My new Shoei MG42.

I've always wanted something to be the pinnacle of my collection, and this is it.

Being in Australia, there's not always a lot of choice, so this dummy Shoei MG42 does it for me.
From the paperwork that came with it, it left Shoei on 29 October 2010, and arrived in Victoria. It then came over to my side of the country and landed in my hands today.
I don't know if they usually come with a sling or belt, but mine has them. The bullets were fitted by the guy I bought it off.

It is still brand new in the box, and was only removed a few times.
It now has a small scratch on it as I was setting it up in my back yard for the photos. It looks used now. Hahahaha.....

Very nice indeed fella.
One that is on my list for sure,after the fg42.
Shoei are doing another run of the mg42 after the mkb42 so i will have to get saving.
Atb
jay.

Thanks guys. It is certainly something that I have wanted in a long time.

If anyone would like any close up pictures of anything in particular, I am happy to do so.

I bought mine and sold it within 2 weeks. It is a shame that the internals of this model is totally empty that I am only paying for the empty outer shell. The barrel is not removable too. Still a good display and conversation piece nonetheless. Wonder why shoei dun make internals for this like their other models which are more worth the money imo.

I agree with you Vernon. Although they are a beautiful model, they lack the internals in them when they removed the airsoft components. But down here, we take what we can get, and the Shoei is the ultimate model in this respect.

If I can somehow get hold of the guts for these machines, then I will certainly try.
I would love to at least cock and click it.

Wonder why Shoei dun fill the internals with their MG42 like their other models (MP44, FG42, G43 etc) from my understanding they do make pfc and airsoft on those models but still went beyond to recreate the real mechanisms.

Or may be it will be too costly with the MG42 working internals and won’t sell as good due to higher price coz the currently one (without internals) already cost quite dearly.

As far as I know MG42 was originally made as airsoft and released without internals for countries where dummies only are allowed. This saves a bit of cost (airsoft internals) and work (no replacement internals), think of it as a cheap way of using existing design for another purpose.
Mabe some day there will be a more complete version of dummy MG42 - if you let Tomio know you are interested, and others will be too, he might consider it (unless it was not done for other reasons).

I don't think there was a cap-firing version of MG42 from Shoei - they did short run of cap-firing FG42, which did not work too well due to moving parts weight and overall trickiness of getting cap to blowback correctly.

So this is the real MG42 internals...shouldn't be too difficult to make isn't it...

But...if the spring's too strong then the whole gun might be in pieces after several racks (against the alloy body) ...

I'll have to convince Kiwi to make something for me. He loves doing this stuff LOL!

Only kidding......

Here's the basic instructions that come with the MG42.





The standard letter, signed by Tomio.



The paperwork for the original importer into Australia, signed by Tomio.

Thank you! I can understand how you must feel. Just make sure to enjoy it.

Some detail pictures.















And just in case anyone thinks that the ammo belt can be fitted upside down, I found this picture.
It appears that they might have been loaded either way.

Yes, they are a really nice piece, it's just unfortunate that they don't come with any internals. Maybe one day Shoei can come up with the missing pieces.

I have only come up with one picture on the whole internet which shows the belt upside down in the above black and white picture.
I have been told it's the wrong way around, which I agree with, but that one picture changes things slightly.

I have come to the conclusion that the ammo belt must be mounted with the openings facing downwards, so I have deleted and re-posted 3 of the pictures with the belt up the right way.

Maybe that previous picture was taken at the Russian Front.
His famous last words..... "Oh scheiße, ich bin ein dummkopf."

Fantastic model! Congrats

Yes, the belt must be loaded with the openings facing downwards, towards the feed tray.

What we all more or less expect from Shoei if there'll be the improved version...

Yeah and then the price will be tripled

If this is the case then what shall we do for those of us who owned the dummy version: send them back to Shoei Japan for the conversion or to buy another one if conversion's impossible...? I thought too much ...

Nice piece - and an awesome collection center-piece!!!!!!

Don't worry about the scratch, these things start to look better with wear.

GREAT photographs - well done and thank you!



Pit.
I think it is a trick of the light with that photo - greasy links will reflect the light - I have a bunch of WW2 black links and they are very shiny - the m53 Yugo links are phosphate and not so shiny.
*BTW - You can load the ammo upside down, but it will not feed.
The bolt pushes the round forward and down into the breech, using the gap in the bottom of the link.
If it is upside-down the link-lip that holds the rim is in the way.
It is is an extraordinarily simple design -

There are two things to remember with the MG42 - belt the right way up and bolt lug in line with the groove on the top cover.

Thanks Pit.

I think you may well be right about the reflection. although it certainly does look upside down.

I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea one day and do my own Germain collection of photos too, but of course I'll name the thread differently.

"I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea one day and do my own German collection of photos too, but of course I'll name the thread differently."

I think that is an excellent idea, I think I speak for everyone here when I say I love seeing other people's collections.
Reminds me, I need to rephotograph mine.

These German belt-feds are awesome.
I just learned about the MG34-41 - the lower looks like a '42 and the upper like a '34, although it is neither and does not interchange parts with either.

I am putting accessories together for my MG42 now:
Cans - WW2 not Yugo.
Drums and drum carriers.
Canvas covers.
Belt and belt starters (not a necessity, just leave first three links empty)
Belt loader (this is a necessity, I discovered on our first shoot)
Leather and canvas slings - depending on display.
Canvas action cover.
Still needed:
AA sights.
WW2 or WW2 Yugo refurbish Lafette mount and accessories - (not the MG3 postwar mount - not the tall AA tripod.)
A spare bolt, it's going to go at some point.
Canvas brass catcher.

Finally - lots and lots of blanks - this is about an half hours worth, lol.

Hi Ozzie,

Been away a bot lately so only just caught up on this thread!
Glad you got your Shoei - even without the guts in it.
E-mail me some pics of the internals and I'll see what I can make that would compy with Aussie gun laws. (Plastic & wood ???)
I can access a real weapon to inspire me if I need to, but it means travelling down country.

Next weekend is the annual Armiste day in Cambridge re-enactors event:
www.armisticeincambridge.co.nz

So most likely will be able to take some photos of one stripped down. I'll take along my callipers just in case!

Kiwigunner

Hey Kiwi -

Any pics or detail photos you need let me know - I'd be happy to photograph one for you - the bolt could look good in wood, with a big spring behind it.



Pit.
*I know I've posted the pic - but you know I love 'em, lol.