This is a fun and hair-pulling bit of history. As I have come to understand it...
I thought I read at some point that it was based on a reconstructed rifle (reconstructed from original "Aliens" parts, but screen used from Alien 3).
I think it was even called "the icons rifle" for a while after they sold it before going out of business.
EDIT -I found here in my files that the rifle referred to as the "Gamma" rifle was also known as the "Icons" rifle. I don't recall the source but that is how I saved the file.
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Most of the reconstructed rifles from Alien 3 did NOT have the original shrouds. I think only 1 actually. The rest had vac-formed shrouds. Maybe this led to the inaccuracies because Icons definitely exaggerated some some areas (very square tall rear portion of shroud, short barrel vent, and big gap between the barrel vent and GL among other nitpicks). Looking at the "gamma", it definitely had vac-formed shrouds and was relatively squared off at the back end compared to the filming era images with original shrouds. This would explain the decision to not go rounded over the top of the stock. The puffiness of the vac-formed also could have easily led some interpretations not entirely in line with the originals.
So anyways, it was not perfect, but it was dang solid in its day. I always wanted one. I still want one.
-The thing is, the original 'G&P' airsoft conversion kit seems to have been based on the Icons replica. It carried over most of its inaccuracies including that tall square rear of the rifle.
-As we all know, the G&P kit was itself copied/reused int he current "Matrix"/"Snow wolf" airsoft rifles. So they too carry over the quirks.
-If anyone frequents ebay for their pulse rifle kits, surely they see many "3D printed" rifle kits that are based on the snow wolf kits (very rarely original work, most direct scans). So ebay is flooded with quirky rifles that almost certainly trace their roots to the first ever licenced replica from "Icons".
So in short, for better or worse, that block of static solid resin was one of the most influential rifles in the history of our hobby. (Which is why I really want one!)
Now, no one has directly confirmed the airsoft ones were based on the icons, but just look at those images on my comp-chart
(Icons in top right, the 2 airsoft variants directly under). *3D printed rifle on that chart is original work and NOT the airsoft scan referenced above
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