Rat[TK] Posted July 24, 2018 Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 So in keeping with doing things I'm not familiar with, questionable skills, ability, resources and limited tools I've decided to give this a go. Didn't think to get pictures at the start, but hey it was just cutting templates from happy trooper. Though I noticed it was a good base for a starting point. So in using those templates and following some of astyanax's build here I might have a shot of pulling this off. Well with that said let's start with some rough and basic stuff. 1-3 - Measurements on the basic template plans pictures.4-8 - Laying out the grips cut from some of my scrap abs from my TK kit along with some foam core to build the raised area and a stack of repurposed rubber washers. Yes I know it's too tall, I fixed that by removing one of them later.9 - Opting for a metal trigger guard made from some leftover from my scope rail.10-11 - Some cardboard tube for my charging handle.Lastly some quick mock up of parts. Feeling a bit nervous and would gladly accept any pointers, tips, anything really. With that said let's go. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted July 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 The butt stock is going to be one of my challenges. Here I've already cut and glued it together using three layers of 3/4" plywood. I've marked out where I will need to sand for a more proper shape. Need to get some sanding belts this week for the belt sander. Also I've decided to try to incorporate a metal trigger guard as I didn't like the wood look of the original Happy Trooper plans. So I dremeled out the concave for a guide for later. If anyone has a resource photo of the butt stock from the front or bottom that shows that little horn better would be great, all I can find is profile pictures.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tig70[TK] Posted July 24, 2018 Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 Hi Rat Looks like your getting on well If you want to be fussy vent hole pattern should be off set slightly Set the tape out in metric as this is how the Germans worked . Love confusing you guys as well . Vent holes as far as I know are 14mm .with the four smaller ones at the very front of the barrel are 12mm , easy conversion is 25.4 mm to the inch , Good luck Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justjoseph63[Staff] Posted July 24, 2018 Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 Here are a few photos of my 3D build, sir. The widest points (front and back) are 1 1/2 inches, and the concave part in the center is 1 inch wide. Hope this helps! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted July 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 Hi Rat Looks like your getting on well If you want to be fussy vent hole pattern should be off set slightly Set the tape out in metric as this is how the Germans worked .Love confusing you guys as well . Vent holes as far as I know are 14mm .with the four smaller ones at the very front of the barrel are 12mm , easy conversion is 25.4 mm to the inch ,Good luck Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Yes I've already adjusted my hole template to make the correction for that. I also am thinking I can double them over for the other holes. From the way it was sort of explained to me on that is that the front barrel section is a 3-4 pattern. Then the rear section is a 5-4-1 pattern.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted July 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 Here are a few photos of my 3D build, sir. The widest points (front and back) are 1 1/2 inches, and the concave part in the center is 1 inch wide. Hope this helps! Yes Joseph that does help, thank you.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted July 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 First pass on the butt stock and pretty happy with it so far. I'll do some more measuring and a second pass tomorrow. I also made the stock extension using a similar method as Bill (?) ( username atsyntax). Then made use of two part putty for the first time to fill in the middle section of the receiver cover. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted July 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 So after re measuring I'm not sure if I'll be able to thin the stock much more as I added a 1 1/4" coupler and it is not coming off. No glue but it had to be hammered in. I did manage to get some of the barrel tip done, need to trim just a bit and it will be good.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 Barrel tip is complete minus the drill hole near the end working on placement of that one. Outer barrel parts are cut and ready for drilling. I've also gotten my feed cover parts done and mocked up. Still working on the receiver outer parts. The Happy Trooper plans seem to square for my liking so I plan on cutting them at an angle like the original mg34. Having to work that out though.You'll noticed I switched out the hole templates as I found that the HT ones were just too far off for me.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tig70[TK] Posted August 3, 2018 Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 Coming along nicely mate , like the improvement 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 Coming along nicely mate , like the improvement Thanks. I still need to decide where that hole on the rear of the tip should be. It looks as if it should be between the vent holes of the outer barrel, but not quite in the middle. This is from the reference pictures on Astynaxs thread. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixim[TK] Posted August 3, 2018 Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 I really love builds like this. It's so close to they way they actually went about fiddling with these weapons in creation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 It is definitely a learning experience. Having fun with it which is important but at the same time it's almost as nerve wracking as my near complete armor build. I really love builds like this. It's so close to they way they actually went about fiddling with these weapons in creation. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixim[TK] Posted August 3, 2018 Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Rat said: apologies, format error. Mod May delete this. Edited August 3, 2018 by trixim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 Butt stock is about as close as I'll be able to go, just a bit more sanding. Stock extension works well. Drilled it out with a 3/4" spade bit and then used my sanding bit on the dremel to open it up just a bit to get the extension in.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixim[TK] Posted August 4, 2018 Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) I was drilling something out maybe a week ago and my dremel died motor burnt out. yes, it actually died from just, plain, old use. I have had this particular Dremel unit for i think.... oh dear, it's been in the family now since 89 i believe. So for those Troopers out there wondering how good the Dremel actually is. I've actually had it that long. It would probably be a cheap thing to fix, as i believe it was probably just a bad surge that shorted out the unit. Edited August 4, 2018 by trixim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 Ejection port cover boxes done. Hopefully my measurements are good, they look good. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 So I'm not sure what exactly happened here with the first photo. All the rest of them printed okay, but this one no clue what happened. Quick mock up of where I am so far.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixim[TK] Posted August 4, 2018 Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 Are you now building this AND the Anovos set together haha, don’t burn yourself out man! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 This, the anovos and a THG E-11 salvage job. So yeah busy with some stuff. Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumpy~[501st] Posted August 4, 2018 Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 Coming along nicely Rat! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2018 Coming along nicely Rat! Thanks. I'm almost more nervous over this and my E-11 than my armor build.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2018 So need to clean up the vent holes. But I think the outer barrel shroud is ready to be glued and painted. Also need to decide which of the two pieces I will use for the inner barrel. barrel and yes I have feline assistance.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2018 So still need to glue, but think I've worked out my inner barrel. I also found a creative solution to making my inner barrel more stable. A bit of packing material, a couple of lengths of 1/2" pipe and some elbow grease.Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rat[TK] Posted August 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2018 Now when I prep to paint the inner barrel should be flat or satin black and the outer can be a hammered texture right?Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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