Sometimes as a concept designer all you are required to do is render some sketches of something and that is all. Not much is asked in the way of explanation of how your concept dovetails into the universe it will appear in.

Other times you'll need to coordinate your designs with other members of a team to assure it integrates with other aspects of the project.

Then there are times when your hired not so much as an artist but to act as a consultant for the client, an individual that they propose and bounce ideas off. Sometimes the client has a clear idea in their mind what they are looking for. In other cases the client has a rough concept but is seeking feedback and advice on how they might want to proceed with some part of their world.This was one of those cases.

This is some weapon design I did recently for  LavaBatA1 for a Sci-fi story universe. The rifle is used by a resistance movement on a colony world in the client's story. The bulk of the inhabitants live in large arcologies. On site 3D printing and CAD programs have become common, but the resistance only access to older generations of printers and some cases have to resort to even older methods of manufacture like stamped metal.

Rifle is designed to act as the foundation to a family of weapon systems. From rifle, to sub-carbine, to squad automatic weapon,SAW, to designated marksman rifle, DMR. The weapon was also designed so parts co be easily cannibalized from existing and damaged weapons to create new firearms for the cause.

The resistance is not always able to secure the same materials every time for their production therefore the weapon system is designed to allow and compensate for variations in quality and types of materials used in production of weapons. Chemicals used for production in propellants and their quality can sometimes vary from batch to batch.

The other problem facing the resistance is presence of body armor and need to defeat it. Fortunately the oppositions forces vary widely in quality of training, morale, and equipment. However this means that sometimes the resistance has to avoid combat to certain units because they are too tough to crack, or other heavier weapons or tactics must be deployed to deal with them.

Fortunately the resistance is able to obtain a material that fabricates into fairly consistent sabots for projectiles without too much trouble. This helps them achieve the velocity, and dimensions of a projectile that can defeat some of the armors worn by the security force units.

The sabots are not without their problems terminal ballastics are compromised some, but you first need to get through the armor to damage what is inside. Also advances material technologies means a full size rifle cartridge is required to get the job done. Something like a +P+ version of a 7.62x51mm NATO or .300 Winchester Magnum.

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