Super Cobra Conversion

[Bazookafied]

It wouldn't be a first post without me saying something. I'm new here. Flux told me to check out this forum and I like what I see going on!

First a quick background: I'm a college student running a Laser Challenge-based group in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. I own a good portion of the gear and bring it to every match for players to use for free (though donations are always welcome). We play outdoors and at night. The bulk of our gear is the old Laser Challenge Team Force gear but we've also got a few V2 and some other LC remakes in our armory.

I've been fiddling around with this stuff for awhile now, but I still have a lot to learn about modifications and the like.

Most of our gear just have simple modifications. Sound dampening on speakers. The occasional toggle to cut lights or sound. A few custom paint jobs, but nothing too spectacular. My personal weapon was my first successful "transplant" of a bunch of LC internals into a Namco Guncon NPC-103 shell. (image (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/Bazookafied/NPC-103A1.jpg))

Right now I'm working on upgrading, since the old LC internals demand that I reload every 6 shots. The gun is also incapable of firing a "Max Blast", something unique to V2 vests.

My newest project is pretty much the same as my first, only I'm using a Nyko Super Cobra Guncon for the shell. The Super Cobra's construction has more built-in button featues so I don't have to drill and put in my own toggles. For the most part, that conversion has been going well. However, it brings up a question I have yet to get a straight answer for.

The internals I am using for this transplant are Laser Challenge V2 Pistol internals. That weapon traditionally runs on 3 AA batteries. I know that I can substitute those 3 AAs for 3 AAAs and get the same power. However, I have yet to come across a 3 AAA battery holder. Instead, I decided to try just using 2 AA batteries to power it. Most other LC guns only use 2 battieries. This gun turns on and seems to operate fine with only 2 AAA's in it. However, I'm wondering how thats possible. Does the gun only require that extra battery when using the ELS system for V2? Am I under-powering the gun and will get significantly less range?

[Bazookafied]

Test Run 1

Super Cobra functioning. Unpainted


Well, I've got the Super Cobra basically running. The shell comes together no problems, the buttons I have installed (Arm, Max Blast, On/off, Trigger) are all functioning fine. Instead of using an actual lens arrangement cannibalized from an existing tagger (like I had done with previous weapons), I decided to attempt to use the Super Cobra's existing arrangement connections with the V2 Tagger's lens, emitter, and cone. With some sanding, the V2 arrangement fit in nicely. I did this because even though using the full arrangement of another pistol would not change the focus, putting that equipment in manually can be inaccurate. I lost a good 100 feet of range with one modification because the arrangement was not centered correctly. Using the Super Cobra's existing construction ensured that the arrangement would be as accurate as possible. With it basically running, I decided to take it out for a range test with a normal V2 Pistol along with me to compare ranges.

Test conditions were at night with low humidity (and a comfortable 68 Degrees! A fantastic night!)

I used a V2 vest to receive hits for the test. From what I tested at the range, the Super Cobra had almost no loss in range compared to the unmodified V2 Pistol. I found the Super Cobra to be easier to be accurate with, but thats probably due to the designs of the two weapons. The V2 Pistol only seemed to have a couple more feet of range (about 10).

The End result ended up showing the unmodified V2 Pistol to have about a 350 ft. range (just what the box says!) and the Super Cobra still having about 340 Ft.

I confirmed these ranges by checking in with Google Earth and plotting the points where the ranges were recorded getting about the same measurements as before.

So with this test complete, it seems that not only did my custom work with the lens arrangement not inhibit the V2 Pistol's range, but also running the Super Cobra only on 2 AAA's as opposed to the V2 Pistol's 3 AA's did not inhibit range.

Here' are some detail images of thie WIP. I first gutted most of the existing Super Cobra's internals leaving only buttons and some mounts to use. Most of the wires and components are simply held down by hot glue, some super glue in a few cases, and a few screws where I really needed support for hardpoints.



For the lens arrangement, I took the existing V2 Pistol's lens and cone and sanded them down around the edges until they fit into the Super Cobra's existing internal structure. For instance, the lens that was already in the Super Cobra left behind a groove that the V2 Lens now rests in. I did this to ensure that whatever the gun is aiming at is what it was originally intended to aim at. In the past, I've transplanted the entire lens arrangement and then mounted it on the gun. However, that has proved to be inaccurate to the point where I lose hundreds of feet of range. An image of that is below.


Below is an image of the main board (located in the handle of the pistol) and the ELS connection.
ELS Connection (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/Katokified/SuperCobraInternals3.jpg)

Next I show a close up of most of the gun's internals. You can see where I had to make my own trigger modification to the existing trigger unit. A screw holds a piece of steryne plastic to the trigger unit that is re-enforced with glue between the connection.


Right now, my next focus is to complete the lighting for this weapon. I'm thinking of changing out the V2's "christmas light" to a red LED. Instead of using the existing clear slots in the sides of the weapon (which would require more than one LED to look good), I am using the second empty barrel underneath the emitter barrel to put in another lens arrangement. This lens arrangement will be used to magnify the red LED so that way when I shoot at my target, they will be slightly illuminated by the magnified light. Theoretically, the light should have roughly the same range as my pistol. I'm hoping it will be a neat effect.

After that, I'll be installing the toggles for the light and sound. When that step is complete, its just painting and mounting my combat light and this weapon is done! I hope to have at least the toggles and the light ready by the end of this week (our group has a game Friday Night).

Comments and suggestions are more than welcome!

[jader]

nice work. i'd go insane trying to get all of those wires in there

[Bazookafied]

Thanks jader. I appreciate the comments!

Actually, this weapon is a bit bigger than you might think, but yes, its still a fairly small space. I had do do a lot of pruning of excess wires. My resources are limited, so "pruning" just means cutting wires down, soldering them, and the sealing them up with some hot glue.

I combat tested this weapon last night with 3 other friends in a big park. It worked out pretty well! I especially like how long the barrel is on this, even though its a pistol. Only problem is because this gun is so bulky, it won't fit in a normal holster.

[Capt_KA]

Good job -- and great close-ups!!! What camera did you use?

You mentioned about battery holders for AAA batteries. I thought I saw them at Radioshack for a few bucks...

CKA

[Bazookafied]

Good job -- and great close-ups!!! What camera did you use?

You mentioned about battery holders for AAA batteries. I thought I saw them at Radioshack for a few bucks...

CKA

Oh thanks. Its a friend's camera. I couldn't tell you what kind it was! I can certainly ask if you like.

I did get a double AAA holder from Radio Shack ( its that black box you see under the barrel), but I couldn't find a 3 AAA holder. Fortunately, the weapon works on just 2 AAA's.