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Saturday, May 1, 2010

Nerf Longshot Mod - Polycarbonate Shotgun Grip!

This is a quick mod guide by request from nerfers who spotted my modded Longshot with a customized Clear Polycarbonate Shotgun Grip during Nerf games, and have been asking how it was done.

The main benefit of a Longshot shotgun grip is a more efficient method of priming the blaster. Users can still support the front of the blaster while priming it, thereby maintaining steady aiming and better rate-of-fire.

In addition, the shotgun grip's dual arms both act in tandem to push back the bolt sled, which helps to balance out the load on both sides of the bolt sled during the priming action, thereby reducing uneven load stress (one of the common causes of bolt sled breakage, especially when using stronger aftermarket springs).

There are many ways to convert Longshots into "shotgun-gripped" versions. You can find many examples of similar mods at the various Nerf forums. Most of the mods require a fair bit of blaster modification and custom work though.

I use a slightly different (and simpler) method, with the objective to shotgun grip my Longshots without drilling or cutting the blaster casing, so that they can be reversible back to stock condition anytime and the shotgun grip can be transferred to another Longshot easily.

Okay, let's start...

Step 1: Remove the original bipod legs from the Longshot.




Step 2: Measure and draw out the arms and grip dimensions.

Here is my sample template (download and print it out in A4 size borderless mode).



Superimpose the schematics on the polycarbonate sheet. I use 3mm polycarbonate for the grip but 6mm polycarbonate for the arms (6mm thickness is highly recommended for the arms, especially for Longshots with stronger springs).



Cut out the sections using a jig saw or scroll saw. Please be careful when using power tools. Use a hobby knife or file to round off the corners slightly and smoothen the rough edges.




Step 3: Using a heat gun, i shaped the grip section into a U shape with twin inverted guide rails. Again, please be careful when using heating tools.




Step 4: Position the grip and arms.

Line up the screw points and use a motorized rotary tool (ie. Dremel) to drill the necessary holes.




Step 5: Position and solvent glue 2 small pieces of polycarbonate within the inverted guide rails, tinker with the dimensions until you get them to the right size and position.

This helps keep the grip in a level position when in operation.




Step 6: Assemble all the parts together.

I used 4 x 3mm diameter screws, washers and nuts to attach both arms to the grip, and a 3" length 4.5mm diameter bolt and nut, along with nylon spacers to thread through the original priming handle points and secure the arms to the bolt sled.


Here is another example of my polycarbonate shotgun grip with some additional shaping and trimming for customized ergonomics to suit my personal grip style.



As you can see, no drilling or cutting of the original Longshot casing is required.

The polycarbonate shotgun grip's inverted guide rails basically ride along the Longshot's existing groove at the bottom part of the front section.

This is just a quick guide to show a simple way it can be done... there are many other methods to do it too, see what suits your preference! :)

81 comments:

  1. It's actually that simple? Wow! I might try that!
    Speaking of the longshot, I saw on the Havens trading fourms a flip breeched longshot. It is cliploaded and if you turn the bolt around it is singled, for when your magazines are out. There is no guide that I can find on how to do this. Wink Wink, Nudge Nudge.

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  2. Chriz,

    Yup, there are lots more complicated methods and designs that other modders have used to make their shotgun grips... but i went for a more functional and simpler design instead. :)

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  3. Chriz,

    I spotted the Longshot that you mentioned that was posted at NerfHaven's trading section.

    From the looks of how it operates, it's basically a brass breeched Longshot that has a brass barrel that is not permanently attached to the blaster, so the brass barrel's halfpipe can still be rotated 180 degrees to face the halfpipe upwards, hence allowing foam darts to be manually loaded in from the top.

    So I guess all you need to do to replicate that feature is simply to build a brass breeched Longshot and just don't permanently attach in the brass barrel.

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  4. it is very simple indeed. but do you have a closeup shot on how to attach the polycarbonate to the bolt sled section? I can't see how it's exactly attached back there.

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  5. hey i was wondering if you had the link to that rotating barrel longshot, if so could you post the link? thanks

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  6. is it possible to use a lighter instead of a heat gun???

