LaZouche Custom airsoft TM 7 inch AMT hardballer project Pt-1.

Well as its the centennary of the 1911 this year (2011) its only fitting that I do another BIG custom project using a 1911. After the Ed Brown Massad Ayoob Commander size project I hunted round wondering "what next" but an idea I had a while back which just wouldn't go away was the iconic image from the James Cameron film 'Terminator' and inparticular the gunshop scene with Arnie asking for "Da forty five longslide wid da lazer sighting". Yes the time had come for my back burner idea to bear fruit....

Potted history:
AMT (Arcadia Machine and Tool Inc) were the designers who first produced a totally stainless steel 1911 pistol back in the early 1980s. Its a near copy of the original Colt 1911 but with a thickened and lengthened slide (55mm). Adjustable Millet sights were also fitted. Using the standard .45 ACP round it was mainly produced for target and hunting use, the increased slide length gave it superior accuracy over distance. It wasn't an easy gun to shot however and had a big kick to it.
James Cameron would however be the key to the Hardballers fame, being into weapons and what was en-vogue at the time, he wanted a big powerful handgun for his future cyborg warrior to use in his new film 'Terminator'. The Hardballer fit the bill perfectly and thus entered iconic film history. However the laser scope it was fitted with was a whole new ball game and nothing like it existed back in the 80s. He approached a small company called 'Laser Products' (now known as SureFire), who were pioneering ways to intergrate laser aiming systems into Police and Military weapons. Helium Neon lasers were what were being used but they were huge and to fit one on a handgun was near impossible as the housing would need to be 9 inches long!
Undaunted 'Ed Reynolds' (co-founder of SureFire) went ahead and came up with a stop-gap result whereby the gun would be fitted with a custom scope mount attached onto the left hand grip panel with the laser mounted on it. The battery problem to power the laser was solved by running wire down the grip and up 'Arnies' arm, across his shoulders to a battery in his jacket pocket. Then a wire was run down his jacket to a lower pocket with a button he would press to activate the laser light. Complex yes but it worked.
The AMT Hardballer has now found additional fame with computer buffs playing the 'Hitman' game, who's main character uses twin 7inch Hardballers.

The project:
How to get a 9inch laser scope with none on the open market and a 7inch 1911 with no after market slide available that would fit the bill? Time to start scratch building...
So with two standard TM 1911a1 ABS slides in hand I set to work. After much scratching of heads a way was found to attach the additional front section on using wire locators and superglue. The outer barrel would be a problem to. So I came up with a sleeve solution like joining pipework, one inside the other. The inner barrel is no problem at all as MadBull do one that would fit the bill. The slide would also need to be thickened on top. So using 1.5mm thick Plastic-card (you can get this from most model kit and hobby stockists), I supa-glued this inplace and filled the gaps with thin strips of said plastic card and my trusty MMD filler.
The guide rod plug was a whole problem in itself and required carefull planning to work out. As luck/fate would have it TMs 5.1 Hi-capa reverse plug plus a TM 1911a1 plug placed one infront of the other would fit in length perfectly to the size required within the new slide apron. This project was just getting better and better.
Oh dear...I spoke to soon...the scope was coming up nil! I just could not get one or build one that looked right, so I gave into fate and decided to abandon it, atleast for now :-(
The project is now at the painting stage and final assembly so stay tuned for future episodes on completion and testing...."I'll be back" ;-)

If you have any questions or info that may help towards this project please leave a comment or PM me.

This is LaZouche Custom saying thank you for watching and placing your subcriptions, as without you viewing these projects would probably never be built.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• terminator
• 45
• long
• slide
• airsoft
• GBB
• tokyo
• marui
• 1911
• AMT
• hardballer
• project

[beserkerpatroit1337]

of the 1911 is your fav then whats you 2nd fav handgun

my 2nd gav is browning hi-power

[LaZoucheCustomshop]

@beserkerpatroit1337

Hmmm...if you mean airsoft pistol then its a bit of a tricky question as im currently waiting for Tokyo Marui to do their S&W M&P pistol which looks very nice indeed. Until they do I have to be honest and go with what I know and say the TM Glock 17. They are reliable, simple to use and accurate staright out of the box.

But for RS then it has to be either the H&K USP or S&W M&P. Purely due to their availability in .45 which the Browning HP doesn't have.

[SamWazamTV]

Hey what's the name of that green mat?

[LaZoucheCustomshop]

@SamWazamTV

I have no idea as it has no makers name on it but just do a 'Google' search for modelling/cutting mats and see what turns up ;-)

[LaZoucheCustomshop]

@WhitewolfRogue

Do a Google search for them and see what turns up with regards the WAs version. If your that into them you will love the WAs ones ;-)

Is that the Dirty Harry guns, the .44 Magnums? Nice cylinder guns ;-)

[WhitewolfRogue]

@LaZoucheCustomshop ~~ I really couldn't care less if it is or is not a good skirmish gun. I am simply a man obsessed with my long slides. My grandfather used to have a pair of custom made .44 magnums, and he could fire them like they were pellet shooters. But myself, I can turn just about anything into what it isn't even meant for. I have a talent for it. And I don't care what anyone says- I would literally give every drop of my blood for a pair of those long slides. BEAUTIFUL pieces, they are.

[LaZoucheCustomshop]

@WhitewolfRogue

Ha ha ha! Cheers mate but its not for sale ;-)

If you do want one (or a pair!) then don't die just yet lol but try the Western Arms version which you can buy straight off the shelf but its not a good skirmish gun at all!

[WhitewolfRogue]

I WANT THIS DAMN THING!!! I am not joking when I say I would DIE to have this handgun... or more accurately, a PAIR of them.

[LaZoucheCustomshop]

@ZACY29

Definately, as this gun is now used regularly when I skirmish at my local site.

Its reliable, accurate (because of the longer inner barrel) and has good range but all internals are standard TM parts. I will eventually fit a tightbore barrel and a Nineball hop rubber tho.

[ZACY29]

Dude I am deeply impressed here :D, would you say all these fabricated parts are skirmishable?