M38 Hollow Core Scope Project 2016 - Bulldog44

[sla73]

Hey Brian,

Do you know what the history is around the different numbers on the scopes, where there certain numbers used on particular types of blaster etc. Like with the power cylinders ( Leia's escort)?

 

Cheers Bryn

Edited June 28, 2016 by sla73

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Hey Brian,

Do you know what the history is around the different numbers on the scopes, where there certain numbers used on particular types of blaster etc. Like with the power cylinders ( Leia's escort)?

 

Cheers Bryn

No I am not quite sure what the numbers represent. It could be they were produced in batches and given the number for keeping inventory or track of what was going into the field. I noticed the M19 and M32 scopes do not have these numbers and maybe it became a problem to keep track of what was made and where it went. Perhaps if they were produced at different locations so maybe the number represents the foundry where they were casted. Maybe the numbers are designations for the type of tank or equipment the scope would be used on. 

 

It would be cool to get in touch with anyone who may have worked on the scopes or at least distributed them during the war effort. Probably a long shot but there may be people out there still who can shed more light on the scopes. Maybe Sherman tank experts know more or WWII museum curators. 

 

Going to have to dig deeper this summer when I get some research time on this. Report back if I turn up any useful info on this.

[kwakermad[TK]]

Hi Brian<br><br>

Any news about when these kits will be ready for sale? I have a Derrek pipe in hand and a Doopydoos kit arriving this weekend and they are both crying out for this quality upgrade.

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Hi Brian<br><br>

Any news about when these kits will be ready for sale? I have a Derrek pipe in hand and a Doopydoos kit arriving this weekend and they are both crying out for this quality upgrade.

Hi Bob,

Sorry I have been missing in action. Still on a long summer break from work. I have some kits I took with me on my trip to the US and can offer a limited number of kits. Just finally got shipping quotes front the post office today. Not as cheap as the method I will use from Japan but can still get them to you. PM you and a the other people who signed up on my interest list this weekend.

Sorry again I am slow to get around to things.

[kwakermad[TK]]

Great to hear you are still in the land of the living. <br><br>

Shipping prices from the States take the piss, however what can we do?<br><br>

Have a good break

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Apologies to everyone who filled out the interest form or contacted me about a scope kit. I am still on my long holiday break and postponed my official sales thread launch until I get back to my normal routine. I did however manage to prep a limited number of kits and brought them with on my trip.

 

For all of you who have expressed interest by signing up, I will be sending you a PM to see if you would like to buy a kit as a trial pre-sale offer. If you did sign up and do not receive a PM from me for this trial offering, please post in this thread or PM me. From what numbers I have recorded, I have enough to offer all who expressed interest. 

 

Thank you for your patience and hope I can set up a smoother operation soon after I get back.

Edited July 29, 2016 by Bulldog44

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Info sheet on kits, please read if you received a pre sales PM from me. <br><br>

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn37/Bulldog44USA/Bulldog%20Props%20Hall-ow%20M38%20Scope%20Test%20Phase/Bulldog%20Props%201942%20M38%20Hollow%20Core%20Scope/M38%20Scope%20Parts%202016%20Kit%20info3_zpsotvjyj84.jpg'>http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn37/Bulldog44USA/Bulldog%20Props%20Hall-ow%20M38%20Scope%20Test%20Phase/Bulldog%20Props%201942%20M38%20Hollow%20Core%20Scope/M38%20Scope%20Parts%202016%20Kit%20info3_zpsotvjyj84.jpg</a>

[kwakermad[TK]]

PM replied to Brian. Good of you to do this while still on holiday. Thanks

[ScaryGuy[TK]]

I received my M38 type 1 kit yesterday. This kit is really awesome! I can't find any defects on the outer or visible parts, other than the imperfections cast from the original. Excellent quality! Packaging is also excellent, it comes in a sturdy box made by Brian himself. It looked like a standard box to me, until he told me he custom makes them. A very nice touch!

 

 

 

 

Today I had some time to work on the scope. First I drilled the holes for the supplied screws on the smaller lens side. The holes were drilled 0.5mm less than the screw diameter. I replaced the two adjustment screws with the ones that come with T-Jay's completion kit. These fit perfectly inside the holes, whereas Brian's supplied screws need some work on the screw heads.

 

 

 

 

 

T-Jay's completion kit comes with a monocular that can be stripped for its lenses. I had to fit these inside the scope lens rings. The two large lense rings where a bit to big to fit inside the scope, so I had to sand down the outside of the rings (removing the threading) to make them fit. The diameter of the monocular lens was slightly less than 22 mm, where the lens ring had an inner diameter of approx 22.5 mm. The only drill that I had around that size is 20 mm, so I used that one. As you can see the drill was not perfectly centered. My drill skills aren't that precise so I'm glad I found Brian's scope project! Otherwise I had to attempt to hollow my doopy scope. I removed the remaining area with a sanding bit on my dremel.

