EscapeSS Dispatch Gun

[YEMX]

Whitefang, re-reading your post...  I am planning on making the top contour of the stock follow the tank contours closely.  The pictures I posted were more for reference to get a basic idea of shape.  There's certain elements, like the thumbhole grip, the larger beavertail fore end that the stock will have.  The back end will be different, as will the butt-plate.  The back end of the stock will more mimic a powderburner AR pistol brace, like a KAK Shockwave.  When it's in "dispatch mode", the stock will act as a brace to make single hand shooting a little more comfortable.  But when I need/want to use it for longer ranges, I can extend the buttplate out and use it as a carbine.  Most of the time it'll be in the "dispatch mode"...  I feel like I'm not describing this very well 

[YEMX]

So here's a question or two for everyone:

Are all AF hammer springs the same?  Or rather, is there a difference between a Talon vs. a Condor hammer spring?  What I've read and heard says yes.  Based on everything I've read, I've installed both a Condor hammer weight, and a heavier hammer spring from Talon Tunes.  I suppose another question to ask, would be is there a difference between a AF Condor hammer spring and a Talon Tunes heavy hammer spring?   

I fired a few shots off yesterday just because, and even at 2k psi (I didn't feel like filling it up all the way just to check for leaks), this build sounds a touch louder than it should with a secondary LDC on...  Maybe it's just the mechanical noise (I think it has a lot to do with it, all my AF guns in the past have always received a TT slap mod hammer)...  Or possibly it was my proximity to the house (I was only a few steps from the house).  Also, the gun feels a touch stiffer to cock than I remember.  I don't have any preload on the power wheel- it's at "0" more or less.  Thoughts?   

[YEMX]

After doing some VERY basic drawings and pattern making for this new stock, I think I might have to make it a little longer than I'd like.  I didn't realize just how short this tank is!  I'll have so see though.  I think I can make all my ideas work out. 

[WHITEFANG]

That might be an advantage. Look at PB's stocks even tactical.
Much easier to use a pre made poly stock and work to fit whatever. Even bed it. Get out out  the side box unless you want to us your skills and have tooling
Jmo I used many other stocks from different guns. PB is unlimited. 💀

[YEMX]

Yeah...  I've done that too 

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=150048.0

[YEMX]

Here's a shot of the mold for the grip halves.  Just waiting on the mold rubber to get here:


Here's a shot of the progress on the "stock".  Again, I'm combining a few design ideas from a few stocks...


-  Main inspiration is a Manners T5A (thumbhole grip and beaver tail type fore end)
-  Grip is a re-worked AF factory shape.  Grip location is also about where the factory AF grip would be.
-  Factory AF-type butt-plate will be recessed (and flush) when stowed.  Overall rear section of stock will be very stubby- like MCS-CS (compact stock)
-  Going to be re-using the factory AF trigger guard
-  Will use the grip screw and fore end screw locations to mount stock

That's it for now.  Once that mold making rubber comes in, I'll finish up the grip I was working on before I finish this stock thing...  I'd like to see how the larger target grip feels on this Escape build.  If it feels okay, I'll probably (eventually) put it up for sale, since I'll have the stock, once it's done.  Anyhoo, that's it for updates. 

When the butt-plate is collapsed, the back end of the stock will act as a brace...  Basically an attempt to make this more comfortable (not sure if that's the right word) to shoot single handed, in a dispatching scenario.  It's more work, but I'm building this stock up in layers.  I'm going to put insulation foam (dense XPS foam, not styrofoam) around the outside of this wooden base (made up of bass and balsa), and I'm going to cover it all in epoxy and fiberglass once I'm happy with the shape. 

[YEMX]

Little mishap with the mold...  My fault though.  Basically, I made the mold too big and I didn't have enough mold rubber...  WELL, that's not true.  I had just enough.  My maths were a little off  I've already poured my first set...  We'll see how it goes.  I'm hoping I'll be able to pour a second set today, because for one grip panel I used old resin.  I was surprised with the results...  Salvageable (I think, I haven't demolded it yet), but still surprising.  I'm going to have to do a lot of finish work on that grip panel that was poured with the old resin.    I'll post pictures later- I'm currently eating breakfast...

