16 replies to this topic

[Pineapple]

It's been ahwile since I really contributed anything, and although I have been away from NH for a bit (save for a check every now and then), we've still been playing with our blasters, my kids and their friends, and their parents, and the visitors we have every now and then... now on to the story.


We upgraded our irrigation system some time ago, going from a above-ground pipe and valve system with water towers (simply giant sprinklers set up on our field), to an underground, sprinkler-heads and pipes system. In the process of making these improvements, I had three large ball valves (not that large, 1" ers to be exact) that I cut out from the old system when I discarded it, choosing to save the valves for "projects", should the time ever allow it.

Well, just a couple of weeks ago, my now 12-year old son, who has become a COD4; Modern Warfare fan, asks me, "Hey Dad, can we make a Nerf RPG?"

My answer; "Son, you have a Titan, and a Buzz Bee Blast Bazooka.... there's your RPG."

He said, "C'mon, Dad, those don't look like an RPG!"

So I decided to finally put those valves to good use. Nothing complicated, really.



Simply an inline ball-valve homemade, with a pathetic attempt to make it look and feel like an RPG-7.

The front handle actually has a 1/2" SCH40 PVC barrel running through it, so there's no air loss at the hand grip. The threaded sleeve ball valves mean easy maintenance, and running the collars a BIT loose makes the valve snap open easily, plus the larger red lever allows enough leverage to not make it a chore to open. The Franklin ball pump is epoxied into 1 1/4" SCH20 PVC (thinwall), and that is PVC glued to the coupling and the air storage. Ammo is stomp rockets, Max Shot bombs, and occasionally, darts. The rockets go about 60 feet flat shot on three pumps (t could go more, but I don't want to push it with my son as far as something failing on the design and blowing up while he plays with it).

Finally found a good use for that flip-up Recon sight too. To say he's happy is an understatement. He even puts baby powder in the tail of the rocket so it makes a "smoke" trail. Lotsa laughs.


Not wanting my kiddo to have all the fun, I decided to make something for me, too. Kind of a cross between a Ithaca MAG-10 (one of my favorite longarms), and an M79 grenade launcher. Something to just fool around with, not to shoot anyone unless they were deciding to use some goofy cardboard armor/ tank/ fort.

Here's "Harvey Wallbanger".



Yeah, it's short, stubby, and ugly. Just how I like it.

Filled with a foot pump, I" barrel, haven't decided exactly what to shoot out of it. I made some projectiles out of 1/2" SCH40 PVC and electrical tape. Those are a bit scary. I'm trying to experiment with a 1 1/4" SCH20 (thinwall) PVC barrel, and a load of SIX 3/4" FBR darts (each dart larger than a suction cup mega) similar to the ammunition from my old SM5000 Roadblocker project a long time ago.



Paint job is next. It'll be kind of "business" looking, not a toy, but not something that will get my neighbors worried.

Sure wish I had a video camera for the trial runs. They look promising. 25 feet + 20 psi = holes in cardboard boxes (as in RIGHT THROUGH them).

What fun for a couple bucks of PVC pipes and old valves. I have one more valve, and now my son wants a howitzer. I'll probably give him my 2" solenoid valve spud cannon after building a frame for it.


-Piney-

[Kid Flash]

Sounds like he plays too much CoD. haha. I really like the second gun, but is the stock stable enough to hold pressure? It doesn't look like you used a joint.

[rork]

It's always nice to see new stuff from you, Pineapple. I like the second one; I think it might be interesting to put a ball pump where the extended tank is, and use the grip area as the tank...

[Ambience 327]

I like the RPG for what it is - a blaster that does it's job and that a kid will get a kick out of. I think it may be missing something though. I haven't played COD4:MW, but a lot of RPG's I've seen in various media have a blast shield built into them to protect the firer from the rocket's backblast. I think it might add something to this if you tossed on on there - but make sure visibilty stays good so junior doesn't fire at the wrong target and ruin kindly old Mrs. Neighborlady's weekend.

