21 replies to this topic

[venom213]

Find a Sharpshooter I (SSI). I had to take mine form this monkey.



I had to hit him with something first, though.



Open up this bitch. Notice the paper next to it. I used that to sketch the shape of the shell, and then put the screws in the paper where to correspond to their spots in the shell. It's a great way to stay organized.



So, the first order of business is to replace the plunger tube. I used 1" thinwall PETG, which is available at Petco and Petsmart. There's a problem though:



There are ridges (one on either half of the shell) that need to be sanded down for the tube to fit.....so sand those down until the tube fits!



Success! Next, place the tube in shell so it's up against the back spring rest area and everything. Mark the end of it, flush with the very edge of that orange tip on the shell. Cut at the mark. Hacksaw+Mitre Box works great. I believe I cut it to around 8".



Here it is placed in the shell:



Next, grab a 1/2" PVC coupler and a short length of 1/2" PVC. I used SCH 80 PVC and it was around 1 1/2" long. Use solvent weld to connect the coupler to the length of PVC.



Make sure that the length is long enough to fit all the way into the coupler, as well as have space to wrap E-tape around it. Next step is to wrap E-tape around the PVC until it fits snugly into the PETG.



Glue the Coupler assembly into the plunger tube. I used solvent weld, again, but I recomend using Plumbers Goop instead.



Stick your replacement plunger rod in the blaster. I used 3/8" Square Nylon rod from McMaster. Mark the rod where it sticks about 1.5" out of the back of the blaster. Cut it at that mark. The total length of mine was 9.75".



Drill a 6-32 hole in the center of one end of the rod. Make it as straight and centered as possible. It shouldn't be more than maybe an inch or so deep, in most cases. In the words of BustaNinja, "I'd tap that". Use a 6-32 tap, obviously.



This is the plunger head assembly. Originally, it just had one rubber washer (and one of the corresponding 8-32 washers that goes inside of it), but I decided to add another of both. I'm not sure if it really helps or not, but I'll give it a try. The parts needed for this are: A 6-32 screw, 2 3/4" OD 1/8" ID Washers, 2 8-32 washers, and 2 1" OD 3/8" ID Rubber Washers.



Attach the plunger head assembly. Also, use Ace Silicone Lube. It's awesome stuff. I do warn you though, that it shares a very similar consistency to semen, but no worries.

Edited by venom213, 19 March 2010 - 11:52 PM.

[venom213]

Add E-tape stabilizers to the plunger tube in various parts. I put them right next to the parts in the shell where there are supports (those curved parts that the tube fits into well). I also put E-tape partially on the coupler to make sure it's straight. Once that is done, take an Ace #62 spring, and line it up with the plunger tube. Cut it down so it's just a bit longer than the amount of open space in the plunger tube. I believe my spring was somewhere around 8". Test fit it in the shell.



Put on the other half of the shell, pull back the plunger rod, and mark the plunger rod as close as you can to the shell, so where it's just barely sticking out. Open the gun back up, and cut out the back end of your catch notch at that line, or possibly slightly ahead of it (meaning, slightly more towards the plunger head end of the gun). Notice in the pic below, I drew the shape of the notch backwards. Not good.



Then, cut out the catch notch using a dremel. Notice, I have two catch notches. The first one I made was too far forward on the rod, because the method I used to find it's location was inaccurate.



Here's the stock plunger rod assembly. All you need from it is the catch. Getting the catch off if it is pretty self explanatory, just pop off all the pieces at the end, take off the spring, and there.



Put the catch on the plunger rod, and put the plunger rod assembly in the plunger tube.



Put all the insides back in the blaster shell.



Now reassemble the blaster. Something I added after I screwed it back together was this long 6-32 screw, for holding in the plunger tube better, as well as a dart stop.



I also added this nice plunger handle. It's made out of 2 3/4" long nylon spacers, a 2" 8-32 screw, and an 8-32 lock nut. Make sure to tap the hole! That way, you can swap it out for different plunger handles, if you choose.



And here it is, finished (minus the plunger handle).



So now to the big question.........RANGES. Sadly, I don't have much conclusive data on ranges yet. I've been testing this blaster with total incorrect barrels, darts, and other conditions. So far, I can say it hits at least 70-80 feet or so. Again, it needs some fine tuning, which I have not spent any time on. It also works pretty well with a 3-4 shot inline clip, hits 60ish with that (it needs some fine tuning as well). I'll be sure to update this once I have some conclusive data.

You may post now!

Edited by venom213, 19 March 2010 - 11:40 PM.

[flamincows]

I recently replaced the plunger tube in a lnl with the same PETG (in exactly the same way actually) and found that the 1" OD washers created too much friction and would deform in the plunger tube. I mean you really had to jam it in there even when using copious amounts of silicone grease. I'm assuming that this was not the case for you?

I ended up using a NF plunger head with a TTG o-ring (with a little e tape under it). This gave me a great seal. I suppose it could be attributed to to slightly different IDs in the two pieces of PETG, but I've always found that pet store PETG is about the same wherever you buy it.

[venom213]

I believe I have had some of those problems too. I've used the plunger head style on a number of similar blasters. The seals are usually pretty good, but they could be better. I plan on experimenting. The size of the washers around the rubber one also make a big difference because of how much they do, or do not let the washer bend. In your case, did it just stop sealing pretty much altogether or what?

