patchett project(hatching a flock of sterlings)

Thanks.
While the new mill IS a new toy, it's replacing a smaller one I had for a year before (x2-alike out, SX3L in), and I'm in the habit of locking an axis if it doesn't need to move when cutting.

For the vent holes, what about using just a centre drill? Looking at the material thickness and curvature, I was thinking that a centre drill could be used to drill the entire hole in one go by selecting one with a suitably-sized "shank".
e.g. I ran some numbers for an M1919 barrel jacket, and worked out a standard geomtry 5/8" centre drill has enough cutting depth on the wider "shank" to go right through the material on a curve. As the swarf can fall inside the tube, I assume the short cutting flukes wouldn't be a problem.

Then again, I use DROs, so repeating a row of holes isn't that much of a problem - just takes more time.

Would the crush aspect still be a problem if the tube was held at each end, as in a rotary table/tailstock setup?

if you have have a large enough scenter drill then that would be ideal and a lot less fuss i just don't posess one large enough ,as for rotory table and tailstock again that would be ideal but as i work with a combi mill-lath i dont have enough travel on the bed to do the job in one without haveing to re mount the work,kind of wish i had a better mill but my workshop is too cramped to fit another large machine not too mention cost.sorry if i gave advice for a novice but you never know what another person's knowledge or tools are like.

i raised the cross piece a little ,fitted the spring and lugs inside and cut the bayonet slots and it all works well leaving 5mm movement under spring tension to lock the stock in place,now i've got to make the end cap lock underneath .

Wow!!!

end cap catch fitted,trigger guard finished and started the refineing with filler,its going for a test game tonight at my local then if all is well ists just the bolt ,stock and paint.then of course finish 2 more.

That's looking very nice.

testing went well with only a couple of minor things to attend to,the magazine catch needs a little freeing up as i had a couple of ocasions when it didnt engage and the mag fell out ,the other thing was the hop adjuster creeping and that just needs a scenter punch next to the thread to tighten the thread something i was planning on doing anyway.all in all a pretty sucessfull test,plenty of kills despite the low accuracy from sutch a short barrel but this one has a standard barrel and the others have tight bore's so i might have to invest in a tight bore for this one as well ,it might make some difference also a change to 0.25 g BB's is probably going to be helpfull.

ahh.. teptation must resist urge to re-assemble..paint must dry ..... im not a patient man and im dieing to put it all together .
ive tightened the hop adjuster so it doesent creep ,made up a fake bolt and cocking handle ,all thats left on the prototype is the stock,then its probably all going to stop for a while so i can begin prep for il goirgo pass game,the bren needs a power tweek from 340 to 370 fps,the hop on the no4 needs looking at etc..

Excellent work mate. Be good to see you at the officers mess for a snifter.

a snifter will be in order i think,do you want me to bring the prototype and your's along for a look-see,as i said it wont be finished as im switching prioritys to preparation for the italian campain but it will give you something of an idear what it will be like.




she's dressed now and thoroughly descent,couldent wait any longer but the others will get the full 3 days drying time.quite pleased with the bolt ,i managed the helical groove effect by useing alluminised steel tube and masking the helix then applying clear lacquer then removing the tape and applying alli-black ,the edge isnt perfect ,i suspect better quality tape will give a more defined edge but it gives the right look,unfortunatly it didnt come out well in the pictures.

That looks the muts nuts. You sir, are a genius.

Absolutely amazing!

Aye bring her along. i can give you those mags that I said I'd post to you and like a numpty forgot to do!

congratualtions on your stunning build. It has been a joy to watch them take shape. Thankyou for sharing.

I can't wait til' that is done. Be sure to show us

Without a doubt my favorite thread on this forum, it's like a ticking bomb because I know I'm going to be on the recieving end of one of them! Fremsley is going to be a bloomin nightmare with it

Indeed so. Clearly the officers are the first target. It's a Prussian plinker especially designed for aristos such as Hauptmann ( or is it Major or Oberst) Count Von Torrentz!

finally got a chance to do the stock,still needs paint but it feels verry solid and even has a catch to lock in the folded position.

Dadio.. Have you ever thought about contacting a manufacturer and seeing if they would buy the plans.. I know they may just copy/reverse engineer them but it must be worth a punt and i'm sure there would be a sizeable market for these fantastic guns based on the response you received on this thread..
Exellent work buy the way..
Chris.

i don't know if a manufacturer would take me seriously and if they did they would probably just rip me off anyway.the other thing is i know how many compromises ive made to conplete these,that is to say how mutch artistic liscence ive used and if some company wanted to tool up to make sterlings then they would probably change so mutch to be closer to the real thing that they would hardly resemble mine.the only person i would consider to sell the design to would be warren from shoot and scoot and i doubt he would need my design because he could do a good job without.maybe im just negative about my luck in these things,before the viva sten came out i had a working sten mk2 with a version 7 box and i was in the process of tooling up to make them (spent a few shiny pennys) then viva came along closly followed by the agm and it all came to nothing.its why i wont start a project for anybody else unless they pay for materials up front.