[Daniel Beaver]

He even puts baby powder in the tail of the rocket so it makes a "smoke" trail.

Buwahaha, so neat. I would love to play a silly weapons round with that thing.

[Pineapple]

Sounds like he plays too much CoD. haha. I really like the second gun, but is the stock stable enough to hold pressure? It doesn't look like you used a joint.

Thanks for asking, it does indeed look weird since that 3/4" PVC stock is epoxied together.

Actually, I epoxied a 1/2" PVC endcap to the 3/4" coupler which acts as a stock attachment. No air goes into the shoulder stock, and it can be fired without the stock attached (the simple U-design is one I remember from an amateur radio magazine on how they made a launcher to throw antenna wire over trees when setting up a remote outdoor radio station). I'll snap some pictures later on so it's easier to see what I mean.

I need to paint it though. It looks so ghetto.

Hmmm. Ghetto Blaster? I forgot how much fun air-powered homemades are.


-Piney-

[rork]

I like the alternative ammo angle here. I've actually been thinking a lot lately about how the "micros only" trend may be handicapping designs; a 4B is almost hazardous shooting micros, but as a mega cannon, who knows? Only one way to find out... I'm probably going to be trying some megas at the Sotheast Tuneup War, in my SNAP, to see if they fight the wind as well as was claimed back in the olden days. And non-micro usage might be a great way to handicap homemade air guns down to a safe power level.

[Bomberman]

Thanks for asking, it does indeed look weird since that 3/4" PVC stock is epoxied together.

Actually, I epoxied a 1/2" PVC endcap to the 3/4" coupler which acts as a stock attachment. No air goes into the shoulder stock, and it can be fired without the stock attached (the simple U-design is one I remember from an amateur radio magazine on how they made a launcher to throw antenna wire over trees when setting up a remote outdoor radio station).

Is that unusually angled joint just done with a miter cut and epoxy?

So, you're a ham, too? I shouldn't be surprised. cq, de wa6rga

I like the alternative ammo angle here. I've actually been thinking a lot lately about how the "micros only" trend may be handicapping designs; a 4B is almost hazardous shooting micros, but as a mega cannon, who knows? Only one way to find out... I'm probably going to be trying some megas at the Sotheast Tuneup War, in my SNAP, to see if they fight the wind as well as was claimed back in the olden days. And non-micro usage might be a great way to handicap homemade air guns down to a safe power level.

I don't think the difference between micros and megas is quite enough to "denature" the BBBB, but it certainly is a concept worthy of exploration. I've been keeping a few classic blasters in mega form, just because it seemed a shame to alter them, such as the SSU (Switch Shots Ultra) which has come back to me, since my client completed what he wanted it for.

Just some BOB? I bet your name is Kevin LOL

[Draconis]

Pineapple, you should build a ball barrel for those things too... I have been having tons of fun shooting ballistic balls over 100 feet lately.

[durka durka]

As for alternative ammo, I picked up some 3/8' thick foam pipe insulation from home depot. It fits over 1/2' cpvc or copper ( don't know for petg or brass) and it fits in 1' pvc well. The only concern I have is the premade cut in the side of the foam. The cut runs down one side of the foam and almost all the way through the side. I haven't created anything with it yet, mostly due to lack of time and a myriad of other projects (not nerf projects).

I have tried finding tubing for the nerf ballistic balls, but I have had no luck.

[Kid Flash]

Sounds like he plays too much CoD. haha. I really like the second gun, but is the stock stable enough to hold pressure? It doesn't look like you used a joint.

Thanks for asking, it does indeed look weird since that 3/4" PVC stock is epoxied together.

