Silly

Hey everyone, long time no see. NH feels like the perfect place to share this new project of mine:

 Modern ESLT 1 v24 2 - Copy (2).png   206.65KB   74 downloads

 Modern ESLT 1 v24 2 - Copy - Copy.png   391.14KB   75 downloads

This is going to be my attempt at making a "modernized" version of the ESLT mechanism. 

For those who (somehow) don't know about the ESLT, here's the most recent thread about the blaster: http://nerfhaven.com...6-instructions/

My "modernization" of the design aims to keep the same aesthetic and roots as the original, while improving on durability, printability, sourcing of parts, and bringing in a bunch of modern quality-of-life features. A lot of stuff has been learnt (collectively by the community) in the more than 10 years since the original ESLT.

Currently planned or implemented features/improvements:

• Updated more modern hardware standards that are easier to source from modern hobby shops (OutOfDarts, SilverFoxIndustries, etc)
• More durable printed parts
• Better printability
• Better air seal
• Ability to swap between Talon mag feeding or Hopper feeding
• Quick barrel swapping and better barrel retention
• More comfortable stock and grip
• More reliable catch mechanism
• Lighter trigger pull
• Improved pump grip, and several pump grip options to choose from (Picatinny rail, original style, modernized angled grip)
• Easier swapping between extension spring and latex/elastic setups (also possibly compatibility with "normal" compression springs such as [k25] or 788)
• Sturdier overall build quality
• Lighter
• Adjustable stock / length of pull
• etc etc etc

These changes should be relatively easy to pull off with modern techniques, while still keeping the original soul of the design, both aesthetically and mechanically. 

I don't plan to update this thread as often as I do on Reddit/YouTube/Discord, but expect an update every few months or so until the design is finished.

-Sillybutts

Decided that NerfHaven would probably be the best place to document the step-by-step development of my newest blaster design, the SuperSledge. 

The SuperSledge is a full recreation of the Nerf SledgeFire, but improving it for NIC use in every way. Larger plunger tube, stronger springs, community designed shells (Spring Thunder right now, more later), quick takedown functionality, quick barrel, stock, spring, and ammo type swapping (no screws, all takedown pins), and the whole blaster uses easily accessible hardware and pretty simple 3d prints. 

The only spring in this blaster is a chunk of [[[k25]]] for the plunger. The catch, trigger return, priming lever return, and ejection are all covered by two pieces of elastic cord. The top barrel locking lever uses a rubber band or hair tie.

The barrel and stock can be easily removed, with two takedown pins for the barrel, and one takedown pin for the stock. The ammo type can be swapped quickly with a swap of the barrel and breech face, only three takedown pins. The spring can be swapped easily as well, with only three takedown pins removed. All able to be done at a game, maybe even on the field if you wanted to.

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v582 1.png   533.61KB   159 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v582 4.png   534.32KB   160 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v582 2.png   601.18KB   150 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v583 - Copy.png   564.09KB   159 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v582 3.png   552.78KB   153 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v582 5.png   594.29KB   170 downloads

Here are some development photos: 

 Homemade Sledgefire v4 1.png   574.68KB   165 downloads

I started out by doing a straight 1:1 sketch of my SledgeFire's internals.

https://www.youtube....h?v=OJQCfiQKtqw

I also took some video of the SledgeFire's internals, just to work over them in my head.

 Homemade Sledgefire v11.png   126.52KB   157 downloads

This is where the 1:1 sketch ended up after some refining.

 Homemade Sledgefire v58.png   831.04KB   161 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire v58 2.png   140.53KB   154 downloads

Here you can see that I have removed the trigger lock and fleshed out all the internal components. There is a rudimentary priming pivot, as well as more properly sized levers and bars. I have also added a segment of FLAK 2"OD plunger tube and begun work on a plunger.

