Classic Ray Gun and Moon Blaster

by Ralph Dewey

This month’s Balloon HQ challenge is a ray gun.

I’ll first show you how I make the classic ray gun. Variations of this gun have been around for years. I don’t know who first came up with it, but I salute them. My second version is a little bit jazzed up. It takes more work, but there are times when you want to make something different, fancier or unique. I call it my Moon Blaster.

Classic Ray Gun

It only takes one #260 balloon. Fully inflate the #260 except for 4″ and tie off the nozzle. Twist off a 6″ bubble (the handle) and a 1″ ear twist bubble. Twist off a 9″ bubble and fold- twist it. Next twist off a 2″ bubble and a 9″ bubble. Fold-twist the 9″ bubble.

Poke the nipple end through the last 9″ loop balloon. Grasp it at the end of the inflated part and then pull it through. Use the same maneuver to pull it through the first 9″ loop. Make a bubble on the nipple end to complete the classic ray gun.

Moon Blaster

To make the ball, first take a 3.25″ piece from the nipple end of a red #260. Inflate a 1″ bubble on the nipple end and tie off the balloon. Inflate a yellow #260 to 8″ and tie off the nozzle. Insert the knot of the ball into the nozzle about 1″ and twist off to capture the ball. This is basically an apple twist. I push the knots slightly back toward the ball to keep the apple twist from coming loose. Measure 8″ on the yellow balloon. Tie a knot and discard the excess balloon.

From a red #160 balloon make a 5″ bubble and a 8″ bubble. Tie their ends together to form a small loop and a larger loop. Slide/roll the 5″ bubble from the back end of the yellow #260 until it is positioned at the apple twist. It will be a little difficult to accomplish. Now slide/roll the 8″ bubble from the back end of the yellow #260 to a spot 1″ from the 5″ loop. Position the loop knots to be downward.

Fully inflate red #260 fully except for 4″ and tie off the nozzle. Twist off a 6″ bubble (the handle) and a 1″ ear twist. Twist off a 9″ bubble and fold-twist it to be a loop. Twist off a 2″ bubble and a 9″ bubble. Fold-twist the 9″ bubble into a loop. Twist off a 1″ ear twist and discard the excess balloon.

Slide the back end of the yellow balloon into the two 9″ loops as shown.