With the 2007 NPPL Finals right around the corner, I think that it would be nice to take a look back at last years finals match in OC. We all remember the emotion, the controversy, and the raging fans for both Dynasty and Joy Division swearing that their teams were the winner.

Out of all the videos from various companies I’ve watched, the best I’ve seen however is this clip from derder’s Free Agent. The commentary from the players, the music selection, and the combination of shots all contribute to the viewers interaction in the moment.

derder’s Free Agent DVD is a great piece of film that shows the entire 2006 season of both PSP and NPPL put into perspective directly from the pro’s mouths. It is a great DVD that I highly recommend purchasing for your viewing pleasure. It is available today for $34.95 from http://derder.com.

• 0 Comments

Well I’ll be dammed. No sooner had I rushed to get the post done on the teaser picture that Planet Eclipse sent out, than I received this information which completely outlines the new ETek2.

It will be in stores as of late 2007. I’m still going to maintain my opinion however that it’s just a SL66.

Check out the press writeup:

The Eclipse Etek Ego has found a place in the hearts of many a player over the past 18 months. Its light weight yet sturdy construction. Its switch-on-and-go operation. Its super-simple maintenance and unparalleled reliability. Coupled to 24+bps rates of fire and 1700+ shot efficiency, and you have a marker that fulfils all-roles to all-men.
But there is always room for improvement, right?

So that is exactly what you get with the new Etek2. You still get all the great benefits of the original Etek but combined with a whole host of advancements passed down from its big brother, the Ego8 range. For example: both the LPR and HPR regulator sport the exact same internals as both the Ego8 and SL74. New lightweight hard anodized aluminium pistons, durable captured regulator seal and coil spring construction give the regulators high flow rates, improved shot-to-shot consistency and quicker recovery times. But not only have these changes improved the performance of the Etek2, but they also reduce the weight of each part as well as make maintenance a far simpler task. No more Bellville shim stacks to drop, count and arrange each time you lube and re-build your reg.

Then there is the new OOPS (On/Off/Purge) system with the integrated T-Rail mounting. The T-Rail offers the sturdiest possible connection between the OOPS and frame, yet still allows the positioning of the tank with over 1” of lateral adjustment. The new OOPS internals offer effortless operation, even under pressure from the air tank, yet durability has been improved and can be serviced without the need of tools.

The area of the Etek2 that has seen one of the most radical changes is the frame assembly. Inside the frame, under the grips, the circuit board has been re-orientated to allow quick and easy removal, again without the use of tools. In addition to this the design has become more modular allowing, for example, the plug-n-play installation of different weights of micro-switch that will allow the player to tune the trigger feel to their personal preference. And to save any kind of confusion there is no way to accidentally plug the wrong device into the wrong socket on the board. Each socket and plug has a unique pin number that makes incorrect connection impossible.

Running down the rear you will find a new moulded rubber console that is flanged to lock into undercuts in the frame so that it can’t be accidentally removed or fall out of place. It houses the power and function button, and the same 3 tru-color LED display indicators as the original Etek. These 3 clever LEDs allow easy programming of all the user definable parameters by greatly simplifying the programming process. The top LED indicates 10s of units, the middle displays 1s and the bottom shows 0.1 increments. Need to set your dwell to 12.5ms? That’s 1 flash of the top LED, 2 flashes of the middle and 5 of the bottom. It couldn’t be easier.

As well as dwell, the Etek2 has user definable settings for Ball-in-Place, Eyes Off ROF, Cap ROF (uncapped in Semi 1), Debounce, and Firing Mode. As standard the Etek2 has firing modes that should cover almost every tourney eventuality, with Uncapped Semi, Capped Semi as well as current CFOA, Millennium and PSP modes.
Other changes to the frame mean that the grip position at the rear of the frame, as well as the trigger pivot point, have been raised closer to the barrel axis allowing for a more intuitive and comfortable sighting line. The rear contours add an extra degree of comfort to the grip position, and an integrated snatch grip in the frame makes on-field transportation that little bit easier. Inside the XL trigger guard is a new trigger with a flatter face and no lower hook, and is interchangeable with previous Etek triggers.

