.30 Condor back on the menu!!

[YEMX]

3 days from Mumbai to Md...  Jeeze.  Looks like this angled tank adapter will be the trick- I should be able to get my hand comfortably around the grip now, and the tank should be angled enough for me to be able to see out of the scope.  Also, I got a UTG drooper dovetail to picatinny conversion rail yesterday.  I hope that both the drooper rail and angled tank adapter will do the trick to be able to comfortably mount a scope!  I want to see how accurate she is and get her sighted in!!

[YEMX]

Finally got her all together, and it feels like a whole new gun!! List of stuff:

Angled tank adapter from PCPTunes
UTG canted dovetail to pic adapter
UTG 1" pic rings, low

I ran into a slight snag when I found that my butt plate mount popped off.  It's fine, it was just epoxied on the tank.  I re-epoxied it with some PC-7.  I cleaned up the mating surfaces of course...  So I'll be waiting for that to fully cure for a bit.  I want to make sure to give the epoxy it's full cure time. 

I can now fully and comfortably grasp the pistol grip, and the cheek weld vs. scope height is about as perfect a fit that I've EVER felt on an AF rifle.  Once the PC-7 is done curing, I'm going to finally sight this thing in.  Those dang yotes won't know what hit them!   

[KnifeMaker]

I like the looks of that angled adapter. Unfortunately, won't work with my MadDog Stock.


What is PC-7?


Mike

[YEMX]

I like the looks of that angled adapter. Unfortunately, won't work with my MadDog Stock.


What is PC-7?


Mike

I'm kicking around the idea of getting a Mad Dog Ranger stock, and having it modified slightly for my gun, and having the butt-stock section removed, like with his Hunter line.  I probably won't do it though.  I don't want to spend any more money on this rifle, except on ammo! 

PC-7 is about the best dang epoxy I've ever worked with.  It's thick, doesn't sag, it's really sticky and it cures in 24 hours.  Full cure in 48 hrs.  No post heat cure needed.  I absolutely LOVE it.  Easy to mix, 1:1 parts A and B.  Sticks to darn near everything.  The only truly effective release agent is legitimate mold release.  Typical things like shoe polish, Johnson's Paste Wax, or Vaseline are not effective enough with PC-7.  I almost ruined my BS4 (FWB 300 clone) stock because I thought Vaseline would be an effective release agent.  Luckily I got impatient and tried to remove the trigger guard (I was trying to bed the trigger guard) before the 24 hr cure was up.  I did end up chipping the BS4 stock though.    I really can't praise this product enough.

[aluminumfetish]

 I know there are a lot of AirForce gun owners here on the GTA. It seems you love them, or you hate them. I love seeing what people are doing with the platform. Old or new, done or "works in progress", I would love to see what people have done to make the AF platform work. I hope your new tank adapter works out !! I hope it's a crusher and can't wait to see how it turns out.

[YEMX]

Okay- PC-7 has had it's time to fully cure (48 hrs), I've attached the butt plate so now I can fully shoulder the Condor...  Yep.  This combination feels PERFECT.  For me.

I'll say this:  I think I got lucky, because the angled adapter came with what I'm assuming to be clocking shims.  I simply assembled everything together just to see what would happen, and everything lined up well enough to not need any clocking shims.  YMMV.  Anyhoo, this is the final combination for this rifle: 

-  Gorilla 62 cu in 3k psi tank (has to be modified to M18-1.5 thread for Condor valves) w/Doug Noble's buttplate adapter. 
-  PCPTunes angled tank adapter
-  UTG DNT06 Droop mount
-  UTG accushot low 1" pic rings

I don't think I've ever been this comfortable shouldering a AF rifle EVER.  Now onto sighting her in- I'm happy with 70 fpe... 

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO REPLICATE THIS SET UP, that's on you.  I'm not responsible for a thing!

The butt plate adapter should be easy to replicate, it's simply an aluminum disc with a mounting boss that's threaded for an allen screw.  Simply epoxy the butt plate adapter to the tank, after getting down to bare metal.  Don't forget to rough up the surfaces a bit so the epoxy can have some tooth.   The butt plate itself is secured to the butt plate adapter via a countersunk allen screw, and could be shaped however you want for comfort and such... 

