usagi_tetsu
02-09-2007, 03:55 PM
Okay, this is pathetic, we're getting nothing but crickets on the net here. And I'm just as guilty as you guys of not posting much on here, so let's start rectifying the situation with some good old project posting.
Of the many projects I've got going on, Project Tippmann is one of the larger ones. Essentially what I'm trying to do is gather one of every model of Tippmann paint marker up to the A5 and C3. Yeah, I'm not going for any of the ACT, X7, or Triumph line that the new Tippmann LLC has brought out, as to me they're just not above the salt. Anyway, so I've got quite a collection so far - Model 98 Custom (my first marker ever, and still playing with it), Model 98, SL-68 I (two of these, one with the metal pump handle), SL-68 II, Pro-Lites (two of these as well), Carbine, and a .68 Special that used to be a SMG-60. Still missing a few here and there (Mini-lite, Pro-Carbine, both SMG's, and the newer A5 and C3), and working on the ones I do have to make 'em more playable. The SL-68 II is getting a 12-gram quick changer and a feed port for 10-round tubes to turn it into a stock classer. One of the Pro-Lites has become my Old Skool setup for when I just want something a little different that works - ceramic barrel, gas-thru stock, remote, and 4+1 harness carrying a CO2 tank. It draws looks like a Tribal, especially when I'm smoking people out left and right with it.
The ones I've been working on lately, though, are the two Model 98's. My M98C has lovingly earned the name Anvil for drop-dead reliability, as I've played with her for going on 3/4's of a decade now. The Model 98 is a recent purchase, a good deal found and snatched with extreme prejudice. Now I already had my M98C semi-flinger all tuned in right where I wanted her, so I really didn't need another semi-auto of roughly the same shape and performance, but I did want to grab an original Model 98 for completeness. So I decided to do something different with it and went for the ASP pump conversion kit. The best part about this (other than the "you have a Model 98... pump?" reaction I'm expecting to get) is that since the conversion kit comes with its own modified valve, I get a brand new CVX valve for the Anvil. And boy, does she need it! I think I've cycled her close to half a million times in all the years I've been flinging paint, not to mention the valve retention hole I've stripped of all threads, so she's due for a new valve. Plus, as I haven't had much time in the last couple of years to give her a good cleaning, it's a great excuse to pop her open and check everything.
So last night, that is just what I did - popped open both the beauties (the Model 98 I got is in pristine condition, doubt it's ever been played with) to start swapping parts. I had a nasty surprise when I opened up the Anvil, sad to say, as I apparently had neglected her for far longer than any sane person really should: there was mold growing in just about every crevice on that marker. I was startled at first, but then I remembered exactly when the last three times I had played with her (hell, played paintball at all) before now. February 2005, June 2005, and April 2006, and none of those times did I clean her very well before just tossing her into my paintball bag at the end of the day. Needless to say, everything was very gunky in that poor marker body. Oh well, nothing some Simple Green won't fix. And as part of this project is to strip off my nasty rattlecan job and give her a good professional powdercoating, it was going that way anyway.
So waddya guys think? Want some pics of the progress so far? I didn't get a shot of the Anvil before I dunked her in the hot and soapy water, but I can do some in progress shots if you want.
Of the many projects I've got going on, Project Tippmann is one of the larger ones. Essentially what I'm trying to do is gather one of every model of Tippmann paint marker up to the A5 and C3. Yeah, I'm not going for any of the ACT, X7, or Triumph line that the new Tippmann LLC has brought out, as to me they're just not above the salt. Anyway, so I've got quite a collection so far - Model 98 Custom (my first marker ever, and still playing with it), Model 98, SL-68 I (two of these, one with the metal pump handle), SL-68 II, Pro-Lites (two of these as well), Carbine, and a .68 Special that used to be a SMG-60. Still missing a few here and there (Mini-lite, Pro-Carbine, both SMG's, and the newer A5 and C3), and working on the ones I do have to make 'em more playable. The SL-68 II is getting a 12-gram quick changer and a feed port for 10-round tubes to turn it into a stock classer. One of the Pro-Lites has become my Old Skool setup for when I just want something a little different that works - ceramic barrel, gas-thru stock, remote, and 4+1 harness carrying a CO2 tank. It draws looks like a Tribal, especially when I'm smoking people out left and right with it.
The ones I've been working on lately, though, are the two Model 98's. My M98C has lovingly earned the name Anvil for drop-dead reliability, as I've played with her for going on 3/4's of a decade now. The Model 98 is a recent purchase, a good deal found and snatched with extreme prejudice. Now I already had my M98C semi-flinger all tuned in right where I wanted her, so I really didn't need another semi-auto of roughly the same shape and performance, but I did want to grab an original Model 98 for completeness. So I decided to do something different with it and went for the ASP pump conversion kit. The best part about this (other than the "you have a Model 98... pump?" reaction I'm expecting to get) is that since the conversion kit comes with its own modified valve, I get a brand new CVX valve for the Anvil. And boy, does she need it! I think I've cycled her close to half a million times in all the years I've been flinging paint, not to mention the valve retention hole I've stripped of all threads, so she's due for a new valve. Plus, as I haven't had much time in the last couple of years to give her a good cleaning, it's a great excuse to pop her open and check everything.
So last night, that is just what I did - popped open both the beauties (the Model 98 I got is in pristine condition, doubt it's ever been played with) to start swapping parts. I had a nasty surprise when I opened up the Anvil, sad to say, as I apparently had neglected her for far longer than any sane person really should: there was mold growing in just about every crevice on that marker. I was startled at first, but then I remembered exactly when the last three times I had played with her (hell, played paintball at all) before now. February 2005, June 2005, and April 2006, and none of those times did I clean her very well before just tossing her into my paintball bag at the end of the day. Needless to say, everything was very gunky in that poor marker body. Oh well, nothing some Simple Green won't fix. And as part of this project is to strip off my nasty rattlecan job and give her a good professional powdercoating, it was going that way anyway.
So waddya guys think? Want some pics of the progress so far? I didn't get a shot of the Anvil before I dunked her in the hot and soapy water, but I can do some in progress shots if you want.