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Project Nerf: Darts And Barrels 101

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#26 imaseoulman

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Posted 17 December 2008 - 12:31 PM

I don't currently have the time to familiarize myself with the wiki (it's already massive), so I'm just going to make a suggestion here for now.

When I first got into modding it took me literally months of searching to find FBR, when my local ace hardware had it the whole time. Most hardware store workers have no idea what "Foam Backer Rod" or even "Caulk Saver" is. I even tried describing it to people and nobody ever had a clue. I finally found it by accident once and then learned this key to finding FBR at a hardware store:

GO TO THE WEATHERSTRIPPING ISLE! If you don't know where that is, just find the nearest worker and ask, "Excuse me, where is your weatherstripping?" They will tell you and then you are almost guaranteed to find some. Don't ask for it by name as you will just end up confusing them and frustrating yourself. Just ask for weatherstripping and then look for the little packages of "foam rope"
<insert image of weatherstripping>.

Seriously, if I knew that when I was starting out, I would have been having modded NERF wars months or even a year earlier than I did.



Also, a side note. When it comes to the barrel/dart selection process, the newb guide doesn't have to be a super consistent process. Our goal is to get them to a war with something they can shoot, right? Well, then their dart/barrel fit doesn't have to be perfect. That is going to take some serious time (I feel that I just accomplished this this summer after three years of using stefans). The way I see it, there are two very easy options:
1) Go to your hardware store and locate some brass tubing (if they don't have it, try a hobby shop, if you can't find any, move on to the next option). Purchase the 1/2" foam backer rod they carry, take it home, and make some stefans. Go back to the hardware store (or wherever they had the brass tubing) and then "test fit" the darts in the tubing. A 'good' fit is tight enough that it won't fall out but loose enough that you can blow the dart out of the barrel. If it is very difficult to blow the dart out, it's probably a bit too tight. If the dart falls out of the barrel when you shake it a little (simulating running with barrel pointed somewhat downward), it's probably too loose. Since brass usually comes in 1/32" increments, you'll probably be able to find something that works.
2) Go to your hardware store and find some CPVC. Purchase some 1/2" CPVC (and a few CPVC couplers is always a good idea) and the 1/2" FBR they carry. If the foam is too large for the CPVC, stretch it by running the FBR through your hands quickly with a firm grip, but not so firm that the foam breaks. (The heat from the friction causes the material to be more malleable and it cools quickly while being stretched and tends to stay stretched). If the foam still doesn't fit well, throw it in your dryer for a short time (time and temperature will vary by dryer, just don't melt your foam) and then take it out and repeat the above process.

Again, this isn't a perfect method and it will result in some darts that are slightly thicker or thinner than the average, but they should all fire fine. I did this for the first several wars I attended and hosted and I had no problem hitting my mark (just aske the Minnesota crew, my SM1500 was menacing). I know it's not an exact science, but it will get people ready for a war. That's all that is needed in a noob guide.
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#27 hereticorp

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Posted 17 December 2008 - 01:04 PM

When I first got into modding it took me literally months of searching to find FBR, when my local ace hardware had it the whole time. Most hardware store workers have no idea what "Foam Backer Rod" or even "Caulk Saver" is. I even tried describing it to people and nobody ever had a clue. I finally found it by accident once and then learned this key to finding FBR at a hardware store:

GO TO THE WEATHERSTRIPPING ISLE!


I mentioned in the guide that they should go to the Insulation section, which is where weatherstripping is.

On a different note:

Langley: What's the policy on external images? Or do the images have to be uploaded by a sysop before they'll display on a page?
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#28 Langley

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Posted 17 December 2008 - 02:32 PM

If you try and put in an external image, it will just display a text link to that image unless the image is coming from Slug's website. Admins also have the ability to upload images directly to the wiki. So if you've got images you want to put on the wiki, just e-mail them to me at Langley@projectnerf.com.
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You can poop in my toilet anytime champ.

2016 Nerf War Schedule
Bless you, my son. Now recite 3 New Members Guides and 5 Code of Conducts for your sins.


#29 Langley

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Posted 17 December 2008 - 09:09 PM

I know this is a double post, but I felt this was worth bumping the thread for. If you're going to edit the wiki, please check your spelling. This is something you should already be doing on the forums, but it's especially true on the wiki because what you write there represents not just you, but the whole community. It's not that difficult to set up a browser with spell check. If you get Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, they already come with a spell checker pre-installed. All you have to do is correct the words with the red underline, just like in Microsoft Word. And if you're insistent using Internet Explorer......well.....I guess you can just go eat a dick then.

Edited by Langley, 18 December 2008 - 01:05 PM.

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You can poop in my toilet anytime champ.

2016 Nerf War Schedule
Bless you, my son. Now recite 3 New Members Guides and 5 Code of Conducts for your sins.



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