I would appreciate some advice.
Am looking at painting a rifle, well actually a couple rifles. Picked up some paint (tan and green) and did a bit of reading on the webz. Any advice before I get started?
Also we are looking to get into CB radio. The goal is to be able to talk to each other within a few miles during a (non EMP) disaster or emergency when cell networks might be down. This is a concern because we do not have a home phone.
I think 2 vehicle setups (not permanently attached to anything, like sitting in the back) would be the way to go though maybe a basecamp type setup and a vehicle setup would be better. Or if they would do the range 2 handhelds (possibly with external antennas to add range) would give a lot of versatility. Really just not sure where to go with this. Do not want to buy junk but these are not going to get a ton of use so dumping a bunch of money into it doesn't make sense. I would like to be out the door for 2 setups for $400 or maybe $500 if the extra gets me a lot more radio.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance,
R
Am looking at painting a rifle, well actually a couple rifles. Picked up some paint (tan and green) and did a bit of reading on the webz. Any advice before I get started?
Also we are looking to get into CB radio. The goal is to be able to talk to each other within a few miles during a (non EMP) disaster or emergency when cell networks might be down. This is a concern because we do not have a home phone.
I think 2 vehicle setups (not permanently attached to anything, like sitting in the back) would be the way to go though maybe a basecamp type setup and a vehicle setup would be better. Or if they would do the range 2 handhelds (possibly with external antennas to add range) would give a lot of versatility. Really just not sure where to go with this. Do not want to buy junk but these are not going to get a ton of use so dumping a bunch of money into it doesn't make sense. I would like to be out the door for 2 setups for $400 or maybe $500 if the extra gets me a lot more radio.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance,
R
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7 comments:
I have built some "stands" on which to attach mobile CB radios. Plywood horizontal base is suspended from thin sides, angled upward so you can see the face of the radio to make adjustments. You create power cord to plug into cig. lighter socket, and attach a mobile external speaker beneath the plywood "base" for good audio. It makes a neat little unit that protects the radio, antenna is a mag mount on the roof, coax screwed onto radio.
Re: paint
You probably knew this, but plug the muzzle with a cork, wadded tissue, or what have you before you start. Bolt/operating parts that aren't removed should be well-lubed and/or covered to make removal of any overspray an exercise in tape removal or wiping, rather than scraping. Cover large openings you don't want paint to go into, along with critical moving parts like focus rings on optics, elevation and windage knobs dials and scales, as well as (obviously) totally protecting optical viewing surfaces.
Don't overlook painting the inside of, for example, dust cover/ejection ports, the inside flats of flip-open scope covers, and the underside of short range/long-range flip up iron sights.
And wherever the serial number is located, cover it with a small tag of tape, so that after you're all done, you don't create a hidden felony for "obscuring" this marking. (You might experiment and see if it's possible to paint it with tan paint, then backfill the stamped numbers with the green, or even flat black, thus making it more visible, rather than less. Be ready to strip it off before it sets up if this doesn't work out).
If you aren't using camo templates, anything from plastic or silk faux fern and plantlife from the local craft store, to hunks of grass, pine needles, and bare and slightly leafy branches from the back yard make great substitutes for disruptive patterning.
Also, visualize how you want it to look and work the layers backwards in your mind, then paint to achieve it. As nature, outside snow, has few light colors, my attempts turn out better when I use the lightest color as the base coat, then layer on the darker ones as I go. You can do small spots of lighter or darker within big patches of other colors with a Q-tip afterwards, and you'll get a decent approximation of natural randomness.
CB:
The Cobra 148 is one of the few easily findable and relatively inexpensive vehicle-type CBs that gives you upper & lower sidebands, thus giving you 120 usable channels, rather than just 40, which is a humble but noteworthy amount of OPSEC.
A base, vehicle (or two), and handheld setup gives you even more options.
I'm working on a small slip-in packboard set-up with a motorcycle batteries to see if I can make a poor man's PRC-77 with an ALICE pack, a Cobra, and a rubber duck antenna. No reason it shouldn't work, esp. along with one of the roll-up trickle chargers to augment/replenish the power supply, and a dry-bag to seal everything from the elements.
MURS radio is worth looking into in a high (radio) traffic situation such as cell phones going out.
we use marine radios....i wipe the exterior with acetone lightly to remove the oils.tape over anything that moves. i don't paint the barrel because it smokes when it gets very hot. i use tan base with od.very effective about everywhere.
I'm getting ready to paint a couple of mine also. I've found several good posts in the forum of www.snipershide.com
Riverrider's post reminded me of one other thing...
You can get flat shades of High Temp rated BBQ or Engine paint for the barrel as a base layer, then color over with your tan/green shades.
Although if you get it hot enough to worry about the paint, you've probably already blown the utility of camouflage paint anyways, and can reapply the standard colors at your later convenience.
It's no secret that I paint all of the Mosby family rifles with Krylon, religiously. In the past, I would detail strip them, cover all openings, etc, etc, etc.
Now? I just tape over the optic lenses, and paint away. I don't degrease first. I don't tape over moving parts like the mag release or ping-pong paddle, and I certainly don't bother taping over or filling the muzzle or the magwell.
Don't overthink it.
I use a base coat of tan, then add an appropriate amount of green swaths to fit the environment.
JM
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