11 replies to this topic

[funkyjake]

You all know, the little single shot ball gun that's been in (at least) Target, for quite a while now?
If you don't, then it's this: http://www.hasbro.co...roduct_id=18745
They're actually surprisingly enjoyable (if underpowered) and, for once, my cat actually likes a nerf gun.

Has anyone done anything to theirs yet? I'm opening mine as I type. Anything to be aware of? The mechanism mystifies me.

[CaptainSlug]

This belongs in General Nerf, since the first post does not contain a modification.

[funkyjake]

Has anyone done anything to theirs yet?

Sorry if that wasn't emphasized enough. I thought I'd ask the right crowd, anyhow.

So I've got it open. I may be able to post pictures later, but it's easy enough to describe.

Okay, you remember those little toys that are just half-spheres of rubber that you can flip inside out? They stay flipped for a few seconds and then spring back into regular position. It makes a snapping noise and from flipping back to regular so suddenly the little bit of rubber will sort of jump off of a table or your hand.
Basically, the mechanism is just that. It's a bigger half sphere of rubber that you push the ball against. You basically nestle the ball in the rubber and in doing push it inside out. A little bead on the reverse side of the rubber (inside the gun) catches to a trigger mechanism, which holds the rubber in the inside out position. The ball doesn't just roll out because there are plastic catches holding it against the rubber. You pull the trigger, the catch is released and the rubber pops back into position, pushing the ball out with enough force to shoot (well, sort of).

So, that was a little long winded. I know pictures would help, I'll see what I can do.
The only real thing I can think of to do (other than remove the bizarrely complicated safety mechanism, which was a cinch) is to strengthen the rubber to increase resistance, or force it away from the gun (in the "shoot" position) to make it harder to cock and shoot. Some kind of reverse banding, if you will. Maybe I can get a spring to sit under the rubber.

Edited by funkyjake, 12 April 2007 - 10:22 PM.

[Flaming Hilt]

Maybe I can get a spring to sit under the rubber.

That's what I'd go for. Ranges?

[funkyjake]

Mostly pitiful. For shooting things ten feet away inside your room or lobbing balls down a hallway to amuse a cat it works perfectly well, but I can't see it doing much more than sixteen or fifteen feet.
So, the spring path seems pretty viable, but I'm not sure how I'll get it to sit still. It has to be wedged into a small space against two smooth surfaces (curved rubber and curved plastic), and for it to work it has to absolutely not slip out of position (since the trigger catch has to pass through the middle of it perfectly). What may actually work better would be to seat elastic bands across the back of the rubber for some added resistance.
News to come.

[Master Yogurt]

Buzz Bee's soaker system works on a similar principle - the water is pumped into spherical pressure tanks with a rubber top, creating a CPS-like stream. I know that some people on iSoaker.com have managed to successfully add springs to the tanks for additional power. Looking around there might get you a solution, but I'm not certain that all the work of modding this for an additional few feet would really be worth the time and effort.

[NOT Ninja Loser]

This gun is completely pointless, it is like not possible to mod to shoot stock darts or at least get ranges up to 50.

[WratH]

it is like not possible to mod to shoot stock darts

Uhh, yeah it is.

[NOT Ninja Loser]

Yeah, but very hard to do..

[WratH]

Not that hard.

[Shadow 92]

Just to clear things up, any gun with a 1/2" PVC barrel can fire stock darts because it has a 5/8" ID.

Funny Jake, adding a spring sounds like a good idea.

[Retiate]

WratH, that is the Reactor, not the Atom Blaster. Refer to the link in the first post to see the Atom Blaster. It's a little pistol type thing that shoots a single ball.
And I think it is not worth all the time and effort to mod the Atom Blaster, it just seems like a Nitefinder or a TTG would be so much better for so much less work. If you want to mod it, I would not suggest modding it to shoot darts. Ball guns are still a lot of fun for indoor wars, with all the bouncing and ricochets. And to mod it, I would also suggest a spring behind the rubber 1/2 sphere, or a bungee cord/rubber band that snaps it forward faster.