Heya - Yeah, it's me again...

Basically - I want to use the lower half of the TM Thompson gearbox, specifically the electronic switch bits on change levers and trigger, to operate an FX package. I'd like to discard as much of the upper half as possible.

I've seen an exploded parts diagram for various TM gearboxes, including the Version 6 schematic that Bug Stomper kindly posted in another thread. However, 21st century Airsoft claims that the Thompson uses a TM Version 7 gearbox. I'm also crap at making sense of the diagrams anyway.


Can anyone offer advice as to how I might go about doing this properly?

Ta,
Woody

Well, if you take the grip off it reveals the motor. Take the red and black wires off the motor end and there are screws above it(motor) to release that section from the body you can then take the motor out of its housing - the space this leaves might be enough for a PP3.
The safe switch locks the trig and I think cuts power. The single/auto i think alters something mechanically to run the motor continuous or for one cycle.
Now if you link the motor input wires to the trigger input on your circuitboard and put a batt across the airsoft batt connector the trigg will operate that function (assuming selectors on fire/auto).
You could take out all the gears etc from inside the gearbox and cut the whole piston section off. You need to remove the grip and the two selector switches to remove the g'box from the lower frame to do this.

Some of the gubbins in the lower part might be required to operate the selectors etc properly tho. You could still lose the piston/spring and chop the top off tho i think, i've not actually looked inside so cant say for certain.

SAS

_________________
Alan T. Alien
1st Lt Smith, SA "Sidewinder"
A13/TQ1.4.19720EX CMA
Founder of UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters
Founder of Special Armaments Section (Heavy Weapons)
"People don't understand. people like me"

Cool - That's pretty much what I was planning to do, Si.
I was just wondering if anyone knew what I could/shouldn't chuck away* to make the thing keep working.

Good thought oin the PP3 battery, though - If that fits, it'll be perfect!!



*Obviously if anyone needs these parts, they'll be made available!!

EDIT: Never mind - I finally found a tiny grub screw inside the socket for the grip retaining screw!!

And yes - A PP3 battery fits very nicely in place of the motor!!!