The tank should be modified by a professional machinist, no if and's or buts.  The tank I used is a Gorilla brand, as you can see in the pic.  I believe Ninja also made a 62 cu in tank, but I cannot speak on the neck thickness.  I don't know if the same tank maker made both Gorilla and Ninja.  I don't want to assume and pass bad info.  I KNOW the Gorilla brand works, because Doug uses or did use them, has modified them, and told me to buy this specific tank to modify.  I'm obviously using one here and it's fine.  Check out ebay to find one.  Copy the set up at your own risk.  I'm NOT telling y'all to do anything.  I'm simply showing you what I've done with my rifle.   

[YEMX]

Slight update on this Condor build.  No changes to the gun itself.  However, I really want a 1 piece stock, like a Maddog.  I just don't have the coin to drop on a stock all at once, and I want a different design than what he has available.  In no way am I knocking Maddog Stocks!!  He has some really good designs, just not exactly what I want.  Anyhoo, I started this stock build a couple months back and got kinda frustrated with certain aspects of the build.  I've just today picked it up again, and decided I'm going to finish this stock, along with the Rapid Mk2 stock I'm working on. 

I'm nowhere near done with this pattern...  I will be making a mold of it, so I can cast this stock as a solid piece of plastic.  Not sure what formulation I'm going to go with yet though.  I'm looking at Smooth On stuff currently.
 I still need to get a vacuum chamber for the casting resin.  Or make one, though prices have come down enough to where it's just faster and more economical to buy one right now.  So who knows when I'll get to making the mold and casting one.  I'll get it all done this year for sure, just not sure exactly when.  Anyhoo, here's some progress pics:

Cut outs for the breech, fill nipple, etc.:




Cut-outs for the power wheel and power meter on the side of a Condor:


M1913 rail for a bipod:


Just showing the fore grip shape:


I still need to do more work on this plug, it's not complete.  Lots of filling, and such to do.  In case anyone is wondering, those grips are KRG Works small or medium (I can't remember) grip panels (for their chassis).  The grip panles will be molded into the stock, not removable.  I find they're super-comfortable, and the angle is good with the tank.  The re-worked Sage EBR fore grip will also be molded in, not removable.  As will the section of M1913 for a bipod.  All one piece.  I've been dreaming of doing something like this for an AF gun for many, MANY years...  Anyhoo, just a quick update.  I'll keep y'all posted!

[bear air]

Good to see you Tom. Project is looking good!

[YEMX]

Good to see you Tom. Project is looking good!

Thank you sir!  It's good to be working on stuff I enjoy again, even it's a little bit here and there.  I ain't goin' nowhere!  Y'all are stuck with me!  BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH 

[YEMX]

This is going to sound strange, but I'm not sure where those pictures are, on Imgur...  They're not in any of my folders.  I was having issues with Imgur yesterday with not loading my image folders, and tried to "backdoor" these pics into one of my folders... yet today (I can get into my folders today), I can't seem to find them.  Not sure where they are!  Another strange thing, is that I cropped the first pic a bit, yet the changes weren't saved.
 I'm going to post them again, just in case Imgur decides to delete the one's linked above.  This is really strange... 

Cut outs for the breech, fill nipple, etc.:


Right side


Cut-outs for the power wheel and power meter on the side of a Condor:


M1913 rail for a bipod:


Fore grip shape:


A few notes:

In the first image, you can see "holes" in the trigger guard- Those are drilling mistakes.  I have filled them in and smoothed over. 

I've ordered some large tubes of JB Weld so I can bed this chassis.  I don't feel that I need "normal" bedding epoxy.  This is after all, just a pattern.  Reason for bedding is because that area where the cut outs are, is very fragile, and need reinforcement...  I won't get everything until next week though, so I'll just work on gluing the grips on and such.  That will also provide some much needed reinforcement.

Again, I'll post more when I have it.

