TFA FWMB-10 Megablaster build

[Shrapnel[TK]]

First up... thanks to Clint for his great build, his 3-D files and for inspiring me to have a go

So I figured I'd post some photos of my megablaster build. I didn't take that many photos so it's more to show the work in progress than a how-to, but hopefully it adds some extra details about this great BFG.

 

EDIT: I thought it would be more helpful if I ordered my posts, describing each section as it was built, so I've updated and re-ordered my posts.

Some research I did on the blaster...

• TFA Visual Dictionary - a great shot of the blaster, but not all details are visible.

Here you can clearly see a lot of useful details, such as the sights on the barrel, the barrel vent holes, screw positions on the barrel, the rings around the rear part of the barrel, the trigger, the telescopic monopod behind the trigger area, the grooves around the stock, screws on the stock, plus the overall shape and angles of various elements like the vent boxes behind the trigger area. We can see now with all this extra information the differences between the screen-used blaster and the Sideshow toys blaster.

 

• The megablaster appears a couple of times in TFA. I got the best screenshots during Poe and Finn's escape from the Finalizer.

 

This shot is useful for showing the upper box screw positions, plus more detail on the vent boxes behind the trigger area.

 

• Screenshot from behind #1

 

This shot was good for showing the overall square shape of the vent boxes from behind, and also how they only extend out to the side by a small amount.

Also another angle of the barrel sights and the round detail on the upper box.

 

• Screenshot from behind #2

 

After editing and boosting the contrast, more details become visible. Grooves along the stock and the positions of at least 4 screws on the stock (similar to the Sideshow toys blaster).
Also visible is a small hole on the rear of the vertical white plate that separates the blaster body from the stock.
I'm guessing that this is a bolt hole to hold the folding stand in place.

Also note the inner barrel that can be seen through the 4 holes on the main part of the barrel.

 

• Firing detail and ?telescopic monopod detail. A good if blurry action shot showing the red lights in the barrel vent holes.

 

What is interesting about this shot is that it looks like the telescopic stand is partly extended - check the photo below.
Extending over the trooper's codpiece is a long vertical black bar, which appears to be connected to the stock of the blaster.

Compare with the telescopic monopod in Billhag's photo below.

 

Photo from Billhag showing black telescopic monopod extended from blaster stock:

 

 

 

First thing I did was make some estimates of measurements by comparing the length of my real-world thigh armour to the photo of the trooper's thigh armour in the Visual Dictionary. After measuring the blaster photo, I could scale up these measurements to real-world measurements.

 

Then I sketched the blaster base life-size on paper:

 

 

Making a model in Sketchup so I could play with dimensions and get a good idea of how the blaster should look in 3D:

 

 

Cutting it out of 18mm pine:

 

 

Adding 6mm multiplex to widen the handgrips, then sand down to create angled profile:

 

 

Shaping the stock. I added 2 x 6mm panels on each side to widen the stock:

 

 

Etching the double grooves along the stock:

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Edited October 2, 2017 by Shrapnel
Update broken link

[Shrapnel[TK]]

For the top components, I built cardboard models based on the dimensions of the Sketchup model.

 

Test-fitting Clint's 3D printed parts:

 

And the finished top module.
I padded out the inside with extra wood, so it just sits tightly on the body of the blaster.

 

The top box was built using 6mm multiplex wood.

 

The circular detail was cut using a round 55mm drill saw in 1.5mm plastic.

 

I then bondo'd all the edges and sanded smooth.

 

 

And then after all that thinking, I needed a break so started work on the barrel.

Edited May 13, 2017 by Shrapnel

[Shrapnel[TK]]

And got the barrel put together over the last couple of days:

 

The white cone-shape for the muzzle was made from craft foam, after experimenting with paper discs to get the right shape.

 

The 3 vent holes on the side were a pita. Lots of dremel work and sculpting with bondo to get decent shapes.

The taper from wide barrel to narrower muzzle was made from a child's plastic cup.

 

Sights were cut from scrap plastic. I based it on what I could see in the Visual Dictionary but am not sure if the shape is exactly correct.

 

The finished barrel.

Edited June 25, 2017 by Shrapnel

[Shrapnel[TK]]

EDIT... photo moved to previous section.

Edited May 13, 2017 by Shrapnel

[TK 19989 - Carlos Javier[TK]]

Hey buddy, I am researching to make a scratch build myself, but I've only references from the sideshow figure. Think you can help a trooper out with some measurements of your build?

