Raygun beginnings. Help appreciated.

[dimus]

I acquired yesterday from the Aetherbay an awesome gun stock made from wood/solid metal. It was apparently custom modified by a guy who used to build crossbows and you can certainly tell from it's design.


I've also acquired a 34" brass hunting horn. Im thinking of combining them like the pic below. That's as far as my ideas have got at the moment, though I'd like a hand grip towards the front which would add to the crosbow look.



I really need to do the stock justice. Any help / suggestions are more than welcome.

I have a few other ideas for it too such as installing an electronic whistle (120db) and a laser hooked up to a trigger

My girlfriend reckons the metal on the stock looks like the back of a dragon with the trigger guard looking like a claw. As such I'm not sure whether the design should be sci-fi or go down the more organic route.

[Capt. Dirigible]

It's certainly a beautifully crafted stock and I completely understand why you would want to do it justice with a decent build. You could add some brass tubing..a brass telescope as a telescopic sight.

If you do a Google image search for 'steampunk rifle' you'll see hundeds of variations that may inspire you.

[Capt James Salt]

Wow.  Beautiful piece.....

[Mr. Hatchett]

That's gorgeous.  You'll definitely want to saw the mouthpiece off the horn and cap it somehow.  The void in the stock is just begging for a pair of spheroid ampules of green liquid (one nested in each lobe of the heart shape) and some other greebles in front that imply an injection system into the main body of the gun.  If it were mine I'd also keep a sharp eye out for something with a similar gesture to the metal cladding on the front of the stock that I could use to unify whatever I did up top with it visually.  If I had the means to do a casting in soft metal and felt really ambitious, I might sculpt a gargoyle for a barrel shroud, with the flared end issuing from its mouth.

[dimus]

All great ideas.

Some nice glowing vials in the hole particularly so. With some copper tubing coming out of the top into the main body.

I like the telescope idea too.

I've not received the horn yet (ooh matron) so I think my scaling is a bit out as it's 34" long so will definitaly need sawing down. The mouthpiece may be able to be used for something else.

I'd actually love a gargole/dragon head design but I've never done metal casting before. Might keep my eye out for an ornamental piece that would work.

[dimus]

I've got the horn!



Luckily it splits into two and the remaining piece is the exact length required.

The mouthpiece end will be used as the barrel of a smaller handgun for my girlfriend.

The laser and brass telescope have arrived. Brass tubing, electronic whistle and varoius other bits 'n' bobs ordered.

Will post more WIP pics as and when.

[SPBrewer]

The mouthpiece end will be used as the barrel of a smaller handgun for my girlfriend.

What did she do that was so terribly wrong?

[dimus]

A few pictures of WIP.

I've changed the barrel design using a brass fire extinguisher as the body.



Also added crossbow style hand grip and pressure guage.



Gubbins added to the handle.



Also great news is I've got a letter giving me permission to take it to the Secret Garden Party festival next month.

[dimus]

[Otto Von Pifka]

I bet the krakens shat briquettes when you brought that out of the gunny sack.

very nice indeed!