Futuristic Weapon Assignment

This is our futuristic weapon assignment. We have been tasked too create a projectile weapon that is either a one handed or two handed weapon.

Futuristic Weapon Mood Board.

Sketchbook Work

Looking back over the past 75 years.

I began this project by looking back over the years at influential guns and important time periods. Weapons for the first half of the 20th century largely remained unchanged. It wasn't until world war 2 when humanity was once again thrown into the jaws of war that small arms were developed and evolved too become legendary killing machines. Weapons such as the M1 Garand and the Thompson sub machine gun earned their place in the history books by tearing through Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan; these guns and the brave soldiers who wielded them secured freedom for mankind. All of a sudden the gun was seen as a vital asset for any nation wishing too remain free of oppression.

Throughout the war weapons had been improved upon time and time again. However there still wasn't a multipurpose weapon that could engage targets at range and be used easily in close quarters. This is when the assault rifle was invented. The next big step in weapon design. Soldiers appreciate a versatile weapon that out performs their enemy. 

Form, function and purpose are all key too an effective weapon, the weapon I need to design has got to be able too adapt to a variety of different situations that could potentially exist in a future battlefield. It has to be able too hit an enemy at range and in close quarters, attack and defend against multiple hostiles and be easy too handle and keep clean.  

I plan too create an advanced assault rifle for use on a future battlefield. The weapon will fire standard cartridge bullets (just like modern day assault rifles) and will be grounded in reality meaning I will only look at a plausible, functional design. The majority of my inspiration will be taken from the real world.

The progression in technology over the years. Looking at how weapons have progressed along with their aesthetic properties.

I have researched technology used in weapons along with the way vehicles and guns look in this modern day and age. I have also compared old against new in an effort too understand how weapons have progressed. A futuristic weapon would in my opinion be shaped in the same way a stealth bomber would be shaped. Harsh angles with a sleek design. Lots of sharp surfaces and urban camouflage.

My weapon will be an assault rifle that has many advanced in built features. Inspiration for these features will only be taken from technology that is in a prototype stage or only exists in blueprints. However all are theoretically possible.

Scope: The scope is without a doubt one of the most crucial parts of any assault rifle. My design is going too make use of a computerized scope that can see in the dark by using night vision and infrared. The scope will also feature a range finder and a friend or foe tracking system that will not only spot enemies but track them giving the user details about the target by matching any recognizable features too a database. This will ensure that the trigger is only pulled if the target is confirmed as wanted or hostile.

The scope will also have an in built recording system that will stream the footage onto a private military server. This will allow analysis of the footage in the event of a blue on blue or the murder of civilians.   

Interchangeable barrels will allow the shooter too switch between a suppressor and a muzzle break. Allowing the noise generated when the weapon is fired too be suppressed.

A comfortable, adjustable, lightweight stock will allow the weapon too be used with ease.

The same applies to optional grips included with the weapon.

Different camouflage and colors will be available too order if required.    

An advanced feature on my rifle will be a smart DNA and fingerprint grip. This will allow whoever owns the weapon too fire it. If a soldier loses his gun nobody will be able too fire the weapon. the gun will read the users DNA and fingerprints, preventing the weapon from being fired by locking the trigger. However if the person trying too fire the gun try's 3 times or more the gun will release an electric charge incapacitating the individual. The smart gun system is based off of real world technology.

A main part of most modern assault rifles is the grenade launcher. However these are fast becoming outdated. A grenade launcher cant take out a tank or an aircraft, it has a limited range and limited grenade types. All that being said it is just an attachment, it can be re designed, unlike the rifle (which has undergone no changes since the mid 20th century). But what can I replace the grenade launcher with?

Having researched weaponry it is clear too me the next step in projectile weapons is the rail gun. Rail guns are devastating, they destroy everything they hit. I want too design a rail gun attachment for my weapon that is similar to a grenade launcher.

Before I begin to design a rail gun attachment for my assault rifle I have to look at a real prototype rail gun and what is required to run it. 

Click the link below too see a rail gun in action.

Rail Gun Test Fire - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uV1SbEuzFU

How a rail gun works and the problems with it.

What are the problems I will face when designing a rail gun attachment?

The biggest problem I face is the weapon destroying itself, the heat and recoil generated by firing a rail gun appears too destroy not only the enemy but also itself. However I believe I can use this to my advantage. 

Developing my rail gun attachment.

Due to the extreme heat generated by this weapon and the huge amount of power needed to fire it I have decided that my rail gun attachment is a one shot weapon. The extremely high power battery needed combined with the heat created actually works too my advantage though. The attachment will be a small self contained rail gun that will internally destroy itself once fired by bursting the battery's and incinerating the rails. The battery acid will mix with components inside the rail gun dissolving all components over the period of one to two hours. The heat generated by firing will also play its part by boiling the battery acid speeding up the process. The only part that will remain solid is the tough heat proof outer shell. the shell will ensure the shooter doesn't injure himself by firing.  

This will ensure the cutting edge rail gun attachment doesn't fall into enemy hands.

Developing the assault rifle and stock.

Final result.

