Could there be a more awesome way to recycle than building your own steampunk and sci-fi rayguns? Here are some of the best!
Image: CitizenSnips
For those whose ears perk up like alien antennae at words such as
“steampunk” and “sci-fi,” no retro-futuristic accessory of space war is
as exciting as that staple of every cultural staple from ’50s B-movies
to today’s video games: the raygun.
Image: CitizenSnips
These fictional energy weapons have been the stuff of kids’
imaginations for decades, but they say boys never grow up, and on this
evidence the maxim is true. Unbeknown to many, there exists a subculture
of replica raygun making, whose heroes — or “hack modders” — are busy
building their own pistols and rifles of the future out of practically
anything they can find. Geeky? Unashamedly. But it’s good news from a
recycling perspective — and even better news if you still quietly make
the sound effects when nobody’s looking.Pneumatic Aether Disperser Raygun
Image: Tinkerbots
Named the Pneumatic Aether Disperser Raygun, this wonderfully lit-up,
if potentially deadly, little contraption is the handiwork of the
gloriously talented but ever-graceful Dan Jones, a leading light in the
subculture of replica rayguns — particularly those of a steampunk bent.
Dan heads up Tinkertron Weapons Industries, and this particular product
from his armory was, he claims, developed “in the early annums of the
previous century,” and is “the last known fully functioning weapon of
its kind.”
Image: Tinkerbots
“The Aether Disperser has only recently been deemed safe (enough) to
be displayed in public,” Dan continues; but believe not everything he
says — except when he drops the mask of weapons specialist wizard and
offers a window into the inventive recycling that goes into making each
assemblage sculpture. Does the circular piece in the front look
familiar? It’s from an old meat grinder; the part perforated with holes,
meanwhile, is a knife cutter. Simply genius.
Atomic Disruptor Raygun
Image: Cohophoto
This neat little pistol jumps straight out of the pages of futuristic
fiction — and, if you were a collector of such items, ideally straight
into your hand! Named the Atomic Disruptor by its creator, Cohophoto,
this “home-brew raygun” is a wonder of the sci-fi imagination that
wouldn’t look out of place on the set of Star Wars, but also a wonder of recycling, made as it is entirely out of disused camera and radio parts.
Image: Cohophoto
The pistol grip is actually the handle of a super-8 movie camera, an
8-mm projector lens forms the barrel, while power tubes and wires from a
vintage radio make up the other bits and pieces of this gun. “Does it
work?” asks Hack n Mod. “Nah, but that’s not the point. Steampunk is all
about obtaining that perfect vintage look to show off and this gun does
provide one heck of a visual blast.” Couldn’t agree more. You can see
more shots and construction details here.
Extruder Raygun
Image: Nathan Luoto
Simply dubbed “Raygun,” this nice piece of work from Nathan Luoto is
another would-be weapon of the future built out of found items. Already
worked out what it was in its previous life? What if we were to say
“cookie extruder” gun? The handle on the back is the giveaway — although
it’s led some into thinking it was formerly a caulking gun. As for the
scope — perfect for targeting those pesky aliens — well, that’s real,
folks. This replica’s creator claims to have been inspired by the
rayguns of Paul Loughridge, himself a luminary of the subculture.
Retromancer Raygun
Image: Sproutlaw
For the cover of his 2009 novel, Retromancer, esteemed
writer of all things sci-fi and fantasy Robert Rankin created this
cool-looking raygun, images of which were posted on his Fanclubs forum.
If you’ve read this far you’re probably in agreement that half-decent
replica rayguns of any description are just about the most awesome
collectibles the geeky man on the street could indulge in, but it’s
comforting to know that this hobby is not beneath bestselling authors
either — far from it.
Image Sproutlaw via Greenlaunches
The disked muzzle of this supremely steampunk piece of notional
weaponry used to be half a hookah pipe, while a load of old radio parts
and half of a toy box full of Meccano make up the rest. Does the Meccano
spoil the gun’s overall effect? You decide, but go easy on Rankin, a
novelist who also creates illustrations for his books as well as many of
the sculptures for the covers. Retromancer‘s is a world where
the Nazis won World War II by nuking America and only time-traveling
hijinks can put things right. A raygun would be just the thing to arm
yourself with if embarking on such escapades.
