Wow. Seems I got off to a real slow start this year!
I was able to talk a couple of friends into going to their first Comic-Con. The hubby did a fantastic 10th doctor and the wife kinda stayed on the sideline. In order to get her more involved, I tried to get her into doing a River Song to go with the Doctor. Apparently, I am considered something of a workaholic, and she didn't want me to overextend myself. I thought they knew me better than that - making stuff for people is what drives me! Knowing one of the most expensive bits of the costume would be River Song's squareness blaster AKA Captain Jack's sonic blaster, I decided to make one for her to drive the enthusiasm for next Comic-Con.
After lots of research and estimating, I came up with these proportions and my best guess at the actual size. As usual, I built the gun in my 3D modeling program. It helps to determine how the parts fit together.
I’ve been dying to try adding 3D printing to a build. The grip and body seemed to be a good choice. I contacted a nearby printer on 3DHubs. About a week later, I had parts in hand!
The barrel is PVC pipe. (ink pen cap is there to hold it at a better angle for the pic)
The fins, trigger, and sight are layered cardboard.
A couple more greeblies, sanding, and a couple coats of primer.
The mold and a casting. Apparently, I did this mold correctly.
The gun came out with very little seam line and just a couple spots with trapped bubbles. (Moldmax 30 and Smoothcast 322)
Painted! The metal took several passes with black, grey, and silver and the grip was done with brushed on washes of tan, white, and copper. The barrel inset was done with the brightest neon blue I could find.
If it fails to have the desired effect, at least she’ll have a piece to add to their Doctor Who collection.
I was able to talk a couple of friends into going to their first Comic-Con. The hubby did a fantastic 10th doctor and the wife kinda stayed on the sideline. In order to get her more involved, I tried to get her into doing a River Song to go with the Doctor. Apparently, I am considered something of a workaholic, and she didn't want me to overextend myself. I thought they knew me better than that - making stuff for people is what drives me! Knowing one of the most expensive bits of the costume would be River Song's squareness blaster AKA Captain Jack's sonic blaster, I decided to make one for her to drive the enthusiasm for next Comic-Con.
After lots of research and estimating, I came up with these proportions and my best guess at the actual size. As usual, I built the gun in my 3D modeling program. It helps to determine how the parts fit together.
I’ve been dying to try adding 3D printing to a build. The grip and body seemed to be a good choice. I contacted a nearby printer on 3DHubs. About a week later, I had parts in hand!
The barrel is PVC pipe. (ink pen cap is there to hold it at a better angle for the pic)
The fins, trigger, and sight are layered cardboard.
A couple more greeblies, sanding, and a couple coats of primer.
The mold and a casting. Apparently, I did this mold correctly.
The gun came out with very little seam line and just a couple spots with trapped bubbles. (Moldmax 30 and Smoothcast 322)
Painted! The metal took several passes with black, grey, and silver and the grip was done with brushed on washes of tan, white, and copper. The barrel inset was done with the brightest neon blue I could find.
If it fails to have the desired effect, at least she’ll have a piece to add to their Doctor Who collection.
