Planet Eclipse launches the Etha 3 and "3M" midrange mechanical gun.

[The Inflicted]

Why is this awesome?

I think the hoppers look stupid but I love the mechanical aspect of them. There's not a lot of other options out there. Cyclone? Only on a tippmann and has lots of drawbacks. Q loader? Expensive, hard to find and somewhat finiky and requires a specific pack as well. Mag feed? Limited paint and you have to completely change a lot of your gear choices to accommodate it.

I love the idea of pal, I think it can be refined which is why I'm fairly disappointed PE is giving up on it so soon.

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Has it been confirmed that PAL is dead or only that Eclipse's mid-range stuff won't come equipped for it?

Also, there's always this weird thing: https://youtu.be/EawAYVquf1E

[Trbo323]

Has it been confirmed that PAL is dead or only that Eclipse's mid-range stuff won't come equipped for it?

Also, there's always this weird thing: https://youtu.be/EawAYVquf1E

While I don't follow every tid bit of news that flows out of PE, no, I don't think it's been "confirmed" that they are not using pal any more

But that said

1) it's in PEs best interest to not make a big deal of it if they are no longer using it

2) if this is their "mid range" stuff that is not using it, where is the "every level" stuff that will be?

It just seems odd to me that the emek line is where the pal system really made a mark on the industry and it seems, so far, that they are no longer including it

And hell no on wind up hoppers what is this? Airsoft,?

We have a tank on the back of the marker with a ton of stored energy but it seems nobody can figure out a decent way to use it to feed the paint into the marker, it's always frustrated me

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[MrBarraclough]

So far, it appears that the the 3Mek will not be replacing the EMEK, both will be produced. So PAL will live on where it is most appreciated, in EMEK rental fleets.

[Chuck E Ducky]

PAL isn’t bad but most players are putting powered hoppers on them to get the full potential out of the Emek. I prefer my JoLo on my Emek it feeds better with out the PAL system honestly. The PAL more geared toward the rental market a field can clean them with a bucket of soapy hot water. Or spray them out with a hose and let ‘em air dry. Saves time and increases the speed a rental an shoot in one cheap reliable package. Fields bread and butter is the rental market. 3Mek is PE cornering the aftermarket part market with a Ready to go marker with all the upgrades people wanted in the Emek. I’m actually surprised because it’s going to compete with the M170R. I could see that going away and PE offering the New CS with a tooless or simple swap Mech frame. I’m excited to see what they do with the new LV platform.

[superman]

They said it is considered a pro version of the emek and not PAL compaitble since those players would likely use higher end hoppers.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Makes sense. With a trigger valve upgrade you easily outshoot the PALS hopper.

[Grendel]

I just want to know when the M170R will be back in stock.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I Wouldn’t be surprised if they do away with the 170 line.

[Ecapnation]

Rip

It's out of production

[SignOfZeta]

While I’m sure the performance and value are top shelf, that gun is so profoundly ugly it makes Tippman stuff look like Giorgetto Giugiaro in comparison.

[The Inflicted]

2) if this is their "mid range" stuff that is not using it, where is the "every level" stuff that will be?

On the store shelves (to the extent that Eclipse is able to keep up with demand).
Neither of these two new releases effect the base Emek.

[iamthelazerviking]

I know the CS2 is discontinued but the Geo 4 is still being sold places. Lot of people were speculating CS3 was on the way, but I'm trying to think how it could really even be made much better. Although I honestly haven't used one aside from with the mechanical frame so maybe something with the space gun frame could be made better for space gun people ¯\_༼ •́ ͜ʖ •̀ ༽_/¯

[MrBarraclough]

Haven't heard anything about the CS2, but people were making a big deal about PE recently registering a trademark for CS3.

[iamthelazerviking]

Yeah not sure what's truth or rumor. Did also see some screenshot about CS3 registration somewhere too.

[Hobbes]

Paintball Wizard posted the last two CS2 Pros they were "ever going to get".

[MrBarraclough]

Looking forward to the precipitous drop in used Etha 2 prices.

