Borderlands: Maliwan SMG

[Polysteve]

Started working on my next prop, the Maliwan SMG from borderlands. I loooooove the maliwan line in borderlands and have always wanted one of their guns on my desk XD. I'm not entirely sure what I want to make the main body out of yet. I've seen a really good one made of wood in the past but I don't really have the tools for that, nor do I have the money/space to get them now :\. Until I figure that out I've started working on the smaller pieces that make up the gun such as the sights, the rail, the barrel, and of course the ammo disk thing of awesomeness.

I did a rendering a while back of the SMG which I'm using to block out a lot of the prop though I am doing a few updates/changes for the actual prop
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/5vExW

The first piece is going to be the disk as that's one of the most important parts of the gun IMO. I created the CAD for it in 123D and had to print it in 4 pieces since my print bed is too small. This disk is a bit flatter than the one I made previously because I'm following the concept art a bit closer and I don't want it too heavy on one side of the SMG


once it was printed I pieced it together using hot glue in the center and super glue on the ends. Then used a bit of bondo and filler primer on the gaps and sanded for hoooooours XD


The disk is nice and smooth and good to go. Next up I'll be making the ring of buttons and nobs that go under the disk and attach to the guns. Still working on the CAD for that so no pics yet. I'm also still deciding if I want to use LEDs on this project or if I wanna keep it simple.

 

[Reddhordum]

Following to see how this turns out. Looks like it's off to a good start.

 

[drjag]

It's really awesome to see a new Borderlands project on theRPF again, and a Maliwan SMG thread at that! I just so happen to be revisiting this project myself (a version 2 of sorts) after making my original Maliwan SMG years ago, this time with a different approach (basically doing all of the things I should of done on the first one xD); I await to see your progression!

 

[Polysteve]

Haha thanks all . Yeah I really love the maliwan line in borderlands. At some point I also wanna make the sniper riffle as well, I feel like there's some cool arduino stuff I can learn for it. Plus it would be a good excuse to make a zero cosplay finally XD

Slow progress thanks to fortnite early access XD. Did manage to print and finish the two barrels, the mounting ring under the disk, and the buttons that will be attached to the ring.


Next up I am learning pepakura so I'll print the actual body out and do a standard fiberglass/resin and bondo coating. Also going to work on the optics and rail to mount them on which should be pretty fun . More to come soon!

 

[Polysteve]

Small update but an important one. Plugged my old 3d model into Pepakura and had it printed out on 11x17 cardstock paper. Was only 4 bucks which is pretty freaking nice. Then proceeded to cut out all the pieces which took foreeeeeeeever. Still don't have the front hand grip but I can probably knock that out in a few hours. Will probably post the pep files somewhere for others to use as well as the stl files since I'm not planning on doing any kits for this project



Getting the body coated in fiberglass resin on the outside and am trying to push a few spots into place. Will then split it in half, give a layer of fiberglass cloth, seal it, and start coating it in bondo. I want the prop to feel like it's heavy like an actual gun so I'll probably be doing some liberal coats of bondo/resin XD. After that I'll be working on optics and the rail and deciding what sort of paint job I want to do (probably just go standard maliwan colors like my model).

There's a few black pieces on the body that look like they're made of a slick black plastic that I'm not super sure how I want to do yet, I also have no idea how I want to mount the disk piece given that I don't have any wood working tools or anything like that. Will figure it out later I guess

 

[Strikerkc]

Why wood working materials to mount the disk?

Perhaps just cut a place out of your paper stock, prior to coating with Bondo or resin, to allow for a mounting peg, or perhaps magnets?

 

[Polysteve]

I'm just worried about it being securely attached to the body is all. The gun is a very strange shape but yeah I'm sure it will be sturdy enough for some sort of simple mount when the fiberglass is finished. Magnets might be a good idea since I have plenty left over from the pokeball build XD

 

[knightedbylight]

Any update on this? Been trying to find this gun everywhere.