elan!! Yes- I'm still planning on skinning this in CF once it's done, then either hydrodipping it or painting it. Not sure which yet. Leaning towards paint- But using a Duracoat Epoxy paint, instead of spray paint.
I'm not sure how I'm going to shape the bottom of the receiver area just yet, nor am I sure what design I want for the trigger guard. But I'm a huge step closer to being done- FINALLY!! I figure a few more weeks, maybe December at the latest, and I'll finally be done with this stock stuff and I can finally enjoy the rifle that Scott assembled/tuned for me! So close!
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Here's some more shots of the Rapid, inlet block and stock clamped in the vise. I'm waiting the full cure time (48 hrs) before taking everything out of the vise. Knowing my luck; I just want to make sure the epoxy has full time to cure before moving on.
(https://i.imgur.com/uFdyWUg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Dr8jaFW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VI2VYud.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Y0oCo82.jpg)
I also had to modify my front scope ring a bit to clear the screw used in the receiver. Not sure what scope I'm going to run. I'll figure that out later though. I really just want to focus on the stock.
(https://i.imgur.com/og5RB8A.jpg)
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I'm slowly plugging away at the stock... I want to finish this first, before moving on to any other rifle project.
Here's a few more pics:
Correcting the grip's drop off angle up top, behind the inlet block. I'm using the wood to take up most of the space, provide a very solid base to spread the epoxy clay, and as a guide for the overall shape. It's hard to picture now, but the bare wood will be flush with the sides when I'm all done.
(https://i.imgur.com/WRiQ2YI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DwmRaGF.jpg)
Here are some shots of the trigger area. Still not sure what I'm going to do to blend this area. I also need to fill that gaping hole forward of the gauge hole :( That's just poor planning right there ::) I'm working on the trigger guard shape, as well. I'm not going to sand down the protruding wood around the gauge area, as that would ruin the inlet/strength I need there. I have an idea in my head to blend it in, but I'll have to make a pattern first to see if I like it.
(https://i.imgur.com/5Sc32aH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2vetivS.jpg)
Here is some work I did to the original airsoft cheek rest. As this stock is just for me, I won't be needing both sets of knob holes. Also, since this isn't a traditional bolt action, I filled in the bolt cut out on the top, forward section of the cheek piece. It needs more shaping. This cheek piece will be getting covered in CF to stiffen it up- it's too flimsy for my taste.
Unmodified knob holes:
(https://i.imgur.com/Hs2A5H7.jpg)
Filled knob holes on left side:
(https://i.imgur.com/9a1dKSE.jpg)
Former bolt cut-out:
(https://i.imgur.com/LDlYbQv.jpg)
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Ones initial thoughts would be .... what a HEAVY stock with all the fillin-n-drillin ???
heck of a job tho and getting it to work ... really a LOT of work !
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Ones initial thoughts would be .... what a HEAVY stock with all the fillin-n-drillin ???
heck of a job tho and getting it to work ... really a LOT of work !
It's definitely a lot of work, but still much less work than carving out a stock with 0 experience. I've started 2 other stocks before this one, because I just couldn't get the shape/looks right. Also, sadly, I don't have the patience for real stock work... I'm also very hard on myself and I'm kind of a perfectionist. Not a good combination.
The stock isn't as heavy as you would think- or rather, the stock isn't as heavy as I thought it would be. But we'll see once the stock is completely done. To be honest, I don't mind the extra weight! I'd like to compare it to a laminate stock of similar design though, to see what the difference is, if any.
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If I ever get the urge, I may make a mold of this stock to make copies of it. THOSE will be lighter than this one... As I can just roto-cast and fill with dense expanding foam... But all the work would be done by that point. It would be easy-peasy to just make copies. But that's a project that would be waaaay in the future. I probably wouldn't do it with this particular stock either, as this build isn't particularly popular... I'll definitely do that with other stocks though, for sure. I've got some nice stock designs in mind to use as patterns for airgun versions...
This project probably just got pushed back to January as the probable completion date- the floor in my kitchen turned out to be far worse (around the sink/dishwasher area) than I originally thought. Will have to replace the subfloor before proceeding with the remodel. Definitely adds a touch of expense I wasn't counting on. Oh well- such is life.
I'm still going to plug away at the stock of course. When I say "completion date", I mean fully complete. Really, the only major purchase right now is the CF wrapping kit... I have everything else I need to finish the stock... Well, I could always use more time, of course... ;D ;D
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Not too much work today. I filled in that gaping hole forward of the fill port hole- I mistakenly called it the gauge hole. No, that's where the fill port is, not the gauge ::) Been working w/Mrod's too much! ;D I smoothed out some of the areas I filled in previously around the butt of the stock, where I ground the screw heads flush. I kinda went ham hands and nicked up the plastic around the screws, and had to fill them in. I also "finished up" the preliminary filling, and started opening up the holes for the fill port and stock screws... Those holes are nerve wracking. I really don't want to mess them up at this point... That's why the trigger hole isn't opened up yet- I want to take it nice and slow. Plus, I haven't figured out what I want to do for the trigger guard... I'm getting there.
