Micromag project

[gnarlynick]

Recently picked up a gen 4 Micromag project gun from Super Nova. Included was:

• Micromag body
  • Power feed with mounting screws
  • Parabolic power feed plug
  • 3D printed detent
• AGD carbon fiber frame (trigger guard was cut out to allow for a double trigger)
  • Aluminum double trigger with mounting pin
  • Wrap around single-screw AGD grip with grip screws
  • Duckbill ASA with mounting screws
  • Stainless steel braided air hose with 1/8” NPT 90° fittings
• Minimag valve/regulator body
  • Level 7 bolt
• Benchmark expansion chamber
• Clear 7/8” to 1" power feed elbow

I haven't had a Mag before and really like the Automag format and aesthetic of the Micromag. I intend to mostly just get the missing parts needed to get this gun functioning and learn about Mags along the way. Preliminary tear down shows I'm missing the following:

• Sear and sear pin
• Trigger safety mechanism
• Vertical ASA to mount the foregrip and mounting screw
• Power tube spacers
• Detent spring and roll pin
• Forward frame screw and rear field strip screw
• O-rings and bolt spring all likely need replaced

[gnarlynick]

I 3D printed some parts for the Micromag. Everything is printed in PETG at a 0.1mm layer height.

First, I found a model for the power feed plug on Thingiverse and modified it slightly. Changed the diameter to accept the o-ring size that was on the original plug and increased the thickness and diameter of the knurled section to make it easier to grip with gloves on.


Second, I wasn't fond of the double trigger that came with it and wanted something that more resembled a fang-type trigger. Luckily, I found a model from ydna on zdspb.com and just had to modify a few dimensions to get it to firmly fit within the frame without much trigger slop. Also increased the width of the face of the trigger and increased the length a bit.


Finally, I decided to try my hand at CAD modeling and took some reference photos and measurements of the detent that was included. Was able to model a decent detent in OnShape and get that printed out after several iterations.


I may look into making a tourney lock as well, not decided on that. This may be all the 3D printed parts I'll do for this. We'll see how well the trigger performs, I did find some nice fang triggers from ConradCustoms should it not hold up.

Trigger:
https://www.printables.com/model/175...g-fang-trigger

Powerfeed plug:
https://www.printables.com/model/175...powerfeed-plug

Detent:
https://www.printables.com/model/175...icromag-detent

[gnarlynick]

Got the recommendation on here to reach out to Forest Hatcher of PTP/Armson. That proved to be a treasure trove as he is a super nice dude and had a lot of information on valve/bolt compatibility, screw sizes and recommendations on how to secure the sear pin into the body. After some back and forth he was able to get me the following from his warehouse:

• 3D printed detent with extra detent springs and roll pins
• 10-32 x 5/8” stainless steel button head forward frame screws
• 10-32 x 5/8” cap head VASA mounting screw
• 10-32 stainless steel field strip screw
• Armson power feed elbow with hardware
• Extra 1/8” sear pins and some other hardware

In addition to that, I ordered a rebuild kit, sear, trigger safety kit, and power tube spacers direct from AGD.

Also found a Micromag VASA on eBay. Listing stated it was matte but it doesn't quite match the matte finish of the Micromag body. Reaching out to the seller to confirm this is correct, it almost appears to be a dull gloss finish.

[gnarlynick]

At Forest's recommendation, I drilled and tapped for a 4-40 set screw beneath the body to hold the sear pin in-place. Pretty elegant, the frame covers the set screw when the gun is assembled.

[scottieb]

That set screw trick is brilliant.

[gnarlynick]

I agree. Forest gets all the credit for that one.

[gnarlynick]

Was originally planning on using the Benchmark expansion chamber as either just a foregrip or a gas-thru grip. After putting it onto the VASA, I'm not so sure I like how large it is; kinda goes against the "micro" part.


I have a few extra GOG eNMEy regulator bodies lying around from what I'd received for the POP 2026 build. Screwed that in and I'm really digging the more subdued foregrip look.


I'm not really seeing any gas-thru grips on the internet that are calling out to me. Reached out to DocsMachine about the gas-thru grips he used to make to see if those are coming back anytime in the future. I may just use the eNMEy reg body as a foregrip in the meantime. Not sure if it's worth it gutting it and plugging the bleed holes to convert it to a gas-thru. I'll have to ruminate on it some more.

[scottieb]

You've saved some weight by deleting the expansion chamber.

[gnarlynick]

The Benchmark is quite beefy. It did kind of balance out the weight from the valve but I'm sure when the hopper and air tank is installed it'll also get a bit balanced.

While I certainly don't intend to use CO2, I did initially consider using the Benchmark as just a gas-thru foregrip. I've seen competing arguments as to whether that is detrimental or not for HPA setups. I am doing a similar thing on my Tippmann 98 Custom with its original expansion chamber and it doesn't seem to be negatively impacted reaching velocity and rapid firing with a RT installed.

I'm currently leaning more toward a direct macroline connection from the ASA to the valve at this point.

