12 replies to this topic

[Buffdaddy]

The Spy Gear Rocket Launcher is the "replacement" for the Signal Launcher, complete with the old-version 4B tank. It fires its own small missiles, but has easy conversion for Nerfing purposes. And the box claims are pretty accurate


Internals:

Basic setup, with short pump stroke (about 2 1/2") and tank. For some odd reason, my OPV pops at 4 pumps, while I've heard of most others taking more than that. So I went ahead and plugged mine (I know, bad for warring), but I can add a different one later. I know McMaster OPVs are bad for letting out tons of air, but I'll slap one of those on, then just make sure to count how many pump strokes I can do without it engaging.

Ideally (as Draconis suggested, I believe), you could replace the pump with something of longer stroke/larger air output, and keep this OPV. It would up the RoF significantly.

Back to the internals. Here is the tube the missile sits on.

Cut it off at the end of the tube (LEAVE ROOM AT THE BACK, so as to not mess up the output or anything), and cut down the ridges between the tube and tank.

Wrap a couple times with e-tape. Take this following piece (about 1" of 1/2" CPVC, with 1/2" of 1/2" PVC), and stick it in a wye, CPVC facing the mouth of the beast. Then slide back over the e-tape, and use adhesive. You've now eliminated a bit of dead space, and made the wye attach perfectly.



Carve out the top of the blaster, for a hopper-loading slot. Easy to do, the ridges on the shell actually give a good guide for making your cuts. If you want to keep the missile holders that come with the blaster, carve a couple attachment slots in front of or behind the usual attachment point. You'll know it when you see it.


Wrap the end of the wye in etape, slide over a piece of 1 1/4" PVC, then slide on a coupler of that size. Cut a tiny chunk out, to center it on the wye and keep things lined up nicely.


Part 2 below.

[Buffdaddy]

Be sure to use your adhesive of choice when sliding things over the etape to seal things up.

Finally, use MORE etape, with a piece of 2" PVC sandwiched between, to finish making the blaster straight and all that jazz.


And you're done. Assuming you have one without a weird OPV, you should be getting 4B ranges. I can peg a target behind the house pretty consistently with it. You can also use shotgun shells (your choice as to whether you plug the wye at the top, or leave the hopper on when you do this. It's not like the tank can overcome the dead space or anything...). Also, with a little bit of craft foam, the hole in the back of the shell can actually hold a 1 1/4" PVC shotgun shell. NICE.

[Buffdaddy]

Note on availability: This is the $20 version you can find online through Target or Meijer. Apparently, Fleetfarmcarries a different variant, for cheaper. Also, if you were lucky to find them at Kohls on clearance, they had blue ones with 6 missiles and glasses (I got 4 for $12 each, plus low shipping).

[Kid Flash]

This looks a little awkward to hold... How is it? It seems that you put wyes on all your blasters...

[Buffdaddy]

It used to be RSCBs on everything. I'm just progressing somewhat. Also, the recent mods all can handle wyes, so why not. And double-coupling, too, as it turns out.

My frame is small enough, I can set it on my shoulder and aim just fine. Everyone else, maybe not. Although you can put it in front of your shoulder, too, doesn't really matter.

[badger]

I was able to get one of them at Kohl's. I may have to see if I can find anymore. I also get a 15% additional discount because my wife works for them and another 20% off when they have employee shop days.

I may need you to do a mod for me. I have not the time nor the patience to do one myself at this time.

[Aquinas]

This looks a little awkward to hold... How is it? It seems that you put wyes on all your blasters...

I had the same initial thought when I first saw the blaster, and waited until the Kohl's sale to get one. This is essentially a bullpup 4B, and as Buffdaddy said, very easy platform to modify. As for the form factor: I think it's very compact and adaptable, plus the top of the blaster gives you a nice sightline. It's definitely an adjustment from, say, a +bow, but I'm 6 feet tall with reasonably-sized hands, and it suits me fine. It's even got a built-in stock.

Man, Buffdaddy's be on fire as of late! (and putting wyes on everything sort of make sense in this day and age, for better or for worse) The next step would be to work out a pump replacement towards the front of the blaster and get rid of that stock / pump bit, which will be super easy to do. Let's see if I'll ever get around doing it...

[WicketTheModder619]

I bought one of the blue ones when they first came out, and I hoppered it as well. I had my hopper going to one side though, so I could see down the barrel. I put a couple wraps of e-tape around the cpvc barrel I was using and shot the stock rockets 70-80ft! Of course they had streamline-like accuracy, but the occasional one would fly straight. Anyway, goo job as usual. Keep up all the good write-ups!

[BrokenSVT]

I need one(I'm lookin' at you, Buffdaddy). SVTSGRB, anyone?

[utahnerf]

I need one(I'm lookin' at you, Buffdaddy). SVTSGRB, anyone?

Yes please.

[Buffdaddy]

I came across a problem: With the pump plugged, making a shot with more than 4 pumps would cause the tank to not seal up upon firing, and it would take forever to jiggle it around and get it to seal again. Since the tank is shot, I dropped in a 4B tank from an old project that went nowhere.

I had used the old pump tube as a partial tank expansion, with the OPV glued in the back, and a hole in the side for feeding in plastic tubing from a pump replacement. Turned out to be perfect.

I had to remove some of the shell, though, Turns out the 4B tank shape is slightly wider, so the ridges around the main reservoir have to be removed.

[Buffdaddy]

On to the Spy Gear tank:





After opening the sucker up, I figured out large o-rings are a problem for this blaster. First, the o-ring sealing the tank takes work to actually fit in its place, and I imagine large bursts of air (anything more than stock) are more than enough to blast it out of place. Once that happens, part of the o-ring hangs inside the tank and prevents full closure, and it takes forever to coax it back into place.

The o-ring on the pump is also too large; while the pump functions, I've had it come out of its slot once already. Also, with the new tank, once I get to a certain pressure, you cannot pump more air in; the air forces its way around the pump o-ring and escapes. I certainly hope this is an isolated problem. If not, then we're gonna have to find a good way of opening, repairing, and closing these tanks (the pump we can replace).

Also, the last pic is of the back of the tank, it still has a check valve there. Just thought you might want to know.

[psychoswan]

I love the fact that its almost a bullpup design (a gun design where the magazine is behind the trigger)