Another Portal Gun

[Mernmonster]

So I know that since Harrison Krix has made that beautiful replica of the "Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device", it seems everyone has wanted on the bandwagon, including me.

This was one of my school projects (I study special effects) over a year ago. I'm a huge Portal fan and had to make one myself and it's been one of my favorite projects.

I figured I'd pull out this project to show you guys since I'm in the process of revamping the gun.

 

[Mernmonster]

I followed the tutorial loosely on Volpin Props and started making the body of the gun out of PVC pipes.

Then blended them in together with Apoxie Sculpt.

 

[Mernmonster]

I had a lot of reference pictures for this project, but I started into it loosely. I didn't transfer measurements, or accuracies, this gun is more generic than that. I wanted to take my spin on it as well with my own modifications.

The barrel of the gun was carved on the wood lathe, after I glued together a stack of mdf circles.

The "butt" of the gun was two PVC Couplings with the small ridge on the inside dremeled out. I took an extra scrap of PVC to keep the couplings together.

Then I started working on the white "shells" of the portal gun. I stacked together several pieces of insulation foam to the thickness I needed, lopped off the majority with the band saw, then started carving it with a file card.

I sanded it smooth then sealed it with wood glue (Insulation foam melts in contact with almost everything. Especially everything in aerosol cans.) Then I added Bondo and Claw Glaze. Commence tons of sanding!! I added a flat spot along the bottom because I didn't want the gun to rock or roll around when I set it down.

I did the same with the second, back shell. It's starting to look like a Portal Gun!

I added a cheap cabinet handle at the back.

I cut out some acrylic for the vent in the end of the barrel. In the game, it's kinda boring, so I made a different one that's more "Aperture" based.

 

[Mernmonster]

I finished up the back shell until smooth, and added in all the "tabs" for the wires and arms on the front of the gun.

I cut out the arms out of acrylic, then assemble and paint them.

Then I started painting all the pieces...

I started on the lighting while I wait for pieces to dry. Inside, I put in a three-way switch and three blue led's and three orange led's inside two frosted acrylic rod that I installed in the center and at the back, in the shell.

All put together!!

 

[Mernmonster]

So... My gun was on display in a showcase at our school for a number of months and it was underneath the display lights, which had somehow made the insulation foam start to bubble underneath the heat of them. >.< I took it out this month and have been in the process of fixing the shells and updating the gun. It's a WIP, but I'll be posting when I get it done.

First, I carefully ripped off the shells and made trash molds of them with latex, burlap, and plaster bandages.

Then I fiberglassed them. I plan on using bondo and claw glaze to fix up the shells until they are as smooth as glass, then spend the money for a good silicone mold of the shells to make copies.

 

[Archive&Future]

It's looking good. The Portal Gun is so over-done, but you just can't hate any of the builds out there! I'm in the process of making my own at the moment, it's such a challenge. How long did you spend on yours?

 

[Mernmonster]

Over the course of 8 weeks. I've been wanting to improve on it though. More for my own personal satisfaction than anything else.

 

[captain avenger]

Would you by any chance have gone to the pittsburgh institute of art? because if you did, I saw that exact first portal gun, bubbles and all and was thoroughly impressed.