[Olsson]

The shorter versions of Angel HPRs work wonders as a gas through on an Automag/Micromag. Gutted of course. They match up pretty nicely lengthwise.

Very nice build you've got there, by the way.

[shooter311]

In case you wanted to go nuts with the 3d printing theme Thingiverse has several foregrips you could print. Also someone made some 3d printed freak barrels for Micromags, I had one, but the mag was stolen and I haven't seen them since. I can't remember who was making them.

[gnarlynick]

Thanks for the suggestion. I may try out one of these vertical foregrips and see how it turns out. Need to order more black PETG. I do have plenty of black TPU that may be a fun material to try to do a foregrip with.

Micromag Gen3 Vertical Grips by Kingofskies - Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4735362

[shooter311]

I think that bike grip cover in the photo I printed with TPU, I remember it being soft and squishy. Looked better than the super yellowed clear cover I got form AGD, but prob best to just buy a legit bike grip and cut it down for those.

[gnarlynick]

Well, that was stupid easy. Cleaned out the power tube, valve, and regulator bodies and replaced all the o-rings with the rebuild kit and haphazardly screwed the braided steel hose to the valve and ASA. Aired the gun up just to see what I'm working with in terms of leaks and I heard the valve fill with air and the on/off push the sear into place. Pulled the trigger and it. just. worked.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rEKVMLzDJ...kZHMdVv4-OrgLI

The 3D printed trigger is pretty nice and doesn't seem to take much effort to actually cycle the gun. Having never fired a Mag before, I was concerned how well it would hold up to both the weight of the trigger pull and being reset by the trigger rod. I'll have to see what some actual use does in terms of wear but I'm far less concerned now after seeing it in action. Real crisp and satisfying trigger pull. I'm seeing what all the fuss is about.

Ran some atomic pickles through it and the detent is holding those in-place; I bore matched them to a .675 Freak insert to give you an idea of how small those pickles are. The detent should be able to handle small bore paint no issue.

https://youtube.com/shorts/QENiSPDvf...yM0X6Kr84dADK2

Still gonna replace the braided steel line with a macroline and likely add a CP on/off ASA.

[WORR13]

i actually think the gog reg fits it pretty well.

[gnarlynick]

Printed one of the foregrip models and I'm still not feeling it. Will probably stick with the GOG reg for now.

[gnarlynick]

Recently bought this classic valve assembly; waiting to receive it. It looks to have a level 10 tip (maybe internals as well), diamond lab reg body, and an RT on/off.



I know the RT on/off alone will not magically bring RT to my gun, but what benefits (or negatives) does it introduce when installed onto a classic valve? I saw one post state it lightens the trigger pull. Anything else to expect there or should I just stick to using a classic on/off with the classic valve?

[capedcrayola]

If you got it from Super Nova , I hope you washed it real good, maybe even bleach it. Who knows where it's been.

[gnarlynick]

I wash everything that comes in, lol. All jokes aside, this is the second marker I've bought from him, great guy to deal with.

[capedcrayola]

Hahaha this is also true.

[Glovebox Operator]

I'm also the proud owner of a micromag project. I think I'm going with trilly bit for the front end. Not running any air through them and the reg would be black of it gets used.

[gnarlynick]

Love the Benchy frame. May look for one at some point, the basic CF frame will serve its purpose for the time being.

Do you have the piece that bolts to the body to hold the detent in?

[Glovebox Operator]

I do, but I need to repair the treads. Maybe they can be saved but I'll probably have to Heli-coil it. Do you know if the actual detent is the same for both them?

[gnarlynick]

From my research, generations 1-5 all seem to use the same detent design. The difference was really only in either having to bolt the mounting point to the body (gen 1 and gen 2) or the mounting point already being milled into the body (gen 3, gen 4, gen 5). Generation 6 (2K9) used screw-in autococker detents.

[gnarlynick]

Big mail day. Since last I posted I've acquired the following:

• Gas-through foregrip from DocsMachine
• Magnus Sabre trigger from ConradCustoms
• Planet Eclipse POPS ASA from superman
• A much lighter Diamond Lab regulator body with a blue 32° tourney lock from a certain curated paintball store
• Low profile 90° macroline fittings from docfire
• Blue macroline from ANS Gear

I'm going to play around with the RT on/off that came with the reg body and see how that impacts firing and the weight of the trigger pull, but I would consider this build pretty much field-ready. Thanks to all who have provided much needed parts and information on getting this pulled together. Excited to field this.

[Olsson]

Funny, I was just about to post in this thread that Doc's gas-thoughs were available again. Great minds think alike I guess - although I primarily use that phrase as an excuse to refer to my mind as great.

Speaking of great - that is an absolutely great looking shooter you've got there. I would gladly rock that exact setup.

[gnarlynick]

Thanks! I'm really liking the final look. I may look into anodizing everything to match better down the road, but it's not necessary at the moment. Really like the satin finish of the Micromag body, I'll have to read more up on the anodizing process to see if that is achievable on the rest of the aluminum parts to get everything to match.

Might also look into dyeing the macroline a bit darker blue to match the other accent blues a bit better.