Steampunk Raygun Model 81
Image: Tom Banwell
This super cool antique raygun from Tom Banwell, an artist who has been featured on 1-800-RECYCLING before,
is another slice of steampunk we wish we had the means to imagine, let
alone manufacture. It’s quite a traditional-looking weapon — very Flash
Gordon, we’ll venture to say. Yes, we can almost see a death ray
emanating from the nose of that contraption, en route to vanquish Ming
the Merciless from the face of the planet Mongo.
Image: Tom Banwell
Complete with particle accelerator, pulse delineator, stabilizer fin,
power generator, exhaust port, trigger and not only a leather grip, but
also its very own holster, this really is a finely crafted piece of
work. Knowing Banwell, a guy who trawls junkyards and garage sales in
search of parts to adapt to his various vintage designs, you know this
is a recycler’s, as well as an aesthete’s dream. And, sure enough, as he
revealed to 1-800-RECYCLING: “The recycled parts in the raygun are a
faucet, trophy part, chess piece rook, lamp part, a dial and an air
nozzle.” Nice work, Tom.
Mass Effect M8 Avenger Assault Rifle
Image: Harrison Krix
This astonishingly lifelike weapon was created by Harrison Krix, a
designer and replica props maker whose builds are derived mainly from
movies and video games. Here we’re in the territory of action
role-playing game Mass Effect, a feast of space exploration set
in the year 2183 — which, like other such games, has provided a galaxy
of inspiration for makers of futuristically themed DIY guns. The
accuracy with which this replica takes after the game’s M8 Avenger
Assault Rifle is pretty special — and it cost just $28 in raw materials,
with recycled bits and pieces more than playing their part.
Image: Harrison Krix
Krix reckons 95% of the gun came from scrap he had in his workshop
from other builds, though this piece took some serious skill to make,
involving the use of rotary tools for cutting and beveling the gun from a
sheet of MDF board. Among the other parts that found a new lease of
life in this death weapon of the future were spare LEDs for the
illuminated muzzle flash, pieces of red translucent acrylic from an old
IKEA mobile to further tint the lights, an aged banister support for the
cylinder master and an old ballpoint pen for the smaller barrel.
Image: Harrison Krix
The final brushstrokes make the gun looks well used but also cared for, and, voilà, M8 Avenger Assault Rifle. Check out the full build instructions if you dare to try to create your own here.
Fallout 3 Replica A3-21 Plasma Rifle
Image: CitizenSnips
Greasy, glinting proof that the tools of war can be a thing of beauty
— at least if left in the realm of fantasy — this quite incredible
piece of work takes our top spot hands down. The attention to detail is
insane. A replica of the A3-21 Plasma Rifle from the highly popular and
hugely addictive action role-playing game Fallout 3— set in a
post-apocalyptic 2277 — this beast of a ballistics weapon is definitely
the sort of thing we’d want to arm ourselves with if nuclear holocaust
had come to pass and radiation-plagued enemies needed to be eliminated.
Image: CitizenSnips
What’s more, it isn’t just recycling the virtual idea of a weapon
into something solid: this 20-pound gun was made with various recycled
parts, including copper fittings and PVC connectors as well as bits of
MDF, with colored LEDs used to create the lurid green glow that
illuminates the rifle’s portholes and extends right down to its nose.
However, it wasn’t only the work of creator and all-around energy weapon
specialist Ryan Palser; the paint job he concedes he owes to his wife,
who added the marks that make the gun look so weathered and dirty.
Image: CitizenSnips
You can see the whole construction process here
together with close-ups of the finished product, which, for a gun born
of a computer game, looks staggeringly real and ready for action.
Prepare for the fallout!See the above full original story here: http://1800recycling.com/2010/10/rayguns-recycled-materials/
Steampunk Inspired Recycled Nerf Guns
Reusing Nerf guns certainly isn’t dangerous, but it is a lot of fun!
Image: Meandmunch at DeviantArt
There’s a very special glee to be had as a child, charging around
your home and spraying your friends, siblings and pets with Nerf darts.
