Converting and/or modding real firearms into cartoon-inspired look is not the bestest of ideas. I don’t need to explain why is it so, but man, this fully-functional Heckler & Koch XM8 assault rifle converted from a H&K SL8 with a color scheme, complete with weathered effect, inspired by 80s action cartoon G.I. Joe’s super baddy Cobra Commander is too awesome not to give it its due complimentary words. I mean, seriously, just look at the thing. It is an absolute beauty!
Originally a SL8, Tom Bostic of TommyBuilt Tactical converted the rifle into a XM8, equipping it with an Insight Technologies 4x XM8 prototype optic (that’s a 4x scope for those who are unfamiliar), a Beta C 100 G36 drum, three standard magazines, and a custom barrel shroud. Bostic did not stop there. He even created a custom gun box with the appropriate cutouts for the Cobra Commander-inspired XM8 and its accessories, along with a Cobra medallion and Cobra-branded firearm details label. The entire setup looks like a legit Cobra Commander weapon.
Not sure if the helmet is made by Bostic too, but given he is a prop maker by trade, it is likely so. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to buy this exact bad boy, but the good news is, the bolt-in XM8-style furniture kit for the SL8 rifle created by TommyBuilt Tactical (which was used in this particular conversion) is available as part of the kit for the conversion.
Here are the things you may want to know about this XM8:
“This kit is designed with a five position telescoping stock, like the original. It comes with a dual sling pin, rear mount, top rail and hand guard. This kit is available with an extended K size hand guard designed to cover the factory SL8 gas block position as well as a C length hand guard. These kits are made of a glass filled nylon product and are produced on a very limited bases since the SL8 has not been in production in many years. Custom installation with receiver recontouring, laser engraving, Magwell conversions and barrel work are all available. The XM8 used the ISM-V optic, which is out of production and difficult to find. The rear has a small rail mount section to accommodate most optics.”
If you are down, you can reach out to TommyBuilt Tactical to learn more.
Images: TommyBuilt Tactical.
Source: Technabob.
