Tracer build contest.

[Jaberwaki]

Ok, it is high time that we as airsofters took matters into our own hands.
I read every week about someone looking for a TM fullauto tracer unit. Always the post is the same.... "please anyone, anywhere, sell me a Tracer unit!!!"

If you have ever used one, or seen them used, it is not hard to see why they are in such overwhelming demand. They are the single coolest assesory you can attach to your AEG...

While I am one of the lucky ones who bought one before the insane rush to buy them started, I often find myself waking up in a cold sweat and screeming after having had a nightmare of my tracer unit failing and entering the world of non glowing BB's again ...

So here is the contest. You come up with a tracer unit alternitive, that ....

1. charges the BB's as much or more then the tracer unit.
2. Insure it will fit at least the 14mm reverse thread (airsoft standered)
3. It must beable to take PB shots to its body without breaking
4. It must not be so big that it looks stupid attached to the gun.

What will you win?

1. $100 bucks in exchage for your working prototype.
2. Your face and full write up about you on the front home page of ACME
3. A deal with one of PAINs sponcers to carry your product on both their online site, and thier retail store. (This one is optional on you. If you wish to make a ton of cash making your product. if not then allow someone else to built your design for the good of airsoft...)


Lets teach these jerks that they can not keep us hanging on a string for years. With out us building our own even better...



(side note, no your model does not have to have an IR sencer so that it flashes on and off, it just has to light the crap out of the BB's....)

[Rob]

I'll not enter this contest because of my new venture BUT I will assist you all with some stuff I have worked on.

Here is an idea page that is based off of ring lights for cameras...
http://fuzzcraft.fuzzphoto.eu/ringlight1.html
Maybe make this with 3 rows of lights inside of a noveske type flashider? Be sure to face the led's back into the barrel for best effect.


I will add to this contest (if it's ok Jaber?).... I will publish-feature you and your tracer unit in the new Airsoft magazine this spring 08.

[Ben]

I think Rob hit it on the head jab I will play around with LEDS and see what i can do

[Jaberwaki]

Originally Posted by Rob

I'll not enter this contest because of my new venture BUT I will assist you all with some stuff I have worked on.

Here is an idea page that is based off of ring lights for cameras...
http://fuzzcraft.fuzzphoto.eu/ringlight1.html
Maybe make this with 3 rows of lights inside of a noveske type flashider? Be sure to face the led's back into the barrel for best effect.


I will add to this contest (if it's ok Jaber?).... I will publish-feature you and your tracer unit in the new Airsoft magazine this spring 08.

Absolutely!
Anyone that wants to add to the prizes for this contest please feel free to post up what your throwing in the pot...

Rob, I do not think it is unfair if you were to join the contest, it will simply mean that the bar is going to be set HIGH, and that is a good thing.

If you are absolutely against it then so be it, but whoever bases their entry on your design better be including your name in the glory....

[Jaberwaki]

Rob your design is SWEET... I wonder how will you directionalize the light so it is "aimed" at the BB? Also have you considered using a base ring that has a reflective surface so that you get the doubling effect and greater surface area of light (to increase the ammount of time the BB's are being charged as they pass)?

This has the potential to be the best single airsoft project for a forum to attack!!

[Rob]

I'm not in it for the prizes, but I'll see what I can do to help boost the performance of those who do try this. In order to use it in the magazine I'll stay out of the contest. BUT I will help anyone who is doing it confidentially in pm's & e-mails so they can get the best project going.

OOPs, That design is Joris van den Heuvel's a Dutch photographer and DIY'er. I was working on using his idea but modding it to fit our needs.

The idea is that the led's should all point at the direction the bb's are coming from so that the light is directed back into the barrel and longer exposure times. I think it works out to 12 in a string which would be about 2 rings of 6 to get it to work ideal and that could be done in a base of a noveske style flashider. You could then move the battery extrernal wiring which could mean internal in some guns with rechargeable batteries. 2 different options there aaa x4 or cr123a rechargeables x2.


Depending on when we get the legal stuff for the mag finished and some other small sorts done I'll up the prize on this more.

When is the target date for completion?

[Ben]

Time for me to make a little trip to radio shack...........

[solarisshade]

ok I have a few thoughts I'd like to put down.

first the bullets of this concept:
*BBs
*type of light projector
*unit size

##BBs##
some info on the bbs is gonna be needed.
Like the time needed for the BBs to have a decent glow.
The time it takes for the glow to fade.
these questions help decide if the tracer system is able to be more than just a silencer attachment. (IE: an internal tracer)

##Type of light##
LEDs, flash bulbs and lasers Oh my!
if I remember correctly the TM unit used photo lamps and capacitors in conjunction to flash fry the BBs as they passed through the unit. this is a do able way of building a new make.
LEDs are another way. there are plenty of types in all the spectrum of light and in varying intensities. A benefit with LEDs that they could in theory be relayed off the AEG batt.

##Size##
efectivly you have the space of little less than an inch. (2in-.25in/2) by 4,6,8 inches of length of the silencer body. I'd say you could get ether 5-6 rows of light projectors along the internal opening.


PS...... I've just have a great idea that I need to talk to gandalf about..... in fact I say we need to drag his bum here and let him get some ideas brewing...

PPS Kill bucket whats your opinion?

[Rob]

Already talked to Gandolf about this a bit back. He doesn't have the time to mess with this as he is already super busy with his new comp-fets.

[Sig Man P225]

Jab (or anyone else with a tracer) could you pop one open and take some pictures so we can see how TM made their's?



Blu-ray laser anyone....