Scout Trooper – DLT-19x Targeting Rifle – Weathering, Completed

Final Work…

Now that all of the parts are completed, and can be assembled, I did several layers of weathering. First, I applied a wash of dark brown acrylic and wiped most of it off. Next was a wash of iron oxide acrylic, which was also wiped off. By applying a wash, and then wiping it off, it tends to stay in the crevices, creating actual wear patterns. After the washes were fully dry, I applied three different colors (light gray, dark brown, and red-brown) of “fullers earth” with an old paintbrush into all of the cracks and recessed areas. The “fullers earth” also gets applied, and then wiped off. Adding all of these layers of weathering really helps the piece you’re working on “come to life”…

Here’s a shot of the left side (with a 48 inch ruler for scale)…

Here’s a shot of the right side (with a 48 inch ruler for scale)…

And, here’s a detail shot…

Time to get this approved!

Scout Trooper – DLT-19x Targeting Rifle – Scope Attachment, Completed

Coming Together…

I want the scope to be removable, so I’m going to attempt to embed rare earth magnets…

The next day, the KwikWeld on the bottom of the scope was fully dry. I placed some plastic wrap over it, and then added the magnets that will be embedded into the top of the rifle assembly. The plastic wrap will keep the next application of KwikWeld from sticking to the first application…

I placed KwikWeld in the top part of the rifle, and stuck the scope on, squishing the magnets down into it. I then taped it all together so it wouldn’t move while it dried…

Scout Trooper – DLT-19x Targeting Rifle – Scope Attachment

Coming Together…

I want the scope to be removable, so I’m going to attempt to embed rare earth magnets…

To prepare for the magnets, I used my Dremel to carve out some indentions into the bottom of the scope. Then, I used pop sicle sticks to make a rough “form”, holding it in place with rubber cement…

I then used KwikWeld to make a base, and pressed the magnets into it. This was a VERY tricky task, since the magnets kept wanting to go together, and the metal in the KwikWeld also wanted to stick to the magnets. Once the KwikWeld began curing, it made it easier to get everything into position. After it hardened up a bit more, I removed the excess around the magnets so that their faces were clearly exposed…

Scout Trooper – DLT-19x Targeting Rifle – Adding Barrel Details

For Accuracy…

I was doing some research and ran across a post on the Pathfinders forums that mentioned there should be thin wires on the outer barrel, around the heat fins…

I picked up some black, 18 gauge floral wire…

I then wrapped the wire around the barrel. In the files I used, the heat fins have little notches where wire is supposed to go. This is the short section…

And, here is the long section…

This is a detail shot of how I just made a simple connection at the bottom of the barrel…

Scout Trooper – DLT-19x Targeting Rifle – Weathering, Continued

Final Work…

Giving it the “well used” look…

It was now time to add in the final stages of the weathering for the scope. I first used the black and silver “Rub n’ Buff” and a heavy bristled paint brush, only applying it in one direction. This sort of gives the effect of machined metal…

Once I was happy with the look, I locked it in with dead flat clear coat…

After the clear coat was dry, I applied more black “Rub n’ Buff” to tamp down the machined metal look…

Then, it was all locked in with dead flat clear coat…

Scout Trooper – DLT-19x Targeting Rifle – Final Inner Barrel Assembly

Coming Together…

I want to have the rifle able to be disassembled for transport. To do that, I need for the copper part of the inner barrel to be attached to the wooden dowel. I need to make sure everything is nice and straight…

To get the wooden dowel centered in the copper pipe, I chose to use four toothpicks to serve as shims. I drove them in, equally spaced…

I then applied KwikWeld into the end of the copper pipe…

Once the KwikWeld was dry enough, I trimmed it all down…

The same process was then used at the other end of the copper pipe. I now have the copper pipe perfectly centered onto the wooden dowel and is also set in place where it needs to be for full assembly of the rifle…