I had always intended to modify the Maruzen M1100, even before it had arrived, and had been relying on claims that many real-steel accessories could be added to customise the appearance and functionality of the replica. The definitive source is a series of reviews of the extremely similar M870 at Arnie's Airsoft, and considerable study had left me with the impression that components could be mixed and matched at will. It isn't nearly as easy as that, though, and having just received a parcel of the most commonly discussed ATI add-ons, obtained with some difficulty from US online supplier ASPI Tactical, I'm in a position to contribute some hard facts... Some are useable with a little work, some with a lot of work, and some simply won't fit in any practical sense.

The plastic shell holders from ATI (Advanced Technologies) are a good example of an accessory that can be bodged to fit - Maruzen shotshells are slightly smaller than a real 12ga cartridge, and are far too loose in the clip to stay in place... However, a small pad of furry-side sticky Velcro inserted into each "bay" is unobtrusive and holds the shell just right. The perforated metal stock has adequate space for four of the six mounting holes, and when they are drilled a shade larger than the 7/64" recommended for wooden or plastic stocks the supplied screws self-tap quite nicely. This is a fairly trivial modification to the gun, but the visual effect is certainly worth it and it is convenient in use.

While I was working on the stock, I added a couple of strips of rubber U-tube (spare blowhole edging from the PC case project last year) onto the long edges of the frame, where my cheek rests in firing position and previously rather sharp. It also snugs the stock better onto the receiver when folded and locked, too, and without the rattles the gun has a far more solid feel in the hand.

Not so adaptable, however, is ATI's metal heat-shield - one of the accessories I really had my eye on. Without a rib or foresight, the barrel of the M1100 is rather plain and the perforated metal of the shield adds considerable badass appeal. The M870 review at Arnie's mentions that the heat shield rubs against the pump-action foregrip, but I'd hoped that the static grip of the M1100 would prove more amenable. However, it turns out that it simply won't fit at all - I'll need to shave away between three and five millimetres from each side of the plastic foregrip, and then a few more mils here and there to allow clearance for the rear mounting tabs. Once I start with the Dremel there will be no going back, and in spite of how good it looks even just resting on the barrel, I'm in no hurry to dive in...

The heat shield will take some thought, and some work, but I think that it's a realistic project. However, the magazine extension tube, also from ATI, is a complete no-go - the different shell calibre is a bad start, although that could probably be worked around, but the shape, size, look and feel of the ATI part are completely different to anything that would fit the Maruzen. Given the obvious design differences in this area of the replicas, I can't see real-steel mag extension tubes from any other manufacturer fitting either.