Photo review of the HobbyFix Colt M4A1 Carbine

Some more detail pics (note the slight faults with the finish):











Double heat shield, oversize handguards:



Barrel assembly (Note the shiny part. I first thought it would be plastic, propably due to legal restrictions, but it is aluminum. No idea why it has a different shape and colour. The design is odd though. Real carbines have the thinner or the thicker barrel profile under the handguards, but not a mixed design. Also note the sharp end and slightly bent roll-pins on the front sling swivel mount (no big issue, but bad quality control im my eyes)):





M4A1 with two real mil spec 30 rd magazines, two 5.56 dummy carts and an additional, real, current issue front sling swifel (this swifel does no longer fit the thinner A1 barrel profile):



For reference see these pics, showing real parts (courtesy of Ekie at AR15.com):

Early M4/M4A1 barrel and later HBAR "Heavy Barrel":



Early sling swifel. It was a pinned on type developed for use with the M16 series and the M203. It was reversible so it could be used on both .625" (A1) and .750" (A2) barrels:



Late sling swivel, same as before but now .750" only, used in 2000 and on production:

Interesting details - I had no idea that handguards can have such heat shields, only seen plastic airsoft ones ;-)

Do you maybe know why barrel thickness was changed from A1 to A2? Strength issues?

As far as I know the thinner barrel tended to overheat with excessive full automatic fire. Even worse most M4A1 carbines are used with a lot of extra equipment fitted on the R.I.S. rail system, adding a lot of weight to the barrel so the barrel had to be reinforced.

Here is an article scan from Japanese COMBAT (Issue Dez 2000/Feb. 2001) magazine that promoted the then new HF M4A1. Sadly I do not understand what it says, but I like the pictures:

I found a nice forum entry while browsing the net. It shows the pictures of my HF M4A1. I knew that
detailed pics and information about the HF M4A1 were very rare so I did the review.

Would love to know what they write about it there though!

http://www.arms-cool.net/forum/thread-71072-1-7.html

Ha ! This is one of the Taiwanese airsoft forums that I occasionally browsed (more often now because I've to keep up to date with makers like WE who keeps bringing out new GBBs just like the red hot G36C-styled "G39C").

This post is from the perspective of an airsofter who had never encountered modelgun before so he began by asking people have they ever seen a M4 so realistic before (making fun that the holes on the bolt will cause gas leaks for GBB before revealing to readers this is a dummy modelgun)...also of course how he wish to get one of this...

Then the replies - some asks the legality of this gun in Taiwan...I reckon this shall be legal since this is a dummy only (although some suspects this can be easily converted - but then who really wants to fire such expensive gun without any spares available whatsoever).

Thank you! I was so curious what they were saying about it.

Sadly I am not here often as I can hardly find the time to enjoy my collection or make posts. Anyway I just realised that it is more than two years now I psoted this review.

The HF M4A1 is (still) my favourite modelgun. It is as close to the real one as possible regarding Japanese laws. This one has a story to tell. It was very hard to obtain one in Japan as it was made in limited numbers around 2001, and it was very expensive.

When moving house with me its finish got damaged and I tried to repair it, making it worse and even breaking a lug of the trigger guard on the lower receiver. There was no way in hell to get a spare one, so I was in despair. Luckily a very skilled forum member was able and willing to help. He did magical things and saved my model. We decided to do some modifications to make it even more realistic as I had nothing to loose then.

I will review these modifications step by step. The model is not yet finished and still undergoing some work.

Let me start with some things I have learnt over the years regarding the real M4A1.

1.) Colour of the finish

The real M16s/M4s are made from anodized aluminium, and the finish varies from grey to flat black. Most current Govt issue Colt M4/M4A1 carbines are flat black, so some collectors said HF was wrong choosing a dark grey colour.
Anyway I learnt that early M4s came in a dark grey colour, so HF was most likely right back in 2001 when they made their modelgun.

When repairing and reworking is complete, the gun will get a flat black coating as I think it is not possible to match the proper Colt grey.

2.) no “T-markings” on flat top upper

The rail on the flat top upper of current M4s has T-markings so it is easier to remember the correct spot to put the accessories on. Collectors blamed HF had forgotten this important detail.
Anyway I learnt early Colt uppers did not have those markings. HF copied a “C AF” marked (and thus early) upper which did not have those marks. HF was right again back in 2001.

Real uppers. Note the different colours and the markings on the rail:


3. “COLT’S MFG. CO. INC.” markings instead of “Colt Defense”

The markings HF chose are right for a 2001 Carbine. For the six years between the date when Colt emerged from bankruptcy in 1996 with a new name (Colt's Manufacturing) and 2002, when Colt Defense split off into a separate company for military/law enforcement guns, they did indeed rollmark them as "Colt's Mfg.".






Real one. Note the markings and colour:


Another real one. Also note that the markings are rolled, not engraved like they are on the model:



Repair:T

hat is the most important modification my friend did. He welded the broken lug, but was not satisfied. He then machined a complete new part for the grip area from an aluminium block, thus saving my model! He did magic! I don’t know how much time and effort he had to spend, but I will never forget what he has done.

