Modding your Nerf blaster is the work of STEM

 Modding your Nerf blaster is the work of STEM

 

By James Lam

Introduction to Nerf   

Whenever anyone mentioned about a nerf blasters, the image of a toy gun that shoot foam darts will come into your mind. People will start dismissing it as a children's toy and nothing more than that. Even for adults holding a nerf blasters and start running around the neighbourhood parks, others will deem them as “man-child” trying to live their “Pew Pew fantasy”of being a cowboy or play soldier. Yet they have neglected the science and the engineering aspect a how the nerf blaster works. Only a special breed of people in this hobby will take note of it and use their science and engineering knowledge to take this hobby to the next level, we call them the “modders” in the Nerf Singapore Community.

 

 

The Nerf Singapore Community

 Different Nerf "War" Game format

As a serious nerfer but not a modder for past five years (currently I am take a hiatus from the hobby because of the COVID 19 pandemic), I have been to countless different game plays with the Nerf Singapore community. There are two type of game play in the community and they are the “Stock” war game or “Advance” war game. For stock war games, the organizer would organized stock war game where they used unmodded or lightly modded blasters which is suitable for players of all ages. Whereas most serious nerfers and modders would normally participate in the “Advanced” war games where they will use their heavily modded blasters. An example of one of the game mode is the “Quikflag”.

“Quikflag” is a 5 vs 5 game where your team try to snatch the flag position at the middle of the game field and plunged the flag at the opponents base camp. If you are tagged by your opponent's darts, you are out of the game. The time limit for each game is five minutes and the game pace is normally very fast.

For war game, it not only test the power of their modded blaster but also raise the adrenline rush of the players as the game play is very fast pace. Normally players will be wearing face mask and also be in body gear such as a “airsoft combat vest” instead of simple industrial goggles. For most most game, I am normal out gunned by players and modders with their heavily modded Nerf blasters.

Springers or Flywheel 

There are a few types of blasters that are available in the market. They are the spring powered blasters, air pump blasters and also electronic flywheel powered blasters. Through out the world wide Nerf community, which include Singapore, springer and electronic flywheel powered blasters are the popular choices among players. For my personal preference, I still prefer using an electronic flywheel blaster for most of my games and hence I would like to call myself a “Flywheel Master Race”.

                               Example of different Electronics Flywheel and Springer Blasters

To Mod or not to mod

In order for their nerf blaster to shoot to an optimal range compared to a new blaster that is purchased at any toy store, you need to open up the blaster and start tinkering with the internals of the blasters at your own risk because the warranty will automatically be voided. For a spring powered blasters, It is not as simple as just removing the air restrictor of the blaster solely but you need to also consider upgrading the other parts of the blaster such as the spring, the plunger mechanism and also the barrel. After that, you also need to consider what type of darts are using for optimal range as well. Off course, there are sellers who manufacture the internals for modders to install in your blasters but for parts that aren't available in the market, you may need to fabricate your own internals parts with a 3D printer.

   A modded Long shot blaster with upgraded internals (Spring, pump and also aluminum barrels) 

 

   

For electronic flywheel blasters, the modding is almost similar to modding a spring powered one except for changing the spring, you need to change the motors, the cage and the wiring in the blaster as well. In order to have sufficient power to run the motors of your blaster, you may also need to consider the type of batteries (3.7v Trustfire, IMR or 2s/3s Lipo batteries) used to power the blaster for performance consistency. And to mod an electronic flywheel blaster, you need to have basic soldering and electronic skills as well. 

 

                                                                     The internals of a electronic flywheel blasters

 
Seems hard to mod your nerf blaster huh...but...

Unless you are an engineering graduate or a seasoned radio control hobbyist, learning how to mod an electronic flywheel blaster is a steep learning curve for some. As a non-engineering graduate with no technical background, I have problems modding my flywheel blasters despite watching countless “How to...” Youtube videos from prominent modders in the community. How I wish there is a course that teach people like me on basic electronics and also soldering so that I can mod my own blasters.

But wait no further for this holiday, your children and you can participate in “STEM for Fun” holiday Enrichment program organised by Ecclesiastes Education Centre. In one of the activities known as “Flywheel Master race”, we will teach you and your children how to mod your electronic flywheel nerf blaster from scratch. In the session, you and your children will be taught basic electronics besides soldering. As for trainers, our trainers are qualified electronic engineers and they are also experience nerf modders as well. After the modding session, we will test your modded blaster over an exciting and adrenlin filled Quikflag game.

No worries if you do not have a nerf blaster or any of the kit, as they will be provided in the session. So sign up quickly as there are limited vacancies. For signing up of the “STEM for FUN” or for more information, please go to www.bit.us.