Monday, April 23, 2012

Urbantaggers Back! Hasbro sucks.

For all who haven't seen this post on Urbantaggers: http://www.urbantaggers.blogspot.com/2012/04/free-stuff-from-hasbro-story-of-uts.html#more

Reading this made me sick. I'm not going to be making many (maybe any) Hasbro purchases ever again. Hasbro has taken douchebaggery to the next level. This picture, posted on Urbantaggers says it all:


Any Hasbro purcases I may make however, will not be reviewed on my blog. I don't want to promote any of their products any further.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I've been very busy.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Orange Mod Works 5+ KG Spring and O- Rings review!

I've already posted a review for the same spring in a Nerf Alpha Trooper (link here)
I love this spring. I ordered this one with the intention of using it in my Raider, and it ROCKS!!!! It fits into the blaster perfectly with no priming issues at all, and is very powerful.
I also ordered their 2x O-Rings. It was $1 for two of them, and they work great! They give your blaster such a good seal, that the darts vacum load into the breech when you push the priming handle forward. The spring and the O-Rings together made my Raider one of my favorite blasters. Orange Mod Works has very nice products for a very good price, and I will be purchasing more of their modification kits/accessories.
With one of these O- Rings and this spring, my Raider will achieve ranges of 50-60 feet with a slightly angled shot. I have also lubricated all of the moving parts, removed the air restrictor, and padded the plunger.
Link to Orange Mod Works' website
Link to 5KG spring
Link to O-Rings
--
Update: I haven't posted in a while because I have been quite busy, but I am working on some blaster related stuff, and I'm working on a bunch of posts

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Nerf Dart Tag Quick 16 Review!

I know this blaster is like a year old, but I found one at Target on sale for $10 the other day and had to pick it up. (I wasn't really interested in paying full retail price for it.) I'm actually very happy with this blaster. I think it is more comfortable than a normal raider, because the handles are bigger. (Same lenth as a raider, but wider and heavier) Ranges with stock tagger darts are 25- 30 feet flat and 35-40 feet with an angle. It has a very smooth priming and firing operation, but slam fire doesn't work very well. It locks up if you slam fire too fast (which isn't very fast at all), and the blaster jams or doesn't chamber a dart a little too often. Bottom line though, is that it is a very nice blaster, and I recommend it. It wouldn't really work well in an outdoor war, but it would TROLL in an indoor war.
Overview:
Clip loading slot:

Jam Door open:
Comparison to Nerf Raider:

Friday, April 13, 2012

Foam backer rod

WARNING: Huge wall of text. Read at your own risk :P

It's hard to find a good brand of Foam Backer rod to make stefans with. I've sure had my share of troubles with it. I would just like to share what I've learned through my experiences to help others to find the perfect backer rod for a great batch of stefans. :)

The current brand of foam backer rod that I use is called "M+D". I have found it at Lowe's and Home Depot. (Link to the product on Home Depot's website) I got some once a couple of years ago, and it was really bad and didn't make stefans well at all. But at the end of last year, I went to Lowe's and found some of the same stuff, but the color had changed a bit, and it was much denser. I picked it up, and it made the best batch of stefans I had ever made. I have learned that you have to check carefully before you buy it, because it is very inconsistent. One day it is perfect, and the next it sucks.

Even though this brand works for me, I got sick of buying 20 ft. lengths. So I looked all over the Nerf forums, and settled on buying some closed cell FBR from Best Materials (Link here), because many people said how high quality it was. So I ordered 130 feet of it. When it arrived, I was very disappointed. The diameter wasn't quite 1/2" in diameter, and it was way too loose even for CPVC. It was too porous and "squishy", and melted way too easily when I tried to make a few stefans with it. Their stuff may have been good in the past, but they must have changed brands or something. So now I have 130 feet of useless backer rod. The moral of the story here is don't buy FBR unless you can see it in person and know that it will work for stefans. The only time I will ever buy FBR online again when I can't actually see it in person, is when I buy it from a trusted Nerf community member that is selling it specifically for the purpose of making stefans. (or I have ordered a small 1-2 foot sample to know if it really works before making a large order.)

