Nova Duckslide Project

[gnarlynick]

Starting a thread for a project I'll likely slowly progress through over the coming winter as I don't have all the parts necessary to get the body parts anodized nor to mock up a functional marker from what I currently have.

What I do currently have is as follows:

• A $75 Nova duckslide with the delrin barrel insert; needed lots of work hand-filing and sanding to get it to properly fit a phantom breech with a 12-round SC feed attached.
• A Nova barrel with inserts; these are as shitty as others claim, even with the delrin insert installed the duckslide, there is a lot of play. When I use a Phantom barrel, it's a real nice fit with little to no play on the duckslide. I plan to scrap the Nova barrel for a Freak bored Phantom barrel.
• A SC breech currently without the ASP detent mod in a factory blue ano
• A 12-round SC feed in a factory blue ano
• A BBA in a factory magenta ano

As noted above, I've taken the task of hand-filing and sanding the duckslide to properly fit the breech/feed I intend to use with the project. I had to heavily file down the upper sides that ride along the feed and the area that circles the breech, just passed the barrel.

While doing this, I decided to soften all the 90° edges on the front site as I didn't like the hard edges. I managed to sand out all the tooling marks and opted to give a bit of texture to the side and bottom faces with some 60/150/220 grit sanding from my orbital sander. I like the contrast of the glossy rounded edges and the matte/frosted flat faces.

With all that done, the slide action against the breech/feed and the duckslide is really smooth and I don't feel any resistance or rubbing. With the Phantom barrel installed as the only connecting point between the breech and the duckslide, it feels real steady when pumping it back and forth. I'm sure it'll feel just as good when I get a pump rod and internal bolt connecting everything together.

Below are some photos of the current progress. Will update over time as I gather more parts. This will be a drawn out project, so don't expect frequent updates.

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[$L!mBo]

nice!

what are you thinking for anno?

also, if you didnt know, Scorpion/Trracer BBAs also work, should give you a few more shots per cart, and imho, look much nicer

HOWEVER, if you go this route, youll need to shave a bit more from the lower rear corner inside the slide to give the angled portion clearance.

are you going bucket changer, screw in drop out or remote line (probably dont need to make the extra cuts for this one)

what are you thinking for frame/grip?

IMG_9673.jpg

[gnarlynick]

What grip/frame combo is on your ducks there? I really like how the lines of the grip match those of the frame seamlessly

[Chuck E Ducky]

That’s a Gargoyle RTR frame. One of the best sliders ever made for the Phantom spec. Dukie did a really nice slider, so did Carter. But the RTR in gloss finish is hands down the smoothest slider from my experience. It’s shorter crisper and smoother. Dukie is longer pull with thinner trigger plate purchase but very smooth and has a In grip 12g. Carters are a bit clunkier and due to there hand made nature some are better then others. If you took a Carter off of a Carter you would have to make it work. Vs the RTR / Dukie are drop in ready to go. Unfortunately both are rare as hens teeth and very expensive.

[gnarlynick]

$L!mBo still feeling everything out as far as the rest of the build goes. I haven't made a decision yet on the frame. Currently looking at either a Phrameworks gas-thru or just a 45 grip with a stock Phantom frame and bucket changer out the rear like you have pictured.

As far as ano, I am really wanting to do something like this build that I believe I found here in these forums. I would do a matte black and blue configuration. That grip looks pretty sweet now that I'm looking at it again, I'll put it in the running ahead of a 45.
IMG_8969.jpg

I also like the two-tone approach of the actual duckslide in addition to the marble pattern in the anodizing from this one eBay listing I came across a while ago. Interesting 3D printed grip but goes a bit against the tight profile I'm trying to go after in my build.
Screenshot_20260224_084715_eBay.jpg

[Chuck E Ducky]

I have a Phrameworks 45 if you need for your project. If you want to go that route.

I ended up buying his 86 for my build.

Cool project it looks so much nicer cleaned up like that can’t wait to see the results.

[$L!mBo]

gnarlynick thats a gargoyle lower. humpback grip and slide trigger.
the transition from the grip to the rear top of the frame, that sits right in the web of your thumb, is normally not as smooth but this one was shaved into that nice contour.
IMG_9718.jpg

[Chuck E Ducky]

Isn’t that an RTR grip as well? I’m almost positive both my Gargoyles have that same grip on them.

[$L!mBo]

its is!

sergison makes a hump grip too but his doesnt have the backstrap grooves and the hump is further up

[gnarlynick]

Trying to visualize the overall build. These are certainly three grip options I like, nothing concrete yet

blue_skele.png blue_45.png
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[Maxwell]

Really digging the standard Phantom 45 and Hogues on this!

[gnarlynick]

Recently acquired a 12 gram bucket changer and found out it's insanely easy to chemically strip aluminum anodizing. At least everything matches now.

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In taking apart the bucket changer, I can't seem to figure out how to get the pierce pin out. Anyone have any tips?

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[flyweightnate]

In taking apart the bucket changer, I can't seem to figure out how to get the pierce pin out. Anyone have any tips?

20261105_184652.jpg

I'm overdue to make another batch of pierce pin wrenches. They tend to do a good job.

[Fossilhead]

I second the phrameworks tool!
They really make it a breeze!

[Ayoitslewis]

I’d definitely be interested in one if you made more

[flyweightnate]

I'm going to try to run a batch during lunch today. Got behind on a few things but these are simple enough to jump the queue.

[gnarlynick]

Still working through which grip I want to go with. Currently leaning toward a CCI 45 grip frame with an aluminum 1911 skeletonized grip panel anodized to match the slide and trigger shoe.
blue_45_skele.png
Might mock up a VSC configuration with this grip as well and see how it looks

[Chuck E Ducky]

Did you see this?

“Vindicate Phantom slider frame (also comes with delrin trigger) - $250“

https://mcarterbrown.com/forum/buy-s...ld-tank-covers

[gnarlynick]

I have not. I can't seem to find much on vindicate sports, is that frame decent? Looks like it separates based on the two screws on the right-side, assuming to assemble the sliding trigger mechanism?

[Chuck E Ducky]

It’s Similar to a RTR slider. The one I tried had the original Delrin trigger that felt a lil long. Looking at that one it’s got a different trigger. It looks like it’s a better profile. The one thing I didn’t like about the vindicate slider was that it felt like it was a slightly longer reach on the trigger. That aluminum one seems like it solves that issue.