Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle: FINISHED! See p.5

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

I wonder if you could brush something on to help with the fuzz issue. Maybe a thin coat of superglue or something?

 

[Volpin]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

I can make a spiker any time you want one. If you decide to sell these or maybe a fallout gun we could work out a trade.

Sure, I'd be down for swapping some resin!

I wonder if you could brush something on to help with the fuzz issue. Maybe a thin coat of superglue or something?

Its strange. The 3/4" stuff I used on most of the gun barely had any fuzzing at all - it was almost all the 1/4" i used to give the sides a bit of detail. I'm betting the thinner stuff doesn't have as high of a density as the thicker stuff, hence the fuzzing. The real issue with fuzzing isn't the top layer, its sanding down and making the fibers stand out. I bet wood glue + water would work, but I've never tried it.

Just got back in from the garage. Here's today's progress. The fuzz is completely gone, and I should be ready for basecoating this week.

Tomorrow i'll be pulling some resin for the side and lower barrel cover.

 

[Grey]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

I hate you so much right now.

I know what you mean about beveled faces, though I don't get the Galactica reference. I use that visual effect alot in modeling. Of course the difference being what you make is actaully tangible, haha.

I hope to have a nice workshop at my disposal that I can furnish with some real tools in a few months when I move, instead of the little corner in my garage that I have now.

 

[BlindSquirrel]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

I seal the MDF with a coat of shellac. It soaks in, hardens thin parts and a quick sanding gives you a primer ready surface. No more fuzzies!

 

[NkySpike65]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

WOW!! Unbelievable......

 

[Tommyfilth]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

I said it on your flickr page before, but I'll repeat it here, I really hope you mold this.

What primer do you use? you said the gray doesn't wet sand but the red does are you talking about Rustoleum? I've found the satin (black specifically ) krylon actually wet sands after 24 hours.

Tommy

 

[Kommissar]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

i got to see you put this together in the webchat you joined to watch Precious's Bday party on saturday, stunning does not describe how good your work is.

if i lived in Georgia, in some kind of weird kungfu parody,i would probably request you take on apprentices.

anyway, what's the kind of primer you use? and why do you pick brown? does the color even matter?
and what's the thickness of the plastic your using for the area around the red LEDs?

 

[Volpin]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

I know what you mean about beveled faces, though I don't get the Galactica reference.

They have octagonal paper in Galactica - the corners are snipped off. Also their hallways are tapered in at the top. Just some random geek humor.

I said it on your flickr page before, but I'll repeat it here, I really hope you mold this.

What primer do you use? you said the gray doesn't wet sand but the red does are you talking about Rustoleum? I've found the satin (black specifically ) krylon actually wet sands after 24 hours.

Molding isn't specifically off the table, but it might have to be a single piece and not a "kit" unless I can figure out some way to keep it as a piece that can break down. I won't really know until I get the entire thing assembled, then we'll see.

I use Krylon Ruddy Brown primer. The gray doesn't seem to sand as well (clumps a lot) and I've never tried black. Rustoleum doesn't play well with the humidity here in GA - every time I've tried to use it I've regretted the decision.

i got to see you put this together in the webchat you joined to watch Precious's Bday party on saturday, stunning does not describe how good your work is.

and what's the thickness of the plastic your using for the area around the red LEDs?

Small world indeed! The plastic I'm using is .060 styrene. The red backing plate is some acrylic scrap plastic I had laying around off an old lamp. Its probably around .125" or so.

Forgot to mention earlier... I finally had to spend money on this project. $2.95 on a can of primer because I used all the stuff I had available. So much for the "scrap build" idea... but NEW PLAN is to keep it under $25.

 

[Wes R]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

Very cool. I'm still trying to print out the blue prints for the Fallout gun and now i see this one lol. Only wish i had half the tools you guys do.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

This is definitely one of the coolest builds that's been on here in a while!

 

[MooMooEgg]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

*drooooools* god, I want oneeeee

 

[Volpin]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

I need to lurk on the modeling and scale boards more often.... casting all these tiny little bits was a PAIN. I typically has to mix more resin that I needed, just to make sure I got the amounts right. One time I had too much or too little of one half of my soothcast, and just ended up with a jellied mass.

