Modding out my GOW2 Replica Lancer

[morpheus1977]

Ok quick little back story. A couple of years ago they released Gears of War2 (GAW2). They also released a special addition through Amazon which included a Replica Lancer. Well when I recieved it, I was pretty excited, it looked really good. So I installed the batteries and pulled the trigger.................. I heard a whole lotta nothing. But I am sure most people here heard about that debacle and knew how to fix it, aluminum foil. So with that fixed I pulled the trigger. Needless so say I was a little underwhelemed. It sounded like a baseball card in bike spokes. So I put it back in its box and stored it away. Well over this past weekend I had an idea what if I added sound affects to it. I am sure I am not the only one who has thought of this and acutally done this mod. But this is what I would like to accomplish.
#1 Dremmel out the appropriate areas that are supposed to have light and add in some bright blue LED's and have them activate using a momentary switch that is depressed when you lock in the ammo clip.
#2 Add in sound cards for a chainsaw and machine gun sounds.
#3 I want to wire the sound cards in with the LED momentary so they cant be activated unless the clip is in place.
I know this is pretty big project but if done right I think will look and sound really cool. I would love some feedback and some advise.

This thread will be maintained as a progress thread with pictures..

[Crystal Chambers]

I have no idea what boards you refer to....how about a Blastercore?

[Rhyen Skytracker]

BlasterCores are as elusive as the CFs are. LOL

[morpheus1977]

I have no idea what boards you refer to....how about a Blastercore?

I have no specific sounds boards in mine I am just going to get an electronic toy chainsaw and sacrifice it to the mod gods and found a place online that has a sound card with machinegun fire sounds on it.

[morpheus1977]

after thinking it over I think the whole idea about having one switch operate both sound cards at a different time is going to be a little complicated so I think I am going to just have two seperate switches for the sounds.

[morpheus1977]

So this is how I invision this going together. You will notice I have nothing wired up for the LED's some guidance would be great on this one. comments and constructive crit is always welcome.

[morpheus1977]

So I finally did the first big step of this project. I took apart the lancer. After having to figure out where all the screws were hidden (I had to pry off a few decorative screws to get to them.) Needless to say I was not surprised by what I found.
First the before picture just a standard Lancer Replica
http://a.imageshack.us/img185/1973/1352827.th.jpg (http://img185.imageshack.us/i/1352827.jpg/)
this is just a close up shot of some of the decorative screws that had to be taken out. (not easy to do I can tell you that.)
http://a.imageshack.us/img818/4931/1352828.th.jpg (http://img818.imageshack.us/i/1352828.jpg/)

Well here it is the Lancer all opened up. Yea I dont think I have to worry about running out of space any time soon.
http://a.imageshack.us/img525/9366/1352831.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/1352831.jpg/)
Awww isnt that cute its the heart of the lancer. Well my lancer just flatlined because that sorry excuse for a sound producing device is gone.
http://a.imageshack.us/img265/10/1352833.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/i/1352833.jpg/)
This is just a shot of the other half of the shell.
http://a.imageshack.us/img834/7485/1352834.th.jpg (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/1352834.jpg/)
The trigger set up (gonna use this for sure. I kept all the wires attached will make my life that much easier.
http://a.imageshack.us/img163/4773/1352835.th.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/1352835.jpg/)
Plastic weights taken out (I guess they are trying to make it as realistic as possible. I might put a couple back in but the weight from my speakers should help.
http://a.imageshack.us/img137/4393/1352836.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/i/1352836.jpg/)
awwwww isnt that cute NOT!!!!!
http://a.imageshack.us/img842/8578/1352837.th.jpg (http://img842.imageshack.us/i/1352837.jpg/)

two totally gutted and empty shells
http://a.imageshack.us/img834/5218/1352838.th.jpg (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/1352838.jpg/)
Well thats all I can do for now untill I start getting parts in the mail and I pick up my LEDs.I hopefully will have an update in about a week or so.
Comments and constructive crit always welcome.

[Shadar Al'Niende]

I like when people do blaster mods, i personally would lose the saw thingie.... but it depends on what you are after. If you want this to look star warsy at all, get rid of it. If you are after just making the thing sound better (which it sounds like you are) then leave it as is. :D

[Skottsaber]

I think he wants to keep it as a lancer, just make it cooler.
So.... if I'm thinking right, its half chainsaw half machine gun?

[morpheus1977]

/\/\
Exactly want to keep it physically the same. (well except for adding the correct accent LED's) I just want it to sound way better than it did before.

