A couple weeks ago I got started on building an AK-74 pattern CZ with wood ordered from Matt at Ironwood. He's offering a decent russian red finish option now, so those of us who aren't talented with stains and poly urethane can catch a break.
My brother, who does not share my interest in real guns, gave me an airsoft GP-30 from a Canadian company (so I'm assured of the legality). It's a solid piece as far as improvised vertical grips go, though I'm uneasy about the mounting brackets and suspect I will have to weld them back in a short while following heavy use. As far as the other work, I asked a local machinist to help me drill and cut a metal bracket to hold the buttstock, and used the screw from a folding stock set that was drilled by Dmitri for the SVD pattern stock I asked him to make (which is going into storage until I get started on my own proper VSS rig). All in all, it's solid as a rock, though I think I'd prefer a metal butt-plate to the rubber one I'm using. The handguards are actually M70 Tabuk pattern, slightly longer than most AK handguards, but still slightly shorter than the Vz58.
The GP-30 has made it considerably more stable during fire, however it is a bit heavier now, so lugging it around in the bush would be a lot more irritating if it didn't come with a quick-release button. It's a bit of a gimmick, but the grip's in the perfect place to line up with the other, and shooting's very comfortable with it. (Now to get started on a Vintorez...)