If this mold fails after this first or second pour, I'm going to make another mold, one for each grip panel.  Much less wasted material that way.  Yeesh.  This mold cost me $40 in material.  That's not including the resin.  I'd rather not do THAT again    I think I can make a "better" mold with half the material next time.  We'll see.

No updates on the stock.

[YEMX]

Okay- here's a few pictures:

First pour, in the mold.  Old resin on the right, you can see the difference in how they cured.  I filled to the same line on the mold for each side...  Interesting. 


Here's some shots of the left grip (new resin) as it came out of the mold:






There's definitely some weirdness going on.  I'm not sure what happened, but somehow the right side grip panel got bigger?  It's weird.  I did a decent preliminary job matching the two sides together before making the mold...  So they should have been very close.  That's NOT what came out of the mold.  I tested the two plugs and they go together fine, it all looks good.  Really weird.  Also, 3 random air bubbles formed in the mold, resulting in those lumps you can see.  Needless to say, I made a 2nd pour for the right hand panel straight away...  The first pour is trash.






Here's a shot of both panels together, after initial clean up and such.  Still needs work of course, but we're a touch closer.




No updates on the stock.

[YEMX]

I found a vid on youtube that goes a little into foam core stocks:


Even though I'm not yet using CF, or this exact method...  But the idea is there.  Just thought it was cool.

[Bunyboyz]

Keeping an eye on this, very cool to see the steps.

[YEMX]

Keeping an eye on this, very cool to see the steps.

I try to share the steps for 2 reasons- one, so I can keep track of what I've done, and two- so others can either try it, or if they see a better way, improve upon what I've done.  Also, it gives me something to do and gets me out of my head... 

[YEMX]

Small update- I'm almost ready to glue the two halves together.  Here's a few pics:






I tried to get different angles, because the lighting and flash weren't being helpful.  I hogged out the trigger recess- it's also where the factory trigger guard recesses into the grip.  All the work was done with a dremel and patience!  Lots and lots of patience!  I definitely do NOT want to mess up right now!  I'm too close!

Here you can see the channel I made for the all-thread.  The last bit I have to do is at the bottom, and it'll be the recess for the nyloc nut I'm going to use to secure the grip onto the frame.  The dimples are there just for the epoxy (JB Weld) to flow into...  More surface area, more better adhesion.   


Something a little different I'm also doing is I'm using some small aluminum tube that acts as a sleeve for the 10-32 all-thread to go through, that way it's a smooth and tight channel, and it'll also be more surface area for the epoxy to adhere to.  The last little thing I'm doing differently- more of an "improvement", is that little locating nub at the back of a factory grip.  What I'm doing is epoxying in a aluminium rod to take the place of the tiny nub.  I drilled the hole larger, and the alu rod fits near perfect.  Slides in but with barely any play.  I'll sink the alu rod all the way through and sand to fit...  Then cut it down so it doesn't protrude from the frame.  Everything will be nice and solid.  At least that's my hope.  I'm hoping to be done with this grip by this weekend. 

[YEMX]

I hogged out the bottom of the grips so I could fit a tool in there, to tighten down the nyloc nut.  I can fit a washer too!    It's not pretty, but meh.  It's the bottom of the grips.  I totally forgot to get the washers and nuts- so I'll have to get those at Homer tomorrow.  THEN I can glue these together- FINALLY.  Almost done!

No updates on the stock- except that I got some more balsa for the build.  Since I'm almost done with these grips and my Rapid stock, I'll soon be able to work just on the stock project.  Very excited to try this idea out!!

[YEMX]

I'm waiting for the epoxy to dry.  Tomorrow I'll take it off and finish it all up.  Try to picture it w/o the clamp in the way...