Feeding into the frame from above, the BBSS (Break Beam Sensor System) and dual ball detents can be found beneath the contoured Nexus eye covers. For those after a little more bling in their breech, the BBSS assembly can be upgraded to the lazer eye system, available as an upgrade.

Staying in the area of the breech, clamping feed-tube attaches directly onto the feed stub machined out of the body billet. This not only produces an incredibly strong feed location for the loader, but also allows the incorporation of the Deftek technology feed tube. This neat little device massively reduces the chance of balls entering the breech and then bouncing back up, only to be chopped by the bolt coming forward. Without adding any ball-in-place delay you can confidently assume that the ball is neatly chambered every shot and initiate the firing cycle with the shortest possible delay. So not only does it prevent annoying breech breaks, but it aids firing at the very highest rates of fire.

In order to maximise the potential of all those loaded and fired paintballs, this year sees the Etek2 come fitted with a Shaft II 2-piece barrel, with its micro-honed and polished internal bores to provide the most accurate results possible. Supplied with a 0.693” bore back and 14” reverse threaded tip.

The body of the Etek2 has been lightened and gently sculpted to distinguish it from the original Etek, with the new Etek logo machined directly into the body, and the machining of the regulators, caps, barrel and OOPS all designed to complement the whole.
So, the bottom line is that the Etek2 has been overhauled in a way that makes it feel better, shoot better, make it easier to maintain and service, make it more reliable, make it more desirable, make it more robust and of course make it look better too. Not only has it accomplish all these things, but also managed to do it in a package that weighs 4.5oz less than the marker it replaces, hitting the scales, ready to go, at exactly 1kg.
At launch the Etek2 will be available in two strikingly different ranges of 2-tone colors as well as the classic combination of black black and black.

The Etek2. Teknically Superior.

Available from Eclipse Dealers and Distributors from December ‘07

Features:

• New Lighter Body
• New Frame with Improved Ergonomics and Snatch Grip
• New Flatter Blade Trigger
• New Modular Electronics
• New Interchangeable Micro Switch
• New 2008 On/Off/Purge with T-Rail Mounting
• New 2008 In-Line Regulator w/Aluminium Piston and Coil Spring Operation
• New LPR Assembly
• New Shaft II 2-Piece Barrel
• New Packaging… Delete this as the first 1000 will not I believe !
• Triple Tru-Color LED display
• Micro-Switch Trigger Operation
• 5 Adjustable Firing Modes
• Trigger-Pull Programming
• Tourney Lock
• Deftek Offset Feed Tube
• Clamping Feed
• Nexus Eye Covers
• Break Beam Eyes (BBSS)
• Dual Ball Detents
• Fully Adjustable Trigger
• Pull-Pin Bolt Release
• Integrated Valve and Rammer Housing
• Full Tool Set
• Spares Pack
• Eclipse Gun Oil

Available Upgrades:

• Etek STAR Frame and QEV
• Etek Zick Kit
• Eclipse Lazer Eyes Kit
• Eclipse Beeper Board (when used with STAR Frame)
• Eclipse C-Lever Clamping Feed Neck
• Eclipse 05/06 CCU Color Contrast Kits
• Eclipse SL Barrel Kit

Length: 543mm
Height: 223mm
Width: 29.4mm
Weight: 1.00Kg/2.2lb/35.5oz *

*Weight includes: Barrel, Battery, OOPS, Hoses, Fittings, Feedtube, Regulators, ready-to-go

• 5 Comments

Today at 10:25am I received an update from Planet Eclipse. In the shadow of the 2008 Ego (IE: SL74), they have taken the world by storm and given us all a little preview of their newest budget paintball marker…the Etek2 (or at least from what I can tell from the picture, its just a SL66).

