Post by qeprops on Dec 4, 2014 11:14:29 GMT -5
Good people of the 'verse! I'm sharing with you the build log of my Vera. Please feel free to ask questions, I'll try to answer everything clearly enough so there is enough info here to build your own from scratch. In the even you don't feel up to building yours from scratch, I am weeks away from having a full set of molds to make cast resin kits available for purchase! Also, follow me on Facebook at QEProps, Twitter, Instagram, or Etsy!
I started out making a 3D model of Vera in SolidWorks. I'm an engineer and I like to have models/blueprints of everything that I work on. Some credit goes to joatrash over on the RPF, his build log there of "Alice" was a huge help in determining the dimensions on a few pieces. I only modeled the main rifle figuring that I would buy a real/replica NVG scope and aiming laser.
I printed out the blueprint in sections and taped it all together so I had a 1:1 scale print to reference back to. I started at the front and worked my way back! The flash hider is made from 1-1/4" PVC pipe. The holes were drilled using my bench top mill and a countersinking bit. The barrel itself is done with 1/2" PVC electrical conduit and the adapter between them was turned on my lathe to fit inside the flash hider and around the barrel.
Working back from there I used blocks of MDF, layered to the correct thickness to start building the main body. I originally planned to make the hinge movable but later decided against it since I wanted to be able to mold and cast the finished product. The grooves in the sides were cut using my bench top mill again. It's nice to have a mill, doing that by hand would suck.
I was in the middle of quite a few projects at this time... I continued through the forward grip with the layered MDF. I also made a mold and started casting duplicates of the .75 caliber round I had turned to use in Vera. Since I planned on using 12 rounds between the buttstock and inside the magazine I wanted them all to be the same. I ordered a paintball replica of the NVG-18 scope ($40 on Amazon, from China) and a Denix replica of the LeMat revolver that showed up about this time too.
The rest of Vera's body was done hollow using 1/4" MDF to make a shell. Was trying to save on weight here. There is a piece of 1/2" PVC on top of the main body to mimic the dust cover on the Saiga-12 that Vera was built on. I flared the sides using Bondo so it's a smooth curve. I managed to find some real aluminum aircraft rivets and stuck those on the side of the body as well.
The grip and trigger guard were next. More MDF and some Sintra for the bottom piece on the trigger guard.
The magazine was done hollow with more 1/4" MDF and styrene/sintra for details.
Close up and more work on the rear cover.
The lower half of the rail was done by gluing thin pieces of MDF on top of the each other to get the proper shape (background of the next pic) and the upper parts of the rails were done out of a single piece of MDF and milled to have the proper shape. It took quite a bit of time but the end result was worth it and still much faster than doing each tab by hand.
The only thing left to do was the stock.
I started priming the rest of the pieces while I was finishing up the stock
After painting the pieces individually they were reassembled.
After making the wood grip plates and adding a few decorative screws to the side of the magazine, the rifle was weathered and finished!
I even got the hero of Canton's autograph! One of these days I'll actually build the aiming laser to mount to the front.
Since finishing Vera I have been meaning to actually make molds and start doing resin casting kits. I should be there by the end of 2014 and ready to start selling them early 2015!
I started out making a 3D model of Vera in SolidWorks. I'm an engineer and I like to have models/blueprints of everything that I work on. Some credit goes to joatrash over on the RPF, his build log there of "Alice" was a huge help in determining the dimensions on a few pieces. I only modeled the main rifle figuring that I would buy a real/replica NVG scope and aiming laser.
I printed out the blueprint in sections and taped it all together so I had a 1:1 scale print to reference back to. I started at the front and worked my way back! The flash hider is made from 1-1/4" PVC pipe. The holes were drilled using my bench top mill and a countersinking bit. The barrel itself is done with 1/2" PVC electrical conduit and the adapter between them was turned on my lathe to fit inside the flash hider and around the barrel.
Working back from there I used blocks of MDF, layered to the correct thickness to start building the main body. I originally planned to make the hinge movable but later decided against it since I wanted to be able to mold and cast the finished product. The grooves in the sides were cut using my bench top mill again. It's nice to have a mill, doing that by hand would suck.
I was in the middle of quite a few projects at this time... I continued through the forward grip with the layered MDF. I also made a mold and started casting duplicates of the .75 caliber round I had turned to use in Vera. Since I planned on using 12 rounds between the buttstock and inside the magazine I wanted them all to be the same. I ordered a paintball replica of the NVG-18 scope ($40 on Amazon, from China) and a Denix replica of the LeMat revolver that showed up about this time too.
The rest of Vera's body was done hollow using 1/4" MDF to make a shell. Was trying to save on weight here. There is a piece of 1/2" PVC on top of the main body to mimic the dust cover on the Saiga-12 that Vera was built on. I flared the sides using Bondo so it's a smooth curve. I managed to find some real aluminum aircraft rivets and stuck those on the side of the body as well.
The grip and trigger guard were next. More MDF and some Sintra for the bottom piece on the trigger guard.
The magazine was done hollow with more 1/4" MDF and styrene/sintra for details.
Close up and more work on the rear cover.
The lower half of the rail was done by gluing thin pieces of MDF on top of the each other to get the proper shape (background of the next pic) and the upper parts of the rails were done out of a single piece of MDF and milled to have the proper shape. It took quite a bit of time but the end result was worth it and still much faster than doing each tab by hand.
The only thing left to do was the stock.
I started priming the rest of the pieces while I was finishing up the stock
After painting the pieces individually they were reassembled.
After making the wood grip plates and adding a few decorative screws to the side of the magazine, the rifle was weathered and finished!
I even got the hero of Canton's autograph! One of these days I'll actually build the aiming laser to mount to the front.
Since finishing Vera I have been meaning to actually make molds and start doing resin casting kits. I should be there by the end of 2014 and ready to start selling them early 2015!
