Two guns not up to spec.

So, a couple of guns are playing up. The newest is a JG-108 - basically an MP5 sized G3 rifle complete with sliding stock. Sometimes known as a Heckler & Koch MC51 - although, technically, it's not; an HK51 variant would be a more accurate description. It seemed like a good idea at the time. On reflection, I should have bought the Classic Army version. The other is a G&G UMP bought second hand without a gearbox. The idea was to custom build a V3 gearbox for it but the UMP gearbox requires some custom bits so I caved and ended up buying a complete new G&G gearbox. Again, it seemed like a good idea at the time... :)

Both guns are firing at around 255-265 fps. They should be around the 330 mark.

It's probably air-seal issues with both. I've discovered in the past that no amount of fiddling I've done will fix air-seal issues on A&K, Cyma or Jing Gong guns. The best solution  I've found is simply to replace the cloned part with the original or an aftermarket bit. In this case, for the HK51 a Tokyo Marui Hop Chamber, Lonex Airseal nozzle, Lonex Cylinder, Lonex Bearing spring guide and an M100 spring should put that right. I've got shed loads of Nitrile o-rings so I'll swap that as well. 

With any luck the UMP is just a piston head o-ring problem but, I've got another M100 spring on order so I can swap that over if needed. The battery compartment door is not staying closed; the door itself is fine it seems to be the notch in the upper receiver that has worn. A bit of brass cut to shape and epoxied in should solve that. I can't remember but I think I fitted an SHS high speed motor in either this one or the DE one but I've got a spare Lonex A1 short motor that I'll drop in if its a standard one. The G&G has been rewired to deans and I've recently bought a couple of 9.9v LiFePo4 batteries which fit - just.

On a side note, although firing at a more respectable 320fps and despite using a 20C 7.4v Lipo, the TM Type 89 is firing a tad slow for my liking; that 700rpm sewing machine noise just irritates me. I've ordered a Lonex Titan A3 high speed motor which will hopefully be an improvement .

Tokyo Marui P90 and Type 89 tweeking

I don't really mod my guns as such more tweek them to iron out little idiosychracies that are annoying as fuck or to optimise their performance. Generally I prefer my guns to have a slightly higher rate of fire - enough to avoid that sewing machine noise - and as close to site limits as feasible; around 350fps but anything over 320 with 0.2 bbs is fine. The following two are mid range guns from Tokyo Marui that have had the treatment.

Tokyo Marui P90

This was one of my first guns and by far the easiest to work on. Original work involved Swiss cheesing the piston, changing the piston head, adding metal bushes, a more powerful spring, a G&P M120 high speed motor and fitting a PDI 6.01 stainless barrel. It was and I'm sure still is very prone to double firing on single shot but after much head scratching, fiddling with the trigger mech and cut-off lever it now appears to be working fine. As part of this the wiring to the motor was redone and an Extreme Fire SW-SF mosfet was fitted.

Externally, there is a King Arms flash-hider for a Gemtech SP90 silencer, a front swivel sling and a rear mount swivel sling as well. Current choice of optics is a low rail mount Aimpoint T1.

Tokyo Marui Type 89

Mainly stock but has metal bushes and an uprated spring. While originally pushing 345fps it has dropped to around 325 to 335fps; probably due to sitting around for a while. The stock motor is excellent but I think it needs something with a bit more speed so thoughts are currently leaning towards a Lonex A1 long motor - a high speed motor as opposed to the high torque Marui version fitted as standard. Battery space is at a premium on these guns so anything bigger than a 8.4v NiMH stick doesn't fit. I have managed to source a couple of Firefox 7.4v 1,600mah LiPo stick batteries which give a slightly higher rate of fire; rated at 20C which gives about 32 amps.

Externally, a left hand selector lever is fitted as well as a RIS rail. the rail is fairly short and the low mag scope which has an integral mount only just catches the end of it. The scope rail had to be modded to allow the second securing mount to be used. The scope has a pretty good eye relief and works surprisingly well with the reticule only just above the sight line of the iron sights.

.45 ACP inside

I was thinking that housing my Tokyo Marui 1911s required something more than an egg foam box. So, with that in mind I set out in search of something suitable and finally ended up with a Peli 1095 hardback case. 

I had already decided that I wasn't buying the chrome 1911 and the case would house an M1911A1, a Series 70, an MEU and a Detonics. 

The case itself is very robust as I expected of Peli but I still don't like the large lever lock system that it uses which, although very secure when actually locked, is very easy to overlook that it isn't actually closed properly. 

The sling that comes with it is certainly robust and functional but has that certain look of cheapness that suggests afterthought. Does he job though.

The foam is pre-cut in 1/4 inch squares. While it's functional and easy enough to cut out the curves and angles had to be cut by hand and while easy enough took ages. The red felt was flocked sticky backed plastic  I had kicking about and it worked a treat. From experience, you don't get a second chance with this stuff as it wants to stick to everything including itself. 

The Colt badge was sourced from eBay as was the .45 ACP inside sticker. I think it sets the guns off quite well although the photographs are a bit dodgy. I must dig out the camera and upload a couple of decent ones rather than the iPad snaps used here.

M14 Socom Scout Rifle

My latest craze is scoped short barrel 7.62mm assault rifles. I've got them all converted into effectively scout rifles with low mag scopes and the like. I have a couple of HK MC51 types, a SCAR-H and a FAL DSA. My current favourite though is my Cyma M14 Socom. In my not so humble opinion it rocks.

The gun itself was purchased from Gunfire in Poland priced very reasonably at just over £100 delivered. Of course, it was "hot"; firing at a site unfriendly 385fps. No problem, the spring was clipped, a Lees Precision Engineering piston head was added and adjusted for AOE and the gearbox was rewired for an Extreme Fire basic mosfet. The old motor was binned and a Lonex A1 motor added for quick trigger response. Before firing it all back together the barrel was polished to a mirror finish. The quality of the Cyma castings are pretty rough and the fire selector was replaced with a Tokyo Marui one. I also replaced the bolt cover with a Guarder USMC version.

I wanted to add a scope but the eye relief would have to be impressive and/or the scope would have to clear the rear sight. After much searching I finalised on a Visionking 1.25-5x scope and a King Arms low scope mount - the lowest I could find. I had to source 30mm scope rings but managed to get a pair or no name bits off of eBay that looked the part. The scope is amazing for the money but still sits pretty high from the sight line although I don't think it would be possible to get a scope any lower unless you're mount a true scout type scope on the front rail. As I discovered, true scout scopes are not for airsoft at least as far as price is concerned! To raise the eye level I ordered a real steel Bradley M14 Adjustable cheek rest - this cost more than the gun! Not pictured above is the edition of a Laylax front rail fitted with an ultralight weight plastic bipod. The finishing touch is is the black signature edition Carlos Hathcock national match sling from Turner Saddlery.

Overall, the gun came in at around £490 or around 2/3rds the cost of a Tokyo Marui based project. In its current form you'd need to be real close to tell the difference.