Airsoft Metal Slide, Frame & Barrel for a Modelgun?

Post by Mark



I think that if the cartridges that you would choose (cost,ease of getting etc) where close to the MGC,Marushin etc cartridges in length and diameter then, it would be a simple thing to change the detonator. However, i still have not seen a Haw San's detonator design and i don't know if they are removeable or not...I don't think that the conversion would be easy though...But not that difficult.
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Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Gavin

this might be easy enough if you get a 1911 or beretta metal airsoft frame then for the doner parts you could use a marushin kit and the barrell from the kit could be used

Post by Jez_JRP

After looking into the topic myself for a little while, it seems to me that the biggest problem after modifying the chamber end of the barrel to actually feed model gun carts properly, would be the extractor.

On some airsoft aftermarket slides there is a "dummy" extractor which can be unpinned and removed, and I can only assume that the original extractor from the MG slide could take it's place, but on many slides, the shape of the extractor is cast in and has no function.

In order to cycle properly, surely you would need to mill a recess in the slide and drill pin-holes to attach a working extractor? It'd be quite a lot of work.

Post by John

Exactly.
I also did a lot of research & study in this area. So far, I only know the Tanaka G17 and USP airsoft are designed with removable extractor on the slide. Their corresponding G17 & USP modelgun design are very similar, especially the dimensions to the airsoft. The Gl7 airsoft metal slide is available from Zeke (I think, but it is VERY expensive, the cost of the metal slide is enough to buy the whole G17 modelgun!) and the USP airsoft metal slide has been made from KJ in Taiwan. In fact, KJ copies Tanaka USP airsoft & produced KJ version of USP.

Other than those, I totally agree that it is extremely challenging just to make the functional extractor out of the airsoft metal slide. I even doubt if it is possible?

Step back one step. Would it be a lot easier to make up a display dummy model (i.e. no need to fire) from the airsoft metal slide (i.e. to preserve the dummy extractor)? Then the challenge may be on the metal airsoft barel?

Post by Jez_JRP

If you wanted to make a non-firing dummy model to chamber dummy (not CPHW) rounds, it may be possible to use a spring loaded chamber to overcome the non-working extractor problem.

i.e. when the breech is closed, the head of the round presses on a spring, and when the slide is opened manually, the spring will force the round out, and into the ejector. A stiffer recoil spring might be needed to hold the breech shut though...

I could be wrong, and it could be a terrible idea, but still, it might work

Post by Mark

Jez_JRP wrote:

but on many slides, the shape of the extractor is cast in and has no function.

Good point. The simulated extractors on the airsoft guns are cast in sometimes at a slightly diferent location than the real (or modelgun)gun has. So, when an appropriate airsoft slide is choosen for the conversion, the area that needs to be removed to clear the Modelgun's external extractor might be either higher or lower than the simulated extractors location.
In the case of the non-external extractor mounted modelguns, these are not as difficult looking as all that is required is mounting the modelguns breach block into its place with very few other mods required.

Post by Jez_JRP

I don't know if this is of any interest (maybe only to Tanaka G17 owners!) but there's a new slide out for the Marui G17 that has an accurately modelled extractor...

http://www.airsoft-news.eu/

Of course there'd have to be some skillful bodging to get a metal barrel to fit as I think there's some quite blatant differences, but it's a start!

Post by Spencerman

Not to want to sound negative, but why would you bother, as there is a metal slide and barrel available already for the tanaka Glock 17:

http://www.tokyo-model.com.hk/trade/productview/3837

I do not have one, so I do not know what they are like, but I am wondering.
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Post by Mark

Wow! For only $330 it too can be yours!

I hope that its worth it for that much! That would be one expensive Tanaka Glock! On the other hand, it would be really cool to have a super tough slide/barrel assy that would not break and it would make the Tanaka really realistic.

I wonder what part(s) would break instead of the slide/barrel?
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Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by BRMoore

This is really not worthit in most cases because remember something is only strong as the weakest link that applies to anything, so if you strengthen something your most definitely just changing which is the weakest part so if you change alot you might get somewhere, just think about what parts you will be creating stress onto next if you make something better.
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Owner of an M4 Commando. Tapco real steel stock fitted.

Post by Jez_JRP

I had no idea that kit existed Very cool... but very pricy. Modding the airsoft one would be much MUCH cheaper, which I guess is why one would bother

If I had $330 lying around that I wouldn't miss, I'd have to splurge on a Tanaka G17 with that kit. a nice glock model would be lovely.

Post by Spencerman

Ok, I admit that it is indeed pretty pricey, so I personally would not spend that much on it, but then there is also the option to swap over parts from the Wa Shan full metal jobbie :

http://www.tokyo-model.com.hk/trade/productview/2067
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Post by Jez_JRP

Alright, I admit defeat That's probably the easiest option if someone was desparate for metal parts. I guess the next-most-likely thing to break would be the ejector.

I was also musing about the possibilities of fitting the Zeke metal slide/barrel setup to a Hudson DE... that thing's just CRYING out for a bit of metalwork. I wonder if anyone's tried that before So many projects..... so little cash

Post by Spencerman

I was just wondering, as I have an upcoming project which needs a custom frame jobbie for a 1911, whether anyone has had any luck using an airsoft metal frame? I am specifically going to use a Wa Shan 1911 as a donor gun because they are cheap, fire supurbly, and they are metal. I was looking at maybe a WA model frame for a 1911 which are available in various different colours, but I am weary as to whether it would be a simple swap over. Does anyone have one that they could try? If WA frame fits Marushin or mgc slide (or better yet Wa Shan) then I may be in luck, but I do not have one to try it out on, although I am sure that many of you have got the Marui version at least of the 1911 as it was very highly recommended, and surely everyone has to have a 1911 variant in thier collection somewhere, so maybe someone would be kind enough to try and swap over parts for me?
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Post by shazhib

Spencerman,

As far as I heard, it would be a lot of work to convert WA (Western Arms) frame for modelguns. I don't know as to where do what level of detail, sounds like you should have many tools with well experience around metal craft.