Mal's Firefly pistol

[Chrisisall]

I bought this ten years ago online, and I honestly can't remember if it was from Wilco or not (I only remember that it was under $50). It came with an odd flare where the grips meet the metal on one side, and a depression on the other. I got rid of the flare, and then put it aside, until yesterday.
The original piece this was molded from is apparently quite nice, but the barrel was uneven, as if the mold was a bit wobbly or thin in places. Needless to say I had to vacuum up all the dust & debris from sanding for a few hours. I tinkered with the hammer assembly a bit, filled in the depression (that you can see in the first picture), with epoxy putty, drilled out the barrel hole, then more sanding and general clean up & seam obliteration. Fairly painless....
Next I prime & paint.

 

[Chrisisall]

This hole comes in very handy!

 

[ssdesigner]

Love to see Firefly props still being made. You can't stop the signal...

 

[userd1402]

-.-

 

[Chrisisall]

I got the base colour on (gun metal gray with a dash of brass). The rubbed-off brass edges, steel bits & brown handles will be added in detailing after it dries.

 

[Sundowner]

That’s definitely a Wilco. I agree, love to see Firefly props. Looks like you reshaped the trigger guard a bit. Nice job!

 

[Chrisisall]

That’s definitely a Wilco. I agree, love to see Firefly props. Looks like you reshaped the trigger guard a bit. Nice job!

You've a sharp eye, sir! I also reworked a bit of the hammer area, and added detail to front of the two (I don't know what you call them- screw spacers or something?) just below the barrel, and lowered the screws on the sight. I'm no expert on this piece though, just going by pictures.

 

[Chrisisall]

Got the thin richer browner bronze on. Now it's beginning to feel right...

 

[Chrisisall]

I'm gonna have to go much deeper dark than this... this is where I have to start mixing paint my own self. A spray bronze won't be dark enough.

 

[Sundowner]

I usually hit the edges with brass Rub n Buff

 

[Chrisisall]

I usually hit the edges with brass Rub n Buff

Great tip! If what I'm planning won't work, that's my next step after the dark business! It looks like great stuff for what I'm doing- thanks!

 

[Chrisisall]

I just finished doing a custom colour that I think looks right- a light coat, then a darker one.This picture is in low light, so my phone lightened it up a bit; it's actually darker than it appears here. I'm not getting too excited though- I could still find a way to screw this up before I'm finished.

 

[Chrisisall]

A quick misting with flat burnished amber to tone down the red in the copper, and now (after it dries) it's ready for the gold/brass highlights. I know this is taking a while, but I'm trying to get the look just right....

 

[Chrisisall]

Haven't forgotten this project, just got 2 rescue cats in the house, and it's totally disrupting my work ability. Hissy fits with our remaining old cat & such... Today I sprayed gun metal on the the bits I mistakenly painted brownish brass. Tomorrow (Cats willing) I will do the golden brass & the cherry wood handle. Damn, this thing looks different in every different light.

 

[Chrisisall]

Okay, here it is. When the enamel fully cures I'll fine sand some little bits, but it won't look a whole lot different than this.

 

[ssdesigner]

Shiny!

 

[Dsimdude]

I've done some research on this weapon, and that looks pretty good! I think you got the old brass, versus new brass combination right So many times I see versions that are just way too.. Well, brassy. Nice job!

 

[Chrisisall]

I've done some research on this weapon, and that looks pretty good! I think you got the old brass, versus new brass combination right So many times I see versions that are just way too.. Well, brassy. Nice job!

Thanks! I looked at tons of pictures online, and my last bit was just lookin' at the show & freezing images of the gun from the pilot ep. I more or less painted my impression of what it looked like, rather than attempting to 100% reproduce every minute bit to 'perfection'. I'm happy with it. Tiny tweaks will come, but not much.

 

[Chrisisall]

Final tweaks in place. I guess it's done, unless anyone has any good suggestions...

 

[Dsimdude]

"Nothing in the verse can stop you... "