crimsonguard
04-07-2006, 05:14 PM
I got into the sport about a year ago. I rented many times beforehand and had a blast every time. The last time I rented, a buddy of mine and I decided to buy guns just to save money from renting as well as being able to buy ammo cheaper compared to the renters. My friend Chris found a guy selling two brand new Spyder TLX's that he had won in a tournament. Did some quick research to find that the $100 cdn that the guy wanted for each gun was quite a good deal. We made the deal and each had a new packaged TLX. We began playing rec ball with a few guys that I work with and some of there friends. Almost all of em were using electrics or RT, but I felt that my gun held up pretty good and that it also had plenty of room for upgrades...
It started with wanting a better barrel. I picked up an all black Freak Jr. with only the 693 bore. I was running the gun with a 12oz CO2 and getting more shots with the freak barrel over the stock tube. At this point I had already gotten tired of being rain on with paintballs from the other guys with electrics, so I looked for either a used e-frame or a spyder with working e-frame. Found one within days... an E99 Avant w/ shocktech bolt, teardrop, and a JT 2pc barrel. I sold the bolt to a buddy with an E99. The teardrop, VA and expansion chamber went to two other people. So I had made $10 from the deal and had the e-frame. The only thing was that the e-frame would only fire a few times with CO2 on... then not fire at all. Read through this forum and others to realize that I had most likely had either a bad cap or solenoid. I wasn't able to find a capacitor locally and I was getting ticked off cause I had upgraded other people and not myself, lol. I finally gave in and worked a deal with someone selling an Imagine to offer them my mech trigger frame and cash for his almost new e-frame and a CP flame drop. I found a used Halo TSA backman very cheap that worked excellent with the setup. The local shop put the lapco clamping feednecks on sale for $15 so I had to have one. It has lowered the profile and holds the loader solid. Searching forums I also found a guys selling two Check-It Assault blocks, one like new black(with a Java Gauge) and one brand new chrome. Took em both and sold the chrome one to my E99 buddy. Now I could rip my gun without any CO2 spitting and much better consistency.
During a day of play I would get a couple chops, nothing terrible considering at worst I was probably goin through 1000-1500 paintballs. I read reviews and decided to pick-up a delrin ACS bolt. Since it has been in, I have chopped only two balls(probably during break in) and shot two cases of paint. I was loving it!! I switched to HPA shortly after and the new style freak front in blue anno that is almost a dead match to the TLX body, as well as two more freak inserts.
Christmas had rolled by and we weren't playing outdoors anymore. Occassionally we hit up the indoor places when they have the BYOP specials on. Other times we go, its still expensive but great target practice shooting up the renters. I had seen the OtterSC site when I first bought the TLX and found it very helpful. I came across it a second time looking through these forums and was intrigued by the low pressure conversion. As I read on, I noticed I had many of the parts recommended/required. What that be the end of the upgrades? Or dump a little more into this thing? My E99 buddy got tired of his old spyder and upped to a ICD Promaster. I figured I could show him and everyone else up. I would build a high end marker for well under the cost of one.
EBAY came in handy for cheap parts. The NDZ valve and Maddman spring kit came to $40cdn new/shipped. I wanted a better regulator and got a CP like new in box for half the price of new. A piece of macroline and a NDZ ASA with on/off, and a Bob Long 600psi gauge(not pictured) would finish the conversion. I put it all together last weekend and was able to set at 310psi without knowing FPS. I am awaiting a pocket chrony with FPS and BPS that I have ordered from eBay. Then I wil be able to setup properly trying different spring combo's. After all this time had passed, I was getting very quick at firing the stock e-frame often capping it. Recorded me firing especially when I thought that I had capped and had friend who is audio engineer tell me if I had or not... Affirmative.
By this point I have read and heard so much about the T-board I felt as if I should have bought it before now. Ebay again for less than scenario dreams lists it. I have installed it and can already tell that I'm firing faster with the default settings(no air). I did not get the eyes and feel that I'd like to try the board out with just the anti-chop bolt alone... I'll see how its tests, if its no good then I'll order the eyes and the T-chip...lol.
Well I believe thats it.. ah nope. Just picked up a Halo B with broken on/off switch. Got this for a steal of a price and I'm jus gonna upgrade it to a reloader B instead of another Z-board. Oh and the E99 Avant?? Well I had so many extra parts from the TLX, the IPI board from the newer frame and now probably a good second hopper(halo TSA) that I reassembled the old E99. It will soon be painted to match all the parts.
I haven't had any chance yet to try out the low pressure or t-board so I will post when I do. ANY feedback would be appreciated as I have felt like an idiot from time to time building up a Spyder to this extent. Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed doing all the upgrades and love my gun. Will it perform like a high end marker? Bearing in mind that it is still a blow back.
