Shoei MG42 Display Model

Planned to write a review for this expensive model but then found out it is way too time consuming...so just let the pics tell it all...































Not a very nice storage for this masterpiece isn't it ?

Size and weight of this model are really something! I think this is the largest one out there.

And you got Tomio-san autograph! :-D

PS: as for open storage - I found that a model left like that becomes dusted in short time :-( Fine details of construction make the cleaning task more difficult, usually lint from the cloth stays in tighter corners etc.

I have been contemplating getting hold of a "non firing replica", but I don't know exactly what manufacture it is.
Perhaps I need to take a closer look.

Has anyone else have this very same MG42 that they can post a review on? I have a chance to acquire the same thing but I won't be able to touch or feel the thing before I pay and wait for it to arrive. I've seen photos everywhere on the internet but nothing can compare to personally come to handle it. Just want to make sure my hard earned money will be properly spent.

What's the feel? Quality and workmanship? Any flaw etc etc...

Any comment or opinion will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I do not have this particular model, but older airsoft version. I've also handled Shoei FG42. They are outstanding pieces! Before buying airsoft MG42 I was very concerned because such expensive purchase can easily turn to be a big disappointment. It was far from that :-)

Shoei updates their new series with improved quality, so I think this model is even better done.

Very nice indeed! Does it strip down like the original?

Hmmm.... I've looked at various pictures it seems the internal of this replica is totally empty and we are only paying for the outside 'shell' compare to most if not all other modelguns which have working internal mechanism. Are Shoei MP44 and FG42 have got nothing inside their outer shell as well? I guess that's why Shoei calls it a 'display' model only for display not for operating or firing?

This is a dummy model, it does not fire caps.

In the past Shoei experimented with cap-firing modelguns, but they discovered that large, long, heavy models such as MG42 do not work well - cap does not quite have power to operate action. People also did not like to fire them due to price and risk of problems.

vernonsmith wrote:

Hmmm.... I've looked at various pictures it seems the internal of this replica is totally empty and we are only paying for the outside 'shell' compare to most if not all other modelguns which have working internal mechanism. Are Shoei MP44 and FG42 have got nothing inside their outer shell as well? I guess that's why Shoei calls it a 'display' model only for display not for operating or firing?

Shoei's MP44 will cycle dummy cartridges by hand. The '44 replicates all the internal parts of the genuine article.
Have a look at the photo gallery
https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/shoei-mp44-f34/shoei-mp44-photo-gallery-t1250.htm
and also the Instruction manual on

Yeah it seems MP44 and FG42 both have internal mechanisms and they are at least able to hand cycle the cartridge. The MG42 doesn't seem to have this feature at all. The internal is totally empty...

Very nice indeed

8ace

Since this MG42 become the centre of attention once again so I'll drop some notes regarding this masterpiece:

1) Price - similar to a deact MG42 in the UK (i.e. ~£900: with full moving parts usually with drum mag included and not welded because this is no SMG/Assault rifle) when I bought it in HK some months ago...I'll strongly recommend UK members to get the deacts if possible (as you can get more out of deacts this time ).

I think for US and even some European members they can somehow get a dummy repro receiver fitted with real upper to have a cheaper and yet more realistic dummy MG42...but still, there is something about Shoei's products making it special in their own right...

2) Built: apart from the complete lack of guts (internal mechanism) all the details are fine...I'd mentioned before since this is a "Display Model" instead of a "Dummy Model" which means mechanically it is worse than the dummy (for dummy you can still cycle dummy rounds but for this MG42 you can only hook the ammo belt across the feeding tray) so therefore I really don't have much to write about this gun in this regard...also since this is a Japanese products only zinc alloy can be used (i.e. take good care of it - don't ever treat it like deacts) as it can get scratched quite easily: I showed it on one of my photo sequence - an obvious scratch on the "heat shield".

3) It's quite heavy but I believe not as heavy as the real deal (i.e. the lack of the mechanism) and it's roughly 3/5 of my height when I lift it straight: very rough measurement ...

4) Since this is a Display Model so when you pull the cocking handle you have to push it back manually (unlike real steel & airsoft the spring will push it back) and the action isn't as smooth as I expect - something I don't appreciate about this gun...

5) Trigger's the same as some Post 95 deacts...you can pull the trigger but it clicks nothing...the trigger's safety as well: you can pull the trigger whether the safety's on or off...

6) The Bipod - it swings front & back left & right: saw on Youtube some real MG42 owners fixed the bipod so it only swings front and back...gave this feedback to Tomio san of Shoei and he stated that the original one does swing freely...since I don't have any experience with LMG I trust him...(see how the gun tilt left & right on my pics - this should be done to absorb the heavy recoil)...

7) The Black 7.92mm dummy rounds - optional separate orders from Tomio san...also no instruction manual, only the letter for Customs included - asked Tomio san and he affirmed...

In short - this is a GBB MG42 with GBB mechanism removed and then the barrel claimed to be fixed by a pin (according to Shoei's website) and with a feeding tray able to fit real drum mag...

For any further question pls feel free to ask ...

Wow thanks Jim for the superb review. Sounds to me the cons are more than pros so better think twice about getting this...

Excellent review Jim;
the price for one here is NZ$2999 (approx 1800 pounds) !!!
A BB gun with its guts removed (full auto BB guns being not allowed) - I can have an AKM semi-auto but NOT anything than is fully automatic and fires bullets or plastic pellets - unless I get a special licence. Go figure!
And you can't even fire CAPS! I'll put up with the faulty logic cause I have other freedoms!

But as you say, Shoei products have something special about them! Your photos look great! Thanks.