My son loves his nerf blasters, so I am building him this nerf target gallery for (insert winter gift giving holiday of choice here). It has a competition tree, 3 shelves of knock-down targets, integrated dart storage, and a blaster safe (cabinet) with a combination lock that he can pick the combo, (and change with my help)
I am building the case out of MDF... I am a professional industrial designer and design furniture with the stuff all the time... it's better for the environment (it is made from sawdust and woodglue) and more dimensionally stable than plywood... and quite sturdy if you use it correctly. The only downside is that it is heavy... You can stain MDF and it looks really interesting I use the water based stain with polyurithane in it... and you can even add faux grain by leaving streaks in the stain... or you can seal it with a primer (it soaks up primer) and paint it.... just wear a dust mask when you cut it... and make sure you get the formaldehyde free variety (not sure they sell the other in the 'states anymore) the other advantage over plywood is --no voids and no need to edgeband... you can just sand the corners or route them with a profile. My plan is Poly Staining dark walnut or darker.
For the knockdown targets I am re-using DVD cases... they also work great as kid safe photo frames... see my thing:3321894
Eventually I may add knockdown target reset/ random popup targets and scoring... but only if I can find someone who wants to do arduino programming... not my forte.
Cut list and plans assume MDF (coming soon)
but you can use plywood and edge banding too... (just subtract the thickness of the banding from your cuts (x1 for one edge, x2 for both edges (like on a door)
---WORK IN PROGRESS-- full plans coming soon.
if you build it in this configuration, you need to print:
2x Tree support
6x Tree spinner body
6x Tree target
2x target stand small for each freestanding knockdown target. Use Target Stand Small for normal nerf blasters... for mega blasters and other strong shooters use the bigger one.
total filament used... approx 250g
(combo lock to be designed)
Other materials required:
two sheets of plywood or formaldehyde free MDF (I am using MDF)
6 pieces of 1/4" hardboard or plywood 5" x 5" (for tree targets) or you can print them
wood glue (I like titebond 3)
nails or screws
paint or stain (and edging if plywood and desired)
1 piece of 1/4"-20 allthread (36")
12 R4-R2S bearings (1/4" ID)
12 1/4" washers
24 1/4"-20 nuts (or 12 nylock if you want to work harder)
hasp and lock for blaster case, or you can wait for the combo lock I am designing for the project
10-15 empty DVD cases for knock down targets
two hinges (3d printed or purchased or repurposed)