Borderlands 2 Maliwan Hellfire build

[drjag]

Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

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

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So the idea is just to give a couple thin coats just to increase durability. I thought body filler is strong enough but I have bumped the gun against things and noticed bumps because the body filler is pushing through the foam, so the plastic will prevent that when I put filler over the plastic. This xrobots video shows how to plastic coat using smoothcast 65d, but other urethane resins will work.
XRobots - How To plastic coat foam & expanded polystyrene prop and costume cosplay pieces - YouTube

 

[BRDencklau]

Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

I see. He used the rotocast formula because it is strong while also being thin, right? Hmm.... Thanks for the tip!

I have been working on some ideas for the pattern. I haven't gotten too far outside the design phase due to prior obligations. I will share that stuff when it becomes reality.

Keep kicking ass.

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[drjag]

Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

I see. He used the rotocast formula because it is strong while also being thin, right? Hmm.... Thanks for the tip!

I have been working on some ideas for the pattern. I haven't gotten too far outside the design phase due to prior obligations. I will share that stuff when it becomes reality.

Keep kicking ass.

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If it's the hex pattern you are on about, Volpin did a vinyl stencil wrapped around his needler which was sprayed over. Hopefully, that will give you ideas, and yes, I will keep kicking butts. :cool

 

[BRDencklau]

Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

Of course I have seen and studied the Volpin Needler. I'm going full texture. I have a good idea. You will see.

 

[drjag]

Re: Maliwan Hellfire build

So my resin arrived a couple of days ago, I have been testing it to see if it sticks to filler and insulation foam (insulation foam needs a layer of PVA glue first) so I coated a couple thin layers. The resin I used was polytek easyflo 60.



This image kind of shows the resin, future pics will show it better because I have put more on since then.



So as I hoped, the resin did work, it has given the prop structual strength which won't crack or dent and given a better surface to work on. Here is a free tip I got from drack, use a silicone brush and silicone cooking muffin mould for resin, nothing sticks to silicone, so you can mix your resin in the silicone muffin mould which acts like a cup, mix the resin with the brush, brush on your resin, let it cure, grab the hardened resin around the brush and pull it around to loosen it up and reuse the brush! I have used mine at least 50 times for polyester and polyurethane and will save a lot of money buying chip brushes.

Hopefully this image gives the idea. this resin piece cured around it and I loosened it off.



I guess the next update will be finishing up body filler, the only major area I need to work on is the bottom curve to make it flush

Until then...

 

[drjag]

Update time!

I have done a lot since my last post, I have constantly been re-carving and filling and now I am close to finishing the whole shape.



I put a coat of black acrylic paint to see imperfections, their are few imperfections on the gun. The mag needs a few passes of filler but the rest is done. I need to spot fill a few areas, I have ordered some green modelling putty which will fix that. The image also shows I have filled the cavity behind the mag with polyurethane resin.

I have also cut out a deeper slot down the length of the gun, this is where the "barrel" and sight will go. It needs some filler inside, that will be done later.



The curve near the back of the gun is done. I totally forgot I had a mouse sander, so I basically re-beveled the area and now it's much more flat.



I have filled the seam around the mag and shaped that. As you can see, it is very smooth, the paint strokes however kinda throw it off, I assure you though it is very smooth.



So the next update will probably be spot filling, finishing the cavity on both sides and priming it ready for paint.

Until then...

 

[BRDencklau]

Looking pretty good. My hex idea is coming along quite nicely. Going to pour a mold tonight.

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[drjag]

Looking pretty good. My hex idea is coming along quite nicely. Going to pour a mold tonight.

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Sweet, I have been eagerly waiting to see how you're gonna do it.

 

[drjag]

Update roling in:

I ordered a product called green putty which arrived on Saturday, it's basically bondo spot putty, just a different brand.



I used this stuff to fill spots and nicks that were created by the body filler, but are too small for body filler to fix because the filler is too thick and just ends up creating more pits and nicks. My gun had a fair amount of those, not anymore!



The next thing I did was wet sand, and I gotta say what a blessing wet sanding is! It can make the roughest of surfaces feel like silk. I have been stroking my face along it, it may sound weird but you know what I mean if you have ever wet sanded before.



Should be getting primer soon, once that arrives, it will be spraying, checking imperfections, spot filling, sanding and repeat process until "perfect," final wet sand and primer after that. As soon as the gun is to my standard, It will be painted whenever I get my paints. When I'm not painting by that stage, I will be making the handle, the top rail and the sight.

Until then...

 

[drjag]

Update:

So the gun is pretty close to completion, everything is smooth and symmetrical... except the stock. I can never seem to get it flat. anaways, while I'm STILL working on the stock, I have got an update on an area I needed to work on.

This is the area that needed working on. I had to set up a barrier around it which was harder than I anticipated because the curve is at an angle. This was filled with 1/2 body filler, 1/2 polyester resin.



