zigzwag
New Member
Well, it's that time again! Back at building. What has it been? A month! lol
NOW I have my own Facebook group! if you guys have questions or want to follow along with my projects you can find me over at Zigzwag Props and armor! still rather new to this so yeah
baby steps
Zigzwag Props & Armor
Anyways, a plan has formed, and costumes are in the planning stages! This year... Project Archangel is going to take shape! one of the biggest challenges that I have had yet! here's hoping that things work out as planned.
I know that it isn't one of his premier rifles, but the Avenger has always been one of the rifles that I have always enjoyed from the series so I said to hell with it and started getting knife to EVA
This will be updated until the rifle is finished! If you like it, or have questions about it I'd be happy to answer what I can!
This is where the rifle currently sits, I have the scope piece made just have to find a way to attach it, and then it's off to paint!
I have to say that I am very happy with the way that this looks!
As usual with my posts, I would like to say how I got here! so for your viewing pleasure I managed to snap a few pics of the build, hopefully you can find them useful!
Materials used for this project
- EVA foam 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch
- Craft foam
- balsa wood planks
- probably about 800 popsicle sticks
- rare earth magnets
- Megablocks tank wheels
- Worbla black
- Worbla transpart
- Googlyeyes
- PVC pipe
- wood dowel
- small orange plastic rod I found at Walmart
- Paperclay
- Modpodge
(Future materials)
- LED LIGHTS!!!
- resin coat
Now onto the build!
First things first, I needed a template! so off to Google land I went, found a rather nice picture. Now, I wouldn't recommend my method of this to ANYONE, but it worked. Placing paper on top of my TV and then tracing out the image with a pencil VERY LIGHTLY
From here, I took it down, fixed up the lines with a Sharpie, and then cut out my template! Future project sneak peek
Once the template was done, I transferred it again onto some tracing paper, so I didn't have to cut up my template. And finally it was time to start transferring it all to foam! In this image, I also started sketching out my plans for the future LED insertion, the entire build was going to be focused around trying to make this work
The Substructure of this rifle is almost completely made of Balsa wood, and popsicle sticks, For the most part it's extremely sturdy, I am not worried about the main rifle falling apart any time soon! Also, the way that you lay out your substructure will also play a part into the rifles final shape! so strategic placement of popsicle sticks will matter in the long run! Also, in this stage I started adding in the barrels. For a while, this rifle was very unstable as the barrels really weighed down the front causing the single layer EVA foam to bend.
In the following image, you can somewhat see the method to the madness. cut channels for the wires to run to the eventual LED Lighting that I plan to install! I also had the 'bright' idea to cut a channel through the entire rifle so that the top scope section could be lit too, this caused structural issues that only popsicle sticks could remedy as I basically effectively cut the rifle in half!
From here, it was just layering materials, the substructure now complete and mirrored on both sides (For the most part, the only difference being that one side needed to be accessible for the LED's
I wanted to try out a new material that I haven't had the chance to use yet. Worbla black, it is a very interesting thing, and I find that it helps strengthen the rifle and give it a nice 3D look up close. Still have much to learn with it I'm sure! The below image is of drivers side of the rifle, all these pieces were glued in place cutting out the windows for the LED's to shine through was a bit of a pain, and while I'm sure there is a better way to do it, this worked out okay. Worbla Transpart lines the inside so it isn't just a hole completely through the gun.
Once both sides were up to this point, I wanted to start adding in the Rare earth magnets, that would hold the cover for the electrical down. One point of note that I think is VERY much worth sharing, that I would strongly recommend NOT painting over magnets. I did this, and probably put the gun back together too soon, but the magnets stuck together with almost the strength of super glue! I ripped a few of them back out of where I attached them in an attempt to free them. so... lessons learned on my end for sure!
Also, in this image you can kind of see the way that the worbla transpart lines the inside of the light compartment
Once this was done, all that was left was detailing, adding in the thin barrel and external bits! Again Popsicle sticks make an appearance! The Cover for the upper barrel was rather difficult to make and shape it so that it looked half decent. I wanted the barrel to show through, and I am happy with the way it came out, but I'm sure that there could have been a better way to do it!
The last details getting added in the worbla black covering the scope, and the tank tires on the passenger side of the rifle. coating all the visible seams with Paperclay! (Thanks Andrew DFT for that one!) a quick sanding, and then a coat of Modpodge to seal it all in. all of the googly eyes were attached just after this picture was taken.