[Cunha]

Hopefully! The etha 2 I had felt awesome

[scrounger]

im just gonna limit it to the etha since i own (and love) an etha 2 and not an emek (yet hope to save up for a mag fed one).

the body does look clean but so does the etha 2 (have the HDE).
just a different look.. upgrade not something "new"

the new backcap system does give it cleaner lines in looks.
the design over the other one IMO is still personal preference from the view.
may be better or maybe not.. have to feel it in person to get better idea.

metal feed neck with no pals system...
IMO if your not using or need a pals then brings it up to what most markers do and being more metal IMO always an improvement
but again mine no issues with it to date.

increase cost... expected but not sure if all of it worth extra 100..
think 100 tad steep out of the box especially with my last issue..

the elephant in the room no one has touched yet is the lack of it coming with a case.

now some may think this is no big deal but IMO it is A BIG DEAL

what set planet eclipse etha and emek out of the gate was it came with a VERY NICE and durable case.
a case that had EVERYTHING (short of a tank and loader) you needed.
tools, BBD, lube, manual, decent barrel (and room if you wanted to add or replace it with something else as long as two piece).
all protected and ready to go.

now to not include it AND charge more?
sorry that is kinda going HK cost cutting for no real benefit

so overall a SOLID operating gun with some upgrades but costing more and not getting a case.
all for 100 (probably go higher) more.

sorry but overall not sold on it at this time

scrounger

ps IMO still be a solid gun.

[Cunha]

They’re gunna get some serious negative feedback about the case, but the result maybe they just sell it as an accessory which is a bummer. I agree the case that my etha 2 was in was super handy and fit right in a usps flat rate envelope.

[Ego10Baller]

I wish it came with it as well. It's worth mentioning though that the current price on the Emek 100 is $280, add an ID fang trigger for $45, an Emek Pops for $50, an FL 3-way valve for $70, a 2-piece barrel for $30, a metal low-rise feedneck for $40, and one of those not-so-good-looking 3D printed bodies for $35 (probably more) and you're at $550 and you still have the fat twist off back cap that the Emek 100 comes with and can't be switched out.

Compared to the $400 price point on the new 3Mek, I think I'm alright without the case. It's some serious value for people that want the upgrades that the 3Mek offers over the original Emek 100 and for $150 less for the same functionality + an easier to remove and slimmed down bolt back cap. My two cents

[Jordan]

My Emek came in a box with foam, not a case... whatcha talking about?

[Jordan]

Jonnydread - I was just responding to what scrounger posted "what set planet eclipse etha and emek out of the gate was it came with a VERY NICE and durable case."

[The Inflicted]

Didn't the Etha 1 also come with a green hardcase?

[scrounger]

jordan
i know the etha 2 came with a case.
my buddy got an emek and said he got a case with it.
if it doesnt i have to divert to "sorry" and only commenting on the etha 2 from experience
scrounger

[The Jayster]

I really like what they've done here, especially for the Etha 3M. So you basically have the no-frills, basic version which is still PAL-compatible with the Emek 100, then if you want a solid mech marker with all the trimmings (streamlined metal feedneck, POPS, adjustable trigger, FL-3 valve and Shaft barrel) you've got the Etha 3M. To top that off, add an extra $40 and you get a Speedster loader.

As for the lack of a metal case, while I really like them, that wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. I stopped using those in my gear bag years ago. I much prefer to use the smaller, padded marker packs. I can often store two markers separated by a foam section in the same pack.

I wonder about the different body options, namely ID FLE bodies and the EMC kits. Simon from ID promptly mentioned that he's already working on FLE bodies for the Etha 3/3M, and I wonder if the existing EMC bodies are compatible (probably not due to the back cap design.)

[Toestr]

This feature caught my eye:

"+ 14.5" 2-piece Shaft 5 barrel - Cocker fast threads NEW!"

I wonder if they actually made faster cocker threads or if they're just saying cocker threads are fast?

Nevermind, it's just market wanketeering.

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[Chuck E Ducky]

Good catch Probably just shortened them up like Dye did. With the UL-S line. Less rotations to remove but still 100% backwards compatible at the same time saves weight. Minimal weight at best but it’s an check mark they can put next to it in an add. I like the longer threads mid day chrono spike you can give a barrel a half a turn or so to drop 5ish FPS to get under the chrono. Now they will fall off like luxe users.

[ford]

It just means they add about half the threads you would find on an older barrel say, a J&J ceramic. So you can get them screwed in slightly faster

[Magmoormaster]

I thought the price increase was a bit much but the Etha 2 is actually up to $489 right now, so it's really not much more expensive. From the Etha 2 to the Etha 3, you're mostly just getting the toolless back cap. To me, that's a pretty big advantage, though not enough for most people to upgrade from a 2 to a 3.

Now the 3M, that's a banger of a gun. All the upgrades you need plus the toolless disassembly?? If I were in the market for a mech gun that wasn't a cocker, I wouldn't bother looking at the M170r anymore. This is all the features and almost half the price.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Badlands has the Canadian prices up….
595.99 for 3Mek
804.99 for Etha 3