Advice on Inherited Micromag

[robb2321]

Thanks everyone for identifying the KAPP Drop Zone. I actually found the original tank, mounting bracket. My goal is to restore it and use a modern HPA tank. Would you recommend:

1. Reusing the KAPP Drop Zone, bracket with a new HPA tank?
2. Or removing it all and converting to a modern bottomline ASA?

Is my current setup complete, or am I still missing anything?
I'm also confused on the glossy part in front of the trigger if it serves any purpose given this setup? Would the hose need to be removed or does it work fine like that?

[scottieb]

If you are okay with the tank that far forward then you should keep it for the vintage look.

The bit fitted to the VA is a gas thru piece. You can add pieces to it to make it the size you want. In order to minimize the air line and give the shooting hand less obstruction from it, you could run a line from tank to gas thru and then another line from VA to valve.

[Ecapnation]

Its all personal preference.

Me I don't care for those drops.

Also that tank is dead dead

[shooter311]

The reason we had those huge drops was because we were rocking 114ci tanks. If you put a modern 68 or something on there your nose is gonna be pressed up against the back of the marker.

However, all the weight of that reg and drop will balance out the weight of that barrel a bit.

In my opinion, I would throw a modern asa on it, but its 100% about preference on something like this. Do what you think looks/feels the best!

[otar]

Let me try to make things simple...so a typical setup goes like this:

1. Air tank screws into an ASA
2. The ASA is mounted to the marker (either directly screwed in or with a mount or drop forward)
3. The air from the tank goes into the ASA, through a macroline (black hose), and into the gun's regulator (the front grip piece)
4. For Mags, the air has to also be sent to the valve, which is already setup on yours.

Looking closer at your specific tank and ASA, it looks like quite an old attempt at making the ASA turn the air on/off before unscrewing the tank. Newer ASAs have this feature built in (search CP on/off ASA for example), and are probably easier to use than whatever knob is on your ASA.

To get your setup going:

1. You almost definitely need a new tank, as they are fully expired after 15 years from their manufactured date.
2. If you unscrew the tank, and the ASA is in good condition - you can still use it until you have time to research and buy something you like better
3. You will still (at least) need a macroline (air hose) to go from the fitting at the bottom of the gun's reg (front grip) to the fitting on the silver part of the ASA

As long as there are no leaks, you should be able to play as-is. Then you can decide if you like using the drop forward or if you want to reconfigure the setup with a new ASA or something. Thats the fun part of the older stuff, you can swap in lots of different parts to make it your own

[ClockworkSoldier]

That on/off on the tank threw me off at first too, but it's actually not even a macroline fitting on the front, it has a 90* quick disconnect nipple instead, lol.

[otar]

Ahhhhh good catch.....funny enough, doesnt the reg have a marcoline fitting still? Who the hell set this thing up lol

[ClockworkSoldier]

otar Even worse, the bottom of the VASA actually appears to be a remote line adapter with the fill nipple replaced by a Microline fitting, not even Macroline, haha.

[scottieb]

The reason we had those huge drops was because we were rocking 114ci tanks.

True, but drops also kept the entire package tucked in tighter to the player. Some front guys did have their nose buried in the back of their markers.

[Ecapnation]

Tight to your body and higher over your head

[ClockworkSoldier]

I would totally run that as is, to keep the classic look, as long as it's comfortable for you. Speaking to the overall setup, you're still going to need to do a bit more work to get it to a state where you can air it up and get it working, even once you get your new tank.

That current tank is quite the Frankenstein's Monster, and you'll have to replace the whole thing, not just the bottle. It looks like your friend had it rigged up to run not macroline (like on the side of your Micromag), but a whole quick disconnect braided line to the bottom of the vertical ASA, in front of the trigger guard. Those are almost exclusively used for when you have a vest or harness to wear your tank on your back, to reduce weight. and then have a coiled remote line attached somewhere on your marker. However, instead of having the proper quick disconnect nipple on the marker to accept the other end of the line, it looks like they removed the nipple from the bottom of the remote line adapter (which is screwed into the bottom of the vertical ASA in front of the trigger guard), and replaced it with an old school Microline fitting, not even Macroline. That might all be a bit over your head at the moment, but I thought it was crazy looking enough to write it all out, lol.

As for the easiest way to get this all updated and running properly, you'll need a few things.

1. New tank.
2. ASA adapter (preferably with an on/off) which can either be clamped into the drop forward, or attached to the bottom of the grip.
3. At least two new 90* macroline fittings, and possibly four if you want to run the air through the foregrip how it's currently set up.
4. Some new Macroline to resize for a single new air line run directly from the valve, or an extra piece for the second run from the bottom of the vertical ASA/foregrip.

