The Official Avatar Colonel Miles Quaritch "Wasp" Pistol Research Thread

For the shots in the film the flash was a CG effect. The gang at Frantic did that sequence. I was looking over their shoulder while they were doing it.

-Michael
 
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Great new info, guys!!! Keep it coming! :)

Autoprops713 - awesome scan, thanks! Here's a close-up:

5789280.jpeg


Is the dial in the rear and on the under-barrel laser sight a found item? How about the upper & lower dovetail mounts? These would be a good start for scaling, if they're identified - this gun keeps looking more and more like a custom scratch-build and not based on anything real (at least externally).

BTW: 9mm sabot rounds in a revolver? That would that make the projectile diameter, what, 3 mm? :lol I don't see what impact that would have on anything, living or structural. The only possible benefit would be increased range... Then again, this thread isn't about critiquing the science or balistics, just getting enough info to Matsuo so he can start sculpting this puppy! :D

RR
 
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Another thing - is it just me, or does it seem like the gun breaks BEFORE the cylinder??? That would mean that the rounds would have to be front-loaded & rimless, right?

And back on the sabot issue, higher velocities, increased kinetic energy, and hardened projectiles are all characteristics of armor defeating SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) rounds, but since there are no enemy vehicles to stop (until Jake Sully arrives, at any rate), how would they be useful against charging predators or Na'vi?

Don't answer that, please - I'm just ruminating, lol!

RR
 
The increased kinetic energy would probably make it easier for the round to pass through muscle and bone (+ the "naturally accuring carbon fiber" that Na'vi bones apparently are coated with)
 
That last scan....I'm thinking scratch build. The mechanics of a revolver are pretty easy to do custom, It might have a real part in there somewhere, but I am still leaning towards custom all the way.
 
The knobs on the back and rear of the lower sight look like the threaded caps that you'd see on rifle scopes. And the knobs embedded in the side of the upper scope look like the adjustment dials you'd find under the aforementioned caps.

Possible found items?

EDIT - Found this cheapie scope they sell at Sears...looks like the caps have the right shape at least...

http://www.barska.com/ac10041.html
 
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Another thing - is it just me, or does it seem like the gun breaks BEFORE the cylinder??? That would mean that the rounds would have to be front-loaded & rimless, right?

I think its pretty clear from that picture that yes does break in front of the cylinder so it could be front loaded.... or there maybe an internal rod holding it on the front so that it swings down with the rest. similiar to here
colt45-dis-2.jpg
obviously this is a cap gun, but if the rod was attached to the front it would break forward and then the part directly above seems to latch in some way right in front of where the hammer would be, under the scope. so the question is which half of the gun is that rod attached to.
 
I was meant to be seeing one of the designers tonight, but I have to go pick up a gift for someone... I'll talk to him 'bout this show when I next see him, though. I know he didn't design this gun, but I'm sure he'll know who did.

:thumbsup
 
** EDIT: Never mind... I didn't read all of page 1... I need to go to bed LOL **

-G
 
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Good call on the knobs, Mechamaniac!

Here's one I found, plus a pretty close dovetail/Weaver scope mount:

NK6313-Nikon-Prostaff-3-9x50-Rifle-Scope.jpg
24-mkiimkiii-scope-mount-black.jpg


What I'm thinking is that they either dressed a knob like this and added the red indicator groove, or they used an original knob as a model which was reverse-engineered in 3D CAD and then fabricated as an SLA prototype (as, I'm guessing, the rest of the clam shell parts). One tell is the fact that there's no knurling on the prop's 2 knobs, and I haven't found any scope knob caps with indicator grooves of any kind. Also, the mounting collar with four set screws is unlike any windage or elevation knob mount I've ever seen, plus the one in the rear of the Wasp is left-tilting, and that tells me original custom 3D CAD modeled design & SLA part.

The flat head screws on the prop are nothing I've ever seen either - further lending credibility to the increasing consensus that this entire prop is scratch built. They're a cross between tri-groove & drilled spanner machine screws:

8751185.jpeg


But I'll put out a challenge: has anyone ever seen tri-drilled spanner flat head machine screws?