(https://i.imgur.com/wbQgnmY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/r5t7LNY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ILBIQjG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1swYmeO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zGXLr0E.jpg)
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I knocked up a trigger guard... Not sure how I feel about it though. I wanted to make sure I had more than enough room for the trigger and safety. The Theoben trigger guards are always so big, I was thinking of keeping in the same theme...
(https://i.imgur.com/9KV43yu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3V6vwPh.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/n2K2C0e.jpg)
Maybe I'll make it less wide? It's nearly double the thickness of the airsoft version I copied. I also want to make sure it's plenty strong... I've got to sand it some more and tweak the shape a bit. It's still a little frumpy. I'm not putting it on until I'm completely happy with it, and I have that trigger well opened up in the stock. Speaking of, I'll probably do that tomorrow.
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Contour sander at work I see ;D
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Contour sander at work I see ;D
I wish!! The trigger guard was done with a dremel and a belt sander... Most of the wood removal was with a band saw.
I'm also going to have to re-do it ::) ;D I made a mistake in both sizing the trigger guard, and how/where I'm going to place it... Because of course ::)
Anyhoo, it's not so bad, pretty much all that's left to do before the CF wrap is the trigger guard and some final filling in/shaping. Then I can do a guide coat of paint to see where the trouble spots are. It should only take another few days. Oh man, Happy days!!! This stock will be done well before December!! *knock on wood*
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Never mind about redoing the trigger guard... It was a lot of work to make. I just cut it down to size and used it. The epoxy is drying now. Tomorrow I'm going to start finishing up with the blending.
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For the trigger guard I was gong to recommend getting a piece of aluminum barstock.
Never mind! :)
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For the trigger guard I was gong to recommend getting a piece of aluminum barstock.
Never mind! :)
I was thinking the same thing- or some steel strap, like the Elan has. But since it's going to be integral to the stock, there's no need to... Of course, I could just cut off the trigger guard, and have it as a separate piece like a normal person. ::) ;D ;D I may decide to go that route after all- It'll make the CF wrap easier to do for sure... And the trigger guard will be metal, like the elan... *sigh* Decisions, decisions!
(https://i.imgur.com/3AdqIB8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AJCc2Zr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bRoz79Y.jpg)
Even after re-hashing the trigger guard a bit, I still don't know how I feel about it... I might still go the metal strap route... I'm going to ruminate on this :-\
I did some more blending as well, I'll probably wait until later to work on the top side areas...
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It looks a little bulky, but i would be more concerned about it not surviving a drop.
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It looks a little bulky, but i would be more concerned about it not surviving a drop.
If I keep it, the entire thing is being wrapped in actual CF- i.e. Epoxy and carbon fiber. Sako makes ultralight stocks with a foam inner core and a CF outer layer. I don't feel there would be any issues with this surviving a drop after being wrapped. However, I may still decide to hack it off- I'm really liking the idea of a simple strap of metal as a trigger guard...
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Looks fine ... Frankenstein was good looking in an odd sort of way.
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It was bugging me... So I did a thing:
(https://i.imgur.com/GSp7H8p.jpg)
Yep, it's steel. Yep, it's kinda ugly. Nope, I'm not changing it again. I'm going to try to refine the shape a bit; obviously I have to drill the holes and round the ends... Now the CF wrapping will be easier. I was wracking my brain trying to think of ways to wrap the inside of the trigger guard area and have it look good, but every scenario was terrible. Realistically, the only way to correctly wrap the stock would be to cut off the trigger guard and make a simple "Elan"/Mk 1 type of trigger guard- a simple bent steel strap... So I did.
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That is more IRONMAN now ... so you digressed, I get that :o
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I couldn't wait. I did some more work... I'm happy with it. All there is now is pretty it up, smooth everything out and CF wrap the thing...
(https://i.imgur.com/5VbuShw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/POB2GpK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tLZfxaj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AinuPwx.jpg)
Yeah, it's rough and industrial looking, and other than smoothing all the edges and some blending work, that's how it's going to look. Still happy- This is the first time this receiver's been in a (mostly) completed stock since I acquired it from Chip Smith back in '14. It took another 2+ years to get it assembled and tuned, and here we are today... FINALLY. This is the closest to being "done" that this rifle has been since I've owned it.
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Nicely done. Wrapping it separately will, I think, look better, more easily.
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Nicely done. Wrapping it separately will, I think, look better, more easily.
Why thank you! TBH, I think having the trigger guard like this is the only way to correctly wrap the stock completely. Again- I'm not keeping the CF bare and polished, I am going to paint over it. I'm only doing the CF wrap to increase the strength of the stock and to encapsulate all the different materials into a homogeneous piece. I will of course take pics of the stock before painting, for those that like the CF look... I for one am not particularly fond of the look. I do have a high appreciation for CF as a material though.