 

 

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[Shrapnel[TK]]

Hi Carlos,

Are you in the FB FO stormtroopers group? Thought I saw your name there a while back.

 

Anyways, here are the dimensions I used. They are all estimates. What I did was measure the size of my FO thigh armour in real life. Then, using the photo of the heavy weapons trooper in the TFA Visual Dictionary, I measured his thigh armour in millimetres. Divide one by the other to get a conversion number. Then I measured the blaster in the Visual Dictionary photo and multiplied by the conversion number to get a real-life size estimate.

All sizes in millimetres.
This was my plan, but some measurements got adjusted here and there as I went along.

 

Edited May 9, 2017 by Shrapnel

[Shrapnel[TK]]

Just got the barrel finished. Now working on the boxy vent part behind the trigger. Hope to get that finished this week.

 

[TK 19989 - Carlos Javier[TK]]

Hi Carlos,

Are you in the FB FO stormtroopers group? Thought I saw your name there a while back.

 

Anyways, here are the dimensions I used. They are all estimates. What I did was measure the size of my FO thigh armour in real life. Then, using the photo of the heavy weapons trooper in the TFA Visual Dictionary, I measured his thigh armour in millimetres. Divide one by the other to get a conversion number. Then I measured the blaster in the Visual Dictionary photo and multiplied by the conversion number to get a real-life size estimate.

 

All sizes in millimetres.

This was my plan, but some measurements got adjusted here and there as I went along.

 

Wooow fantastic! That will definitely save me from having to make bad estimates thanks a million

I'm not in the FO stormtroopers group, but I would definitely like to join! I also am gathering references for the vest worn by the heavy gunner so it would come in handy to be around more FO troopers

 

 

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[Shrapnel[TK]]

I made 5 heavy weapons vests last year. Your best bet is to get a Flyye Law ENF vest via ebay, take it apart and convert it. I can send some instructions if you're interested - it is a little time-consuming but it's not hard to do. Just some measuring, sewing and riveting.

 

Here's a photo of me and my vest. I've upgraded it with side pouches since this photo was taken.

Edited May 11, 2017 by Shrapnel

[TK 19989 - Carlos Javier[TK]]

Actually, that's the picture that got me the itch to make a heavy gunner FOTK if you have a link to those instructions for the vest that would be the bomb, but I think we will make it from scratch through a girl that makes a lot of the soft goods for our garrison. References though, are always worth diamonds

 

 

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[Shrapnel[TK]]

I actually got to look at a photo of a screen-used vest laid out on the ground, so the details of the straps were quite clear.
Here's a photo I took while making my straps - hopefully it shows enough detail.

Left of the measuring tape are the parts you need. Measuring tape is in CENTIMETRES!

Right of the measuring tape are the finished straps.

 

 

 

And a close up of the vest:

 

 

Pouches (although I heard they are supposed to have elastic across the front)

 

And just for the record... screenshot from TFA...

[Daetrin[Admin]]

Wow, awesome details. Thanks for sharing the pix

[Shrapnel[TK]]

Got busy this week cutting and building the angled shapes between the trigger and stock. What I call the vent boxes.

Using my Sketchup build, I made a cardboard model of the vent box area.

 

Based on these dimensions, I cut out all the parts required from 6mm multiplex wood.

 

Then glued and nailed it together.
I designed it with a groove cut through the middle so it slides onto the blaster body as one component.

This means that the flat plate at the bottom is one solid piece with no cuts or joins. Just creates a neat and tidy finish.
A top plate cut from plastic will then be bondo'd over the top.

 

There is a small angled block between the vent boxes and trigger area. I cut and shaped this from one block of wood.

As with the vent boxes, I cut a groove through the middle so the block slides onto the blaster body.

 

.

 

Edited July 11, 2017 by Shrapnel
New photo

[Shrapnel[TK]]

Progress so far...
The bulk of the build is complete. Still working on the area between the stock and the trigger - need to complete some details there, then bondo the area and get it ready for painting.

 

[Shrapnel[TK]]

Some photos of the megablaster so far. At some point I'd like to add a scope and maybe stand, but the project is on hold over summer due to holidays and other commitments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[RankAndFileTrooper]

This is truly crazy, going to be one of the cleanest design heavy blaster! It certainly looks awesome, I'm looking forward to see the finished model. Do you intend to put electronics inside to light up the barrel on firing. THat effect would look excellent in the long barrel. I could well imaging doing it with neopixels.