Well, I've got my replacement kit in. The people I paid to assemble my first kit did a pretty lousy job of it. There were so many flat out incorrect assembly steps that it was ridiculous, not to mention dremelling the heads off a few screws after they got them in partly, and incorrect rewiring that has result in a partially cut in half wire from the Thompson. In any case, they were true to their word and got me a replacement kit at no cost and I'm going to assemble it. After tearing down the kit most of the way to get it off my Thompson, prior to returning the otherwise ruined kit to them, I've got a few ideas on how to make some minor changes on assembly that I'd like some feedback on.

First, replace those damn alligator pins with straight pins. With the four main screws and the tiny screws that hold the shroud together, the aligator pins seem to much. Certainly so that they destroy the pin holders and make it damn near impossible to take apart. Just super glue in one end of the pin and then assemble like that. Easier to take apart if necessary for work, won't be used as a skirmisher, just a display piece.

Second, superglue in the main shroud screw female middle piece. The guy who did assemble it complained that the screw would turn too easily while screwing the shroud together. If those coupler pieces were glued in, it seems like it'd be easier to put in and remove the screws.

Glue in the little nuts for the screws that attach to the metal plates on the outside of the magazine housing of the pulse rifle.

Apparently, most of my ideas involve the use of glue. Any thoughts on this?

How much did you pay the guys to assemble it and did you get that money back?

It was a $40 assembly fee, though I'm not worried about that anymore since they did cover replacing the kit entirely.

What about the assembly changes? Any thoughts?

No thoughts?

Would there be any concern that the shroud wouldn't hold together well enough with just the four main screws and the plates on the mag housing? I can't see an issue with the couplers being glued in to prevent them spinning while screwing screws in.
Edited by: [url=http://p220.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=kerrsg1>KerrSG1[/url] at: 8/24/05 2:58 pm

Well, as a minor after report, I think the changes were well worth it.

The main couplers for the large screws for the shroud are much easier to deal with when they are stationary. You don't have to worry about them spinning when trying to screw the shroud to it.

The little nuts in the magazine housing are easier to deal with when they are glued in place as well.

The pins replaced with metal rod instead of alligator pins make putting together and taking apart the shroud easier. The only caveat is that the center portion of the shroud does not quite come together entirely. There is at most a 1 mm difference in the way it assembles, so the magazine in the Thompson does not QUITE push the switch on the counter. If you lay your finger on the side of the counter you can feel it barely move and activate it. I fixed this 'problem' with a very thin sheet of styrene that I glued to the side of the Thompson mag. It's just enough thickness to finish pushing the switch to activate the counter. The sheet otherwise has no adverse affect on the way it works.