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Does anyone have experience with making life-size bolters or anything of the sort? as i'd like to have something to do over the holidays.

Given that you live in the UK, have you considered going to Warhammer World? They've got a cool metal "lifesize" stormbolter replica there, and maybe they'd be willing to let you take measures - or even tell you how it was made.

Buy a big gun shaped bit of wood and then go to a plumbing shop and buy bits

A long time ago a military friend of mine showed me a custom conversion ki a guy did t for I think it was a AR-15.... but anyway it basically put the casing of a bolter full size over a regular rifle, essentially giving you a "real" albeit incredibly "underpowered" Boltgun, the guy who did it didn't post any directions or anything but it was cool nonetheless, I think he made it out of carbonate or steel

 Lynata wrote:
Given that you live in the UK, have you considered going to Warhammer World? They've got a cool metal "lifesize" stormbolter replica there, and maybe they'd be willing to let you take measures - or even tell you how it was made.

There's a lifesize bolter in the hands of a Marine statue, as well - the damn thing's almost as long as my entire arm and as thick as my torso. I'll have to see about digging out the pictures another time. Regardless - unfortunately I doubt anyone there could tell you how they were made. They were created YEARS ago so they'd have been done either by staff that have long since moved on, or are part of the Studio who you won't be able to speak to.

There is a quote attributed to John Browning, arguably one of the best firearms designers of all time, when asked how he designed a gun, he said (paraphrased) "I take a piece of metal and mill off anything that doesn't look like a gun"

You know what a bolter looks like, so the design is sorted.
You need to decide if you want it to be functional or merely decorative.
If it has to be functional, I'd start looking in toy stores for Nerf guns and the like as a basis.
If not, get some plywood/MDF and a Jigsaw and get to it.

This one?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Sorry about the sideways pic, phone plays up sometimes!

How about a full size chainsword.

 marv335 wrote:
There is a quote attributed to John Browning, arguably one of the best firearms designers of all time, when asked how he designed a gun, he said (paraphrased) "I take a piece of metal and mill off anything that doesn't look like a gun"

Or a similar quote attributed to Michelangelo.