Here is a photo of the MD backer rod that I currently use to make stefans. It has a very good fit in CPVC, and will probably work well with PETG.
Cut in half to show density
Here is a photo of the bad FBR I ordered from best materials.
cut in half to show.....what little density it has

Here is a Side by Side comparison of the FBR (Best materials left MD Right):
Here is a side by side comparison of the FBR cut in half (Best materials left MD right):
For my next FBR purchase, I think I will try Forsaken Angel 24's backer rod. (link to his website)

Please leave comments with your experiences and suggestions for buying FBR



Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Nerf N-Strike Elite Rampage!

Nerf just posted a video on the new N- Strike Elite Rampage on their youtube channel! Here is the video:
Like I said in my post about the Retaliator, I don't like how they are just recycling the old designs, but I think the new ranges and accessories are cool.
Please comment with your thoughts on the new N- Strike Elite line!

Monday, April 9, 2012

CPVC Breech Build Guide!

Here is how I built a simple CPVC breech. It wasn't very difficult or time consuming, but you need to take your time and test fit the pieces carefully for optimum performance. It gives a single shot blaster with a 1/2" PVC coupler a better rate of fire without sacraficing range.
Here is What you need:
1/2" CPVC Barrel (barrel length determined by blaster used), 1/2" PVC sheath (no specific lenth), 1/2" long piece of 1/2" CPVC stub, 5/8" OD O-Ring (not pictured or needed, but highly recommended)
First, Let's make the sheath. Using a 5/8" drill bit (spade bit not recommended because it makes the hole slightly too large), drill out the inside of the PVC.
Now, outline a breech hole large enough for your darts:
... cut it out, and file/sand the hole smooth
Glue your CPVC stub into the rear of the sheath (PVC cement/solvent weld recomended)
And glue in your O- Ring if you are using one
O-Ring Recomended for better seal
Now Dremel out the inside of your CPVC barrel so that darts can be pushed in easily
And you're done! I recomend attatching string/wire to your breech so that the barrel doesn't come out all of the way for faster loading.
breech open

breech closed
Breech in singled Nerf Big Bad Bow


I also recommend making a breech locking tab similar to one that SG Nerf uses in his brass breeches to prevent the barrel sliding forward during firing (SG Nerf's brass barrel slide breech tutorial):

 

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Vintage Nerf Supermaxx 3000 review and Internals guide!!

The Nerf Supermaxx 3000 can achieve ranges of 50+ feet accurately with it's stock darts. The ranges and accuracy would probably be even better with newer darts. It's internal mechanisms are similar to those of an Air Tech 3000, exept the rotation mechanism is actually powered by the tank. There is a mini tank that when pressurized enough, will rotate the turret. It is really cool, but it doesn't work very well anymore. Here are some photos:
Overview:
Model #/ other info
Barrels:
Internals:
                                         Close up of trigger/ pump assembly
Close up of tank/ barrels assembly:
Close up of tank:
The rotation mechanism tank mentioned above is just behind the blue rear area of the main tank. It has a piston that when pushed out by air pressure, hits the rotation mechanism and rotates the turret.

Haven't decided whether I'm going to Modify this or not. If I did, I would make the rotation mechanism manual (the automatic rotation of the turret is "out of whack", so I think it would perform better that way. I would also re barrel It with PETG tubing, and glue over the trigger/firing pin spring for a cleaner trigger pull.

Please leave your questions/ comments below!



Orange Mod Works announcement!

Here is the email I got from them last night:

Hey Orange fans,
Preordering for our Longshot Immortal Kit has been extended until
11:59 PM CST, Monday, April 9th, 2012. Afterwards, the kit will
not be available for sale until all preorders are shipped.
The biggest change is that in addition to the collector's tin
box, preorder customers will now receive a bonus priming handle and
a 25% discount on our next Longshot add-on kit, which will feature
the sealed breech and shotgun grip.
Please visit the update page below for a photo of our prototype
parts and more in-depth information:
>> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=GKdA2&m=3i1GxiRFrFZBGHb&b=D5dq5kkGkp5qGKEL9sOpDQ
Also, we have finished the troubleshooting videos for our new
Massacre kits. If you experience any issues when installing
these kits, please check out the following links:
Alpha Trooper Massacre - Troubleshooting Common Issues:
>> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=GKdA2&m=3i1GxiRFrFZBGHb&b=lVEOFtjhkzr9p5aZsYR8ng
Alpha Trooper Homemade Dart Tooth Tutorial:
>> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=GKdA2&m=3i1GxiRFrFZBGHb&b=KA_bp3eWrMwqv7J7E0d7dw
Longstrike Massacre - Troubleshooting Common Issues:
>> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=GKdA2&m=3i1GxiRFrFZBGHb&b=GxTY6LATi6tauJp9tA5FZA
Raider Massacre - Troubleshooting Common Issues:
>> http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=GKdA2&m=3i1GxiRFrFZBGHb&b=.vxtQqDpoNwJDthIK7y93A
Thank you, and have a happy Easter weekend for those who
celebrate it!
Orange Mod Works
http://orangemodworks.com
http://orangemodworks.com/forum
http://orangemodworks.com/blog
http://facebook.com/orangemodworks
http://twitter.com/orangemodworks
1080 W Sam Houston Pkwy N #230, Houston, TX 77043, USA
--
I won't be buying the LS kit quite yet because it's pretty expensive (It will be worth it though). I am interested in their add- on kit that will have a sealed breech and a shotgun grip. I have always wanted a sealed breech (brass breech) in my modded LS, but I can't currently source the materials, and I'm not sure if I have the skill to make a brass breech. I've also been interested in a shotgun grip for my LS, because it will even out pressure on the bolt sled to prevent breakage.