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  7. Fir3Ph03n1X,

    The polycarbonate arms are simply lined up with the charging handle points and holes are drilled into them.

    A long 4.5mm diameter screw is threaded through the polycarbonate arms, through the bolt sled charging handle points, then secured with a washer and nut.

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  8. Luke,

    The longshot with a brass barrel thats not secured and can be rotated?

    Here is the link at the NerfHaven trading section:

    http://nerfhaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19436

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  9. Ian,

    I guess its possible to use a lighter or any naked flame source (please be very careful though), but the heat may not be as optimal or balanced as compared to using a proper heat gun, so the results may not be as good.

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  10. if i wanted to add a combat grip to it (i.e: http://nxcache.nexon.net/combatarms/community/M416%20CQB%20LE.gif) would that be possible and how would i go about it???
    i was thinking possibly using a piece of wood or something???
    cheers

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  11. Ian,

    If you just want a fixed-position foregrip, just get a seperate grip (the longshot front gun's trigger handle is quite suitable, or just get foregrip parts from replica hobby shops, even pvc pipes or shaped wood can be used too) and simply bolt it to the position you want.

    If you want to customise the polycarbonate shotgun grip mod with a foregrip design (ie. like the Nerf Raider CS-35), then just bolt a seperate grip directly to the polycarbonate assembly.

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  12. hi can i use this on a LONGSTRIKE TOO BECAUSE IT HAS NO BI POD plz respond ty

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  13. Paolo0814,

    Well, the Longstrike has different casing design and dimensions compared to the Longshot.

    In particular, the Longstrike main unit doesn't have as much space in its front section or suitable guide grooves to fit a similiar sized shotgun grip.

    One method you could try is to attach the front barrel and try mounting the shotgun grip under the front barrel instead.

    You'll just have to specially customise the shotgun grip shape and arms dimensions for your Longstrike, so i believe it is possible with abit of tinkering and modding work.

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  14. how do i remove the bolt because i'm a bit afraid of something snapping if i go wrong

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  15. matt,

    I'm assuming you mean detaching the orange charging handles so you can open the casing?

    To detach it, basically wedge a large flat head screwdriver between the handle and the casing (position a layer of cloth in between to prevent scratches to the casing).

    Then carefully apply increasing strength to pry it apart.

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  16. Wow, you have some truly incredible mods here. I recently started modding nerf guns, and from the other tutorials that i've seen, yours are by far the cleanest. Very helpful. Sorry to go off topic, but it would be awesome if you made a longstrike mod. The longshot is good and all, but it would be great if you could get that range on something that looked more like a rifle (the longstrike).

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  17. Conflageration13,

    Thanks for the kind feedback!

    To mod a Longstrike, you can actually follow my Nerf Recon Mod Guide:

    http://modworks.blogspot.com/2009/10/nerf-recon-mod-guide.html

    Both the Longstrike and Recon share very similiar reverse plunger and internal layout, so the same modding steps can be used on both blasters. :)

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  18. They are pretty much the same gun, but i think the longstrike has a slightly better stock spring in it, when you mod the longstrike, what kind of range improvement would you get? There there are only the numbers for the modded recon

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  19. Conflageration13,

    Yup, both have reverse plungers with around the same air volume and bolt system. The same springs can be used on the Longstrike and Recon.

    A modded Longstrike will display around the same range improvements as similiarly modded Recons, Raiders or Deploys. They all share the same reverse plunger system. :)

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  20. Have to say that I absolutely LOVE this shotgun grip mod. I've seen a few which invove a hackjob on the front area that I abhor. I can't wait for the chance to try this mod on the longshots I have.

    My questions for this mod are, have you tried filling in the open space of the grip with form or resin, leaving the needed space for the grip to properly travel back, or is there not really enough room once the grip has travelled backwards; and have you tried modding the small section at the bottom of the longshot to fit a laser aiming setup?

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  21. Thomas,

    Thanks for the cool feedback!

    To answer your question, the space within the front grip is needed to "hoop" over the various existing casing sections as you can see in the photos.