The recess on the bottom isn't very good.  But it works.  There's more than enough room to get a tool in there.  Overall, I'm happy how it came out.  I still need to finish it, fill in the seam line and do a final sand, then I can primer and paint.  I'll also need to fill in a bit under the trigger guard, I took out a hair too much material.  Nothing a little PC7 can't fix. 

[YEMX]

Here's some pics w/o the clamp.  Just have to add the rear locating nub, fill the seam and add some PC7 under the trigger guard.  Smooth, then paint...  It feels pretty dang good, and because of the size and thumb shelf, it really makes one-handing the EscapeSS much better.  Without the LDC.  Although, the NC LDC doesn't add much weight.









Nearly done! 

[YEMX]

No pictures- I'll take some tomorrow.  But I did some very preliminary filling/shaping with some JB Weld, and also drilled the hole for, and have glued in, the Aluminium anti-twist pin in the back.  It was real sketchy drilling that hole!  But it's done, the pin fits (a little TOO well), and now everything is curing.  Tomorrow I'm going to sand down the rough fills, and finish shaping, and go over it with some epoxy filler.  This grip will be usable tomorrow, but it won't be done.  Oh well.  Monday or Tuesday for sure.  Using all this epoxy is slowing things down, but it's fine.  I'm not in a rush.

[YEMX]

Here's some shots of that anti-twist (anti-rotation?) pin I am talking about...  I've got a bunch of yard work that still needs to be finished, so I'll get to shaping and filling later...





Amost done.  The drying time for epoxy is killing me!  I want to be done already! 

[YEMX]

The grip is finally DONE!  I'll take some pics later.  After some thought, I'm not going to make that stock for this dispatch gun.  I bought this to dispatch animals, not to really "use" for anything else.  I MAY put a pistol scope on this down the road, set it up like a scout rifle...  I may also design a new block that uses the tank strap that comes with these guns, so I can add a quick adjust butt plate, like that TalonP Carbine from Airgun Depot...  Who knows.  For right now, this gun is DONE. 


As for the stock idea that I started, I'm still doing it- just for a Texan.  That I'm converting to 7mm.  Keep an eye out for that one!

[YEMX]

*SIGH* Okay... NOT done yet...      First, here's some pictures with the grip on, and other features of the dispatch gun:












That's a 9" Neil Clague LDC.  It fits the gun quite nicely!!  Again, I am EXTREMELY pleased with how this grip came out.  It's very close in angle to the factory grip, it's got a better anti-rotation pin in the back, and the wider target grip really spreads the weight of the "pistol" when using it with one hand...  Sure I could have taken more time to really make this look clean and perfect, but meh.  It's not meant to be a show gun... 

So this is the reason why this dispatch gun (can't really call it a pistol anymore, can I?!) isn't really done yet...  I found something while starting to clear up the basement a bit, in preparation for assembling my lathe stand:




I forgot I bought this collapsible stock for another AF project that never got done.  I've got this stock and a mounting bar for the tank.  It's designed for a RAP4 paintball gun.  So the cool thing about the butt-plate is the curvature of it matches the forearm pretty well.  So fully collapsed, this will act as a good arm brace when I need to use it as a dispatch gun.  Now, once I add a pistol scope (which I now will be  AFTER some measurements for ring height), I can extend the stock out and use it as a carbine if I need to extend the range of the dispatching...  Like with a known rabid fox or raccoon.  So, a couple more days, and this will be done-DONE.   

[YEMX]

Well...  Cross your fingers for a good result.  I'll find out tomorrow whether or not I just ruined a TalonP tank 

I modified the RAP4 mounting rail- had to, no way to use it otherwise.  Between the frame and the tank, there's not enough room for it to mount properly.  I've sanded down to bare metal on both the tank and the mounting rail.  Cleaned with acetone, and put on some PC7.  It looks straight...    But like I said, we'll find out tomorrow if it's straight enough...  Y'all, cross your fingers for me... 

Oh, and I'm not in a rush to put a pistol scope on this gun- so once we find out if I did a good enough job on this mounting rail, I'm going to call this project done.  MAYBE a paint job down the road, but again, I'm not really looking to put much more work into this build...