See the disaster:










Modifications:

1. Missing drain hole

There is a small drain hole where the spring and detent for the receiver pivot pin is located. Very early M16s, as well as some civilian semi auto AR-15s do not have this hole, but current ones do. An Army armourer’s manual explains how and where to drill it. My friend reworked the lower receiver and drilled the proper hole (By the wy, HF later noticed that mistake and their M16A4 models had the hole).

Note the missing drain hole:



Advice how to drill it:



Later HF M16A4, now with the drain hole:





2. Barrel profile


As already written HF used a strange barrel profile, not an early standard (thin) barrel, not a later heavy barrel. My friend made a new barrel part, adding to the realism.

The original barrel assembly:



Reworked barrel assembly:






3. Lip surrounding the magazine well


HF made the front lip too big (something Jim has already mentioned in another thread), so we decided to make it smaller, thus looking more realistic. Getting exact measurements was very critical as these are not specified and seem to vary from different models (the M16A2 has a slightly different lip than the M4A1). I got some pictures from real guns so my friend could obtain a great and realistic result:

Lip is too big/sharp:



Much better now:








We did some more modification and I will continue this review as soon as I can find the time. The M4A1 is not yet completed though.

Can't wait to see the progress...and I'll try to post some of my new Colt rifles (both dummy & GBB) to see what shall be rectified for mine...

I can proudly announce that the man who made all this possible is 8ace. Thank you very much for your help and understanding. Some more modifications we have done:

Replacing the front sling swivel by a real Colt swivel.

Replacing the grip screw by a real AR-15/M16 grip screw. 8ace had to recut the threads in the lower receiver tough ... ( I know I am a nitpicker, but I liked that crazy modification, and 8ace did it without complaining)

Replacing the receiver extension (Buffer/stock tube) by a real Colt mil spec one. HF used a commercial tube and stock that comes with 1.17 inches diameter. I found a Colt tube with the proper 1.14 inches, as well as a real Colt stock. Despite the different diameter and a small raised "N" on the plastic stock, there is no big difference at all.

Replacing the selector lever by a real one. The selector HF made sadly does not really click into the middle (SEMI) position as it should. That was something that bothered me from the start. I do not understand why HF did not work out that fault. Anyway that was tricky and needed a lot of twinkering as the real selector made of steel has to be modified. This modification is not yet completed though.

I will continue this review and add some pics, but maybe we should move it to the "Modifications" section ...

There are rumors that HF made two production runs of their M4A1. I could not confirm this until now when I found pics of a HF M4A1 that has the drain hole in the lower receiver, just like the later M16A4. Despite the (propably higher) serial number this may be the only difference. See the pics below of a late HF M4A1 (not mine):





Please note that this late M4 comes with a slightly darker carrying handle with "A2" forge marks, just like the (even later) M16A4.









After all these years finding new details still gives me a thrilll ...

All repairing and reworking is finished now. Thank you, 8Ace! I have refinished the lower and upper receiver by using flat black GunKote, applied with an airbrush. The result turned out quite good and realistic. Using this method is a little expensive, as you can not buy GunKote easily in Germany. You will need an airbrush too. It is vital to spray in thin passes. Once applied too thick it will come out shiny. It is crucial to clean and prepare the parts well. Any oil, grease or finger print will ruin the finish. Once applied it can be cured in an oven. I am thinking about doing a GunKote review soon too.
I will have to put the model back together now. I think this will mean some minor scratches and scuff marks, so i hope all will get well in the end. I will update this review











"What is foremost in Godfather's mind: We're still very much in the game, gentlemen, very much in the game."

It was my pleasure to help out and restore it back to its former glory, but it was a bit scary cutting bits off such a rare and valuable model

But it's all worked out nicely in the end

8ace

The upper receiver is reassembled. The charging handle, carrying handle, hand guards and front sling swivel are real Colt parts now. the colour of the receiver fits the parts okay so I think I didn't do too wrong. I really like it so far.

8ace will have to rework one part of the barrel though, which means a setback. But this is something I had to learn the hard way with this project: Two steps forward, and one step back.

Anyway I have drawn blood now and hope to finish it soon.

Great work, Mike!

Really awesome -

Pit.

Stunning M4. Just an idea, could you not use an airsoft one piece outer barrel for yours? But will shut up if your going for originality.

Only if one of my M16 variant can get the same treatment of your M4 ...

I finally found the time to finish my project. It was a long way to go, and it was full of ups and downs. I had a lot of setbacks, but every single meant more encouragement. Looking back, I am glad I did not know what would come along with it, as I would not have had the guts to start it.

It all started that I didn’t like the selector switch, which did not engage in the SEMI position. I don’t know why HF didn’t make it right, as they should have been able too. I tried to rework it or to fit a real one. And there was that moment I didn’t pay attention and scratched the finish. Trying to repair it made it worse, so I had the idea doing modifications and a refinish in black. At one point I broke a lug that holds the trigger guard, and that was the saddest moment in my whole career as a modelgun enthusiast.