Took me the better part of the evening, but I got all 12 pulled, trimmed, and glued in place. Only a few more small detail bits to made before I can go to paint. Hoping to get those done tonight.

wish i had a better shot, but i also cleaned up the barrel area here. Should be nice and smooth now instead of the jagged MDF bits I had earlier.

The only unfinished seams now are the areas above and below the rear "S" shaped pieces. These *should* blend over the gun to make one solid piece, but then they couldn't be removable... so I have to figure out a way to clamshell them together. We'll see.

 

[BRRogers]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

So...
Think you'll ever try to tackle a collapsible one in the future?

BEAUTIFUL btw...
This and the HALO AR are two of my <3s
Excellent job.

Are you still under your $00.00 budget on this one?

 

[Yodajammies]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

So what happened to the seam forward of the scope?

OMG INACCURATE! :lol

 

[Volpin]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

So...
Think you'll ever try to tackle a collapsible one in the future?

Are you still under your $00.00 budget on this one?

I don't think the collapsible one is a possibility. The game sort of cheats at physics to make it do the folding thing. Scroll to the bottom of this page and mouse over the rifle for an example. Making it collapse looks like a nightmare, and I'd just as soon avoid it altogether. Sorry!

As for the budget, I've unfortunately had to purchase some things. So far I've bought 1 can of primer and just today a box of 100 socket-head hex bolts for the casings. I'm at about $1.47 for the screws (I only need 28 out of the 100, so I'm only pricing for the 28) and $2.95+tax for the primer. Really stretching my bank account on this one.

So what happened to the seam forward of the scope?

OMG INACCURATE! :lol

...at least ONE OF US is updating their thread.

OH SNAP!

 

[Yodajammies]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

M7 Assault Rifle

Last post: Today 12:56 PM by Yodajammies


Thrust! Parry!

 

[tango'd fett]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

Awesome work there mate , i loved your last build so will enjoy seeing how this one comes out , am feeling your MDF sanding pain at the moment and wondering why there is no FDF (fine density fibreboard) )

 

[Volpin]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

Ok, resin bits are glued up and primed. Should be going to paint very soon now. I've managed to cobble together an idea that keeps the gun's ability to break down, which might prove useful later if I decide to mold this thing.

The wires hanging out of the barrel will be for the muzzle flash lights. I spent some time last night rigging up some LED arrays for the center section, scope, and barrels.

Muzzle flash LEDs:

Upper scope LED (need to get some more diffuser material in there to get rid of the hot spotting)

Center "vent" section. Ditto here with the hot spots, but I think I've figured out a solution for these.

My little ghetto boards. I'm actually kind of proud of the three-row red LED one. Its almost pretty in its ugliness.

So, trying to determine what to paint the forward grip, handle, and rear stock with. I was thinking about rubberized undercoating, but I'm a little worried about getting an even coat with that stuff... it seems really finicky. The game shots seem to suggest that those sections are "grippy" though, somehow. Any suggestions?

 

[Tommyfilth]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

Plasti Dip makes a spray, or least they did. I remember it being a little finicky as well. Multiple light coats seemed to give a textured finish.

Tommy

 

[Volpin]

Re: Mass Effect 2 - M8 Assault Rifle

Getting closer to assembly... That undercoating stuff is crap (never really "dries") so I'll be looking into the plasti-dip spray if its more durable.

I drilled about 30 holes in the gun for these little 5mm hex bolts

One thing I didn't account for in the build was the gap below the barrel in the front grip of the rifle. I had plans for just gluing this piece on and bondo-ing in the gap, but that would have made painting individual pieces a pain in the ass to mask off... so I came up with this. The vents aren't canon, but they do look mighty cool.

The sides of the grip were made from some heat formed styrene. The right side one has a box built onto the back that friction fits into the battery compartment.

I wish I had a nicer shot of this, but my camera was on its last shot before the card was full and it was 1am, so this is it for now. Better pics coming soon, but painting has started!