AA52

[rullow]

Hello guys,
soon enough I ll have the complete 3d files for AA52 finished... the intention is to provide the basis for airsoft projects (receiver is more wide and deep to accumulate airsoft internals) with possible use of original parts - bipods, stocks etc....

nowadays with possibilities of 3d print, laser cut of steel and cnc folding (trumatic), cnc machining -  one can finalize such project much easier....

so the target is to have a complete setup of files so you can replace whatever you miss or to use as a basis for your scratch built...
luckilly I am in position that I miss the receiver only which I need to manufacture from scratch....

my plan is to print out outer shell on 3d print and glue inside inner core of 1mm steel to get some strength - 3d print is perfect for art object - however if you need some resistance - better to rely on oldfashion steel...

to be honest - I d like to sell this set of files for ca 5-10USD at least -  to partially pay of the time spent... and also I dont expect this to be a huge seller.... - there is only a limited amount of fools as I am, but for those this could be afordable solution for the projects..... either non firing replicas, replacing missing parts or making an airsoft one....

as you can see I miss only some minor parts to finish right now - mostly I have those left for parkerizing (flashider, rear sights, charging handle)

[lew]

Now that's an ambitious project. Good luck. That's my grail gun, but I'm not aware of any here in the US.

From what I've been able to gather, the French troops who carried that LMG loved it, especially praising its considerable increase in firepower over the FM-24/29 and Browning M1919.

[rullow]

Hi Steve,
yep, and there is no chance of getting one into the US - nobody wants to import it even as part kits.... but to keep you calm .- those are not available in the Europe neither - at the moment.
And even if available the price tag is like 2-3k Eur for non firing one......

so having this one ready I ll move on to FM24, MAS49 and MAS48 smg for airsoft - or as replicas only.....

regarding the popularity - from what I red I have mixed feeleings.... guys from REP were not partcularly happy with overal reliability in dusty enviroment - at Timioun you see only FM24s and no AA52 amonst the guys... so FM24 remaind in use till the last moments as a weapon of choice ig you needed reliaility. With an assistant gunner they could spray quite effectively as well.

Also I dont like the idea of mounting the bipod on the detachable barrel cause in such case you have to carry one extra set of legs with your spare barell... however quick change barrel seems like not a widely used option on AA52.. at least I dost recall any photo of one being carried around...

Guy I spoke with about his experience in LE nicknamed the thing - "Plumbers revenge"

but still - it is a "must have" thing so I can work out some new impressions

[Kenneth]

The American M-60 machine gun also had a quick-change barrel to which the bipod was attached. I was in a headquarters company in the army and we only had one, that I recall, but perhaps more. In any case, I don't remember any extra barrels or even any mention of any on any forum or in any photographs. Same with the current machine guns. Maybe machine guns aren't used the way they used to be.

[lew]

Kenneth: M249's and M240's are issued with spare barrels. I think one comes with each right out of the box, and more are to be made available as part of a unit's TO&E. Now, whether or not the users are carrying the spares- especially in the case of the 249 where large volumes of support fire aren't expected- that's another matter.

As for the AA52, a spare barrel was seldom carried, as it would be used as an LMG at the platoon or lower levels, so one barrel was typically sufficient. Also, keep in mind that French small units of the '50's and '60's had more organic automatic weapons available than that from other NATO nations.

[Kenneth]

My son used an M240 when he was in the army, so I should ask him about it. But he was a tanker and his comments may not be relevant to the infantry. It is interesting that the M60 was replaced, mostly, with another machine gun that was designed almost as long ago as the M60. But every new gun is wonderful when it's just been introduced. Sometimes soldiers like them and sometimes they don't. They're usually the last ones anyone asks, anyway.

I imagine machine guns aren't used the way they used to be because of all the other supporting weapons available now.

[rullow]

well 3d files for AA52 are finished...
now only I have to have the budget to print it out (only the receiver...)





and so there we go and we should move to another projects - perhaps the 3d printed MAT49 with airsft internals?



or the MAS36 with 3d printed receiver - using airsoft chinese sniper rifle?

[rullow]

okay - first printed sample is ready for measuring and final adjustments

[rullow]

Here we go... front half tested, now awiating the back half of the main body...
so far it does fit, but some minor adjustments will be needed....

[lew]

Even though it's just a mock-up, I'm still insanely jealous. Awesome work, my friend.

[craigtx]

Excellently done ol' man!

Craig

[rullow]

Hi guys
thank for comments
well I am extra happy as well... all the thing started 9 years ago when I bought "education" pistol grip for the beast... so hopefully this year I ll have finally at least a mockup and in the better case even airsoft functional gun...

[savoy6]

outstanding work sir...as per usual

[rullow]

Thank for the comments...
I am now working on an uncle of AA2 - FM24/29
I miss the receiver, part of the grip, flashider, front sights and tubes.... the rest I was able to grab somehowsomewhere
now I wait for some parts to arrive to match them to the drawing. Most likely I ll go for BAR gearbox with ZB26 hopup chamber, and m16 short midcaps

now its to finish a setup for airsoft internals...
perhaps I ll make two options - a) fully 3D printed PETG body
b) layered steel body made out of welded laser cutouts of 1,5mm - 8mm steel sheets
I ll see what can be done....

[rullow]

moving forward:

[toussant]

Hokey Smokes, Rocky! That beats anything I could ever come up with- only finishing out US WWII grenades with the repro spoon and proper color, and decent copies of leather in country equipment. Sir, my kepi off to you! Cest tre magnifique!
---Toussant

[rullow]

Well, its a disease to make projects like this, and I am jealous that you are able not to do such things .... its time consuming, space consuming and my wife doesnt like

However the feeling is worth the effort...

[rullow]

on the other hand - I love to put it together and try to take a look through the sights

[lew]

Simply astounding. Bloody good effort, monsieur.

[rullow]

and here we go... 98% finished - just need a cockin handle - sliding bar....

now I am waiting for a bttery to check it outside....




now lets focus on the previous one....

[craigtx]

Simply amazin'! Great work!!

Craig

[rullow]

there we go - out in the woods - rocks



suprisingly the 3dprinted body did not suffer any damage.... (steel reinforcements worked well)

[craigtx]

Excellent!

[lew]

Still awesome, and getting awesome-er. Cheers!

[rullow]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZtNL9dwaLk

and to close the thread - a little "resumé"

[rullow]

Hi, a little update to my collection

the real deal AA52 - SEMI only conversion....... (best thing about the conversion is that only a trigger group is modified )

cannot wait to get it to the range

[craigtx]

Awesome! A great piece!