Still at Monterrey airport.
Have been traveling for well over 48 hours. No long stretch sleep, just short cat-naps. Had not done this sort of thing since I was in Co-In ops, and that was 36 years ago! LOL!
Anyway, . . . as Warren so kindly relayed, there is not Network54 in China. It's banned. Simple.
Tomorrow, or day after tomorrow, I do not know yet how long I will sleep, I will start putting pistons in rifles here. Pistons are semi-finished now.
I am glad to see that the usual themes of discussion are going around and that all the old "salts" are dyed in the wool fast to their old ways. It's nice to be home with family! LOL!
A few comments:
A tube clamp will work as a spring compressor very well. If you put it in a Workmate or other bench like that you have an ideal setup.
Oldtimers used a number of oils we do not have anymore in their fine guns and mechanisms. Contrary to popular belief, petroleum based products just came into being fairly recently. From SpermWhale oil (a clear, almost silicone-quality like oil that burned without soot and was useful for a lot of fine mechanisms) in lamps, springs and guns to Lechuguilla (Nowadays called Jojoba) in watches and triggers (and airgun seals), to Lanolin (old version of the Moly) there are natural lubricants that can replace modern synthetics/chemicals. Yes there is a lot of info out there, no, it is not collated or referenced.
The sled mechanism of the D 54 is EXACTLY the same as the FWB 300. Two pins in one supposrt, one pin in the other. The chinese copied the FWB300, so it is simply uneconomical for them to copy the 54, otherwise they would be doing it.
Problem with resting an airgun in different positions is that the spring's jump makes the rifle jump in different directions. And don't tell me that powderburners do not this: They DO! I've seen it and experienced it. If you really want pinpoint precision from a number of rests (vertical and horizontal) you need to learn to hold the forearm in such a way as to give the gun the same support ALL the time at exactly the same point. It's a question of practice and knowledge, not the gun's problem. ALL GUNS DO IT!
No, I didn't go to Chinese airgun factories. Not the intent in this trip and not really interested. I did saw a few friends that have innovative products that are truly Chinese originals, we may try to do something with them later. And yes, I did went to see a few people that are interested in making PARTS for me. We'll see how it goes.
If only 1/4 of the projects that are possible with these latest acquaintances become reality, we'll all be much better off. There is a LOT to be done that will not hurt Diana, will enhance the airgun world and will allow the Chinese to be productive without hurting someone else along the way.
To close off: I will be closing the pistons thing next week. Do drop me a line, if you have not done so. If you have, I saved your mail and will posting a preliminary list soon.
Thanks to all and it's good to be back in the tree-house!
Un Abrazo!
Héctor
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