I thought id share my current project I’m working on.


I have an old Hudson AK47 and while it’s a great looking model (as with most Hudson’s) the firing performance leaves a lot to be desired (as with most Hudson’s)
So I thought………. I’d modify it.


I wanted to do several things to it which should overcome the firing problems

1: Install the auto sear (which is missing from all of the AK’s except the SE version)
2: Custom steel bolt
3: Make my own custom rounds to take the 7mm caps


First job, adding the auto sear.
The auto sear was added to the SE version to stop the hammer riding the bolt and should give the hammer strike more power on full auto. I got the auto sear and spring (many thanks shazhib) and installed the third pin for it to fit through.

This picture shows the auto sear pin



This picture shows the auto sear, spring, new hammer




This picture shows the hammer held buy the auto sear




While I was fitting the auto sear I also changed the hammer for the SE version which has the cut-out for the auto sear also it seems to be made from steel instead of zinc which should last a lot longer and is a straight swap with no modification needed.


Custom Steel bolt
As with all Hudson’s the zinc bolt material is a little on the soft side so keeping the upper bolt part I made a custom steel one which is more or less a straight copy of the original one. The one thing I had to do is make sure that the bolt would trip the auto sear at the right time to enable the hammer to fall as the bolt almost comes on contact with the breach face











I have done some provisional firing and it all seems to work well with the standard Hudson rounds (2x5mm caps) but I still need to do a lot of finishing off and try it with some Hudson rounds that are in good condition as I only have 4 and they are in poor condition.
I will decide whether to go with Hudson rounds or my own custom ones and keep you guys updated.
8ace

****Originally posted by cerwyn****





I can't wait to see more of this project.
I can only imagine the deluge of requests 8ace will receive from owners wanting a Hudson AK that works!
Could it be we'll see the first, and propbably only, video of a Hudson AK47 firing a magazine full here on our modelgun forum?
I hope so!
Outstanding work 8ace, I am deeply envious of your skills mate
Cerwyn

****Originally posted by 2sharp****




Mad machining skillz! And very neat project, it is always educating to see good, close-up pictures of any modelgun as i'm always curious on how they look etc.
Me too is very much looking forward to the progress of this project

****Originally posted by madmike****




I am very impressed by your new project. Great to read about it here. Please keep us updated.

****Originally posted by kickback****




8ace that looks absolutely brilliant mate!!,you have done yet another piece of great machinery,and if it works,something Hudson couldn't manage? a firing AK!.I cant wait to see the finished product keep us updated mate.
Great job

Cheers guys.

I should have some firing vids (if it works with new Hudson rounds) in the next couple of weeks

8ace

****Originally posted by madmike****




Yes, please show us those vids. I am very impressed. Can you still buy the new type Hudson AK rounds?

It would appear that the Hudson rounds are very difficult to get hold of

Looks like i will have to get solidworks out and design my own...... anybody got any thoughts on design

I was thinking along the MGC style (which seems to fire well) using a 7mm cap and possibly using MGC pistons.

I have some 12mm high tensile brass (manganese bronze) which should make great material as I don’t think my equipment is up to machining titanium but I’ll have a go.

8ace

****Originally posted by cerwyn****




By all accounts MGC's cartridge design works very, very well and spare internals are cheap and easy to get hold of.

A single 7mm cap is powerful enough to blowback against steel bolted models with strong springs so you shouldn't go far wrong there.

As it's a well proven system why not replicate the MGC style first to prove the gun itself will fire reliably? Once the firing action is sorted you could look at a modifying the cartridge design to get more sound maybe?

I'm really looking forwards to seeing your AK firing 'ace.

Cerwyn

I have taken a video of the internal workings (top cover removed) and dry fired first on semi auto then on full auto

http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/88ace/?action=view&current=akmpeg.flv

****Originally posted by cerwyn****




Now that looks very promising doesn't it?

I hope you get some cartridges sorted soon mate, if feeding and extracting works as smooth as that action you're onto a sure winner

Cannot Wait!

Cerwyn

A quick project update.

I have managed to get some new AK rounds which I have had mixed success.
I'm pleased about the round damage which seems to be lower than the original setup (see pic below of a round used about 6-7 times)




The new rounds I got didn't come with the O-ring around the top piston which when fitted make a huge difference to the blowback power of the cartridge (see pic below)





I'm still not getting consistent firing on full auto and will be looking into the hammer/det pin/bolt configuration. One problem I have noticed is the hammer isn't made from steel as first thought but it's a chrome coated brass/bronze which is beginning to mark so I’ll have to fit a steel insert to stop this.

Watch this space

8ace

****Originally posted by cerwyn****




The amount of marking you're getting on the cartridge base looks about the same as I get when using steel models, MGCUKs STEN eg, or when using steel bolts in my Thompsons.

I find the Tumble Polisher useful here as it does smooth out any indents as well as polish the cartridges. It won't replace chips obviously but it does smooth out the rough edges.

The only modelgun I've got that doesn't mark cartridge bases is Marushin's MP40 which has an abs bolt.

I've never seen a Hudson AK47 cartridge... the piston you've photographed looks very different to any MGC or Marushin round I've seen previously.

How do you load this type please 8ace?

You couldn't do a Step by Step loading guide could you please?

Your AK project has all of us holding our breaths now. Just think mate, you might be the only owner of a working Hudson AK47 anywhere on the planet soon!

Cerwyn

Here is a pic of the Hudson AK round. There seems to be a few different types of rounds that Hudson made over the years (which I have little to no information on)




the type I have is a made from brass with 2x5mm caps (loaded facing each other) and when I have got things sorted out I’ll post a step by step loading guide.

8ace

****Originally posted by cerwyn****




Ahhhh so that's how they go together!

Thanks for the photo 'ace. There ought to be a decent amount of blowback from that set up shouldn't there? Those 5mm caps pack a fair punch.

Just thinking aloud now, but knowing how badly my model guns have performed in the past when I've put 2 caps in either Marushin or MGC cartridges, could it be that Hudson's cartridge design is flawed by having 2 caps?

I've had guns failing miserably to fire in Automatic because the bolt is thrown back so violently that it almost travels to fast and "trips" itself up. Constant jamming and misfeeds were instantly cured by fitting a single cap only.

Perhaps changing Hudson's design to use a single 7mm cap and an MGC piston might reduce blowback pressure thus slowing the rate the bolt travels enough to allow for slower and smoother action?

I'll look forwards to the Step by Step Guide 'ace!

Till later

Cerwyn