Team Fortress 2 Hitman's Heatmaker sniper rifle build

[cecrops props]

Now that I have arrived at the mold making stage of my Jakobs Pistol build (here), I have decided to start on a new project, the Hitman’s Heatmaker sniper rifle from Team Fortress 2.


This is one of the working drawings I have made. You will notice that I make my plan drawings with pen and ink and a drafting arm. It may seem old fashioned but I find that I can draw out a plan much quicker by hand than I can by computer. I also find it much easier to understand what I am doing when I can see the entire plan at once, instead of scrolling back and forth on a computer screen.




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[asalaw]

You are just a proppin' mofo, aren't you?

 

[cecrops props]

You are just a proppin' mofo, aren't you?

Well, I will certainly try to be, if I live through this awful cold I caught.

 

[cecrops props]

Here’s the beginnings of the first part for my Heatmaker build. In the first photo, I have sawn to shape the glued up poplar block for the shoulder stock.



In the second photo, after lots of work with a spokeshave, chisels, rasps, and sanding, I have shaped it.




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[cecrops props]

OK, I’m slowly making progress. At this point, I have filled and primed the stock, and masked off the area for the check cushion. I have then laid down a (relatively) even layer of Magi-Sculpt epoxy putty within the masked off area, smoothed it all down even, and marked a line that will be carved down to make the contoured edge.



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[cecrops props]

More progress…




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[cecrops props]

The next step is the barrel. It is turned to dimension PVC pipe, with a cutout showing the wood core for the bolt. Three rings built up with epoxy putty have been turned to dimension on the lathe.

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[cecrops props]

Now I’ve made the master for the rifle forestock, and you can see how the barrel fits onto it. On a normal rifle, the barrel sits down in, or is “let into” the forestock, but the designer of this rifle has decided that the barrel pretty much sits on top.

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Here’s a nicely complicated part that fits between the stock and forestock, with an indent in the top to fit the barrel.



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[Cephus]

Looking good. I just finished up the Engineer's shotgun for my daughter, I'll have to see what I want to move onto next. Keep up the good work.

 

[zanderwitaz]

Wooo! I thought I was the only one still making tf2 props. Excellent work! My only gripe is the size, but everyone is different on their tf2 scale preferences.

 

[cecrops props]

Wooo! I thought I was the only one still making tf2 props. Excellent work! My only gripe is the size, but everyone is different on their tf2 scale preferences.

Ahh, if you are judging the size of my Heatmaker by my drafted plan, you are correct, it is way too small. But, that's not the build size. I draft my plans as large as I can on my drafting board, then scan them. After a lot of research using both screenshots from the game, and dimensions of actual weapons, I then re-size the scan in the computer, and print it out full scale on my large format printer. The actual build will be 35 inches long.

- - - Updated - - -

Next up for the Heatmaker, the silencer. It’s turned/tapered PVC pipe with turned acrylic ends.

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[cecrops props]

Here is the big fat barrel of the scope for the Heatmaker. It’s also turned PVC pipe with turned acrylic ends.



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[cecrops props]

This was a bit of fancy woodturning. It is the flared forward end of the scope for the Heatmaker.



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[cecrops props]

I decided that I wanted actual clear “lenses” in the scope of the Heatmaker. I was planning to use either acrylic sheet circles, or cast acrylic lenses. I then discovered that I could buy glass lenses on ebay very inexpensively. As you can see, for the front scope lens, I have turned a recess in the holder, and machined a retaining ring that, when assembled, holds the lens in place. I made the dividing line on the front edge so that these two parts can be pre-painted before installing the lens, and it will still look good after assembly. This will be much easier that masking out the lens when painting the scope.



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[cecrops props]

Here is the lens holder for the eye piece of the Heatmaker scope. Like the front lens holder, a separate ring holds the glass lens in place.




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I am now starting on the brackets that hold the laser and the scope for the Heatmaker. I only need to make one of these for a mold.


The first photo is the part scribed on a block of acrylic in layout dye.


In the second photo I am milling out the center hole. I will then bandsaw out the outside of the bracket.




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[geekswoodshop]

Using wood and old school drafting. You sir, are flippin awesome.

 

[cecrops props]

Using wood and old school drafting. You sir, are flippin awesome.

Thanks! Just using what I know.

- - - Updated - - -

I pretty much finished the scope/laser bracket for the Heatmaker. The ring on the top that surrounds the the scope barrel was lathe turned from acrylic and attached to the machined bottom half.



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[joker1231]

Awesome build! Can't wait to see more.