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Honestly, I PREFER the tubes as they are right now - it provides the builder with options. The builder can get the front edge rolled or get rid of the excess 1mm on a belt sander. Purchasing a pre-rolled tube would be a nice option though... Sorry to derail your beautiful build Tino, but you're paving the way for other builders by discovering these things!

Mystery of the spacing discrepancy SOLVED... The front of the CNC'd receivers are about 1 mm too long. Then add the receiver thickness, if the edge were rolled. The muzzle fits behind the rolled edge, which is ~1/16" thick. If you line up the resin muzzle with the front edge of the CNC tube, the offset from a real Sterling: 3/32" or 2.38mm. Actually, I'm glad this happened...I may take all my receivers to a machine shop to see if I can actually get the front edges rolled. Here are some measurements to figure out where your muzzle needs to be in relation to the receiver:

This is an interesting picture, showing the entire stack up outside the receiver. I have another real Sterling muzzle surgically removed from a receiver - I'm considering making a mold and offering a muzzle casting as an option with barrel purchases. Right now, cutting the Phoenix Props casting (as you did) is the only way to install the barrel, but doing so eliminates the crescent shaped "block" on the inside of the muzzle. See the reference picture showing the inside of the muzzle...that block maintains proper barrel spacing. You could maybe cut several crescent shapes from styrene sheet and build them up to reestablish the spacing. Would you be interested in an upgrade muzzle casting?

You can certainly tell this topic is close to Vern's heart! You guys have him all lathered up - 7 of 12 posts worth! The media will tell any Star Wars related story they can get their hands on right now. Checking facts would take time and lead to conflicting information...so, I think they just go with what they can get easily. And AA is more than willing to share his side to anyone who will listen and not dismiss him immediately.

Don't click that trigger too much...you'll go blind!

Yep, you've got it! I like the tactical grip idea - that fills in the gap. Instead of one really long folding stock, you could have two pieces that appear as one piece when folded. Part of the original folding stock could be the bipod legs and the rear portion could be the tactical grip. Wicked fun!

This is awesome!!! You knew you were probably going to get "non-canon" comments, but this rifle seems like something that could have existed. Good for you for having the courage to create something cool! I have a suggestion for the double stock "problem"... Since this is a sniper rifle, why not keep the folding stock the original length and split it down the middle to make it into a bipod? The pivot becomes a more complicated to allow the "legs" to fold out, but there has to be a piece you could steal from another rifle to make it work... You would still have the classic Sterling/E-11 profile, but have a functional reason for the front mechanism. For the buttstock, I would opt for something like the AR15 collapsable stock. If you found the right size, this part could literally be inserted into the back of the Sterling receiver. Just a thought. More updates soon? Aaron

Tino, this build is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS... Truly a pleasure to watch, so THANKS for sharing your talents!

WOW. It has always been my intent to replicate the business end of a magazine inside the receiver and you've DONE IT! The5thHorseman (Germain) actually said this in my steel pipe build: "If i could offer one suggestion, it would be to paint those rounds in the magazine with a golden fashion paint. There are a lot of places throughout the film where you can notice them:" Germain was referring to one of my pictures which had NO rounds in the magazine. Only the black feed rollers inside the magazine were visible. So, I loaded rounds in the magazine and took another picture. Unfortunately, Germain's picture links are broken. He posted an incredible screen grab where you can CLEARLY see rounds in the magazine through the ejection port. The following picture isn't as good as Germain's, but it seems to show a real round cycling into the chamber: This was likely one of the Bapty hero props that fired real blanks. Does that make it a blaster or just today's smg? Are bullets "screen accurate"? Sometimes it comes down to builder's discretion. Curious though, what would the inside of a laser blaster look like? Maybe worth exploring someday. It's a great idea and I've never seen anyone try it! Incredible work with the bullets, Tino! Some of those were quite literally garbage meant for cutting up, but you made treasure out of them! The paint really sells it as a real bullet! Thanks for listing the colors you used - I'll be visiting the hobby store soon. If you worked this miracle with junk, I can't wait to see what you do with the good pieces! MIND BLOWN. Aaron

I stand corrected and will edit my previous post to avoid confusion. Thank you, Dennis. Great pictures too! It's been awhile since I've had a Sterling apart and apparently my memory isn't what it used to be. In fact, the golden color is probably my fault. Awhile back, I offered pictures of my early production bolt in which the plunger is rusty and the extractor is grooved. Later, I offered pictures of a newer bolt after cleaning all parts in an abrasive media tumbler to remove any corrosion. The later production extractors are not grooved. Rusty plunger, early extractor/bolt: Cleaned bolt parts with later extractor/bolt:

The sear and sear pin are located in the trigger group and are not part of this discussion. As you noted, the plunger and spring should be lubricated to avoid wear. All parts can rust, but I prefer to think of the weathering as "carbon scoring" from heavy cycling since Tino is KILLING IT with this build!!!

