This is a functional model of the Saw-off shotgun from the video game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It is built using simple DIY materials like popsicle sticks, cardboard, and paper; all the parts are hand-cut and hand-crafted by me. While the model is rather compact for a shotgun given its sawed-off barrel, it includes a working pump-action mechanism that's inspired by how a real shotgun functions. And just like a real shtogun, shells are loaded from the underside of the gun, and would be automatically ejected from the side with each pump. Each shell contains small projectiles, and with each shot fired, the projectiles would exit through the barrel while the spent shell is ejected and a new one is chambered. This closely mimics how a real pump-action shotgun operates. Personally, I find the action of loading and firing very satisfying; this adds an interactive and mechanical aspect to the model that elevates it beyond a static model. 

Moving to the exterior, I gave this Sawoff a custom finish called the "limelight", which is also inspired by its in-game counterpart, as one of my favourite finishes for this weapon. This is achieved with spray paint, masking tape and hand-cut decals for the small details, and the result is a clean, sci-fi aesthetic that I really like. This was both a technical and creative challenge, and I walked away with a far better understanding of functional designs and the limitations of the materials I worked with. I had to accept that I couldn’t fully replicate all the features I want from a real shotgun, and instead, I have to focus on recreating the core functions that mattered most.