White back ground, wireframe of design, purple writing saying: Longshot Zelda Ocarina of Time

Introduction

 

Welcome! This is the Final version of my fanmade, unlicensed build of the Longshot, found in the Water Temple in Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Whether you’re a cosplayer, a maker or just someone who appreciates a good Zelda gadget, I hope you enjoy this build!

 

This Final version marks the finish line: tested, functional and ready to be shared. It’s the version available as STL files.

 

If you spot the phrase ‘Zelda OOT longshot prop’ suspiciously squeezed into a sentence here or there, that’s just me doing my best to serve the Google Greater Good (…greater good) while juggling all the design, building and documentation solo. I don’t really know what I’m doing with SEO, and I don’t have the wherewithal to learn, but let’s just say “organic placement” now includes in this intro and a few other slightly obtuse locations.

 

If you prefer your builds in video format, I’ve uploaded the build to both TikTok and YouTube.



Keep scrolling to dive into the full text and image build of a Zelda OOT longshot prop.

 

 

Render of Zelda Hookshot Longshot next to each other Render of the Longshot.

 

 

 

Build

 

 

All parts of this are being printed in standard grey PLA. This was one of my last projects using my Creality “Charizard” CR10 Max before a major problem with it required a new printer.

 

Three image collage of the Zelda OOT longshot prop being printed at different stages

 

 

As I needed to play around with a few chain sizes, I wanted to get the barrel of the body equipped with something to fasten them in place. While the original plan was to use brass inserts, pressed in with a soldering iron, I changed my mind and went with small metal hooks. The hooks were held over a flame for a few seconds before being gently screwed into the recesses in the design. Once cooled, the hooks were solid and capable of holding the small amount of weight I needed them to.

 

A collage of images showing the small screw hook attachments to hold the chains later

 

 

I tried a few different chains and loosely assembled the Zelda OOT longshot prop to make sure everything fits nicely. It wouldn’t be possible to directly copy the chains I used with the Hookshot previously. Due to the varying look and size, I would need to use a little experimentation.

 

Different chains beng tested on this Zelda OOT longshot prop to see how they look

 

 

After a few different legnths and thicknesses, I found it! This is the look! 2mm * 12mm links, 10 metres of chain total. The weight is much higher with a thinner, longer chain when compared to the normal hookshot. Couple that with the model itself also being longer, and the handle is taking a lot more stress! 

 

But that is the exact look I was hoping for, and it all fits together beautifully! Oh hey, look at the Symmetra Turret in the background, that’s conveniently placed for an internal site link!

 

Longshot assembled to check the sizes, still raw in grey PLA

 

 

Boo, now time to sand it. No fun words of joy, only doom, doom and sanding! Sanding and doom, and of the two I prefer the doom.

 

Longshot prepped to be sanded after being loosly assembled

 

 

Back and forth, layer and prime, add and remove, forever!

 

Mid sanding of the Longshot from Zelda, Ocarina of Time. The item is laid out half sanded with thbe sandpaper in front of it.

 

 

High Build Grey Primer going on top of Grey PLA does not exactly make for the most dynamic of images… I miss my default yellow filler primer! But this is the last step before moving onto the Finish!

 

Part of the sanding priming dance, all pieces are being primed with High Build Primer in grey. Grey paint on Grey PLA, no too easy to see the difference.

 

Finish

 

 

Without exception, every part of this build needs a solid undercoat of Gloss Black. Whether it’ll ultimately be blue, purple, silver or gold, it’ll all need this step first!

 

All parts of the Zelda OOT longshot prop have been spray painted gloss black

 

 

Metallic Purple for the body, Metallic Blue for the base and and unfortunately, chrome for the metal work. The original plan was to use the Alclad airbrush series of metallic chrome, but hardware failures later prevented that… 

 

All parts are gloss black with their respective colours byt their parts: chrome for the metal work, and blue and pruple for the body parts.

 

 

Once coloured, the blue and purple sections both received a layer of Clear Laquer for protection and durability. Using the holes for the support rods means the parts can be easily painted and varnished by using 4mm wood dowel.

 

All parts that need the clear laquer are assembled for the varnish layer.

 

 

These two parts look incredible! Now that these parts are protected, we can do the most impactful tasks! Next up, it’s time to add the chain! First thing was to take the four 2.5 metre chains and create a 10 metre chain. I used a bit of wire to thread between two links a few times and create one long chain; the joints were largely invisible.