The tank, fittings, and macroline are all easy enough to get. The ASA for this kind of setup can be a bit trickier to find exactly what you like though, if you do want to use the drop forward. You'll need to find one that's big enough to fit in the clamp in the drop forward. There are definitely some people here who will have what you need, if you put up a WTB post, and post a picture of your marker with the drop forward, so they know what will be large enough to fit. But if you just want to switch to a normal ASA mounted to the grip, there's tons of options out there.

I also included a picture of one of my own mags, with the short version of that style of drop forward, to give you an idea of what it looks like when it's all assembled. As you can see on mine, the foregrip/vertical ASA is only used a grip, and has no other extra function. As yours is currently setup, the air is running from the foregrip to the valve, but there is no line from the tank to the foregrip, so it wouldn't work. You would have to remove the current Microline fitting from the bottom of the foregrip, replace it with a Macroline fitting, and then run Macroline from there to the ASA where the tank will be screwed in. Or you could just rerun everything as a single line from the valve to the ASA, and skip the foregrip entirely, like in my photo below.

*Edited to account for all the Microline that needs to be replaced*

[robb2321]

This was a great help. Can you explain more on the ASA you have there on yours? I'm leaning towards something similar to your setup and wondering what ASA you have thats able to run that macrofitting and line.

[ClockworkSoldier]

It's hard to tell in these specific photos, but the more I'm looking at it, and the photos in your other posts, even the air lines on the side of the marker are also Microline, not Macroline, and they should probably be replaced as well. So you'll probably just want to pick up 2 to 4 new Macroline fittings, as well as some new Macroline. Microline has significantly less maximum burst pressure (~800psi) of Macroline (~2500psi), which you can easily hit with an air tank outputting the proper 850-900psi for an Automag.

[scottieb]

Microline had a short lived existence.

[ClockworkSoldier]

scottieb Yeah, I started playing back in 99 or 2000, and even then I didn't see much of it.

[Melrosejedi]

All personal preference here. The nostalgia look is cool but if it doesn’t work for ya , make it comfortable for you. Good luck

[Daltech]

That thing was a beast in its day.

[ClockworkSoldier]

Generally most ASAs will have the proper threaded holes to accept Macroline fittings, especially old ASAs. The exceptions to this, and more so with modern markers, is that they have proprietary ASAs, that only work with that specific marker. They're pretty easy to tell apart though, and should be clearly labeled by the seller.

As for what's on my Automag, it's an old 32 Degrees on/off ASA, which you can still find floating around. Here's one that's currently on eBay, and is a bit overpriced, but does come with a Macroline fitting: https://www.ebay.com/itm/157297125041

There is also the KAPP version, which is the same brand as your drop forward, and looks pretty much identical to the 32 Degrees version: https://baccipaintball.com/air1953.html Unfortunately I'm not seeing any black versions currently posted though.

If you post on here looking for some, you may be able to find some better prices, and also a KAPP in black, if you wanted the matching brand.

But here's some more photos demonstrating the different options you have. Just keep in mind that you will still need to replace the Microline fitting coming from the valve as well, in addition to the different steps below. I forgot to mention it in the first comment too, but you'll also need to pick up some teflon tape to seal all the fittings as you work on it. Just the thinner white stuff will work. Don't use locktite.

1. This option would be the easiest change based on your current setup. You would remove the Microline fitting from the bottom of your foregrip, and replace it with either a straight or 90* Macroline fitting (which you like the look of better), and run the single extra Macroline. The fitting in the bottom of the grip in my photo is just resting on the bottom of the foregrip as well, so you wouldn't be able to get that same angle once it's properly screwed in.


2. This option would require slightly more work, but would keep the Macroline fittings on the foregrip a little more uniform. You would first need to remove the top Microline fitting from the foregrip, and replace it with a 90* Macroline fitting. Second you would remove the plug screw from the side of your foregrip, below the other fitting, and replace it with a 90* Macroline fitting. Then you would need to remove the Microline fitting from the bottom of the foregrip, and replace it with the plug screw you removed from the other spot. Then you could make your Macroline run from the ASA below.


3. These last two setups are for if you decide to use an ASA on the bottom of the grip frame. For this one you would simply install the ASA on the bottom of the grip frame, as well as a 90* Macroline fitting, and then you would replace the Microline fitting in the bottom of the foregrip with another 90* Macroline fitting, and make a straight Macroline run.


4. With this option you would just ignore the foregrip completely, install the ASA in the grip frame, and run your Macroline straight to the valve. The problem with doing this is that you need a large enough curve in the Macroline for your hand to fit under/over to reach the grip. I need even more curve than what's in my picture for it to actually be comfortable, and I have relatively small hands.