sorry about your dilemma, but i don't think it should be too difficult to fix, like the other fellows mentioned,
By the way that's looks like a nice project, i was in fact going to build one that style, i even got some of the parts for the project, but i was still looking for those kind of ramrod pipes like you got, couldn't find em anywhere, i was just kinda wondering where you got yours from, or did you make yours?