Operation 'former Glory' - Part 1

[AR177 588]

Hello all

 

I have been meaning to do this for a while now and I have finally gotten around to it...

 

As many of you know my original air rifle is a Daystate Air Ranger in 177

 

It is a brilliant gun and I love to shoot - with some degree of success

 

It really is a beautiful rifle and I still think the Air Ranger/Wolf stocks are the best looking factory ones you can get (you can have your own opinions that one is mine)

 

so what did i do to this beautiful rifle? .....

 

... covered it in camo dip

 

which i was happy with for a while.... until the novelty wore off and the realization of what a terrible crime I had commited

 

I now plan to right those wrongs!

 

Im going to remove all the camo from the stock, bottle and shroud

Re-blue / spray the shroud and bottle back to black

Re-finish the stock back to its original beauty

Give the trigger some attention

 

 

so here is the monster

 

I started by fully stripping down the gun, barrel band off, shroud off, stock off of the action, butt pad off, sling and swivel studs out

 

I then proceeded to release the air from the bottle - now you can do this two ways

 

1. keep firing off the action until all the air runs out ( from a 200bar charge thats about 160ish shots)

 

2. release the pressure through the guage

 

Using a 22mm spanner simply unscrew the gauge until you can hear the air release

 

** DO NOT FULLY UNSCREW THE GAUGE WHILE THERE IS STILL PRESSURE INSIDE THE BOTTLE **

 

as it will shoot off like a bullet liable to damage something if you do that

 

once the hissing air has stopped its safe to fully unscrew the gauge and then it is possible to undo the air bottle

 

 

out came the trust Nito-mors which is brilliant stuff I suggest (as does the bottle) its use outdoors unless you like the smell of chemicals and feeling light headed

 

 

And it soon might light work of that awful mess i had put onto the stock !

 

I also used some 0000 wire wool just to help with lifting the camo

 

The stock has come up really well so far, im probably going to have to give a second coat of nitro just to clean up the last little bits, ill also be using an old toothbrush (failing that the wifes') to get into the grips and Daystate decals to remove the final bits of coating

 

Unfortunately it has started to rain so im limited to how much I can achieve in this first session but I will keep at it and keep you updated of how its goes

 

Many thanks for reading

 

ATB

 

Adam

 

Edit : This is nothing against the guys that dipped the rifle as they did a superb job

Edited June 18, 2013 by AR177

[moxy 617]

Nice post AR177 such a shame to cover up that woodwork

[pianoman 3,584]

Awwww ADAM! What have you done to that lovely rifle of yours...LADDIE!! ( tuh! Armourers!...I don't know!!)

[risingfriend 1,042]

Great post Adam and thats one nice piece of walnut you covered up love the grain and agree mate the stocks on the ranger/wolfs are stunning in shape and looks. will keep a look out for the process from start to finish mate. Quality ATB Aaron

[AR177 588]

Nice post AR177 such a shame to cover up that woodwork

 

yes terrible shame im not sure what i was thinking!

 

Awwww ADAM! What have you done to that lovely rifle of yours...LADDIE!! ( tuh! Armourers!...I don't know!!)

 

dont worry ill sort it out, she will be good as new mate!

[AR177 588]

Great post Adam and thats one nice piece of walnut you covered up love the grain and agree mate the stocks on the ranger/wolfs are stunning in shape and looks. will keep a look out for the process from start to finish mate. Quality ATB Aaron

 

 

yes I know I c*cked up .. but Ive learnt from my mistakes and on the way to fixing it

[pianoman 3,584]

Alright mate , Looks like she's coming back up nice again Adam.

 

Best wishes pal.

Simon

[AR177 588]

If it goes as smooth as this first part It should be finished by the meet

[wedge2409 98]

Well done Adam ,looks better already.Bit of walnut oil and a lot of rubbing and I believe you will have one stunning looking stock.

[AR177 588]

Well done Adam ,looks better already.Bit of walnut oil and a lot of rubbing and I believe you will have one stunning looking stock.

 

I would like this mate but im out of likes

 

Thanks im looking forward to having it looking great again

[stealthy1 3,964]

Looks like its coming off a treat

[Wildling 520]

It will be nice to see the finished rifle, do you think the original blueing might of been damaged ?

[AR177 588]

It will be nice to see the finished rifle, do you think the original blueing might of been damaged ?

 

Not sure, but using the nitro-mors to get it off will probably take off any blue that was there before...

 

I'm not sure if the shroud and bottle are blued or if they are some sort of spray coating, at least i was sensible enough not to do the action so that dosnt need touching

[AR177 588]

Looks like its coming off a treat

 

yeah im supprised how easy the nitro gets it off!

 

Im sat sanding it now with 0000 and its practically got it all off in one coat! amazing

[Wildling 520]

 

It will be nice to see the finished rifle, do you think the original blueing might of been damaged ?

 

Not sure, but using the nitro-mors to get it off will probably take off any blue that was there before...

 

I'm not sure if the shroud and bottle are blued or if they are some sort of spray coating, at least i was sensible enough not to do the action so that dosnt need touching

 

 

Could you not try removing the camouflage with something less harsh on the barrel, maybe caustic soda ?

 

I'm pretty sure that most bottles aren't blued but have some sort of powdered paint thats been lacquered, if you want you could try taking it right back and polishing the Aluminium to a high shine.

Don't forget that if you do decide to paint Aluminium you need to treat it with a etch primer first of it will just start flaking off !