Minecraft Blog Launch

I don't know how many of you know, but I love the game Minecraft. If you don't then completely disregard this post, but if you do on the other hand, I would encourage you to check out my other blog over here. It's mainly my point of view, explaining what I like and dislike about some of the updates and giveing an insight to what I'm working on. I'd really like you to check it. Please follow via Google friend connect and also leave a comment saying what you think.

Thanks,
Dylan

Nerf Spectre Review

It's taken me a while, but I finally bit the bullet and went out and picked myself up a Spectre. When I exited the checkout, thoughts from those who found the blaster boring and mundane started to enter me head. I had chosen this over the Alpha Trooper- was that the right thing to do? Only one way to find out!

Well, the Spectre is commonly referred to as a 'grown up'  Maverick. This is obviously because of there undeniable similarities- handgun revolver, pull-back action, flip out barrels etc. While that may seem the case, if you take a bit of a look deeper into the blasters design, you'll find a whole new way of thinking.

While the Spectre hold one less dart than the Maverick, this plays a vital role in minimization of size and weight. It is extremely thin, with barely any obvious, 'in your face', sort of protrusions. This makes it extremely easy to make duct tape holsters for- if your interested. Also, the grip is extremely comfortable, one of the best I have used from any manufacturer of foam blasters.

The performance of the blaster is very good. The barrel rotates on the priming action, rather than on the trigger pull, resulting in a quick, smooth mechanism. The priming action, on the other hand is slightly harder than, say a Maverick, but this shouldn't be a problem. Ranges are better than a stock Maverick, although I can't really do range tests, so I am unable to provide exact figures.

The accessories, to me, are barely more than decoration. The stock is rather small and slips out of my shoulder easily and the fake silencer doesn't silence anything. The stock is a better match for the Barricade or Alpha Trooper in my opinion. The silencer has a bigger ID than a Recon's, therefore takes away less of the range.

All in all, the blaster is very simple to operate and I'd recommend it to anyone, really. I'm not sure it should be your first blaster, but it should serve you well.

New Blog Author Wanted

I'm after a new author for the blog. I have been a little caught up with moving house lately, and I really need a back up writer. It would also be good to have another take on some of the news that's going on. If you would like a shot at it, just stick a comment down below. I won't set a cut off date, but you'll have about a few weeks.  

Cheers,
Dylan

HINT: Try to give me some indication of your writing skills in the comment you post below. Also, post an email address so I can contact you if you get the spot. You can write your email address like this - dmcinc98 at hotmail dot com- my email by the way- to avoid spam bots.

Nerf Exclusive Blaster Reveal

Nerf have finally announced what we have all being waiting for. Released via the Nerf Nation Facebook page, the previously leaked Bumblebee Barricade is the 'exclusive' blaster. This will be sold at New York Comic Con and for a limited time on HasbroToyShop.com.

Dart Tag 'Ten Shot' SMG thingy- Real or Fake

There has been much speculation as the whether or not the Dart Tag 'Ten Shot' blaster is real or just a concept like the Stampede 'Bulls Scrotum' Drum Mag. To me, it looks real enough. This is mainly because it is based upon and already released platform which is already known to exist and also due to a couple of other cosmetic features that sort of give it away. Mainly the 'Not For Sale' etched into the surface above the grip in the above shot, spotted by Pocket from Urban Taggers. Also, if you think about it, why prototype a functioning blaster that you might not end up selling? The cost of the molds and designs would be prohibitive for a non existent blaster.

Personally, I'm convinced that it's real. The only thing I'm wondering is if it's the mystery 'Exclusive' Blaster being revealed in around 12 hours. What do you think?

Nerf Vortex Proton Review

I recently picked up a Vortex Proton to test out the Vortex lineup. I was certain that I was going to end up picking up more than just this anyway, but since it's the 'baby' blaster of the line, I thought it would be good intro of what to expect for the rest. I've since checked out and bought the rest of the Vortex line, and I found that I was just about right to think that.

The blaster itslef is very simple, with a basic 'snap-load' system to load the disks in the rear. Simply pull back the slide, drop in a disk, hit the release lever and pull the trigger to fire. I have found this system very good, and I can load the blaster rather fast with a little practise.

The ammo itself is extremely good. The blasters were critisised initially for lower projectile velocity, but I have rarely found this an issue. I still find it really easy To hit a moving (read: unsuspecting) target. This also means that I can maintain accuracy out to longer ranges, while keeping the blaster safe and fun for young people to use.

Ranges are around 55-60 feet, with the stock foam disks. There is very low modability for modders, with a simple spring relocation mod and lock removal about the only possible modifications.

The thing you all probably want to know is- does the Proton live up to the hype of the Vortex release? What do you think?

Nerf 18 Round Drum Mag Pack/Set

It has been reported that the Alpha Trooper's 18 Round drum mag, a favourite of Nerfers worldwide, is going to start showing up in stores as a 'Mission Kit' type packaging. Not much more information on pricing and such, but it should be very nice to not have to purchase more ATs for more drums. Picture courtesy of SGNerf

New Nerf Blaster on the Way

Nerf have released, exclusively to their Facebook fans, a message reading:

'Get those eyelids opened wide, Nation! We'll be posting details on a new, exclusive Nerf blaster tomorrow around 3pm EST right here on the Facebook Wall. Is it Thursday yet?'

No real idea what this breaks down to, but as it says exclusive, I'd speculate that it'd be store exlusive. Not sure if it'll be the new 'Dart Tag 10' or the Bumblebee theme Barricade, or something entirely new and unleaked, but I sure hope that it isn't just another repaint. We'll have to wait another 18 hours to find out, but my bet is that I'll check for updates on it ASAP, and write back any new info.

