13 replies to this topic

[david scothern]

OK. I'm new to this forum, so feel free to give me pointers where I step outside of what is expected of me.

Basically I have migrated here from Boltsniper.com whose forum has come down, hopefully temporarily. The role I sought for myself there was to produce metal castings of parts for bolt's rifles. If anyone has tried to build a BS-8 they will have had to face the problem of what to do about the magazine well, which was made in a rapid prototyper for the original.

I've got aluminium versions, they're available for $25+shipping, and can be seen here:

[Carbon]

It bears mentioning that David made these parts directly from Boltsniper’s CAD files, so they’re an exact match to the pieces that Bolt created.

He's been working on this project for a while, and had just completed it when Bolt's forums went down. It's on the up-and-up. Just wanted to put a word in to vouch for him.

[david scothern]

Just wanted to put a word in to vouch for him.

Thanks, Carbon. I really appreciate that.

Although they were built using dimensions from Bolt's CAD files, the overall length of the magazine well is not identical. It matches in most other ways though. The top is designed with curvature to fit the PVC size used, so that matches Bolt's part, and the slot for the magazine catch (catch not fitted, as can be seen) is at the same height, so the magazine sits at the same height and should therefore feed correctly.

[pat 1st Lt]

Now if only you could make every other single part. That would've saved me a lot of time.


Very nice idea. Very well done, too. Looks much better than the ones Nolan and I made. Stronger too. We were reluctant to go the metal route. I like the fact that it's aluminum: very strong but very light (for a metal). Very nice. This idea's been talked about for a long time (Replaceable metal parts in general) and I'm glad to see someone who's actually doing it. I hope to see you around The Haven more. I hope you keep up this excellent work with even more parts.


One question though. How did you actually go about making them? I understand from bolt's CAD files, but how did you actually do the manufacturing? Most people who Nerf don't have access to aerospace machinery to work with aluminum very well.

I love the idea and the execution. But in a way I'm glad I'm not you; Do you know how many people are going to be pestering you night and day to make them parts now? Good luck, David, handling all the soon-to-come demand.



-Pat

[Dart Attack]

Wow!!! Thats great. Can they be painted?

Edited by Dart Attack, 18 October 2006 - 05:11 PM.

[Sponge Nerfer]

Woah! I have got to say that is amazing. When I fist saw the name of the post I thought "oh great another guy with an idea that will amount to nothing" but when I realized that you had acually made the magazine wells already and it was not just an idea, but an acually living, breathing thing, I was awestruck. Great job!

-sponge

[david scothern]

Pat, as for making them, I produced casting patterns from wood and epoxy resin (this used to be my day job; now it's a hobby since I moved on to work for a major aerospace company) and had them cast at the local foundry. The benefit of this approach is that once the patterns exist, I can produce almost indefinite numbers of them with little extra effort on my part.

Dart, yup, they can be painted, polished or anodized.

Sponge, I know what you mean. I'm much better at starting projects than finishing them, so I tend to keep them quiet until they're done. I had a thread on Boltsniper.com where I posted progress; not sure anyone really kept an eye on it but it reminded me that people would be able to see if I dropped the project.

[Mirodasc]

So, would you be able to supply the parts needed to make it work? (magazine and catch)

[david scothern]

I could make the catches if there was sufficient demand, but they'd still need a degree of finishing. This is because the way that the catch holds the magazine allows for a limited amount of fine tuning (by filing material off the catch itself). I'd prefer not to, in honesty.

As for supplying magazines, they're straightforward enough to get hold of in the UK (the one in the picture is off an SA80) but I guess it's down to what restrictions are in force in your own country. The magwells are designed to take any M16-compatible magazine, although I understand that the follower - the bit of the mag that pushes the darts up - needs some modification to cope with a single stack of big rounds rather than two staggered stacks of 5.56mm ammunition.

[Fredfred]

Good job Dave. At first I thought BSA stood for Boy Scouts of America, though. But I don't know who will be trying to make a SCAR-N with the longshot out. It seems capable of doing anything the SCAR-N can.

[david scothern]

I'd say that the SCAR-N edges out, nay demolishes, the longshot on coolness and uniqueness. But that's just my own opinion.

On the other hand, it's available, whereas the SCAR is a complex beast to attempt. Keep in mind that these mag wells permit construction of any homemade design you can come up with that uses an M16 compatible magazine though.

[pat 1st Lt]

If things go well in the next couple of months, I may drop you a line and try to snag one or two of those mag wells. I've got a couple AR-15 mags that are just lying around that've already been modified for Nerf, and a bunch of 17/32" brass shells. Plus, I've had this crazy idea for a homemade for a while now.

I may drop you a line sometime in early December, so don't go throwing away those molds! (Not that I think you would. You put a lot of effort into those, and it shows!) If I don't end up contacting you, I'm probably busy with some personal stuff.

I look forward to other such projects you might choose to undertake in the future. *Hint hint* People have been talking about metal replacement parts for a long time...



-Pat

[elf avec gun]

Could you make other parts such as the mag thing from his nerf tactical sidearm (NTS)?

Those would prob be pretty popular too.

Looks like you have set up a nice little buissnes her though!

Great idea!

[david scothern]

If there's sufficient demand then producing NTS mags would be a simpler proposition than these mag wells were, and I'd be happy to take it on. At the moment I'm trying to produce patterns for a racing gearbox casing (may have bitten off more than I can chew there, time will tell) but I'll keep the NTS in mind.

Any other parts that the community needs, I'd be interested to hear.