Props MiniMag (a miniaturized Magnum)

[torsoboy]

So this is the beginning of what I hope to be a full series of props. I don't want to take on a full costume build this year as I'd rather get some mileage out of existing costumes and have some free time rather than filling my free time with the stress of trying to cram a full costume build in a year. To keep me "busy" during my other downtime, though, I wanted to work on a project that hopefully is unique, or is at least unique within my circle of prop building.

The series, or at least this one prop for now, is a taking an existing design and miniaturizing it. Not making it smaller in scale, but rather making the design more compact. So it's not a 1/2 scale Magnum or anything, it's just supposed to be the same gun in a smaller package. Originally I wanted to do the Halo 3 Magnum, but the Reach version has so very nice details, and I wanted to hone my detailing skills so I opted for that version. The inspiration for this particular prop is tiny, easily concealable pistols like the Ruger LCP 380. I became inspired after watching a show about Cold War espionage and weapons of the era, and I thought about how I could have fun with the idea.

Currently, construction consists of a 1/2" thick MDF sheet as a base, jigsawed out to the template's profile, and then 2mm sheets of sintra glued onto either side. My blueprints were designed using the Halo Reach Magnum, so all the details are based on it, only more compact. Currently the overall dimensions are about 4.5 long by 3-5/8" tall, and it's grip can fit an estimated 2.5 fingers (the extra .5 is to accommodate for gloved fingers). Details are being made out of various plastic sheeting I have left over from other projects: sintra, "For Sale" sign plastic, PET plastic, etc.

View the full set of photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2storyprops/sets/72157627653440376/


Print by 2StoryProps, on Flickr


DSCN3962 by 2StoryProps, on Flickr


DSCN3966 by 2StoryProps, on Flickr


DSCN3971 by 2StoryProps, on Flickr


DSCN3975 by 2StoryProps, on Flickr

 

[SagittariusArt]

Nice! I like it!

 

[Varsity]

Lol, thats awesome!

 

[torsoboy]

Not too much addition work today. The main thing I did was smooth out the bottom half, and begin the little pill-shaped detail on either side of the grip. I need to carve a little rectangle in it and add two flat-head screws to it (on both sides), but I don't have any in stock so I'll need to buy some before I move on.

Also, I wanted to mention that so far all of the carving work (mostly the bevels) is currently done by hand. Working on such a small prop is forcing me to go for an X-acto instead of a dremel. The hatching details in the grip are done with wood engraving gravers. I'll use powertools on the top half of the gun, though, as I'll need to get some big bevels across longer, straighter sections. I'm going to finish the lower half of the gun completely before moving on to the top part, though (except for the trigger, which will be saved for last due to the fragility my glued-on triggers tend to have prior to molding).


DSCN3976 by 2StoryProps, on Flickr

 

[ODSTSWEET17]

That's awesome

 

[Tyvern]

This is a very cool idea!

 

[ACDCrockr209]

Me likey so much!

Can't wait to see what it looks like finished up, dude!

 

[XxCrossFadexX]

Did you draw the prints or did you find them on google and print? I really want to make this!

 

[torsoboy]

Did you draw the prints or did you find them on google and print? I really want to make this!

I created the blueprints myself. I took a picture of a google search of "tiny pistol" into Adobe Photoshop, and then took a side view of the Reach pistol and started hacking and resizing the components to the proportions of that image from my "tiny pistol" google search. I played around with the proportions for a few days trying to get it just right, and then I redrew the entire thing in Adobe Illustrator and printed it to scale.

 

[ALTHALOS]

a halo prostitute pistol .... lol. thats awesome

 

[Noskey]

I love the look of this thing! One question though, is the top part still the same size, width and height-wise like the original M6? Meaning it would theoretically still use the same ammunition, or is it smaller as well?

 

[torsoboy]

I love the look of this thing! One question though, is the top part still the same size, width and height-wise like the original M6? Meaning it would theoretically still use the same ammunition, or is it smaller as well?

The outer dimensions of the top portion of the gun are smaller than the M6. But if your curious, the hole I drilled in the barrel end is 5/8" in diameter because it looks like "a good size" at the moment. Since the focus of the project is the gun and not the bullets, caliber never entered into my design. I never bothered to consider it because the end result is going to be a solid resin casting. If I was going to be making hollow castings with a removable clip and "working" internal mechanics, I would have probably started with some bullet casings to gauge some measurements off of. But I would say it's "generally" a smaller caliber than the M6.

 

[Noskey]

Ah, that all makes sense. The build still looks really great in fact. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the build, and hoping to see when it's all cast in the future!

 

[Starvinartist80]

I"m really liking your creativity here. Its nice to see someone exploring how the technology of the games might look in the rest of the Halo universe. This looks just a like a perfect small "concealed carry" civilian version of the M6. Reminds me a lot of the compact versions of the SIG Sauer and Glock models. I'll be really interested to see this build take shape.

 

[torsoboy]

So here's an update. I haven't actually worked on this in a few days, and my progress will remain here for the most part during the next few weeks. An emergency project popped up that needs to be completed by the end of October for a photo shoot in early November.

What you see here is the beginnings of the top portion of the pistol. The business end is pretty much sculpted, though I need to smooth it out with some glazing putty. The little hair-line groove you see in it needs to be filled in, and it just needs to be smoothed out in general. I'm also going to put a few drops of resin down in the barrel hole to give it a flat backing (the drill left a nice little guide hole in it that isn't too pretty).

It's getting there, though! It's probably about 2/3 done at this point. Once I smooth out the barrel I can work on the rear portion, but that's where a lot of detail is, so it's going to take a little while to work on. I'll probably smooth out the barrel while I'm waiting for stuff to cure or dry on this emergency project, but otherwise I'm putting this pistol project on hold until I finish this new one up.


DSCN4029 by 2StoryProps, on Flickr

 

[torsoboy]

I"m really liking your creativity here. Its nice to see someone exploring how the technology of the games might look in the rest of the Halo universe. This looks just a like a perfect small "concealed carry" civilian version of the M6. Reminds me a lot of the compact versions of the SIG Sauer and Glock models. I'll be really interested to see this build take shape.

This is precisely the inspiration behind the design!

 

[project003]

totally inspired me to work on my mini mag for my DARE armor, thanks!

PS
I'm cheating and modding an airsoft gun

 

[Lockon13]

You know that actual is a pistol like this in the halo universe ONI uses it to kill people they don't like up close and nasty