Cheers,
Dylan

Australian Vortex Store Stock Update

All of the big Nerf retailers in Australia are now stocking the full Vortex line. By around the 8th and 9th we had widespread coverage, but now the new blasters are almost everywhere. I noticed a post similar to this on Urban Taggers a while back, but I noticed that they didn't say the prices for each one. I thought it'd be nice to share a bit of intel with some fellow Aussie Nerfers, so here it is... Please keep in mind that these are current prices, and many are now on sale for 'Introductory Offers'. I'll post the standard prices a little later.They are also from my local store, so they may differ to your's...

Toys R Us
-Proton $21.99
-Vigilon $26.99
-Praxis $29.99
-Nitron $69.99

Kmart
-Proton $14.00
-Vigilon $20.00
-Praxis $35.00
-Nitron $65.00

Myer

-Proton $14.95
-Vigilon $24.95
-Praxis $39.95
-Nitron $59.95

Target coming soon
Toy World coming soon

Nerf Streamline Dart Review- Let's Try Again

This post was one of my first blog posts, but I have recently deleted it, as I found it really n00by and felt embarrassed keeping it up. So let's try again, with a but more experience under my belt.

The standard Nerf streamline/clip system dart has completely divided the Nerf community down the middle, since it's introduction with the Longshot. Some love 'em and some hate 'em, but everyone is forced to use them.

Firstly, the darts themselves are pretty slick looking. They lack the bulbous heads of other darts and hence fly more aerodynamically. They are smaller at the head so that they can be inserted into the straight Nerf clip without the need for a bend and difficult manufacturing process. due to this, they are only really designed for clip system blasters, although they will fit into selected other blasters.

The actually function of the dart is a bit iffy. While they do provide a modest range increase over suction or whistler darts, they also are very inaccurate. This is because they have a small hole in the head that is supposed to allow them to whistle as they fly. This sort of works, but at the same time, it also causes them to be aerodynamically challenged, as the air flies over the at odd angles and makes the dart's flight curve and makes proper aiming difficult.

All in all, while they are required for use with stock blasters, streamline darts are not favored by Nerfers for their low accuracy and low durability. In my humble opinion, use them when you have to, but avoid them if you don't.

Cheers,

Dylan

Comments Appreciated

Hey guys,
I just wanted to write this post telling you that I'd really appreciate some comments on my posts. I know that I have been really slack at replying, but I am putting more time into the blog now and I would love to keep up with you guys.

I mainly really like hearing you feedback, as it lets me know that the material I'm putting out is respected and enjoyed by the Nerf community. I know that I am getting views from the Blogger stats counter, but I'd just really like to get a few more comments. Also, if you are reading this right now and would like to help out a whole bunch, could you please look in the side bar and click that button saying 'Follow'? I get really excited for every new follower I get.

Also, this post wasn't really directed at the people who comment a lot already, so don't be offended or think that your not writing enough. Also, you don't have to write if you don't want. It's just a great for for me to know what you think.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it

Dylan

Rant: Vortex Ammo

I know I'm doing a lot of these rant posts lately, but I have been rather intrigued as to what all the fuss about the Vortex ammo is. Sure, they're disks, but who cares, they certainly have their upsides.

Firstly, for all the kids out there who like to shoot their blasters around the house, the lower velocity really helps prevent damage. The way that the disk spins means that it'll stay in the air for a good amount of time, but it won't knock stuff over as easily as darts. It will also hurt less, as velocity is directly related to how much any blaster hurts.

It'll also fix some of the problems more 'hardcore' Nerfers are fussed about. As more of a 'hardcore' than a casual Nerfer, I am a little fussy over ranges, therefore I like to mod. Due to little success in modding the blasters, many Nerfers have simply opted for stock. This fixes Nerf's problems with modding, as well as giving ranges not safely possible with darts.

I have seen the ammo in action myself and I have to say, it travels at a descent enough velocity. All the guys out there who say that they are easily dodge-able really need to step beck and have a look. If you were to put a Maverick and a Vigilon head to head on a chrono, there would be little difference.

To sum it up, I personally have no problem with the Vortex ammo, and I hope that it becomes more popular as time goes on. I'm also sure there can be plenty of new releases for the Vortex lineup, because there are some many great N-Strike designs that can be modified and made into Vortex. I can also ensure that Hasbro will do some great things with the lineup, so watch out.

Cheers,
Dylan

False Alarm

Hi guys,

I'm sorry about what I posted before about the blog moving, but due to limited success, I'm back. It should be smooth sailing from here on in. I apologize for any of the readers who checked here regularly and doesn't anymore, and I hope that I can regain readership. 

But I have got some great new posts coming up that I think you would like. First of all, Vortex has been released in Australia, and has been for the past five days. Some sightings have been reported even earlier than that. So, I have got my hands on a few, so watch out for those. I am also going to be posting a few cool things as well as focusing a hell of a lot more on news. I have also been really busy with heaps of assignments for school, but as they are almost done for the term, I should be able to get the post count up.

Cheers,

Dylan

My Nerf Sale Haul

Almost a week ago, now I went to the KMart toy sales. I spent $109, and I thought it would be good idea to tell you what I got. Keep in mind that all of this will also be updated on my arsenal page.

-1 Maverick Double Pack
-1 Furyfire 2 pack
-1 Magstrike
-1 Barricade w/ Bonus Yellow Raider Stock

That makes 6 blasters. All in all, I got a good deal and I am very happy with all that I bought.