[YEMX]

Got a little more work done on the stock tonight.  I decided that I will glue one grip panel on at a time- it's safer that way    Anyhoo, There's a pretty big gap between the grip and the stock.  I didn't get a picture of this with the right hand grip panel, but tomorrow I'll snap a pic before I glue the left panel on.  I OF COURSE made a mistake cutting the grip panel, with regard to the cut outs for the breech opening and such    It's fine, I'll just re-build that section with some epoxy clay.  I did reinforce the section  with PC-7 though, so at least the area will be stronger.  I also started filling in the screw holes in the short section of picatinny rail.
 There's no room to put actual screws, so I just decided to fill in where the screws would have gone.  It's ugly right now, but once I trim the excess and sand, it'll look much better. 







I'll post more soon...

[YEMX]

I apologize for all the bad pictures...  All I have is my cell phone 

Anyhoo, I did a little more work on the stock.  Still have a ways yet, but at least some progress has been made.  The PC-7 from yesterday hasn't FULLY cured, but it's cured enough to handle.  It's supposed to take 48 hours to fully cure.  Now is the perfect time to do any trimming/clean up, because it's soft enough to easily cut with a razor blade, but I'm not at risk of accidentally pulling the grip panel off- I don't have to be too gentle with it.  I can also take off that squeeze clamp too, to work the left side easier.     

Here's a shot of the slightly cleaned up picatinny rail:


I'm not sure if y'all can make it out, but I tried to get a pic of the gap between the wood and the grip panels.  The gap was the same (maybe a little worse in some spots) on the right side.  Just to give you an idea of how bad my work is    It looked like a full 1/8th inch gap!










When I put the AF frame into the stock, the wood sits flush and tight (tight enough before bedding).  So I'm not worried about the gap.  The fit between the stock and the frame is more important than the gap between the stock and the grip- as long as the grips are straight up and down, which they are.  Anyhoo, more later.

[YEMX]

The PC-7 has hardened enough to take the clamps off, and handle it a bit.  I still have  A LOT of work left to do for this stock, but wow.  I really do wish you guys could feel how comfortable this thing is to grip.  I took a few pictures.  I just couldn't wait any longer- I had to see what this stock looked like w/all the accouterments finally attached.  The EBR fore end isn't glued on yet- it's just slipped on there.

Here you can see the right side is wide open for feeding, the left is closed off: 




Area around the gauge is too tight:




Fill nipple area will probably need to be enlarged a bit:


I'm happy with this, but between the fore end and the gauge opening will have to be smoothed out a bit:


This is why the trigger opening is so big:


The stock goes darn near to the end of the frame:


So yes, the stock needs A LOT of clean up and more shaping- but I'm getting there.  KRG did an AMAZING job with this grip design.  I can't praise them enough.  It is just so comfortable!!  The grip angle is perfection, the thumb shelf on either side...  Man, I just LOVE these grips!!  This EBR fore end is also quite comfortable!  SMH.  I can't believe this stock is FINALLY getting done- I've dreamed about something similar to this for so dang long!!

[YEMX]

I did a bit more work today on this stock...  I had to really open up the fill nipple side of the grip, as the fill adapter wouldn't fit otherwise.  I also shaped up the right side cut outs a bit, as the gauge fit was too tight.  I added more material to the section where I cut off too much grip panel (middle section), and also added a bit more material to the front section of the loading port cut out.  Oh- and that yellow thing is just a dam to keep the clay in place for when I added some epoxy clay to fill in the beaver tail area.  I still haven't added the fore end yet.  I want to take my time around the grip/chamber area before moving on to the trigger guard, then the fore end.

Made the middle section thicker:


Opened up the fill nipple area:


Initial fill of beaver tail:


As soon as my JB Weld comes in (had to order the big tubes, no one sells them around here), I'll bed the stock using a blank AF frame I have.  I should be done with the grip, trigger guard and fore end areas before I get the JB Weld.  Not too much longer.  The hard part is figuring out how I'm going to make a mold of this thing, and what material to use for the stock... 

[YEMX]

No pictures.  I decided to glue the fore end on today...  I also filled in all the holes in the fore end as well.  I'm going to fill the void with some not-so-expandy expanding foam (I think for windows) to fill the cavity before capping the ends with epoxy clay.  Anyhoo, more later. 

