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How to Make a Homemade Zapper

Of the Nintendo Wii's innovations, the infrared camera attached to the front of the Wii remote controllers is one of the most useful. In conjunction with the Wii sensor bar, the controller can be used to point with laser accuracy at things on the screen. This has a wealth of applications, including in light gun style games: games where you use a gun-shaped controller to shoot at objects on the screen. If you want to make the Wii remote a little more gun-shaped, try making your own zapper shell.

Things You'll Need

Wii zapper template
Scissors or utility knife
Glue
Pen
Card stock, acetate or light cardboard
2 elastic hair ties or 3 inches of elasticated string
Wii remote and nunchuk

Instructions

- 1
  Download and print out the Wii zapper template (see Resources.)
- 2
  Cut the template out of the page carefully. Cut on the heavy black lines only, making sure you take out the three voids on the upper half of the template for the Wii remote strap, the Nunchuk port and the IR sensor on the front.
- 3
  Glue or trace the template onto your card stock or acetate. Mark the gray crease lines on the template as well. It may help to use a straight edge from your cardboard to trace them. Mark the voids on the templates with an X.
- 4
  Cut out the pieces from your card stock. Make sure the dimensions of the voids are the same size as those on the template.
- 5
  Score the crease lines on the two pieces. Use the utility knife or blade from the scissors to carve gently along those lines, but don't cut all the way through the material. This process makes folding the pieces into shape a little bit easier.
- 6
  Fold the lower piece into the angled handle of the zapper. Dab some glue onto the large side tab and fold it into place. Glue the bottom tab across the base of the handle and into place. Fold the top tabs down, but leave them unglued for now.
- 7
  Fold the upper part into the shape of the Wii remote and glue the piece together. This shape will follow the contours of the remote, and leaves a gap on the bottom for the B trigger on the controller's underside.
- 8
  Glue the handle to the center of the remote cradle, just behind the trigger gap. Use extra glue to ensure the piece stays attached.
- 9
  Make four small, no more than 1/8-inch, holes at the four corners of the handle.
- 10
  Cut your elastic bands or hair ties once, to create elasticated strands. Poke these strands through the left sides, then loop them around to the right sides, so these can be used to strap the remote into the cradle part of the zapper.
- 11
  Tie knots at both ends of the strands so they don't come out. Glue these into place, and leave the glue to dry overnight.
- 12
  Slip the Wii remote into the zapper, under the two straps. Connect the Nunchuk through the void at the back.

Nintendo Wii