What could be better than a Nerf war? How about proceeding it with a "mod party"? At our most recent family reunion, in addition to the traditional rock painting, this year we modified Nerf blasters and then had an epic family Nerf war. You can too! Here is how.

Supplies

This project doesn't need to be expensive. If you check thrift stores, you can find all sorts of Nerf blasters that need loving homes. Here are some that work well for this project to keep your eyes open for:

Disruptor (these are also available new on Amazon for under $10)
Rebelle Sweet Revenge
Mega CycloneShock (can be found new on sale for $15)

You will also need some supplies:

Spray paint (Rustoleum or Krylon work well on plastics)
Green scrubbers to scuff shiny plastic
Screw drivers
Sandwich bags or cups to hold parts
Drop cloth to keep table clean.

For the actual battle, you will need some darts and eye protection.

Adventure Force dart refills are available at Walmart and are well regarded for price and accuracy.
Ebay is a good source.
Dollar store sunglasses work well for eye protection.

Optional:

White lithium grease for plunger tube and friction surfaces.
Upgrade springs for older kids.
3D printed accessories

Step 1: Disassemble and Prep

Nerf blaster internals are complicated. Take a good reference photo of the internals once you get it open. You will need it later. I also have a video to help with the Disruptor.

Keep track of everything. Especially those pesky springs. Everything inside the blaster has a purpose, and if you don't put it back, it will not operate as it should.

Having a spare blaster for parts and reference is a good idea. Kids will loose parts. A couple of bucks for a set of spare parts will pay off.

All shiny surfaces must be "skuffed" up for the paint to adhere. Green scrubbers are inexpensive and will do the trick. So will medium grade sand paper.

If you have time, wash and dry the shells. A compressed air duster will also help remove particles for a better paint job.

Step 2: Paint

Paint the inside first. Why? Because it is good practice, and will get the edges so they don't show.

Use short burst at a distance of about six inches. Keep it light and quick so it doesn't run and will dry fast.

Keep it simple and stick to a couple of colors. You can provide coloring pages with markers to help the imagination.

Magic markers can be used to add details or just put the owner's name on it.

A final coat or two of clear finish will help protect the paint and details.

Step 3: Reassemble

Time to break out that reference photo.

Check the operation before putting all the screws back in.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth . . .

Use a little lithium grease on all sliding surfaces.

Upgrade springs are inexpensive and can significantly improve performance, but will make it difficult for younger children to prime the blaster.

Step 4: Battle!

There are a lot of variations of Nerf battles, but with younger kids it is fun enough just to shoot at each other or at targets.

Keep it safe:

Aim for the stomach.
No point-blank shots. Keep your distance to increase reaction time and reduce dart energy.
Wear eye protection.
Keep it fun for the kids. Let them have the victories!

I hope this helps you with your next event. Let us know what your ideas are and share photos!