    You could however cut away the 2 bipod attachment points and the casing parts just in front of the clip (those don't contain anything, just additional screw points for the casing), then you could fill up the grip or even install another item within the front grip space. :)

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  22. Hey SG, what are you planning on doing with those spiderman Dart guns? I hope it's amazing!

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  23. where do u get the polycarbonate in sg?and dont tell me to go look on the SG nerf forums just tell me straight =)

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  24. VersatileChicken,

    You can get polycarbonate from Dama Enterprises in SG.

    Btw, you should really check the NerfSG forum, 'cos everything you have been asking about have all been posted and discussed there by members.

    If you had been reading the NerfSG forum threads and discussing with the members there, you'd have already found that i currently have spare individual polycarbonate sheets for members to purchase from, which helps save money for modders, 'cos i buy entire polycarbonate sheets in bulk large pieces and cut them to smaller pieces.

    Dude, please check the NerfSG forum... all the tips and lobangs posted there will really save you alot of money and time. Seriously, the forum is a rich resource for local Nerfers in SG. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. i noe and i've tried checking the forums i;ve just rejistered and stuff and i just dot get validition thing someone needs to validate my email or something right? sigh)=

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  26. VersatileChicken,

    When you register for a NerfSG forum account, you should receive a confirmation email.

    You'll have to click on the confirmation link stated in the email, then your NerfSG forum account will be active and you can access all the forum sections.

    Make sure you typed in your correct email address in the forum account sign-up form though, 'cos if you typed a wrong email address, you'd never get the confirmation email.

    ReplyDelete
  27. i have not receicved the email i registered again and it said that i was already registered but i still did'nt have confirmation emails and stuff =)

    ReplyDelete
  28. VersatileChicken,

    Check that the email address you entered is correct.

    Also check your junk/spam mail folder, the confirmation email might have somehow been filtered there too.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Is there any suggested way to deform or bend polycarbonate/acrylic sheeting without the use of a wire bended/heat gun? Or does it need to reach really high temperatures to become pliable?

    As it stands, i hate the idea of buying a heat gun just for this project and never requiring the use of it ever again, especially when all of the other tools i've purchased for Nerf modifications are used almost every time i need something done.

    Thanks in advance.

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  30. thezeronumber,

    Well, a proper heat gun is the best method to soften and shape polycarbonate evenly in a safe and controlled way.

    You could try alternative sources of heat elements, some examples include using the heat from a stove top or applying naked flame near the polycarbonate surface, but those methods are very difficult to control and the desired results will be tough to achieve.

    So i'd definitely recommend using a proper heat gun to soften and shape polycarbonate.

    Perhaps you could check with the people you know and see if any of them have a heat gun which you could borrow just for this mod project.

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  31. Hey modworks, are you able to provide this mod service?

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  32. Hosan,

    Well, i currently have no plans to make more sets as a mod service, 'cos they take quite a fair bit of time and effort to make.

    But if i do get around to making extra sets, i'll most probably post them up for sale on the NerfSG forum (www.nerfsg.com) trading section. So best to keep a lookout for them there. :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Is it only because you want to be efficient with the polycarbonate board that you don't make it a single piece?

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  34. Zeffy,

    Yup, one of the reasons i make the shotgun grip in parts is to use the polycarbonate sheets efficiently.

    The other reason is because i use 2 different thickness of polycarbonate, 3mm for the grip ('cos its easier to heat bend and fit under the blaster) and 6mm for the arms (for stronger brace structure).

    I guess you could also use a single larger sheet of polycarbonate and cut the complete shape out of it too. Its all up to your design and requirements. :)

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  35. Could you do a similar mod to a Recon?

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  36. P13c30fch33s3,

    The similiar principles apply, you just need to adapt the design to the Recon.

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  37. It'd be sweet if you spray-painted that yellow and added rubber gripping.

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  38. hey is there any chance you could make one for a raider? It'd be really cool and i'd appreciate it if you could. Thanks!

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  39. !zt,

    If you are talking about replacing the Raider's fore-grip handle with a shotgun-like grip, just shape a piece of polycarbonate to your requirements and bolt it on. Simple.

    Or save the hassle and just get a Nerf Alpha Trooper instead. :)

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  40. is it possible to do it for recon?

