Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Posts: 879
Posted: February 03 2009 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
Trenches has been doing such good work with his BREN build thread, I just had to start my own. I intend on posting the whole process here now that bandwidth isn't such a concern (thank you Mr. Weaponeer!)
First for tonight, 2 teasers of the lower(s) all machined complete, holes in place to the number and waiting their mineral spirit bath
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midmichigun
CPT
Joined: March 01 2008 Location: United States Posts: 1929
Posted: February 03 2009 at 9:22pm | IP Logged
Mr. Bch,
You are accurate, that is quite the tease! Nice work! I look forward to more photos.
Do you have photos of the weld process included in your build process?
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Mr.BCH
Level 3 Site Sponsor
Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Posts: 879
Posted: February 03 2009 at 9:28pm | IP Logged
Yes, but I need to practice on shooting pictures of welds. Only 1 receiver is up and complete so far.
Or, get Gary here while all these get welded up to shoot some nice video [IMG]smileys/smiley2.gif" />. Or at least shoot the video and send to him to do his magic.
The build list is;
Tomorrow, finish holes on all the hammers and start on the bolt carrier mods.
The next day, finish bolt carrier mods, start bolt mods.
And then the firing pin, recoil rod mods, and then do a whole lotta welding on receivers. Funny how much time has been spent sorting BREN parts trying to match MK1 parts up with MKI kits and sorting and more sorting.... [IMG]smileys/smiley36.gif" />.
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weaponeer
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Posted: February 04 2009 at 12:25am | IP Logged
this would make for a good video..... but don't forget to take lots and lots of pics..
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gunguyr
COL
Joined: January 26 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4590
Posted: February 04 2009 at 7:39am | IP Logged
Brian needs a name change,, Mr.Bren Whore
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Ghilly
1LT
Joined: September 14 2003 Posts: 832
Posted: February 04 2009 at 9:13pm | IP Logged
Those look awfully nice all lined up! They are gonna look even better all built up.
Ghilly
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Mr.BCH
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Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Posts: 879
Posted: February 05 2009 at 9:10pm | IP Logged
Wow. There is a lot of freaking machining to these No problem for me, but, this is like double the MG34 conversion. I am not done with the bolt carriers yet, thought I would be by now. Good thing is the bolt looks pretty straight forward, just need to order up some more carbide, don't think my single endmill in the specific sizes will make it though all of this.
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trenches
MSG
Joined: September 26 2006 Posts: 236
Posted: February 05 2009 at 9:39pm | IP Logged
Brian you dirty dog, you are a Bren whore. I've been doing the FA denial crap on the bolt, piston post, and carrier. And re-fitting the barrel and barrel socket. For those of you guys who don't have a mill, like me, I used the 6" bench disc sander to remove 1" on the rails on the front of the carrier and also used it to remove the sear notch on the piston post and also the bottom of the carrier at the sear notch area. Just remember to take it slow when grinding. Don't lean on it and dip your part in water to cool it as you grind. If your part starts turning blue, you're overheating the part. Easy does it. I'm using a small dremel green grinding wheel to cut the clearance notches in the bolt for the denial pins. I'll use cut-off discs and a small grinding stone to do the slot for the firing pin. When you don't have a mill you have to improvise.
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Mr.BCH
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Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Posts: 879
Posted: February 05 2009 at 10:21pm | IP Logged
I AM a dirty dog and, well.... I guess I'm a BREN whore, too. As cheap as these are (were) I wish I were more of a whore!
Barry, I might be a little slow at times, but feel free to mail me Q's about any needed dims during your build.... I'll do my best to help
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trenches
MSG
Joined: September 26 2006 Posts: 236
Posted: February 06 2009 at 8:24am | IP Logged
Thanks Brian, if I have any ?'s I'll contact you. I'm thinking of buying another kit just for the spare parts. But right now with being laid-off and the "perverse nature of the universe" sitting on my shoulder right now, I'll have to wait on that. I'm taking my time with this build. Doing a little here and a little there. Eventually I have it completed. I would like to build a Sten yet.
