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How to make a RPG-7 prop.by dom13marco on August 27, 2009

Table of Contents

How to make a RPG-7 prop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro:   How to make a RPG-7 prop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1:   Materials you will need. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2:   Making the Grenade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3:   Putting the grenade together. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 4:   Make the Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 5:   Still on the tube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 6:   The triggers and handles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 7:   Assembly and Painting! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 8:   Making the wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 9:   Final Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 10:   Voila! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Intro:  How to make a RPG-7 prop.Today I will show you how to make an RPG-7 prop for your own film, costume, or just to make on a rainy day. I chose the RPG due to it's distinctive look and because it'svery common in today's world and it's just plain cool. Now neighbor-scaring freaks or  movie directors can make a cheaper version without shelling out thousands.(ofcourse it won't look as real) The total cost of the project ranges from $20-$40 depending on the materials you have. History and technical information here >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-7   (yes i used wikipedia as a source of information)

I tried to make it to scale. I'm not sure of the exact dimensions, I just estimated.

Ok this is my first instructable, so bear with me folks. At times it may seem a bit confusing, so i'll try my best to clarify things.

And let me just say this now. IT DOES NOT SHOOT. However it could be easily modified to do so.

(Disclaimer: I am not responsible for anybody getting arrested or fined for anybody who uses this improperly or anything of that sort.)

Image Notes1. Yay RPG!

Step 1: Materials you will need.You will need quite a few items, lucky these are common and can usually be found around the household. If not, your local hardware or craft store should have them. Ifyou connot find the exact object you could easily substitute it.

Two 1.5" diameter, 2' long PVC pipes, or one 3' tube.1.5" PVC coupler1" diameter PVC tubePipe insulation clamps2 empty contact lense cleaner bottlesCardboardCheap Dollar Store gun2 wooden paint mixing stickselectrical tapePVC cementHot glue gun plus glue2 large styrofoam conesA bottle capContact paper with wood designAssorted spray paints and acrylic paintA plastic cupMod Podge

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Image Notes1. coupler

Image Notes1. Insulation clamps.

Step 2: Making the Grenade.Grab your Mod Podge and Foam Cones!

First, take your cones, and use a popsicle or craft stick to make indentations on the sides. You simply press while pulling down and make a line. I did four of these. If youare confused, see the picture below. Be gentle, the styrofoam breaks easily. Then, cut off the top of the foam cone about 1" to 1.5" down. Repeat the process on theother cone.

Here comes the long part. You must apply the Mod Podge to the foam cones. This is because the foam is so porous and spray paint will not apply well. Also, the spraypaint will melt the foam. You will need quite a few layers. Keep applying layers until all the holes disappear (you will know, it's easy to tell)

You can work on this (applying layers) while working on the rest of the RPG.

Elmer's glue with a bit of water should also work if you can't find Mod Podge.

Image Notes1. Press down while pulling the popsicle stick.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Image Notes1. One of four indentations.2. Another indentation

Step 3: Putting the grenade together.This step is assuming you finished applying the layers to the foam.

First, I attached the two cones together using toothpicks and popsicle sticks. I added tape around the outside between the two to hold it together. Also, I put a small metalbottle cap on the top.

Next, you attach the two cones to the 1" diam. PVC tube. I used a combination of tape and glue, then wrapped cardboard around it.

Now, take a piece of cardboard and make a bunch of squares. Yes squares. See the picture below. Each square is 1.5" x 1.5" Then draw a diagonal through it and cutthose suckers out. After cutting out all the little pieces, take two triangles, and glue or tape them together. Repeat for the rest of the triangles. Now you should have sixtriangles, each two pieces thick. Now glue them around the base of your grenade like the picture below.

See the last picture for other details.

Image Notes1. The other cone will fit on top of this mess of wooden things.

Image Notes1. Bottle cap2. Cardbaord, glue and tape.3. Tape around the outside.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Image Notes1. Arrange like this, I cut the tips off, you can leave em on or cut them, whateveryou want.

Image Notes1. Cardboard ring with electrical tape.2. Little cardboard details.3. Some cardboard to make tube thicker, so it fits well in the launcher tube.

Step 4: Make the TubeThe first thing you must do is attach both your PVC tubes. Put some PVC glue inside the coupler and attach both ends of the tube. Make sure it is all the way in and notcrooked because once the PVC glue dries, you won't be able to fix it.

My tubing was a bit long so I had to cut it down to size.

***Note you do not need this step if you have a single piece. Just cut it down. I'm not sure of the length so eyeball it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Step 5: Still on the tube.This is where you take your two empty contact lense cleaner bottles. You could probably use other things as a substitution such as cans. What you need to do is cut offthe top so that the PVC coupler will just fit through the hole.

Then on the bottom of the bottle, cut a hole so that the PVC tube itself will fit snugly. Please note that the coupler is a larger diameter, so the hole on the top of the bottlewill be larger than the hole on the bottom.

Next, I reinforced the inside of the bottle with cardboard because it was a bit flimsy. But it also helps keep the bottle on the RPG tube.

Now you must slide both contact bottles onto the tube. The larger end (top) goes towards the coupler ( the thing that joins the PVC tubes) If done right they should fitsnug and not require gluing.

Image Notes1. PVC coupler should fit through this snugly.

