Ray Guns
When Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers used them, it was 1939. Technically, a flashlight is a ray gun (or projected photons), but let’s bring these personal defense items into the 22nd century with the latest understanding and terminology.
Energy Weapons
Energy comes in various forms:
- Electromagnetic radiation, radio frequency, microwave, lasers, and masers;
- Particles with mass, in particle-beam weapons (technically a form of micro-projectile weapon); and
- Sound (in sonic weapons).
These are the classes of the Prop Contest at Norwescon 39
- Hand Held – pistols: Military (lethal) and Police (nonlethal)
- Shoulder Mounted – long guns (rifles) most likely lethal
- Of ‘Alien’ manufacture – think the ‘Jaffa’ shaft weapon
A human manufactured weapon that claims to be mass-produced should fit humans of average stature; custom pieces manufactured for a specific individual should fit that individual. All measurements must be in inches: height × width × depth. If you were holding a ‘ray gun’ and set the handle (butt) on a surface the height is measured from the bottom of the handle and can be no more than 10 inches. The width, which would measure back from the tip of the business end toward you, is a maximum of 12 inches. Depth is how thick it is; if the weapon lies on its side, the maximum it should extend from the table should be 2.5 inches for a hand held weapon.
Guidelines:
- Hand held weapons should be no larger than 10 inches by 12 inches by 2.5 inches. We’ll have a box–if it fits in the box, you are good to go.
- Shoulder mounted weapons are usually more powerful – 12 inches in height by a maximum 40 inches in overall length and 3.5-inch maximum width.
- Alien weapons – should be human-portable but may be so alien that a human could not operate it.
- Store-brought props are discouraged but not disallowed. It must be modified in some way; a before picture will be required.
- Extra points will be awarded for: holsters (how you keep the weapon close at hand), extra energy packs that can be exchanged, and attachments that improve the targeting or power levels of the weapon. Also lights, bells, and whistles will be considered.
- Attachments are not bound by the size limits.
- Each weapon should have a story behind its manufacture, especially if it is not currently available on Earth. Who, where, and what year was it manufactured, if a repurposed military arm? Perhaps what the units it served with? If presenting an alien weapon, your story should explain the circumstances surrounding the acquisition. We just want the story–no information will be shared with any authorities.
Award categories for best in show:
Hand held – military; Hand held – police; Shoulder-mounted; Alien; and Story.