Full Auto Tracer - ArniesAirsoft

Author

screamin_weasel

Newcastle Brown Ale drinker.

Registered: September 2004
Location: All Around The World
Posts: 8,208

Review Date: 21/10/05

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: �55.00 | Rating: 8

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Used to give you glow in the dark BB's. Looks like a silencer.
Cons:	not as robust as it should be

Here we have the Tokyo Marui Full Auto Tracer Unit.

The basic use of this unit is to give you glow in the dark BB's (when used with tracer BB's). this has a VERY cool effect during night skirmishes, especially when there are a few people using them. It looks like a silencer, attatches like a silencer, and generally just looks good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/screamin_weasel/review%20pics/tracerbox.jpg

This is what you are greeted with - the usual, very nice, professional looking TM box design, giving you the impression your money has not been wasted.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/screamin_weasel/review%20pics/tracerboxside.jpg

The image above just shows pictures of the tracer fitted to TM's selection of AEG's, and an example of how they look embedded in a target.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/screamin_weasel/review%20pics/tracercontents.jpg

Here is what is inside the box. Note that i have already built my unit, hence the actual tracer unit not fitting in its compartment. from top to bottom, there is the long silencer tube, the circular end cap/on switch, shorter silencer tube, the tracer unit itself, and the adaptor parts needed for each gun. You also get all the screws needed to put the unit together, but i gave these away. You also get instructions on how to build the unit dependant on what you are putting it on. I FOUND THESE INVALUABLE !!
The silencer tubes are finished in a very nice matte black, and are metal. The plastics used are sturdy and solid, however the screws screw directly into the plastic, so dont over-tighten them, as you will strip the threads.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/screamin_weasel/review%20pics/traceradaptors.jpg

Here are the adaptor parts you get so the tracer can be attatched to different guns. There is a selection of thread adaptors, and different length inner tubes to allow for the different length metal outer tubes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/screamin_weasel/review%20pics/tracerbatteries.jpg

The battery compartment is accessed by removing the end cap, and the unit is powered by 4 AAA batteries, which just drop down into the unit, either side of the barrel shroud.

IN USE

The tracer is a direct replacement for the silencer i have on my MP5SD5, and doesn't change the look of the gun, which i liked. Once attatched to the gun, it is just as sturdy as a normal silencer, apart from one piece.

I found that after a couple of battery changes, the end cap becomes very easy to remove - so easy in fact that it just fell off during one game i was in. It doesn't screw in, instead just locking in place with a half turn. Whenever i have it on my gun now, i have to put electrical tape round the end, to make sure it doesn't fall off again.
While this doesn't look good, it also performs another function. After using the tracer during a rainstorm, i noticed the internals had got wet. Having the tape around the end not only stops the end from falling off, but makes the unit watertight. Admittedly, playing in rainstorms isn't a common thing, but the end shouldn't just fall off on it's own accord.

Using the tracer, the trail of glow in the dark BB's never fails to bring a smile to your face.
If you're trying to be tactical, don't use it. It gives your position away, as everybody can see where the glow in the dark BB's are coming from. Obviously how many tracer BB's you use is up to you. mil-simmers may only use 1 every 10 rounds, or people up for a laugh may use half and half. Rich people may use 100% tracer rounds.

The tracer does give a sort of muzzle flash, although it is green (the most common tracer BB colour). When used on full auto, it looks like you have a laser, as the BB's leave a trail behind them, which when on full auto seems like an almost solid line. Various colour BB's are available (i have used green and orange, but also seen red, blue and purple). It does seem to eat battery power. I get maybe 2 or 3 night games out of it before i need to replace the batteries.

Conclusion

There isn't a lot that can go wrong with unit, as long as you keep it watertight in a downpour, and make sure the end doesn't fall off. These are the only problems with this unit, which otherwise is an amazingly fun piece of kit to have.
I originally got it for my TM MP5SD5, as i wanted a metal silencer, but the metal tracer was about the same price anyways. Now i have an ICS SD5 (which comes with a metal silencer), the tracer sits in my bag until a night game.

So, its a LOT of fun, looks good, is metal, and only slight problems that are easily fixed.