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JanTuts — H-Tech ARK1 prototype - presentation sheet
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Published: 2012-04-08 08:55:24 +0000 UTC; Views: 25800; Favourites: 319; Downloads: 257
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Description
H-Tech Defense proudly presents it's newest creation of military small arms: the ARK1=========
Type: Close Quarters / Mid-range Assault Rifle
Weigth: 1.8kg
Length: 745mm (extended) / 487.5mm (collapsed) / added lenght of suppressor: 180mm (925mm total, extended)
Barrel length: 228mm / 9in
Cartridge: H-TECH 5.7 x 42mm
Action: gas operated, rotating bolt
Muzzle Velocity: 785 m/s
Effective Range: ±300m
Extra functionality: fully ambidextrous, with the exception of folding buttstock
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The original concept of this rifle was the merging of the best of both from the AR (M4/M16) and AK families.
It's main inspiration can be found with the KAC PDW, AK-74u and H&K UMP (folding stock).
The chosen caliber (H-TECH 5.7 x 42mm) is an in-house rifle-lenght adaptation of the famous FN 5.7 PDW round.
This round has the same qualities as the original FN 5.7, but with a bigger punch on longer ranges.
The magazine is a rock-in type, however the locking mechanism has been redesigned, thus giving it the ease of reloading of a rock-in, with the sturdiness and reliability of a mag-well type.
(A technical drawing explaining this mechanism will be provided in a future update)
The ARK1 was purposefully designed for shoulder-switching manouvres in Close Quarters environments.
It features a rotating charging-handle, which can be rotated over-top to either side, providing the user his preferred configuration at all times.
At the moment, the rounds are simply ejected upwards, an idea borrowed from our good friends in the Czech Republic.
However, the production model will most likely feature a rotating ejector, linked to the rotation of the charging handle.
This can be set up during a field-strip to either always eject on the same side of the charging handle, or eject on the opposite side.
The result will then be that the round is always ejected -away- from the user and his cover wall, no matter how or with what hand the user prefers to operate the charging handle.
All works regarding the ARK project: (more to be added later)
Related content
Comments: 37
You can tell appart many details of the gun and that's always very nice, and the fluff is great. It looks sort of like an HK417 with a UMP folding stock and a classic CompM2. So definitely falling on the realistic and modern side I see. It doesn't strike me as very original for the same reasons.
The optic seems to be a bit too far ahead and the round sounds a bit underpowered. AFAIK, the 5.56x45mm used in AR-15 pattern rifles like the M4 and the M16 is already being considered underpowered as a rifle round (That's why the army was looking into 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 Rem. SPC), a 5.7x42 round would have similar issues.
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As this started out as a practice in combining the AR and AK patterns into one realistic design, I must admit that originality wasn't my primary goal.
My initial freehand sketch actually had more original aspects though, but some of those were also less realistic, so I decided to abandon those in favour of realism.
I understand your concern of the optic being placed too far in the front, but this is actually a very common configuration, called a "scouting scope configuration".
It's used in situations where fast target acquisition and environmental awareness are vital, such as hunting/scouting, competition shooting and close quarters encounters. The main idea is that, with the optic placed further away from your eye, you eliminate the tunnel vision you'd normally get when using a scope.
You can easily see this in the design of specialised rifles such as the M1A Scout, which features a forward-set rail, specifically for this reason: [link]
Now, when it comes to my choice of the 5.7x42mm round:
As my design is based on the KAC PDW and AK-74u, I decided to take their average:
(5.56 + 5.45) / 2 = 5.5 and (45 + 39) / 2 = 42
However I didn't like the idea of using a round that was even smaller that the 5.56.
But then I realised I made a mistake: the KAC PDW is chambered in a 6mm round.
=> (6 + 5.45) / 2 = 5.725
Given that + me being Belgian and a big fan of FN... you can figure out the rest
I didn't really think it through back then and I didn't bother changing it now.
However, if I ever get around to design the "production model", it will most likely be chambered in something like 6.8 SPC after some "negative field tests".
PS:
Did you know that the idea of 6.5 and 6.8 rounds was based on a similar calculation:
(7.62 + 5.56) / 2 = 6.59
- 7.62 has great stopping power, but a low penetration
- 5.56 has good penetration, but a lousy stopping power
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I think overall the realism choice is the best choice, but that doesn't necessarily mean that weapons have to be based on ones that you'd find on the real world, or at least, not common or well known ones. Variation in the form while still being realistic is simpler if you think of the context, for example taking into account the country/faction that makes them and their battle doctrine.