[flamincows]

It barely sealed. I didn't actually fire it with that plunger head though. And I was using 3/4" OD washers around the neoprene washers. No dice. Honestly, I don't see how you got the plunger head in the plunger tube with two neoprene washers on it. I tried that and it didn't work at all.

Honestly, for a perfect seal I'd go with an o-ring and e tape. There's so much more room for adjustment, and I've never had any issue with durability.

[Chessler]

An impressive job you did there. Funny enough, I do the same thing with the screws with every one of my mods.

[wingd man]

Check the seal. When I made my plunger tube extended nitefinder I had to glue in the screw and put a little bit of super glue on the plunger head.

[Hi Yah]

Try having only 1 rubber washer. This should loosen up the seal, I think it has too mich friction giving you crappy ranges.

[venom213]

Hi Yah!, on Mar 20 2010, 08:30 AM, said:

Try having only 1 rubber washer. This should loosen up the seal, I think it has too mich friction giving you crappy ranges.

I tried it for quite a while with just one, it doesn't seem much different now that I added a second. I will experiment though, like I said.

[FatNerfer]

That's Sexy.

[Merzlin]

FatNerfer, on Mar 20 2010, 12:29 PM, said:

That's Sexy.

And you're fucking retarded.




Anyways, Venom, good job. Super clean, looks efficient, and probably hits good ranges. The only think I never liked about the SS1 was the handle, super uncomfortable for me.

[FatNerfer]

Merzlin, on Mar 20 2010, 12:52 PM, said:

FatNerfer, on Mar 20 2010, 12:29 PM, said:

That's Sexy.

And you're fucking retarded.

And you have a gay Avatar.

[meatballica]

FatNerfer, on Mar 20 2010, 04:00 PM, said:

Merzlin, on Mar 20 2010, 12:52 PM, said:

FatNerfer, on Mar 20 2010, 12:29 PM, said:

That's Sexy.

And you're fucking retarded.

And you have a gay Avatar.

Whoa Merz and Fatnerfer nice way to show some love.

Edited by meatballica, 21 March 2010 - 05:37 PM.

[Warthawk]

I'm not going to modify mine.

[VACC]

Warhawk, on Mar 21 2010, 06:39 PM, said:

I'm not going to modify mine.

Do all your teachers tell you you're NOT very intelligent? No, it's just one of those things that goes without saying.

The fact that your NOT going to modify a nerf gun is not something any of us need to know.

[HOTH]

Wow, thats really cool. Nice work.

[SonReeceSonJensen]

This mod licks balls because YOU, in fact, lick balls.

S’kidding, I like the use of e-tape for fitting of the plunger tube and the attention to detail in things like the plunger head and handle grip.

Paint it peach with a mauve tip and call it Venom Jr.

[venom213]

SonReeceSonJensen, on Mar 22 2010, 01:07 PM, said:

This mod licks balls because YOU, in fact, lick balls.

S’kidding, I like the use of e-tape for fitting of the plunger tube and the attention to detail in things like the plunger head and handle grip.

Paint it peach with a mauve tip and call it Venom Jr.

Uh-oh, SonReece has already started the pre-war shit-talking! We'll see how well you handle Venom Jr. on Saturday, my friend.

Also, a small, but significant update. I have the plunger head problem figured out for now at least. Thanks to Mr. Badwrench for this suggestion. The change was simple, place a nut between the rear plunger head washer and the the plunger rod. This nut makes sure that the washer sandwich plunger head stays held together. It has improved my seal significantly. I also removed the second rubber washer, because I'm not sure if it even helps at all. Apparently, this nut idea is applicable to a lot of washer plunger head type mods.



Also, some of the previous posts in this thread are prime examples as to why I am hesitant to post contributions on here. Way to take a shit on a good thread, dumbasses.

Edited by venom213, 22 March 2010 - 01:55 PM.

[VelveetaAvenger]

SonReeceSonJensen, on Mar 22 2010, 01:07 PM, said:

Paint it peach with a mauve tip and call it Venom Jr.

You'll need to start using that white foam as well! (or find some yellow, that would also be funny)

On a more serious note, this is pretty cool. You should do an entire series of pistols with full shell length homemade plungers.

Edited by VelveetaAvenger, 22 March 2010 - 09:59 PM.

[venom213]

VelveetaAvenger, on Mar 22 2010, 09:58 PM, said:

SonReeceSonJensen, on Mar 22 2010, 01:07 PM, said:

Paint it peach with a mauve tip and call it Venom Jr.

You'll need to start using that white foam as well! (or find some yellow, that would also be funny)

On a more serious note, this is pretty cool. You should do an entire series of pistols with full shell length homemade plungers.

I pretty much have been. First it was a PETG tube'd NF, a PETG tube'd Disk Shot, the Overhauled TTG , and finally this. I already know what's next...........

Edited by venom213, 22 March 2010 - 10:22 PM.

[oodalumps]

Now what would impress me is if you modded a Sharpshooter I to shoot like that. Not build a homemade and put it in it's shell.

[Mr BadWrench]

oodalumps, on Mar 23 2010, 09:27 PM, said:

Now what would impress me is if you modded a Sharpshooter I to shoot like that. Not build a homemade and put it in it's shell.

stock shell, trigger and catch... looks like a sharpshooter to me.