The Start of Something New!

[Zonie]

Every builder is driven by the idea that once a gun is finished, there has to be something NEW to work on.

That's where I was until today.

Years ago, Revell offered full size plastic models of old pistols.
They weren't always right on the scale etc., but they were close enough to look somewhat realistic.
I've had several of these hanging on my bedroom wall for 30 years, and got to looking at my mid 1800ish model and decided building a real gun like that might be fun.

This picture shows the model as it exists today. Please forgive it's condition, but when you've been knocked off of the wall by kids and my wife over the last 30 years, some of your pieces might be missing too! ::

I expect to hear words of anger from you Flinters out there, but I plan to build this as a Caplock.
Today, I ordered the .40 cal 3/4 inch octagon X 10 inch barrel from Vernon C. Davis.
The gun will have a small Chambers Siler Precussion lock which is smaller than the grotesque thing the model has.
The trigger guard and sideplate will be German Silver.

I'm buying the Curly Maple block of wood from TOTW too. I figure $25 isn't too bad of a price if it is quality grade like thier ad promises.

I'll keep you folks informed about their delivery.

The buttplate is obviously a casting and of course, nobody makes anything like that.
What I plan on doing is to make a Plaster of Paris mold of the models buttplate and cast Cerrobend into it.
This should be safe to do because the Cerrobend has a melting point of only 180 degrees F. so any moisture in the mold won't turn to steam.

Oh, for those of you thinking about a project like this, so far my total parts cost is $185.00 plus postage.

As usual, I'm excited about my new project and can't wait until the pieces start getting here. ::

 

[john s mosby]

I really admire your ability to start from stratch and build a gun!!

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Go for it Zonie, we all need an ongoing project.

Here is pic of a little .36 nipple pistol I scratch built back in the late 70's. The brass barrel I made from the stem of a large frost free valve. My brother has it today, he never shot it, just had a shadow box made for it to hang on the wall. :shake:

If you look close you can see it here back in 81 tucked into my belt.

 

[Zonie]

TANSTAAFL: Neat little pistol!!! :applause: :applause:
Seems a shame to just let it hang in a box though.
You may not know it, but I can pick up vibrations from inanimate objects just by looking at them. :shocking:
It just told me that it is wanting to be shot, preferably at something like a watermelon at 10 yards distance. :: ::

You ought to try to rescue it and get it back to the land of the living.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[bob1961]

is that barrel plastic also or is it made of wood and all....................bob

 

[LSU TIGER]

Whats "cerrobend?" Have you thought about hammering out a domed butt cap? Neat project, but I have to say, I'd have stocked it in cherry or walnut and used either a modified small Siler or Chamber's small round faced lock. :m2c:

Keep us posted on the progress.

 

[Zonie]

The whole thing is just a plastic model.
As I mentioned, Revell used to make several different plastic gun kits.
Follow this link I posted in the Pre-Flint Forum to see some of the other models which hang on my bedroom wall:
PLASTIC MODELS

I was tempted to build the Ivory gun out of Walnut, but I can't find anyone who makes the thin elegant barrel that pistol needs.

 

[Zonie]

Cerrobend (and several other casting alloys like "Cerrosafe" (available at Brownells) are low temperature Bismuth alloys.
They are non-toxic and melt in the 170-190 degree temperature range. (That way when my wife says something like "You are NOT going to go casting melted metal in MY kitchen!" I can say, "This stuff doesn't get as hot as the water your boiling the beans in". Wins every time!)

Cerrosafe is used to make castings of modern rifle chambers to determine sizes.

This alloy looks exactly like Pewter. It doesn't tarnish and it's only negative for some uses is that it is heavy.

I thought of using Walnut but you know me. I always want something that stands out a little in a crowd. ::

 

[horkeye]

Years ago, Revell offered full size plastic models of old pistols.

I had one years ago when I was a youngan; been lookin fer em fer years ta bild agen; cant find em!

:redthumb:

Lehigh County, propa longarms!

 

[aragorn]

Caplock would be much more likely for a target or duelling pistol of this general design, so you're absolutely right to chose it!

I think the design of the plastic model is based on high-quality pistols produced by Martin Mang in Graz, Austria, in the mid-19th c. Have you seen that Pedersoli does a reproduction? They call it 'Mang in Graz'. I'm looking at it in their catalogue now, but it should be on their website too at www.davide-pedersoli.com

 

[LSU TIGER]

I used to build plastic models, tanks and aircraft mostly. In the late 70s to early 80s, a Japanese company made plastic models of modern weapons line the Luger, Mauser 1896 (Broomhandle), Colt M1911A1, etc. Nice kits, as I recall. In fact I built the ivory stocked pistol you pictured, and played with it into oblivion. Those were the days when a real Thompson Submachinegun cost $1000 or less! :cry: