Detailing props to make them look more impressive

[Wes R]

I'm working on a simple prop gun for a friend's anime costume and the gun in the anime her character is rather simple with only a few panel etchings and such. I was wondering if anyone had ideas for making props like this stand out a bit more with minor details, its a laser weapon. I was thinking of giving it a working slide but i can't find any ideas on how to make one so that if she pulls the trigger the slide moves. I need to go this week and get better wood to make it out of. the protoype (as of now) was made with some wood shelving salvaged from my grandmother's and even after 40 years it was still not dry in the center. I'll probably invest in some poplar. If anyone knows of making a slide that works when the trigger works please let me know. i saw a toy gun at the dollar store with one but its 15.00 and that seems a bit much.

 

[jackdoud]

$15 on a toy gun that already does what you want is worth more than the time and money you'll put into trying to figure out how to do it on your own.

 

[Mercury]

The easiest way is to make a slot through the center of the gun from top to bottom the length of the trigger travel. Then attach a rod between the trigger and slide with a spring running from the rod toward the front. When the trigger is pulled the slide will follow and the spring will pull both back. I made one similar back in my wood working days.:cool

 

[Wes R]

I remember my dad making something like that when i was a kid. He made an all wood .22 rifle for me with a working trigger and a bullet inside that would "load or unload" depending how you moved the feed lever. I wish i'd paid more attention. In addition I bow down to your BLaderunner gun, i'd love to find a kit for something like that. Actually I'd need two as my college buddy is a Bladerunner fan too.

 

[Deathstalker II]

There's a company that makes a surprisingly effective 9mm Beretta replica with a working slide (trigger pull makes it look like the spent round is ejecting). It's a toy, not airsoft - and it doesn't fire any projectiles. They are painted camo but can be altered easily (I did a set in black, attached real Beretta grips, and had them signed by John Woo and Chow Yun Fat). If you have a K-Mart around you, these are available there for $5.99. You could attach things to the slide and otherwise alter the profile of the weapon to make it look Sci-Fi if you wanted to.

 

[Wes R]

i'll have to check that out. We have 2 kmarts and i'm always near one of them. 5.99 is closer to a price i like lol. Sad when dollar stores want a ton for toy guns. Even if i get one i can always figure out how the slide works and replicate it later.