Finally got out to the field.

[Euphie]

I got that Dark Angel my old teammate gave me working pretty well, still waiting on alot of other things to complete my setup, but I figured what the hell it is worth going out and trying to play with it. I had a blast at KC Crusader's in South Prairie, WA! So here are some thoughts about it:

1. I really don't understand why I didn't just go sooner, what have I been doing with my life this past decade lol
2. It didn't really seem that the Dark Angel was any worse than any current high end gun that anyone else was playing with.
3. I chopped two paintballs all day, but they weren't chopped in the breach, so they were barrel breaks and this is with a .690 which really makes me wonder how misshappen one star is?
4. Alot of people had never heard of an Angel which makes me a bit sad, WDP/APS needs to come back.
5. I should really sell this Angel, I have no trigger discipline I can shoot 15bps, so I do shoot 15 bps.
6. Even when trying my best I can't seem to beat 15 bps, I used to pull 18 bps when I tried on my old Cobra LCD (both according to the board itself), have my fingers gotten slower because I am old now?
7. If I want a Gopro mount to stay on I am going to need to JB weld it.
8. I am really, really really out of shape lol, I am not super fat so I guess I thought I was okay but nope. I was dying trying to make the second row of bunkers after the starting point.
9. A 62/3K is just too heavy to put on your gun.


This also leads me to the conclusion that once I get both of these Angels up and going I am going to try and trade for a shoebox shocker. The Shoebox is largely nostalgia it doesn't have alot of the things I want in a marker, but I do see the appeal in keeping at least one electro around for when I wanna pull the trigger without cramping my fingers. Also I find myself weirdly missing the ergonomics of my old OTB frame, right feed, vertical maxflo shocker. I think I might have a case of Stockholm Syndrome


I decided to put the green breech knob, barrel, and drop on this one since I really wanted a drop due to how big that tank was, looks kinda trash but it is okay I guess. Ran like it was new, so I really can't complain even the 20 year old batter holds a charge, though using a tab key instead of a switch is BS.

[Tinybear]

Awesome. Sounds like ya had fun.

I too recently returned. Things are much harder these days but man I love this sport.

[glaman5266]

1. I really don't understand why I didn't just go sooner, what have I been doing with my life this past decade lol
2. It didn't really seem that the Dark Angel was any worse than any current high end gun that anyone else was playing with.
3. I chopped two paintballs all day, but they weren't chopped in the breach, so they were barrel breaks and this is with a .690 which really makes me wonder how misshappen one star is?
4. Alot of people had never heard of an Angel which makes me a bit sad, WDP/APS needs to come back.
5. I should really sell this Angel, I have no trigger discipline I can shoot 15bps, so I do shoot 15 bps.
6. Even when trying my best I can't seem to beat 15 bps, I used to pull 18 bps when I tried on my old Cobra LCD (both according to the board itself), have my fingers gotten slower because I am old now?
7. If I want a Gopro mount to stay on I am going to need to JB weld it.
8. I am really, really really out of shape lol, I am not super fat so I guess I thought I was okay but nope. I was dying trying to make the second row of bunkers after the starting point.
9. A 62/3K is just too heavy to put on your gun.

1: At least you're addressing that, lol!
2: And they aren't. It's fit, finish & ease of use nowadays. Try shooting someone's $1400 spooler over the chrono once. Stuff shoots they same but it's significantly easier to work on & use. I still love my full body cockers but after picking up a Resurrection & Emek I'm converted to this newer stuff.
3: One Star is garbage paint unless you get it super fresh. I always opt for something more expensive unless that's the only paint available. Paint quality across the board has dipped since RPS went to KEE & eventually GI. GI One Star is one of the worst IMO.
5 & 6: If you have no trigger discipline, get a nice mech? If I recall, you're getting a Blazer? Maybe work primarily with that. ROF has dropped quite a bit, with X-Ball being I think 10.5 BPS & mechanical being either straight mech or 5.5 BPS for electros. And as for getting old, people slow down. I'm 35 and although I'm still capable of doing some crazy stuff on the field I often pay for it later (bad back, knees starting to go).
7: Where are you attaching a GoPro? There are several options for barrel & mask mounts from the 3D printing community.
9: Carbon Fiber is the way to go if you're playing regularly. Just bought a 45/45K Ninja bottle. Almost everything they make is super good.

Sorry for typing entirely too much, lol. Sounds like you had fun.