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I haven't forgotten about this project- I'm still slowly plugging away at it. I'll have to wait until November or December to get the CF wrap kit... Meanwhile, I'm using some JB Weld as a seam filler/blending material. I need something relatively inexpensive and that can be mixed in smaller quantities than epoxy fairing compound. I hope it works out. So far, it seems to be doing the job admirably. I can't use Bondo (polyester resin) because the epoxy from the CF kit won't stick to it well. Polyester resin will stick to epoxy well, but not so much the other way around.
Right now, I'm just blending away, doing refinement where I need to. I want to make sure the stock is ready to go when I get the CF wrap kit.
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Well... I still haven't bought the CF wrap kit ::) But this post still needs an update! It's been at least 120 days! ??? Sometimes I wish I could just not do real life stuff, and just bury myself in hobbies. Someday. Anyhoo, I digress- UPDATE TIME!
Not much of an update, unfortunately. I'm still doing clean up here and there on the stock, and I made another change. I decided to re-work the trigger guard again. For whatever reason, I really like the swoopy Mk2 stock- But I really like the hard lines and angles of a tactical stock too. Ugh, why am I like this?! ;D It's not a very good picture, but I hope y'all can see the direction I want to go...
(https://i.imgur.com/VWyS0Xx.jpg)
Of course I mess up the gauge hole, ::) so I had to fill it in, and now I'm waiting for the JB weld to dry before re-marking the center line and trying again. I'm definitely going to have to see if A) My bottom fill kit came with a fill-adapter-top-hat-thingy that extends the slip collar on the female fill fitting, and B) If that extender will work with this angle and depth... I may have to re-work the angle (or do a cut out like a Daystate) to get it to work... Not sure yet. I'll keep y'all posted though. This is about the only airgun I have assembled and working, so I really need to finish this stock up, if I want to shoot... I really want to go shooting. I need it right now.
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I like it ... NOW FINISH IT !!!
Lol,
Scotty
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I like it ... NOW FINISH IT !!!
Lol,
Scotty
;D ;D I'm working on it!!
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Very impressive ! It's cool to watch the transformation.
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Very impressive ! It's cool to watch the transformation.
LOL ... like watching paint dry
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Very impressive ! It's cool to watch the transformation.
LOL ... like watching paint dry
For as long as this is taking, I think paint drying might be more entertaining!! ;D
I did a touch more work. I re-drilled the bottom fill hole- correctly this time! Found the fill adapter extension thingy, and checked everything... IT ALL FITS!! With more than enough clearance. The fill nipple isn't too deep, and tomorrow, I'll mate the stock and trigger guard piece. Then I can do some more blending. We're finally getting there!
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I was having issues with Imgur yesterday, with not being able to get to my image folders. I tried to "backdoor" some new images into one of my folders, and it seems like it worked (since the pics can be seen here). However, today I am able to access my folders, yet these new pics are nowhere to be found. Very strange. Not sure where they are. Anyhoo, I'm just going to re-post them, just in case Imgur decides to delete the ones that were uploaded yesterday.
(https://i.imgur.com/JISMYNG.jpg)
I'm going to do a bit more sanding and shaping, then I'm going to glue that trigger on today. Everything looks real good so far. I hope I don't muck it up.
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Not too huge an update. I didn't glue the two pieces together today... I wanted to do some more clean up work before hand.
Here you can see how off I drilled the first hole, you can make out the crescent of the wooden dowel plug I used to fill the hole before re-drilling it:
(https://i.imgur.com/VhGYaN6.jpg)
This will be the inside (side closest to the trigger) of the trigger guard. Shoddy cutting with a band saw made for a rough surface. I sanded down as much as I could, then leveled it out with some JB Weld. I'll sand it smooth tomorrow:
(https://i.imgur.com/f1ap1EC.jpg)
I should have taken a "before" and "after" pic, but this is the clean up I did behind the trigger. Since I decided to do a Theoben type trigger guard, this back area has been bothering me. So I sanded it down and smoothed it out. Needs more work, but it's a good start:
(https://i.imgur.com/AUN0njo.jpg)
That's about it for today... Other than filling in some other spots, some work around the trigger hole, and sanding down to plastic where I needed to, to prep for gluing the trigger guard to the stock.
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I did some more work today... Again, I apologize for the poor pics.
You can see that even after filling with the JB Weld, the trigger guard was still not as flat as I had thought (hoped). Also, the JB Weld takes too long to dry, and is harder to sand. I'm switching to some awesome spackling by DAP. Should fit the bill for quick drying time and sturdy enough to smooth the stock out. It's also much easier to sand. Messier for sure, but easier to work with, overall.
