How did the end of the world as we know it come about? We’re not quite sure, but we do know one thing: amidst the chaos, a senior YTech engineer continues to persist, surviving day by day. As part of my entry for the Scrap-Yard Challenge, here are some excerpts from her logbook:

Day 195:
I found an incomplete M4 assembly (upper receiver, lower receiver, buffer tube; 16” barrel with what looks like an adjustable gas block) in the rubble of the downtown police barracks. Internals all seem to be in working order; pretty miraculous, considering how long it’s probably been buried down there. It’s definitely a lucky find.

Update:
I screwed on a MOE-K pistol grip. The color’s slightly mismatched, but, given the circumstances, I could care less; besides, I was never one to keep to many components lying around at home, so it’s the best I can do. I definitely see some potential for this build, but it’s not going to be easy.

Day 203:
Alright, it’s almost time for my hard work to pay off. I’ve siphoned enough gas to run my generator for a few hours and still have plenty left to spare, and I’ve picked up lots of useful metal components from my supply runs. My workshop is ready, tomorrow I get down to work.

Day 204:
Woke up while it was still dark. Fuel: check. Generator: check. Imagination: check.

First up, and arguably most importantly, this rifle isn’t going to work without a stock. I've got some pretty strong wire, and a simply wire stock will suffice…

Update:
I soldered on my wire stock directly to the buffer tube; pretty simple, surprisingly. It's not comfortable, but it's the best solution at this point. Time to break out my Black Gorilla Tape for a little extra padding (forget duct tape, Gorilla Tape is a real American hero). Next up, the handguard.

I found some cheap barrel nuts lying around in my workshop, and it just so happens that some of the carbon fiber tubing I ALSO had lying around (from experiments past) fits over them almost perfectly. So, purely by coincidence, the handguard is an easy fix: after a little milling, I can screw in the tubing and basically have a functioning handguard.

Update:
The forearm of this weapon is moving towards completion! Now, for attachments, I’m going to need Picatinny rails. I only found three rails that will fit my handguard, two short and one about medium… they’ll have to do. Of course, since this isn’t a proper handguard, attaching them will be difficult; I can mill small holes and use some metal pins to line the rails up and keep them straight, but it won’t hold them down. What to do…

Update:
The rails have been bolted down with a combination of superglue and Gorilla Tape. I’m sure they’ll stay in place… theoretically. Fingers crossed?

Anyways, to get this baby up and running, I’m gonna need a feeding system… in other words, magazines. This is probably why I’m regretting pursuing a career in engineering. Sure, I have a couple of PMAGs and enough ammunition to get down to the range once or twice a month, but definitely not enough to supply a small army (like some of the guys I used to know).In this circumstance, for magazines, at least, I have a solution. Back in the day, I managed to snag some files from Defence Distributed (God have mercy on them) before they got taken down. I’ll check my computer… and better make it quick, the fuel ration for today is pretty much spent.

Update:
Success! 3D printed five 10 round magazine I had saved. I also printed a 30 round magazine, except I just realized that I don’t have a reliable spring to keep the magazine feeding properly… oh, well. I expect the 10 round ones to be functional, at the very least.

I’ll conduct a test firing tomorrow.

Day 205:
It’s raining, so no test firing.

Update:
Alright, back to work, back to work. You can still be productive, because you totally forgot something important yesterday… optics!

I remember, back when I used to work for YTech, our CEO basically swore by Aimpoint. He appreciated Trijicon, accepted Leupold as an industry standard, but when it came to reflex sights, he wouldn’t put anything other than an Aimpoint on his rifles. This is only pertinent because I found an old Aimpoint ACO up in my former office… I remember getting it for Christmas, actually. I think our CEO gave each of his employees one as a Christmas gift. Well, here’s to that. Time to get it screwed onto my new rifle.

Update:
Bad luck… no battery cover. Which would be fine, except (more back luck) the battery's dead, and I don’t have another one. I guess… I can still use it as part of a sight? I’ll have to find an appropriate front sight, which is definitely going to be problematic.

Update.
Alright, so I’ve found the base piece of a flip-up front iron sight (seriously, sometimes I wonder why I used to collect all this stuff. Good job, me!), and I just custom-printed a 3D piece that should work as a sight. Now, just have to test it!

Day 207:
I’m headed out to test this piece of work out. I’ll record my result when I get back.

Update:
Okay, a few takeaways: First, the carbon fiber tubing has a heating problem. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely noticeable. I’ve mounted a short vertical grip to help with that. Second, I’m not really liking the grip I’ve got on the weapon. Strips of cloth should help with that, although there’s nothing much else that I can do.

And damn, this gun is loud! I mean, they’ve always been loud… guess I just never noticed. I must have a suppressor around here somewhere…

But apart from all of that, I would deem this build a rousing success!