Ender's Game - Flash Gun (wip)

My wife, Erica, is a big fan of Ender's Game. So when the movie came out last year, she decided to make a Flash Suit. You can check out her some of her build at 80% Complete: Ender's Game Flash Suit on Pinterest



As part of the build, she asked me to build the Flash Gun. Since I have a 3D printer, I thought that would be the best way for me to proceed. I've built a few other props on it, including my Loki Scepter from Avengers (Chitauri Scepter (Loki's Short Staff) - Mk 2 by GlitchTech - Thingiverse).

Grabbing the reference images from http://www.therpf.com/f9/enders-game-flash-gun-199077/ I started 3D modeling the gun. I currently use SketchUp for my modeling (though I have started playing with Blender).



With the design done, I decided to step it up from a plastic brick and design in electronics to give it some life. In the movie, when the trigger is pressed, the blue circle (in my model) lights up with a spinning light and then the beam fires from the nozzle in the copper/gold section. For each of the spinning lights, I decided to use a NeoPixel Ring from adafruit. A simple LED will suffice for the beam illusion. Initially, I toyed with the idea of using a laser pointer but decided against it.

I'm still toying with the idea of adding a sound board. But I don't have to make that decision before the first version is done. The design of the gun is entirely bolt together for the electronic spaces. That way I can pull the guts and use them in something else if the gun breaks or we have no use of the internal electronics any further. As of now, I don't have the sound assets nor do I currently know how to play audio from an Arduino. Oh well, something to learn in the future.

The lights will be controlled via an Arduino Pro Mini and powered with a LiPo jumped up to 5v. Thankfully, SparkFun has a board called Power Cell which provides the booster and a charging circuit in the same board.

I purchased the electronics that I didn't have sitting around and started modifying the gun design to accommodate. I figure it would be best to work on the be the grip, so I can make sure the battery, charging board, and power switch all fit. I designed a battery sled to hold the power systems with a path for the power connector to reach into the body of the gun for the control and light systems.



With the design looking good, I decided to print out the battery sled out on my Makerbot Replicator (1st gen). Since I print in ABS usually, I designed in some shrinkage tolerances.




The print turned out pretty good, though future versions will have more wiring space. No need for a re-print, things were just a little cramped.

Next I am printing the rest of the handle. I'll write up the next post when those components are completed.

Update: Model is now available http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:417286

Finished Piece:

I. Love. This.

Excellent work. Are you considering selling a run or even just your model?

Sent from my Nexus 4

I think I will do a run, depending on interest.

I will be releasing the model under a Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial license. I'll post it to Thingiverse and post a link in this thread once I finish the build and write up a simple tutorial.

very nice. I thought the movie was awesome. and I like the gun. I wold love to have one for my collection. but not for the price that I have seen on the pre order's.


can't wait to see more of your gun build...

Well I printed out the handle last night, but I'm not happy with the size. So back to the modeling system to enlarge it without distorting everything.

That looks great.will there be side plates for the pistol grip?

Intersted

Side plates are planned. I'm waiting for some black Ninjaflex filament for my printer so the pistol grip will be... grippy?

Finished printing and minor cleanup on the handle (except for the ninjaflex grip plates, waiting on hardware before I can print those).




The battery charger and main power switch are accessible from inside the butt of the handle. The butt is held in place by magnets and pressure.

As to the rest of the gun, I finally have it designed and ready for electronics with the exception of the thumb trigger. I'm still trying to find a balance between the electronic button and the space available to work with for best fit.

Tonight or tomorrow, I will start printing the 'energy beam guide rail' pieces. That is unless I manage to figure out the trigger first.

Awesome!

Trigger design works. I fitted a tiny momentary button under the thumb trigger with space for wires to run to the microcontroller. Now I'm starting the print of the rest of the body of the gun.

Nice work so far cant wait to see it finished

Finished the body, trigger, and beam nozzle pieces. Major sections are held together with 4-40 machine bolts and hex stand offs. There is some machine marks from the printer, but once it is all printed I will be carefully finishing all surfaces.



I'm now working on the central spinning light assembly.

Progressing down the rails now.

I received the parts and NinjaFlex filament so I took a break from the rails. This stuff is pretty awesome. Prints easily (with a few changes to the printer) and is rubber. The black grip is slightly squishy and feels good when held; unlike a solid plastic brick.

Not sure if it will help, but uploaded some pics we took at Comic Con last year of the pistol.

http://www.therpf.com/gallery/g965-ender-27s-game.html

That's looking awesome! keep up the progress report's please. I'm envious. I would like to add a flash gun to my collection...

This project has not been forgotten. Just some delays and setbacks (printer breaking and requiring new parts).

Additionally I had to go back and redesign a few pieces. I found that the handle connection to the body was weak and prone to snapping. I also discovered the connection between the two body halves was not as tightly fitting as I hoped. I've redesigned them and will be printing again soon.

For now, here is the front of the main body, partially there. This is missing the top rail, very bottom rail, and beam nozzle.

Printed pieces finished. With minimal cleanup, it is looking pretty good. Now for a repetitive cleanup cycle and painting.

Absolutely fantastic.:thumbsup Dang I wish I could do that stuff.