here i will show you how to make the M41-A pulse rifle as seen in Aliens.
it's a 2hr in total process but longer if you do more details. it's a quick pulse rifle for a last minute marine costume and is made up of cardboard and duct tape. enjoy!

Step 1: You Need:

CARDBOARD (QUITE A BIT OF IT TOO)

A PULSE RIFLE TEMPLATE

A USCM LOGO (optional)

THE AMMO COUNTER SCREEN DECAL

GREEN DUCT TAPE

BLACK DUCT TAPE

PVA GLUE

Step 2: Let's Get Started

PRINT OUT THE PULSE RIFLE TEMPLATE. PRINT IT OUT TO BE 89CM. MEANING YOU’LL HAVE TO DO IT IN SECTIONS.

START BY PRINTING THE BARREL SETION, THEN FROM THERE, PRINT THE TOP RAIL SETTION, THEN THE STOCK AT THE BACK, WHEN YOU’VE DONE THAT, PRINT THE AMMO SECTION AND THE HANDLE SETION. ONCE THAT’S ALL PRINTED, FIT IT ALL TOGETHER, SOME BITS MAY OVERLAP BUT THAT’S FINE. JUST FIT IT TOGETHER AS THE PULSE RIFLE LOOKS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS:

Step 3: Step 2.

WHEN YOU’VE DONE THAT WHOLE CONFUSING BIT, START TO CUT OUT THE INNER AREAS OF YOUR PULSE RIFLE LIKE THE RAIL AREA, JUST BE CAREFUL. WHEN THAT’S CUT OUT, START DRAWING AROUND THE TEMPLATE ON THE CARDBOARD AND CUT IT OUT ON CARDBOARD. CUT OUT TWO TEMPLATES OF THE PULSE RIFLE THAT IS THE SAME. YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS

Step 4: Step 3

Once both templates were cut out, start making it 3d. I’d recommend making the strips about 3 inches wide for the chunkiness of the pulse rifle. As you go around the pulse rifle, just cut strips to the size and keep width the same. You should have this.

Step 5: STEP 4

Now what I did on this step was cover the whole thing in black duct tape, then did green duct tape on the greenish areas.

BUT, I think doing paper Mache with 3 layers of it first is a better idea. It stops many problems and it’s harder and more durable for use.

Step 6: STEP 5 (MY METHOD ANYWAY)

I did the black duct tape as an under layer first then grabbed a reference picture of a pulse rifle so I could do the green (ISH) areas right.

Step 7: STEP 6 (IMPROVED VERSION)

Now do a base layer of silver paint on the paper Mache model. Make sure it’s gloss silver. When you’ve done both sides gloss silver and they’re dry, with putty, start dotting areas with it and let it dry for 24 hours. Now do a layer of black all over the rifle, when that’s dried on both sides, masking tape off any area you are not painting green ISH. When the green ISH has dried, remove the putty and you should have a battle scratch effect.

Step 8: STEP 7

Again with the reference picture, take your PVA glue and do a cover on the back of your ammo counter and find where it needs to be on your pulse rifle, stick it down and leave it for an hour. After that your pulse rifle is done.