Want To Try H3 Assault Rifle (again...)

[mustang2500]

I want to try and make the Assault Rifle again (I wanted to before, but couldn't afford it) This time, I want to make a Laser Tag gun. I don't need help with electronics, I just need to know what to use. I don't want to spend alot of money on materials, maybe $20-$25 tops. I was thinking make a shell out of cardboard, paper mache, and then put drywall spackle ontop of it to give it a hard and smooth(er) surface. But, I don't know if it will be very strong, since I need it to be durable. Does anyone know what I could use? I should also mention it has to be Hollow for the electronics to fit inside.

EDIT: Or instead of a different material, is there something cheap I could use as a "finishing compound type thing" to make it stronger?

 

[godsarmor]

go with pepakura way more detail

 

[dylan snyder09]

http://405th.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15015&hl
try that. 15$ for the gun, plus maybe 10 for the paint. voila!

 

[mustang2500]

go with pepakura way more detail

Too much work.

http://405th.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15015&hl
try that. 15$ for the gun, plus maybe 10 for the paint. voila!

Too little work. I want it to look real at least.

 

[rowan]

Bevbor's sliced model would probably be perfect. here it is: http://405th.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15171&hl=

 

[LeeKegan]

You could go with panneling for the outside for strenght, and you can get a sheet panneling cheep.

 

[mustang2500]

I'm thinking of making a shell out of thin wood (Keeping it hollow, of course) and adding paper mache around the edges to smooth it out, add some drywall spackle, then put Bondo Fiberglass Resin ontop (As luck would have it, my Dad has some left over). Any other tips?

 

[BFDesigns]

I'm thinking of making a shell out of thin wood (Keeping it hollow, of course) and adding paper mache around the edges to smooth it out, add some drywall spackle, then put Bondo Fiberglass Resin ontop (As luck would have it, my Dad has some left over). Any other tips?

Spackle has a tendency to crack when it gets hit. Not suitable for high impact environments like laser tag. Trust me. you'll wanna put the effort into doing the pep thing with this because it will look real and better in the long run. Also, to stiffen it when you're done you can spray the insides with Great Stuff after the 2 halves have been fiberglassed and then carve out cavities for the electronics to sit in. Better looking and more durable in the long run because the pockets in the foam will act as bulkheads to isolate the parts from moving. You'll probably need to do this anyway if you don't want to bolt the parts in.

The other thing to do if you want to put a little extra money into it is to use sorta clear 40 to make an RTV mold of the Pep weapon and then slush cast urethane halves from it. It'll last forever if you do it this way.