TrainWreck Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 This will be a cross posted thread with FISD. So out the gate I'm saying this is not a tutorial. This is a simple build thread. I've never attempted anything like this at all. If you're looking for a good T-21 template may I suggest Pandatrooper's (the one I will be using): http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/10313-new-t-21-blaster-template/?p=130310&hl=blaster%20template&fromsearch=1#entry130310 He also has a great tutorial here: http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/11017-how-to-t-21-blaster-scratch-build/ I'm also very fond of Batphobic's build tutorial over at MEPD: http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=12776 So with all of that out of the way lets get this circus started! First I had a friend at a print shop print me up a couple of Pandatrooper's templates on large single sheets of paper (many people just print it out in sections and tape it together). I then cut out the bottom side view of the template and using Batphobic's trick flipped it over, used a pencil to layer on grafite along the outline (on the reverse side of the print), flipped it back over and taped it to an appropriate length piece of 1"x8" white board, and the traced out the outline with the pencil thus transferring the image (my English teacher is rolling over in her grave from that sentence): Now I don't have a band saw or an electric jigsaw. I have a coping saw. So in an attempt to develop Zen like patience I began: ...and I slowly worked my way across the bottom: ...and once done with that I drilled a hole in the trigger guard and cut that out: ...and that's what I had in me tonight. I thing for a first attempt it's not terrible. I have a lot of sanding ahead of me to get the rough shape defined. Only major problem so far is when I did the front bottom bulge of the grip I was sawing at an angle instead of straight across so "cut off" the buldge on that side but I will research fixing it. ...and that is day one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE TROOPER Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 Brian, thats some good old fashioned craftsmanship there. You dont see a lot of that. Cant wait to see the finished product. Something you will truly be proud of when your done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 8, 2014 Author Share Posted May 8, 2014 Thank you sir! I'm not known for my patience or accuracy with power tools so I thought I'd stretch myself a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share Posted May 10, 2014 I hadn't mentioned it here but I broke my coping saw yesterday. So I had to borrow a saw from a friend. ...and... I'll have some pictures up a little later when I get a bit more done. My friend dropped of the jigsaw which on the one hand is infinitely faster but it is at the cost of accuracy for me. I got the rest of the gun cut out and two 1/4" oak panels for either side of the butt stock. I'm currently glueing those on, cursing that they don't match up perfectly with the center piece, and will start trying to sand, correct the shape, and just general shaping tomorrow for the buttstock. Eh if this all goes astray I have a plan B for the buttstock. I'm only $10 in right now anyhoo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 11, 2014 Author Share Posted May 11, 2014 Update time! So when we last saw my build I was in the middle of cutting out the basic shape. After a broken coping saw and an electric jigsaw emergency drop I continued forward. I cut the rest of the gun out, the two side plates for the buttstock, and glued those puppies on. now it might be obvious but I picked up oak paneling (plywood) for the side pieces. This is having a mixed blessing as it chips off as you work with it but hopefully all of that will give the weathering a nice look when I eventually get to that stage. So I left the stock clamped over night and then compared how badly my jigsaw work matched up. Hmmmm... Not real excited by my work so I pulled the jigsaw back out and trimmed off the excess. So I will just give you a series of photos for this next part. Basically I pulled out my electric palm sander and started shaping the stock. I started by rounding of the top and then moved to the bottom. Now on a Lewis the stock is thinner on the bottom than the top so I tried to somewhat emulate that with my shaping. So I rounded out the bottom at a steeper angle than the top then just started sanding like a maniac all over. ...and this is what I have so far: ...and then one quick comparison against the "master." Close enough for imperial work! It's not completely symmetrical yet and I haven't decided if I'm going to take off the entire outer layer of the plywood or leave it for a rough weathered look. Any thoughts or suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKido Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Great job this far! I admire you for making your own instead of purchasing one. I would never dare doing that I'll be viewing this with real interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 11, 2014 Author Share Posted May 11, 2014 It's ingenuity by necessity my friend. It's a miracle that I talked my wife into letting me save up for armor over the next year. I couldn't imagine talking her into buying a T-21. Besides all I have is time before I get my armor next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE TROOPER Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Still lookin good bro. ...Man i wish these things had an m-203 grenade launcher on them. That to me, is a heavy weapon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 Thank you sir. Unfortunately my sander died last night so I'm a bit stalled out until I get a replacement... