Z-6 Rotary Minigun From Cardboard

My name is Micah I'm 14 years old and this a Z-6 Rotary Canon aka Minigun I made out of cardboard. If you didn't know this gun is used by clone troopers in Star Wars the Clone Wars.

1.1mm non corrugated cardboard(cereal box cardboard)

2.3mm-5mm corrugated cardboard

3.Hot glue

4.Super glue(optional)

5.Sharpie or pencil

6.Ruler

7.Hobby knife and/or scissors

8.Cardboard tube(2" in diameter) If you don't have one you can just make one

9.Protractor

10.Compass

11.Popsicle sticks

12.(Optional) 3/4" dowel

13.Paper

Optional: You can paper mache some of the gaps or the entire thing if desired

1. Paper
2. White glue and water

Measurements are shown in the pictures and sometimes corrected in the instructions. Some of the measurements will be to long and will need to be trimmed down to length.

These are the main two pictures I referenced:

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/1/11/Z-6_cannone_blaster_rotante-SWE.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140112173825&path-prefix=it

https://cdn3.bigcommerce.com/s-s1ldxg/products/59107/images/60552/minigun__49064.1435789546.1280.1280.jpg?c=2

Initial Barrel Construction:(pic.1-6)

I used the backs of notebooks for my non corrugated cardboard and was only able to fit 2 or 3 of the pieces shown in pic. 1. You'll need two pieces for each barrel, with six barrels you'll need a total of 12 pieces(pic.2)(this was the only step I used super glue for). In order to get them glued together and circular I wrapped them around a 3/4" dowel to glue them. Cut your cardboard tube to 15 3/4" in length(pic.3). In order to find the placement of each barrel cut out a 2" circle and use a protractor to make 6, 60 degree sectors(pic.4). Use the template you just made and mark the placement of each tube(pic.5). Next starting from what will be the back of the barrel(right in the picture), make marks every inch(pic.6). You're last mark should be 3/4" away from the end

Adding Detail to the Barrel:(pic.7-11)

Next step is making 14 rings to wrap around the barrel(pic.7,). The first layer is shown in pic. 8 and the next two layers are in 9, 10. Starting with the shortest pieces(pic.8) glue them on the marks you made every inch. Then the next pieces(pic.9) and the last ones(pic.10,11).

Attaching the 6 Barrels:(pic.12-28)

Next pieces are the circles to hold the the 6 barrels in place around the tube(pic.12). The front ones have an inside diameter of 2 1/2" and an outside diameter of about 5"(pic.13). The six circles inside the bigger circle are 1/4" away from each side have a diameter of 3/4", and are spaced out every 60 degrees. You'll need two of them(pic.14). You'll need two of the back ones also which are the exact same just 1/4" bigger around(pic.15,16). The final piece for the back circles is a 1/4" ring(pic.17) with half circles every 60 degrees(pic.18,19,20). The front two circles are glued on flush with the front edge and 3/4" apart(pic.21). Use the barrels to line them up correctly and add spacers in between the two pieces(pic.22). The back ones are aligned the same on the back with the barrels and they're 1/2" apart(pic.23,24). Cut some non corrugated cardboard into strips to wrap around the circles and cover up the gaps(pic.25,26). The front will be 3/4" thick and the back one 5/8" thick. Once all that is in place glue the 6 barrels in place. The last step is to cut out the pieces in pic. 27 and glue them together 1/2" from the top of the 6 barrels(pic.28)

The Main Cylinder:(pic.1-6)

First things to cut out are four circles(pic.1), and a 15”x15” piece of cardboard(pic.2). Glue the piece of cardboard around the circles spacing them out evenly(pic.3). Then cut out two rings(pic.4), glue them on the front(pic.5) and wrap them with non corrugated cardboard(pic.6).

Adding Details(pic.7-22)

If you do the next step before you wrap it into a circle it will be a lot easier. Then make a grid with 8 1/2”x14” piece of paper as shown in pic.7,8,9. Wrap it around the front of the cylinder and make holes at all the marked crosses for circles(pic.10,11) and cut them out(pic.12). Unfortunately I didn’t do this step until I had already made it into a circle so I had to cut open the cylinder and put cardboard squares behind all the holes(pic.13,14). If you do use a weighty cardboard tube in the front like I did you might consider adding weight in the back to even it out. Make lines on the rear of the cylinder as shown in pic.15. Cut out 5 strips of cardboard(pic.16) and glue them in the designated areas. Pic.17 and 18 show the next piece to cut out but you’ll need to make the whole piece 3/4” longer(pic.19) and the inside cut-out 1/2” longer(pic.20). The next piece is pretty much the same. The measurements are just a little bit bigger(pic.21). You may notice the length is a little shorter because I didn’t have a big enough piece of cardboard. I just had to add a second piece that was 4 3/8” long(pic.22).

Handles(pic.23-49)

First up is the back handle and trigger. Cut out six of the pieces shown is pic.23, leave an extra inch on the end of 4 of them, and glue them together(pic.24). Also cut a the two outside pieces 1/4" thinner and bend the edges(pic.25). Cut a hole in the back of the cylinder a little over 2"(pic.26). Shape the trigger however you want, make it 4 layers thick and glue it on(pic.27). Cut out two circles 4 1/2" in diameter, cut notches in them the same height as the original circle and about 1/8" thicker on each side(pic.28). Then cut out six rectangles(pic.29) with a slight slant from the center on one side and space them evenly around the back(pic.30). Add a couple spacers on the side of the handle(pic.31) and then cut out the piece in pic.32 and glue it around(pic.33,34). Cut out 6 of the piece in pic.35(three for each side) and glue them together. Also cut out 2.5 of the pieces shown in pic.36,37(two whole ones and one half pic.38) for each side and glue them together. Glue the two sections together for each side(pic.39). Then make five rolls of paper each with one 8 1/2"x14" sheet of paper(pic.40,41). Cut two of them 5 1/8" long and glue them to the back of the handle as shown in pic.42,43. Glue the other three toward the front(pic.44,45). Make one more roll with five pieces of the paper and glue it to the top for the actual handle(pic.46,47). Glue the whole handle the back of the gun(pic.48,49 are the glue points).

I Don't Know What This Piece is:(pic.1-12)

The pieces to make are 24" long and shown in pic.1 with the measurements in pic.2,3(make two of them). the bottom is also 24" long(pic.4). Glue the sides onto the bottom(pic.5) and supports in between the raised parts(pic.6). Cut out the two notches shown in pic.7,8 and add one more cardboard layer of height to the back(pic.9). Reinforce the bottom with popsicle sticks(pic.10) and then glue it on(pic.11,12).

Ammo Clip:(pic.13-21)

(x2)Piece one is shown in pic.13. Cut two out and glue one right next to the front and the other one 2 5/8" away(pic.14). The piece in pic.15 goes on top and the one in pic.16 goes in front(pic.17). The piece in pic.18 is the sides of the actual clip while pic.19 is the top/bottom and picture 20 is the front(pic.21).

Final Assembly:

The last piece to cut out is shown in pic.22. Glue it as shown in pic.3 and finally glue the barrel to it.

That's it, hope you enjoyed and let me know if you make it:)