[morpheus1977]

So these pictures show the lancer with the machine gun sound card installed. I still have to attach the speaker. But the empty space where the 9v sits fits perfectly.
I also tried my hand at wiring a few of the LED's and as you can see they all work AND I didnt fry anything I am so proud of my self *does the little happy dance* but I just wanted to post this and to thank everybody for your help and advice. Mind you the wiring for the LED's is just PRACTICE. It will look nothing like that when I am done.

[Rhyen Skytracker]

Very nice. Great job.

[morpheus1977]

thanks

[morpheus1977]

Well today had its ups and downs. I recieved my toy chainsaw and ......... a little disapointed. The only sound that comes off of the sound card is an chainsaw engine idle sound. When you pull the trigger to activate the blade all you hear is the little motor making the "chain" go around the gear. So.... Improvise Adapt and Overcome.I unsoldered the little motor that came with the chainsaw and resoldered the orginal motor with the counter weight that came with the lancer and it works beautifully. So that problem is solved. With that hurdle tackled I decided to play with a couple of my LED's I figured out what I was going to use for my diffuser. I wired up the LED's (not a single piece of black tape was used). I fitted them in the lancer inserted the diffuser and I have a really good lighting affect. I am very happy with this. Comments and constructive crit are ALWAYS welcome.

[morpheus1977]

So big step finished tonight. I wired up and mounted all of my LEDs. This project is comming along great I included a couple of pics showing off one half of the lancer lit up. I can't show both halfs untill it's finished. I should be able to finish the sound card mounting and be finished tomorrow night. I will post some pics and hopefully a video by fri.
I want to thank J-Lo,Rhyen Skytracker, Alreadyrogue,Corbin Das and anybody else who gave me advise on this part of the project. (who knows how many LEDs I would have gone through. I didnt fry a single one.)

[Ronan]

Nice dude!

[morpheus1977]

thanks I cant wait to finish this.

[morpheus1977]

So with my final two hours complete this project is finished I am really happy the way it turned out. I am even getting used to the chainsaw soundcard I got. But that doesnt mean I wont be keeping an eye out for a better one. Here are a couple of pics of me with the finished lancer and a couple of the lancer by it's self (those are alot better in my opinion LOL) I am hoping to take some video tomorrow so you can hear it. Please let me know what you think comments and constructive crit ALWAYS welcome.

[ARKM]

Looks pretty cool.... and mean.

[Ronan]

Nice dude, and nice trigger control ;)

[morpheus1977]

Nice dude, and nice trigger control ;)

Thanks LOL some habbits just dont go away.

[RevengeoftheSeth]

Thats one bad %$# %*%&@ &$@#*$&.

Would a red laser pointer be out of place on it?

[morpheus1977]

Thats one bad %$# %*%&@ &$@#*$&.

Would a red laser pointer be out of place on it?

The one on the game didnt have one. So I am not going to put one on. The only thing I may add that wasnt in the original game is the front sight wasnt illuminated. I might have to throw in one more led to light it up. That clear plastic is screaming for some light.

[RevengeoftheSeth]

It looks awesome, either way.

[morpheus1977]

So I uploaded a video of the lancer this is the first time I have done this so please be kind LOL.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/morpheus1977/Lancer%20review/th_Video62.jpg (http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/morpheus1977/Lancer%20review/?action=view&current=Video62.mp4)

[RevengeoftheSeth]

Nice review. I assume you made that for another website (judging by the handle you used).

I really couldn't tell it was your first.

[ARKM]

I like what you did with all the momentary switches. Very cool setup.

[morpheus1977]

Nice review. I assume you made that for another website (judging by the handle you used).

I really couldn't tell it was your first.

yea when I first signed up here at TCSS morpheus1977 was my gamer tag on xbox live. Well I got tired of all the morpheus/matrix jokes (thats not the morpheus I was thinking of when I came up with it LOL) I changed it about 10 months ago. To Bikerscout1599

Thanks for the complements. I was really nervous.

[morpheus1977]

I like what you did with all the momentary switches. Very cool setup.

Thanks I am really proud the way this turned out. It was sitting in a corner for the longest time. Now I have it hanging up on my wall.

[Onli-Won Kanomi]

Congratulations on a great review esp for a first time and I love what you've done with that Lancer. You've really brought it to 'life'. BRAVO!

[jin starkiller]

very cool

[Jedi-Loreen]

Good job, Rob. :D