Photon Storm Blaster - Review!

Check out the Photon Storm Blaster!

This is an OEM brand blaster that popped up recently and i had the opportunity to get a set for review.

The Photon Storm uses a flywheel powered system to launch foam darts in semi-auto. It features 2 spinning flywheels positioned in a vertical layout.

This blaster requires 5 x AA batteries (sold separately) to operate. Simply engage the On/Off switch and the flywheels start spinning.

Every trigger pull fires one shot in a semi-auto sequence, a "dart pusher" behind the barrel pushes a foam dart in between the 2 spinning flywheels, then the flywheels will catch the tip of the foam dart and "throw" it out of the barrel. It operates on a similar principle to a tennis ball launcher.

The Photon Storm features an assault carbine style foam factor, mimicking the M4 Carbine design. It also features 20mm width tactical rails.

The blaster uses an ammo clip that can fit up to 12-13 foam darts. It is packaged with 10 x Streamline-like foam darts (solid rubber tips) and 10 x Suction-tipped foam darts.

Average stock range is around 25-30ft.

For internal photos of the Photon Storm Blaster, click Here.

Review:

Photon Storm Blaster - Box (Front)




Photon Storm Blaster - Box (Back)




Photon Storm Blaster - Un-Boxed




Photon Storm Blaster - Assembled




Photon Storm Blaster - Front View




Photon Storm Blaster - Motorized Flywheel System




Photon Storm Blaster - On/Off Switch




Photon Storm Blaster - Ammo Clip Release Button




Photon Storm Blaster - 5 x AA Batteries Required (Sold Separately)




Photon Storm Blaster - 20mm width Tactical Rails




Photon Storm Blaster - Ammo Clip (Fits Up To 12-13 Foam Darts)




Photon Storm Blaster - Ammo Clip Comparison with Nerf N-Strike Clips




Photon Storm Blaster - Scale Comparison with Nerf Maverick




Photon Storm Blaster - Scale Comparison with Nerf Recon




Photon Storm Blaster - Demo & Test-Fire Video




--

Update!

The Photon Storm blaster can use Nerf N-Strike Clips too. Users will just need to apply abit more force to load them in, as the clip feed opening has slightly different dimensions.

Photon Storm Blaster - With Nerf N-Strike 6-dart Clip




Photon Storm Blaster - With Nerf N-Strike 18-dart Clip




Photon Storm Blaster - With Nerf N-Strike 35-dart Drum Magazine



Note that the Photon Storm's ammo clip is not compatible with Nerf N-Strike blasters though, as it is too wide to fit.

Air Zone Power Strike Quick Fire 48 Blaster - Preview!

Looks like the flywheel powered blaster trend is continuing with yet another new flywheel blaster from Air Zone... but with a 48 shot ammo capacity!

Dual flywheels in vertical layout (similar to the Nerf Barricade), but in a much larger scale.

The new blaster designs from 3rd-party brands are starting to look much better nowadays, the Quick Fire 48 even has a removable shoulder stock... which has a rather uncanny resemblance to the Nerf Raider shoulder stock. :)

Photos of the box:

Photos: Toys R Us USA

Product Link at Toys R Us USA website, Click Here.

Faux Bow - Review!

Marky Sparky, the original creator of the classic Nerf Bow N Arrow, has released a "spiritual successor" to that popular model... with the Faux Bow!

The Faux Bow is a manual pull-back spring plunger blaster.

Users simply slot a foam arrow into the bow's front stalk, pull back the back handle, then let go to fire it. It has a special "slip roller" feature in the pull-back handle to enable optimal firing speeds.

It comes packaged with 3 x foam tipped arrows, along with an arrow clip holder. Note that the "bow strings" are non-functional, they have no effect on its performance.

I've test fired a few sets and have found that when fired parallel-to-ground, the foam tipped arrows can reach an average distance of 60+ ft, but when it is fired at a 45 degree angle-to-ground trajectory, the arrows could reach on average of up to 90+ ft. A good shot and abit of tail winds can push the range abit further at times.

So it looks like the box claims of over 100 ft range would largely depend on how users fire it and the environment it is fired in.

Overall, the Faux Bow is a fun blaster for enthusiasts and players who are looking for an updated version of the Nerf Bow N Arrow!

Review:

Faux Bow - Box (Front)



Faux Bow - Box (Back)




Faux Bow - Contents



Faux Bow - Assembled



Faux Bow - "Faux Wood" Design




Faux Bow - "Slip Roller" Pull Back Handle



Faux Bow - Foam Tipped Arrows



Faux Bow - Scale Comparison with Nerf Maverick

Lanard Big Salvo - Review!

Now here is a blaster that has been around for a while, and i managed to get a few sets recently to try out.

The Lanard Big Salvo!

The Lanard Big Salvo is an air tank powered blaster which is primed by filling its individual air tank chambers via an on-board pump handle, it takes around 9-10 pumps to fill up all its air tanks.

Its firing style resembles the Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike, except that it has a larger form factor and fires foam arrows instead of foam darts.

It has 4 barrels which can be fired in either semi-auto or full-burst "salvo". The firing mode is controlled by trigger pull travel, each progressive quarter travel of the trigger pull fires off one shot, the barrel firing sequence is in a counter-clockwise direction.

If the trigger is pulled fully in one quick action, the shots can be fired off in a full-burst "salvo" effect.