The darker spots are low spots:
(https://i.imgur.com/7kl0QRJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P25BqB7.jpg)
I'm thinking, I'm probably going to drop the rear stock screw and just go with the front one, behind the bottom fill. If Theoben dropped it when they went to the Mk2 platform, why not- right? Besides, that rear screw ruins the lines of that transition area between the stock and grip. I'll just make sure to inlet for a steel washer, so that the stock screw has something super solid to butt up against. Easy peasy.
I think that spackling will be fine to use as a filler. The JB Weld will be expensive over time, and it's harder to work. I've decided to lay down a very thin, single layer of fiberglass to really lock everything in anyway. So this DAP filler- which is far stronger than any spackling I've used so far, will be sufficient to use to smooth everything out. I just don't want to go to the trouble or expense of using Bondo. More later.
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Eh, not a huge update. I am DEFINITELY going to drop the rear stock screw. It's perfectly tight with just the one screw. I've "inlet" a metal washer for the stock screw to butt up against, and the JB Weld is currently drying. Once I glue in the trigger guard part, the washer will forever be inside the stock. Anyhoo, I just thought I'd post some pics of the Rapid in this stock. Again... Almost done.
(https://i.imgur.com/t1nyZqT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dg6dzZV.jpg)
Inlet is far from perfect, but I'm happy with it. The rifle is solidly supported:
(https://i.imgur.com/OQpBQWN.jpg)
It's kinda hard to make out, but the gap between the barrel and stock is pretty uniform...
(https://i.imgur.com/AB2r0uP.jpg)
I'll do some more work tomorrow, after the JB Weld is done drying. Hopefully I can finally glue that trigger guard into place!
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Hey LOOK !!! the Paint appears to be ALMOST dry ... lol
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Hey LOOK !!! the Paint appears to be ALMOST dry ... lol
Nearly!! I'm going to order the CF wrap kit and fiberglass on the 1st.
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The trigger guard is on!
I did a little bit of clean up, shortened and reshaped the trigger guard tang a bit to mimic the Theoben's design, made a wedge so I could evenly clamp the trigger guard down while it's drying, and proceeded to glue it in place. I also plugged up the rear receiver hole, as I won't be using it.
(https://i.imgur.com/PlSWMmM.jpg)
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Not much of an update...
(https://i.imgur.com/UkQ3nA2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/C8sBlIu.jpg)
Trigger guard is on. PC-7 needs time to fully cure. The Stock needs a lot more work... But still- getting there. Not too much longer now.
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Not too much of an update. Still thinking about what-all I still need to do before wrapping this stock. Ended up going with Bondo all purpose putty for the major leveling and such. Anyhoo, a few pics to update the thread.
(https://i.imgur.com/fjdg0OL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f6wOXNe.jpg)
I decided to fill in all the cheek piece adjustment stuff- I may not even need a cheek piece. But if I do, I'll just add one after I'm done... I could just make a new one from kydex, using the factory one as a pattern. The one that comes with this former airsoft stock is too flimsy for my tastes anyway...
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The paint is slowly but surely drying... We're getting there people. Slowly but surely.
I did a little more Bondo work- that trigger area is going to be problematic. I rounded off the trigger guard piece, still needs more blending work though.
(https://i.imgur.com/ojZq1lJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0NICJTh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wuaAWXr.jpg)
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Safety first!!! ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/mZGOP9K.jpg)
Not much of an update, just some more Bondo work. Getting closer to having this stock ready for CF wrap! Something has been bothering me about the stock- that is, I'm worried that the resin I used to fill in between the ribs of the original stock layout may, over time, separate from the stock. So, to solve this, I'm going to get some 1oz fiberglass cloth and bond it to the air reservoir section of the inlet. This way, the resin will be held in place by the piece of fiberglass, and it'll all be bonded together. I don't want to use the CF to do this, because it would be too thick. The reservoir may not fit anymore. I think, with the 1oz fiberglass, it'll be fine.
Don't mind the Condor... The sides are now filled, level and smooth:
(https://i.imgur.com/k93JBXr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vFRQXvH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cO7jv72.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VwUrRO8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PYvYaZB.jpg)
All that's left is the trigger/grip area and the right side cheek piece indents. For whatever reason I just could not get them to fill-in right. Oh well... back at it tomorrow. So very close!!
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Not too much work done today. I had a LOT of extra JB Weld left over from when I did a bedding job on another stock, so I used it to start patching some areas of this stock.
(https://i.imgur.com/3q1L5Fo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A7ZKcuM.jpg)
The JB Weld started to get a little harder to spread, so I just left well enough alone. I'll shape it tomorrow sometime.
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I haven't forgotten about this project. I just haven't made that much progress on it. Still doing a little shaping here and there. I found some .75 oz fiberglass in a much more affordable amount for my needs- the other option would be to get $56 dollars worth. I just don't need that much. The epoxy I need is also expensive. The .75 oz fiberglass is unfortunately on back order. So I'm just sitting here waiting for it to come in. Just wanted to update.
