A Collective Thread for All Them Guns

[Ramlatchet]

This is yet another NERF gun mod (nerf Maverick, to be precise), but this one is a bit more extensive than most (but less over-the-top than some). I have seen several that go no farther than spray-painting the gun gold. I'm sorry, but just changing the color doesn't make it truly steampunk! The gears and wheels came from "sprocket gear" packs sold in the scrapbooking section of an arts and crafts store, and the pressure gauge is cannibalized from an old tire gauge. The painting is brushed-on acrylics with final spray-coats of clear enamel. 

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The internal mechanisms of the gun are also modified: plastic tabs have been removed to allow the chamber to pop out further to the side and for the barrel to be spun quickly (google "Nerf Maverick Russian roulette mod"). Internal air restrictors were removed and the spring was stretched to give it increased range.

As this is my first posting on Brass Goggles (as well as first major Steampunk project), any feedback would be welcome.

[Parallax]

ugh...*sighs*

[Gazongola]

ugh...*sighs*

Oh god, don't start.

[T.Taylor the Third]

alright ...to spare you from others i shall give a critique of it .
I actually like the right side of the gun, the side with just the two gears and the valve. it looks functional not just random.
no the other side...well ... i don't like your use of gears  on that side they just seem random and serve no purpose, something that is genrally frowned upon, if you don't have the skill to make it actually do something make it look like it douse. Though there are a few exceptions to that rule in general its a good thing to go by.

But for a first build it is very good, i remember a day when every one would have said how amazing it was, now people expect more even from novices at the craft.

[Llrael]

Egads, people, you need to lighten up. Some people (myself included) lack the skill or the tools to build something from scratch, and repainting an existing object is a good way to start getting a feel for the craft.
It's incredibly disheartening to have a creation you've spent hours on be mocked for "not being original enough" or some other nonsense. Who are you to say when something is steampunk? In this case, Ramlachet even said that they were new to the forum and to steampunk crafting in general. Nice welcome, guys, nice welcome.

Right, that's that rant over. On to the gun! I really like the aged steel look the body has going, and also how you've picked out the screws in brass. I'm not sure about the blue bit at the back, it doesn't seem to fit the overall colour scheme very well. The brass is also a bit bright, compared to the steel -- a touch more black paint wouldn't go amiss.
In future, I'd also recommend filing off serial numbers and such, some heavy sandpaper usually does the trick. Keep at it!

[sanityattack]

Egads, people, you need to lighten up. Some people (myself included) lack the skill or the tools to build something from scratch, and repainting an existing object is a good way to start getting a feel for the craft.
It's incredibly disheartening to have a creation you've spent hours on be mocked for "not being original enough" or some other nonsense. Who are you to say when something is steampunk? In this case, Ramlachet even said that they were new to the forum and to steampunk crafting in general. Nice welcome, guys, nice welcome.

Right, that's that rant over. On to the gun! I really like the aged steel look the body has going, and also how you've picked out the screws in brass. I'm not sure about the blue bit at the back, it doesn't seem to fit the overall colour scheme very well. The brass is also a bit bright, compared to the steel -- a touch more black paint wouldn't go amiss.
In future, I'd also recommend filing off serial numbers and such, some heavy sandpaper usually does the trick. Keep at it!

Exactly what she said.

[maduncle]

That is a very good Nerf mod and particularly well done for a first time poster.

The paint effect is better than any attempts I have ever made with paint, and I do like the jaunty gauge angle.

Well done.

[Rockula]

Egads, people, you need to lighten up. Some people (myself included) lack the skill or the tools to build something from scratch, and repainting an existing object is a good way to start getting a feel for the craft.
It's incredibly disheartening to have a creation you've spent hours on be mocked for "not being original enough" or some other nonsense. Who are you to say when something is steampunk? In this case, Ramlachet even said that they were new to the forum and to steampunk crafting in general. Nice welcome, guys, nice welcome.

Right, that's that rant over. On to the gun! I really like the aged steel look the body has going, and also how you've picked out the screws in brass. I'm not sure about the blue bit at the back, it doesn't seem to fit the overall colour scheme very well. The brass is also a bit bright, compared to the steel -- a touch more black paint wouldn't go amiss.
In future, I'd also recommend filing off serial numbers and such, some heavy sandpaper usually does the trick. Keep at it!

Exactly what she said.

Exactly what they said. Well done, Chap.

[von Corax]

Likewise. I would be happier to see the gratuitous gears gone, but that paintwork is topnotch.

[Utini420]

While I also grow weary of the auto-responses of, "oh, another repaint," I think I'm just about as sick of the reverse attitude, that would evaluate every item like the judges at the Special Olympics.  Should how hard it was for the maker be a greater part of the evaluation than that which is made? 

That said: the paint work's not bad, the external gears are a bit too loud for my taste, but good on ya' for doing the Russian Roulette mods, they add a nice touch.

[Gryffin Amadaeus]

I'm not sure I totally understand the hatred of superfluous gears. Okay, yes, they don't serve any obvious point. But remove them, or other seemingly useless toggles, you lose some of the artistic asthetic that was so huge in Victorian times.
By no means am I saying add cogs and gears, they make steampunk. But something entirely without decoration looks, to me, like just a gun and not the combination of beauty and laser-based death I think steampunk guns should have to them.
I'm speaking as someone who has never had to make anything that is purely for use, so maybe it's just the artist in me rebelling against the loath for decoration, but I personally feel that a few well placed cogs, dials, toggles, what have you,  and a fantastic paint job can give a gun more personality than people really give credit for.