The Big Salvo comes with 4 x foam arrows. The average range is around 35-40ft in both semi-auto and full-burst "salvo" fire modes.

Due to the size and finned design of the foam arrows that it fires, i've found this blaster particularly ideal for simulating an "artillery" strike on opponents hiding behind cover.

Just fire it at a higher angle (which also increases range too) and the foam arrows will fly in a nice lob trajectory, raining directly down upon unsuspecting players. :)

Review:

Lanard Big Salvo - Box (Front)

Lanard Big Salvo - Box (Back)




Lanard Big Salvo - Un-Boxed




Lanard Big Salvo - Scale Comparison with Nerf Maverick

Lanard Big Salvo - Test Fire Video

Buzz Bee Hunter - Review!

Bolt action rifle fans are in for a treat... once again, Buzz Bee cranks out yet another interesting blaster.

Check out the new Buzz Bee Hunter!

The Buzz Bee Hunter is a bolt action, spring-powered direct plunger (you read it right!), single-shot manual-reload blaster.

It comes packaged with 4 foam darts. The breech system is compatible with both Buzz Bee and Nerf foam darts. Some Nerf foam darts may need to be trimmed abit shorter for a better fit.

The firing range averages around 25+ ft.

There are ammo storage sections at its side (2 foam darts) and inside its shoulder stock (4 foam darts).

The Hunter is very compact in size... in fact, the shoulder stock is so small that most adults probably can't really use it as a support, so i guess some users might use it like a bolt action "pistol" instead! :)

For internal photos of the Buzz Bee Hunter, click Here.

Review:

Buzz Bee Hunter - Box (Front)

Buzz Bee Hunter - Box (Back)



Buzz Bee Hunter - Un-boxed



Buzz Bee Hunter - Bolt Action (Open/Closed)



Buzz Bee Hunter - Side Ammo Storage (2 foam darts)



Buzz Bee Hunter - Shoulder Stock Ammo Storage (4 foam darts)



Buzz Bee Hunter - Scale Comparison with Nerf Maverick



Buzz Bee Hunter - Demo/Test Fire & Internals Video



Overall, the Buzz Bee Hunter is quite a fun little blaster to use, the "authentic"-like bolt action movement is always a classic. :)

Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - Review!

Looking for a compact sidearm that can fire in both true semi-auto and full-auto?

Gear up with the Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike!

The Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike is an air tank powered blaster which is primed by filling its individual air tank chambers via an on-board pump handle, it takes around 8-9 pumps to fill up its air tanks.

Its design and firing style resembles the Nerf Blast Fire or Nerf Hornet, though the Tetra-Strike has a more compact form factor and utilises a different method of activating its firing modes.

It has 4 barrels which can be fired in either semi-auto or full-auto/burst fire. The firing mode is controlled by trigger pull travel, each progressive quarter travel of the trigger pull fires off one shot, the firing sequence is from the top barrel to the bottom barrel.

If the trigger is pulled fully in one quick action, the shots can be fired off in a full-auto or burst fire effect.

The Tetra-Strike package comes with 6 x suction tip darts. It is compatible with most Nerf foam darts too. The average range is around 25-30ft in both semi-auto and full auto/burst fire modes.

Review:

Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - Box (Front)

Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - Box (Front)




Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - Contents



Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - Scale Comparison with Nerf Maverick



Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - Scale Comparison with Nerf Blast Fire



Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - 4 Dart Ammo Capacity



Buzz Bee Tetra-Strike - Demo & Test Fire Video



In my opinion, the Tetra-Strike is the ideal compact sidearm for any game scenario. It is easy to holster and light to carry, has good range, and its semi-auto and full-auto firing modes are very effective in close-quarter firefights... carry two and its dual-wield blaster time! :)

No-Brand Semi-Auto Blaster - Review!

Wish your beloved Maverick could be a true semi-auto blaster, yet still keeping to its compact form factor?

Well... i found No-Brand blasters which offer a glimpse at how semi-auto firing can be possible in a compact spring plunger blaster.

This No-Brand Semi-Auto Blaster has internal mechanisms similar to a Nerf Maverick, it has the requisite 6-dart capacity with an auto advancing barrel, using a spring powered reverse plunger. It is compatible with most Nerf foam darts too.

But the big difference lies in the fact that it does not require any separate priming action to pull back the spring plunger, it does this by incorporating the priming action into the trigger pull.

This action is controlled by a "rocker-catch" component in the trigger that pulls back the spring plunger when the trigger is pulled and releases it when the trigger reaches the end of its travel, at the same time the barrel advances to the next dart in time to fire it.

As expected, the plunger and spring is smaller than usual (for ease of trigger pull), therefore its firing range averages just around 10-15 ft.

It is possible to increase firing range by putting in stronger springs, but then the big question would be: How strong are your trigger fingers? :)

Still... with 2 of these semi-auto blasters, players can finally dual wield "pistols" for close quarter office cubicle Nerf games!

Watch a video of how the internal mechanism works Here.

Review:

No-Brand Semi-Auto Blaster - Side Profile

No-Brand Semi-Auto Blaster - Scale Comparison with Nerf Maverick




No-Brand Semi-Auto Blaster - Internals Comparison with Nerf Maverick




No-Brand Semi-Auto Blaster - Internals

No-Brand Semi-Auto Blaster - Test Fire Video



Yup... i'm sure many of you modders out there can get some ideas from this blaster's semi-auto mechanism design. :)