Stock water blaster recommendations for 2014

[isoaker]

What changes would you like seen done to stock water blasters for 2014?

Share your ideas with the world here.

[Poseidon2000]

I want NERF to knock themselves out with their new coworkers water warriors so WW can take over them.

[the oncoming storm]

Higher pump volume, larger nozzles (10x should be adiquit), less turbulent streams, good shot times.

[HBWW]

Same stuff that's been in the 1-day thread. To sum it up:
- Much better reliability (especially at triggers and valves).
- Good ergo.
- Good output and range. Conical nozzles seem best for ball valve based blasters, while straw and screen laminators seem best for pull valve. Not 100% sure though. In any case, I'd need 8x-11x output with the right range (45-50ft is good for that output level) and stream velocity.
- Decent volume pumps. Semi-guided preferable.

[Nemesis]

BBT needs to just keep improving everything. People will realize and nerf will be left in the dust.

[scottthewaterwarrior]

Well to start off, a WW Cricket sized gun with the power of a CPS 2500!

*Though in all realism, a gun about the size of the Colossus (with just as good balance), but with at least a 5x output and if possible a few feet better range. Better stream lamination too.
*I would also like to see pressure chambers capable of holding more water as well as higher pressure. Pressure Release valves shouldn't kick in until the internals are close to exploding. If I have the strength to pump the gun 95 times, let me.
*Keep the angle meters, but add pressure gauges too. The angle meter may not be useful for more experienced warriors, but less skilled players such as Duxburian find them useful. Pressure gauges would be useful, but mainly so that I can stop pumping before the horrible wailing of the pressure release kicks in (hint, hint!)
*Power and range should be made obvious on the front of the packaging. The label "More Powerful then Other Leading Brands" could also be applied.

As far as Hasbro goes:
*Dutch Nerf SS and start making hairdriers. Name: "Barbie SuperDryers" then get sued under by Mattel for copyright infringement, lol!

[the oncoming storm]

Scott is right power should be listed. In X values no less, everyone would flock to a water gun that is 10x more powerful that ordanary water guns if they know it is that powerful... if Gorgon 2 is 10x more powerful than that avenger they already have then parents might see buying another larger water gun differently. power sells water guns and listing it can be a free and very clever way to increase sales on larger blasters. A perfect example is the 1500 vs 2500 the 2500 cost $5 more than the 1500 when new. but clearly outsold it simply because it was clear to all that is was more powerful.

[SEAL]

I want blasters that are designed for combat and nothing else. Power, efficiency, and reliablity should be prioritized (ergonomics are nice too). I don't care what a blaster can do if I keep getting destroyed trying to use it in a serious war.

[marauder]

I want blasters that are designed for combat and nothing else. Power, efficiency, and reliablity should be prioritized (ergonomics are nice too). I don't care what a blaster can do if I keep getting destroyed trying to use it in a serious war.

So then... put this into quantifiable points that a manufacturer could understand.

power sells water guns and listing it can be a free and very clever way to increase sales on larger blasters. A perfect example is the 1500 vs 2500 the 2500 cost $5 more than the 1500 when new. but clearly outsold it simply because it was clear to all that is was more powerful.

I think this is incorrect, and I think you are making this incorrect assumption based off the # of 2500s available on ebay vs 1500s, which is probably due to the fact that 1500 pumps break and 2500s do not. Of course... I do not have the official sales figures. Anyone know? Isoaker?

[SEAL]

^Well seeing as manufacturers won't listen anyway, I decided not to wear out my keyboard any more than necessary.

I think the 1500 is actually about equal to the 2500 in terms of power. Even if not, it's still pretty darn powerful.

[marauder]

I have tested 6 different 1500s and 1700s and the range was all 44 to 46 feet. The only "dude" I've really ever heard of was Duke Soak Em's rare red and silver 1700 which still shoots a respectable 42 feet. I have tested 3 new to very good condition 2500s and they all shot 45 feet. Once you include the roughed up ones you get less range, which I think has to do more with nozzle problems than PC problems. I have also heard of 2500s shooting up to 47 feet, which doesn't surprise me, there should be some statistical outliers; but I think it's more than safe to say that good condition 2500s and 1500s are equal in power.

My comment was more about the 2500 outselling the 1500 and how I don't think that's true. Also, consider the fact that the 1500 was rereleased as the 1700 and the 2500 was discontinued. Super Soaker would not have rereleased an underperforming model.

