Chapter 1: Class Silhouettes & Proportion Ranges

Created by Sarah Choi (prompt writer using ChatGPT)

Class Silhouettes & Proportion Ranges for Weapon Concept Artists (Pistols, Revolvers, Compact Automatics/SMGs)

Silhouette is the first handshake between a firearm and the viewer. Proportion is the grip strength of that handshake. For handguns and compact automatics, a few relational measurements decide whether a design reads concealed‑carry, duty, competition, or compact SMG/PDW—and whether it will animate cleanly, holster without clipping, and accept believable attachments. This article gives both concept and production artists practical proportion bands and silhouette cues for pistols, revolvers, and compact automatics/SMGs, with guidance for orthos, LODs, and animation‑friendly details.

Readability goals across the class

Handguns and compact automatics compete on camera with hands, sleeves, and UI. Their silhouettes must broadcast: 1) action type (revolver vs. semi‑auto vs. compact SMG), 2) role (concealment, duty, competition, PDW), 3) attachment readiness (optics, lights, suppressors), and 4) handling intent (high‑bore, low‑bore, front‑heavy, rear‑balanced). Proportion ranges, not exact dimensions, create these reads while keeping you free to layer faction identity and surface style.

Semi‑auto pistols: slide–frame–grip relationships

Think in three blocks: slide/barrel, frame/trigger guard, grip/magazine. Their ratios and angles drive all downstream reads.

Core proportion bands (visual ranges):

  • Overall length (OAL): 165–220 mm covers subcompact to full‑size duty silhouettes. Competition extends to ~240 mm with long dust covers/compensators.
  • Slide length vs. grip height: Duty pistols often read at ~1.0–1.15× (slide length roughly equals or slightly exceeds grip height from beavertail to mag base). Subcompacts compress toward ~0.9×; long‑slide competition pushes ~1.25×.
  • Barrel exposure / nose mass: A flush nose reads service; a protruding threaded barrel or comp block makes a performance/attachment read. Keep protrusions ≤ 10–15% of slide length for plausibility unless the fiction declares otherwise.
  • Grip angle: 102°–110° to bore axis sells modern ergonomics; more upright reads heritage/target; more raked reads sport/competition. Anchor this before you decorate serrations or panels.
  • Bore axis height: Distance from trigger guard top to bore center. Lower reads flatter recoil; higher reads heritage or hammer‑fired silhouettes. Visually, a low bore axis shows a deep beavertail with slide riding close to the web of the hand.

Action cues (hammer vs. striker): External hammer + spur and a longer tang read classic/DA‑SA; clean backplate and higher rear slide mass read striker‑fired. Decocker levers and safety paddles are silhouette punctuation; keep them within the slide/frame envelope for holster sanity unless you want intentional snaggy vintage vibes.

Trigger guard & dust cover: A squared guard with undercut implies modern two‑hand grip and glove clearance; round guard reads older patterns. Dust cover length (front of trigger guard to muzzle) governs accessory rail length; mid rails (3‑slot) read duty; full‑length rails read competition/tactical. Avoid paper‑thin covers—give at least a believable web thickness so the form doesn’t collapse in profile at LOD.

Magazines & baseplates: Flush plates read concealment; extended plates (+5–20 mm) imply capacity or duty with gloves. Double‑stack grips are visually deeper front‑to‑back; single‑stacks look slim and flat—use this to differentiate families fast.

Optics‑ready vs. irons‑only: A shallow optic deck with cover plate readies the slide for mini‑red‑dots; tall backup sights (co‑witness) push a tactical read. Irons‑only with a low rear notch feels duty/heritage. Keep optic footprints centered and notched so they don’t read like glued blocks.

Revolvers: cylinder dominance and frame families

Revolvers broadcast class from 10 meters: the cylinder is the emblem. Proportions revolve around cylinder diameter, frame window height, and barrel length.