Cheers,
Dylan

Whiteout Series

 You probably already know, but the Nerf Whiteout Series is out in some countries, even without proper release info. We can only speculate as to when these blasters are coming out, but they look awesome! Actually, they look awesome- but if the blasters they are repaints of are anything to go by (which they obviously are) they will probably be the same blasters we all know and many hate (I personally like them). Pictures courtesy of SGNerf.

Longstrike Box :)

Longstrike- sweet!

Maverick- In box

The Maverick- out of box

Rant: Nerf Series

If you are much of a fan of Nerf, you would probably know that there are far too many series around. Sonic series, Clear Series, Gear Up and now Whiteout- the list goes on and on. There are generally the same blasters in each collection, too. This has left some Nerf fans outraged and feeling ripped off, while others just keep drooling for more. Me? Well, I’m somewhere in the middle.

To start with, there were the Clear series blasters.  These signified a bit of turning point for Nerf. The era of many series had begun. I don’t think anyone could foresee the huge amount of money this would rake in for Nerf. To me, from when my local Target got in Clear Mavericks and Kmart got Clear Raiders, I was in awe. And I only managed to pick the aforementioned two, but I’m still after the Deploy, Recon and Nitefinder. They’re just awesome.

By the time the Sonic Series came around everyone had got over the “oh my god- it’s clear” bit and started to get a bit annoyed that Nerf were still capitalizing on old designs  in clear and tinted shells to  bring in the cash, but some still bought them. But the real annoyance was the fact that the Deploy was released in 3 different color schemes in one year.

Now we are starting to see the Whiteout series appear in certain regions (eg. Singapore). To me, these look AWESOME! Now they are not just a single tone clear or tinted shell, but a well painted sharp and effective color scheme that looks nice. Good on Nerf for this one!

Looking into the future, the Gear Up series is coming out soon, which looks cool and even includes a Vortex ammo disk. I’m not sure I’m in this one though- it’s back to two tone paintjobs and they are the same type of lineup- not much to write home about.

Finally, in my opinion, the Nerf series are a bit of fun, but if I was to get a full collection of each, I just would be out of money for everything else. Choose the ones you like, buy a few or a whole set and enjoy them. Just mix purchases of them with some others and don’t become one sided. That’s my opinion, but how about yours? Post a comment below on your opinion, or anything you like, really.

Dylan

MY Supershot

So, as you may or may not already know, I am currently doing extensive work on my Longshot. I saw Uin13s video here a while back, and I have wanted to do something special with my Longshot since I got it. Although it was cool and all, I knew it had great potential, and I'm now going to finally unlock as much as I can! I will go through the mods below:

Already Done
Firstly, I have already removed the air restricters, added a Nitefinder spring (as recommended by some members of OzNerf- but the spring combo sucks- don't do it!) and have done some work on the air seal. Externally, I have removed the top rail- quite cleanly- I just need to fill the gaps with epoxy putty. I have also integrated the front gun- which turned out not so great- I'll say what I'm going to do with that soon. As well as all of that, I have done some other small mods- like putting some PVC in the stock to stop it collapsing and sanding off the warning labels. All in all, it works ok- but isn't very good.

What to do with the front gun
I have decided that, for the front gun portion of the blaster, which is integrated, as mentioned above, I'm going to be gutting the internals and using epoxy putty to make a nice grip. But that's not all. What's to do with that gaping hole. Why not make good use of it by installing a flash light into it. It would really give you an edge in low-light conditions. This will be switched on via a small slider switch in the back angled portion of the LSFG. I am then going to install a targeting laser in the same general vicinity as the flash-light, but it will then be activated by a push-button SPST tactile switch, right on the grip portion, for ease of operation.

Extra Performance
The internal mods that still need to be done, besides a new breach are few and far between. I want to get rid of the annoying rattling of the dodgy NF+LS spring combo, by replacing it with a single Black Tactical LS V2 spring found here. It looks great, and will get rid of the makeshift spring combos once and for all. I will then order a second o-ring for the plunger head, to increase the seal. I will also lube the seal. If I have enough money, I'll also get the metal internals found here. If only they made a bolt-sled.

17/32 Brass Breach
Although the stock breach provides ok performance, if I'm after the ultimate Longshot, or Supershot,  I need nothing but the best. This brass breach is going to be an modified version of of the 'Angel Breach' found on  Nerf Haven, made by ForsakenAngel24. It's a great design, but with the ease of the 17/32 design, used by Coop, and made by someone who I'm not sure of their name, I think that it will be ideal.

LEDs:
If I really want something special out of this Longshot, I'm going to have to put in some real effort. So, with the stylised hole in the shell, I'm going to add LEDs. This will completely awesomeize? this blaster. It will just top off the shell really nicely. I'm going to use green ultra-brights, hooked up to a 4.5 volt, 3 AA circuit.

Shell Mods:
As stated earlier, I have already integrated the front gun, although I am going to add a few extra things. Firstly, the top rail is already removed, so I'm also going to be removing the logos and safety warnings with some sand paper. Also, all the annoying nubbly bits at the front are going to be sawn off, as I have already don with one side. I will also need to fill all the gaps with epoxy putty.

Paint Job:
Well, this is technically a shell mod, although I believe it is significant enough to be done separately. The colour is going to be a white vinyl dye, with florescent green highlights and all the orange internals left orange. It should look great , and with a bit of luck, I can sand the scratched down, so the vinyl dye doesn't show them up.