Please leave comments with your thoughts on this!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Thrift store score!

I've already posted about this before, But after my thrift store find yesterday (Titan and Raider), I would like to emphasize how great thrift stores are for Nerf collectors/ modders. You can find all kinds of blasters at a dirt cheap price. (ex. Longshot for $4) Here is a list of all of the things that I have found at the thrift store so far (that I can remember):
2 Nerf titans
Vintage Tech Target
Nerf Raider
Nerf Longshot (near perfect condition with front gun and clips)
Nerf hyperfire
Nerf Air Tech 3000
Nerf Max Force Rattler
Countless Mavericks
2 Nerf Nite Finders
Nerf Supermaxx 1500
Nerf Sneak Shot
I hope this motivated you to go to your local thrift store :)

Nerf N- Strike Elite photos spotted on German website!

I found these links on Jerm's facebook page.
Elite Barricade:
http://shops.ricardo.ch/kategorien/spiele-und-spielzeug/outdoor/weitere-spiele-fuer-draussen/nerf-n-strike-elite-barricade/in6990509/
Nerf N-Strike Elite Barricade
Hailfire:
http://shops.ricardo.ch/kategorien/spiele-und-spielzeug/outdoor/weitere-spiele-fuer-draussen/nerf-n-strike-hail-fire-elite/in6990508/
Nerf N-Strike Hail-Fire Elite
Rampage:
http://shops.ricardo.ch/kategorien/spiele-und-spielzeug/outdoor/weitere-spiele-fuer-draussen/nerf-n-strike-elite-rampage-blaster/in6990511/

Nerf N-Strike Elite Rampage Blaster
Retaliator:
http://shops.ricardo.ch/kategorien/spiele-und-spielzeug/outdoor/weitere-spiele-fuer-draussen/nerf-n-strike-elite-retaliator-blaster/in6990510/

Nerf N-Strike Elite Retaliator Blaster

The rampage seems to be sporting the retaliator stock... a little dissapointing, but it still looks awesome! Can't wait for these to come out!

Stay tuned for more cool posts!
comment with your thoughts/ideas/opinions!






Monday, April 2, 2012

Nerf N- Strike Elite Retaliator + rant

Nerf has just unveiled the new N-Strike Elite Retaliator  on their facebook page!
Looks cool but very familiar...
It's pretty much a Blue Recon with a new stock, a 12 dart clip,and an "assault grip" (as the video called it). I think that the new color/ accessories look cool and the ranges are cool (hopefully good modding potential for even better ranges). It does annoy me however, that Hasbro hasn't really come up with anything new (besides vortex) in a really long time. They recolor their blasters, and now they're doing the same thing, along with new ranges and accessories. I'm also mad at hasbro for shutting down Urban Taggers. Will I buy these elite blasters eventually? Yes. But not until Hasbro cuts the shit. I'm not saying that the repaints aren't cool. But they need to release new designs while they are doing repaints. They're starting to do the same thing with Vortex too. The Lumitron is just a recolored, glow in the dark Praxis. The Upcoming Pyragon is just a praxis with a different grip and slam fire.
Here is the official video for the Retaliator from Nerf's Youtube channel:


Sorry if my rant is disorganized, I just needed to vent some of that out. :P
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