 

 

 

My smaller lens is 11 mm in diameter with the inner ring being 10 mm. I drilled the inner ring with a 10 mm drill, then made a recessed area on the back of the inner ring to fit the lens in. After painting the lenses will be glued in the rings.

 

 

 

To attach the rings inside the scope I will probably use some E6000 to keep them in place.

 

 

 

The two feet came with a cast of threaded rod pieces, I cut them off as I will be drilling holes in the feet for the mounting bracket screws. I guess it's ready for painting now. 

 

I highly recommend Brian's kit, a great upgrade for a doopy kit.

[T-Jay[TK]]

Woohooo! That looks nice!

 

Theo, maybe you don't have to glue the small lens. In my case it was secured in place by the retainer ring and did not need any glue.

 

Only the big lens did, because this was smaller than the retainer ring and kept falling out.

[ScaryGuy[TK]]

Hi Tino!<br><br>

The outer ring for the small lens is a bit loose in my kit, the threading on the inner ring works perfect though. Also the lens is not located between in the inner and outer ring, but at the back of the inner ring, so there's nothing behind the lens to support it. I looked at the inner ring with the opague lens and I assumed it should be mounted at the back to give it the same appearance as the opague one. Therefore I have to glue the lens at the back of the inner ring.

[ScaryGuy[TK]]

I finished painting my scope. I started with a white primer layer, then painted it with humbrol brass spray paint. For my blaster I'm using Motip spray paint, and I can spray this quite generously but still get a thin sharp layer. I applied the Humbrol paint the same as the Motip, but it's a much ticker paint. so the text on the top of the scope was almost gone. When the paint was almost dried I removed the paint on the text area with some thinners. This removed the paint but also removed some depth/sharpness of the text.

I touched it up with some primer, skipped the brass and sprayed the text area with the black Motip paint. I had some trouble getting white paint sticking to the text. After several attempts I used regular acrylic wood paint, let it dry, then removed the excess paint with my nail.

 

 

 

 

White text is still a bit faint in the picture below.

 

 

 

 

 

In the last picture the white text is now more visible after my last attempt with the acrylic paint.

 

[crisisfilms]

Finally got a chance to write something up here. Got my scope last monday (very fast shipping), and it arrived in perfect condition and very nicely packed.

 

 

Every part looks great and everything fits very nicely, but I was planning to use the real vintage lenses I got from Twnbrother earlier this year, so that was the main thing I wanted to check. I was very happy to see that the smaller lens fits and screws in perfectly, with the retaining ring screwing in over it.

 

The larger lens opening was just slightly too small, presumably due to the resin shrinking slightly while curing. Nothing too bad and just needed some slight sanding.

 

I screwed the lens in backwards while testing the fitting so I could actually have something to grab onto to turn it. Wanted to make sure it would get to the right depth before putting it in the right way as it is not easy to turn once its far down in there.

 

After much frustration, it was finally screwed in all the way. The retainer ring for this lens is now just slightly too small to thread in, but still fits nicely and some glue will take care of that.

 

Very happy with how this turned out so far. The view through the lens almost works, but you only get a partial image, and its upside down. I'm not sure I can get the prisms functional, but gonna see what I can do. Also looking at trying some mirrors in the prism cage, as I'd love to get it fully functional.

A great alternative to the solid scopes out that that require so much work.

Edited August 9, 2016 by crisisfilms

[Bulldog44[TK]]

I finished painting my scope. I started with a white primer layer, then painted it with humbrol brass spray paint. For my blaster I'm using Motip spray paint, and I can spray this quite generously but still get a thin sharp layer. I applied the Humbrol paint the same as the Motip, but it's a much ticker paint. so the text on the top of the scope was almost gone. When the paint was almost dried I removed the paint on the text area with some thinners. This removed the paint but also removed some depth/sharpness of the text.

I touched it up with some primer, skipped the brass and sprayed the text area with the black Motip paint. I had some trouble getting white paint sticking to the text. After several attempts I used regular acrylic wood paint, let it dry, then removed the excess paint with my nail.

 

 

 

 

White text is still a bit faint in the picture below.

 

 

 

 

 

In the last picture the white text is now more visible after my last attempt with the acrylic paint.

 

Awesome work on the scope Theo! Glad you are happy with it. Thanks for posting your progress. Cool to see how you tackled the large lens install, red lens looks great. I do apologize the threading for the lens assembly parts is still an issue with my kit and hope I can make the threading function like the original scopes sometime soon.

cheers again!