All in all, this mod may take up to three months to complete, so stay tuned for the end result. I won't actually post all my new progress, as  believe the finished product will have more effect than a half finished prototype. That's pretty much it for now. Just make sure you follow us on Networked Blogs, and keep Nerfing.

Networked Blogs Account

So, I recently found out (from my mum, nonetheless) that there was a great app on Facebook, allowing for an easier way to follow blogs. In fact, it is so good, that it will tell you via you Facebook updates when I have posted something new. I have a widget for it in the sidebar, so if you want the easiest way to stay in touch with all the new content here on TNB, all you have to do is make sure your signed into Facebook, and then just click the follow button. It's heaps easier than Google friend connect, so I hope you guys like it.

That's about all for now, just remember to follow the blog and keep Nerfing!

Sorry Guys

Hey guys. This post is just to say sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've had a lot of assignments for school, and have bee really busy in general lately. I have done a few new mods, that I will be sure to post. I also have some new ideas to post about, including a new review criteria system, where all my reviews are going to be made a whole lot better.

This post was mainly just to say sorry for not posting enough content recently, as well as letting you know that the blog isn't dead, it just had a bit of down time. For any of my followers, thanks for your support. And if your not already, become a follower!

That's about all for now. New content to come soon. In the mean time, keep Nerfing!

Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS

I got a Stampede yesterday. And it's awesome! Why? Because it is. And I'll get into specifics later. But in the mean time, think- full auto, 3 darts per second blasting. That's what makes this one of the best blasters ever.

Let's start off with this blasters claim to fame- rate of fire. This is one of the coolest aspects of the blaster. If 3 darts per second sound like a lot, that's probably because it is. When you can unleash a fully automatic foam onslaught, you tend to find yourself doing things you wouldn't normally do- eg. dumping a clip on an unlucky family member and then scrambling for cover as they shout at you and more than likely try to dissect you with whatever they can find. And I don't do that with my Recon.

Despite what can only be described as 'impressive' rate of fire, another stand out part of this blaster is it's range. This now means you can unleash your fully automatic foam onslaught at a distance out of range of most projectiles that will be inevitably lobbed at you by your victim. But seriously, 30-40 feet full auto is perfect. As a rushing weapon, I literally couldn't think of anything better. Sure the Raider has more ammo capacity, but it is easy enough to transplant your Raider drum straight into the Stampede.

Speaking of ammo, the Stampede comes with 3 18 round clips and one 6 round clip. I have no idea why they bothered with the 6 rounder, but hey, I'm not complaining. The 18 round clips themselves are great too. 18 rounds is 3 times the ammo capacity of a standard 6 rounder, and it is evident in the firing operation of any blaster. You can also use one of the great 35 or 18 round drums of the Raider and Alpha Trooper, respectively. The rate of fire of the Stampede really mandates a higher ammo capacity, and Nerf really delivered on this one.

Also included in the box are 60 darts, which are a good top up for your ammo box. But another interesting inclusion was the Bi-Pod and Shield, both of which will clip on to any of the 5 tactical rails of the Stampede. Let's start with the fore-grip/bi-pod. Let me put it this way- great fore-grip, useless bi-pod. While the idea of having a cool bi-pod that you can use in wars to pop up an unleash your previously mentioned fully  automatic foam onslaught is cool in theory, in practice, it is absolutely useless. The trouble with it is, that when you pop out your pop out bi-pod, it is too short to actually support it while using the 18 round clip. Which is stupid. But it does make a nifty fore-grip. The shield is also much of the same. Ambitious, but rubbish, as the guys from Top Gear would say. It looks great on the box, but in use it is goofy and awkward. In my opinion, it needs to be sold to a n00b.

Now, sadly, there are some bad sides. I cannot vouch for the crowd that say the Stampede has good battery life, but I must say that while the batteries where exhausted in my first week of testing, I have realised that in that time, I actually wrote down how many clips I fire, so I could quote it in my review. The exact number of darts I have fired is 1560. So, the battery life wasn't bad, per-say, just the blaster addictive.

Another thing is that although I have said above that the rate of fire is perfect, for just the playful type, this blaster's rate of fire might be a bit of a downer. When I first fired it, I though: "excellent, a cool new rushing weapon", but some kids may go: "Oh, no the fun is over already?". Just my opinion, but anyway. But on a final note, I have experienced what can only be described as big-ass chunks of Nerf foam falling out the barrel. This is just an observation, and maybe something to watch out for.

In conclusion, I must say that pumping as many rounds as I have through this blaster, I feel as thought this review has been as accurate and honest as possible. I hope I have influenced your decision to buy this blaster. It's definitely fun, and a worthwhile bit of kit. This rounds out another review here on TNB I hope you enjoyed it.

Dylan

Rating
9.8/10
AWESOME EVERYTHING

The blaster itself- without any accessories 

Size Comparison

Fully decked out- too bad it doesn't stand up without the container of PVC glue!

Raider drum- yes please!

A Shout-out

This a shout-out to a fellow Australian Nerfers blog. It's called Australian Nerf, and although it hasn't got much content on it yet,  it should be great. I'm currently helping with it, and I really want it to be successful for him. So check it out, here. Follow it and feel free to comment.

Thanks for helping him out guys!
Dylan

Nerf Longstrike CS-6 Review

The Nerf Longstrike. What can I say... 1. I looks great 2.Well... That pretty much sums up the Nerf N-Strike Longstrike CS-6. While it has the looks covered it completely lacks that WOW! factor in the performance, and the actually use of it really lacks the realism of the Dragonouv sniper rifle look it really seems to be going for.

