M-358 Talon (Mass Effect)

[eidylon]

My Third build was the M-358 Talon from Mass Effect. I built it primarily from drawings done up by Sorenzo Props, and using Troodon80's image for reference.


This was was only three layers of wood ... with a medium amount of small details added with other materials and bits.
I went with a central layer of 3/4" MDF and an additional layer on each side of 3/16" hardboard.
I built the trigger notch mounted into the main layer, just like with the N7 Eagle.


To make the separate body section joints, I used the method of cutting the piece apart into sections, and then beveling the edges before gluing them together on the underlying layer.


Quick shot of the Talon beside the Carnifex. The Talon is a BEAST!
I did scale Sorenzo's drawing up to 120% scale! As he drew them, there wasn't any chance of me being able to hold this thing!
Unless Cerberus recruits midgets, I'm pretty sure it needed to be scaled up anyway.


All the round bits on the side were cut from PVC pipes. What looks like the bolt action on top, was made from a PVC pipe with the L-shape cut out of it, and then a wooden dowel run through the pipe.
And the little protrusions towards the back of the main body were made from some scrap vinyl molding I had laying around the house.


The area where the light mounts in on the side, needed some beveling work... simple with the Dremel.


In the back section, I felt the inset area should have some sort of gearing or something, being as how the Mass Effect weapons all fold up and compress. To create the teeth for this gearing, I used the ends of a couple large zip ties.
I also used some (much smaller) zip ties to add the edge texture on the semi-circle things behind the barrels.


Apoxie was used in two spots on this build. One (shown in the last shot above) was a spot in the lower fore-grip where the Dremel sort of got away from me. I also used it to sculpt the bevels around the base of the barrels.


A nice shot of the top "handle" piece of the gun. You can see the bolt action, well from this angle, ...


And, it is ready for painting!

 

[eidylon]

M-358 Talon (Mass Effect) - Paint Job

So the Talon started off with a very nice coat of white Rustoloeum 2X primer/paint.
First step was to mask off all the white, and add a base coat of black 2X primer/paint.


Next step was to add on the yellow stripes on the front guard and the top "handle" piece.


I wanted to add a bit more visual depth and texture to the piece, so the back section, the part above the grip, I painted with a metallic gunmetal gray. I used the same gray to give just a dusting to those three black cylinder parts on the sides of the main body. I was very happy with how those came out... wanted to have them still be basically black, but have a slight metallic look to them, but not be all-on metallic. Following that was adding on the "T7" labeling on the sides. Additionally, I used Rustoleum's two-toned textured paint to give a little more interest (both visually and physically) to the fore-grip section below the barrels.


Which led to this wonderfully clean and presentable piece... but also very boring "off the shelf" new looking.


First step from here was wearing the edges with Rub'n Buff. I love the way this stuff comes out...
It especially gives a very nice touch around the edges/ends of the barrels.


I especially like the way the Rub'n Buff came out on the trigger. I pretty much shmeared the entire trigger with a thin coat of it.
Once the Rub'n Buff was done, I put on a nice brown-mix acrylic wash. This REALLY wound up tinting the white surfaces though, which required a bit of forceful rubbing to get off, so it just left the "crud" accumulation in all the crevices and such.
In rubbing the surfaces off though, I wound up removing a fair bit of my Rub'n Buff, and had to reapply some of that.



And the final piece, ... now with several sprays of clear coat drying, to maintain its beauty. :cool

 

[Rauno]

Wow, that's beautiful! Nicely done from start to finish

 

[eidylon]

Wow, that's beautiful! Nicely done from start to finish

Thanks muchly!

 

[Solos blaster]

Yes, very cool! Being a fellow Mass Effect fan I love seeing these weapon builds and it makes me want to attempt my own.