My new Shoei MG42.

Jeepers, I thought I had replied.

Pit, that German collection of yours makes mine look like something you'd see at a Hitler Youth barbecue.

Kiwi, thanks for the offer to try to see if you can make some guts for my MG42.
There is absolutely nothing inside the gun, completely empty where it all is supposed to go. I guess the only real way to get it to operate nicely would be if Shoei themselves made something.
But I was only joking about you making something for it anyway, as you always seem to be very handing with making parts.

Hi Ozzie, I know you were only joking, but I reckon I could make something with a spring that might be worthwhile - if you're not in a hurry.....
And Pit, yes some photos and dimensions would be appreciated - you can PM me if you wish.

Oz - I take it there IS a trigger - and if so can you send me a photo of it and it's dimensions, etc.... It would make a good summer project for me to toy with.
Cheers,

Kiwigunner

Ok Cool. I'll take a couple of close up pics on the inside.

Thanks Cerwyn. Just received the emails and am going through them now and downloading the pictures.
I see that they were also sent to kiwigunner too.

Likewise thanks Cerwyn.
Appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Kiwigunner

Kiwi, I'll post up a couple of pics of the inside of the gun this weekend. Cheers.

Here's some pictures of the internals. What internals?
The inside is pretty much empty apart from the trigger mechanism at the bottom.
When the trigger is pulled, there is no movement above what can be seen in the pics. Nothing moves up or sideways.







And inside the cover.



Note: Shoei, please sell the mechanism as an accessory.

Sent some pics, via PM.

They are not terribly good, sorry -

There are two metal folds on the lower receiver that obscure most of the internals, that are not on the replica.

I ran into the owner of this company today in Phoenix - http://www.germanmanuals.com/manuals.html

I bought this one -

I already had his repro-MP44 buttstock manual in my MP44.

He is a very nice guy, and actually translates the manuals himself, using actual firearms to double check his translations.

There are very, very good pics of the MG42 in the manual.

SAR Show was phenomenal -
More accessories & cans all WW2 for the MG - Found the incredibly elusive ZB26 butt-plate - a good trip.

Thanks Pit; got them ok.
Ozzie - I just need to know the dimensional width of the inside of the MG42 in mm.
From your photos I can see I need to make a couple of side tracks that the bolt will slide in.
And I presume the return spring Base piece also requires making..... but if you have one let me know.





I can make most of these itemts out of some plastic pipe and bits & bots to fit into two channels you can bolt to the side of your MG42 with tose existing side bolts. But I can't find much in the way of dimensions of the bolt length and width, as yet.
Can you let me have the diameter of those side bolts and their distance appart in mm. Ta.

Maybe someone can post them for us.

Kiwigunner

Here's a couple of pics to hopefully show the scale of things.

The inside width is as close to 50mm as you can get.



The bolts are very close to being 80mm apart, and appear to be around 4mm or maybe around 3/16 diameter.



If only I still had my Meccano set from when I was a kid. That was when real kids grew up to be real men after playing with real toys.
I reckon constructing something would be pretty simple.

John, if you REALLY want to give this a try, all I'd want is something pretty simple with some spring loading to the trigger and a cock and click. Something that makes it feel a little real when I pull the trigger.

Cheers Dan.

Thanks Cerwyn, I didn't think there would be too many of them over here in Australia because of our laws.
According to Shoei's website, they were only going to do a limited run of them, so I new if I bought one, it would be well....er....limited. Yeah, pretty happy that I have it, but would have been cool if it was a little more then a wall hanger.

You never know, maybe one day.
Or maybe one day I might get one of the deacts that is floating around.
That's a thought.....I wonder if the guy who makes those steel replicas here could make some internal bits? Hmmm.....probably not because his police approval doesn't include working mechanisms I believe.

Ozzie.... thanks for that. That's all I'll need for a simple spring-loaded imitation assembly. It looks like I'll have to make a trigger sear
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Can you verify that part & spring are not installed (your photos say not).

I have some scrap materials here I can easily make the bolt and Spring end buffer stop with (plastic pipe wood and brass) and I'll get a spring that does the job from somewhere local.

I'll be able to make id "look" similar to a real one (painted silver) but you may have to "fine tune" how it locks onto the trigger mechanism by filing away a bit of plastic or brass.

Should be done before Christmas I hope.

kiwigunner

Kiwi gunner - was there anything useful on the pics from my MG?
As you can see the receiver is quite different to the dummy internally and restricts viewing, but it looks like you have a great reference for the bolt.
You will need guide rails that it can travel in, and they will need to be fixed to the insides of the lower receiver.


Pit.

Hi Pit.

Yes thanks, your photos help me a lot. I agree the guide rails need to me made and installed - I plan to use the side bolts shown in Ozi's photos to mount them.
It's a bit of a challenge - but because we're only making a dummy, there's a lot of latitude for imagination! I hope I can make something that works and still fits with Australian gun laws.

If you could send a photo of the trigger sear and spring components - that would be great, and maybe some measurements - if you can find the time!

I plan to make a prototype and take it to a friens a few hours drive away, and check for fit. Then make some final mods before sending to Australia.

Appreciate your input!

Kiwigunner

I think when Shoei stripped the guts out to make it a display model, that's what they did.
Nothing protrudes inside at all. So unfortunately no spring and "thingo" inside my gun.

So let's see how you guys goes...I've a MG42 sitting at home as well so hopefully something promising very soon ...

GREAT!!!!! I look forward to watching this one come together!


Pit.

Ozi ... I need to know if the charging handle moves or is fixed?
From your photo it appears to be fixed and a cover is bolted over the slot it would normally slide in???


Here's a photo of the assembly needed to connect to the bolt carrier. I've got enough info to start making the boldt and bolt carrier now.


It would be helpful to see a photo of what you HAVE got!

I'm looking forward to seeing what we end up with!

Kiwigunner

Mr Gunner,

I have all the components shown in the above picture you posted.
The charging handle pulls out and then backwards, moving all the other bits with it, then folds forwards and I can push it back to it's original position.
I have just checked some Youtube videos on the working MG42s, and it appears to be about right, but I couldn't figure out which slot being covered up that you were referring to.

It's dark here now, so I can't take any pictures, but will take any that you require over the weekend.

Here's a couple of shots of the charge handle area.

I have my camera ready......

UPDATE:
Gone thru my scrap bin plus bought a couple of rails, and am now ready to start making the dummy bolt and feed rails.

The spring I have will probably be too small ... anyone got a spare used MG42 main spring they wish to donate? PM me if you can. (Only $6 in the USA but $40 postage!).



Kiwigunner

Kiwi, please don't spend too much time and money on this, as it was only originally said in jest about you making something to fit inside the gun.

But if you do, I should be able to find a better spring around here locally. There is a spring works around Perth who used to have boxes of springs, and grab any you like for $1 each. It's helped me out a few times in the past.