Firstly, the blaster itself looks superb. The lines may be sharp and angular, but they are extremely clean and crisp. The way the blaster looks and feels evokes thoughts of a sniper, a lone warrior hiding in the shadows. An assassin, preparing to take the shot of their life. An that's exactly what I do, but it does look quite funny when I'm discovered and when I fire, the darts seems to dribble out. This makes me looks like an utter idiot, and for that I don't use it in public any more. Full stop. And that neatly brings me on to the next topic.

As I said above, the ranges are a little weak, but you can get around that by just carrying it and not bothering to fire. But that sort of ruins the charm. The acual figures of range really put it into perspective: 15-20 feet. I'll just let the figures speak for themselves.

As you probably already know, the Loangstrike is a clip system blaster, which basically mean fast reload and minimal fuss. But that also limits the blaster to using streamline darts only, which ruins acuracy. They don't have enough power to fishtail, but that will annoy you no end with their little hole that makes them arc in any direction. One other awesome thing is that you can also carry up to 2 spare clips in the stock, which make for some extra ammo. Dispite this, there is only one six shot clip included with the blaster.

I honestly don't know how to sum up this blaster. All show, no go? I don't reckon that's it, as this blaser really is a ton of fun. I'd say the motto would be epic looks, epic fun. See- I didn't even metion the range. So that means I can comfortably say that woth this blaster, the range doesn't matter. There, I said it. On that bombshell, it's thime to end yet another review on TNB, so for my fans and followers, later. And for any newbys out there, comment and follow.

Rating:
8.5- Epic fun, Epic looks 

From Thorn- Assassins: Concealed Carry 101

 Let me start by telling you a little about myself. I started organized nerfing as part of a group who ran “Assassins”-style games at a steampunk nightclub. Yes, really. As more members joined, we branched out and eventually started playing normal games, but the core lessons I learned playing with this group have stayed with me. It’s a rare day I’m not within arm’s reach of a loaded Nerf gun, even when far from home.

Why should you care? Carrying a Nerf blaster surreptitiously has a number of advantages, ranging from the obvious – if you’re playing Assassins yourself – to the more subtle, like to surprise an opponent in a regular team game by drawing a blaster they didn’t know you had.

Those who play Humans vs. Zombies on university campuses should also get some use from the following, because if you’re not recognized as prey, you can blend in to any ‘civilians’ in the game area with greater ease, escaping the notice of the horde (for extra points, pretend to be another zombie).

While you can get plenty of inspiration from real firearm concealed-carry methods, Nerf guns present a couple of significant differences you’ll have to take into account.

Firstly, most Nerf blasters are far bulkier than real firearms. Generally speaking, this rules out tucking it into a belt at the front or back and covering it with your shirt.

Secondly, most Nerf blasters also require two-handed operation to cock and fire or reload repeatedly.

To start with, I’ll introduce two basic concealment techniques: The pocket/sleeve hold, and the underarm position.

The pocket/sleeve hold is something most people do intuitively. Simply wear a jacket with a pocket or pair of cargo pants, hold the blaster in one hand and sick it in you pocket. The advantages are plain: You’ve already got your hand on the blaster, ready to draw and fire instantly. Your hand and sleeve conceals any protruding orange bits and disguises the shape of the blaster in your pocket.

The downside is that only the smallest blasters, such as the Secret Strike IX-1, the Reflex IX-1, Buzz Bee Tek 3, etc., can be used effectively in this manner unless your jacket or pants have very large pockets.

                                   1. A concealed Reflex IX-1. So easy, your boss could do it.

While using a small blaster like the Tek 3 or Secret Strike, try to hold the blaster so that your hand and sleeve covers as much of it as possible. This is to prevent people other than your target from seeing the blaster, and for him it’s too late.

                                           2. This should be the last thing your target sees.

The second carry method I’m showing you today is one which requires a short strap. I have one off an old laptop bag.

3. The Strap. And a hardwood floor.

A number of larger ‘pistol’ Nerf blasters such as the Spectre REV-5 and Recon CS-6 have strap loops on their grips. It can also be done with any similarly sized blaster.

4. Wearing an underarm blaster.

The Underarm position can also be achieved via the use of a Nerf Bandoleer. Simply hook the bandoleer on your belt loops over your shoulder like suspenders, and thread the blaster through the elastic loops.

5. Note the bandoleer clip is connected to the belt loop. Blaster is pointing outwards…

6. …so you can draw it easily.

The same lesson can be applied to larger blasters, like this Spectre, at the expense of a slightly more difficult draw. Note that I’ve looped the elastic around the protrusion near the stock anchor. This is to stop the blaster from falling out, since its added weight and bulk means it will swing while running. 

7. The Spectre in underarm position.

7. The Spectre in underarm position.

Thanks for tuning in to The Nerf Blog once more. I hope you find these interesting, and I’ll continue this series some time in the future to cover larger blasters and other accessories you can easily get to help keep your nerfing clandestine.

  

Super Soaker Hydro Cannon- A way into Super Soaker?

When I first saw the new, updated Nerf Super Soaker line-up, I though, cool, now super soaker fans who like Nerf will be happy. But then all the ranges decreased, and the Nerfisation of Super Soaker lead to terrible triggerless mechanisms, and just downright nasty quirks that took away the appeal for many. But now I have to say, the fun may be back, in the form of the new Super Soaker Hydro Cannon.

