A hero 3.5 years in the making...

[Riskbreaker]

We've spoken about it. He knows all the guys from way back (Sid Stembridge, Ellis guns, etc) and I think he said at one point "only 1 or 2 guys could have built this at the time." I'll ask him again when we meet up and try to learn what I can about it.

[joberg]

That would be great indeed; always fun to hear from the pros in the industry

[Daddy Solo]

[phase pistol]

Wow! What a blaster!

[corellian77]

Those grips are gorgeous. They refract the light beautifully.

[andy]

I absolutely love the clean lines of machined metal. That being said I also agree with Rich in that the right side cover plate is either too big or too high. It also seems to make the ammo housing not fit properly, and not give the parallel line to the barrel. I know some of the early stunts made Steyr ammo housing look a bit tapered toward the barrel, but I think that was because they had a temporary unfinished magazine that didn't fit all the way in when they made the mold for the stunts. It isn't seen in any of the Hero pics that came out later.

Still this piece is an absolute Beauty, and only us freaks would notice something like that ...and yes, I am very envious as well.

Andy

[DeckB26354]

Congratulations Riskbreaker!

Absolutley stunning peice. I would love to hear a little more about those grips and how you came up with them. How easy was it working in Aluminium for the side plates?

This peice certainly outdoes my efforts or anything else I have seen. Top marks!

Great to see such a professional job and I can't wait to see the finished pics.

[Riskbreaker]

I did not make the grips. They were made from a single sheet of amber acrylic (half inch, I believe). I can check with the smith to see if he'd be interested in turning the left overs into extra grips.

The sideplates I believe are what gave him the most trouble overall. He said the shaping and fitting and getting it so that the revolver cylinder would still cycle independent of the static plate was a real SOB. I know he struggled with the bolt-handle side one in particular (so he's going to LOVE it when I ask him to shave it down a bit).

If anyone has more questions to ask, I can talk to him this week. I'm supposed to be able to pick up my gun by Friday or so. Excited!

[joberg]

Yes, very exciting news on that side also. This build is not for the faint of heart (I don't know much about the business of working with steel/alu/metal) From what I heard from pro gunsmiths over the years is that one day, one crazy guy will attempt the crazy build, will pull it off and make every gunsmiths loose sleep for quite a number of years
That gun fits the bill for sure...and the original builder didn't have 3 1/2 years to make it

[racprops]

As an prop maker I can say that recreating accurately a prop is 10 times harder than just creating it.

When you’re creating it you can choose anything that you can make work and it is OK.

Recreating means if you don’t get it 100% right..your off and wrong.

So you have to do it over and over again and again…

Rich
_________________
I never have enough time to do all I want to do!

[joberg]

I can appreciate that argument Rich, but...let's say that you're the creator of this particular gun, having the blueprint, measurements, the right hand tools/machines, etc. I'll say that it's still quite the challenge to make it all work and in a rather small amount of time.
I'm of the opinion that the original gunsmith didn't have a lot of leeway to make mistakes while building the prop, i.e: not a lot of spare parts in case of error...and if you make one, then it's up to you to re-create the parts (more time spent; which you don't have in the first place )

[racprops]

I am not really building my self up...I am saying the fellow that did this build did a heck of a great job and in one try, it took me a lot of tries and updates, and I understand they did use one of my models to guild them..so that was a leg up.

IT still is a lot more work to recreate that to just free style create...

Rich
_________________
I never have enough time to do all I want to do!

[andy]

To make something look good from scratch and have it look aesthetically pleasing is a lot harder than just putting a bunch of parts together. To sculpt the parts and grips that were put together with the existing parts as well as put those parts together so they did not look awkward, is something that even with something to copy is no where near easy. I would say the work put into this gun was way and above just building a gun from scratch, and I think a lot more work than anyone can give credit for than the creator. I can say this considering how many people have tried to make these guns both from scratch, and from existing parts and reference, that most do not look nearly as good as the original hero gun. Maybe it takes someone with an artistic eye to see the difference.

Andy

[Riskbreaker]

Finished. More to follow.

[hirohawa]

Stunning!

[DeckB26354]

Wonderful. Sinply wonderful. Well done!

I see you have the wires nicely hidden under the side plate, which I am still pretty sure is how it was done on the Hero to start with. Do the green LEDs come on with the switch? How easily does the cylinder open with the wires like that?

Can't wait for some more pics!

[cratercritter]

Awesomeness.

[joberg]

Amazing work of art

[Riskbreaker]

My guy can custom fabricate more grips (these are hand-made on a machine, not entirely CNC'ed based on what he told me) for $750 a set. Not cheap, obviously. It's just his cost and the machine time.

Yes, this was expensive.

[racprops]

WOW You sure live up to your handle..

Rich
_________________
I never have enough time to do all I want to do!