Instructables user Marshon has shared a number of tutorials about making props and prosthetics. One of his recent walk-throughs is about making replicas of video game weapons using “junk.” By junk, he means everyday crafting sort of items that are accessible and inexpensive, such as cardboard, cereal box cardboard, craft foam, plastic pipe and fittings, and other things that might be in your stash of making and cosplay supplies. As you can see in the above photo, the finished product doesn’t reflect the materials.

He used a MA37 from Halo to demonstrate his techniques. As with similar builds, it all starts with reference images. Then Marshon used Posterazer to print the reference in order to craft a pattern. He says:

Your first task is to produce the main set of full sized plans. Use the Posterazor software to do this.

Here I’ve printed out the 8 sheets of A4 on thin yellow card, trimmed them and taped them together.

I would make two or even three sets of these plans. That way you can cut them up to use as templates for the main card structures.

In progress pictures below.

Get the full how-to at Instructables.