Lozart

There's definitely a knack with a sucker but yes, braid works too. When I had free and easy access to it, braid was my go-to for PCB work.

Get yourself a solder sucker!

It's not so much the means of holding the work, it's more the size of the soldering iron and lack of consistent application of the right amount of heat. I agree that soldering onto PCBs is a bit tricky in trying not to burn the board but the wires are all melted to fuck and I'm astounded you managed to get THAT much solder on just one joint! You'd be better off using a half decent temp controlled electric iron instead of that Dremel gas one than spunking £55 on the frankly way over the top helping hand setup (as nice as it looks). One like this would be fine https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-61478-40W-Soldering-Station/dp/B010823P38/ref=sr_1_40?keywords=soldering+iron+station&qid=1643649137&sprefix=soldering+%2Caps%2C566&sr=8-40

As long as they're not being crushed, scuffed or otherwise damaged getting the battery in and out then yes, it'll be fine.

What gun is it for?

Pretty sure that's exactly what it means.

Did you solder that with your eyes shut?

I'll give you three words - Four King Maps. https://www.fourkingmaps.co.uk/ (you're welcome)

I'd recommend the Cyma CM045 models https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/cyma-cm-045-aeg-ak-rifle?pv=11944 They're incredible value for money given the quality of construction. Had one myself for a couple of years!

Pretty sure they use standard AEG springs

@RostokMcSpoons are you pushing the operating lever up to retract the pin or pulling it down? The pin drops a lot lower if you pull it downwards.

The joys of colour theory!

Lexan IS polycarbonate. It's a trade name not a different kind of plastic!

Same. My massive head is attached to an equally moon sized face. Otherwise I'd look like the Mekon...which I don't.

Strawberry. oh....wait

So...much like making love to a beautiful woman then.

I agree that the value of someones time to upgrade their own gun is irrelevant once the time comes to sell it on. However, assuming that a DCS Tier 3 upgrade is great because it changes everything in the gun is folly. There is a reason why every time someone comes on this forum and says "I've just bought this what upgrades does it need" the response is almost always "use it first and see what it needs". Changing everything just for the sake of saying it's an upgrade is NOT the same as blueprinting an engine, regardless of what the person trying to charge £1000 to upgrade a £200 gun might tell you. As fr the TL:DR, I present option 3 - buy the gun off the shelf and do the upgrades yourself.

Cash or bank transfer only. Not with a bargepole.

The Macaron rubber is 90% of the performance of flat hop with about 5% of the effort so unless you plan on trying to lift very heavy ammo (ie more than the .28/.3 you mention) then it not really worth the hassle. The 50o or 60o Macaron should be fine for you.

They've been around for a long while, you don't tend to hear about them so much these days because they just OEM for other brands but they did an absolutely awful M249 years ago!

The Omega nub is designed to work with the Maple Leaf range of rubbers. Personally I usually go for the tan coloured Macaron rubber.