Serenity Alliance pistol... my first discovery!!

[JOATRASH FX]

Hey All!

Well... I've just made my own very first "major" prop discovery! Now, this is probably common knowledge to those long-invested in Firefly and Serenity, but I had no idea until recently... and I've never seen it talked about.

So, I was in a hobby store to buy an AK47 replica to use as a base for my Vera replica (yeah, I know it's supposed to be a Saiga...) and something shiny (no pun intented) flashes at me from an adjacent shelf. I sorta stop and stare for a few seconds thinking:"what the hell is THAT? I know I've seen... hey... that's an ALLIANCE HERO PISTOL!!".

I recognised it after having stared myself nearly blind at the Propstore photos. Turns out that is was a Psycho Ballistics "Silver Bullet" paintball gun. I snapped a couple of shots with my mobile and when I got home, I started researching. It was ineed the correct model, but it seems to be discontinued.

For Serenity, they took the SB and basically switched a few parts around while adding an Alliance symbol in the grip and a bright blue led in the grip "window".

It's really cool because this is the first time (as far as I can remember) I've actually discovered the base for a prop on my own, without prior knowledge.

Now, I didn't get it at the local hobby shop that had it 'cause they wanted a wallet-busting $500! I've spent the last couple of days e-mailing and calling every darn paintball place trying to find one. They seem to cost between $130-200 but they've been extremely difficult to locate. Somehow, I had an incredible (and unusual) bout of luck and was able to find a used one locally, inpristine condition, at a fair price.

However... I have begun to get some answers from a couple places in the US and UK that seem to have them in stock. If you want the contact info, just let me know and I'll post it. (I'm not at home right now so I don't have the info in front of me.)

Anyway... just wanted to share the story. Even if it was known... I'm guessing there are others out there that might want the info.

Here's the original Prop (from Propstore)

and here's the (hopefully) correct model paintball marker (you need the "regular" version, not the LED-version)

(thanks to Pilot for picture hosting)

 

[blufive]

Great find, man!

 

[Kadajiroth]

Shiny find! I think people knew it was a paintball gun, just not what model it was.

Congrats! :thumbsup

 

[KidL]

Awesome! I actually thought it was a custom made prop a la MIB. Any contact info you have in the US would be great!

 

[Birdie]

If you want the correct base pistol paintball gun for the Alliance rifle to go with it, I'd be willing to let mine go for a reasonable price

I've been meaning to convert it for ages, but I have so many projects I don't think I'll ever get round to it. Drop me a PM if you're interested.

 

[pennausamike]

As is often the case, eBay is a regular source for this item.
I hunted around after them for a while, but I never found one for under $100 and most were in the $130-$200 range mentioned above.

I am kind of put-off by the chrome-plated, military issue armor and weapons in BDM Serenity. I think it was another attemp to "amp up" the sci-fi look (as defined by those trying to achieve mass audience appeal for Serenity) in a way that not only jettisoned Firefly's sci-fi western theme, but in a way that took away from the hard scrabble realism that was exemplified by the series. So. rant mode off, I don't like the chrome Alliance weapons well enough to display one, let alone pay big money and invest conversion time.

Having said that, I can still relate to Joe's discovery of a found prop item.
Its always cool to be able to say, "Hey, I recognize that!"

Mike

 

[adamata]

quick search found this one craigslist for $100:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/spo/349714720.html

and this:
http://providence.craigslist.org/spo/353750419.html


and this:
http://spokane.craigslist.org/bar/343372811.html

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I am kind of put-off by the chrome-plated, military issue armor and weapons in BDM Serenity. I think it was another attemp to "amp up" the sci-fi look (as defined by those trying to achieve mass audience appeal for Serenity) in a way that not only jettisoned Firefly's sci-fi western theme, but in a way that took away from the hard scrabble realism that was exemplified by the series. So. rant mode off, I don't like the chrome Alliance weapons well enough to display one, let alone pay big money and invest conversion time.

Well... the Alliance was never supposed to be "western in space". That was Mal's world, when flying off the radar of the Alliance. The Alliance was advanced and Star Treck-y in appearance. And the two worlds colliding is what made the series and movie great, imo.