Good mod on the nerf gun. I see a lot of great mavericks, and enjoy knowing they're such a great stepping stone into the community and ideas. Keep working at it and you'll find your self making bigger, better, insaner things in no time.

[Utini420]

For my taste, and I specify this only because you ask, I want to see gears that at least look like they do something functional.  For the sort of Victorian flair you mentioned, I tend to prefer french curves, floral motifs, mother-of-pearl inlays, that sort of thing.  Just me, thougyh.

[Gryffin Amadaeus]

For my taste, and I specify this only because you ask, I want to see gears that at least look like they do something functional.  For the sort of Victorian flair you mentioned, I tend to prefer french curves, floral motifs, mother-of-pearl inlays, that sort of thing.  Just me, thougyh.

That entirely understandable. And if this was someones tenth gun and they still hadn't made any steps towards those kinds of ideas and changes, then I'd understand. But when you were first getting into making steampunk things, did you not feel the want to add gears, just because? Or is this something everyone has grown past and doesn't want to remember?

Edit: Guuuh, sounds like I'm trying to start an argument. I should keep my mouth shut.  

[akumabito]

...when you were first getting into making steampunk things, did you not feel the want to add gears, just because?

No, never

Superfluos gears that serve no purpose go into the same category as mandatory goggle-wearing and the overabundance of airship pirates..

Just my opinion, feel free to ignore completely

[Utini420]

For me, no, I hate non-functional do-dads, be they gears on a gun, or buckles on a boot that don't actually buckle anything (god, I hate that).  I don't think its so much something that people have grown past, so much as something people have just done before.  I'm trying to say this with no built-in value judgments, but we've been having some strife around here lately between those of more skill and those with less in terms of what makes a good toy gun and what makes for a good comment.

I sometimes think we'd be better off splitting things into a "hard core," and a "beginners" category for some of this stuff.  Its great and all for new folks to get encouraged, but the advanced folks need a place, too.

This whole issue reminds me of painting miniatures for war games -- you've got to encourage the new guys, and the hobby needs new blood.  And yes, army men painted green are better than totally unpainted figures, and this should be encouraged.  But some of us are painting on eyes and rank badges, so no, compared apples to apples the new guys work sucks.  He should be encouraged, but I'm not one to give a gold star just for effort.

[lady sakara]

Nerf Maverick - easy to come by but seen so often, there are so many Nerf models out there that are screaming for modding. I'd love to see someone mod the Bow that Nerf have.
BUT the paintjob is very good and i like the modifications you've done to the inside.

The gears - yes i prefer it when they look like they 'could' do something, even if they dont..Im not very wise on making thing actually do something, but ill try my hardest to make it look like they do something!

[Rockula]

I see a lot of posts about 'superflous' cogs and the like used for decoration.

And I see a lot of people saying how if it isn't functional then it shouldn't be there.

Can I just mention, as my own opinion obviously, that the whole concept of the Victorian era seems to be one of combining functionality with a style and beauty which is now lost because everything is merely bland and functional.

So, do those who oppose cogs as decoration feel the same about filigree or fine engraving. Surely that is also superflous. You don't 'need' it anymore than you 'need' a nice cabinet in which to hide your purely functional modern TV. But I'd certainly prefer one.

I can't see how being purely functional can be described as Steampunk. At all.

[lady sakara]

Cogs to me represent function over decoration. They can be decorative, but usually with victorian design they still did something. Look at old watches, the functions could be visible and be highly decorative, but they still were there to make the watch work.
Filigree, engraving etc is purely decoration. Those things were never meant to do anything else other than look pretty and enhance the aesthetic of the item.

[T.Taylor the Third]

I was trying to offer constructive critisism...i suppose in retrospect i should have focused more on what i did like than what i didn't.
As an artist i usually welcome critisism because it helps me to grow better, I suppose that perhapse not everyone is like that.
I do like the paint job,   

[Utini420]

"Filigree" is, in fact, the word I was looking for!  I love a little flair, when its a flair.  Cogs seldom (though not never) look like that, they either look functional or tacked on.

[CapnHarlock]

Very good paint-work, sir.

To sidestep any controversy, a way to "excuse" seemingly-superfluous gears/cogs is to include a wind-up key, with which to power the hidden clockwork springs that drive the entire process

[Utini420]

To make my criticism a bit more constructive, it looks like the gears on the right side could more believably be part of some greater mechanism, the gears on the left side much less so.

[Bong294]

As a first go I reckon it's pretty good. I mean give the man a break, as a springboard for a learning curve you seem to have made a great start. I sympathize, I'm new too and have fallen foul of the superfluous cog and gears trap too (still do it to some extent though !). I've taken on board helpful critisism which has (I hope) honed my skills and made me think more and be more creative. kepp it up :-)

And now I shall sulk.......... because my last post, with my latest gun build, was the last on page 92 and as such seems to have been overlooked, my bottom lip is so far out in it's sulk position it's almost touching the screen.
Okay I've rolled it back and shall continue to peruse the forum :-)

Regards
Bong294

[akumabito]

*Saves Bong's gun from oblivion*

Ladies and Gentlemen I present for you my recent development the "Blenheim BoarVapour" soon to be on it's way to my Son for Christmas................

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...............in the hope that you (and he !) will enjoy.
Regards

Bong294

That's kinda neat.. looks like a heat-ray of sorts. The grip looks pretty small though, but as it it for a kid, tht should be no problem.

[Captain Billbill]

Ramlachet, I think you have done a great job with the ol stanby the Maverick.. My only issue is that the gears on the left side might make it awkward for a right handed shooter. I have used those gears too, they are very handy. But overall great paint job, nice job.
(from one who has modded 4 Mavericks so far and has 3 more to go.)