t0ny wrote:

as a matter of fact, the article I read back in the day did mention them using flywheels. I would have to say that, at this point in time, and assuming there was actually continous funding, that they should be way beyond first generation at this point. Also, with recent scientific advances, this stuff would have to significantly have improved in the last few years alone.

I'll see if I can find a recent article. The old one had some approximate figures regarding range and velocity. If memory serves, it was able to break the sound barrier with its projectile, but was limited to firing about once every hour or half hour, due to the need to power the batteries back up for the 'jolt'.

A few years ago I was following along on an amateur rail gun project by some college student, but kind of lost interest. I had intended to build one myself, but
1. it wouldnt fulfill my fantasies of shooting a penny thru a wall, and
2. the rail gun in quake 3 was both more accessible and less work.