Alpha Meson Blaster Revisited!

[scifileslie]

3rd Time's a Charm?  I think I am finally done futzing with this.  The overcoat is not quite dry yet, but I was so excited about it I wanted to post it now!

Comments

[goaliepam]

AWESOME! Your model making skills are amazing!

[scifileslie]

Thanks...it is really amazing what some bondo, paint, and sandpaper can do to a Nerf gun! Oh and did I mention a hacksaw? :)

[britgeekgrrl]

Looks great!

I'm working on the same thing right now but mine looks like well, like a total amateur slapped clay on in the dark, which is not far from the truth. Will post pix when the lipstick is on the pig paintjob by my talented ex is done.

What did you use for covering up the Nerf logo on the sides?

[scifileslie]

I'll bet it looks fine. We are always our own worse critic. I had to redo two times before I got to this. Fortunately I was able to jut keep slapping paint over what I had.

I used bondo. I had a very in-depth discussion with an associate at the hardware store and he suggested several products. Bondo seemed to fit the bill the best. But gosh that stuff sets FAST! And I had to figure out how to mix just a bit of it and I still wasted a bunch. I had to do two layers sanding in between and after.

I think the fact that it was painted silver last year was good. Since I used plastic bonding paint when I sanded the off white to scuff it up a bit, the silver came through giving the impression of metal.

Hope it turns out the way you want. Be sure to post the gun and the cosplay for us!

[britgeekgrrl]

If you can get your hands on it, check out Magic Sculpt from TAP Plastics - tapplastics.com

It's a two-part epoxy clay that's a LOT easier to mix than Bondo (1:1 ratio) and, in my limited experience, easier to sand. And it doesn't set nearly so fast, which means you get more working time, too. (but it takes longer to cure, too). And it's water-smoothable, which Bondo isn't.

Granted, I'd do things a *bit* differently if I did it again (and I *am* thinking about it, although I don't think my ex-b/f will donate me his painting-time twice!) including some hard-won tips about stopping Magic Sculpt from sticking to, um, everything (beeswax!) but the stuff was SO much easier to use than Bondo.

[scifileslie]

That magic sculpt sounds like it would have been perfect. I'll have to make a a note of it for future reference.

[sparklingsatine]

This is all kinds of fab.

[scifileslie]

Thanks. I learned a lot from it. Not sure when I will use what I learned, but you never know!

[istand]

Stupid question but ... how did you break off that bottom piece? I have no access to tools (live in an apartment in the city and can't image ever needing a saw!), so I've been trying to figure out how to modify this bad boy.

[scifileslie]

I used a small hack saw. My husband had one in the took chest. I don't think they are terribly expensive. I have seen cheap ones at $1 stores. If you use a cheap one (or not a cheap one), be careful. You want all your fingers intact!

[istand]

I did this yesterday - took forever, but I have all nine fingers! Oh wait...

[scifileslie]

I was wondering how you made out...still have all your fingers, or all your sanity?? :)

[istand]

So I'm slowly but surely finishing this bad boy and I had one more question! How'd you give it that weathered look (around the grip, where the silver peeks through)?

[scifileslie]

As you can see through the evolution pics that the middle incarnation was silver (I used a plastic friendly silver paint by Krylon) Then I did the last color of off white. These were done months apart. I think I may have used it at a con in its silver state. Once several layers of the off white paint was on and cured, I scuffed it up with a fine grit sandpaper to bring out the silver underneath giving it a metallic look