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Mr.BCH
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Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Posts: 879
Posted: February 11 2009 at 9:39pm | IP Logged
Quick update.... all 12 bolts are 66% done (1 small slot left). Carriers are in process. I am coming in on Sat to put a full day in (then off to the boat show) It's taking longer than anticipated and I am chewing through carbide at a record rate! Was there no easier way?!?!?!
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trenches
MSG
Joined: September 26 2006 Posts: 236
Posted: February 12 2009 at 6:27am | IP Logged
yeah, but it takes longer. to remove the bent (sear catch) as the Brits call it on the piston post I used my 6" bench disc sander with a 60 grit disc. Same with removing the corresponding area on the bottom of the bolt carrier. go slow and dip part in water to avoid overheating. takes time but it works. did the same thing with the guide rail at the front of the bolt carrier. same thing with the front of the post that hits the firing pin. To cut the slot in the post for the new firing pin I'll use a dremel grinding wheel and cut-off discs to outline the width of the slot. BTW, that slot is 3/16" wide by 5/16" deep isn't it? Just checking. I also used a grinding wheel to cut the slots in the front of the bolt for the denial pins.
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Mr.BCH
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Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Posts: 879
Posted: February 19 2009 at 12:48am | IP Logged
Made a neat jig to work 3 bolts over at the same time for one specific cut on the bottom of the bolts, thereby saving me some valuable carbidium cuz these bolts are harder than chicken lips.
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kmagg
SFC
Joined: December 01 2007 Posts: 101
Posted: February 19 2009 at 10:23am | IP Logged
Are these all MGS kits or are you cheating and using IO kits? It would be nice to see pics of work done on the "slightly worse" MGS kits.
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Mr.BCH
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Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Posts: 879
Posted: February 19 2009 at 12:13pm | IP Logged
I only have 1 IO kit... these are all MGS kits. I'll post some more pics and people can see how these are being brought back to life.
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trenches
MSG
Joined: September 26 2006 Posts: 236
Posted: February 20 2009 at 12:58pm | IP Logged
good. more people should realize that these MGS kits are sleeping beauties just waiting to have life breathed into them again.
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kmagg
SFC
Joined: December 01 2007 Posts: 101
Posted: February 26 2009 at 3:19pm | IP Logged
Can't wait to see more. I had to break down and buy another MK1 kit from the group buy. I was going to chop up my other MGS Mk1 for the gas tube for my "good" kit. I bought the MGS before I joined weaponeer and lucked out and received an early 2 dovetail Mk1. I was going to use it for a display gun, but I can't see wasting it. It is too cool and needs to be reactivated.
I was thinking the MGS kits were too much trouble, but Mr. BCH and trenches have proved me wrong. Thanks a lot guys, you cost me even more money!
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trenches
MSG
Joined: September 26 2006 Posts: 236
Posted: February 27 2009 at 8:36am | IP Logged
Funny how that works. I'm in the midst of cutting the groove in the piston post. AI have to make the new firing pin and make sure it slides without binding in the groove. Next will be welding in the denial pins, welding a stop at the selector position, and then welding up the slots in the denial ares in the receiver. once all that is done then it's receiver weld together time.
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909ean909
Sgt
Joined: January 21 2010 Posts: 42
Posted: January 22 2010 at 1:24am | IP Logged
wow. im jelous. nice collection. just wondering are brens alot more complicated than any other mg build. im thinking of ether buying a bren, mg34, m53, or a goryunov.as far as parts availability and price what would you think would be better?
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weaponeer
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Posted: January 22 2010 at 7:55am | IP Logged
The Bren is about the hardest LMG to build.. lots of fabrication and jigs to buy.
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No problem for me, but, this is like double the MG34 conversion. I am not done with the bolt carriers yet, thought I would be by now. Good thing is the bolt looks pretty straight forward, just need to order up some more carbide, don't think my single endmill in the specific sizes will make it though all of this.
MGS kits. 