A much special thanx to OtterSCustoms, PBreviews.com, Badlands Paintball(sale prices), torontopaintball.com(server shutdown), eBay(lol), and last but not least the Spyder Forums.
And along came a spyder.....
It started with wanting a better barrel. I picked up an all black Freak Jr. with only the 693 bore. I was running the gun with a 12oz CO2 and getting more shots with the freak barrel over the stock tube. At this point I had already gotten tired of being rain on with paintballs from the other guys with electrics, so I looked for either a used e-frame or a spyder with working e-frame. Found one within days... an E99 Avant w/ shocktech bolt, teardrop, and a JT 2pc barrel. I sold the bolt to a buddy with an E99. The teardrop, VA and expansion chamber went to two other people. So I had made $10 from the deal and had the e-frame. The only thing was that the e-frame would only fire a few times with CO2 on... then not fire at all. Read through this forum and others to realize that I had most likely had either a bad cap or solenoid. I wasn't able to find a capacitor locally and I was getting ticked off cause I had upgraded other people and not myself, lol. I finally gave in and worked a deal with someone selling an Imagine to offer them my mech trigger frame and cash for his almost new e-frame and a CP flame drop. I found a used Halo TSA backman very cheap that worked excellent with the setup. The local shop put the lapco clamping feednecks on sale for $15 so I had to have one. It has lowered the profile and holds the loader solid. Searching forums I also found a guys selling two Check-It Assault blocks, one like new black(with a Java Gauge) and one brand new chrome. Took em both and sold the chrome one to my E99 buddy. Now I could rip my gun without any CO2 spitting and much better consistency.
During a day of play I would get a couple chops, nothing terrible considering at worst I was probably goin through 1000-1500 paintballs. I read reviews and decided to pick-up a delrin ACS bolt. Since it has been in, I have chopped only two balls(probably during break in) and shot two cases of paint. I was loving it!! I switched to HPA shortly after and the new style freak front in blue anno that is almost a dead match to the TLX body, as well as two more freak inserts.
Christmas had rolled by and we weren't playing outdoors anymore. Occassionally we hit up the indoor places when they have the BYOP specials on. Other times we go, its still expensive but great target practice shooting up the renters. I had seen the OtterSC site when I first bought the TLX and found it very helpful. I came across it a second time looking through these forums and was intrigued by the low pressure conversion. As I read on, I noticed I had many of the parts recommended/required. What that be the end of the upgrades? Or dump a little more into this thing? My E99 buddy got tired of his old spyder and upped to a ICD Promaster. I figured I could show him and everyone else up. I would build a high end marker for well under the cost of one.
EBAY came in handy for cheap parts. The NDZ valve and Maddman spring kit came to $40cdn new/shipped. I wanted a better regulator and got a CP like new in box for half the price of new. A piece of macroline and a NDZ ASA with on/off, and a Bob Long 600psi gauge(not pictured) would finish the conversion. I put it all together last weekend and was able to set at 310psi without knowing FPS. I am awaiting a pocket chrony with FPS and BPS that I have ordered from eBay. Then I wil be able to setup properly trying different spring combo's. After all this time had passed, I was getting very quick at firing the stock e-frame often capping it. Recorded me firing especially when I thought that I had capped and had friend who is audio engineer tell me if I had or not... Affirmative.
By this point I have read and heard so much about the T-board I felt as if I should have bought it before now. Ebay again for less than scenario dreams lists it. I have installed it and can already tell that I'm firing faster with the default settings(no air). I did not get the eyes and feel that I'd like to try the board out with just the anti-chop bolt alone... I'll see how its tests, if its no good then I'll order the eyes and the T-chip...lol.
Well I believe thats it.. ah nope. Just picked up a Halo B with broken on/off switch. Got this for a steal of a price and I'm jus gonna upgrade it to a reloader B instead of another Z-board. Oh and the E99 Avant?? Well I had so many extra parts from the TLX, the IPI board from the newer frame and now probably a good second hopper(halo TSA) that I reassembled the old E99. It will soon be painted to match all the parts.
I haven't had any chance yet to try out the low pressure or t-board so I will post when I do. ANY feedback would be appreciated as I have felt like an idiot from time to time building up a Spyder to this extent. Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed doing all the upgrades and love my gun. Will it perform like a high end marker? Bearing in mind that it is still a blow back.
A much special thanx to OtterSCustoms, PBreviews.com, Badlands Paintball(sale prices), torontopaintball.com(server shutdown), eBay(lol), and last but not least the Spyder Forums.
And along came a spyder.....