Finally, it was off to the paint booth! (IE cardboard box set up in my craft room with fans blowing air out my window... (totally legit!)
NOW I have my own Facebook group! if you guys have questions or want to follow along with my projects you can find me over at Zigzwag Props and armor! still rather new to this so yeah
baby stepsZigzwag Props & Armor
Anyways, a plan has formed, and costumes are in the planning stages! This year... Project Archangel is going to take shape! one of the biggest challenges that I have had yet! here's hoping that things work out as planned.
I know that it isn't one of his premier rifles, but the Avenger has always been one of the rifles that I have always enjoyed from the series so I said to hell with it and started getting knife to EVA
This will be updated until the rifle is finished! If you like it, or have questions about it I'd be happy to answer what I can!
This is where the rifle currently sits, I have the scope piece made just have to find a way to attach it, and then it's off to paint!
As usual with my posts, I would like to say how I got here! so for your viewing pleasure I managed to snap a few pics of the build, hopefully you can find them useful!
Materials used for this project
- EVA foam 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch
- Craft foam
- balsa wood planks
- probably about 800 popsicle sticks
- rare earth magnets
- Megablocks tank wheels
- Worbla black
- Worbla transpart
- Googlyeyes
- PVC pipe
- wood dowel
- small orange plastic rod I found at Walmart
- Paperclay
- Modpodge
(Future materials)
- LED LIGHTS!!!
- resin coat
Now onto the build!
First things first, I needed a template! so off to Google land I went, found a rather nice picture. Now, I wouldn't recommend my method of this to ANYONE, but it worked. Placing paper on top of my TV and then tracing out the image with a pencil VERY LIGHTLY
From here, I took it down, fixed up the lines with a Sharpie, and then cut out my template! Future project sneak peek
Once the template was done, I transferred it again onto some tracing paper, so I didn't have to cut up my template. And finally it was time to start transferring it all to foam! In this image, I also started sketching out my plans for the future LED insertion, the entire build was going to be focused around trying to make this work
The Substructure of this rifle is almost completely made of Balsa wood, and popsicle sticks, For the most part it's extremely sturdy, I am not worried about the main rifle falling apart any time soon! Also, the way that you lay out your substructure will also play a part into the rifles final shape! so strategic placement of popsicle sticks will matter in the long run! Also, in this stage I started adding in the barrels. For a while, this rifle was very unstable as the barrels really weighed down the front causing the single layer EVA foam to bend.
In the following image, you can somewhat see the method to the madness. cut channels for the wires to run to the eventual LED Lighting that I plan to install! I also had the 'bright' idea to cut a channel through the entire rifle so that the top scope section could be lit too, this caused structural issues that only popsicle sticks could remedy as I basically effectively cut the rifle in half!
From here, it was just layering materials, the substructure now complete and mirrored on both sides (For the most part, the only difference being that one side needed to be accessible for the LED's
I wanted to try out a new material that I haven't had the chance to use yet. Worbla black, it is a very interesting thing, and I find that it helps strengthen the rifle and give it a nice 3D look up close. Still have much to learn with it I'm sure! The below image is of drivers side of the rifle, all these pieces were glued in place cutting out the windows for the LED's to shine through was a bit of a pain, and while I'm sure there is a better way to do it, this worked out okay. Worbla Transpart lines the inside so it isn't just a hole completely through the gun.
Once both sides were up to this point, I wanted to start adding in the Rare earth magnets, that would hold the cover for the electrical down. One point of note that I think is VERY much worth sharing, that I would strongly recommend NOT painting over magnets. I did this, and probably put the gun back together too soon, but the magnets stuck together with almost the strength of super glue! I ripped a few of them back out of where I attached them in an attempt to free them. so... lessons learned on my end for sure!
Also, in this image you can kind of see the way that the worbla transpart lines the inside of the light compartment
Once this was done, all that was left was detailing, adding in the thin barrel and external bits! Again Popsicle sticks make an appearance! The Cover for the upper barrel was rather difficult to make and shape it so that it looked half decent. I wanted the barrel to show through, and I am happy with the way it came out, but I'm sure that there could have been a better way to do it!
The last details getting added in the worbla black covering the scope, and the tank tires on the passenger side of the rifle. coating all the visible seams with Paperclay! (Thanks Andrew DFT for that one!) a quick sanding, and then a coat of Modpodge to seal it all in. all of the googly eyes were attached just after this picture was taken.
Finally, it was off to the paint booth! (IE cardboard box set up in my craft room with fans blowing air out my window... (totally legit!)