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Been doing a little work here and there. It's mostly just minor clean up and smoothing out. The stock is pretty much done at this point. Still waiting on that really thin fiberglass cloth so I can seal the reservoir area, not sure when that'll be in. It's on backorder from the factory. My other option is to buy close to $60 worth of .75 oz cloth, and I don't particularly want to do that. But if this goes on for too much longer, I may have to ::) After I do the reservoir area, then I'll skin the outside w/CF.
I sanded the outside of the stock with some really coarse sand paper, in addition to scoring it with a knife. I want to make sure the epoxy/CF really grabs hold. Here's a pic of the scoring:
(https://i.imgur.com/V2aUx1n.jpg)
I also cleaned up the air reservoir area, in preparation for the fiberglass layer. I want this section to be less jagged I guess? I don't know how to describe it. Basically I want to make sure that the fiberglass has nice curves to go over, not 90* angles and such. I also sanded the resin sections to give them some tooth, but Epoxy sticks like crazy to resin, so I'm not really worried too much. It's hard to make out in the pic, but I did remove some old ribbing material on the bottom radius so the sides and bottom would blend together better. I touched up a few other spots as well. Nothing crazy. I was NOT happy with the front two corners of the reservoir inlet, but they cleaned up well...
(https://i.imgur.com/UKQmHSW.jpg)
That's pretty much it for now, until I get my hands on that .75 oz fiberglass. I'm at a good stopping point on this stock. If I keep touching it and tweeking it, I just know I'm going to mess it up. I'll update when that fiberglass comes in and I wrap the stock in CF.
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I finally was able to get some light weight (.75 oz.) fiberglass. It's folded, and not rolled ::) But it should still suffice for what I'm doing. I'm still waiting on my epoxy, but it should be here pretty soon. Since I'm doing this with fiberglass and epoxy, not the CF kit I was originally planning on, I'll have to attack this a little different. But Soon, this stock will be done, and I can finally finish this rifle and enjoy it!
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I ordered the Epoxy on May 5th. It's still not here yet. If it doesn't show up today, I'm going to get a refund. I'm not sure where I'll order it from- but it won't be through the same dealer, that's for sure. I've got the section where the air reservoir sits all painted up in epoxy, so I'm no longer worried about the resin possibly separating from the plastic stock. I'm going to paint the wood section (where the receiver goes) in some JB weld epoxy wood sealer. It's a real thin epoxy and soaks into the wood. I don't think it'll affect the fit very much, if at all. I just want to seal the wood well, so I don't have to worry about it again. Anyhoo, I'll update again when I get some epoxy in, so I can get this stock fiberglassed.
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I've finally got the epoxy in, and I'm running a few test pieces on various substrates (including the same type of plastic the stock is made from) and weights of fiberglass before I dedicate myself to slathering my stock in epoxy and fiberglass.
The stock contour is where I want it, so I really don't want to mess up at this point. But I'll keep y'all posted!
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Whats this ? ... we're going from watching Paint dry to WALL PAPER ???
Wheres my beer ;D
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The experiment was a success!!! A few notes though. This is my first time REALLY working with epoxy in this way, I'm by no means an expert. Some of these points will probably be obvious to people. These are simply my observations in my situation, given my limited experience...
The epoxy and fiberglass bonded VERY well to the plastic cheek piece I used as a test panel. A very clean and well keyed surface is important... this cheek piece was neither clean nor keyed. Yet the bond was very good! The single layer of fiberglass fabric (generic Bondo stuff found at any big box store- definitely not the best) was also still flexible enough, that had I decided to use this adjustable cheek piece as originally intended, it would have worked out fine...
What I'm going to start with is the trigger guard section- that area worries me the most, since it's two separate materials bonded together. I'm not so much worried about the epoxy I used to bond the two, I'm worried about the substrates failing. So I'm just going to cover them both with the thicker Bondo fiberglass fabric. In fact, from the inlet section forward (because both the inlet area and reservoir area are pretty thin), I'll use the Bondo fabric. The grip area back, I'll use the thin fiberglass fabric. It'll be easier to lay down and easier to conform to all the swoopy contours...
After all that, I'll lay down a layer of some kind of epoxy filler (epoxy bonds well to polyester, not the other way around) to really smooth everything out, then sand smooth then paint. We're getting there!!
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Okay- I did a little bit of work on the stock today... Mostly just prep work for later today. I found some spots that needed some more blending, so am waiting for the epoxy clay to dry. I made some patterns for the fiberglass for the trigger guard area, and for my first layer of fiberglass. I also made a stand, so that I can work on the stock, and not have to worry about dribbles.
*sigh* cross your fingers y'all- I'm about to start covering my stock in epoxy and fiberglass...
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Here's a shot before the chaos:
(https://i.imgur.com/XijNJFz.jpg)
That's the stand I made to work on the stock. I put it on a lazy susan I made for crafting. This is the calm before the storm, so to speak.