 

The main body of the zelda OOT longshot prop, coloured and varnished. Next to it is the chain and the metal rods

 

 

Epoxy Resin is the glue of choice here as it has a decent enough work time for what I need it for. I started painting it in the holes, ready for the metal poles. Once one side had all the poles in, I put the other side on (without epoxy) and let it cure in that position for correct alignment.

 

The next day, I threaded a small piece of wire between the first chain link and the small hook I installed on the barrel early on. A grip then a twist of some pliers, and the joint between the barrel and chain was solid. The chain was spun between the barrel and the metal poles, giving the Zelda OOT longshot prop its signature look.

 

Once in place, I repeated the epoxying of the top half of the recesses for the metal poles, and did the same for the larger support rods throughout the body. Everything fit together nicely, and was left to cure overnight and marked as completed! Just the handle and arrowhead remaining!

 

Collage of images from the assembly. CHain and metal rods installed, then the whole thing epoxy resined together.

 

 

The plan for the handle is to use Vallejo [77.015] [Gold Yellow – Burnt Orange] for the gold part, after masking off the chrome areas. The leather work will be strips, attached via double-sided tape. I thought the glue gun approach I tried with the Hookshot didn’t look too great, and didn’t want to repeat that.

 

Handle of the longshot hanging above some frog tape, leather strips and a carrier bag next to some scissors.

 

 

I used the tape near the joint, but for the rest just stuck a carrier bag to protect it. Good old Frog Tape! Never lets me down and always holds an incredible edge! Never lets me down!

 

Longshot handle from Zelda having the metal work covered with frog tape in order to work on the gold

 

 

Disaster! My airbrush broke! This changes my later (earlier) plan about how I will do (did do) the rest of the metal work! Chronology should not always be respected in my articles or videos, just in case there was any doubt!

 

My airbrush breaking is a short-term disaster, but I can still ride the wave of enthusiasm as I have a couple of workarounds! I have a chrome effect spray paint for the handle and arrowhead. The gold can use the same great stuff from the Symmetra Turret. Onwards!

 

An airbrush (NEO for Iwata) with a sheared intake valve.

 

 

Always nice having a large range of available paints is definitely a winner! The handle has been sufficiently masked, and getting the gold blasting first! This paint is self-sealing and tougher than normal paints, but still nowhere near as durable as actual varnish. Alas, varnish ruins this shiny type of finish…

 

Gold chrome paint can in front of the handle ready for the first colour

 

 

Once the gold was applied, it was time to add the leather strips on top of the double-sided tape.

 

Collage of the leather strips being added to the golden handle using double sided tape.

 

 

The end look was very clean and consistent. When I tried using the same leather previously, the look was very wrinkled and ill-fitting, but the few strips and tape seemed to be the answer!

 

Collage of leather being added to the gold handle.

 

 

The gold and leather were finished! Time to remove that tape, and protect the finished parts with new tape as I start to work on the chrome metal.

 

Collage of new tape being added to protect the leather handle and gold work.

 

 

Once the chrome paint was applied to the handle and the arrowhead, both parts had an ample amount of brushed graphite rubbed into them to give them a dull lustre.

 

The rest of the model is complete, so this is pretty much the last stage before assembly, but with a couple of cavaets.

 

The handle and arrowhead are laid out in finished chrome. Bottle of brushed graphite in the biottom left.

 

 

The Frog Tape failed me… or maybe I failed the Frog Tape? Either way, the colour bled through, and up close, the side of the handle doesn’t look great. In fact, most of the metal work itself looks a little bit cheap and rushed…

 

Close up of the handle where the gold meets the silver metal work. Lots of bleeding on the poaintwork and looks bad.

 

 

The Hookshot didn’t fit nicely on the sword stands I generally use, so I thought it’d be prudent to make a little stand for display purposes. Nothing special, but it definitely gives it a cool look!

 

A colage of the stand being designed, cured, painted then presented.

 

Result

 

Very happy with this project! Other than a couple of paint issues, I think the finished product looks striking in the images and feels solid and durable! As a Zelda fan, this has been a great project, and definitely not my last Zelda project!

 

Finished Zelda OOT longshot prop

 

 

A colage of the finished Longshot, with an additiional chain used with the disconnected arrow head. A collage of the finished Longshot,a rear view, side view and one where it is held up to the camera A collage of the finished Longshot, viewed from a number of different angles. The finished product, one OOT longshot cosplay prop, on a stand with a grey background

Thanks for reading!

 

If you enjoyed this, you might like some of the related articles from the Overview, or perhaps a different Project altogether? 

 

Love what you saw? Got a project in mind? Feel free to reach out and let me know!

 

 

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