16 replies to this topic

[Arctic Hunter]

I went to a goodwill today and found a Vortex Power Strike. I searched around for a bit and couldn't really find much information on it. All I know is it fires some kind of super expensive ring. Is there any more information on it? Is it really worth anything? Thanks

[Elithenerficorn]

Anything from the koosch ring-firing line of blasters are rare. Not supermax 9000 rare, but still rare. If you want to fire the original ammo type, I think there are some files for the koosch rings on thingiverse. If you are looking for overall info on the series, look up the tornadobow. Its in the same series but is way more popular for its ergonomics. The original rings are so rare I dont think anyone on this site right now owns one, and many of us have never even seen one, on video or otherwise.

Edited by Elithenerficorn, 08 April 2018 - 03:53 PM.

[Arctic Hunter]

Very interesting. Thanks for the info! I've seen some people make them out of duct tape, and if a lot of effort is put in to them, they seem to fire well. I made some out of duct tape (and little effort) and I only get around 20-25 foot shots and they curve to the right. I've seen some smaller ones rings on Amazon that come with some little pistol thing. I might try those.

[Elithenerficorn]

Those will probably not work because they are smaller. Like I said, pretty much the only way to fire the stock ammo type is to get acces to a 3D printer and print some.
If your not gonna sell it, you could try putting homemade internals in it

[snakerbot]

Anything from the koosch ring-firing line of blasters are rare. Not supermax 9000 rare, but still rare. If you want to fire the original ammo type, I think there are some files for the koosch rings on thingiverse. If you are looking for overall info on the series, look up the tornadobow. Its in the same series but is way more popular for its ergonomics. The original rings are so rare I dont think anyone on this site right now owns one, and many of us have never even seen one, on video or otherwise.

 

I have a few of both sizes, but I'm more interested in finding a blaster to fire them than selling the rings. I'm sure I'm not the only one here with rings.

 

Very interesting. Thanks for the info! I've seen some people make them out of duct tape, and if a lot of effort is put in to them, they seem to fire well. I made some out of duct tape (and little effort) and I only get around 20-25 foot shots and they curve to the right. I've seen some smaller ones rings on Amazon that come with some little pistol thing. I might try those

 

The Power Strike can fire both sizes of ring, and I've heard the rings on Amazon are the same size as the small vortex rings. I cannot personally confirm that though.

[Elithenerficorn]

I stand corrected . Thnx snakerbot for the info

[Gemeneye]

The rings aren't the mythical level of rare described above.  There are a few packages of rings on ebay at the time Im posting this, as well as several koosh launchers other than the powerstrike.  

Here's something I put together about the Koosh Vortex line.  https://imgur.com/a/GrvyH Let me know if you have any more questions.  

[Spud Spudoni]

The rings aren't the mythical level of rare described above.  There are a few packages of rings on ebay at the time Im posting this, as well as several koosh launchers other than the powerstrike.  

Here's something I put together about the Koosh Vortex line.  https://imgur.com/a/GrvyH Let me know if you have any more questions.  

Just because they are on ebay doesn't mean they aren't rare. None of the listings are much less than 90 dollars. 

 

Also got to look out for the newer generation of koosh blasters that came out a few years ago. They have much smaller rings, all though they work and perform the same way. They won't work in older Koosh blasters.

Edited by Spud Spudoni, 15 April 2018 - 12:31 PM.

[Spud Spudoni]

Disregard.

Edited by Spud Spudoni, 15 April 2018 - 12:31 PM.

[shmmee]

3d printing a ring was mentioned and I was intriuged. I gave thingiverse a quick check but it didn't come up with any .stl's for a vortex ring. Has anyone seen a file for them? I might try to track down a classic vortex blaster if I could print my own ammo for it. 

 

I did find this though:

https://www.thingive...om/thing:514335

 

it's a throwable air foil ring. While not specific to koosh It should be possible to scale it down to fit a vortex blaster. 