I'll post some pics after the epoxy has dried- I'm going to have to do some surgery. Things did NOT go to plan. But it's completely salvageable... For a first attempt, it's not too bad I hope.
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The chaos of the fiberglassing may have been tamed a touch. We'll see. I guess I should have paid more attention to that linked video... I also should have done a section at a time... The trigger guard area proved to be more difficult than I had originally thought. So when I redo it, I'm going to do the inside radius first, then worry about the outward face of the trigger guard area.
Also, definitely let the epoxy kick first, and get sticky... THEN put the fiberglass (or CF) over it. DO NOT wet out the surface, the immediately slap on the fiberglass. ::)
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Oh yeah, I definitely made a lot more work for myself ::) Anyhoo, here's a few shots after I did all the trimming. This did not go to plan. I've cleaned up the stock to where I'm happy, and I'm going to put down another layer (more correctly this time!).
(https://i.imgur.com/ktmr042.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/R5jOfc5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uuZ4x3n.jpg)
It looks far worse than it actually is, the stock is absolutely salvageable...
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I know, it looks goofy. But I didn't want to run the risk of not having coverage in any areas, and TBH- I still have 1 or 2 small spots that don't have coverage. It was just the way the fiberglass wrapped around the stock. Anyhoo- pics:
(https://i.imgur.com/XHXh4hl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/p3O7vUV.jpg)
So basically, after thinking about how I'm going to attack all the weird angles and such, I painted up the areas with a layer of epoxy. I left it alone to kinda set for 2+ hours. THEN I stuck on the fiberglass. The fiberglass sticks, and when it's done curing (tomorrow), I can trim all the horrendous excess off, without having to worry about the fiberglass coming off and give it a coat of epoxy to lock it all in... Then on Monday, I can finish fixing the front half of the stock. So maybe Wed or Thurs, I can FINALLY lay on the consecutive 3 coats of epoxy over the whole thing. A few steps closer!!
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Yea the FUZZ of the glass indeed going to need some love to get a uniform surface texture.
Still watching ;)
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I'm hoping 3+ layers of epoxy will mostly level everything out. Plus sanding. If not, I'm going to have to use some epoxy filler... I already have an idea where filler is going to be needed.
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Next time, I'm definitely going to take more time to have smaller (but still over-sized) pieces of fiberglass. There's many more spots that were missed. Not enough for me to REALLY care, since this go around is MUCH better than my first attempt. But spots have been missed nonetheless. Anyhoo, pics so far:
Here is the stock trimmed:
(https://i.imgur.com/3mRuiNT.jpg)
Here's the stock w/the first layer of epoxy:
(https://i.imgur.com/DgZrEA2.jpg)
So now I have to wait until this layer of epoxy is fully cured. Then I can sand down those seams where the different cuts of fiberglass meet.
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I've got the piece cut for the front part of the stock that I want to fix. It's over-sized, but there won't be as much excess as the rear of the stock. This will get put onto the stock later today. That way, tomorrow I can trim the excess and start the 3 layers of epoxy.
I also ordered some epoxy fairing compound today, should be here on the 10th. We'll see. I'm hoping to be able to FINALLY primer this stock next weekend...
I wish I could use the Bondo that I have, but everything I've been reading says polyester resin will not adhere well to epoxy. Other way around it's fine- which is the reason why I Bondoed the stock in the first place (plus the Bondo is buried under epoxy and fiberglass). I'm sure it'll stick, but how long would it last? I don't want to take any chances at this point. I'm nearly done.
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Okay... here's a little update w/pictures. I'm going to be a day behind, but I'm still hoping to have primer down on this stock sometime this weekend- if not sooner. After wetting out the piece of fiberglass I added yesterday to "repair" the front half of the stock, I've decided to let it cure completely, trim it/sand/shape it and THEN give the entire stock a good sand down to knock down the really high spots, before starting the 3 coats of epoxy. Which means instead of starting the 3 coats today, I'm doing it tomorrow, so I can start with a better, more level surface. I'll still need to use filler in a few spots, I think y'all will be able to see where I mean from the pics.
After de-nibbing yesterday's work:
(https://i.imgur.com/Gv8ryEm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/woutaql.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KJaXwLd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FwHS8Od.jpg)
Today's work, a layer of epoxy over everything:
(https://i.imgur.com/Jpl2BpK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UOg4U85.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fjJQq61.jpg)
Again, still some work ahead of me, but we're getting there- FINALLY. I mean, REALLY getting there!
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How is the WEIGHT doing ?
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Also, I just realized today is only the 1st... The epoxy fairing compound (filler) won't be here until the 10th... So no primer/painting this week ::) :( But hey, at least the stock will be 90% done? ;D
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How is the WEIGHT doing ?