However, there comes a time when everyone has to wonder what to do with
their toys — to toss or to give away? Actually, there’s always a third
option: recycling! These amazing, custom-built works of art have been
upcycled and modded to the core: No longer are they simply the day-glo
kids’ toys that they started life as. Instead they have become mean,
lean, sci-fi weapons, which (importantly) will do very, very little harm
to anyone!Imperial Stub Gun
Image: Joel Moon
Featuring a gigantic cylinder and suitably bulky frame, the Nerf
N-Strike Maverick is a tried and tested favorite in the world of Nerf
modding; after all, this is the kind of Nerf gun Hellboy would wield.
This particularly stunning piece has been created by Joel Moon, modeled
on an imperial stub gun from the Warhammer 40,000 universe — and
featuring an imperial crest and tags, as well as an impressive paint
job. To add to all that it still works — making this recycling in full,
firing action!Longshot
Image: SocialZombie
After some mean paintwork and some heavy trimming, this is what a
Nerf Longshot can look like. However, the modifications aren’t just skin
deep; SocialZombie explains: “I mod nerf guns to shoot farther, harder
and I paint them.” That involves extensively reworking the insides of
the gun to boost its power before carefully resealing and rebuilding it.
“These things can knock one of your teeth out from 15 feet after I mod
them,” SocialZombie adds. Err, nice, as long as you’ve got a good
dentist! However, she does also say that they’re quite not as nasty as
paint gun ammo.Nerf Vulcan EBF-25 WWII
Image: Meandmunch at DeviantArt
This really is one dangerous-looking piece of hardware, but it’s
actually surprisingly close to the original Nerf Vulcan, the toy gun
turret with which to snipe your friends! As Nerf master craftsman
Meandmunch comments, however, the bright yellow and orange of the
original was “hideously colored.” One metallic paint job later and the
Nerf gun looks like it’s come straight from the D-Day landings. However,
Meandmunch has much more to show us…Nerf Longshot CS-6 WWII
Image: Meandmunch at DeviantArt
Another one of Meandmunch’s works, this gnarly sidearm from his WWII
mod series combines a futuristic barrel with a distinctly
contemporary-looking set of sights. Like the Vulcan, however, this mod
is very close to the original in appearance — but with this amazing
paint job, you could imagine that Meandmunch had hand built it straight
out of a video game. With this fantastic but simple piece of
repurposing, you couldn’t imagine what the Longshot might originally
have been — but it’s perhaps best not to take it outdoors lest you scare
the neighbors!Lancer
Image: Forsakenangel_24
Believe your eyes: That’s a toy chainsaw attached to the front of a
Nerf Longshot. This piece recreates a Gears of War Lancer rifle — a kind
of turbo-powered bayonet for the action hero of the future.
Image: Forsakenangel_24
Repurposing two distinctly innocent toys courtesy of a custom paint
job, extensive internal and external rebuilding and the addition of an
array of LEDs, and Forsaken_angel24 has upcycled one rad piece of
equipment.Nerf Maverick Mod
Image: Luke Piburn
Remember when we said the Maverick would be coming up again? We
weren’t kidding. DeviantArt user Luke Piburn has taken his own spin on
the Maverick by making it distinctly spikier, as well as attaching a
real axe head below the Nerf blaster’s barrel — though it’s not too
sharp! It’s also not the only Nerf gun to get a little bit sharper,
either.Victorian Gothic Maverick
Image: OldJunkBoutique at Etsy
If you’re looking at the pipework or fittings attached to this
steampunk firearm, rest assured, they’re not original to the Nerf gun.
