M733 Colt Commando - "Blood Diamond Special"

[Reborn]

THE GOAL: To replicate the carbine used by Leonardo DiCaprio's character toward the end of the 2005 film Blood Diamond in Airsoft form. Small variations are allowed for sake of practicality (this will be a fully-functional, field-worthy carbine when completed).

 

 

Below is a parts list that I have put together using the notepad on My Controls. As I am a high school graduate entering college, money is tight. The build has been divided into three phases and will be completed within one year. Also, phase III is not final - I will decide when the time comes.

 

M733 Colt Commando - "Blood Diamond Special"

 

PHASE I

- Tokyo Marui M733 Carbine

- Tokyo Marui standard capacity STANAG magazine

- Leapers AR-15 carrying handle mount

- G&P CompM2 sight

- Intellect 8.4V 1400 mAh NiMH battery

 

PHASE II

- Guarder M16A2 civilian type receiver

- Guarder XM type flash suppressor

- Guarder M90 spring

- Systema Area 1000 bushings

- Prometheus 6.03x300 mm inner barrel

 

PHASE III

- spare medium-capacity magazines

- spare battery

- one-point sling

- underbarrel flashlight mount

- tactical flashlight

- custom paintjob

 

PROGRESS 07/19/2008: G&P CompM2 sight w/ standard mount ordered.

[Crocodilo]

Very cool

i want to do something similar, but the BHD version with a long OPS Silencer.

 

Cheers

[alyaspogi]

How about the classic army version? all metal just need to buy the accessories

 

[Reborn]

The CA XM-177E2 isn't the carbine pictured. If you look closely, you can see that the carrying handle and rear sight are both of the M16A2 style. Also, the receiver has a brass deflector, which the CA model lacks.

 

However, I am interested in a CA XM-177E2 flash suppressor. The Guarder version is $45 alone. If anyone wants to part with their flash suppressor, send me a PM, please.

 

MODIFICATION TO PLAN 07/19/2008: Instead of a Guarder receiver kit, I think I'm going for the more expensive (but better) HurricanE M733 receiver kit, which retains a moving, functional bolt.

[Reborn]

PROGRESS 07/23/2008: G&P CompM2 sight received.

[Reborn]

PROGRESS 07/28/08: TM M733 carbine, Leapers AR-15 carrying handle mount purchased.

 

Pictures of current build to come tomorrow.

 

EDIT: Oh what the hell, a quick picture won't hurt...

 

[The Badger]

The Badger would suggest loosing the mag clamp and just duct (or electrical) taping the mags "jungle" style. more fitting to the feel of the gun (partially because he's been wanting that gun for the past few months, but cant justify the $200 it would cost)

[metalhead666]

I agree with the Badger, duct taped mags would fit the spirit of the gun very well.

[Reborn]

I probably would do that in the near future... once I get more spare magazines. I bought only one spare today and happen to have a TM clamp lying around. I throw all those together for the picture.

 

BTW, being an total ArmaLite noob myself, what's the threading on the M733's outer barrel? Is it CW or CCW?

[Noodle_2000]

It's CCW.

 

Looking good Cant wait to see this baby painted.

[Reborn]

Painting would be the final step, as my outline in the first post indicates.

 

Now, as I am a practical man, I'll keep the exact scheme of the paintjob open to change. If I still play a lot of woodland a year from now, then I don't see why a woodland theme like the one in the movie wouldn't work. If I play mostly desert, then I'll use a standard tri-color desert scheme.

 

And thanks on the info on threading... I'm itching for that XM-style flash suppressor. If anyone wants to part with theirs, PM me.

[matt.wu]

Caught this link from the Armalite post.

 

I might be purchasing an XM177 soon. PM me about the flashhider.

[Reborn]

You're from the Bay Area, too... SWEET.

 

I'll fire you a PM now and then.

[talon_0315]

You're from the Bay Area, too... SWEET.

 

I'll fire you a PM now and then.