This is my final result. You can see the rail gun attachment is attached to the underside of the barrel. Overall I am unhappy with my final result. The shading (done through gradients in Photoshop) looks in my opinion out of place too some extent. The gun also doesn't look like a futuristic weapon as such, and the rail gun looks out of place. The design of the rail gun and assault rifle contrast against each other. Even though I feel my final result doesn't fit the criteria given too us I do feel that one good thing about this design is its neatness. Everything is in proportion to each other and fits in place.

Again like I mentioned in my previous post I need too work on my drawing skills using a tablet in order too improve my drawings.     

Tentacle Assignment

For this assignment I have been asked too create a tentacled creature. I will be looking at different sources of inspiration from both fantasy worlds and the real world.

Tentacle Mood Board

Sketchbook Work

You can see here how I have developed my thoughts and looked at various sources of inspiration such as video games, movies and folklore. On the left of the page I have looked at the Kraken and how over time it has been developed from a basic monster too a towering abomination. On the right hand side I talk about real world inspirations, the squids beak would go on to be a part of my design.

My main sources of inspiration.

The video game Resident Evil 5 was without a doubt my biggest inspiration. The monsters you fight in this game all seem too have a bundle of tentacles that form into limbs. A swirling mass of horrific black worms that act together to overcome their foe. I want too take this and use it on my initial design, along with other classic features associated with sea creatures.

I want my creature too move in the same way as the Mimic aliens out of the film Edge of Tomorrow (Live Die Repeat) they move at a frightening speed with purpose and weight. Stopping suddenly too attack or observe.

Click Here to Watch the Edge of Tomorrow Movie Trailer

Initial Design

My first drawing. I wasn't happy with how this drawing turned out. It is (in my opinion) to 'cute'. It looked nothing like the monster I was looking to create. It is also way too complicated. The many different aspects/ features of this drawing distracts the audience from it purpose as a creature that lurks the seabed looking for food. I also dislike how the drawing doesn't reflect the tripod posture I was going for. The body needs to be lower. 

Developing my creature.

My final design. The result of my inspirations and development.

Final Design

My finalized design.

My final design in color has been developed from my previous drawing. I removed many features and simplified the torso. I lowered the body down and placed the squid beak on the creatures belly allowing it to lower itself down to pick up food from the sea floor. It can also act as a weapon in times of need.

The colors I have used are all from an actual crab that I took into Photoshop. I transferred over the color from the crab too my design so it is color accurate too real life animals. I did however struggle too shade my design using my Wacom tablet this is something I will need to improve upon over time.

Robot Assignment

Our first task in CGA is too design a robot that is inspired by real world sources and influences.

Mood board

Finding sources of inspirations on this Assignment was relatively easy for me. Having spent many years surrounded by Sci-fi films, games and TV shows. The constant threat of being assimilated by the fearsome Borg or exterminated by the Daleks haunted me throughout my childhood. I was scared but fascinated with curiosity at these mechanical monsters, now I am tasked with designing one.

Drawing inspiration from multiple sources I will create 3 robots. These 3 robots will then feed into one final design. This final design will borrow aspects from my 3 initial designs; that could be body shape, features, weaponry; anything that could improve the design and its purpose. My 3 initial designs must have form and function in order too fit their purpose.

Its worth noting that my 3 initial designs will each be drawn in a slightly different drawing styles.

My Sketchbook

Left- Basic Mood board.
Right- Initial Inspiration for drawing a Robot.

Left- 1. Inspiration for my Security/ Combat Robot.
Right- 2. Inspiration for my Crazy Repair! Robot. 

Left- Inspiration for my Pack Horse Robot.
Right- An example of how my inspiration for my 3 initial designs will feed into my final design.

My 3 Initial Robot Designs

Robot 1. Security/ Combat

Drawn with heavy pencil strokes. This security/ combat robot was mainly inspired by EVA/EVE from the film Wall.E, this is the reason it has smooth magnetic joints instead of traditional mechanical joints. The weapon on its right arm was inspired by Mr Winks chain hand from Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.  

Robot 2. Crazy Repair!

Drawn slowly and carefully. This crazy repair robot was inspired mainly by Claptrap from the Borderlands game series. Retro design stylized for a 1950's television audience. Note his human features. Its safe to say he doesn't know when too stop repairing. 

Robot 3. Pack Horse

Drawn very quickly from a basic idea. Its purpose as a pack horse was inspired by the Brahmin from Fallout 3. Sharp features and the slim design were inspired by the Uruk Hai armor and weaponry from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I also took inspiration from a robot race called the Geth from the Mass Effect game series. And the Terminator, from the Terminator film series.

These 3 drawings will feed into my one final design, taking aspects from each and applying them too my final design.

My Final Robot Design

My Final Robot Design

The result of one week of drawing and research. My final Robot is inspired by my three previous drawings and uses features found on each of them. The smooth limbs and magnetic joints are taken from my security/ combat robot which in turn is inspired by EVA/ EVE from the Disney film Wall.E. The sharp shoulder pads and leg guards are taken from my pack horse robot, and the simple weaponry/ retro hands and feet are inspired by my crazy repair robot.


Its purpose is to protect its owner from harm or to aid emergency services. A military variant also exists however its use on the battlefield is extremely controversial due to the use of an advanced AI that is able too think for itself.

Penguin Story: Colony

A short story where one brave penguin fights for humans too be free. Our first project.