Core proportion bands:

  • Cylinder diameter to frame height: Small‑frame (concealed) cylinders occupy ~60–65% of topstrap‑to‑trigger height; medium frames ~70%; large frames 75%+ with a stout topstrap. Bigger ratios telegraph magnum energy and slower, authoritative timing.
  • Barrel length bands: 2″–3″ snubs read concealment; 4″ duty; 6″ target/hunting; >8″ silhouette as specialty. Front‑heavy underlugs (full‑length shrouds) add authority and reduce muzzle flip in the read.
  • Grip proportions: Round‑butt reads concealment; square‑butt reads control/duty. Backstrap exposure (bare metal vs. covered by stocks) shifts heritage vs. modern.
  • Ejector rod shroud: Exposed rods read vintage/weight‑savings; shrouded rods read modern/duty. Underlugs that fully cover the rod feel target/competition.

Topstrap & sighting: Thick topstraps and frame‑integral rear notches suggest heavy loads; adjustable rear blades read target. A ribbed barrel with venting reads classic target; a slab‑sided heavy barrel reads modern magnum. Keep front sights proud and pinned/ dovetailed to sell serviceability.

Action & latch cues: Side plate screws and a left‑side cylinder release read certain lineages; push‑button or forward latch reads another. Consider latch silhouette as a faction signature.

Compact automatics & SMGs/PDWs: block logic and stock stories

Compact automatics bridge pistol and SMG. Their silhouettes organize around magwell placement, fore‑end mass, and stock/brace geometry.

Core proportion bands:

  • OAL folded/stowed: 300–520 mm covers machine‑pistol to compact SMG. Stocks/braces extend to 500–650 mm for ready fire.
  • Barrel length: 100–200 mm for compact SMG; sub‑100 mm reads machine‑pistol. A short barrel plus large fore‑end reads suppressed/ported or integrally shrouded.
  • Receiver height vs. grip height: Receivers typically stand ~1.2–1.5× a pistol slide’s visual height; thicker reads blowback/roller mass; slimmer reads locked‑breech or delayed systems. Keep ejection port scale consistent with cartridge class to avoid toy reads.
  • Magazine orientation: Vertical stick mag in grip reads machine‑pistol; forward magwell reads true SMG/PDW. Horizontal top‑feed (rare) reads exotic; bottom‑feed bullpups with rear mag read future‑leaning.
  • Stock / brace: A minimal wire or polymer brace folds within the receiver’s silhouette; a full stock extends a clean top or bottom line. Mounts should look believable: hinge blocks, rails, or dovetails with latches.

Front ends & supports: Hand stops, short vertical grips, or angled grips keep off‑hand placement legible. Integrally suppressed noses lengthen the fore‑end; leave a step or seam to imply baffles rather than a featureless tube.

Controls & rails: Ambi paddles, non‑recip charging handles, and top rails read modern modularity. Keep the rail count purposeful; a single continuous top rail + modest M‑LOK key geometry on flanks gives function without greeble noise.

Role silhouettes: concealment, duty, competition, and PDW

Concealment pistol: Short slide, short grip, minimal beavertail, low/no rail, irons or micro‑optic direct‑mount. Soft dust cover step; light chamfering to avoid snag reads. Holster clearance beats ornament.

Duty pistol: Mid slide, full grip, 3‑slot rail, robust sights, optic‑ready plate. Serrations front and rear; slightly deeper beavertail. Balanced slide‑to‑grip ratio (~1.05–1.15×).

Competition pistol: Long slide/barrel, full dust cover, tall sights or frame‑mount optic, pronounced magwell funnel, compensator/ported barrel optional. Aggressive undercut and grip texture. Slide windows can be graphic but keep a believable rib thickness.

Revolver duty/target: Medium frame, 4–6″ barrel, shrouded ejector, adjustable rear, slab or ribbed barrel. Cylinder dominates the mid silhouette; topstrap stout.

Compact SMG/PDW: Receiver‑forward mass, short barrel with hand stop, brace/stock folded along the receiver, forward magwell or grip‑mag machine pistol. Top rail continuous; fore‑end has safe hand index.

