Romanian AIMS-74 build project (or "Kokanee's bored again")

[Kokanee]

Had a spare mechbox lying around, so decided to build a rifle w/ it.... So I'm on my way to a Romanian AIMS-74.






The selector lever is just a place holder until my king arms one arrives. It's coming together, but damned if it didn't take me an hour to get that lower handguard to fit!

Still have to;

- Paint;
- Strip and stain wood;
- Stain upper handguard and pistol grip (when it comes) ala bakelite;
- Fill holes in gas tube; and
- Install new wiring harness in mechbox.

This will keep me busy for awhile yet!

If anyone is interested in the real steel http://www.avtomats-in-action.com/pro19.html

[Disco_Dante]

I've never seen the attraction of the dildo grip. Why is the AIM so popular?

[ancorp]

Originally Posted by Disco_Dante

I've never seen the attraction of the dildo grip. Why is the AIM so popular?

It's badass.

Lookin' good mate! Get the minor details done and it'll be a very nice build. I decided not to clutter the thread with my many suggestions, thus those are in a PM.

[Lakonian]

It's no Ancorp AK, but it's hot

[Dicey]

Lookin' quite good, mate. A very nice build you've got there.

[Kokanee]

Work continues - have been able to simulate the phosphate finish used on Romanian rifles;



Basecoat of black Krylon camo, then multiple very thin sprays of truckbed liner. Was very, very important to test a few times on scrap parts to get the technique right! Too thick and you get big blobs, too thin and it's like regular paint.

I did sand/stain and varnish the lower handguard to a nice orange/red finish, but for some reason the stain has bleached out and it's a dull brown again. I'll be hitting up canadian tire for some amber shellac (hint from the Red Alliance boards) tomorrow to see about getting the finish for that part back on track.

Waiting on pistol grip and selector lever...

[Vivisector]

That finish looks amazing. Great job.

[Crunchmeister]

Very nice work. That's gonna be a badass looking gun when it's complete.

However, I never did get the point of that foregrip on Romanian rifles. Almost very time you see a pic of someone holding / shooting one, they're usually grabbing onto the mag or just the hanguard, and never using that front grip. I think the angle would make it awkward to use. However, I do think it gives the gun a great, unique look as far as AK variants go.

[Beazer]

Why do you think SPetnaz used it?
The foregrip makes it feel waaay more comfortable.

[tomsoderman]

did you need a special receiver for that folding stock?

[Kokanee]

A standard AK47/74 receiver is used, however modification is required. The rear trunnion mounting plates must be removed.

[Vivisector]

Originally Posted by Beazer

Why do you think SPetnaz used it?
The foregrip makes it feel waaay more comfortable.

Except that this rifle is Romanian, Spetsnaz are Russian, and I have barely ever seen a picture of a Spetsnaz troop using a vertical grip on an AK...

[Kokanee]

Finished the foregrips today. Dyed the upper for a nice bakelite finish, and shellac finished the lower.



I've built a few AK's in my day, and this is the first time I've used shellac for the wood. It is the silver bullet when it comes to getting that great finish you're looking for in a russian/eastern bloc build.

As a bonus, it dries in about an hour per coat, and can be mixed w/ various wood stains to get the exact colouring you want. Ancorp this is what you are looking for!

[Stupideye]

Damn thats gonna look good when it's done! Very nice work so far man!

[Crunchmeister]

Beautiful work on that wood dude. I love the way the grain stands out like that. Looks much better than the first attempt.

I also love that fake phosphate finish on the gun. Looks good. Gives the gun a real original look and makes it stand apart from the conventional AK body finish.