I instantly became fascinated with the SM1500MB. It wasn’t until about a year ago I came to the realization that obtaining a true SM1500MB would be effectively impossible. I set out to start building a homemade version of the SM1500MB, working gradually over many weeks. When Draconis announced his missile launcher project, it spurred me into action to produce the VenoMaxx. I don’t think I ever mentioned this in my original post about the VenoMaxx, but my initial primary goal of making the VenoMaxx was to reproduce the SM1500MB. As the VenoMaxx progressed, it grew to encompass reproducing many similar blasters; SuperMaxx 5000, Small Soldiers SuperMaxx 5000, SuperMaxx 2000, and the SuperTech 9000. Here is the original VenoMaxx thread.
I got sidetracked from the original project intention and didn’t bother trying to produce the turret, only mentioning that I would eventually have them available as an accessory for VenoMaxxs (and other blasters, for that matter). It wasn’t until recently that I finally decided to construct this turret.
Here is the turret without craft foam sealing or barrels:
The turret is supported on a 1” PVC encap with four tapped holes on it. This cap has a 1” x 1/2” PVC Reducer and a length of PVC sticking out for it to attach to 1/2” PVC couplered blasters. The base plate of the turret (on the left in the picture) is 1/4” Polycarbonate sheet, which has holes drilled and beveled for flat head screws. The base plate has 5/8” holes drilled throughout for rear-loading. Just offset from the center of the base plate is a spring plunger. The spring plunger serves as an indexing mechanism. In the very center of the turret is a 1/4” hole for the 1/4” bolt that acts as a guiding post for the base plate and the barrel plate.
The turret plate (on the right side of the picture) is also made out of 1/4” Polycarbonate sheet. On the side that contacts the base plate, there are six beveled holes for the end of the spring plunger to lock into. Like the base plate, there is a 1/4” hole in the center for the guide post. The 1/4” Bolt that acts as the guide post compresses a spring onto a washer and has a nut on the opposite end of the base plate for easy removal/adjustment. The purpose of this is to keep the barrel plate pressed onto the base plate.
Early stage test assembly:
Now onto the barrels:
I solvent welded ~1 5/8” stubs of 1/2” ID 5/8” OD Polycarbonate tube into the holes on the barrel plate. from there, I solvent welded longer pieces of 5/8” ID 3/4” OD Polycarbonate tubes over the short stubs. To me, these seems like a more robust way of attaching barrels opposed to simply solvent welding the 3/4” barrels directly into the holes. In addition, the stubs of 1/2” ID tube act as constrictions for darts if one is to use micros with additional barrel material nested inside the 5/8” ID tube. Also shown in this picture below is the craft foam applied to the base plate for sealing and spacing purposes.
Assembled:
On the VenoMaxx:
Loaded with arrows:
Here is the turret with PETG barrels nested in the 5/8” ID tube and a forward spacer in place to secure the now lengthen barrels. This setup is for firing micro darts.
Video of the turreted VenoMaxx firing arrows!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEBziNNSJEs
Firing off that first turret load of arrows was extraordinarily satisfying. The turret works well; it is not exceedingly difficult to rotate it nor does the rotation misalign by more than maybe 1/8” at most (which I doubt affects accuracy). The sealing is not the greatest, but for powerful airguns it hardly makes a difference as far as I can tell.
I’ll just throw this in here because it’s somewhat related. The production model VenoMaxx inches further towards official release. Here is a progress picture of the first VenoMaxx V2:
Questions you may have and answers:
Q1. Can I buy a VenoMaxx now? How much will they cost?
A1. No, I will not be making them on demand for everyone until a later date. Price is undecided, as it depends on many individual preferences.
Q2. Can I buy a turret now?
A2. Yes, you can! The price depends on many individual preferences so I'm not listing a set price now. Just email me if you want one and we'll discuss it.
Q3. Can you make a turret with more barrels?
A3. Certainly. This one only has six because I based it off the Arrowstorm's turret and I wanted to be able to shoot arrows with it.
My email address is venomm213@gmail.com, you should contact me there instead of PMing me if possible.
Edited by venom213, 14 April 2013 - 12:04 AM.
