Here, I tried to add some more outline:

Although I have to say it doesn't look that different...

That's not bad. Take the black outline off the metal areas (replace it with a dark grey, and use a lighter colour for the outline on the top than the bottom) and you'll be getting somewhere.

It's looking a lot better than the first one.

Stock looks a bit weird rounded off on the corner like that.

A quick edit, I just put random pixels all over, and it turned out pretty nice with the reference I used.

That looks really nice, it reminds me of the flagship.

I still need help with these sprites. they are supposed to be different but similar looking guns. they are laser-beam type weapons. the front bit with the groove in it opens up when the gun is loaded and has a flickering/glowing animation.

edit: made some changes after hearing non's ideas.

@NCB:
I started looking into it but got tired before I could really work out the banding issues :/ going to go have lunch now, but scaling it down could be a good idea (in light of the new scale coming B24 B25)

@urch: I might have a go at an edit later, but I've got things to do first.

But Geti, we are already at B24.

Is it funny that that hadn't registered yet? I think it is.
B24, why weren't you a proper update?

If the next build has the new scale implemented, I would like to keep my soldiers and weapons the same scale as now.

I didn't like much the new scale... and if instead they change the measures to make them fit the actual actors?

Do you have any reason for that, apart from being lazy? Do you know the reasons why they're moving to a new scale?

No, I didn't knew much about the change.
And I didn't like the new scale because I'm just used to the classic one, not because I'm lazy.
Could you explain more about the reasons of the change?

Here is a 15 minute gun, it somehow seems strange to me, how can I improve it?