"We don't make mistakes...we just have happy little accidents." - Bob Ross

All the screen shots I used for reference did not appear to have pins. Even with Bluray, the resolution is so poor, I don't think anyone could definitively say "yes or no" to pins. Then again, you might ask yourself why the time-limited prop department would have gone through the hassle to remove the pins? Maybe I'm wrong, but I removed the pins from my Hengstler. Seems like asking for trouble to have sharp little prongs sticking out. Overall, I think it's a personal preference call.

1 This is First Order, right? Worth a shot...

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Or carbon fiber...

Hey Steve, I have a 24" clear polycarbonite tube with your name written all over it. I need to stop by McMaster-Carr later this week and I could drop it off at your front door... Is Tuesday a good day? Aaron

I can't help but comment after watching the news and my FB feed all day... Whether you troop with or without your blaster, I urge you to CONSIDER the following: As we watch the beginning of jihad on our soil, and as EP7 and Christmas approach, I encourage all of you to keep your eyes up, and heads on a swivel. If you think what's happening now is, or will continue to be isolated, and it can't be, or simply isn't terrorism, you should probably do yourself a favor and just stay home. If you're going out, the MOST important thing you can do is PLAN. As Vern has pointed out repeatedly, DO NOT fear going anywhere. DO NOT fear going to a movie, a Christmas function or going shopping. But PLAN, and make sure everyone in your group KNOWS the plan. Here are a few things you can do to be more vigilant in public: -Always look for more than one way to escape. -Know where multiple exits are. -Keep your eyes open for heavy cover areas. -Watch those around you. -Bulky coats will be everywhere during winter. Look for bulges at waist height that look unnatural. -Don't let family members venture farther than a few steps. -Have a family agreement that you will be the sheepdog. So you're on watch. They do the shopping, while you do your job. -If you need to shop, do your shopping alone and leave the family at home. -Look for people who seem out of place or are acting unnaturally. -Avoid malls if possible. Small shops have less people, and are less likely to be a target for terrorists. Their goal is the largest body count with the least effort. Hopefully, the worst that will happen is you can tell me I'm ridiculous or having a knee jerk reaction...

PM's sent to Pete and Paul.

I'm hoping a UK Garrison member can do a wellness check on PlayfulWolfCub Andy. Andy has given A LOT to the FISD through his research and masterfully crafted power cylinders. Andy has not been online since October 14th. He's a good friend and usually responds to his personal email quickly, but I can't get a response there either. If you live in England and could visit Andy in person, PLEASE PM ME FOR DETAILS. If I lived there, I'd drive the length of the country to check on him. With great concern, Aaron

All very valid points, Vern, and I salute your patriotism. I'm sure the people in Paris didn't have any thoughts of fear while going about their daily lives. Fear isn't all bad - it sharpens your vigilance. Will I go to the premier in December? Yes. Will I bury my head in the sand and pretend I'm 100% safe and secure in public? No. Time to EAT. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

My thoughts are not based on fear of terrorists or willingly giving up my freedoms. A gunman or a bomber at a public event will NOT care about you or your zip-tied blaster. The idea is to help first responders eliminate YOU as a threat. ONE mishap could make worldwide headlines and put a blemish on the Disney/LFL money machine. Why would they take even the slightest chance, when the answer is as simple as asking you to leave your blaster at home? To each his own. I'm a twice decorated combat veteran from the Gulf War. I saw WICKED stuff in the Middle East and that world is getting CLOSE to home... When radicals are openly murdering people in public venues, I just think it's silly to petition authorities about carrying a toy gun.

I don't think the TK costume is complete without at least a blaster; however, given recent world events and threats, I understand Disney/LFL concerns. Yeah, we're guys in white plastic costumes that are supposed to have weapons IN THE MOVIES. But I'm pretty sure Disney/LFL would rather be associated with wholesome family fun and NOT terrorist acts. Guns are a hot topic on everyone's mind right now. The people involved with Paris type events are out to make a point about Western ideas. The World Trade Center was a symbolic target. So I ask myself, what's more American than Disney and Star Wars? Where does EVERYBODY want to be on December 18th? Disney/LFL has a VERY valid concern. My opinion is worth nothing, but I AGREE with BANNING blasters at PUBLIC venues, at least for now. On the other hand, if a venue has restricted access with security, then allow blasters that have been properly screened and marked. Here's my concern: If a gunman/terrorist/whatever you want to call it, shows up at a public event, law enforcement ISN'T going to be checking for "orange tips". I'd rather NOT be the guy holding what LOOKS like a weapon when authorities arrive to regain control... Just a thought before signing a petition...

With everything going on in the "real" world, this makes all kinds of good sense!!!

Perfect timing. You must be checking in because your barrels are ready to check out of my shop. PM sent. Aaron