OT rant over. Nice find! :thumbsup

 

[Birdie]

Well... the Alliance was never supposed to be "western in space". That was Mal's world, when flying off the radar of the Alliance. The Alliance was advanced and Star Treck-y in appearance. And the two worlds colliding is what made the series and movie great, imo.

OT rant over. Nice find! :thumbsup

Agreed. I really didn't like the the Starship Troopers armour and Mp5 armory used by the Alliance in the show. They had sonic rifles and (apparently) laser weapons, yet they were armed with MP5s & SA80's?

I always thought the Alliance kit made the show look cheap.

The movie guns (for the Alliance) were one of the few improvements over the show, imho.

 

[pennausamike]

The movie guns (for the Alliance) were one of the few improvements over the show, imho.

To each his own.
The comments that the Alliance was supposed to be a Star trek-ian contrast to the western Rim worlds is correct.
But the Alliance would still be realistically practical.
There is a reason no army in the world goes into battle with chrome plated weapons and chrome plated body armor in a battlefield dominated by projectile throwing weapons. It makes you a glinty target.

I felt the grays and subdued purple of the show were more realistic.
But that is my opinion.

Every prop collector certainly has the right to acquire and display the props that capture the elements from the movie or TV show that made us want to have a piece of it in the first place.
Shoot guys, if I don't like 'em, that's one less competitor for the supply of chrome paintball guns!

Happy prop hunting,
Mike

 

[Kaylee]

Yeah, personally I thought the series-era purplebellies were a heck of a lot better. Sure all the reused pieces were kinda "cheap" feeling, same with all the modern-day arms... but being real they were a heck of a lot more realistic than the stuff in the movie.

Same with the Alliance logo - in the original you could see the history of the Sino-American Alliance. In the movie, it was just one more big space bird symbol. Yawn. They just went too far towards Trek for the Alliance in the film for my taste.

Personally, I'd have taken the basic "feel" of the series tech and just polished it up for the movie. The River bar gun is a great example... so maybe take some L85A2s to keep the basic profile and "techify" 'em, rather as Mal's piece is a "techified" cap-and-ball in appearance.

But like Mike says.. more paintball pieces for y'all.

 

[Reaper57]

more and more paintball guns aree going scifi these days. i have thought of using many designs to modify . i did get a PT Extreme pistol that i am working on modifying. if you have not seen one you should, it can / will be a bad mutha..

as for the chrome military guns and armor i always assumed it was like saying " yeah we are bad , nobody will mess with us" kinda arrogant
like the troopers in their white suits.

thats why they fall so fast when you fire your blaster at them.

john :cool

 

[Boba Debt]

Can we get back to discussing the prop??


I'd like figure out the whole grip section.

 

[propmaster2000]

Here is my replica of the Serenity Alliance Weapon. There was a fair amount of machining :wacko and manipulating parts.

 

[pennausamike]

Here is my replica of the Serenity Alliance Weapon.

Nice!

That looks like one that was listed or sold (I can't remember which) on eBay a while back. The recreated Alliance symbol in the grip looks the same. That is a nice piece of work.

What machining is required to change the original prop around to the Alliance chrome gun as shown?

Mike

 

[jason1976]

Yet another thread that died before it's time. Well I'll bring it back to life. He we go.......Ala-Peanut-butter-Sandwiches.

After seeing a different thread over at FFP.net and getting the name of the paint ball gun. (I've known for years that it was a paintball gun, but all the threads I could find said it was a different one, but this thread is correct, even though I didn't find it, until after I need the info. :lol)

Anyway's, I picked up one of the paintball guns, used, off of ebay, for less then $40. shipped. (I was hoping to win it for even less, but I got into a bidding war, but hey I WON. )

It got here quick, and I got to work on it right away. There is indeed a lot of work to do on it.

First I took, just about every piece of it apart. (I plan to post pics, and a kind of tutorial in a few weeks when I get it done, so this is just kind of a brief preview)

I cut off the trigger guard, then sanded, and polished that area until you couldn't tell it was ever there.

