Just another ANH E-11 blaster build

[tennantlim]

When I got into prop building in 2016, one of my highly coveted blasters was the iconic BlasTech Industries E-11 blaster rifle. Although Doopydoo's was a popular kit that many friends recommended, I was determined to build one with high fidelity parts and with some level of the Sterling SMG's functionality. If I could, I would have acquired a deactivated SMG for the base gun, but that's simply not an option where I live. Hence the project was shelved for about a year until I came across a Facebook page titled Star Wars Stormtrooper E-11 Blaster by Robert A. Then things got serious.

Robert made plastic casts of the SMG's components that were ideal for a pvc pipe build. Since the casts are literally copies of the real deal with similar allowances and assembly methods, it was now absolutely possible to build a 'functioning' prop that I had desired for about 40 years since ANH.

For those reading this this far and have become intrigued by Robert's work, his FB page is still up, albeit inactive since the last post on 1 January 2019. His website is also currently down.

So enough with words! It's time to populate this thread with lots of photos presenting the evolution of this build over the past 3 years.

THE BASIC INGREDIENTS

Robert's plastic casts of the Sterling Mk IV L2A3 SMG

This perfectly demonstrates the fidelity of Robert's casts. Even the textures were beautifully captured.

38.1mm OD pvc tube with Wolfclub blueprint

Replica greeblies and the main springs from Fieldmarshal (this was years before he produced complete metal blaster kits)

Replica Hengstler counter from Dennis aka Blue Snaggletooth

Metal scope and counter rail from Tosche Traders

T-tracks from WannaWanga

In addition to the diagram below, I downloaded a user manual and bookmarked several YouTube videos demonstrating the assembly/disassembly and functionalities of the SMG.

 

[tennantlim]

Preparing the tube

A collar stay was used to double as a simple spring for the back cap catch.

SPRING ASSEMBLY

BOLT ASSEMBLY

Fast forward to the body mated with the bolt + spring assembly, magazine holder, back cap assembly, rear and front sights, and the barrel + muzzle assembly. At this point, they have been painted and weathered based on photo references of real SMGs.

 

[tennantlim]

FUNCTIONAL FOLDING STOCK

Demo video

TRIGGER MECHANISM
Drill a hole through the left face of the grip frame and just enough on the opposite wall to mark the trigger pivot point.

Drill a hole here for the spring to sit in.

Grind two slots leading to the trigger pivot point for the pin to slide down during installation.

Drill a recess in the back of the trigger and insert a toothpick to engage the spring. This is fixed with epoxy.

Putty added to the top of the trigger pin slot to lock it down.

Cover up the hole on the grip frame.

Here's a test video.

 

[tennantlim]

STERLING MARK IV L2A3 SUBMACHINE GUN
At this point, I actually contemplated NOT adding the greeblies for the E-11 conversion. I love the design of the SMG so much and I had considered ordering a second kit for the conversion and display them both together.

 

[tennantlim]

M38 SCOPE REPLICA
I was obsessed over the paint job on the aluminium replica that I was determined to get the weathering and patina just right. This was my first attempt based on references I found online.

A friend managed to acquire a genuine scope so I borrowed it to use as my paint guide. It made a world of difference! I dialled back on the brass saturation focused the weathering around the lenses in my second attempt.

Comparison against the real deal.

POWER CYLINDERS
I reluctantly painted this in black but just enough to let some of the textures and details show through.

HENGSTLER COUNTER
I loved the cadmium coating on the actual counters so I decided to deviate from canon and replicated it on the replica.

 

[tennantlim]

BLASTECH INDUSTRIES E-11 BLASTER RIFLE
This is the first iteration of my E-11.

 

[tennantlim]

A MONTH LATER...
I saw an update on Robert's FB page that he had replicated the magazine follower with separated bottom and sliding plates! So I went ahead and ordered them immediately to upgrade my magazine assembly.

Here's a comparison of the bottom plates. The original was one piece and the revised version is in two pieces like the real deal.

The follower and rollers came in one solid piece.

The follower resides within the magazine like so...

Comparison against the real thing.

Obviously, it became a mission for me to modify this into a functional piece. The following sequence of photos shows how this transpired. Should be quite self-explanatory.

 

[tennantlim]

Next, I worked on the bottom sliding plate.

Video demonstration of all the functionalities

 

[Jedisushi]

This is truly amazing work. Love the photographic documentation documentation, too. Thanks for sharing!

 

[tennantlim]

In the following 2 years since the stage above, I managed to acquire genuine parts that I replaced the replicas and casts with.

HENGSTLER 400 COUNTER
This was immaculate and I struggled to paint it. Again, I left the cadmium coating as-is and set the counter to my birthdate to personalize it.

M38 Tank Scope

Magazine catch, ejector and ejector retaining screw

Magazine catch

Back cap

Bolt and cocking handle

Barrel retaining screws

Trigger guard

Grip

Trigger group retaining pin. And yes I know now it should in LOCK position!

 

[tennantlim]

After the upgrades, I moved back to my home country and 2 years later, I finally found an opportunity recently to properly photograph the prop in its current state.

And that concludes this incredible journey with my E-11 build...for now

 

[tennantlim]

This is truly amazing work. Love the photographic documentation documentation, too. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks man. This was truly a fun project for me and really helped me through some rough times.

 

[Metaphysics]

Wow, beautiful job.

 

[GreedoTwerp]

The texture on your fine blaster is amazing, pretty certain that would fool a lot of people it's a real prop. Impossible to upgrade, I doubt you'll ever part with it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[tennantlim]

Wow, beautiful job.

Thank you!

The texture on your fine blaster is amazing, pretty certain that would fool a lot of people it's a real prop. Impossible to upgrade, I doubt you'll ever part with it. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you. Indeed this is an important part of my collection and always will be.

 

[zjunlimited]

Great timing as I’m just starting to build out my Fieldmarshall E11 kit. I found your build log on WA and am amazed at your build. Excellent work and thanks for sharing.

Any tips you might have on how you painted / finished the various parts?

 

[enrico]

tennantlim
Amazing!
This is definitely an artwork.
I am speechless and have to say: a beauty!

All the best from Italy
enrico

 

[tennantlim]

Great timing as I’m just starting to build out my Fieldmarshall E11 kit. I found your build log on WA and am amazed at your build. Excellent work and thanks for sharing.

Any tips you might have on how you painted / finished the various parts?

Oh wow you get to play with a FM kit! I would absolutely try to blue that for the authentic patina if I ever get to work with that kit.

With mine, I misted some wrinkled paint (I used VHT Wrinkle paint) and sprayed semi gloss black to get the texture. None of the authentic Sterling SMG parts were painted.

I hope that helps!

ps. I saw your DL-44 on YouTube and it's gorgeous!

 

[tennantlim]

tennantlim
Amazing!
This is definitely an artwork.
I am speechless and have to say: a beauty!

All the best from Italy
enrico

Many thanks Enrico!

 

[Pedro]

Man, I've contemplated getting some of those plastic parts, now I'm totally sold! This really looks amazing, you came up with a really cool combination of parts, and gorgeous build. Nice!