[YEMX]

Okay, slight change...  I'm not going to make a mold of this stock...  I've been looking at the cost of material for both the mold, and casting resins.  Plus the material properties of the available resins across multiple manufacturers doesn't support this design...  That's not even considering my severe lack of experience in designing a mold for something this complex    So this stock is going to stay a one-off...      I just can't justify all that money for a stock.  Estimated cost of mold making material, mother mold and casting (IF I don't muck it up the on the first go) is around $600+.  I just can't do that.  I have other projects that need done across many fields (other airguns, powder burners, vehicles, house  ).

Enough of the depressing stuff...  ANYHOO!  I'm to cut off the pic rail, and have decided to go with an over-bore bipod.  There's just not enough material to solidly mount a pic rail/bipod.  I also just checked that the EBR fore end does indeed fit in my PIG saddle...  I'M STOKED!!  I now have 2 ways to shoot this beast of a rifle- off a bipod or mounting to a tripod...  NICE!!

Anyhoo, I'll keep y'all posted.  At this point, I should be done with the stock soon!

[YEMX]

Not too much done, been waiting on stuff to dry, and thinking on how I'm going to do the fiberglass...  I've filled in under the fore end section with foam, did some clean up and capped the former open gaps and voids with epoxy clay.  Anyhoo, just a few pics to update the thread...







It all still looks pretty rough, but it's getting there.  Pretty soon I'll put the first coats of primer down, and we'll really see where we're at with the smoothness and such.  I still need to bed the stock too.  I haven't decided whether to do that before or after glassing the bare wood... I'm thinking after.

[YEMX]

    Not too much of an update- the stock is nearly ready to be "bedded"...  I still need to smooth a few places out before I do the bedding though.  Also, I was a little off with my front trigger screw    It's fixed though.  I also decided to add a 3rd screw- where the original fore end goes.  I miraculously got the factory fore end screw drilled perfect on the first go, so I've got that going for me...    The only issue now is finding screws that are long enough to engage the threads in the frame 
    I completely forgot that the AF frame has most of the bottom rail removed, whereas my raw extrusion doesn't.  Basically, I want (need) to have a filler piece to take up the missing rail in the front of the AF frame.  So I did that tonight.  I'll glue it in when the bedding is done.  Once I'm satisfied with everything, I'll do a few coats of primer, wet sand then throw on some duracoat.  Then I can finally put this Condor back together again for the last time.  Then confirm zero and do any needed adjustments.  I still need to get a bipod    BUT THEN I can start working on my dope card.  FINALLY. 

Side note- with both sides of the grip on, the stock is a touch tight between the tank and grip.  But if I use the thumb shelf on the right side, instead of trying to grip the pistol grip, it fits perfectly.  I'm still 100% satisfied though!  I wouldn't change a thing! 

Oh- I also got a neoprene tank cover.  That tank is frakin' COLD to rest my cheek on.  Supposedly the cover is good for up to a 90 cu in tank.  We'll see.  This tank is only 73 cu in (I think).  The neoprene should be nice and comfy year round.  I'll just cut out the back a little so I can attach the butt-plate. 

[YEMX]

...This tank is only 73 cu in (I think)...

62 cu in tank, not 73.  I don't know why I thought it was a 73 cu in tank. 

[YEMX]

I bedded the stock today...  Here's to hoping it went well...



I didn't take too many pictures though...  I feel bad I wasted a lot of JB Weld, but I wanted to make sure I got a good amount of squeeze out.  I put JB Weld on the stock, and the AF frame itself.  The frame is solidly held in place with the rudimentary inlet that I was able to do, but there's a good size void where the bottom curve of the AF frame is- it's just the way I had to build the stock.  I'm hoping the bedding job turns out okay.  I haven't had the best of luck with bedding jobs in the past.  Not like I can really do anything about it now except wait and see. 

Thankfully, I was able to get some screws that will work for all 3 spots locally and without having to buy a large quantity of each one.  I did have to cut them all down, but that's a small price to pay.  Hopefully I'll be done with this stock soon.  I'm not rushing things, but I want to get this done so I can move onto the fun stuff!  There's still a bunch of work needed to get it where I'll be happy with it- but we're getting there!