Introduction: Vampire-Hunting Gun Prop With UV Bullets

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About: Eric J. Wilhelm is the founder of Instructables. He has a Ph.D. from MIT in Mechanical Engineering. Eric believes in making technology accessible through understanding, and strives to inspire others to learn …

For Halloween 2008, I was a vampire bounty hunter that specializes in killing my own kind. I traveled to New Orleans -- which is sort of vampire mecca -- and the hunting was spectacular. Here, I document how I made my Vampire-Hunting Handgun with UV bullets and cartridge prop, which was inspired by the UV-weapons in the movie Underworld.

Step 1: Start With a Suitable Toy Gun

I chose a Nerf N-Strike Maverick, which is quite an amazing toy for only $8.

Step 2: Disassemble the Gun

Disassemble the gun and figure out how to fit some lights inside.

Step 3: LEDs and a Battery in the Barrel

Putting the LEDs and a battery into the barrel allowed the barrel to still rotate and advance when you pulled the trigger. I cut slits in the side of the barrel with a Dremel to allow light come out of the sides, in addition to the front. I had to cut away portions of the barrel to get everything to fit.

I soldered six white LEDs in series with a resistor, switch, and a 9 volt battery clip. Each LED was then hot glued into position within the barrel.

Step 4: Cut the Gun to Fit a Glow-Stick

Cut holes in the handle so that a glow-stick fits into the gun like a cartridge.

Step 5: Spray Paint

Spray paint the body black and the trigger and other highlights silver. I also did a light coating on the inside, so no yellow would be visible along the seam of the body.

Step 6: Dry Brush Silver

Inspired by many of gmjhowe's paint-jobs, I dry-brushed silver to give the gun a worn look. I found it most effective to spray silver paint into a small puddle, dip a paintbrush in the puddle, then paint newspaper until I was barely transferring any further paint. Finally, I would use the almost-dry paintbrush to highlight the edges of the gun, and any other exposed surfaces that would likely be worn.

I also sanded off the Nerf logo on the gun's slide.

Step 7: Reassemble the Gun

Note how the barrel still rotates.

Step 8: Hunt Vampires

Crack the glow-stick, switch on the LEDs, and hunt down some vampires.