Wedding Wishes from SBNC

Probably one of the only times I've gotten ever-so-misty-eyed watching a Nerf video and it came from an Aussie.  One of my favorite blogs out there, Southern Brisbane Nerf Club, posted an awesome shout-out video to me for my wedding.  I've even shown it off to family members who keep saying "Who the heck is Bazookafied he keeps talking about?" as they watch him sling darts across the ceiling.  Better yet, head on over to SBNC's Facebook Page and give it a look.

Al I've gotta say is THANKS to that crazy Australian Nerfer who managed to make this big kid red in the face and incredibly grateful to have gained such great friends through these hobbies.  It means a lot, bud!  Thanks!

Post by Southern Brisbane Nerf Club.

It's Pulse Rifle Time!

I've had this project in and out of the shop since 2009.  It's my M41A Pulse Rifle the iconic Sci Fi blaster from the 1986 film Aliens.  It's gone through several different versions since I originally started building it, including Laser Challenge V2, Laser Challenge Radar Extreme, and plans for an Arduino-run system that could do whatever we wanted it to.

With that Arduino plan, we wanted it to mimic the abilities of the famous Xenomorph gunslinger that it was in the film.  95 rounds of 10x24 Caseless ammunition.  The handicap for this insane ammo capacity and RoF was to be in it's reload, much like the LTX DMR.  Drop the mag, reload sequence begins, put it back in, 95 more shots of blink-and-you're-dead firepower.  The hit sensors for compatibility with Lazer Tag brand stuff were being installed inside the vents underneath the main barrel, on top of the sight rail, and on front of the blaster... so you'd still shoot at the gun to hit the player just like in the other systems.  For compatibility with Laser Challenge, you'd just turn those sensors off and wear external sensors like everyone else.

Well... it's been almost 5 years since the Pulse Rifle Project started.  I think it's about time to just nail in the features and call it good.  With the technical problems of Arduino beyond me, I'm planning on just doing what I do best: recasing.  However... I'm hoping to build it around a Phoenix LTX board and potentially pick up a RapidFire Accessory board (there are a few folks in the hobby who know about this) so that I can replicate the quick firepower of the Pulse Rifle.  Regardless, I'll start with refinishing the sensor arrangement we had originally set up with the Pulse Rifle.  From there, I can hopefully finish this thing up so I can go back to using, in my opinion, the best looking blaster out there!

Below are linked videos of this blaster through the years.

Baidu is "Not Quite Dead"

I had almost forgotten how good it felt to wake up and check one of my favorite Aussie blogs to see some unreleased blaster show up in China!  That's right, Baidu is apparently still at full-steam ahead for getting their hands on upcoming Nerf blasters ahead of schedule.  This latest batch features the Nerf N-Strike Elite Demolisher 2-in-1 and the Nerf ZombieStrike SlingFire.

Aside from the incredible jealousy I'm feeling right now, there's nothing really new to glean from these two blasters.  We've seen photos before, we know how they'll work from the demonstrations from ToyFair earlier in the year.  But seeing them in the flesh means two things.  1: some kid in China is having the time of his LIFE shooting his friends in the head with that rocket.  2: these are probably on that "It's supposed to be out in the Fall, but it'll be more like July or August" release schedule we've gotten used to.  One of those "Coming on 09-09-14" things that'll be here long before the actual release date.  

In the meantime, I keep seeing Orange Stryfes wandering around... and it makes me worried for the Demolisher's aesthetics.  Earlier photos of the Demolisher showed an Orange-on-Not-quite-as-Orange colorscheme that helped break up the Safety Cone look.  However, these photos from Baidu show more of a "ORANGE EVERYWHERE" look to 'em.  The Demolisher will certainly need a paint job to look good at all if you ask me.  Having one blaster the same color the whole way through leaves something to be desired in the way of seeing the details in the shell design.  And let's face it... the Demolisher's good looks are half of it's appeal in the first place!

T-Minus 10 Days

In going with the "Behind Schedule" theme from last week, I'm still alive... but super busy.  I WILL, however, have that Event Planning video done before the 22nd.  Other than that item, don't expect too many updates for Tactical Tag until the end of this month.  Essentially, the new video will be my last production as a bachelor.  More than likely, the next update will cover the Midwest Laser Tag Association's Season 9 Opener happening on May 30th.

So, instead of making you think that Tactical Tag has gone the way of the Dodo because of a lack of updates, I figured I'd fill you in on what's going on.  Somewhere between burning 200 CDs as wedding gifts, putting in New Carpet, and cleaning up from the latest round of storms to pass through the Midwest... I'm just a little swamped!  

Long story short:  New Video before May 22nd.  I'm gettin Married.  Then back to business!

You Missed One!

Currently my favorite Nerf Blasters for the Office are small arms like the Jolt, Sidestrike, NiteFinder, and... the top contender still... the Firestrike.  Availability, price, and that annoying red light that you can tease coworkers reflexes with (even if you don't have it armed) are among the top points for the Firestrike.  It's also incredibly easy to modify and make more powerful, which works well for an office warfare scenario.

Regardless, the blaster of choice does seem to be front-loading single-shot blasters.  Magazines seem to get in the way for these quick engagements and bigger blasters are tough to conceal.

Today, my face caught plenty of the darts dished out by one of our better shooters in the office.  He did miss one, though...

Behind Schedule

Just figured I'd pop in about a few things that are running behind more than I had expected.  First, production of the LTAR Accessories we've been working on is a bit behind schedule.  Combat testing on the prototype parts we have has been going well.  While we do have the Lens Adapter complete, we still don't have the N-Strike Stock Adapter in a 3D model yet, just the prototype that I built.  Once a 3D model is completed, we'll print one out and test fit it to make sure that it works as flawlessly as the original.  Then we'll make any tweaks needed (like we did with the Lens Adapter) to the design.  We'll repeat this process as needed until it's right and then put 'em up for sale.  Originally, the plan was to have both of these finalized and ready in time for Season 9, but we're behind with the Stock Adapter.

As the Lens Adapter has been gaining attention, we have also gotten quite a few questions about the lenses we have been using for those.  LazerBait has built the sniper lenses we have been using for several years on our blasters, including rifles like the "Ultimate LTX" and LTX EF5.  I'm contacting him to see if either A: he will build more for sale or B: he can release instructions on how to build one properly.

I'm also still working on my "Event Planning" video that will answer your questions asked a week or so ago.  I'll have that video up and running soon, but there's a little more editing and things I need to fix before I can publish it.  I apologize for all the delays, but we will have stuff ironed out soon enough!

Laser Tag: The Hill

Holy cow... this new park has QUICKLY made it's way into my Top 5 for locations for Laser Tag.  It's nestled into a neighborhood and essentially is a gigantic leg-muscle-shattering hill with all kinds of tough terrain, tall trees, and low cover.  My buddy Eleri tagged along to help me run this event for a local High School/College Music group and we had a blast getting annihilated by this demanding hunk of land.  I'll surely be sore for a day or two after this event!  The trails that weave through this mound of earth are for recreational mountain biking.  There were maybe 5 bikers the whole day, so we didn't get in their way at all.  The rest... well... these photos should tell the story!