I also went back to Matsuo's post, where he stated he hoped the gun was based on a Colt Python. Knowing now that this is supposed to be a 9mm caliber revolver, maybe we should be looking for a .38 Special, and who made the most famous of all, but Colt? Here are a couple that look pretty close, and once again, may have only served to inspire the prop's design, as I no longer believe a real cylinder was used:

450px-DSC2866.jpg
2175365650010258782S600x600Q85.jpg


S&W revolvers also have tapering horizontal scalloped cuts on their cylinders, but I ruled them out because a) either the cylinder stop grooves are colinear with the cuts or b) they're spaced between the cuts, but with the grooves' "T" scallop cuts pointing downward instead of upward, like the prop & Colt models.

That's all I have for tonight... Keep the brainstorming going! :thumbsup

RR
 
Someone needs to teach that "Marine" how to grip a pistol. At least Cameron has it right. Ah, well...officers.
 
When I first saw the scope on that nice scanned pic of the wasp, the small "Dials" instantly reminded me of the adjustment dials on an EOTech Optic (Common military issue along with the ACOG). Would also make sense given the quasi "issued gear" look this pistol represents. I would take a pic of my EOTech for comparison, but I'm not at home. Maybe one of you highspeed motivated RPF'ers can help me out!

EDIT: Found a pic. I think it is safe to say, the dials have been Identified...compare to the scanned pic on page 2... Check it out

eot3x553lg.jpg


And a side note.... only the laser or light is labled "wasp", does this mean the pistol is named something else using a "Wasp" brand laser/light??? :eek :lol Had to stir that pot a little!
 
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And a side note.... only the laser or light is labled "wasp", does this mean the pistol is named something else using a "Wasp" brand laser/light??? :eek :lol Had to stir that pot a little!

No, on the first picture you can see theres a wasp logo on the big thing on the top, and in that scanned image theres another wasp logo on the opposite side of the smaller piece on the bottom.
 
No, on the first picture you can see there’s a wasp logo on the big thing on the top, and in that scanned image there’s another wasp logo on the opposite side of the smaller piece on the bottom.

Hey Now...I was just being funny, but in your above mentioned statement, the only parts (Top and Bottom) with "wasp" on them are connected by a rail, i.e. optic and laser/light or whatever that thing on the bottom is. So maybe Wasp is a pistol accessory company in the future and the pistol is yet more of a mystery??? :eek

Back to the topic at hand, and please take no offense to above, I'm sure it is called a Wasp, I just had to say it. Trying to be funny and all that... :lol

But anyhoo. Above i made a statement that this weapon could have some real bits to it. I think if there are any real bits, they were taken from the Rex. The similarities are just too many. I'm not saying it is a "Rex" but that could have been the base for the scratch build. Maybe even borrowed some of the inner workings to turn the custom cylinder. Just my thoughts, but I think anyone of the talented fellas and ladies on this great site could make a Rex into a wasp. And if we (RPF’ers) can do it with bondo latex and resin, on a laughable budget, I think old Jimmy Cameron could cough up enough dough to have this thing custom built all the way.
 
Back to the topic at hand, and please take no offense to above, I'm sure it is called a Wasp, I just had to say it. Trying to be funny and all that... :lol

:lol Well I thought you we're actaully being serious, but I didn't take any offense to it and I hope you didn't from my comment. I just thought you might have missed it in the photo.
 
It's possible that the top-break 'hinge' is just part of the clamshell around the functioning revolver; put there to just look cool.

Remember, Weta did the weapons for all the Halo shorts and for District 9. God knows what kind of found pieces may be on it, and how much of the firing is practical vs. post.

:)

Hoping for a thread on the other guns, too :)

Matt, how's the hand?


-Mike J.
 
Regardless of what is post in the film, that's not post in the video of Cameron firing it.
 
...and how much of the firing is practical vs. post..

You'll find that muzzle flashes have to be added regardless if a firearm is static or not. It all comes down to what is captured behind the lens... even on video, where the shutter is essentially always open.
 
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