San Diego NPPL will be an exciting time as it seems that a great deal of companies have chosen to hold out for the end of the year event to release some of their major 2008 products.

• 0 Comments

One of the things that was on my list to pick up at World Cup is one of Gangstar Paintball’s Gangstar upgrade chip for my Vlocity loader. What is interesting about the paintball market, is that there are hundreds of companies devoted to upgrading and updating every marker ever made, yet there are only a few companies who devote their time and resources to upgrading your loader. Gangstar Paintball does just this for the Viewloader Vlocity.

These chips are a simple, drop-in replacement for the stock Vlocity chip that will increase the loaders battery life, speed, and adjustability. We here at Gangstar have been hard at work trying to make an easier, more user friendly interface with more settings then ever before seen. In just a matter of seconds, you can swap out the stock Vlocity chip for ours, and increase the speed, and efficiency of your hopper, and in turn, your gun.

Despite rave reviews and major teams using the new Vlocity, it seems that players needs weren’t met in the terms of compatibility, programming, load modes, and battery life. One of the main problems I hear is lack of battery life. This is due to the nature of the Vlocity. The loader is designed to put constant tension on the ball stack in order to maximize loader speed and reduce delay time. This is what makes you go through nine volts faster than a fat person with a box of donuts.

The Gangstar upgrade chip gives players what they were asking for. The features list is quite extensive and impressive for it’s small price. The chip has:

• Improved Battery Life
• Gangstar Mode
• Gangstar Spin Technology
• Easy To Use Programming Mode
• Three (3) Feeding Modes(Zero-Force Mode, Semi-Force Mode, Full-Force Mode)
• Five (5) Breakout Mode Settings (Off, On – No Delay, On – After 5 Shots are Fired, On – After 10 Shots are Fired, On – After 15 Shots are Fired)
• Ten (10) Speed Settings – 1 Being The Lowest, 10 The Highest
• Ten (10) Tension Settings – 1 Being The Lowest, 10 The Highest
• Automatic Sleep Mode After 10 Minutes of Idle Time To Conserve Battery Life
• Improved Stack Tension and Anti-Jam Logic

Installation of the Gangstar chip is slightly more difficult than simply opening up the shell. Once exposed, you are required to remove the feed tray in order to gain access to the circuit board. From there it is as simple as swapping out the chips (making sure to align the new Gangstar chip correctly).

Programming the Gangstar chip is as simple as most boards for markers. Holding the button down while turning the loader on will put you into the main menu. From there, follow the manual’s instructions on what button combinations and light colors to follow to acquire the settings that you want. Some other interesting features are that the button when pressed once will reverse the loader motor and unjam, and when held down will feed despite the eye’s readings.

I was thoroughly happy with the chip after yesterday’s field testing. While I didn’t shoot through the seven cases that Alex Lundqvist has advertised being able to obtain in zero tension mode, I shot fully through two cases with a pair of Boost Hopper’s 250mah Rechargeable 9volts and saw no problems whatsoever continuing through more. I did have one or two jams, but a quick press of the button reversed the motor and unjammed the somewhat lo-end paint I was using.

The Gangstar Upgrade Chip is available today from Gangstar Paintball’s online store for $34.95.

Pros

• Lot’s of customization, feed modes, and settings
• Unjam features
• Lifetime Warranty
• Enhances battery life
• Works in Vlocity, Vlocity Jr, and XSV Vlocity

Cons

• Installation is a bit tricky. This is Viewloader’s problem however.

Final Rating
5 out of 5

• 0 Comments

Planet Eclipse is getting larger and larger by the month. It seems that in the time in between releasing new versions of the Ego, their art department has been hard at work cranking out new “gangster” style clothing. Their latest creation being dubbed “Compton” style.

The new gear looks trendy, but I’m not quite sure I understand how a UK based company knows about Compton? The gear has hit your local stores in the US now, and the UK in the near future.

• 2 Comments