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In Star Wars, all of their weapon props were essentially real life fire arms, modified to look like sci-fi blasters. So I was thinking, purely as a conceptual project, what kind of weapons would work well as the basis for a 40k weapon, particularly lasguns. So I'm going to share some ideas and would like to hear what others have to say.
M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasgun
I feel that a good base for the M36 would be the the ArmaLite AR-10. It gives a similar look and that "Battle Rifle" feel.
All one would have to do really is just create a monolithic upper receiver for it, perhaps a muzzle device as well. There are plenty of AR-10 magazines that have a more rectangular shaped magazine instead of the more recognizable banana mags in AR-15's and AK's.
Lucius Pattern No. 98 Lasgun
(Credit: Errol Void @Artstation)
I am conflicted on this one, on one hand I think the M1918 B.A.R. would make a good fit, on the other hand I feel that something like the French MAS 44 or MAS 49 would also seem appropriate.
Modification on both of course, perhaps heavy modification, to the point where it would be just as easy to make a completely inert replica of the Lucius pattern lasgun.
Mark IV Accatran Pattern Lasgun
(Credit: Daniel Kulikowski @Artstation) (Sorry these images are just getting bigger and bigger, it's difficult finding ones of good quality at the right angle)
For the Mark IV Accatran I think the IWI Tavor would work quite well, modified to have the carry handle arrangement of the original G36.
That's pretty much all I've really put thought into, except the Militarum tempestus Hellguns, which honestly I feel you could just make from an M16.
On a side note, the las pistol (used with Cadian models) Could just be a really cut down AR-15 pistol without the buffer tube.
I like guns, and I like Warhammer, and what inspired this train of thought in the first place was watching older Sci-Fi movies, like Star Wars A New Hope, Aliens or Starship Troopers, which all had actual firearms modified to look futuristic and yet still capable of firing blanks. In fact I believe I remember seeing a video of one such rifle from Starship Troopers at a shooting range mag dumping a target.
Tell me what you think, and also would you want to see a live action movie centered around the Imperial Guard? I wouldn't mind watching one but if they did I certainly hope that they stick to more practical effects instead of just green screening everything.
EDIT: Incidentally, the Morita rifle made for Starship Troopers, was built of the Muzzelite Mini-14/AC-556 bullpup conversion, and the conversion just by itself looks pretty close to an Accatran as well.
Kale wrote: I think its more of a FN FAL than an ArmaLite AR-10
the rest look ok - the BAR is an almost exact match
I can see where you're coming from, in terms of the FAL as I used to think so as well, but I then changed my mind to the AR-10.
The FAL while certainly what many think of when it comes to "Battle Rifles", and is certainly a more iconic firearm that the AR-10 I feel, just doesn't really match the fundamental profile of the M36. Namely the magazine well of the FAL, as well as the hand guard of the rifle would be much more difficult to "convert" and modify to look like the M36.
Not that such an effort would be impossible, just certainly more difficult than I'd feel to be practicable. Any changes to the magazine well of the FAL would very likely interfere in the changing or reloading of the magazine, or "Power Pack" in terms of 40k.
Without a doubt I believe the FAL could be used as an interesting basis for a more original ("homebrew" perhaps) lasgun, and have even explored the idea somewhat myself, but ultimately I feel it to be not the right choice. Thank you for your input and your opinion, and I'm glad you at least agree with me on B.A.R.
