Possibly useful device for checking firing arcs

**KeithS** · 04-09-2014, 08:07

Just bought some of these little devices recommended on BGG for testing line of sight in a board wargame, and it occurred to me that they might also be useful for checking firing arcs in SoG

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Essentially they are for hooking id badges or keys to your belt (or whatever), however in order to allow you to use them to unlock doors the clip can be pulled out on a spring loaded thin cord to about 60 cm. So by holding each end near objects that you want to check you can test lines of sight or firing arcs between them, and possibly in a less fiddly way than using the ruler. They seem to be fairly readily available and quite cheap, I got a pack of 4 for £6 from Amazon. Obviously you can do the same thing just by holding a piece of string between your fingers but these might prove a little more convenient, and great for those who like their gadgets

. If you are really into your gadgets some people go in for laser sighting

but that's a bit much even for me.

**Ducky** · 04-09-2014, 08:15

Why not go napoleonetic hi tech bij using a laserpointer, there are laserpointers specially for wargaming which display a line so you never have to touch a model when checking an arc :p

This spring rope device seems just as fidly as a ruler ;)

Just my thoughts ;)

Cheers,

Thijs

**KeithS** · 04-09-2014, 10:02

Fair enough, in terms of fiddliness I just thought that a thin string is less intrusive than a ruler but each to their own. I hadn't realised that there are lasers just for wargaming, I had looked at DIY laser levels which are quite expensive. I did have a look at ones for wargaming but they still seem to cost about £25, which is a little on the expensive side. Of course, just in case anyone was wondering, you can't use the cheapo pointer type as they just project a dot on to a surface, which is useless for our purposes.

**The Royal Hajj** · 04-09-2014, 10:11

If you are going to go that route, might as well up the ante some...

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I've got this one with the heavy duty metal wire so I never lose my badge... or I can use it as a garrote

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**KeithS** · 04-09-2014, 10:30

Very nice and thematic as well.

I've got this one with the heavy duty metal wire so I never lose my badge... or I can use it as a garrote

Must remember not to annoy you, or come across you in a dark alley for that matter.

**The Royal Hajj** · 04-09-2014, 10:33

Oh, it's worries if you come across me in a dark alley... only if I come across you

**Naharaht** · 04-09-2014, 21:09

Why not use a metal tape measure from your local D.I.Y. shop?

**Andy Blozinski** · 04-09-2014, 21:12

Oh, just wait until that spring loaded name badge loop accidentally slips out of your hand and whips across the table when you were lining it up with two ships.

**David Manley** · 04-09-2014, 23:44

Originally Posted by KeithS

Fair enough, in terms of fiddliness I just thought that a thin string is less intrusive than a ruler but each to their own.

Its wargamers. Why spend £0.01 on a solution when you can spend hundreds of times that on a high tech, less effective but more flashy solution?

**Diamondback** · 04-10-2014, 01:18

Originally Posted by The Royal Hajj

Oh, it's worries if you come across me in a dark alley... only if I come across you

Things like that, and people wonder WHY my constant companion (and pretty much the only thing I really trust in this life) is my trusty old Colt .45... O.O LOL

**The Royal Hajj** · 04-10-2014, 05:56

Originally Posted by Diamondback

Things like that, and people wonder WHY my constant companion (and pretty much the only thing I really trust in this life) is my trusty old Colt .45... O.O LOL

And it's things like that, that make me carry one of these...

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But so no one can say I don't keep threads on topic... well, at least in the realm of on topic... okay, at list sorta in theme with the site

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**The Royal Hajj** · 04-10-2014, 05:58

Originally Posted by David Manley

Its wargamers. Why spend £0.01 on a solution when you can spend hundreds of times that on a high tech, less effective but more flashy solution?

In this gamers and gear heads are alike! In fact, just about everyone involved in a serious hobby come to think about it.

**KeithS** · 04-10-2014, 07:10

Originally Posted by Naharaht

Why not use a metal tape measure from your local D.I.Y. shop?

Well I thought that a thin string is less intrusive than a bulky ruler given the scale of the ships.

Oh, just wait until that spring loaded name badge loop accidentally slips out of your hand and whips across the table when you were lining it up with two ships.

OK Mr Sceptic, hasn't your device ever knocked over, dislodged, or otherwise moved one of your ships?

Its wargamers. Why spend £0.01 on a solution when you can spend hundreds of times that on a high tech, less effective but more flashy solution?

Guilty as charged

although I still contend they are not all that expensive. However, lets agree that we can all use whatever methods we think will work best.

**KeithS** · 04-10-2014, 07:13

The Royal Hajj;31844]And it's things like that, that make me carry one of these...

That's as well as your patent garrotting device!

**The Royal Hajj** · 04-10-2014, 07:24

Originally Posted by Andy Blozinski

Oh, just wait until that spring loaded name badge loop accidentally slips out of your hand and whips across the table when you were lining it up with two ships.

You can also get them that have a push button release. That way the don't fly back in until you push that button.

**Gunner** · 04-10-2014, 20:44

If this is real, where can I get info.

[QUOTE=The Royal Hajj;31844]And it's things like that, that make me carry one of these...

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**Diamondback** · 04-10-2014, 21:00

It's not... the only .454-dia chambering I know of is the Casull and blooptubes are 40mm and 37mm (this one exclusively smoke and flares as signaling devices) only last I knew...

Besides, just THINK about the wrist-breaking recoil. O.O

**Naharaht** · 04-10-2014, 22:40

Try one of these for a big recoil. It is a Nock Volley gun.
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**Diamondback** · 04-10-2014, 22:47

David, I've fired a .50 Desert Eagle... ONCE. Its owner, a range-buddy who'd JUST bought it and gone straight from pickup counter to firing line, offered me a second shot also, and it was like "Thank you very much, but once was QUITE enough." LOL

**Andy Blozinski** · 04-11-2014, 06:14

The 30mm grenade launcher is a Soviet design that's been in use for decades. I wouldn't want to fire that thing from a pistol, though.
I've fired a .50 cal Desert Eagle one handed before. The underslung slide design made it pretty easy to handle as it helped pull the muzzle down. I've never fired a .454 Casull, but I'll bet they're a beast and a revolver doesn't have much recourse to try and absorb recoil.

**The Royal Hajj** · 04-11-2014, 06:27

No, the 454 is only and illustration for a video game that never came out. I do have a coworker buddy that has a CNC mill being delivered later this summer. He already wants to try and make some conversion parts that would convert a current gun model to appear similar to this illustration though. Most likely it'll be based off a .44 or .357. If any of you gun gurus know of a make and model that could serve nicely as the base, please PM me.

**7eat51** · 04-11-2014, 08:05

Originally Posted by Diamondback

David, I've fired a .50 Desert Eagle... ONCE. Its owner, a range-buddy who'd JUST bought it and gone straight from pickup counter to firing line, offered me a second shot also, and it was like "Thank you very much, but once was QUITE enough." LOL

I held one of these once. It felt great in my hand. I did not have the (dis)pleasure of firing it, though. Regardless, it was impressive.

Garrote - Keith, this could make you an honorary family member.

**The Royal Hajj** · 04-11-2014, 12:45

Originally Posted by 7eat51

Garrote - Keith, this could make you an honorary family member.

I'd be honored sir. In fact, I have it with me at Origins each year.

**Diamondback** · 04-11-2014, 13:25

Boss Dude ( :p ), I'll post that over on some firearms forums and ask some gunsmith buddies for ideas about building the monster. May not be able to get a functional lower bore, though... explanation following by PM.