[Nemesis]

I agree with seal. They are equal. Plus, the 1500 has a bigger PC volume. The only thing that the 2500 has on the 1500 is a tracked pump and a 20x nozzle.

[the oncoming storm]

While not more powerful that the 2500 in terms of pressure the listed 20x nozzle will make Noob's think it to be so and buy it because they have yet to hear of modding guns.

[Nemesis]

^^Tru dat. Once when my brothers friend saw my arsenal, he pointed out my hydrocannon and was like "Woah! who gets to use THAT one?!" I had to explain to him that it was not that good of a gun, and the one that looks like a bumblebee (my 2700) for example, is a much better gun. Clouded, the noob's vision is. :p

[HBWW]

We keep talking about change, again and again every year. I think it's worth going through older versions of this thread to see how much has stayed the same or gotten worse, all while we talk about change.

BBT can't take risks or spend too much money, Hasbro can't be bothered to make half-decent products, and I haven't had the time nor motivation to improve on my own work. But in the end, the last option (myself) is the only thing I can truly rely on, other than CPS hunting. (But lets be honest, new guns have an appeal that the CPS's will always lack. Unfortunately, the only "new guns" that ever match CPS capability are those made at home.)

Here's one thing that may work in our favor: By the time most CPS's are broken, have rotten PC's or are stuck with requiring other prohibitive, difficult, and time-consuming repairs, 3D fabrication will have come along quite far to offer an opportunity to quickly make stronger replacement parts, or parts for building better homemades. Although discussion too far into the future and reliance on one thing has proved very ineffective in our hobby. We can't rely on homemades (due to difficulty of finding parts, certain techniques requiring certain tools, designing a proper ergonomic homemade being a difficult process, etc.), and we most obviously can't rely on the retailers, so where have we to go but to the CPS's right now?

Change. The only Change is Us. *cue dramatic music (No, seriously though, you get my point.)

[marauder]

I was looking for this topic early and somehow couldn't find it. Anyway...

I am currently taking a break from cutting my Gorgon's intake tube. This has been very difficult. I've opened 3 Gorgons now (my original one, DX's while he was at my house, and now this one) and it's never easy at all, but I digress. Anyway, the long intake tube floats to the top of the water when there's 1/2 tank or less. This means you get a mixture of air and water. In theory that's not a bad thing, but in practice it's not nearly as good as prepumping air and then pumping water. It's not as smooth or as fluid, and you can't pump it up all the way as fast. So, my suggestion to BBT is to shorten the length of the intake tubes so that they aren't floating around inside the reservoir. It will save cost and improve production. Win win.

*edit*
I was talking to iSoaker about this and he said that most people angle the gun up while pumping and so the long tubes are good in that case. Has anyone else had problems with floating intake tubes on Water Warriors guns?

[HBWW]

Couldn't you also find a way to stick the intake tube to the bottom of the res so that it stays put when pre-pumping upside down? Or perhaps if the tube was longer and the reservoir isn't completely full, you could position the blaster downwards to pump in more air.

[marauder]

Air? Are you talking about on pressurized reservoir guns? I was thinking about how I seem to have problems getting water into the PC if I don't cut the intake hose.

[isoaker]

Air? Are you talking about on pressurized reservoir guns? I was thinking about how I seem to have problems getting water into the PC if I don't cut the intake hose.

What about attaching a small weight to the tube (e.g. a copper or brass weight)?
I'll need to do some testing, myself, but I really don't recall ever having an issue pulling water from the reservoir to the PC until water levels get real low.

[HBWW]

Nevermind, I re-read your post and I originally thought you were having trouble getting extra air to the blaster.

From what you said, I think that may be a deliberate design decision to ensure n00bs get enough air powered up. Not the right approach perhaps. As for iSoaker's suggestion of using a weight, that may backfire if the res is full and you're trying to invert the blaster to get some air powered in. (i.e. You'll be pumping water instead since the intake tube will sink.) I think if the intake tube is designed or modified to "stick" to the bottom of the reservoir, that's the best solution. Although trimming it short isn't bad either as long as it can still get almost all of the reservoir's water. (The reservoir is flat, so it shouldn't have the same problems some CPS did with water sloshing around being unable to be loaded properly unless you held it perfectly still at the perfect angle.) For those who don't know what I'm talking about, see this post: http://www.waterwar.net/site_wwn/board/ ... tml#p42395 (The paint drawings with the potato reservoirs.) This is the kind of problem I get a lot and am trying to fix up if/when I have the time.