Custom cases for custom nerf guns

January 6, 2009 1:43 PM

How can I make a really cheap foam-lined case for a nerf (or other) rifle?

For my brothers birthday, I am working on an EXTENSIVELY modified nerf recon (performance mods, added springs, all sorts of rail addons, probably a paint job). This is the model that breaks down into individual parts... I want to make a custom foam padded case for the parts, so I can give it the sniper-rifle-in-a-spy-movie treatment. Bonus if I can make it look at sinister as possible.

I have a very limited budget to work with - All of the mods have been done with PVC scraps and what I can find at the discount hardware store. Ideally, I could do this for under $20- I don't care how much work it takes on my end.

Any ideas on how to do this?

(He's turning 35, so yes, this is completely ridiculous)

posted by MysticMCJ to sports, hobbies, & recreation (9 comments total)

What size are you looking for?
posted by niles at 1:47 PM on January 6

Previously.
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:53 PM on January 6

You can buy hard-shell rifle and shotgun cases at every sporting goods store that I've ever been in (eg Cabellas, Dicks, Sportsmans Warehouse, etc, and I think Walmart sells them, too). Usually it is a hard plastic outer shell, with foam inside. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and I've paid as little as $9 on sale for one, so you don't need to spend a lot of money.
posted by Forktine at 2:00 PM on January 6

Those pick-and-pluck foam sets are great... but that's way above my budget.

Something along this size would be perfect: http://www.foamerica.com/1700-weapon-.html

and that's actually everything I'm looking for, but I have a hard time justifying a $170 case for a <>
That hot wire cutting technique is awesome - and definitely something I'd be willing to do.... I just need a cheap source for the foam and the case itself.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:04 PM on January 6

Forktine: I had no clue those came for so cheap... Looks like a walmart trip is in my future.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:05 PM on January 6

You are an excellent brother.
posted by bonobothegreat at 2:20 PM on January 6

Get an old violin case (or guitar case or old beat up saxaphone case or whatnot for the 'old country' assassin look) and some foam sheets from your local foam company (they usually sell foam mattresses but also do custom cut jobs)? For a cheaper source of foam, lots of scientific instrumentation comes wrapped in really cool black/grey foam - do you know anyone who just got a new operating grant?
posted by porpoise at 3:00 PM on January 6

I'd just wander around Bass Pro/Cabela's/Sportsman's Warehouse/WalMart until I came across a case on sale for cheap. Conventional firearms deer season is recently over in most parts of the US (I think), and Christmas just passed, so you can probably get one on clearance.

Especially if you aren't concerned with a quality case to protect a $1000 gun.
posted by Netzapper at 4:46 PM on January 6

So you have a better sense of what is available, here is the entire range of gun cases sold by Cabelas. Two that look appropriate for your needs, depending on dimensions, are this one and this one. One is $15, the other $30; prices anywhere should be similar, and better if there is a sale or a coupon of some sort.
posted by Forktine at 6:48 PM on January 6