A Japanese man on YouTube has found a fun way to transform leftover Amazon cardboard boxes into DIY toy weapons inspired by popular video games.
Crafty Transformer is a content creator who is making a name for himself as a cardboard weaponsmith of sorts. His channel, Crafty Transformer - Cardboard DIY, has already accumulated quite a following online, garnering more than 154,000 followers and over 16 million total views since its launch back in June 2017.
While Crafty Transformer has drawn inspiration from a number of famous anime and video games, it appears his favorite go-to resource is from the Monster Hunter series.
Below are just some of the awesome DIY ideas he's had for leftover Amazon boxes over the years.
Greatsword From 'Monster Hunter: World'
Several different weapons have been introduced in the Monster Hunter franchise throughout the years, but the most iconic of all is arguably the greatsword. First introduced in Monster Hunter for the PlayStation 2, the weapon is known for its ability to deal heavy damage to even the largest of creatures in the game.
For his project, Crafty Transformer decided to recreate Monster Hunter: World's blaze blade greatsword. He cut out different sword parts from cardboard boxes, first forming the body of the weapon followed by five smaller blades. He then taped the pieces together to create the massive blade of the greatsword itself then the handle.
What made the cardboard blaze blade such a neat concept is that it comes equipped with five retractable blades, which are activated using a lever on its handle. This attention to detail helps give the greatsword that distinct Monster Hunter feel to it.
Using Crafty Transformer's specifications, the end product would measure at about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in length and weigh at about 5 kilograms (11 pounds).
The project was well-received by people on YouTube, with some praising the craftsmanship of the cardboard greatsword.
One commenter credited Crafty Transformer for inspiring him to start his DIY Monster Hunter weapon projects. He went on to ask the YouTube content creator to follow up the blaze blade with a version of the Charge Blade or Charge Axe.
Meanwhile, another fan asked Crafty Transformer to create a cardboard sword and shield or a "switch blade" from Monster Hunter: World.
Heavy Bowgun From 'Monster Hunter'
Crafty Transformer also made sure to have something for ranged weapon fans with his cardboard heavy bowgun from Monster Hunter.
This type of weapon is a variation of the classic bow featured in the original game. It can hit monsters with stronger projectiles and at a much faster rate compared to the bow. However, it is slightly heavier and not as versatile as its bow and arrow progenitor.
For his version of the heavy bowgun, Crafty Transformer explained that he first had to solve the mystery behind the weapon's mechanics. He said the design of the bowgun in the game shouldn't even work since the placement of the bow and trigger gets in the way of its foldability.
The cardboard craftsman eventually found a workaround by building the functional body of the bowgun separately from its stock. This allowed the weapon to still be foldable without sacrificing its ability to fire shots. He added a magnet at the bottom of the bowgun to keep the body and the stock stay folded when not in use.
Gamers who may not be big fans of the heavy bowgun can opt for the cardboard light bowgun instead.
Crafty Transformer's other cardboard projects include a demon wind shuriken from Naruto, a wrench mace from Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans, a chain sword from Pacific Rim, a scissor blade from Kill la Kill, a loaded axe from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Zabimaru from Bleach.
