[WMCoolmon]

I came up with this...a doodle and a redraw later, I got this:


Original drawing (Proportions are better, IMHO)

Excerpt from "Official Guide to the Equipment of the Confederate Navy" (Ties into my recent writings):

Heavy Kragaran Energy Pistol

The Kragaran Energy Pistol is still one of the most pervasive weapon designs around, thanks to its versatility. Although the originals were much less effective than the ones in use by the Confederacy today, the modularity of the design has enabled it to outlast its designers and their expectations.

The chassis itself was designed in the years after the Second Shivan War, when access to materials was scarce and to manufacturing facilities scarcer still, and the weapon bears the hallmark miaturization and precision of the period. The private firm of Kragara Arms, originally specializing in customized small-arms, suddenly found itself one of very few small arms manufacturers. In a brilliant move, Kragara quickly designed and tested the original versions of the energy pistol, and notified the GTVA. Impressed with its versatility, Rear Admiral Williams and Commodore Thompson - the ranking GTVA officers of the time - immediately decided to commission it as the new official sidearm of the GTVA.

The weapon itself is unusual in that it has two barrels, one above the other. The simple ingenuity of this becomes clear when one removes the front panel of the gun; the actual lasers in the base design slide out, allowing them to be replaced with other types of lasers, or even magnification equipment, to turn the gun into a potent sniping weapon. The gun also has separate ammo packs - the top one slides out the back of the gun, and is ejected by pressing the quick release button on the back of the gun. The bottom pack slides out and then down by holding the rear safety button. Both packs are designed so that energy packs can be substituted with other types - one common variant includes a minigrenade launcher in the top gun mount, and a high-powered laser in the bottom mount.

The safety on the pistol is easy to operate, yet remarkably foolproof - pressing the front safety button twice, then the rear one, arms or disarms the pistol. When the pistol is armed, the two charge indicators on the rear of the gun light up. The dual use of the safety buttons has caused some criticism, but there has yet to be an incident where it proved to be a problem, especially since the combination can be reprogrammed - although this is highly frowned upon in the AFC.

Although the Heavy Kragaran Energy Pistols are now jokingly referred to by soldiers as "KEGs", due to a translation error, it still remains a central part of the Confederacy's heritage. The original production model of the pistol is worn by the Commander of the First Fleet, and its exchange was a large part of the official ceremony celebrating the formation of the Confederacy.

Criticism on both the design aspects and the image are welcome.

[pyro-manic]

The perspective is all messed up at the back (the handle is at a crazy angle). I don't really like the design personally (looks like a very simplified version of the Robocop handgun), but you could develop it more I think. It needs to be less of a box with bits sticking out, and more of a collection of shapes. The bumf says it's modular, and can be fitted with different systems - make it look like that. Make the grip/trigger section the base of it, and then have the barrel assemblies as separate parts, that look like they can be taken off. That'll add a lot of detail, and reduce the "handle on a box" appearance it has now.

[Turnsky]

perspective's a real ***** to get right in firearms.. believe me..

i like the technical specs for the gun, however.. very well written.