Attachment language without silhouette collapse

Suppressors, comps, lights, and optics are silhouette multipliers. Keep attach points explicit: threaded muzzle with protector, comp block step, Pic rail slots with clear stops, optic plate screws that align with the slide’s centerline. On pistols, balance suppressor diameter and length so it doesn’t dwarf the slide; on SMGs, an integral can should step down to a muzzle cap to avoid a featureless pipe. Use cable‑free flashlight housings and keep switch paddles flush to preserve holster and formation reads.

Ergonomics, hands, and camera

Design for hands first, then the frame. Trigger reach must look serviceable in gloves; undercut above the guard sells high grip; beavertails keep slide bite fear at bay. In third‑person and shoulder cams, the weapon should not occlude the face: chamfer the ejection‑port edge, bevel the top strap or slide so speculars separate silhouette from cheek and helmet lines. On compact SMGs, ensure the support hand index (stop/foregrip) is visible past the wrist to avoid a single silhouette blob.

Animation beats & moving silhouettes

For semi‑autos: reciprocating slide mass defines the fire beat. Keep rear serrations bold enough to read motion; front serrations enable press‑checks in animation. Barrel tilt/lock should be subtle—too much tilt reads toy. For revolvers: cylinder rotation and hand eject cycles are your hero beats—keep flutes and rim recesses crisp; make the crane/yoke gap visible for reload animation. For SMGs: charging handle travel, bolt hold‑open, and stock deploy/fold define character. Avoid micro‑greeble that muddies these beats.

Production handoff: orthos, sections, and metrics

Provide:

  • Profile & plan with OAL, slide/barrel length, grip height, trigger reach, rail length, bore axis height, sight radius.
  • Front view for slide/receiver width, sight heights, cylinder diameter, and rail spacing.
  • Sections at slide, dust cover, grip (showing mag well shape), and for revolvers: topstrap and forcing cone. For SMGs: receiver wall + handguard section.
  • Attachment footprints: optic plate size, rail slot pitch, thread step at muzzle (as a visual note, not manufacturing spec).
  • Collision proxies for holster/carry and sprint: keep a clean envelope around muzzles, lights, and stocks.
  • LOD priorities: 1) class outline (slide/receiver block, cylinder, stock), 2) moving parts (slide serrations, cylinder flutes, charging handle), 3) attach planes (rails, plate, muzzle step). Logos and checkering can collapse early.

Material & wear reads

Matte vs. satin breaks telegraph part function: nitrided slide (satin), polymer frame (matte), anodized rails (eggshell), rubberized backstraps (low sheen). Polishing on controls and high corners shows handling; faint brass smear at ejection port in fired states sells use. Revolver rings on cylinders (turn line) are iconic—include them lightly. PDW receivers pick up sling rub at edges and brace hinge polish.

Stylization without breaking credibility

Push shape language at safe anchors: bolder dust‑cover steps, graphic slide windows with believable ribs, sculpted backstraps that still clear gloves, geometric cylinders with chamfered flutes. Avoid wafer‑thin slides, razor topstraps, or cylinders that dwarf frames. If faction tech grants fanciful features (energy comps, smart optics), seat them on existing planes (optic decks, muzzle steps) so the load path feels implied.

Faction identity by structure first

Lock identity in structural rules before colors:

  • Metro Security: striker pistols with low bore axes, square guards, 3‑slot rails; compact SMGs with continuous top rails and polymer lowers.
  • Frontier Rangers: hammer‑fired pistols with rounded guards, lanyard loops; medium‑frame revolvers with exposed ejector rods; folding‑stock machine pistols with wood or leather furniture accents.
  • Ceremonial Guard: long‑slide pistols with ornate ribs, slab‑sided magnum revolvers with vent ribs, PDWs with sculpted braces. Hold these as kitbash rules so families stay coherent.

Closing thoughts

Class silhouettes and proportion ranges are your compass. Fix the big relationships—slide to grip, cylinder to frame, receiver to stock—then layer identity. Keep moving parts bold and attachment planes honest so animation, holster logic, and LODs work out of the box. Do that, and your pistols, revolvers, and compact automatics will read instantly, feel purposeful, and survive every camera that the game throws at them.