 

Hail Fellow Bay Area. I'm rockin' San Jose here - a mere 10 minute drive from AEX.

[Reborn]

I'm in Fremont. I use either AEX Oakland or AEX Santa Clara for my airsoft needs.

 

I probably will upgrade to a HurricanE receiver kit ASAP. The steel carrying handle mount doesn't sit very securely on relatively soft TM plastic.

[talon_0315]

I'm in Fremont. I use either AEX Oakland or AEX Santa Clara for my airsoft needs.

 

I probably will upgrade to a HurricanE receiver kit ASAP. The steel carrying handle mount doesn't sit very securely on relatively soft TM plastic.

 

Ah, the HurricanE Kit! I've got the one for my TM M4A1, and it looks and feels like a real-steel bog-standard unloaded M4A1. I had AEX install the kit years ago; it's been the best $160 I've spent.

 

MAG and STAR mags work perfectly with it, as well as CAs. TMs, strangely enough, might have a problem - my sole TM standard mag (I think it's TM) is a snug fit, but feed perfectly.

 

 

 

 

[Reborn]

Great news.

 

Right now, I have just two magazines for it - a TM 68-round standard, and a G&P 130-round medium. Both fit and feed well.

 

After I have upgraded the internals and the receiver, I'm going to get a CA 6-pack of 130-round mediums. AEX used to carry them for about $80-90. I'm going to get some after them come back in stock. By then, my project carbine would become a fully-fledged field weapon.

[lewis hiscock]

looking good already. It'll be great to see the finished gun

 

makes me want to document my current aramlite project lol

[Ranger Stubbs]

Ah, a decent project gun. Nice to see. A quick word/warning about simply "jungle taping" two mags end to end. As in all movies, it looks damn cool. Key word there is MOVIES. The actor doesn't have to actually worry about his weapon jamming, they just cut the camera, the on site weapon specialist or armorer clears the jam and every one moves on with the film. Chances are the actor is carrying a non-firing prop gun most of the time anyways.

 

Field use for jungle taping becomes completely inpractical, as the time you save flipping the mags around to reload will be doubled or tripled trying to clear the dirt or sand out of your AEG, sooner than later. All you have to do is go prone once and touch the business end of the exposed mag into the ground or smack it against something hard. Nice mess. End result could be that you just simply wreck the mag and/or your complete AEG entirely.

 

Sure. You've seen the pics of LLRP's in Vietnam jungle taping their mags. It was against Reg's then, and still is now. It got men killed in the real world, at least it can't kill you in airsoft. And it's actually why someone designed mag clamps with the top of the mag facing up and lying alongside the reciever of your weapon.

 

It's just something I can pass on after 16 yrs. of paintball and airsoft experience and also 8 years of real world experience as a member of the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regt. You'd have to trust me, but stick with your mag clamps and completely erase jungle taping out of your mind.

 

 

[Reborn]

Good point about debris getting into the reserve magazine.

 

I tried jungle-taping, but found the combined magazines hard to insert into pouches. I'm going to use homemade clamps that hold both magazines side-by-side.

 

 

[Reborn]

Ordered a Surefire G2 Nitrolon from SKDTac today. Will source a mount and a one-point sling later.

[lewis hiscock]

if you want to tape the mags together , you could add a spacer between them and then tape them so they both face up.

[Reborn]

Tried that - the pouches on my Eagle chest rig are tight enough at it is. The magazines won't fit in them with spacers.

 

Never mind - I prefer magazines that aren't taped together anyway. Unless I know I'm going to be in a balls-out firefight, I won't bother. If the proverbial did hit the fan, I'll use the clamp that I've got.

 

I got my Surefire light. I'm looking for an under barrel mount for it.

[Reborn]

Ordered a G&P M16A2 receiver kit, a Guarder XM177 flash suppressor, and a set of Systema Area 1000 6 mm bushings from RedWolf.

[Reborn]

Received all three of the aforementioned items. Will take the carbine to AEX this Friday for installation.