It looks awesome, apparently shoots well, and is evidently the first good Super Soaker since Nerf took over. Now it doesn't let out a dismal stream of water, that could frankly be outdone by a monkey urinating, but more like a fire hose  at full blast. So, when this water blaster comes down under, I will grab one for sure!

Thorns First Post- Nerf Guns: How Many is Too Many?

This is Thorn's first post for The Nerf Blog, and I am thoroughly impressed. Be sure to leave him feedback below!

Okay, I know the obvious answer is “You can never have too many Nerf guns”, but beside that point, it's something that runs through nearly every nerfer's head once they collect more than a couple – which ones do you pick for tomorrow's war, and how many?

Ultimately, it will depend on a number of factors. First is what kind of game and where. Inside or outside? Long range or close? HvZ or free-for-all? Assassins or Capture the Flag? Will the games be played in short rounds (so you can re-fill clips), or does the game go all day?

This should dictate what your essential, first pick is – the blaster you own which is most suited to the role.

Further choices will depend on what your first pick is. You might pick something to cover the primary's weaknesses, or carry something similar so you can keep firing when it runs out.

In principle, you can keep picking blasters until you're carrying everything you have.

Then consider how you're carrying it all. There are a number of options, ranging from the Nerf-produced bandoleer kit and vest kit, to army-issue load-bearing vests, home-made holsters and the like. I've even seen crazy schemes where someone had six Reflex pistols velcroed to a dart tag vest. If you really try, it's more than possible to carry ten blasters. In practice, though, I rarely see anyone carry more than two or three. Why? Despite (mostly) being lightweight, Nerf guns are bulky. The KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle also comes into effect. Just remember – the more foam weaponry you carry, the less space to carry ammo.

Then there's your “spares”. What if someone else needs to borrow one? Maybe the game changes as the day goes on? Fortunately, you don't have to carry these around during the match, so you've got a bit more flexibility with their type and size. The only limit on your spares will be how many you're willing to load in your car or can fit in a bag.

But I've gone on enough – how many do you guys take to wars, and how do you carry them?

Fishpond.com.au- Best for blasters?

Recently, Fishpond.com.au has had a major overhaul of all it's Nerf products. Many new blasters have been added, and all the prices have dropped significantly. I must say that the majority of the blasters are cheaper in store, but many blasters are not available in Australian stores. So does this mean Australia's blaster availability if going to get better?

Firstly, the service at Fishpond.com.au is excellent. Everything was tracked via an easy to use system, postage was free, and item I ordered was yet to be spotted in Australian stores. The item was delivered around the date it said it would, and despite the post-Christmas sale, the date it arrived certainly wasn't bad. I found that the box even had the packagers name written on it. It made the service seem very personalised, and like you order wasn't one of the couple hundred they would have inevitably packed that day.

Also, many previously unobtainable blasters are easy to get on Fishpond, with even some brand new BBBs on popping up from time to time. I also found that there is a fantastic amount sales, so if you really want something, just add it to your wish list and then wait for your item to come on sale. It's an easy way to always save some money on  your orders, and with common Free Postage offers, often your item can be obtained for a lot cheaper.

So, does Fishpond stack up for Australian Nerfers as a place to obtain blasters? In my opinion, it does, but it you can readily get a blaster in a store close by to you, then it wouldn't be worth paying extra for the convenience of it being delivered to you, a week after you ordered it. So, technically it is a good site, but use it sparingly and to your advantage!

Weekly Poll Results

This weeks poll was a little different. It was more of a question than an opinion, but after seeing all about these two brands on Urban Taggers, I couldn't resist testing you on these two brands. The answer was True, and 76% of you got it right. Not to shabby. I promise that this weeks poll will be a true opinion poll. So, thanks to all who voted!

Cheers,
Dylan

Nerf vs Buzzbee- My Opinion

I didn't tell you guys, but recently I bough a Buzzbee Double Shot. And I must say that it was the biggest piece of junk I ever bought. Because of this it is currently on my workbench, in pieces, in no hope of ever being reassembled. So, why do I think this? See my answer below!

Firstly, it's performance was absolutely dismal compared to it's Nerf counterparts. It was lucky to shoot 15 feet and even that was a bit of a stretch. It also made such an unsatisfying sound when fired, sort of a twang, compared to a Nerf brand blaster, which makes a nice solid thud. But for the worst performance aspect, I have to give this blaster the title for the worst darts ever. That's right, out of all the darts available on the market, I would have to rate these stone dead last. On first inspection, they look like the foam is more dense and of better quality, but that just makes them heavy, which limits range. And they still get torn up the same.

It also had just about the scrappiest paint job I have ever seen on a toy blaster. It looked like Buzzbee had given some apes a computer, and told them to use the fill bucket on Microsoft paint to try and colour the blaster. Then they must of said: "Ah, the kiddies will like it now because it is colourful". But if you keep on using that formula, it would be a good idea to make toy cars colourful, but if you painted them the same shades as this, young children would just be repulsed. It just looks dim and dull, and looks a bit like it's come out of the 70's. And brings us to what you should do if they see this blaster in a store. Run. Like hell!

Well, you may ask, are all Buzzbee blasters like this. Well I'm certainly not willing to waste my money and effort to find out. In my opinion it's Nerf or Nothing!

Nerf Event Winnings

Today I went to an official Nerf event hosted by Toys R Us stores across Australia. To be honest, it was pretty lame, with some under-trained staff running it. You just got to shoot some heavily used Recons and Mavericks. But they did offer some prizes for getting it in (which was certainly not a difficult feat) and I got some!

All my winnings!

Window Stickers!

