I think the good ol’ days of buying something cheap that underperforms then rocking up to your local for upgrade parts are history… I’m from an aircraft engineering background I enjoy the challenge of looking for ways to improve, innovate and upgrade.
My absolute favourite old school build was a Le Hui Scorpion EVO 3 with a metal geared Gen 8 box, a drum mag built from a Glock drum and an Evo stick, rear wired 11.1v battery in the stock, custom paint. It was a beast and I gave it away to a mate.
It took time, skill and imagination to turn a sub $100 shitter into something awesome and it was a ton of fun, especially when a lot of the input and inspiration came from other psycopathic modders on the old forum. I know that’s not what everyone wants to do, but I personally get no joy from pulling the trigger on a blaster that’s factory original I’ve spent over $600 on. It goes on the wall and gets a “that’s nice… meh!”
We can now buy cheaper blasters that are built all metal with metal boxes and gears… they’re solid and reliable. That needed to happen and it’s great for the newbies, of course. But there’s nothing for a modder to do but bolt on accessories and maybe throw on a paintjob.
Awesome blasters used to be like old cars that some nutter shoved a big block V8 into… now they’re just bog stock original Volvos that cost an arm and a leg. Bring back the Gen 8, I say! Good times!
Great comments and the same enjoyment that I had with the Hobby.
Spent every day in the Workshop building real Hot Rods and modifying old Muscle Cars/Classics……, then knock off and spend my time in the evenings/late nights enjoying building and modifying blasters
Loved to do the same, leaving the blasters as stock looking as possible, but with some serious FPS & ROF built into them.
There was plenty of parts that were destroyed in the process of chasing higher performance, but that was part of the fun, mix matching different parts to learn what worked and what wouldn’t.
Others were built entirely from scratch with a few simple accessories to keep the clean look happening, which is the way I liked them to look…… clean and functional…… like this M4 with full metal everything!
I am in the sometimes fortunate position where I see new blasters that require repair or upgrade and someone else pays, though they tend to also take it away once I am done
So I see a lot of newer blasters that I don’t buy, and yes, they are generally good needing little or no upgrading to be a reasonable performer that does not leaving the user feeling outgunned on the field.
That said, there is little enjoyment in purchasing such pieces for me personally. I am a sucker for punishment, and take much more joy getting something a older, broken, missing parts etc and paying stuff all for it, then turning it into something unique and making it perform. Most of the hobby for me is this.
I like to exercise my creativity, intellect (lol), engineering and problem solving; more than I like to just buy things and throw money at blasters. For me if a blaster is cheaper, I find I care less what happens to it on the field, and just focus on having fun rather than trying to look after something that was expensive. I find that balance of performance, value and entertainment vital in the hobby to truly enjoy it.
So what is the difference between the new CEH Army Armament M45a1 (kimber patriot) and the M4a1 JG 1911. Both look a lot like the old Atomic Armoury 1911 tactical (which still performs better than my WETech 1911’s)
Well… The Atomic Armoury is just a reskinned wells. So it is surprising it works at all after a few months.
The Army Armament, I have heard little about other than they are good.
The JG is a 1911 version of their hicapa. I have one, and have been pretty impressed with it. Nothing outstanding, but it works flawlessly, and shoots pretty straight so nothing to complain about.
Nudged over for neatness sake. Because heck yes the M1’s are cool and I’m excited, and keen to talk about them (without crowding the PPSH thread).
I’m actually low key kind of relieved they haven’t arrived yet. I know they’re gonna sell like hotcakes, and my data card is taking its time coming back from SAPol.
Wouldn’t be the first time, an M7 fits perfectly on the CYMA M16s, pretty sure the 1907 patterns fit on the Lee-Enfield as well. Definitely overkill, but a rubber bayonet might be fun in a CQB situation?
Just been chatting with a US Supplier mate that’s got all the manufacturer industry lowdowns on blasters out of China for his US Business.
Still waiting for some more pics and details in the next 24 hours, but from what I can see so far, it looks like the Gen8 2.0 will still have the same buffer tube and handguard mount style, just better quality CYMA grade Nylon, delete lower heat shield, proper safe/semi/auto, cast metal gears and general strengthening of the old design.
Can automatically see that they seem to be a new style “pinned” receiver, not the old style held together with 15 different screws
Only screw that I can see are for the original Gen8 style handgrip/motor mount.
Always annoyed me with the JM8 the screws holding halfs together. Visual thing. Too little too late can’t see it being a big seller. Maybe US will go gangbusters. But na AUS is dead especially when everyone gets the 30% power hike won’t be able to afford fuck all
That’s definitely true mate!
I’m certain that it is the new demand from the US/European market for the manufacturers to update an old known hot seller to provide a cheap alternative that slots in between the WALMART crap and the higher end Blasters currently available.
Everyone seems to be screaming out for a $90-$120 reliable, half decent performance blaster that’s easily/cheaply upgradeable…….which a new version Gen8 would definitely fill the gap in the market sell like hot cakes.
I know that’s not what everyone wants to do, but I personally get no joy from pulling the trigger on a blaster that’s factory original I’ve spent over $600 on. It goes on the wall and gets a “that’s nice… meh!” 
