Aliens M41A Pulse Rifles - Nerf Replica Builds

[yaris]

Always wanted a Aliens Pulse Rifle prop and you can get 3D printed ones, Airsoft ones and even full metal versions, but in my country it's not easy to get any of those landed here, customs seize them or there is a complicated process of forms, permits and costs.

So for $198 these are the next best option. They not perfect replicas out of the box, but considering they're Nerf toys, they're a very good base to work from.

I've struggled to get one, mostly out of stock, think they were all pre-orders and once filled, no floor stock. Finally managed to get 2 of them (cancelled orders) so will test the techniques on the first and then may do the second. Going for used and weathered, will make a stand for display. Not gutting them, what to keep all the Nerf firing abilities.

Rather than fill up the general purchase and mod thread, I thought I'd document my build separately.

 

[yaris]

All the logos and warning text has to go, I wiped the black prints off with lacquer thinners and the heavy logos, Dremel and will sand.

Colours - they are black and brown in the films with lightening giving a green tone to them, but I prefer the army olive green and black, so will go with that.

Paint - I'll use Acrylic Lacquer. The thinner in the paint melts the plastic slightly creating strong adhesion, no need for primer.

 

[yaris]

Filled all the screw holes. This is a great filler, 2 part, sets in about 5 minutes and is super hard.

I thought about rebuilding the stock and make it a pull out version, not too hard to do, but then you have to remove the battery case making it non functional....so not for this one, might do on the second one.

 

[division 6]

You can use water (or Vick's vapor rub) to help smooth it out before it cures.

 

[yaris]

You can use water (or Vick's vapor rub) to help smooth it out before it cures.

That's a good tip, but I don't bother as it has to be sanded....so proud and messy is all good.

 

[JediG60racer]

Interested in seeing how yours turn out.
Am confused as to how so many people have these already. I preordered mine the day they were released on Pulse, and my order still has not shipped yet. Expected ship date Nov 3, according to the website currently.

 

[yaris]

Interested in seeing how yours turn out.
Am confused as to how so many people have these already. I preordered mine the day they were released on Pulse, and my order still has not shipped yet. Expected ship date Nov 3, according to the website currently.

Don't where you are on the planet, but here in Australia they (for me) where really hard to get. There's still a few around, but they seem to be abandoned pre-orders

 

[JediG60racer]

Don't where you are on the planet, but here in Australia they (for me) where really hard to get. There's still a few around, but they seem to be abandoned pre-orders

United States. I did the pre-order the day they went on sale and I'm seeing people already showing off modified ones, but our shipping date hasn't even happened yet here.

 

[yaris]

Got all the screw holes sealed and sanded, grabbed some color from my stock to see what the green and black looks like. I'm was convinced the green was the go, but I might have to paint the second one the brown.

Put some batteries in and OMG it sounds AWFUL, the firing is not too bad, but the motor running sounds like tired old bagpipes....

 

[joberg]

I'm sure that some members will change that motor at a certain point. Seems to me that the sound is a "Touch and Go" type of problem.

 

[yaris]

I'm sure that some members will change that motor at a certain point. Seems to me that the sound is a "Touch and Go" type of problem.

Ooopps...too late I seal the screws off....

I thought about pulling the board and getting the sound of the film pulse rifles installed...maybe on the next one.

 

[MAKE BELIEVE]

Nice! I had the same idea you had when I first saw these.
Curious to see how it turns out.
Good work so far

 

[jt001]

I was bummed because for some reason I missed the pre-order about a year ago. About a month ago I noticed that many people on YouTube started posting reviews, and GameStop had them in their website, and many other websites as well, so placed the order through GS. Money was drafted on 10/2/22. To my surprise, I received a FedEx box about 2 hours ago. I had no idea what it was, as I never received an email from GS. Lo and behold, it was the pulse rifle. None of my friends who pre-ordered through Hasbro have received them. That was the same reason I canceled my Mandalorian helmet order with Hasbro. Everybody else had received theirs, even Hollywood Studios, about 10 minutes from home had been selling them like 2 months earlier. Hasbro really needs to get their crap together.

 

[yaris]

I really have to stop buying these.....but I keep finding them...they're mostly out of stock, then I get a notification a store has one left....

 

[dbrussee]

Yes, disappointed in HasLab -- why reach out to fans a year in advance (who are the most loyal to the franchise), then deliver product to them last? We provided value to HasLab (confirmation of production size), but what value did they provide to fans? There were not even any production updates or opportunity to provide feedback on design choices. Nor any exclusives to those purchasing direct from HasLab. So many missed opportunities in their business model...

 

[13doctorwho]

dbrussee Glad I'm not the only one irritated. I purchased directly from HasLab and it seems we're getting ours dead last. People who ordered through Gamestop got them first? That sucks! Why order direct if everyone else gets it first?

 

[yaris]

I'll either run out of money....or they'll run out of stock.....

 

[Krats]

I'll either run out of money....or they'll run out of stock.....

At this rate you'll be equipping a whole squad! If only they did a Nerf smart gun...

 

[yaris]

Not much of an update....Out of the 4 rifles, I'm going to paint 2 and make some display stands for them. Don't know about the other two........might gut one and get the movie firing sound added.

Holes filled and sanded...next up paint time...!!

 

[yaris]

It's slow going...lots of stupid life stuff getting in the way...

The orange plastic is super waxy and the paint fell off where I didn't sand hard enough, but it should stick now.