Clear Mav. size comparison to mini Stampede

Competition Winner!

This post is to inform all of my followers and viewers of who won the competition. Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who entered, as it means a lot to me that you cared enough about my blog to put together a piece of writing for the comp. But there could only be one winner, and that was Thorn. His writing was really impressive and I think that the topic was great. Sorry for everyone else that entered. Expect some more excellent writing from Thorn in the near future!

Cheers,
Dylan

Competition Draw

My competition here has finally finished. It seems to have generated some great writing and really got the creative juices flowing. I received five excellent entries, although one person was out of the running, as they forgot to follow the blog on Google Friend Connect. This left me with four people to choose from, and the choice was hard. The winner of the competition will be notified by email a couple of minutes after this is posted. Thanks to all who entered, as they were all great entries. Before I announce who won officially, the person must reply to my email, then I will post their Internet nickname in another post. 

Cheers,

Dylan

Weekly Poll Results

This is an update on my weekly poll. So tell me guys, What's your favourite Nerf line?

As this small screen shot shows, N-Strike was the clear winner, with 85% of the votes. Surprisingly, N-Force, which I predicted to get no votes got a single vote. I think whoever voted for that just did it for kicks! But, regardless of that the poll went pretty well. The next poll will be up within a few minutes of posting this, so stay tuned and vote there as well!

Storing Your Collection

My Nerf collection used to be randomly strewn across our garage. It had bits everywhere, and if you needed to get to anything Nerf, it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Virtually impossible is what I'm trying to say. I was also just sitting on the floor ready to be stood on and smashed to bits. So, today, I had a brain snap. I had to get all my Nerf stuff off the floor and store it somehow. I began to work by sorting it into piles. It then became clear that most of it would fit in some Styrofoam boxes we already had. So I got to work and I managed to get the whole thing tidy, protected and put away in a matter of minutes.

All my accessories fit perfectly in this box! 

My blasters box is a a perfect fit

My ammo box- Buzzbee shells and darts for sale at wars

The whole collection packed away!

Nerf N-Strike Camo Ammo Review

My camo darts finally arrived! Well I'm sure none of you knew they were on their way, because I never told anyone. But anyway, I ordered them about a two weeks ago from from Fishpond.com.au, so this post is not only going to be a review on the product I received, but also of the service from Fishpond.


To begin with, I'm going to get the Fishpond service review out of the way. Firstly, the user interface on their site is great, and even as a person who has never ordered from an online store before (n00b!), I found the whole experience very easy. I even got five dollars credit discount for reviewing miscellaneous stuff I didn't even own and also got free postage for ordering between Christmas and New Year. I paid using bank account transfer and the whole process was very easy. I received an alert email when I ordered it, one to tell me when the payment went through and a final one to tell me that it had been dispatched. I must say the postage times were a little disappointing, but with the whole rush of the festive season sale bit, what can you expect, really? The whole thing was packed in a overly large cardboard box, with a whole bunch of these big air cushions, which make great pranks for people to sit on. The box looked a little battered when it got to me, but that was the fault of Australia Post.

Now, on with the product itself. The Camo Ammo bag as I like to call it, is just about the most pointlessly fun thing Nerf has ever made. It may have some shortcomings, but I like to think of it as a fun but pointless addition to my Nerf collection. The bag itself seems to be made of a thin and light rip-stop nylon, which while it is adequate, could have a had stitching of a higher calibre. It is held shut with some nice, descent Velcro closures, that are more than good enough for the job at hand. The bag can hold 4 clips and fifty darts, 7 clips or 100 darts. It's all up to you.

The darts are amazing! Although I got 50 suction darts in the pack, I just want more! They are just normal darts, but whip these out when your friends are over and your gonna be the coolest guy out. Just don't use them outside as even when I know where I have shot them, I just can't manage to find them. Well I do eventually, as I still have all 50, but that's beside the point. The digital camo pattern, which in the case of the suction darts is woodland camo is very descent, but I have heard reports from Urban Taggers that the camo pattern can eventually rub off, leaving you with some nifty looking brown darts. But that's ok, as these are mainly going to be used in my blaster photo-shoots to look awesome.

So, in conclusion, I think that the Nerf N-Strike Camo Ammo is a great addition to anyone's collection. It's got some extra darts, a cool bag and a sweet price tag, as it's only $35 AUD normal price on Fishpond.com.au and $29 in store. I highly recommend you go and pick up this great piece of gear. 

Weekly Poll

You may have noticed, in the sidebar, I have posted a poll. This is going to be the subject on my new weekly segment. I will post a poll in the sidebar, and it will last for one week. Then, I will post the results and put up a new poll. I'm not sure how it's going to go, but I hope it will help to mix it up a bit.

Competition!

So, I've decided to have a competition. But it's a rather unusual one. The idea is that you enter (I'll explain how below) and I give you the opportunity to write a weekly skit on my blog on anything Nerf related. That's right, you get to have YOUR writing on MY blog weekly. It can be funny, informative or just a rant. To enter, simply write a short piece of writing below (in the comments section) to impress me with your writing skills. Make sure you read the conditions of entry below, and at the beginning the comment, you must write- "I have read the conditions of entry and promise to adhere to them."

The conditions of entry are as follows:
-All entrants must 'Follow' The Nerf Blog via Google friend connect.
-No major spelling errors, course language, text talk (eg. SK8TING RULZ - this makes all entries easier to read) or any insults
-Entries must be in 300 words or less
-Each entrant may only enter once
-All entries must include an email address to contact the entrant if they win (they can be written like this- sydneynerf at hotmail.com, to avoid Internet trawlers don't end up with your email address.)
-Failure to adhere to these rules will be result in deletion of the comment and immediate disqualification.