There’s even a torch attached to the barrel should you want to take a
pop at your friends in a dark corner! Recycling and repurposing is at
the heart of creating steampunk artifacts — taking devices whether new
or old and putting a science fiction spin on them. Nevertheless, we’re
not too sure about the Old Junk Boutique’s claim that this unique piece
originates from 2053 — though it certainly is an amazing recycled piece
of art.Firefly
Image: SocialZombie
This stunner is a beautifully repainted Nerf Firefly, with every
facet of the plastic mold turned into a piece of futuristic metallic
detailing — and a second of SocialZombie’s pieces. If you were
wondering, yes, SocialZombie is another Warhammer fan: The guns are in
fact intended to be reminiscent of the high-tech Warhammer 40,000 “bolt
gun look.” Those would be the gigantic hand guns wielded by the
superhuman Space Marines. Does it work? In a word, yes. Some of the guns
have even been coated with the paint used for Warhammer miniatures.Nerf Halo Rifle
Image: Meandmunch at DeviantArt
You might be able to see a pattern emerging… This fantastic design is
modeled on the battle rifles used by the Spartan supersoldiers of the
Halo universe. Strictly speaking, the rifle is intended to look like a
prototype of the weapons seen in the series. The attention to detail
here is stunning: note the UNSC (that’s the United Nations Space
Command) tag, just next to the toy weapon’s original Nerf branding.
Another one of Meandmunch’s creations not to be taken down a main
street!Nerf Deploy Pulse Rifle
Image: Meandmunch at DeviantArt
This industrial pulse rifle looks like it would comfortably fit into
the hands of a James Cameron hero (whether in post-apocalyptic Terminator or the worlds of Alien or Avatar — any will do). Complete with shoulder harness, this is one phenomenal paint job!Steampunk Fashion Nerf Mod
Image: Steampunk Fashion
When Evelyn Kriete made this spectacular Maverick mod,
incorporating an amazing metallic brass and turquoise paint job, her
husband realized he would quite like a steampunk Nerf-sidearm of his own
— hence this particular beauty. With the addition of a clock face and
cogs, and an astonishing restyling, this looks very much like the real
thing.Steampunk Alien Nerf Gun
Image: OldJunkBoutique at Etsy
This funky piece features a whole host of unique features, from a
skull and crossbones insignia and a heap of clockwork, to a working pair
of torches and a compass for the Nerf enthusiast worried about getting
lost!
Image: OldJunkBoutique at Etsy
Its makers, Old Junk Boutique, carry a whole range of hand-built
steampunk designs; we’re told this repurposed piece is also the work of a
time traveler. If scores can be settled with Nerf darts in the future,
something good must have happened!Nerf Stampede Spartan
Image: Meandmunch at DeviantArt
Meandmunch explains that while making this masterpiece he was suffering from “Halo: Reach fever” (that would be an obsession with the latest installment in the Halo
video game franchise for those not in the know; refer to previous
entries for more information). Note the amazing personal touches added
to this model, including the scuffed paint and bullet damage on the
shield guard, which seems rather more useful in this light! In
Meandmunch’s mind, the Nerf Stampede’s design sits somewhere between the
Spartan laser and the assault rifle seen in Reach: “I’m sure
the folks at Nerf plan it… preying upon the helpless fanboy
subconscious,” Munch speculates. Well, they do seem to capture the
imagination of the modding community!The Boss
Image: Red Ranger Ray Guns at Etsy
According to its description, The Boss (nothing to do with
Springsteen) originates from circa 1887, and was carried by the
Special-Ops branch of the Texas Rangers to combat railroad pirates.
Image: Red Ranger Ray Guns at Etsy
This modded Nerf Nite Finder features a dial, clip trigger and
wood-effect handle, and looks somewhat like the kind of tool Doc Brown
(from Back to the Future) would be using to fasten rivets to his flying steam train.Nerf Recon Snub
Image: Meandmunch at DeviantArt
This amazing piece is a Nerf Recon with a heavily modified barrel and
sights, as well as a copper and matte black finish. The barrel of the
original toy was sacrificed for the Longshot mod (no. 11 here), while
the stock almost didn’t make it either, as the artist was considering
turning the weapon into a giant, apparently Hellboy-style pistol. In its
improvised new form it almost looks like a grenade launcher… Play safe
kids! And remember, keep your projectiles soft and padded!If you like the look of these, check out our article “Seven Replica Rayguns Made from Recycled Materials.” You can also buy Meandmunch’s work on eBay and Red Ranger Ray Guns’ and OldJunkBoutique’s work at Etsy, or check out the Steampunk Fashion site or SocialZombie’s site or DeviantArt work.
See the above full original story here: http://1800recycling.com/2010/11/recycled-nerf-guns/
See the above full original story here: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/09/steampunk-inspired-nerf-gun/
