My restored MG34

[rdp91356]

link to images http://rdperry.com/mg34.html
I bought this as a parts set. When I cleaned off the grease, the finish was pretty oxidized with some surface rust and minor pitting on some parts. I ended up completely stripping and re-blueing it. (except for the barrel -- just wiped it down with a rag) This was a first attempt at something like this but I'm happy with the results! The original numbers don't match, the post war restamped numbers do. The receiver is an "80%" from Philadelphia Ordnance -- well worth the money. Just thought I would share.

[mvm71]

Fantastic job!! She looks like she could rip off a burst at any minute!!

Thanks for showing us!
Mike

[SweSA]

You have done a WERY nice job there. Are all the parts orginal ww2?

SweSA

[Matt Starr]

how did you strip the parts and what did you reblue them with?
Matt

[John Slater]

mg34

nice one. john

[rdp91356]

Yes, all WWII parts

For stripping the old finish I used some Naval Jelly rust remover and Bichwood Casey stripper. For re-blueing I used Birchwood-Casey Perma Blue and Super Blue.

[rdp91356]

Matt Starr: another project that might interest you (off topic)

http://rdperry.com/fw190rudder.html

This is a scratchbuilt Fw190 rudder I built for display purposes.

[roughshooter]

I was impressed with the MG34, but the rudder is a scratch build and surely worthy of a thread in itself ! Awsome, truely awsome engineering skills my friend ! Are you going to build more ?

Also are you going to finish the receiver and register it with BAFT then fire the gun ?

Regards Craig.

[C7riS]

well I must say, you sire, blowed my mind! awsome job on everything! you gotta post more in the future!

[Tim Schreiner]

WOW!
Both are outstanding!

[rdp91356]

Thanks to all...

for the appreciation. The rudder turned into a bigger project than I had planned. I had no previous metal working experience and without a serious investment in power metal shaping tools, everything had to be done with hand tools -- aviation snips, mallets, dollies and improvisation. I spent 6 months of evenings working on it. I'm glad I did it but I'm not in a hurry to do it again!

[rdp91356]

As far as finishing the MG34 receiver

Unfotunately no. In any other state than California, I could have a semi-auto version. Not here. With its pistol grip it is considered an "assault weapon" and is banned. The laws here are crazy. Not even solid resin replicas can be legally shipped here!

[Matt Starr]

=

[rdp91356]

fw 190 rudder: pop rivets

I used pop rivets since this was my first time riveting anything and didn't want to invest in more expensive pneumatic riveters and compressor. It seemed a lot easier (and quieter). I did countersink all the holes and used flush rivets though. Hammering out the compound curves on the top and bottom by hand, and making the 2 matching halves required was the hardest part by far! Fortunately those were last parts in order of assembly so I had a little metal working experience by the time I got to those.
Robert