Some time back I was reading a thread about someone who put a Longshot plunger tube in a Nite Finder but it seemed like there were some problems with it, especially regarding the case. I also really liked Falcon's Scimitar Manta shell, and I knew I had one of those when I came back. I then took a turret from a busted SM1500, the PETG barrels from a busted AT3K, a few spare plunger parts from assorted broken Nite Finders, and set to work to create the thing that started as so many doodles in my calculus class.
Here's what the collection of materials looks like:
There's a:
Nite Finder plunger
Longshot plunger head
Replacement Century compression spring (22.225 x 101.6 x 2.032 mm are the values given on the package)
SM1500 turret (AT2K would work just as well, I'm sure)
Four six-inch segments of PETG (brass can be substituted for a similar result)
Electrical tape
A segment of 3/8" vinyl tubing (you'll only need a tiny bit, other materials can be substituted)
Four two-inch segments of PVC (not pictured) (I used SCH80 since it fits PETG really well but SCH40 would work as well)
First, you'll want to gut the Nite Finder to cut the case properly. In this picture I left the trigger in but as you cut more and more away from the case you'll want to take it out to take it out.
After some cutting (I used a hacksaw, which was a total bitch; if you have a dremel your job will be far easier), you'll be left with this (apologies for the picture, macro was acting up on my phone):
To cut, use the rails inside the gun as a guide. I used the pieces the spring sits up against for the vertical cuts, and the pieces that sit above the trigger for the horizontal ones. After you finish that, grab your Longshot plunger and cut about 1.825 inches off the end (the part where you screw the back of the Longshot plunger in).
Now, you're ready to check the fit. It should look something like this:
Notice that the plunger head is flat against the bottom of the plunger area and flush with the area the spring sits against. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT glue the gun with the plunger in that position, or the gun will not catch. Leave about an eighth of an inch between the back of the plunger and the thing the spring sits against.
Reassemble the interior of the Nite Finder, putting the plunger together like this: catch mechanism, replacement spring, Longshot plunger head. Note that the gun must be fully assembled before doing the next part, as you can't open it again once you do so.
Now that your gun is assembled, goop the Longshot plunger tube to the Nite Finder. There's simply no other way to keep it cemented in place. Goop it so there's some space between the end of the plunger tube and the plastic for the spring. Then, use hot glue to reinforce it once the goop dries.
Now that that's finished, you're ready to start assembling the turret!
I'm sure you can figure out to glue PETG into a turret, but in case you don't, here's what I did: wrap the end of the PETG in enough electrical tape that it can sit inside the barrel almost snugly, take it out, draw a bead of glue around the end, and jam it back in. Once that's finished, I sealed the top of the stock barrel with the side of the PETG to make sure no air escapes. Here's the result:
Then, take a small segment of vinyl tubing and goop it inside the turret:
Please don't post, there's more!
