Xplorer Blaster

[Ulrike Dweck]

AtXplorer, we are all about producing functional and durable parts for your foam dart blasters. We are avid dart taggers ourselves and we will only make something that we will use. All our items are CAD designed and drawn from scratch (nothing is molded from original parts) and CNC machined, then extensively tested till we are fully satisfied and eventually sent to the casting department to be individually molded. After that, each part is carefully hand finished, sand blasted, calibrated and then certified for shipment. We take pride in every product we produced as none of our parts are made from mass production injection molding. We love foam dart sports and with our products, we hope to bring this sport up to the next level.

"shoot shoot shoot!"

Yours,

SM Heng

Xplorer Foam Blasters Developments

Singapore

1st Place: A Xshot Xplorer blaster. This is a new homemade blaster from the company, and details are scarce on it. However, you can view more information in this teaser video.

2nd Place: Xplorer Exclusive Ultimate Longshot Kit, 528 Singapore Dollar Value

3rd Place: Xplorer Longshot Trooper Kit, 268 Singapore Dollar Value

4th-5th Place: Sponsor Prizes

I attended this convention and I want to answer any questions that you may have and not leave Nerfhaven out of the loop. A lot of people have strong feelings about Xplorer, Milsim Nerf and Nerf in general, I respect that. I respect that things that would get banned from a NIC war, and for it's venue, rightfully so (like a camo blaster at Armageddon for example), but would be essential for a War competition at a Singapore play field. We here in America, can play in parks legally, and I want to keep it that way too

I have been in serious talks with this company to possibly work with them, maybe part/full time live in Singapore to design blasters and help the company. I must say, I am Fascinated by their philosophy and attitudes towards Nerf. However, I need feedback, Honest feedback, this is a startup company that feels modders, from what I understand talking with Jason Wu, the Chief Executive, should utilize their skills to make better products, not be ignored. Not fight amongst ourselves, but more work together. I feel that if the NIC in America is not heard or considered properly at least somewhere in their product line, the result will be underwhelming. I discussed that we need to consider all regions of Nerf when they make a product so that it is not one sided for one region. And also that if a shell/blaster/kit that they make, may it be made for 14kg's out the door to limit liability, should be designed for as high as a modder can reasonably take it (for example they would make a longshot 14kg's out the door, it should be made for 32 kg's of spring force).

But at any rate feel free.

--Cartaya

I feel like most of the prices of Xplorer's previous blaster were out of the range of what the average US nerfer is willing to spend. While I appreciate the fact that it is a relatively small market compared to, say, Hasbro's market, are they looking to reduce costs a bit to appeal to a larger audience?

On a related note: since Singapore nerf does have a lot of milsim (as you stated), will they continue to focus on making blasters with complex shells ? Obviously that is a product that the average nerfer cannot make for themselves. But it may be cheaper (for them and consumers) to make something functionally similar but more barebones. For an example the +bow rev3 requires a good bit less material than a +bow rev2. And even a Caliburn is way cheaper than an Xmando.

I don't think we modders/NIC/etc. actually infight or compete in a negative way. There's a bit of animosity between everyone and NH, but modders from any side largely collaborate and/or advise each other when possible. The problem in the US is that we're super spread out, so actually working with each other is tough. A bit of internet competition doesn't hurt anybody and drives us all to be better too. Unless they mean something else, in which case, getting advice from the community may be beneficial to their product, but possibly also detrimental to their bottom line. You'd need to pick and choose who you listen to (i.e.: Throwing it to reddit, you'd still need to pick out names you can trust - even silly/impractical things get upvotes) or you'll end up with a 'design by committe' product and that's no good. Look into the Draugr project, those guys are listening to the community but also just ignoring them if they feel the ideas won't work.

