First production Eclipse 40mm
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Solar
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Here is the first operational launcher from production parts. Mixed lot of anodizing in the pics, but the rest only need grips anodized. Note the flower petal that snuck into the one pic. Hose routing to safety and cover being installed monday. An air compressor fitting is threaded into the safety valve location on pressure vessel and the brass pin is missing a rubber top as well.
Wow. Do you do the machining yourself? I've always loved this thing...
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Solar
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This is the first one that I didn't do any machining on at all. The joys of production models! 
Now I get to assemble 49 more of these this week! 
Videos soon and a pic showing the complete anodizing.
Now I get to assemble 49 more of these this week! Videos soon and a pic showing the complete anodizing.-
TwitchTheAussie
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FINALLY! I love it. Even better in real life than the designs. I thought it would be a bit bigger though 
Raise your horns if you love metal.
CpTn_lAw
-spudgunning is like sex, once you've tasted, you can't wait til next time.
CpTn_lAw
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THUNDERLORD
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Awesome!!! I can see this being in a movie like the gatling gun from piper precision products (predator).
If it's production where can I buy one? Just wondered. Thanks
If it's production where can I buy one? Just wondered. Thanks
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Solar
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I'll make a step by step pictorial during assembly. The bore sight is polycarbonate resin about an inch thick. It is threaded from the front onto a shoulder. Claims to be 200 times stronger than acrylic.
THUNDERLORD, eclipselauncher.com is getting a revamp and will have e-commerce soon. Until then I have been taking checks.
It is already set to appear on four tv shows and in a film.
TWITCH, this is a stubby version. There are two longer barrels. The barrel on this one is actually the length of a stock air chamber. A 2" conversion kit is already drawn up for nerfs. 40mm allows the use of many future rounds to be adapted.
Here is another setup using mostly the same parts with an extra long barrel in a breech loader config.
Here are some random development pics. still looking for some pics that show the entire original ratchet system that goes with the hexagon spring indexer. might have to resurrect it and take some more for posterity. The old ad says +100 foot range, that was for paintball shot rounds. The foam 40mm rockets are firing 650 feet, albeit at over 600fps. Fresh ballistics tests shortly.
THUNDERLORD, eclipselauncher.com is getting a revamp and will have e-commerce soon. Until then I have been taking checks.
It is already set to appear on four tv shows and in a film.
TWITCH, this is a stubby version. There are two longer barrels. The barrel on this one is actually the length of a stock air chamber. A 2" conversion kit is already drawn up for nerfs. 40mm allows the use of many future rounds to be adapted.
Here is another setup using mostly the same parts with an extra long barrel in a breech loader config.
Here are some random development pics. still looking for some pics that show the entire original ratchet system that goes with the hexagon spring indexer. might have to resurrect it and take some more for posterity. The old ad says +100 foot range, that was for paintball shot rounds. The foam 40mm rockets are firing 650 feet, albeit at over 600fps. Fresh ballistics tests shortly.
Last edited by Solar on Sun May 04, 2008 7:05 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Solar
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Consistently under 10 pounds. AK-47 weight. A good few pounds lighter than the Milkor M-32. The forward grip position obtained by moving the indexer to a 90 degree position made a huge difference in balance. This also allows easy access to the indexer drive for manual indexing. It is not too heavy using both hands, but holding it up front is easier, especially with a fore grip. The trigger frame accepts paintball asa adapters for mounting tanks on the launcher as well as other stock systems. Grips are Colt 1911 pattern. Need to attach a sling next.
+1 on the A - 5 grip, there.
It's great the you have this beauty in production. I wish the best to you.
It's great the you have this beauty in production. I wish the best to you.
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TwitchTheAussie
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Good luck with production mate and I love the sounds of a 40mm round/barrel. Any chance on a hint for the shows and that movie?
Raise your horns if you love metal.
CpTn_lAw
-spudgunning is like sex, once you've tasted, you can't wait til next time.
CpTn_lAw
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Solar
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Positive pressure piston valve. Operates with same principle as the Humphey 500A cartridge valves that I used in the earlier versions shown in the last 4 pictures from my development shots. Seals rated to 1200psi. Current trigger is rated at 300 and drive pistons at 250, but the drive pistons can be regulated independant. Just the air intake for the firing piston needs to match vessel pressure for firing. The pneumatic safety is rated at 1200psi as well.
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Solar
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Hubb0117, the A-5 grip made a nice, quick platform for the clippard trigger valve by just removing some plastic with a dremel tool. Would do again on another homebuilt. Pin connects are nice. The production launchers with the 1911 style grips really open up to different possibilities though.