I don't feel like it's HEAVY at all- the stock feels solid now. I feel like the stock, once done, will give the package a good heft all the way around. We'll see though- I'll weigh the Rapid alone, then with the stock to see how much the stock weighs when it's all painted and done.
If I had to take a guess? This stock doesn't weigh more than a comparable walnut stock would, if one were made in such a shape/design. I could be wrong of course. I prefer heavier rifles though, so my judgement may be biased.
My next stock (for an EscapeSS) will be done like I had planned to do this one: hardwood spine w/mostly foam and medium density chipboard for shape, and a layer (or two?) of fiberglass for strength. I'd like to see how THAT one comes out in the weight dept...
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I couldn't wait... The epoxy is cured, so I did some sanding to de-nib the edges of the front section I did today. Motorhead got me wondering how much this stock weighs. As it stands right now, the stock weighs 3 lbs, 5 oz. Not sure if that's heavy? It doesn't feel heavy to me. I'll weigh it again once it's done-done. The things that still need to be added are:
3 coats of epoxy (starting tomorrow! HUZZAH!!)
maybe some epoxy filler in a few spots
few coats of spray primer
few coats of spray paint in that faux GAP Camo pattern
few coats of matte clear coat
Butt-plate and spacers (not sure how many spacers will be needed yet)
It'll be interesting to see how much weight all the above will add to the stock.
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Just put on the last coat of epoxy. Full cure will take until tomorrow. Then I can start sanding down the high spots, and get rid of the drips on the edges. Another step closer!
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Do you think you will have it done for your two year anniversary in October? ;D
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Do you think you will have it done for your two year anniversary in October? ;D
Whew! I dunno! That's only 4 months away! So much to do, so little time! ;D ;D
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New butt-plate design? ;D ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/MfQScVQ.jpg)
There's still needing to be some smoothing and filling. But the epoxy filler won't be here until next week. So this is going to sit for a bit. I've test fit the Mk2 in the stock, everything fits as it should. I had to do a little tweaking. Next time, I'm going to leave the fiberglass covering all the inletting and such in place until it's time to finish. I think things would have been easier, with far less clean up. Overall, it's been a good experience, and I've learned a lot! I'm ready to try another stock after this one is done.
(https://i.imgur.com/uSvtrKK.jpg)
I'm not too worried about the grip area- again, I'm going to be adding some silicon carbide for grip. All those dips and such will be covered by the texturing. I may even do the thumb hook, similar to how a Synrod's synthetic stock has some texturing around the rear sling swivel... Not sure yet. I may also try a texturing technique using epoxy, that way I can paint over it down the road... Also not sure yet.
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New butt-plate design? ;D ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/MfQScVQ.jpg)
SPIKE LEE Edition perhaps ?
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I did some more sanding on the stock, to try to get a more level surface on the stock before using this epoxy fairing compound THAT ACTUALLY GOT DELIVERED ON TIME!! I'm going to get to work filling in all the dips and mistakes I made. I'm not going for a PERFECT surface finish, since this is going to be painted anyway... But there's some spots that will be glaringly obvious after painting. Only bad part is- since it's epoxy, I won't be able to sand until tomorrow. But progress is being made again!
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This is the fairing compound I'm using:
(https://i.imgur.com/zNA6Vqw.jpg)
Mixes 1:1, it's a little stiffer than Bondo filler, but it's the same idea- except it's an epoxy. So far, I like it! The working time is longer as well. It can be spread really thin too! A little goes a long way. I got it on Amazon.
Here's some shots of the filled areas on the stock:
(https://i.imgur.com/xhlEGK0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vht7iip.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PI4Nj64.jpg)
Just like with the Bondo, I went around the entire stock, filling in the spots that I felt needed it. This is the only filling I'm going to be doing- I'm not going for a perfectly smooth surface. Just a "not as imperfect" one. I am simply correcting the blatant defects in the surface. I can live with the smaller dips and such. Not like they'll be easily seen after paint anyway.
I'm hoping that this stuff will sand as easily as Bondo. There will be quite a bit of sanding. No biggie, it's par for the course. But I'm hoping that the stock will be fully painted by Sunday. The only thing to do now is figure out what scope to use. I'm really considering getting that Beeman blue ribbon S2 scope clone off ebay... I think it would be a perfect fit on this build.
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No picture updates. The fairing compound didn't take over 12 hours to cure!! This is awesome! I kept testing the left over stuff on the mixing sheet. Totally surprised that it was cured hard in only a few hours. The stock is sanded down. Not perfect, but MUCH better. The worst of the surface defects have been filled, everything is smooth- or at least its smooth enough for me. This fairing compound is awesome! A little tougher to sand than Bondo, but really easy to work with. It's expensive, but it will be my go to filler when working with epoxy... Until (if) I find something better. No strong smell like with Bondo either. If it wasn't for the higher cost, I'd just quit Bondo altogether!
I still need to fill the holes in the stock, where I put the stand into the stock, but I'll worry about that when it's time for the butt-plate and spacers.
