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| Solar |
 Posted: 05/04/2008 0:53 AM Post subject: First production Eclipse 40mm |
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2nd Lieutenant
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 206
643.41 Spud Bux
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Here is the first operational launcher from production parts. Mixed lot of anodizing in the pics, but the rest only need grips anodized. Note the flower petal that snuck into the one pic. Hose routing to safety and cover being installed monday. An air compressor fitting is threaded into the safety valve location on pressure vessel and the brass pin is missing a rubber top as well.
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| biggsauce |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 0:56 AM Post subject: |
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1st Lieutenant
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Posts: 267
443.49 Spud Bux
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| Wow. Do you do the machining yourself? I've always loved this thing... |
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| Solar |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 1:04 AM Post subject: |
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2nd Lieutenant
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 206
643.41 Spud Bux
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This is the first one that I didn't do any machining on at all. The joys of production models!  Now I get to assemble 49 more of these this week!  Videos soon and a pic showing the complete anodizing. |
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| TwitchTheAussie |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 1:30 AM Post subject: |
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Brigadier General
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 884
922.12 Spud Bux
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FINALLY! I love it. Even better in real life than the designs. I thought it would be a bit bigger though  |
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| microman171 |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 1:44 AM Post subject: |
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Corporal
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 79
197.30 Spud Bux
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| Wow!! That is VERY clean! |
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| THUNDERLORD |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 1:58 AM Post subject: |
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Colonel
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 568
1951.42 Spud Bux
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Awesome!!! I can see this being in a movie like the gatling gun from piper precision products (predator).
If it's production where can I buy one? Just wondered. Thanks  |
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| MrCrowley |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 2:32 AM Post subject: |
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Blizzard of Ozz
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 5685
2023.09 Spud Bux
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About time you finished the productions 
Great as usual, I too would be interested in where you can buy one. I wouldn't buy one personally, but i'd just like to see how they sell. |
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| Solar |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 4:55 AM Post subject: |
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2nd Lieutenant
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 206
643.41 Spud Bux
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I'll make a step by step pictorial during assembly. The bore sight is polycarbonate resin about an inch thick. It is threaded from the front onto a shoulder. Claims to be 200 times stronger than acrylic.
THUNDERLORD, eclipselauncher.com is getting a revamp and will have e-commerce soon. Until then I have been taking checks.
It is already set to appear on four tv shows and in a film.
TWITCH, this is a stubby version. There are two longer barrels. The barrel on this one is actually the length of a stock air chamber. A 2" conversion kit is already drawn up for nerfs. 40mm allows the use of many future rounds to be adapted.
Here is another setup using mostly the same parts with an extra long barrel in a breech loader config.
Here are some random development pics. still looking for some pics that show the entire original ratchet system that goes with the hexagon spring indexer. might have to resurrect it and take some more for posterity. The old ad says +100 foot range, that was for paintball shot rounds. The foam 40mm rockets are firing 650 feet, albeit at over 600fps. Fresh ballistics tests shortly.
Last edited by Solar on 05/04/2008 7:05 AM; edited 2 times in total |
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| MrCrowley |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 5:01 AM Post subject: |
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Blizzard of Ozz
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 5685
2023.09 Spud Bux
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| Oh yeah how heavy is it? In that last shot in the first post when you're holding it by the trigger, how balanced is it? Is it heavy on the wrists? |
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| Solar |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 5:22 AM Post subject: |
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2nd Lieutenant
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 206
643.41 Spud Bux
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| Consistently under 10 pounds. AK-47 weight. A good few pounds lighter than the Milkor M-32. The forward grip position obtained by moving the indexer to a 90 degree position made a huge difference in balance. This also allows easy access to the indexer drive for manual indexing. It is not too heavy using both hands, but holding it up front is easier, especially with a fore grip. The trigger frame accepts paintball asa adapters for mounting tanks on the launcher as well as other stock systems. Grips are Colt 1911 pattern. Need to attach a sling next. |
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| hubb017 |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 5:23 AM Post subject: |
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Sarcasmo
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1314
253.76 Spud Bux
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+1 on the A - 5 grip, there.
It's great the you have this beauty in production. I wish the best to you. |
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| TwitchTheAussie |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 5:52 AM Post subject: |
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Brigadier General
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 884
922.12 Spud Bux
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| Good luck with production mate and I love the sounds of a 40mm round/barrel. Any chance on a hint for the shows and that movie? |
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| ant |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 6:15 AM Post subject: |
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Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 428
1028.72 Spud Bux
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| looks BEAUTIFUL!!! seriously nice, you are ganna make 49 more of these? So with what kinda valve are you working here? A piston inside the shells? |
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| Solar |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 6:35 AM Post subject: |
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2nd Lieutenant
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 206
643.41 Spud Bux
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Positive pressure piston valve. Operates with same principle as the Humphey 500A cartridge valves that I used in the earlier versions shown in the last 4 pictures from my development shots. Seals rated to 1200psi. Current trigger is rated at 300 and drive pistons at 250, but the drive pistons can be regulated independant. Just the air intake for the firing piston needs to match vessel pressure for firing. The pneumatic safety is rated at 1200psi as well.
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| Solar |
| Posted: 05/04/2008 6:56 AM Post subject: |
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2nd Lieutenant
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 206
643.41 Spud Bux
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| Hubb0117, the A-5 grip made a nice, quick platform for the clippard trigger valve by just removing some plastic with a dremel tool. Would do again on another homebuilt. Pin connects are nice. The production launchers with the 1911 style grips really open up to different possibilities though. |
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