 Homemade Sledgefire v84 2.png   233.3KB   161 downloads

The first side panels are now in place! Lots of small tweaks were made to all the internals, tweaking thicknesses and lengths. The catch is now properly supported, there are spacers to keep the internals centered between the side plates, and the plunger has been simplified. The priming lever is now an actual lever. There is a small dingus on the back of the trigger used for attaching an elastic through the catch, but it was pretty quickly removed in favor of a simple hole through the whole trigger.

https://www.youtube....h?v=UtcTChv5F5E Video overview of the design so far.

This was the point where I made my first test print, just to check internal functionality and printability. There were definitely tweaks to be made to improve reliability, but this was when I was 100% sure that this concept could work in the real world, not just in CAD.

https://www.youtube....h?v=8y1QMHJ7zKs

 Homemade Sledgefire v136.png   705.09KB   166 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire v151 2.png   247.84KB   162 downloads

This is where I began modeling the grip. I used the basic thickness and length of a v4 Caliburn grip, but that didn't last for long as you will see next. You can also see that the internal spacers are now small discs instead of larger parts. There are now also connection blocks and a bottom cover.

 Homemade Sledgefire v255.png   564.1KB   164 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire v309.png   139.03KB   167 downloads

Here I've begun to smooth out the edges and corners of the side panels. The top-back of the blaster now has nice covering plates. The grip has also progressed into it's basic final design, split into 3 pieces; a core and two side panels (SpudSpudoni helped me a bit with figuring out the Fusion tools to make the finger groove curve near the trigger well. Thanks Spud!). There is now a shell storage stock as well.

 Homemade Sledgefire v323.png   119.93KB   160 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire v429.png   153.24KB   158 downloads

Barrel! The shell ejection mechanism can be seen much better in the next image. You can see the stock lug now too.

https://www.youtube....h?v=R51Mks6aqek I also did another video overview around this point.

 Homemade Sledgefire v494.png   164.49KB   158 downloads

Lots of work around the plunger tube. The breech face is now thicker and locked in place with a top strap and a takedown pin. The barrel latch is now also in place.

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v584.png   199.75KB   160 downloads

 Homemade Sledgefire SuperSledge v583.png   231.44KB   165 downloads

And here is the current design! Lots of small tweaks to parts, lots of smoothing and print optimization. Previously, some parts were just floating in place. Now, all the screws and connections are modeled. Some parts have been combined (the bottom cover and the elastic guide pin). I also made all the hardware visible in this photo (minus some screws and the three pieces of elastic).

I am currently starting work on a few semi-basic wiki pages about dart feed systems, and am having trouble understanding the differences and timelines of the Hopper, RSCB, Chopper, and BRISC.

• When was each system invented?
• Who invented each system?
• When did each system actually see widespread use? When did it begin to drop off?
• Differences between each system?
• What other versions of feed systems were there other than the 4 listed?
• What kinds of incremental improvements were made to each system over time? By who?
• etc, etc, etc.

Any and all info about these systems would be greatly appreciated. I figured NH would be the best place to ask in order to get proper information instead of pure speculation on rNerf or on the various Discords. 

 Front Prime Crossbow (1).png   627.56KB   299 downloads

 Front Prime Crossbow (2).png   579.06KB   253 downloads

Imgur album here with more internal pictures: https://imgur.com/a/PixWTVO

This is a project I started concept art for in 2019, but never actually started work on until May of this year.

This blaster works via a front-primed plunger tube & plunger, with a bent barrel and sealed end that redirects air to shoot out of the stock 1995 Crossbow's barrel area. I used a widened Kronos catch with a 2nd catch spring, and a lever/linkage bar system to activate the catch. The linkage bar goes back to a polycarb trigger.

This blaster is getting ~150 fps out of an 8 inch CPVC barrel with 2/3 of a [k25].

If (when) I do this mod again, I will most likely use a Rainbow catch to use a [k26], perhaps a wider plunger tube, and probably integrate a brass breech onto the top (maybe with a 3d printed cover/casing/spacer?) instead of just a 1/2in PVC/CPVC coupler.

I was wondering, what is the font used for the NH logo? I presume it is a font and not custom made, as the 2015 mod contest had a custom "banner" in the same font.

Edit: For those who are googling and this comes up, the font is Arcade, italic to make the logo slant.