Borderlands 2 Maliwan Hellfire build

drjag

drjag

Well-Known Member
EDIT: 10th Feb, 2014
I decided to upload the like to my album for any of those who want to view the images on a list. Sometimes, I also upload images but not post all of them on here so sometimes you'll see images that are not on this page.
Hellfire Build Photos by drjaguar | Photobucket

Greetings, good people of the RPF! I am yet again making a prop from Borderlands, this time, I'm making the Maliwan Hellfire! This gun, or at least the shape of it is one of the most recognisable weapons in the game, mainly because the base model is used, but the skin is changed, like for the good/bad touch you can get from Mad Moxxi, this is a good advantage because it means it can be painted differently.

I have been skulking around for other people making the Hellfire, The 2 that stood out was Jonny's Hellfire build: http://www.therpf.com/f9/borderlands-2-maliwan-hellfire-legendary-progress-176481/ and BRDencklau's Grace: http://www.therpf.com/f9/maliwan-smg-build-wip-196848/

BRDenklau's approach was the main inspiration, using dry floral foam to block out the shape and body filler for refined detail. This is how I will be approaching this but using layered extruded polystyrene. This stuff costs more but it's worth it.

So on to the build! Like I said, 3 layers of 1 inch thick extruded polystyrene were glued together using gorilla glue because not many other glues work. Next, I drew out a template from a blew up image of the hellfire. (the length of the gun is 55cm from tip to back for those who want scale.) Most of it is free hand and I changed the handle so your thumb can comfortably grip the handle.



Next was to cut out the outline, I did build a jig for a hot foam wire cutter but it simply didn't work, so I used snap off blades to cut it out. (snap off blades are also used for shaping the gun.)



Once the outline was cut out, I had to line what to carve out, if your going to attempt this, double check every line! Once you take away, its hard to add back.



More will follow soon, mainly carving, sanding and shaping. Stay tuned. :cool
 
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Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

So much carving and sanding.... Your project looks like it's of to a great start. The Blue foam seems to leave a good surface after sanding. (though I noticed it still wants to "check" on your interior seam.)

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

BRDencklau said:
So much carving and sanding.... Your project looks like it's of to a great start. The Blue foam seems to leave a good surface after sanding. (though I noticed it still wants to "check" on your interior seam.)

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Tell me about it, after sanding, there is so much dust everywhere. BTW congrats on the krieg axe casting BRDencklau.

So on with progress!

I got a lot of carving done on both sides, there not finished, but it's good progress. here are images of both sides.





This image shows a view from the back of it. If you look closely, you'll see a gap on the right side of the foam, that's because gorilla glue expands. I didn't have any clamps so I used heavy objects like a tool kit, a spare xbox, my bottle of coke and other unrelated items but that wasn't enough pressure so if you are doing this, buy clamps!



This is how it looks at the moment, the shape is roughed out and ready for refining. To shape the gun easier, I cut of the front grip which will be shaped seperately and glued on once the gun is shaped, the magazine is the same case for the time being. Unfortunately, I carved out the bit behind where the magazine would be so that needs filling.



My polyfilla arrived today, so I will be using that to kind of shape and fill smaller areas, it's also being used to "seal" it and harden it up for when the bondo (UPol in UK) arrives so the body filler will take to it better. That is the plan for the next upload. See you then

P.S. That is a nerf vulcan in the background. It was a "christmas" present I got. If anyone reads this and has ideas on what to do to it (such as mods, transplant, paint job etc.) just post a comment. It's just sitting in my room, in the way, doing nothing...
 
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Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

BRDencklau said:
Yet. It isn't doing anything yet...
Click to expand...

I knew that sentence was missing something, I may do a borderlands themed paintjob to the vulcan (maybe bandit or vladof)

Anyways, here is the layering of polyfilla, as mentioned before, this was to shape it a bit, to "seal" it and the smooth it out for body filler. This stuff cost me £4 for 363g and is used for filling cracks and holes in your house, it dries hard and sands very nicely.





The black paint on the next images were used to see the imperfections and to see what parts of foam was not covered. (you can tell because the foam takes longer to dry and looks fuzzy) The areas left unpainted and filled are for gluing on extra foam later.





When the body filler arrives, I can start doing some serious shaping to it and it wll harden it nicely aswell, so that will be the next stage.

P.S. I apologize for the bad images, my camera is on its last legs and needs replacing.
 
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Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

DtailedREPLICAS said:
Looking good. Cant wait to see it finished!
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I appreciate it. Body filler is starting to take shape, pictures will follow in a couple days.