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  41. Hydroboii,

    Its possible, the same concept can be used, you'll just have to adjust the design to fit the Recon's casing.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Would it be possible to use a Recon upper moveable section as the shotgun grip, with the added bracers? That you you'd not require a heat gun.

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  43. LostTemplar,

    Its possible, you can use anything for the shotgun grip, just have to mod it to fit.

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  44. I'm very interestedi n making this mod, especially with some more detailing on the handle and bars, but i lack a heat gun, and it only seems to be required for the grip itself. Hence the queston. :)

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  45. Hey, I was wondering, could you mark on the diagram (or even just tell me some measurements) where abouts you need to heat and bend the plastic? I don't want to waste too many sheets trying to get it right.
    Thanks in advance.

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  46. Edward,

    Just refer to the photo in Step 3, it shows which parts need to be bent 90 degrees.

    The main section is simply heated evenly and bent in a semi circle shape, there are no exact measurements, just a matter of careful application of heat and bending until you get the ideal shape.

    Just practice on spare pieces if you are new to shaping polycarbonate.

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  47. Okay, thanks :) I was just worried because I wouldn't be able to take my longshot to school, where the tools to heat up the plastic are. I guess I can make minor adjustments at home with a lighter.

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  48. I've just had a look at buying some, and it seems really expensive. How much do you pay on average for the sheets?

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  49. Edward,

    Well, i get my polycarbonate sheets direct from a local supplier in large 8ft x 4ft sheets, then get them cut into smaller 1ft x 1ft sheets.

    The cost for a large 8ft x 4ft 3mm thickness sheet is around SGD$100, divided into 32 seperate 1ft x 1ft pieces it works out to around SGD$3+ each.

    The 6mm thickness sheets costs twice that amount at around SGD$6+ each.

    I share the extra sheets with other modders at the NerfSG forum so it makes sense for me to order them in bulk quantities.

    If the polycarbonate sheets were to be purchased in individual loose small pieces from hobby stores, then i guess the prices would tend to be double or triple (or more).

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  50. Hey, I managed to get hold of some polycarbonate for a relatively cheap price :)
    I was wondering, for the screw that goes through the charging handle points, does it have to be 4.5mm? The nearest sizes of screw that I've been able to find that are long enough are 3.5mm and 5mm. The problem I see with these are that the 3.5mm would be more prone to bending, and the 5mm might not fit. Would either of them be fine?

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  51. Edward,

    For Longshot boltsleds, the 4.5mm diameter long screws are the ones that fit properly.

    The 3.5mm diameter long screws might be abit too thin, the 5mm diameter long screws could work, you'll have to widen the thread-through holes in the boltsled for that to fit though, just make sure the process does not weaken that section.

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  52. Does heating it to bend it to shape have any safety hazards?

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  53. Edward,

    When using heating elements to soften polycarbonate sheets, it should be done in a well ventilated area as there will be fumes released during the process. It's recommended to wear a suitable respiration mask to further reduce the inhalation of the fumes.

    In addition, the work area needs to be free from flammable items or things which can get damaged by heat. The heated polycarbonate must also only be handled with heat resistant gloves or holders (they can burn bare skin if care is not taken during handling).

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  54. where do you buy polycarbonate?

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  55. D. Freck,

    Just check around the building & construction supplies companies around your area, find those that sell polycarbonate sheets.

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  56. Am I able to make the grip "boxy" like Captain Slug's? (Looks like |_| from the front) I wish to use screws and not glue, unlike Captain Slug. Am I still able to use the 3mm PC sheets for the grip, or something larger (if so, what size), and, what diameter screws should I use?

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  57. reuelckj,

    Sure, you can make the grip into a box shape, just heat and fold the polycarbonate sheets at right angles... if you have square hands. :)

    As for the machine screws, i use M4 size screws as they are small enough to fit the grip nicely.

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  58. Thank you for your quick reply, but, I was actually thinking of not using a heat gun at all. I was thinking of using 5 separate pieces and butting them together with screws, nuts, and bolts. The 5 separate pieces would contain the two arms, and three pieces to put together for the grip, hence, making a "boxy" shape as perviously mentioned in my above comment.

