Kyle Katarn's Bryar Pistol V2

I was approached by (More like barraged by!) someone on the cosplay forums to make this for them.

He provided This as a reference:

Some of you may remember way back when I made this. It was the first prop gun I ever made (If you don't count the sentry) It looks very similar to this one as they are supposed to be the same thing. but there are many conflicting sources on how this piece looks, and those sources themselves are scarce. Fans like Koda Vonnor and Arkos have had to fill in the blanks. This version is the Arkos version.

I very rarely build the same things twice, but since this doesn't share a single part with the first one, I decided to give it a go.


Bare with me here. Most of my pictures for this build were taken on my cell phone. My cell phone isn't with us here today thanks to.... "neurological issues".

Luckily I snapped this picture in its raw material build up before primer. That should tell half of the story. The other half of the story is cutting out all fo those #@%$^@^ circle vent things and the spacers that go between them, all by hand. (I don't believe in the laser cutter yet have access to several)

Styrene, MDF, tubing. nothing new here.

Last time, the tip was made completely out of styrene. This time I cut out the tip and notches in MDF, then laminated both surfaces in styrene.

To get the organic lines above the grip, I called up my friend Bondo.

The reference didnt have grips, just a checker pattern on the handle. I added these because they would compliment the brown on the top of the gun.

Primed up

By alternating styrene and MDF circles laminated together, I would get much more precision than using a lathe for the top "heat sink" (Wasn't fun to sand though!)

Did the basecoat in black, then espresso brown for the top and grips.

Oops. Forgot about those countersunk screws...

One more for the books.

Till next time!

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Team Fortress 2: Scattergun and pistol

So, Last Halloween was the first time I decided to dress up as a scout for an event. (This is right after I finished the FAN. I was going through a scout weapon withdrawal.  To get my fix, I rushed together a scattergun in one day. It surely wasn't up to my standards (no bevels, sights, and had an incomplete front grip) but it was a hell of a lot faster than making another FAN. The Basic shape is based off of Fev's incredible build of the gun. I didn't make templates for this guy, I simply tweaked Fev's photos into perspective on Photoshop for the views.

Scattergun reference:

The pistol was originally for a client who backed out. Then it became a personal project! woo! I wanted to do the pistol in a way that had never been done. 

Pistol reference image: (Its the one on the bottom)

Then much later down the road, Wondercon came along, and I decided to finish it up. I decided to go last minute with some new friends, so I dig this thing out of a box and remade the ejection port, sanded the old paint off, added the sights, etc.

Of course I later realized that I was out of grey montana brand paint that I use to paint my TF2 stuff. So flat black had to do for wondercon!

Then Pax East came up, and I had to jump back on this project. I sanded all of the paint off again, did some bondo touch ups, and put new paint on it. I finished the scattergun 45 minutes before I had to leave for my flight to Boston! I finished the pistol the night before. Phew!

Anyways, long story short, This was supposed to be a throw away Halloween prop. Then I polished a turd! I didn't take many progress pictures because I didn't intend to post it when I started it. (The scattergun, anyways. As far as the pistol goes, I simply didn't take a lot of pictures because the changes are so minuscule.)

Pistol beginnings :

Loading ramp for the "round"

Insides of slide halves sanded for a tight fit around the barrel.

To the Scattergun!

Barrel slots

6(?) mdf circles laminated together

Spring loaded cocking handle!

Grip Parts

Primered handle assembly

Moaaar primer. New sights!

Sanding off the paint from the quick Halloween job. 

Final Pictures:

On top of the moving slide and open breech, this thing can take a magazine loaded with inert .45 rounds. I was inspired by Mike Iverson's earlier gun builds. 

The couple. I love how this picture came out. (above)

If you like my work, please please follow me on facebook! I have WIP photos quite regularly now.

for high res desktop photos, a select few of my photos are hosted here: http://zanderwitaz.deviantart.com/

Lastly, I just launched my own website/domain. Check out www.zprops.netwww.zprops.net for a summary of my projects.

Bonk!

Team Fortress 2 Photoshoot

I've been working as a designer full time lately, so I haven't been able to expand on my props much. These are some photos that cross over between my FAN, level 1 sentry, and scout costume. I went back and added them into their respective postings, but feel like a new post would give them the light they deserve. (thanks to my awesome photographer, of course) A lot is "old" and some is new.

I've been at starbucks for hours editing photos for my portfolio as well as my photographers. (I went back and added some final  M29 photos, and M96 photos. you should check the out!)

Anyways, In case you didn't know, This cosplay is based off of the TF2 scout. And yes, the headpiece is scratch built as well. (MDF, of course.)

here he is in his original glory :     (followed by me being a geek)

Some of these are available on my deviant art in hi-res for desktop photos
http://zanderwitaz.deviantart.com/

And another big thanks to Emilio Arias for the pictures.