But it's very tough, since it has to at least follow some conventions from real guns out of practical considerations so the compromise is probably the wise choice here.
I assumed from the view that the optic was on top, so I figured casings ejecting upwards would interfere with sighting since it was ahead of the ejection port, my mistake.
BTW, I heard it kinda differently. 7.62x51 has great penetration and delivers more energy, but the recoil makes it difficult to stay on target firing in burst or auto, plus the ammo is heavier so an infantryman can carry less. 5.56x45 is lighter and has a decent trajectory, but the bullet has less penetration and higher chance of deflection on light cover (lower propellant charge and less momentum from the reduced weight) and less stopping power (if it doesn't yaw or tumble on impact).
To the U.S. army, for modern light infantry tactics, light ammo meant better supression, so the tradeoff was acceptable. But the old 7.62 is still used in places where it isn't, like on vehicle machineguns, sniper or marksman weapons.
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You should see this video that I also sent to another person who asked about the casings blocking your sight when the eject upwards. It's about the Vz.58, the rifle that I got the idea from: [link]
And in reality, at the speed that those casings eject, you hardly even notice they're there.
Though originally, I never even intended the upwards ejecting design.
That was actually just a quick fix in the fluff, that I thought up when I had just finished drawing the rifle and realised that the rotating ejector mechanism wouldn't work the way I designed the bolt. 
I was actually comparing the 7.62x39 (AK-47) to the 5.56, but you are totally right about the 7.62/5.56, I must have brain farted back there
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Ah it's semiauto. I just visualized a flow of casings just flying right in the middle of your line of sight to the optic during a burst. Sorry >.<
Yeah I just assumed it was 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO. It's actually happened before so I should stop doing that XD
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The ARK1 prototype fires in semi and 3-round bursts
However, the Vz.58 can fire in full auto though, so yeah, I guess you'd have a steady stream of casings passing in front of your eyes while firing
But like I said: all this will be fixed in the ARK1 production model
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Well, the AR-57 upper reciever mod for AR-15 pattern long arms could provide some ideas, if the adjustable bolt concept proves a bit complicated. Either way this looks like a pretty solid concept and I imagine the light weight, compact layout and low impulse round would make it a delight at the range if it were real. So kuddos.
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However despite it's listed inspirations, it's looks more like AEK-545 that was send to H&K to receive new ergonomics in line of those of G36 or HK416. Would have been a real blast on the international market. Especially since russian goverment decided to go all moronic(or rather obviously got properly buttered up by Kalashnikov Corp) to adopt AK-12 instead of superior in all regards and still CHEAPER AEK. A great pick for EU armies too, if someone one day will decide that they're done with playing USA flute and that interests of Europe's own countries come first
Fantastic design work. Beatiful, realistic, detailed.
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Could have been, but it's actually a cross of an AK-74u and KAC PDW, with some splashes of HK UMP stock and vz. 58 bolt.
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I find it interesting, that you insult Pascal Eggert, who designs weapons for Crytek, and you're mashing pre-existing 2D images together.
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Please first read the reply I left you over on iPeg's THOR A1 deviation .
After that, I'd like to add:
It doesn't really matter who someone is or where they work: if the design is bad, it's bad and it should be said.
I've seen many of those cases in mainstream games / movies / ...
But like I said in the other reply: this is clearly not the case for Pascal Eggert / iPeg.
PS: the above work is actually all drawn/painted, not a mashup of images.
And it surely isn't perfect, but I'm still a student.
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I love the simplicity of these designs. It clearly speak to the reliability and utility of these weapons. Personally, I would petition for a 7.62 variant, but otherwise very well composed and considered.
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I bet H-Tech would eagerly oblige if you were to place an order of at least 10.000 pieces.
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Haha. I do believe the price tag for that venture would be a little steep. Arguably worth it, though.
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It can be used as a PDW, although it's primary role would be for use by people like SWAT or SAS.
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Thanks a lot, especially coming from you
I've been interested in your car and gun renderings for quite a while now
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Thanks! This gun has some cool ideas and looks great.
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this reminds me of the security weapons from BRINK
great job, btw
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Nice concept! I think it could use a touch more AK styling though; visually, you have to pay close attention and know what you're looking for, or else it's hard to distinguish this from any number of generic AR-based assault rifle concepts.
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This is gorgeous.
Receiver shape makes me think AEK-971, I really like it.
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