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex507 Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Nice work. I started on mind a while ago and just stoppes working on it for now because its just such a not fun work for me. Pretty hard too. I am not working great with tools and stuff. Cant wait to see how yours turns out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlineJeff Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Can anyone verify the diameter of the PVC pipe that is to be used on the receiver (from the cooling fins back to the stock). I've read the tutorials and it says that its 2" PVC but the pictures I see in Pandatrooper's images looks like it may be 1" or 1.5" PVC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 It might be pvc with a 2" outer diameter which would be sold as 1.5". I'll take a Look at my research and see if I can find an actual figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 Now that I think about it your only using about a third of the circumference of the pipe on both sides, not half. If you look through pandatrooper's tutorial I believe you will see what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlineJeff Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 I think you are right that it's 1.5" PVC based on the above pics from his tutorial... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 Yeah that's what I thought. I was looking at barrel pieces yesterday and remembered him saying it was 3" pipe but it would have roughly a 3.5" outer diameter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 Sorry for the media blackout. Unfortunately with summer rapidly approaching I've had to start diverting funds to things like daycare and one kid is joing up with a swim team (but my wife's car will finally be paid off in two months so hopefully that will open up some funds). I did find a hobby store the next town down from me where I can source styrene for the side details and some parts on the magazine receiver. I also just jumped on a cheap lot of 6 Enfield straps so I'll at least have those and will will be able to offer 4 of them up for sale pretty cheaply for anyone else working on a T-21. I did come to the unfortunate realization that my stock is a quarter inch too thin. I kept thinking it was a bit narrow. I'm just going to live with it for now. My grip has also come out a bit wonky as well as the trigger guard turned out to be too thin and the edeges on it broke off when I was hand sanding. I'll do repairs with Bondo when I get some and document the whole process. Until then take care all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 So I jumped on a lot of 6 Enfield slings on eBay for cheap but it turns out of course that they were straps for Enfield ammo pouches. They are one inch wide and 28 inches long... I'm tempted to make them work (sewing time anyone?) but man! Well I didn't name myself Train Wreck for nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 So OK! I got a bit side tracked with a Tusken build (501st approved now) and putting together my ATA bucket. But I'm back to it! First off for this new round I got out my old trusty pandatrooper templates and got a good transfer on to some woof for my receiver plate and did some slight modifications. ...and I've started getting all the piping cut and placed. I bought a size too small for my front barrel but some cutting and gluing with a yoga mat later and I got the right diameter. The plan is just to Bondo that whole part. Not much done but it feels good to get back to it. I ordered an original Lewis gas regulator key and an Enfield strap swivel this week so should get those in the mail soon. T-21 here I come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 OK so I've got some more work done. I'm not incredibly happy with the way my receiver plate is coming out but I still have a ton of bondo-ing to do. I've got some wood staining done, made a pho brass butt plate, cut the frame of the rear sight out, put some soft details on the receiver plate, put on the "cooling" tubes, put a magazine receiver on, put an original Lewis gas regulator key on the bottom of the barrel, and an original Enfield Sling swivel on the butt stock. Been a productive weekend all and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchy Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Building your own T21 is half the fun of having one!! You're making good progress as I can see and it looks great already. Did a few of those bad boys a couple of years ago too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Thanks! I've been slowly working on this sucker since the beginning of summer. I'm in the middle of some projects where I'm getting used to using bondo then I'll probably start working on the gun again. Those look great btw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchy Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Just take your time, you're definately on the right track with your build. Looks great already... Thanks for the kind words bro'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share Posted December 22, 2014 So I've been pretty unhappy with how my receiver plate has been turning out. Well it turns out that my local library has a maker space with a 3D printer so I've decided to try modeling a receiver plate on my computer and then print it out as a prototype to cast (the plastic that it uses to print can't stand up to more than 140 F so it would make sense to get it into a different materiel since the interior of my car runs that high in the summer). I've got about 2/3 of it modeled. What do you guys think so far? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchy Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Whoa...that looks really nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 Thanks Dutchy. This is an update on that: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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