I then started to blend the area with the curve using body filler.



That area still needs filling up higher to match the other side, once that is done, it's just the stock left to deal with on the gun. I have been working on the top rail using more blue foam, but I think I'll use styrene. I still need to do the sights and the handle thing at the front. The next update will likely be filling that area and sorting out the stock.

Until then...

 

[drjag]

So I have ran into a certain problem with the stock, as you know, the gun base is extruded polystyrene which is soft, the rest of the gun is hard because it is thick with filler but I can't put on much filler on the stock because it's already at the correct size, so adding more will make the gun too thick but the filler is so thin on the stock you can push your thumb into it.

So I was thinking, why don't I layer the stock with 1mm styrene? It's thin but tough, I can heat it up and shape curves, it would eliminate soft spots and I can score in high detail but the problem I'm thinking of is the adhesion, I know superglue works for styrene, but I need even coverage across the stock when glueing and it needs to hold to both the gun and the styrene, and needs to be strong.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[BRDencklau]

Did you coat it with 65d?

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[drjag]

Did you coat it with 65d?

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I have, it worked on the front half of the gun because I could build up a few layers, I could only do 1 layer on the stock to keep with proportions and polyurethane does flex when it's thin, so you can still push your thumb into it quite easily which is irritating.

 

[BRDencklau]

Curses!


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[drjag]

Update:

So I have ordered 10 A4 sheets of 1mm styrene so that's on it's way, the primer has arrived and I bought a pack of milliput. I am using the milliput to sculpt certain areas of the gun, mainly the grip. This is only my second time using milliput but it is a very user friendly product.



You can see the curve behind the grip looks so much better and I have started to block out the front grip, this will go out to a certain point then bought back in for a strong curve.

Next update will be the majority of the grip sculpted and glueing on the styrene sheets. Fingers crossed it come out how I want it to.

Until then...

 

[drjag]

Update:

Since the last update I did my first pass of milliput, I have now basically finished the sculpt on the grip, it does need sanding down a bit, but overall the sculpting is done.





As you can see, I have thickened up the grip and made a curve, I have also made the thumbhole much more accurate to the game, but not so small you can't stick your thumb in. My styrene arrived a couple hours ago and my first piece is glued on the gun and is curing this very moment. Once the first piece is glued, I start glueing on pieces from that and build up a wall around the stock. I have also been shaping the handle I cut off at the start of this build, that will be glued on and I will use milliput around it to blend it to the grip.

Until then...

EDIT:

I found a 4ft X 4ft 4mm thick sign of sintra just on a corner of a path outside my house, so I took it, cleaned it down and wet sanded it to get rid of dirt and mud. I have cut out a long strip and I'm gonna make a gun stand for my prop, cause your prop isn't complete if it isn't on display. I'm thinking the vault symbol cut out of styrene glued on and make a template that says "Maliwan: Where form meets function." would look pretty neat.

Any ideas/suggestions are welcome to what kind of display stand I should do.

 

[Beer_Money_Props]

Looking good!

 

[drjag]

Update: (fair amount of pics in this one)

I got quite a lot done recently so updates should be coming in fast. Here is the sintra base I'm on about, the gun will rest on top of it with supports around it to keep it in shape. The side you see is actually going to be facing the floor, but I want both sides to be flat and smooth even if you cant see both sides.



The handle has had some shaping. I'm drawing guide lines to sand down to because it is way too thick. This will be layered with PVA glue, then polyurethane. The PVA is so the polyurethane will have something to grab onto.



I have also finished sculpting this area to match the other side. I actually finished that a couple of days ago, but forgot to post it. Just needs sanding down.



Here is the styrene I am using. Got 10 sheets of 1mm A4 (210 X 297mm) for £10, I have only used 2 sheets so far, I will end up using more but I think I'm gonna have a nice leftover stack.



So here is what I'm doing with the styrene, as mentioned before, I am glueing the pieces to the gun base using Evo-Stik Serious glue; pretty good stuff, then filling the gaps with milliput. I have done half of it so far.





Still got the other half to do, but that will be done over the next few days. Due to all of this material, it's made the gun quite back heavy, I'm hoping when I attach the handle and rail it will counter balance it. That's all I've got for this update, next will be finishing the stock.

Until then...

 

[Beer_Money_Props]

Due to all of this material, it's made the gun quite back heavy, I'm hoping when I attach the handle and rail it will counter balance it.

You could always recess some lead fishing weights to the unseen edges of the handle or rail mounting points for balance before you glue it all down.

Are you planning on casting this?

 

[drjag]

You could always recess some lead fishing weights to the unseen edges of the handle or rail mounting points for balance before you glue it all down.

Are you planning on casting this?

that's a pretty sweet idea for the weights, thanks Bayouwolf! I have sort of considered molding/casting this, I just don't really have the money to do so. If enough people are interested in a cast, I may scrounge enough money for silicone.