Fallout 3: Gauss Rifle (WIP)

[Josh Jay]

So, this is a build of the Gauss Rifle from FO:3 that is still very much in progress. I started it last fall but it got put on hold with holiday projects and job change and move from NC to MD. I hope to get back to this in August once everything has settled.

 

[Josh Jay]

The gun was built out of splines in Max 2011 using the in-game model from Fallout as a proportional guide. The rifle was built and the vector measurements were checked and double checked. The splines were then instanced from the model and laid out flat out into 18x32" work spaces. These are the shapes that are laser cut for lamination and assembly.

 

[Josh Jay]

All of the parts laser cut from styrene. I began by assembling the rifle magazine

 

[Josh Jay]

I added some detail before priming it. I found plenty of imperfections that I wanted to sand out and re-prime.

 

[Josh Jay]

The handle was made from laminated sheets of styrene. In retrospect this probably wasn't the best solution but was unaware of options like Chemi-Wood at the time.

 

[Josh Jay]

I had begun assembling the main body of the gun with some details and affixed the handle to undercarriage.

 

[Josh Jay]

The scope mount was also built from laminated sections. The sections were smoothed out with Squadron Putty and sanding.

 

[Scrap Droids]

The work you've put into it so far is awesome.
Next time would you shrink your photos a little?
They're a bit to large....

 

[Josh Jay]

More details and sanding, sanding, sanding....

 

[Josh Jay]

ah, sorry. Was linking from my hi-rez FB pics

 

[Josh Jay]

The scope was made from styrene and carved from green florists foam. The foam was easy to shave but very weak and doesn't surface well. I will not be using it again and recommend against it's use.

 

[Josh Jay]

The barrel mount was assembled next.

 

[Josh Jay]

The side blisters came next.

 

[Josh Jay]

The side stock is assembled from a series of numbered cross sections. I used green foam to form a base and smoothed it out with Bondo and Squadron. Once it was all smooth, I began cutting in the wood grain and splinters.

 

[Josh Jay]

I had two parts rapid prototyped to speed things up and keep the detail tight. The wider part formed the rounded piece of the insulator unit that is positioned along the barrel.

 

[Josh Jay]

The generator on the sides of the rifle was made from a single rapid prototyped part that was copied and cast in a radial design and recast as a single part.

 

[Josh Jay]

The scope, the scope box, and knobs were all made styrene and Squadron filler. The pieces were threaded together with styrene rods.

 

[Josh Jay]

The barrel head was made much the same way. Cross sections were threaded together until it took shape. I probably could have bought a decent lathe for all of the money I spent on laser cutting round shapes.

 

[Josh Jay]

The hand crank that charges the generator was modeled, molded, and cast.

 

[Josh Jay]

The dorsal cover that covers the barrel attachment point.