[AGoetz]

Regarding Racial specific items.
In the current files the Gaim (whom I'm playing hence I'm most familiar with them) have the following :

General Components -
Gaim Life Support (half the size of regular LS)
Gaim Crew Quarters (not actually any different from normal)
Gaim Fighter Cockpit (small and works as cockpit and LS)
Gaim Bulkhead (a low tech, low efficency, hit first armor - all the normal armors have superior absorbation/size ratios, but there's little in there that's hit first)
Gaim Breaching Pod (higher attack value than standard ship capture components)

Weapons -
Light Particle Beam (Tiny - general purpose)
Light Particle Gun (Tiny - general purpose, the Beam is superior)
PDF Scattergun (Light - very short range Point Defence weapon - completely useless against the fighter weapons of many races due to lack of range)
Scattergun (Medium - very short range power shot)
Packet Torpedo (Heavy - the only Gaim missile weapon, Ships only)
Particle Concentrator (Heavy - general purpose, long range, reasonable damage and reload, gives a plus to hit, the primary weapon of any Gaim fleet with the tech. Won't outpower an Ancient or a Minbari beam for beam, but still quite good.)