9 replies to this topic

[Dave Crevie]

But never got around to it.

 

https://youtu.be/4G1...OM858VpGU72Ncmi

 

Went so far as to buy one of these;

 

 

But never built a boat for it. I did run it on steam, though. Maybe a retirement project. Just what I need.

[John Luongo]

the "african queen" 

[Dave Crevie]

Still around.

 

https://youtu.be/fiH...NXS6syVvPZssGg3

[Phil Hackett]

Here's one I've been wanting to do for years, I have the equipment but I'm lazy....

 

[Samiam]

I'm sticking to building 1/24 and 1/32 scale electric cars. 

[Dave Crevie]

Here's one I've been wanting to do for years, I have the equipment but I'm lazy....

 

IMG_2708.JPG

 

I doubt there is much heavy physical work involved. And I'm sure you didn't get 3D CAD files with that book. So it's just writing the programs to make the parts in your CNC machinery. I'll bet there is a small fortune in fasteners, though. 

Just the type of project I would have taken on when I was young and foolish. But I was working too many long hours to make money to buy sports cars. And too many late nights restoring them.

[Phil Hackett]

 

I doubt there is much heavy physical work involved. And I'm sure you didn't get 3D CAD files with that book. So it's just writing the programs to make the parts in your CNC machinery. I'll bet there is a small fortune in fasteners, though. 

Just the type of project I would have taken on when I was young and foolish. But I was working too many long hours to make money to buy sports cars. And too many late nights restoring them.

 

It's a matter of planning. One doesn't just start whittling away one day on a chunk of metal. There are a number of tools I do not have that I'd either have to buy or make which makes the project more distant.

 

The book was published in 2000 and while CAD drawings certainly existed the book didn't include them.

 

It's also like the books that I have that contain  drawings for making parts and tools for a xxx-xxxxxxx xxx or the "Home Depot" bazooka. Both are interesting but I'm just not that motivated. Besides, men who drive black Suburbans, that wear sunglasses, and have ear pieces aren't people I'd like to meet. It probably doesn't matter since I was a purchaser of several Paladin Press books (out of business...look them up) and am on a "list". I'm just not motivated....

 

(Edit)...Jeez, I just looked up those two books and they've become *very* collectable! Especially the bazooka book! The bazooka is a much more accessible project since it uses simple tools and materials to make. The other requires machinery (of the correct size), particular materials and knowledge of tolerances for making interchangeable parts.... plus the book leaves a out a number of critical things, that if you know machining and manufacturing that will frustrate the casual builder using the plans.

 

BTW: both of the books below are on the internet as pdf files...

 

[Dave Crevie]

I'm not sure of the laws in Cali, but in most states you can build your own guns, as long as you assign them a serial number and register them. I wouldn't worry about the men in black. According to my neighbor's son, who is a cop, 30% of the guns they confiscate are home made. Most of the rest are stolen. Of course, we know any fully automatic weapon is illegal. But that doesn't stop companies from making conversion kits. 

 

When I was in high school we made our own bazooka from 1 1/2 inch diameter EMT tubing, using Estes rocket motors to power the projectiles. The motors have a cap at the front intended to blow the parachute out of the rocket body. But it worked really well lighting off a gunpowder charge. We did a lot of dumb stuff like blowing up mailboxes, and there was a dumping lot a few blocks from my house where people dumped their derelict stoves, refrigerators, water heaters, etc. Those made good targets.

 

The drawings in the bazooka book are pretty comprehensive;

 

 

[Phil Hackett]

Building that SMG would violate numerous California laws. It would only be something to do if one were to make several copies and I'm not going to make one, much less the possibility of making multiple pieces. I don't like the idea of lawyers, courts and jail. Not worth it and I have become lazy. Tending to the yard and orchids is more my speed these days.

[Dave Crevie]

During 'Nam I worked for a company that made the cast parts for the newly developed M-16. ( The military version of the AR-15 ) Colt sent us samples of all the parts we didn't make, so we could assemble sample guns to make sure everything fit. We test fired them in a field behind the plant. Over time, several of those rifles disappeared, very desirable since they had not yet been assigned serial numbers. My guess is that those guns are still floating around out there, 60 years later.

 

We also made other guns for Colt, and Smith and Wesson. The same problem existed for those. Because the volume of production was so high, security became rather lax. Anyway, it kept me from having to go "in country".