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It's a bad picture, but at least it's all one color now!
(https://i.imgur.com/gXJcm1S.jpg)
I won't bore you with painting pics. I'll post again once it's all painted and done. Now to decide on what scope to put on her...
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Last coat of color is on, still need to take all the masking tape off and clear coat it. The stock won't be done today :( I still need to fill those two holes in the back of the stock, and install the butt-pad and spacers. Then the stock will be DONE.
I've got a Hawke AO scope that I'm going to put on this rifle- I have 30mm Theoben rings for this, and I've ordered 30mm to 1" spacers for them. Just waiting on those to arrive. I guess it's a good thing it's not completely done yet! :P
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I couldn't wait... The paint's been drying all day. I still need to spray the clear. I also need to install the butt-pad and spacers.
(https://i.imgur.com/xzNE15o.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pYkAiqj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1C1Y0Y4.jpg)
Almost done ;D
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Clear coat is on- so paint is done. I've filled the cavities where the stand went with epoxy, and I've put a layer of epoxy on the stand and re-inserted it into the stock. Tomorrow when the epoxy is done curing, I'll flush cut the wooden dowels off, do some light sanding, and then install the spacers and buttpad. By Wednesday the stock will be done-done. Then I can weigh it again, before putting the Rapid in it. Still waiting on the scope ring spacers.
Up close, you can still see imperfections. But from a foot away, they're hard to pick out. Plus, I know they're there, so of course I can see them. Just glancing over the stock though, from a couple feet away, they're camouflaged by the paint ;) Anyhoo. Overall, I'm extremely happy with how it finally turned out. The stock feels good in the hand, and even now, is comfortable to shoulder. It'll be even more so, when I install the butt-pad.
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Fantastic exercise in stock alteration/modification. Looks great !
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Fantastic exercise in stock alteration/modification. Looks great !
Thank you Scott! You've been a big motivation in getting this stock done!! I appreciate the push.
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Ooh! Almost done..looks fantastic! Great work 👍.
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Ooh! Almost done..looks fantastic! Great work 👍.
Yessir!! Thank you! I just finished up with the final little things to finish the work on the stock! I drilled the holes and installed the butt-plate and spacers:
(https://i.imgur.com/d4phAr1.jpg)
It's not perfect, but I did start with an el cheapo airsoft stock. So the fit is bound to be "not great"... Scott- I'm going to have to do better next time in the weight department- Final weight of this stock is 3 lbs, 12 oz. So it's actually on par with it's real life counterpart... :( Next stock I do will have to be done a little different to shave some weight. I don't mind the weight, TBH- but now that Scott's got me thinking about it, I want to see how low I can go and still make a strong stock...
Yes, I did epoxy the spacers and butt-pad into place, as well as the screws. I did this for the same reason I didn't add an adjustable cheek piece (well, the MAIN reason): This rifle is for me. I don't need it to be very adjustable. Once I've set the LOP, I don't see a need to adjust it. Plus, this rifle isn't going anywhere for a long, LONG time.
Anyhoo, I'll take one more picture tomorrow, of the rifle in the stock, w/the scope rings on and the LDC installed. THEN I'll call this project FINALLY complete! I know this thread started close to two years ago, but really, this journey started back in '14 when I purchased this action from Chip Smith. The idea has been in my mind since the first time I ever saw a picture of a Theoben Elan back in '98 or '99. I think this tribute build is a touch better. Maybe not the stock, but surely the internals of the gun, and the barrel. The only things that would have made this the PERFECT build, is if I had been able to get my hands on a anschutz trigger and some 7 shot Theoben mags... Even though an anshutz trigger isn't correct for an Elan. I'm not sure if it would have even fit on a Mk2 action. I think those were on Mk1's. But overall- I'm happy!!! Dream gun #2 check!!!
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Okay... I couldn't wait. The epoxy is set enough, my 30mm to 1" ring adapters came in whilst eating breakfast... I HAD to see her all together, and didn't want to wait until tomorrow. ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/pEijeSt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xvu2oUV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1MRa8iI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bZpQAs9.jpg)
Here ends the build portion of this journey... I will soon be sighting this puppy in. I'll start a new thread showing that part. It'll be short though ;D
I thank you all who have been watching this project from the start, and I appreciate all the kind words and gentle pushes to get this done!
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FANTASTIC !!! ...... you would never know it is a PCP with the hpa tank nestled down within the fore stock.
What a journey this has been for you & a BIG congrats in sticking with it to completion (https://www.bmwlt.com/forums/images/smilies/av-101150.gif)
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Thank you again Scott!! For your great assembly work and tuning of the gun itself, and all the pushing to get this done! I'm supremely happy with the way it turned out! Keep an eye out for that shooting post and such! I've got to dig out the chrony and get some numbers before sighting it. I'm so happy this is finally DONE!! I can now enjoy it! ;D