Post by Spencerman Ok, Kickback made this model for me, and having spoken to him about it here is exactly what I think about this model, good and bad points, which I am sure that everyone here including Kickback will find interesting.
Now, before I start, I would like to emphasise the fact that this is a home made modification, and I guess that I should start off by saying, that being the case I was not too sure exactly what sort of cut and shunt job to expect, but I was looking forward to recieving the package and getting my hands on this gun. It is also worth remembering that
I asked Kickback to build this for me completely at my own risk, understanding what needed to be done in order to achieve what I wanted, and hopefully I will cover many of these points as I go on. Also worth remembering that it cost me two guns to do, the airsoft USP Compact and the Tanaka model USP, and I would only end up with one gun at the end. I also had a full metal slide and barrel set for the airsoft gun, which is also an extra that costs more money still, I cannot remember exactly how much now, but it was the best slide that I have seen, cosmetically. Now, upon opening the package I was a little disappointed because it took me so bloody long to open it all up, it was packaged that well
, but when I saw the gun I just couldnt believe what it looked like. It is fantastic. I have to say that it is now probably my best modelgun of all! Here are a couple more pictures of it.
Now, I also supplied the real steel magazines to use in the conversion, as the airsoft model would accept those into the frame without modification. There is a slight negative to this, as the airsoft catch is slightly lower down, therfor making the magazine stick out slightly, as you can see a slight gap between that and the frame. Surprisingly this doesnt feel uncomfortable or anything like that as you may expect, and probably due to subtle differences between the real and the airsoft, seems to actually follow through with the natural contour of the hand anyway, so that is my first negative point, but it is not a negative as it is still good, if that makes sense. Time for another picture to show the magazine.
Now, I guess that I should mention a good point next. The safety catch and decocking lever all still work exactly as you may expect, so no change there. I know that sometimes you have to sacrifice some functions in order for it to work, but not so here. Also, for those who do not know, there is a transit lock on the USP Compact, which you need a key to unlock (or lock) which prevents the gun from firing. That is still there also. Here it is.
Great so far. Now for the biggest stumbling block for me, and one which caused me much worry. The barrel. Now I knew that Kickback was having a few problems with the airsoft barrel, as it kept on locking up no matter what he tried to do with it. As a solution to the problem, in order to make a working model and not just a dummy, he used the barrel from the USP. Cosmetically there are differences between them. I did not know how I would like this little change if I am honest, but I figured that I wanted a functional model rather than a dummy model, and said to just do what ever was needed. Personally, I could not start grinding and chopping at a cherished model of mine for fear of going wrong, so I was glad for him to do it instead of me, that way if I didnt like it, it was his fault!
Now, what I find is a little strange as a result of this. In order for the barrel to fit, quite obviously it would need to be cut down. There is also a ramp on the USP which is not on the Compact model. I like the end result. The ramped ejection port doesnt look bad at all. Whether this is due to false ramps being put onto guns in the movies and yet still looking good, I dont know, but it looked fine. That was one concern reassured. The other issue with the barrel is to do with Tanaka rather than Kickback. That bloody metal bar running through the barrel. By cutting down the barrel, this is right at the end, and so blatantly obvious. Here is time for another picture.
Now, surprisingly, this again doesnt look too bad, and doesnt even bother me. Maybe that is because it is there, and not trying to hide the fact that it is there, that makes it more acceptable. Now in case you thought that I had got someone else to take all my pictures lately becasue they are much better, then you are wrong, wait for the next one.
I wanted to show the breach block, but couldnt get close enough without going out of focus, and I do not know how to manually focus my camera, so you probably cant really see the detail, but here goes anyway. From the chamber end...
and from the rear...
If you can see any of the detail then you will see what a great job has been done to blend the parts. I can hardly tell what is now airsoft and what was originally Tanaka. A first class job done there certainly.
Now, I can only guesstimate as to the technical modifications made, but I shall have a go, and hopefully Kickback can point me right. I know that the magazine spring had to be cut down, but I do not know as to how much by, so maybe we can start there. You never know, what if I need a couple hundred more magazines! Then there is the breach block. I know that dimensionally it is a little larger than the Compact one, so I am fairly sure that a little had to be shaved off the hammer to get it to line up, and also that the guide tracks in the slide had to be lengthened, although I have not stripped it yet, to allow the slide to sit slightly farther forward, therefor making it not necessary to shave anything off the breach block in order to make it work. I noticed that also recoil spring guide rod has been changed, presumably a shortened Tanaka one reworked with a new or modified spring. Then there is the final modification needed to make it work, and this is what terrified me the most. The ejection rod.
This modification I know was not straight forward, because the metal slide didnt have one, but only a space for a dummy one to fit, so Kickback had to dremel out the slide in order to make one fit. As was mentioned, the roll pins didnt line up with the airsoft slides dummy roll pins, so new holes needed to be drilled and a complete refinishing of the slide was neccesary, along with liquid metal to fill the holes. My heart could have sunk at this point. I liked the finish of the metal slide. It was a kind of parkerised finish, although I know that they also do a oxidised finish one also. I wanted to get the latter, but still kind of liked the finish on the first one. As soon as I knew that the slide needed refinishing, my first thought was to the markings. I wasnt too worried about the hk etc. markings, but more the little etched ones, with the serial number etc. Now, I am sure that you would all agree with me that the gun looks good. You can tell that from all the pictures above, but here is the closest that I could get to the engravings.
As you may be able to see, they are all there, and I love the finish that the slide, and barrel for that matter, have. I can vouch that the slide has been completely refinnished, as the final look is not what was supplied to Kickback originally, and I would be very intersted as to how he managed to refinish the slide so well, and yet also still retain the delicate markings of the original. I absolubtly love the finish that this gun actually has, as I too prfer the slightly used look, not scratched, cant stand that, but worn or carried look is great. I also prefer the finish to the factory one that was supplied, it is far better.
I am glad that Kickback didnt make the gun to fire to fire the Tanaka round, as although they do look really nice, they are too fiddly, and the 220 rounds are great. It also means that in theory I could use disposeable rounds in it if I can get some more!!! I bet that you are wondering now how it fires. Well, that is a good question. You see, ever scince I got my German Shepherd it has been increasingly difficult for me to fire any modelguns at home, as she is not yet used to the bangs, although we are working on that, and I cannot just pop down the pub and fire off a few. As such, I have not had a chance to fire it yet
, but I am pretty sure that if it fires anywhere near as good as it looks, it will be great. Certainly when I get a camera with sound the you will see this for all it is worth on the videos section.
All in all, I am so impressed, I am flabberghasted. What I thought would be a fairly good conversion has turned out to be simply fantastic. I cannot wait for the next project that Kickback undertakes with me, which will no doubt be a lot more challenging for him, and probably also of the highest interest to most of you guys, and if that one ends up even in the ball park with this one I will be well chuffed. In short, even at my most critical, I cannot find any real bad points about this model, as any that I find are somewhat strangely liveable with. A true artist, enthusiast, magician, bastard, call him what you like, Kickback has more than earned my every respect with this model, as it far surpassed even my greatest hope for it, and is far better finished than any other factory produced modelgun that I own.
Bring on day 7 (especially as I have the P99 already covered)!
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Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:59 pm
)and not too sure why it plays twice 
)and not too sure why it plays twice :? 
What camera setup are you using??