I cut the trigger down to the correct length, and polished it up to a mirror shine as well. (Took off just a hair more then I mint to on the trigger, but I still think it look really good. )

I cut the scope rail back, and polished it to a mirrow finish. (Sadly, My first cut was clean, and good, but left it too long, and rather then being patient, and taking it down to were it should be slowly, I made the second cut much quicker. I cut it just a bit shorter then I wanted, and the saw slipped, and put a big groove in the very top part of the scope rail. I'm going to fill it in with bondo, clean it up, and prime, and use some rub-n-buff on it. It wont be perfect, but it's the best I can do for now, short of buying a new rail, or making the top part from scrap metal, and I'm to cheep, and lazy for that. :lol)

I then took the part that will make up the "lower barrel" and got to work. I could be wrong, but I think most folks think that extra piece is cut straight down, and just added to the front of the lower barrel/lower receiver. I WISH. If you look at the pics up on propstore right now you will see it's much tougher then that. They cut that piece down, then back. So, it'm mostly the front part of the lower barrel, but it has a little piece that goes back under the lower receiver. (I know, I know you'll need pics, and I will get them soon) Then they cut a little bit off the bottom of the original "lower barrel" Just forward of the grip/trigger guard area. Then they used to small button head, Allen/hex bolts to hold it to the bottom of the gun. (yes, yes, there will be pics. ) I got to work on this as well. You have now idea how hard this is to do with a hacksaw, files, and some and paper. (I have a dremel but it proved to be useless for this part of the job)

I need to finish the set up for the lower barrel (Oh that is going to suck) Add the front on the top barrel. (that will be easy) Cut don't down a chrome shower rod I have, to make the cover for the top of the gun. (I'm hopping that wont be too hard.) Make the new trigger guard. (Hoping that wont be too bad) Fix my blunder on the scope rail. (boo) And then add the light to the grip.

I'm kind of stuck when it comes to making the alliance logo for the grip.

 

[kurtyboy]

I've still got an unmodified painball gun packed away somewhere. If you have any progress photos to show what to cut where that would help me.

 

[jason1976]

I've still got an unmodified painball gun packed away somewhere. If you have any progress photos to show what to cut where that would help me.

I will be posting a Tutorial in a week, or two. I would just like to get a little closer to finished on my build, so I can work out all the kinks, before, I go showing, and telling others how it's all done.

 

[kurtyboy]

Can't wait!

I will be posting a Tutorial in a week, or two. I would just like to get a little closer to finished on my build, so I can work out all the kinks, before, I go showing, and telling others how it's all done.

 

[jason1976]

Hey gang, sorry it's taking me so long. I know a lot of folks did there pistols in a weekend, but it's taking me a lot longer, and I keep running in to snags. Over all it is pretty straight forward, and a pretty easy build if the you have right tools. I do't though. I've been doing mine with nothing more then a hacksaw, some files, and sand paper. (I have a dremel, but with my eyes, and the thickness of the metal in spots, it was of no use at all to me on this project, so I've done everything on mine by hand..... and it shows, in a really bad way. )

Anyway's, I will post what I know whenever I can, but it may be a wile. Of amyone else wants to post the info feel free, it's not like it's a big secrete. I mean, there are some really great pics of a stunt version up on Prop store, right now. All I did was look at those, and the paint ball gun, in my hand, and after staring at it for a little bit, it all became quite clear what they did.

Things like cutting off some of the scope mount rail/bracket. Cutting off the original trigger guard, and making our own out of aluminum. Cutting the trigger down. (Until there are just 5 wholes left in the trigger) Adding some blue LEDs, or EL sheet, to the grip. (Can one of the folks that own the actual props, say what they used to light it for sure) They removed the hardware on the top of the forward part of the top barrel, and covered the holes that hardware leaves with a piece of chromed pipe, that has been cut at an angle at both ends, and cut at the bottom to slide on to the top barrel. (I'm using a chrome shower rod, I think it will look really good in the end, but it is a pain to cut with a hacksaw, so I'm still working on that part.) I can explain a lot of this, and all the rest, with pictures, I really have to wait until I have something to show. I've started working on the tutorial, but I'm trying to figure out the best way to convey the info, with the pictures I have. (I've never really done a tutorial before.)