Edited August 10, 2016 by Bulldog44

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Finally got a chance to write something up here. Got my scope last monday (very fast shipping), and it arrived in perfect condition and very nicely packed.Every part looks great and everything fits very nicely, but I was planning to use the real vintage lenses I got from Twnbrother earlier this year, so that was the main thing I wanted to check. I was very happy to see that the smaller lens fits and screws in perfectly, with the retaining ring screwing in over it. The larger lens opening was just slightly too small, presumably due to the resin shrinking slightly while curing. Nothing too bad and just needed some slight sanding.I screwed the lens in backwards while testing the fitting so I could actually have something to grab onto to turn it. Wanted to make sure it would get to the right depth before putting it in the right way as it is not easy to turn once its far down in there.After much frustration, it was finally screwed in all the way. The retainer ring for this lens is now just slightly too small to thread in, but still fits nicely and some glue will take care of that. Very happy with how this turned out so far. The view through the lens almost works, but you only get a partial image, and its upside down. I'm not sure I can get the prisms functional, but gonna see what I can do. Also looking at trying some mirrors in the prism cage, as I'd love to get it fully functional.A great alternative to the solid scopes out that that require so much work.

Thanks for posting progress pics! Looks great so far. Sorry the larger end was not big enough to fit the original lens as hoped. But you did a fantastic job installing it as you did and it looks good. I can send you a few slightly larger retainer rings to fit better if that helps once I get back to Japan. No sweat at all, just let me know.

Really relieved you are happy with your kit and posted photos. Truly appreciate you and other members here on the FISD purchasing a kit or two. All your support and great build results gives me more enthusiasm to continue this project and push the kit to perfection as much as possible.

Many thanks again Adam!

[MoSc0ut[TK]]

Just waiting on my "donor" scopes to finally arrive then I'll be doing a complete work up from unboxing to completed scope! Hopefully soon. <fingers crossed> Also as luck would have it the hardware store two blocks away sells an assortment of slotted fillister and cheese head screws! I just saw them there two days ago, when I asked them they said they just started stocking them a few weeks ago!

 

 

Jim - TK50899

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Just waiting on my "donor" scopes to finally arrive then I'll be doing a complete work up from unboxing to completed scope! Hopefully soon. &lt;fingers crossed&gt; Also as luck would have it the hardware store two blocks away sells an assortment of slotted fillister and cheese head screws! I just saw them there two days ago, when I asked them they said they just started stocking them a few weeks ago!

Jim - TK50899

Looking forward to it! Certainly let me know if the hardware shop screws are perfect matches for the scopes.

 

I am waiting on some lenses I ordered to see if they will work in the M19 scope kits. Post my findings once I get them in hand.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Bulldog44

[MoSc0ut[TK]]

Looking forward to it! Certainly let me know if the hardware shop screws are perfect matches for the scopes.

I'll be heading down there, once the scopes arrive, with your measurements and my calipers in hand! You'll be the first one to know.

 

 

Jim - TK50899

[MrBlondle]

Just want to add my joy to this thread without hijacking it - received my scope earlier this week and WOW! really wonderful! Brian you're a genius and a thoroughly nice fella to boot! thanks!

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Thanks for the kinds words Peter. No worries about hijacking , having your feedback is important and deeply appreciated. Happy I could make a scope you are pleased with. Cheers!

[Twnbrother]

Impressive. Great work

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Thanks Mike. Hoping to get things rolling again soon.I have been holding off on producing more scope kits at the moment until I get a better work space. Just ordered a small order of glass lenses that will fit both the M38 ad M19 scope kits. Going to test Smooth On black onyx resin as well if I can afford it here. Lots to do, so little space and time.

[Twnbrother]

Brian, I you need a M38 scope or scope parts I can mail you one. I have been looking for the right angle prisms and cant find them

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Thnaks Mike, appreciate your help. I still have the awesome large and small lens pair you sold me a while back. They are in my private museum collection of scopes! I have 6 scopes in all to cover all the variations for the blasters but I might be missing one or two. Would love to own an M32 and and 1941 M19 but I think the window period has passed on getting them now.

 What scopes do you have? 

  Those prisms seem like searching for a needle in a hay stack. Thanks for looking. I tried a few places but mostly prisms for binoculars. These scope prisms were probably custom made for this application only. Maybe there is a stash of them somewhere waiting to be found! If anything turns up, mail me for sure! 

[Twnbrother]

I was looking at surplusshed.com. They had some prisms, but I will have to pull mine out to see if it's a match.