M1919A6 w/bipod

The M1919A6 bipod-mounted MG is a .30 design of the ubiquitous John Moses Browning. This machine gun was a pretty cool weapon that seems to be neglected by 1/6 manufacturers (at least as of this date). The tripod-mounted M1919A4 and water-cooled M1917A1 versions have been done (and re-done) by many manufacturers, it seems. Maybe this is because only approximately 43, 500 were manufactured, while 390,000 tripod-mounted A4s were produced. Although the M1919A6 wasn't as stable as the tripod-mounted version and couldn't maintain the same sustained fire rate as the water-cooled version, it was faster to get into action and wasn't so cumbersome to transport.

The M1919A6 had a detachable shoulder stock, a folding bipod, carrying handle (similar to a Bren handle), and a lighter barrel than its predecessors. The "A6" would throw 174 grain bullets downrange at around 2800 feet per second, with a fire rate of somewhere between 400 and 550 rounds per minute! With a maximum range out to extreme distances, its practical range is considered to be around 800 yards. Here's a pic of the A6 with ammo box, ready for action.
(For more info on the 'A6, see http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/30cala6.htm)

I wanted to come up with one for 1/6 scale action figures. The shoulder stock couldn't be nearly as fragile as the original (there are kids around here!). Similarly, the bipod would've been too short for vintage Joes to hunker down behind, so the bipod needed to be taller. Here's the result, made from a 1970s knockoff .30 MG. The bipod is made from leftover sprue from a plastic model. Pieces of the sprue were cut to shape and glued in place. The hinge was made from sheet plastic and a bit of wire was used as a hinge pin. The bipod is wider and taller than on the original. You'll also note that the shoulder stock is attached more firmly as well.

This MG has seen some extensive playtime and has yet to break (I guess I must have careful kids). It's a bit more beat-up than it was when I built it, but since this project is around 6 years old already I guess it's holding up pretty well.

LMK what you think of this project, or any other stuff you stumble across on my website!
- ATC

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