Actually, I epoxied a 1/2" PVC endcap to the 3/4" coupler which acts as a stock attachment. No air goes into the shoulder stock, and it can be fired without the stock attached (the simple U-design is one I remember from an amateur radio magazine on how they made a launcher to throw antenna wire over trees when setting up a remote outdoor radio station). I'll snap some pictures later on so it's easier to see what I mean.

I need to paint it though. It looks so ghetto.

Hmmm. Ghetto Blaster? I forgot how much fun air-powered homemades are.


-Piney-

I might have to try and make something like that... It looks odd, but in a cool way. I think neon purple and orange would look good, even tho it's an odd combo.

As for alternative ammo, I picked up some 3/8' thick foam pipe insulation from home depot. It fits over 1/2' cpvc or copper ( don't know for petg or brass) and it fits in 1' pvc well. The only concern I have is the premade cut in the side of the foam. The cut runs down one side of the foam and almost all the way through the side. I haven't created anything with it yet, mostly due to lack of time and a myriad of other projects (not nerf projects).

I have tried finding tubing for the nerf ballistic balls, but I have had no luck.

Just sand some 1.5 inch pvc down on the inside and it will work perfectly. I use it for my titan and one of my homemades just for fun.

Edited by Kid Flash, 04 February 2009 - 06:37 PM.

[Pineapple]

Is that unusually angled joint just done with a miter cut and epoxy?

So, you're a ham, too? I shouldn't be surprised. cq, de wa6rga

cq, cq, fb de WH6ALG (now SK for over 10 years, too bad).... another nerfer, macman is KC2KVY, but I don't know if he's active on the NH board anymore.

I like the alternative ammo angle here. I've actually been thinking a lot lately about how the "micros only" trend may be handicapping designs; a 4B is almost hazardous shooting micros, but as a mega cannon, who knows? Only one way to find out... I'm probably going to be trying some megas at the Sotheast Tuneup War, in my SNAP, to see if they fight the wind as well as was claimed back in the olden days. And non-micro usage might be a great way to handicap homemade air guns down to a safe power level.

I don't think the difference between micros and megas is quite enough to "denature" the BBBB, but it certainly is a concept worthy of exploration. I've been keeping a few classic blasters in mega form, just because it seemed a shame to alter them, such as the SSU (Switch Shots Ultra) which has come back to me, since my client completed what he wanted it for.

Funny you guys discuss this.

In an article I wrote awhile back called "Power Trip", my beef was how the overpowered blasters would be banned entirely from gameplay. I suggested a barrel length restriction, on say, the SuperMaxx 5000 and it's variants (one of my favorite blasters), kept to a 6" barrel (with or without tank relocation), and shooting mega stefans.

cxwq, one of the site owners, thought it would be a plausible idea to try. It has it's drawbacks too like incompatibility of ammo (try finding your megas among 100s of micros), among other things. But it was my belief that it would level the playing field while still allowing us to use the normally "restricted" blasters without penalty. Imagine a Titan with a 4" PETG barrel? Makes the 2ks and 3ks look way more appealing.

[boom]

It's to bad you live in hawaii I bet there are not many wars there.Wait what am I saying you live in hawaii you lucky bastard.

[bigred1rifleman]

You're awesome, I think I may just build that RPG with a solenoid (ruins your point but will work better).

~Br1

[Watari]

Hey, Piney, remember my first homemade. Well PVC ball valves are fun, and here's another example:
Short note before pics: Airtanks are interchangeable and everything else is PVC cemented together.

[Draconis]

Just out of curiosity... If you were using a threaded valve, then why not just use a 1/2" CPVC MIP to female smooth adapter, instead of the same thing in PVC and nesting CPVC in PVC? Seem likes extra weight and work to do the same job.

[Watari]

Oh, I did that because the CPVC-PVC barrel is my "main" barrel, but I love making different barrels for other guns (e.g. the Titan). I have multiple shotgun barrels and some brass nested in 1/2" PVC.
So if I used a CPVC adapter, then I wouldn't be able to use all my attachments. Just thinkin' ahead.