Apologies if that is a little to direct/unprofessional of a question. (I really enjoy Xplorer's designs and kits!) I've read that Xplorer products are priced the way they are because of the manufacturing process, but one of the many

I feel like Xplorer's overall limited appeal in the states is less because it is more "milsim" but more because the blasters cost almost as much as a semester's worth of community college. Especially in the US, there are many other avenues to get similar performance out of a blaster for magnitudes less.

Price point: only price revealed is the Zeus 2 with a nylon sled for $135, I heard that and the full longshot kit will go for $210. If I threw a Trooper kit and a zeus shell together non Jet Blaster mods, much much more expensive, if that is an example. Maybe Artifact prices, maybe cheaper. I'm not in the front door, so I don't know for sure, but i'll keep you posted.

And I told them about the need for colors for the NIC market here in America, as well as to address the needs of the Aussie Nerfers as well.

Well From what I understand is that they want to go into mass production. They are about to release an inexpensive Longshot kit, with a Nylon Boltsled. In my X Zeus 2 that I had in Singapore, it held up to the beefier Xplorer 7/8x5.5x.080 14 coil spring, (which, I don't care if people say it's not a true 18 kg spring, it's a good damn spring) without any stress marks.

I think that is what's gonna make them, good kits, parts, service and a connection to the customers and to "LIVE IT, NOT JUST SELL IT!" I might be making them a few pistols and a whole bunch of other stuff I have yet to tell them about, and they have several other people in talks who are in the modding community who are getting out of the garage workshop, and helping them with the designs.... Some of them well missed and desirable.

Mum's the word with all that, but I think the shells should have come out second.

Let's just say I heard a few of them, and man are they useful... Can't say what.... but "useful" much more than OMW.

This is just the beginning...... That's the feeling, and Singapore is rad!

Also, if I can do the same thing for 1/3 the price it's not really viable. A SNAP and hopper combo is maybe $50 at the most, versus $210 for a kit that doesn't even get you all the way there (still need a shell). Let alone someone could grab an Artifact kit for $50 shipped, get a year worth of darts, and still be under Xplorer's price point.

I would like to request that you try to talk to them about becoming a supplier or source for ammunition in particular. All of the current suppliers of knockoff darts are primarily offering full-length darts, which is fine for everyone else. Very few suppliers have continued to offer shorter lengths of darts that are more compatible with what NIC wars typically use. Artifact darts were close, but have gone absent.

Yea, From what I heard they are bringing back the v2 X darts, I don't know if they are going to be rubber, vinyl, but I sorely miss the silicone V2 darts too, hopefully silicone or a softer, but not too soft material. (got a stash of 300 for my arsenal).

They partnered with a company that does hydro dipping (DIP Graphics in Singapore), but I would like to see a base color like white, blue or red.

As for Merlynn, I put it on the table but I believe they are more interested in staying with a true aluminum bore. However I did get to level and crown my own barrel on my Zeus 2 by hand with a right angle, file, deburing tool and a flat stone at the Xplorer HQ. I was able to show how much a difference it makes. I suggested a Precision bore be made available as an option, but keep the original lower cost breech kit as well. I think a Merlynn is better than a Scar barrel, but it needs a cost effective way to make it and the bore lines have to be precise.

I have met both of you, I Like both of you, you really surprised me as a person and you have a cool kid Draconis, You give me excellent feedback on FB and I "DO" listen, may not always agree, but most of the time I have found I do agree. I just think Drac and Draconis, you 2 should have a showdown for the name, man to man, longshot to longshot, 3 falls as gentlemen and leave shaking hands that the best man won, but that's between you two.

The X Zeus was what the original name of the Longshot reshell was called, it was before the Hasbro Zeus, but who named it first when the rival Zeus was in development, I wouldn't know for sure. The new Retaliator shell, the XCeda, is original in name (Mine might be called the Ultra Match Siṃhapura, Can't say more than that) and I hope that uniqueness continues in their product line for name distinction as the company grows.

Great Suggestions guys, I really do appreciate it, I want to work with you not against or forced, your doing your part, thanks.

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