The winner will be chosen in on the 20/1/11. Any entries received prior to that date will not be counted. If you win, you can email me your skits and I will post them to the blog the same day I receive them. That's up until the time where I may eventually make you a site admin. So if that sound like good fun to you, please enter.

Good luck,
Dylan

Nerf N-Strike Magstrike AS-10- Review

The Nerf N-Strike Magstrike AS-10 is the fastest firing Nerf blaster ever! Sound good? Well lets dive into another Nerf blaster review to find out what makes this blaster so good!

The Magstrike is an air powered monster! It may look quite ugly, but peel away the massive shell and you almost expect to see C4, but the internals are actually quite mundane. So, on with the review. The blaster works in a very basic way, which is nice, as my one didn't come with any instructions. All you have to do is pump the handle 22-32 times and pull the trigger. Simple. But it's simplicity is deceptive. This will shoot all ten darts in around 1.7 seconds. That's about how long it takes to read this sentence. When you think of it that's actually pretty quick. It also uses clips for a fast reload, but only one is actually supplied, but we will get into that later, as not to spoil the pros. 

This blaster has it's definite pros, most notably it's fast rate of fire and clip functionality, but it certainly has it's limitations. The biggest stuff up of them all is the fact that it is only supplied one clip. That's right, you can use a fast reloading special Magstrike clip, but you can't do a fast reload because you only get one of the stupid things. And unlike Titan missiles, you can go to Hasbro and say that you lost your Magstrike clip and they will send you one. For a fee. It also takes 22-32 pumps to fill it's air bladder, which completely defeats the purpose of using the clip. Another epic fail is that when you attach a scope or a light to the top mounted tactical rail, it beam/line of sight is blocked by the rapidly rising clip.

Despite it's pitfalls, performance on the Magstrike is actually awesome. It consistently shoots ranges of about 30-40 feet, which is a fair bit over the usual stock blaster ranges. As mentioned before it shoots it's load of ten darts in around 1.7 seconds. This blaster preforms great, but with a few minor practicality issues, users might find it difficult to use in a Nerf war. I know some people do, but I'm just saying...

All in all I'm very happy with the exceptional performance of the Nerf Magstrike AS-10. Despite it's small practicality issues I think it's a great, fun blaster. I give it a  8.9/10.0. This is Dylan for The Nerf Blog, Signing off.

Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10- Review

The Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10 is a new concept for Nerf. It uses a completely unconventional set-up to produce amazing results. So, let's get this show on the road, and find out what makes this blaster the cream of the crop!

To start with, the Barricade looks very bold. Some will love and some will hate it. That's the way it goes. But personally, I think that this blaster kicks ass in the looks department. In out-of-the-box for, it is looks like a futuristic plasma pistol, from a game like Halo, but with the Tactical Rail and stock-attachment point, it is insanely customisable.

It also has some pretty cool features, like a jam door, which I have
never had to use and a 'Safety' type on off switch. The jam door is of a large size, with a nice click-in mechanism at the front. It can be opened at any time, but if the motors are spinning when you open the jam door, they will stop so little kids don't get their fingers caught in the flywheels. The ON/OFF switch is pretty cool, as it looks and functions just like a real firearms 'Safety' mechanism. It not only controls the motors, but also physically stops the trigger from moving when in the OFF position.

The flywheel system that the Barricade uses can be very advantageous to have. But on the flip side it has it's definite downers. To start with, it's rapid fire system would not be possible without the flywheel system. It basically has a dart pusher that pushes the dart into the flywheels and the flywheels fling the dart from the barrel. So it basically fires as fast as you can pull the trigger. It is also very easy to over-power the motors and make the blaster shoot further. On the down side, it is reasonably noisy, although the videos on YouTube do over-state this. It also requires 3 AA size batteries, although so far I haven't had to replace them once!

Ranges are between 25-30 feet, which is basically par to the course in stock Nerf blasters. Ranges are moderately consistent, as shooting lightweight foam darts is never going to get entirely consistent shots. Speaking of the function of the blaster, it is extremely accurate, as once you have locked onto a target, you can just pull the trigger and hit the target every single time, with no guesswork involver.  Even when you shoot from the hip, you can get an extremely consistent and tight shot-group.

Finally, I think that the Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10 is a real bargain, considering it awesome functionality, spectacular usability and also the very nice price-tag of $35.00 AUD. So, if you have been considering purchasing a Barricade, I would immediately jump at the opportunity and go and pick up one of these badboys. This is Dylan from The Nerf Blog, signing out!

Nerf N-Strike Blaster Abbreviation Cheat Sheet

What do all those funny letters and numbers after Nerf blaster names mean? It's a question that's plagued many a Nerfer for years. And now there's finally an answer! To start with, the first 1-3 letters are an abbreviated form of the firing mechanism type. Here is the list of abbreviations.

• 
  
• RV - Electronic Revolving Barrel
• CS - Clip System
• ECS - Electronic Clip System
• EX - External Mechancism
• IX - Internal Mechancism
• REV - Revolving Barrel
• EBF - Electronic Belt Fed
• AS - Air System

The next 1-2 digits are the stock dart capacity. So, if you use my formula, a Nitefinder = Nitefinder- blaster name, EX = External Mechanism and 3= Stock dart capacity. I know some of you will already know this, but I hope that this will help a few of you more inexperienced Nerfers.