Image Notes1. The tube with bottles

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Image Notes1. Cardboard reinforcements.

Step 6: The triggers and handles.Take your cheap dollar store gun. Remove the wires and batteries if yours has them.I cut mine down to the desired shape. Then added cardboard to cover up the new open sections and make a trigger guard.

Then take the paint sticks. Cut them into four pieces in eqaul length, and glue those four side by side. so now you have a wooden mass. After that, for decoration, putsmall card board strips 1/4" wide up and down the handle. Sorry no picture. If you are unclear just ask and I will attempt to further explain.

Image Notes1. Cut lines

Image Notes1. Trigger guard.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Step 7: Assembly and Painting!Here, I have taken a cup, cut a hole in the back, and glued it onto the end of the tube. Also, I made some quick iron sights using bits of cardboard and metal. Howeveryou may want to save the cup until after applying the wood, because getting the pipe clamps on with the cup is difficult. ( you will see what I mean)

Give your RPG a few nice layers of black paint.

Then paint your rocket with olive drab green, and then some detailing in other colors. I added some electrical tape too.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Step 8: Making the wood.This is where you make the wood part of the RPG. It's not too complicated. My job was a bit sloppy though. All you need to do is wrap cardboard ( like a cereal box )around the tubing like so.

Im sorry there is not a full picture. I had to resort to MS paint.

Then you wrap your wood-patterned contact paper to around the cardboard. My wood was far too light so I added some layers of dark brown acrylic paint so that it lookedmore realistic and darker.

The I spray painted my pip insulation clamps black. You slide these over the wood and tighten them. I included a picture of their arrangement so you know where to putthem. (note: when you tighten them you may have excess clamp hanging out; you can just cut that off)

Image Notes1. Basically you want to creat this sort of shape with the cardboard.

Image Notes1. Finished wood.

Image Notes1. Acrylic paint.2. Note no cup yet

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

Image Notes1. Pipe clamps

Step 9: Final StuffSorry for the blurry picture. Now you spray paint the handles black with brown details. I hot glued both onto the launcher. And added some electrical tape around the frontend.

Now you probably want to attach that cup at the end mentioned in the earlier steps.

I also fashioned a quick scope, but omitted it from the instructable because I didn't like how it turned out.

Image Notes1. electrical tape (look closely)2. handles3. scope mount

Step 10: Voila!Here is the finished product. This picture also includes the crappy scope. Well there you have it folks, a replica RPG-7 for those on a budget! If any thing is unclear, feelfree to alert me and changes will be made! Note it's my first instructable so don't be too harsh!

Image Notes1. Yay RPG!

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

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Comments

18 comments Add Comment

 minimike229 says:  Jan 23, 2011. 6:18 AM  REPLYThat thing is so sick I found out a way to launch it with rubber bands but its not that good good first post

 americaneagle says:  Oct 8, 2010. 11:45 AM  REPLYwhat do you do with the paint sticks

 Landon Sullivan says:  Nov 22, 2010. 1:53 PM  REPLYThose are what the trigger guard was made out of.

 buffalobillshater411 says:  Nov 9, 2010. 2:09 PM  REPLYi will actually make it with an actual estes rocket engine. i will post pics of the completed rpg.

 Matrix-technician says:  Oct 26, 2010. 7:24 PM  REPLYYoyu should make an "ible" incorporating an estes launching controlor into this so you can shoot off the rpg with a solid fuel rocket motor in the back. 5 stars.YAY FIRE!!!WOOT!!

 NerfTech says:  Sep 26, 2010. 9:17 PM  REPLYGreat first post. Well explained with good pictures. I look forward to more.

 radimaida says:  Sep 2, 2010. 8:33 PM  REPLYi like it a lot but shouldnt the handle wood be the same as the wood in the back??

 barneythekiller says:  Jul 18, 2010. 10:53 AM  REPLYthis is so cool i hope the cops dont make me make one cone bright orange LOL good job

 TimmyMiller says:  Jul 9, 2010. 1:02 PM  REPLYyou should totally put an a instructable on hw to make a scope for an rpg.

 goggerbogger says:  Jun 5, 2010. 5:16 AM  REPLYlol, viola en voila is something different :p i'm working on this too for an upcoming video :D thanks for the instructable!

 dom13marco says:  Jun 5, 2010. 10:16 AM  REPLYGlad to help. Thanks for bringing up the viola, voila thing. I must have made a spelling error..

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-RPG-7-prop/

 goggerbogger says:  Jun 5, 2010. 11:06 AM  REPLYlolz, thanks anyway for the beautiful prop :p

 El Chucko Norris says:  May 30, 2010. 5:40 PM  REPLY Possibly the best "make a prop weapon" idea ever.

Beautiful job man

 fire_drakon117 says:  May 16, 2010. 9:51 AM  REPLY\m/ good job

 dinnertime8 says:  Apr 9, 2010. 4:12 AM  REPLY

 =^@                        wow............

 CaseyCase says:  Mar 22, 2010. 1:17 PM  REPLY Inspirational. I'd like to make a panzerfaust instead.

 dom13marco says:  Mar 24, 2010. 7:08 PM  REPLYYou know what? I might just have to try that

 lemonie says:  Mar 22, 2010. 12:49 PM  REPLYYou finished thing looks great, very much like the real thing.

L