[Euphie]

I did try an Emek, it didn’t feel anything special to me just like an old matrix but ofc much lighter and smaller, the trigger felt electronic even though it was wasn’t. I dunno I just felt a bit disappointed the way people talked up the new stuff. It wasn’t any more accurate or fast (ofc they also were shooting the one star). It was lighter, I assume more efficient, and its shooting characteristics did feel a lot like a matrix to me, which isn’t a bad thing but nothing I would really seek out.

I didn’t get to shoot modern electros over the chrono but I can kinda extrapolate that they shoot basically the same as an Emek but ramp. I am getting that Blazer whenever PPS finishes it, and I bought a Tippmann pro-lite because it came with the gas through stock I wanted. So that pro-lite can act as a backup or a loaner to my friends and ideally I want one electro and my blazer, I just don’t think that the Angel is the electro for me.

I have to get my LCD CnC working too, but it needs a new battery, and a new breech knob. I figure selling the Dark Angel and CnC should get me enough for a shoebox setup the way I want, and a modern carbon fiber tank.

As for the GoPro I was trying to figure out a way to attach it to my chin and come up to my nose. I looked into using the handlebar mount to go over the lens but all I could see was my hopper so I really need it lower than that.

In the past I always used either a Max-Flo or Air America tanks. Looks like Immortal Air is the successor to Air America, and since I want to go remote again their 98/4500 is looking pretty tempting, especially if I get a gas hog like a shocker. I do hear good things about Ninja though. I also see First Strike is making very large tanks 124/4500 is even bigger than the 114/4500 I used to use, and has an adjustable reg but I don’t really know anything about the regulators First Strike use.

[gabe]

Looks like a cool old school setup to hit the field with. Welcome back and glad you enjoyed yourself!

The new guns, like mentioned, aren't any faster since tech kind of hit a wall with speed. They're smaller, lighter, more reliable, easier to work on, and primarily are EXTREMELY easy on paint. Like having a barrel break or chop is almost unheard of even with the super brittle tournament paint. I was an old school hold out but after getting a couple newer guns I'm sold on it. They're just so easy to use and make life easier. Check out the newer mech guns if you want to really have fun. An EMEK, M170r, or CVO will throttle your paint use some but still make you feel super confident on the field.

[The Inflicted]

7. If I want a Gopro mount to stay on I am going to need to JB weld it.

What are you using now?

[Euphie]

What are you using now?

I tried using the Gopro brand sticky things first, but that fell off, then I tried zipties, but that was too wobbly, but JB weld rarely fails me so I am gonna try that lol

[Carp]

You need a 3D printed, barrel clampy thing or a goggle/mask, mount for your GoPro.

[Euphie]

I did try the half handlebar mount thing too since that is what YouTube showed but all you can see is the top of my hopper, idk if I hold my gun weird or what.

[The Inflicted]

I tried using the Gopro brand sticky things first, but that fell off, then I tried zipties, but that was too wobbly, but JB weld rarely fails me so I am gonna try that lol

And you're trying to attach the camera to your mask, I take it?

[glaman5266]

What kind of mask do you use? Some people make mask-specific mounts that replace earpieces, like this one for the Empire E-Flex/E-Vents:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/XL...e-camera-mount
Or this one for the VForce Grill:
https://paintballdna.com/product/ear...v-force-grill/

Or maybe try using an extra arm so it goes in front between your eyes a bit? Like this guy! Paintzapper
Here's a write-up he did on camera stuff:

https://www.paintzapper.com/paintball-action-cam-guide/

[Chuck E Ducky]

I5 has one built in to.

Inception and HK makes one for the barrel that works well for first person.

But you can find them anywhere you can order printed parts.

Also Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Mounts-Camcorders-Indestructible-GrizzTech/dp/B01862G5E8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=paintball+gopro+mount&qid=1627339652&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzME1BUVgyVUtPM0lVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTkyNzgyMkZYNVk4QjlKUDJVRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjg4MzYzM08wNE9RMVdZVFFRRSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

https://www.amazon.com/HK-Army-Goggle-Camera-Mount/dp/B07K38F8NG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=paintball+gopro+mount&qid=1627339652&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Serounder-Skydiving-Helmet-Adapter-Cameras/dp/B07V6F8J8X/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=paintball+gopro+mount&qid=1627339652&sr=8-14

[Paintzapper]

Forgot I wrote that article
FYI, all metal camera mounts are far superior to any traditional 3d printed version. Even those made with SLA or MJF printing technology have some drawbacks, metal mounts 100% of the time all day long here.