P.S. Your pestilent defiler build was awesome! Did you know it was shown on therpf facebook page? I hope one of my projects gets featured on their page.
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

Yeah, another member told me. I was pretty pleased, I can tell you!

Thanks alot for your comment. And keep at it with builds like this and Im sure you will!
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

Ha! My second favorite weapon from Borderlands 1!

Great work! :)

Rob

Sent from [location encrypted]...somewhere on the Tharkside of Barsoom ;)
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

Looking forwards to see the progress on this! Looks great so far!
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

Update:

So my body filler arrived and other materials for another project, (I won't say what it is... yet ;)) so I cracked on with reshaping the right side and building thickness. The area is mostly reshaped and the gun had mostly been "glazed" to harden it for when I get into shaping but I ran out of filler. I have ordered 2 more tins and a roll of sandpaper and when that arrives, all I need is a good sunny day.



I also reshaped the grip to be more flush, I know it's not game accurate, but not everything in video games can be replicated while keeping it practical (basically the thumb hole in the game is like 1/2 inch in diameter.) A LOT more will be done once I get a good day. Until then.

P.S. I apologize for the less than adequate images, but I promise the finished product will be much better. I can probably borrow a DSLR and use a studio at my college
 
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Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

So here is the update. I got the opportunity to get a lot done on thursday, due to good weather, the filler arriving, and the day off. The area I mainly focused on was the stock, specifically the hard edge which curves with the gun. This was very wonky so I wanted to get it flush on both sides.



The image below really shows the hard curve which is reflecting the sunlight. I was using foam stripping with adhesive backing to have a physical barrier to stop filler going past the line, this results in crisp edges.



The last image shows how crisp the edge is below the foam stripping. The good thing is body filler (at least upol P38 brand) doesn't react with foam, I can't guarantee it will work for other brands but it's definitly worth a test if you wanna try it.



More will come when another good day comes, unfortunately, the trigger broke of, so that needs sorting out, the next plan is to cover every inch of the gun with filler because there are still gaps I have missed which are still weak and to sort out the mag (it won't spin unfortunately :( )

Until then...
 
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Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

I have had the same issues all around: edges & gaps. Bondo doesn't react poorly either, as a side note.

I an working on a solution to the hex pattern that might be beneficial. I will be in touch as I progress.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

BRDencklau said:
I have had the same issues all around: edges & gaps. Bondo doesn't react poorly either, as a side note.

I an working on a solution to the hex pattern that might be beneficial. I will be in touch as I progress.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Cool man, I appreciate the offer, gives me more options on painting it. You are a brave man to attempt the hex pattern... or foolish... or both. ;)
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

So I got some more work done, mainly covering the rest of the gun. I wanted to do that before I put primer over it because I don't want to hide the weak spots.



With the image below, you can still tell the mag has been left undone, that headache is for another day. It may not appear to be, but it is very smooth.



So unfortunately, that probably gonna be it for a while, I need to find a new place to work and it's just too cold for the filler to be optimal. The next thing I will likely be doing is to coat it with smoothcast 300 (which I should of done in the first place) so when I put filler on it, I don't sand into the exposed foam. I do have other things planned, like the revival of my psycho mask, a possible remake of my zer0 visor and I have plans to make the gauntlet/rerebrace from that telltale episodic series of borderlands which is coming out later this year ( it will also be made from metal!)

Until then...
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

So... unexpected update, I wasn't planning on doing anything more to it for a while but I just ended up doing more stuff to it.

So to begin, I shaped and glued a round curved piece of foam for the mag. (Nicely covers up that ugly mess.)



I thought I was going to stop there, apparently not. I knew I had to do what I did to it eventually, and now was that time. I cut out the groove along the top of the gun. This was a pain because I had to cut slits every inch across and along the curve and pull them off. Sanding fixed that mess up. I also shaved off some extra foam around the mag area for better shaping.





After that endeavour. I thought that was it, however I discovered I need an opening at the front, :cry so that was done aswell. Not easy.



It may not be pretty at the moment, the problem at the moment is it's not strong enough to be sanded without taking of too much foam, I have ordered urethane resin which will be used to coat the entire gun so it will not be brittle, once coated, Body filler will be much easier to apply, I won't have to rely on the strength of the filler, and if I sand of too much filler, it will only go to the plastic instead of shaving off foam.

I guess the next update will be the application of the urethane resin.

Until then...
 
Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

You mentioned an application of smoothcast 300 earlier in the thread. How do you plan on approaching this?

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
 
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