Nerf
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Nerf (disambiguation).
Originally introduced by Parker Brothers in 1969 as an indoor-safe ball created by Reynolds Guyer, Nerf, or Non-Expanding Recreational Foam, was an instant success. Sales of the balls mounted to four million in the year of their inception. Later, the range of Nerf products expanded through the Super Soaker company to include mock weapons that fired Nerf ammunition, such as rifles and pistols.
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[edit] Nerf Blasters
- Main article: NERF N-Strike
[edit] Fall 2006 Blasters
The Nerf Dart Tag Magstrike and Longshot CS-6. The Dart Tag Magstrike, which resembles a paintball gun, is a submachine gun which uses pump action to fill an air bladder stored in its stock. It must be pumped 22 to 32 times to fire a clip. The gun comes with two removable clips that hold ten darts each. This gun is part of the Dart Tag line and is available in red and blue. It includes one pair of protective glasses and one Dart Tag vest.
The Longshot CS-6 is engineered to resemble a sniper rifle. It uses a magazine system with new "streamline" ammo. This new ammo lacks a rubber collar on the tip of the dart, a feature of past darts which tended to get stuck in the magazine or barrel. Due to its magazine system and irregular ammunition, is not Stefan compatible out of the box. Hasbro's initial claim that the Longshot was equipped with a functioning scope have been found to be incorrect; the lenses of the Longshot's scope have no perceivable magnification properties, although they are marked with crosshairs to facilitate better aim. Hasbro's claim of a working scope refers to fact that the scope is removable so you can put it on any gun with the appropriate sliding rail size. The front of the main gun has a folding bipod for more accuracy. The front 12 inches (approximately) of the gun is a removable pistol. The extending stock has a switch to lock it in the extended or nonextended position, and holds a spare magazine. This weapon is part of the N-Strike line.
The Longshot CS-6 is available in Wal-mart [1], Toys "R" Us and Target [2] stores around the country and is available on kidsurplus.com[3] , The Magstrike is available online and some stores around the US. It sells for $30-35.
[edit] Nerfing modification
Separate groups of 'Nerfers' tend to discover the ability to modify Nerf guns for increased performance. These people find a community on the Internet, sharing tips and ideas for modifications. There are several primary modifications that are done to Nerf blasters. These include: barrel replacement, disabling over-pressure release valves, air-restrictor removal, and rubber banding or spring replacement.
One of the more common modifications is to replace the barrel for improved accuracy, efficiency, and range. The material the barrel is replaced with will create a perfect seal with the dart. Progressive barreling uses tighter seal at the back than the front so that more pressure is able to build behind the dart before release. The only problem with this type of modification is that it tends to increase reload time because the dart must be placed into the tighter barrel which is more difficult and slows one down during the heat of battle. This progressive barreling practice is also referred to as "nesting". The most common barreling material for progressive barrels is brass which is found at hobby shops and typically used with diameters of 9/16” for the main barrel and 17/32” for the tighter barrel. Nesting has also been done using Crayola marker bodies, fitted into 1/2" PVC. While not quite as effective as brass nesting, Crayola/PVC nesting is a potential alternative to those without access to brass materials. Other barreling materials for non-progressive barrels include PETG, CPVC and PVC. Others have been used but are much less well known. Only streamline darts will work in this gun. Remember this when buying extras!
Disabling the over-pressure release valve increases the possible tank pressure in air blasters. Most Nerf guns with an air tank will have a hole in the pump for excess air to escape. By plugging this hole, more air is allowed to be pumped into the tank, which in turn allows more pressure to build up behind the dart. The drawback of plugging the gap is that the air tank has the potential to rupture after being pumped too many times.
Most modern dart-firing Nerf weapons incorporate barriers to restrict airflow and make the toys safer. These barriers usually take the form of a piece of plastic directly beneath the inserted dart, often a part of the peg each dart is slid over when loaded. Modders will typically remove these air-restrictors as the most basic of modifications. With the air pathway unobstructed, ranges increase, but the percentage of improvement varies from model to model. Most modders remove the air-restrictors to remove the peg as well, a necessary step before Stefan darts (lacking the hole in its core which the peg normally fills) can be loaded.
Spring replacement and rubber banding of spring powered blasters is used to increase the speed at which the air is released. This is done by replacing the weak stock spring with a much heavier one. In the case of banding, an elastic band is placed along the plunger shaft, in effect doing the same job as a heavier spring. However, going through with either of these methods of modification may result in permanent damage to both the case and the internals, as the plastic bodies of the guns were never designed to cope with the added stress such modifications often add. It will also be harder to cock. Electric Nerf guns can be modified to take higher voltage or use faster motors.
[edit] Enthusiast Created Blasters
Some enthusiasts have made their own blasters predominantly out of PVC and / or brass tubing. An example of this can be seen in the Fast Action Rifle, or FAR, designed and made by Evan Neblett, known as boltsniper of the NIC (Nerf Internet Community). Boltsniper is the leader as far as more complex homemades go (e.g. his latest rifle). However, Nerf homemades can also be very simple, comprised of only a ball valve and some PVC. Then there are those in between boltsniper's rifles, and the simplistic guns like cxwq's BAMF, or Carbon's SNAP.
A type of inexpensive homemade dart called the Stefan Dart was developed by Stefan Mohr in 1995. Materials to create these darts include foam backer rod (also known as caulk saver or, less formally, "FBR"); fishing weights, 1/4" slingshot ammo, BBs or similar and hot glue. An instrument, usually the tip of a hot glue gun, a soldering iron or a drill, is also used to create a hole in the back of the dart (similar to minié balls), and the hole to push in a weight. This hole allows air to build up in the pocket and give it more power, while also flexing the foam at the "rim" of the hole and pushing it against the barrel walls. This makes a better seal with the barrel, therefore making sure all of the air is used from the blaster, but has been disputed, as no extremely noticable changes occur when the hole is put in the back of the dart. This type of dart is more aerodynamic than standard Nerf suction cups darts, so it travels farther and straighter. Stefans are inexpensive, costing about $0.03 each in materials, compared to Nerf darts which can be anywhere from $0.25 to $0.50 per dart. The sizes of Stefan Darts generally made are mega (5/8 inch), micro (1/2 inch) and nano (3/8 inch). The nano dart is generally ballistically superior due to less air resistance and mass. A more recent variation of Stefans is the Matchstick Stefan, made with Plasti-Dip. Plasti-Dip is a liquid that hardens into a rubber subtance, used to coat the handles of tools. It is applied to the tip of each one to increase durability. The name is given "Matchstick" because of its appearance. The "stefan" portion of the name refers to the generic term for homemade dart.
