F4 Illustrator opinions?

[Dusty Bottoms]

Hey all, I saw one of these pop up locally and wanted to get peoples thoughts on it. I have no experience with F4's, but it looked like a nice Spyder clone, and I know it takes Tippmann ProLite/A5 threaded barrels. What do you think?

[Ecapnation]

They exist.... Top out around $50 for stock ones, $150 for funky annoed ones

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Kinda feels wrong to call it a spyder clone since the original f1 illustrator came out way before the first semi spyder. F1 2 and 4 are all different yes but still stbb

its just a regular stbb, should be simple like all the rest. But sometimes they are little bitches.

[Rusty Brass]

^This. Spiders are Illustrator clones. The F4 was made by ACI instead of FAST though, so it all gets a bit muddled at that point.

[The Inflicted]

To be super-pedantic, the Spyder was an attempt to clone the internals of the Line SI Promaster but with the outward feature set of an Automag. The Promaster might be more accurately called a slight miniaturization of the Ilustrator, which itself was a major miniaturization of the PMI-III.

[Rusty Brass]

Lol. All true. I consider myself corrected.

[pghp8ntballer]

I've had several in the past 6 or 7 years but only one fancy ano'd one now. They feel like a nice STBB. The latest version with the .45 frame seems to feel the best, but the earlier ones accept the euro/M16 grip blocks which is nice. Those trigger frames are not as nice as the newer ones. You can see some warp/bowing to them where they meet the body but function fine. The covered top cocking design is nice and if you can find an adjustable bolt, you can tune the velocity a bit better beyond the stock RVA.
Unfortunately things like sears, springs, and valve pins are getting harder to come by but not impossible. Nothing is compatible with spyder clone STBBs though.

If its $30-$40, in good shape and fully functional, then Its worth picking it up. North of $50 it better be near flawless and have some interesting parts or anodizing to it.

[Dusty Bottoms]

So it basically has no interesting design features, and will shoot like any other stbb? I guess I'll pass on it. It was a 2 for $50 deal, one black and one that funky splash ano version.

[440SUPERCOMMANDO]

i personally find them interesting, but that's obvs a matter of opinion. i will say that the examples i have messed with all hade quite good machine work, very ice fit and finish when considering that they are "just a stbb". the frames gram your hand back they are so comfy. stupid durable, and all there little nickety knacks are kinda cool. they are also quite compact if thats somthing you are into. a 12" barrel a,d a 45 or a peanut and say like a spire ir, or a gog multi cal would be a great compact setup.
food for thought. o, and they are A5 threaded incase no one covered that. so, not at all hard to find barrels for.

[The Inflicted]

So it basically has no interesting design features, and will shoot like any other stbb? I guess I'll pass on it. It was a 2 for $50 deal, one black and one that funky splash ano version.

Probably wise. The F4 was different from the Spyders of the era without actually being any better, and at this point parts availability is a major down side. Other than deep collecting or nostalgia for 1997 there's no good reason to seek them out.

[Dusty Bottoms]

Paintball nostalgia for 1997 is my jam, man! I think I’ll stick with mags though.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

So it basically has no interesting design features, and will shoot like any other stbb? I guess I'll pass on it. It was a 2 for $50 deal, one black and one that funky splash ano version.

Wow great deal (wonder if its a graffiti ano). Im not interested, but i bet a few on here are interested.

[gabe]

They're simply the best blowbacks ever and worth every penny! (has a Graffiti edition with spares coming up for sale)

Really though they are really decent guns. They run on a system that's pretty close to the original F2 illustrator with a very narrow/long striker and aluminum venturi bolt. O-rings are all pretty standard and the detents never wear out which is why so many high end autocockers ended up with F1 wire detents. The Brass Eagle Raptor is a direct rip-off of an F4 but with crappy tolerances and materials. The F4 is fully sealed with threaded rear plugs and a sealed cocking system to if you play in rain or mud you're good to go. Only downsides are the sears wear out and are impossible to find. Otherwise they shoot good, are reliable, and the anno patterns that ACI was putting out at that time are absolutely stunning. Late 90's style at its finest.

[Nish]

I still have and use the original F4 that got me into the sport. They are great guns. Completely enclosed so no worriest about anything other than paint getting inside and when set up right are one of the best... Maybe the best STBB.

[The Inflicted]

The Brass Eagle Raptor is a direct rip-off of an F4 but with crappy tolerances and materials.

Didn't the Raptor predate the F4 by at least 3 years? Those were definitely F2 clones, though to their detriment- Brass Eagle had learned none of the lessons of how small an STBB could be from the Promaster/Spyder.

[gabe]

Sorry yeah, the Raptor was an F2 spinoff, same as the F4. Basically the only differences were the location of the asa moving from the back bottle position to the bottom line as far as I can tell.

[spikeball]

Nish owns the color of F4 I remember most. And it's the most unique. What even would you call that color scheme? I'd love to find one in that anno.

I had a black one after my Trracer. I really enjoyed the way it felt and the covered top cocking was a clever feature. Over the years I tried to find something that felt like the F4. Closest I think were the newer Piranhas.

[lew]

I always liked the look of the F4, but I had Spyders and never got into those. By the time I got into Cockers and Mags around 2000, there was no need for another STBB.

Was there ever an F3 Illustrator? I think the answer is "no" and they skipped from 2 to 4.

[Interl0per]

Yeah I never saw an F3, briefly owned an F4 I've never cared for ACI stuff for some reason I can't quite put my finger on, material and finish never seemed quite up to snuff compared to companies like AGD and WGP IMO but plenty of people like them.

[Nish]

Yes the FasTECH ATF is essentially an F#. Same gun in a pistol form.

[lew]

Interesting on the AFT. Thanks for that bit of history.

Aside from small parts- ASA's, feed elbows, and the like, ACI never really came up on my radar back then.

[pghp8ntballer]

So it basically has no interesting design features, and will shoot like any other stbb? I guess I'll pass on it. It was a 2 for $50 deal, one black and one that funky splash ano version.

woah, slow down there. 2 for $50? If in good shape that’s a pretty good deal.

More importantly, where are the pics? You can’t mention a funky splash version and leave us hanging!!

[Alexndl]

+1 we need picture of the funky ano one

[Nish]

Nish owns the color of F4 I remember most. And it's the most unique. What even would you call that color scheme? I'd love to find one in that anno.

I had a black one after my Trracer. I really enjoyed the way it felt and the covered top cocking was a clever feature. Over the years I tried to find something that felt like the F4. Closest I think were the newer Piranhas.

I can double check. I think the label on the box just calls it Graffiti Which I think is fitting.