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  59. reuelckj,

    Oic... that's do-able too, you'll just need to use machine screws small enough to tap and screw into the side of the 3mm thick polycarbonate bottom grip piece, or if necessary just use a thicker polycarbonate sheet.

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  60. Would you personally recommend thicker sheets? And if so, what size?

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  61. reuelckj,

    Perhaps you could use a 6mm thick polycarbonate sheet for the bottom piece of your box grip, it'll allow for larger (and more secure) machine screws to be used to mount it.

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  62. That way, I could use 3mm for the sides! Thanks so much for the quick replies and help, I going to buy the stuff on Saturday and hopefully build it then.

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  63. I found it really hard to find a 4.5mm screw for the boltsled, is there any other screw I could use in replacement of the 4.5mm screw?

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  64. reuelckj,

    Sure, you could also just get any long screw or bolt that has similiar dimensions.

    If its too narrow, just wrap some duct tape to thicken it. If its too wide, then use a dremel to sand it thinner.

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  65. That duct tape idea is great, also, a final question of mine is how long should the screw be?

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  66. reuelckj,

    I guess 40mm (1.5 inch) length machine screws should be good enough for a secure hold. Longer would always be better, though the screw tapping alignment would probably require more accuracy.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Hi, I've been looking to make my own modded weapons for a long time, and have found your instructions to be most helpful. However, I have a question. I'm having a lot of trouble printing your template for the parts to scale, and I noticed that the measurements for the width of the arms was missing. without a to-scale printed template it is very hard to determine those measurements. Could you help?

    Thanks,
    SpaceGumby

    ReplyDelete
  68. SpaceGumby,

    Just print it out in A4 size borderless mode.

    If your printer can't do that, then you could just manually draw it out on a A4 size paper.

    For reference, the width of the arms is around 3cm (do a scale comparison with the 2cm part).

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  69. Can I use hot water to bend the polycarbonate?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jack Kurt,

      Hot water doesn't have high enough temperature to bend polycarbonate... you'll have to use heat sources with even higher temperatures.

      Delete
    2. Jack Kurt,

      Depends on the thickness of the p[polycarbonate... a hair dryer might be able to soften thin 1mm sheets enough to bend them, but for thicker sheets (>3mm thickness) you'll need to use a heat gun or heat strip.

      Delete
  70. can you use Plexiglas for it instead of poly-carbonate

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    Replies
    1. Eric Rataczak,

      Yes, you could use plexiglass (aka acrylic) to make it too... but note that plexiglass/acrylic tends to be weaker and breaks more easily when bent under stress, so you may need to use thicker sheets to compensate, especially for the support arm pieces.

      In addition, there is also a higher chance of it cracking when cut,shaped or drilled so you have to be abit more careful when working with that material.

      Delete
  71. Finally got around to writing that I finished. I used acrylic instead of polycarbonate for the arms since Lowe's only had acrylic that was super thick, but I did find a suitable polycarbonite for the pump handle. It was a proud creation when I first finished it :) It hit the gun's frame a little since we didn't have a pipe big enough to bend it around, so we used wood blocks, but it works great.
    Now, I want to put snowy camo on, but when I revisited this page, there wasn't a picture of the full gun that I could photoshop the camo onto as a plan. Could you take one of the whole gun?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous,

      Sorry, i've already traded off the blaster with the polycarbonate shotgun grip so i can't take a photo of it anymore.

      I guess you could just take a photo of your own modded blaster and do the photoshop from it. :)

      Delete
    2. Lol, I did just now and realized how hard it is to put camo underneath a pump. Thanks for your help. I'll get the camo on some time but it will take awhile

      Delete
  72. Was looking at the drawing of the parts & am I blind or is there a measurement of the arms missing? I plan on doing this some time today but don't want to screw up too bad. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. weasellad,

      The drawing of the parts are designed to be printed on a A4 size paper (borders print)... so the length of the arms are approx. 29.7cm.

      Just click on the drawing and print it out, then use it as the template to cut the parts out. :)

      Delete
    2. Ohhh. My bad. I saw that & didn't really comprehend it haha thanks for clearing that up for me.

      Delete