I have to admit I would not have been able to get the modelgun from japan and do all the modifications and repairs by myself. I had a lot of help, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed. I really hope I did not miss someone:

8ace for his skills and patience. He simply did not accept a “not possible”. He has that rare “no task too difficult, no damage beyond repair” mentality. This is your work, my friend!

Shazhib and HIGUsan for their help getting this modelgun and information about it from Japan. Thank you, my friends!

Cerwyn for all his encouragement, always open ears, understanding and help. He had to drag me along more than once.

ljerr2 for his great help getting me spare parts from the USA. I can not thank you enough.

Sadly I can’t take good pictures right now, the dark and snowy weather requires a flash, and that ruins the pics. I will do that asap.

I have written a lot about the modifications. The most important ones are:

Fitting a real (modified) selector switch, that clicks into the SEMI position well.

Modifying the barrel to a realistic “HB heavy barrel” profile.

Reducing the front lip on the receiver, drilling a drain hole, and removing traces from casting.

Adding real parts like a receiver extension (buffer/stock) tube, carry handle, charging handle, hand guards, stocks, front sling swivel and trigger guard.
All parts came from COLT and are mil spec. I could leave them in their original color, which fits the refinished receiver parts well, so I knew I was not too wrong about the color.
HF had chosen a dark grey, which is right for early M4A1 carbines. But I would not have been able to get the exact color, as well as real early spare parts in grey, so I can live ith the black color, even more as current Colt rifles are black.
I managed to obtain both types of Colt stocks, the early “CAR-15” style one that is flat on the back, and the later slanted type that was introduced around 2002/2003. I can’t make up my mind which one I like more.

Don’t get me wrong, the parts HF used are great too, and you can hardly, if at all, tell a difference. Anyway the stock and tube had the commercial dimension which Colt does not use, so I wanted the right ones.
I also gathered some good accessories, a blank adaptor (the ones for the M4 gas system are yellow, the ones for the M16 are red), a nice selection of magazines, a military issue sling and so on.















You can't see the biggest and most difficult modification/repair. 8Ace replaced the section with the broken trigger guard lug by a custom made aluminum part. What a masterpiece!

Here are some detail pics. The sun was quite bright. It is hard to find the right lighting but you can see the details quite well.

Please note the "Heavy Barrel" barrel profile (custom made steel and aluminum barrel part by 8Ace - rock solid now, and heavy), the real front sling swivel (Colt Govt. issue), real carry handle (colour does not fit perfectly, but color varies on real rifles as well due to anodizing), Colt stock (N1 marked), Colt buffer tube, mil spec fire selector (clicks very positive into the SEMI position), reduced front lip at magazine well (made by 8Ace), Gun Kote finish (applied by myself using an Airbrush).

I also have the newer Colt stock, a real sling, real Colt hand guards, real Colt and Govt. issue magazines, a bright orange plastic magazine for blank ammo and a yellow M4 BFA (blank firing adapter).

It's been three years now working on this project but I am finally satisfied. what do you think?

Please note: You can't see the most difficult modification/repair 8Ace did, replacing the broken trigger guard lug by a custom made aluminum part. What a masterpiece!

I was able to take a few extra photos. And I was also able to compare it to an unmodified HF M4A1 from the same series (first production run).

Note the dark grey colour of the unmodified HF version. HF was right with this colour as real Colt M4A1s from that time were mostly dark grey.
I did a refinish in flat black. The colour matches current Colt production runs as I could use a charging handle and carry handle without refinishing them. The colour fits quite well.





Original version on top, reworked version below.

Modified model





With blank firing attachment and orange plastic Thermold magazine (for blanks only):



Reduced lip on the front mag well (modified by 8ace):





Original lip on the front mag well (too big):





Real Colt Govt. issue sling swivel (late version):



HF replica sling swifel (early version):




Traces from casting, please note the missing drain hole:



Same spot reworked and smotthed by 8ace and drain hole drilled before refinishing:





I am really happy with the modifications as we could make this great model even more realistic.
If only HF could see this. I really love their original product, but I am proud I was able to improve it even further.
Hell, this project really made me the king of the nitpickers ...

You are a king now, at least for modelguns ;-)

Modellers who put together plastic ships/tanks/airplanes spend a lot of time getting their kits adjusted from original-in-the-box to original-military state by doing a LOT of modifications and improvements. This is not considered nitpicking, and I think the same could apply to the modelguns in a quest for the perfect one (visually).

Even if it's "just" details, it was a tremendous amount of work, and I'm sure it wasn't easy for all involved, despite appearances.

Well done!

Most important is that is made you happier :-)

PS: yeah, they both look the same for me! ;-) (duck&run)

Thank you! No need to run. I can understand that they look the same, but comparing the pics you should see the modifications ...  

This project took a long time and was expensive. And we had a few setbacks. In my darkest hours I sometimes feared I would do something that would ruin my M4. But seeing the miracle work 8ace had done, I had no such fears.

Is the BFA just for looks or has it been modified to fire blanks?