Edited by shmmee, 25 April 2018 - 08:45 AM.

[shmmee]

 

I have a few of both sizes, but I'm more interested in finding a blaster to fire them than selling the rings. I'm sure I'm not the only one here with rings.

 

 

The Power Strike can fire both sizes of ring, and I've heard the rings on Amazon are the same size as the small vortex rings. I cannot personally confirm that though.

I'm lacking both rings and a blaster, but I'd like to try designing my own 3d printable rings. I'll share the file once I have them made. Snakerbot, would you mind grabbing some dimensions for me? I'll need ID, OD, length and weight. It would also help to know where the airfoil peaks on the length so I can try to capture the same aerodynamics. How rigid are the rings? are they rubbery or stiff? Blasters that fire the larger diameter ring seem to be slightly more common, but the print will easily scale to make the smaller rings if you can give me their ID as well. 

[Draconis]

I'm the only person, to my knowledge, who is designing and printing rings.  I wasn't going to release the design until I was happy with the performance, though.  Stock rings are quite floppy.  I've tried about fifteen different iterations, so far.  I can get original range, but the magnus effect causes them to always hook to the right.  By the time they hit the ground, it is up to about ten feet from the straight line.

[Elithenerficorn]

I saw Walcoms thunderbow tag back. Were those your rings he was using?

[shmmee]

I'm the only person, to my knowledge, who is designing and printing rings.  I wasn't going to release the design until I was happy with the performance, though.  Stock rings are quite floppy.  I've tried about fifteen different iterations, so far.  I can get original range, but the magnus effect causes them to always hook to the right.  By the time they hit the ground, it is up to about ten feet from the straight line.

You've got a heck of a head start on me then. I'll still be trying to design my own but if you need a beta tester I'd be happy to help. I've got a couple of vortex blasters lined up for purchase from a local collector - a tornado bow and a tornado x2 (pistol). Maybe they'll behave differently on a different blaster. 

 

Have you ever tried printing in TPU? That should check that floppy requirement. I've been looking for an excuse to buy some for a while. I think my printer will need a minor mod or two before it'll accept it though. Do the rings hook consistently? It'd take a little more practice but that could be a helpful trait if you're trying to tag someone hiding behind partial cover. 

Edited by shmmee, 01 May 2018 - 10:42 AM.

[Draconis]

You've got a heck of a head start on me then. I'll still be trying to design my own but if you need a beta tester I'd be happy to help. I've got a couple of vortex blasters lined up for purchase from a local collector - a tornado bow and a tornado x2 (pistol). Maybe they'll behave differently on a different blaster. 

 

Have you ever tried printing in TPU? That should check that floppy requirement. I've been looking for an excuse to buy some for a while. I think my printer will need a minor mod or two before it'll accept it though. Do the rings hook consistently? It'd take a little more practice but that could be a helpful trait if you're trying to tag someone hiding behind partial cover. 

 

It isn't a matter of performance from one blaster, but rather the hook from the magnus effect.  I've got Tornadoes and X/2s, and they perform identically.  There is a very consistent hook to the right, because the rotation of the rings is clockwise (from the shooter's perspective).
I am currently printing the rings in flexible PLA, which has a similar hardness to TPU.  They are pretty flexible, and I think TPU would be fine as well.

[Arctic Hunter]

So I worked on some homemade "rings" a few weeks ago. The results where less than desirable, only getting about 35-40 foot shots with them. They where made out of rubber bracelets. So anyways, I decided to sell the Powerstrike. I'm not very informed on prices of "vintage" blasters, so does anyone know general selling prices of it? I couldnt really find any of these for sale to find a general price. Thanks.

[Draconis]

I saw Walcoms thunderbow tag back. Were those your rings he was using?

 

Sorry I missed this over a month ago, but yes, those were my rings.  If you've seen any of Beret's fairly recent war footage where he was tasked with running a Tornado, those were mine as well.