How to build a tracer unit

J.D.R

OK, so I know the basic idea of a tracer unit is that a light flashes a BB as it passes and makes it glow for a short amount of time. The problem is all these lights seem to be positioned near the front of the silencer. This is a problem for me because my barrel sticks out about half way through my silencer.

So, I was thinking, it can't be that hard to build (famous last words). So just looking for some tips.

A - What kind of light is used? Led, IR, black light?
B - Where could I find said light?
C - Where could I find a little switch? Nothing too fancy, just one that I can either flick on and off, or a push switch.

Never tried electricianing before, but figured I have a whole summer to learn, so why not.

Thanks for the help

ED E

AFAIK the TM tracers strobe the BB, so you'd need a controller+sensor too.

J.D.R

Yeah, but it would still work if yu just had it on all the time. It might not be very stealthy, but it would still work?

I know htis will not be very practical for skirmihses, but I'd just like to try it, see how hard it is to do

Leftyflip

You've gotta fit a power source, high intesity bulb of some sort, a switch and some wiring inside a silencer, and have them so it doesn't obstruct the path of the BB. It's gonna be difficult to fit it all in neatly and you'd need to be pretty handy with a soldering iron.

J.D.R

Oh, great. Well there's my plan out the window. Mostly, cause I have never even seen a soldering iron, never mind own one.

I think I'll just settle for normal shooting, and leave the flashyness to the professionals

Inari

Nice pun :P

Why not change your inner barrel to a smaller length? Put in a normal M4 sized one

J.D.R

Mostly cause I like the longer range and better accuracy that the longer barrel gives me. I used to have a 240mm barrel, then I stuck an extender and silencer on, and now it's 460ish. A big improvement.

I know some say I should just have gotten a bigger M4 to begin with, but now, with 15 mins, I can easily turn it back into the CQB that it was.

Inari

What about the 363mm barrel?

J.D.R

Hum, I suppose I'll think about it. If I don't like it, I can always switch back

hightower1

They dont just come in silencer form, you can get tracer mags too, they stobe the bb as it leaves the mag for the same effect. Bit more pricey considering if you wanted to replace EVERY mag with tracer ones but at least its another option....

http://www.airsoftpost.com/illuminated-tracer-magazine-m4m16-series-airsoft-p-25333.html

Private Snafu

There's also the internal option with the likes of the Madbull Ultimate Hopup, having seen one in action I'm considering one for my Defender

bullets

I got an M4 mag that has the LED's that lights up or charges (for lack of a better word) the BB's in the mag its a bit rubbish though. There was some threads I think over in arnies airsoft before which showed how people were modifying
the MAG to put in extra and stronger LED' into it to improve it.

~B

J.D.R

I know about the alternative (I had another thread in the Questions section about them) I justy wanted, for the laugh, to know how to build one myself.

SparkyDNut

Another option would be to take an existing tracer, and take the inside out of it and put it in your silencer, or one that may be more suitable. Means all the soldering is done.

J.D.R

I suppose I'll try that. And if it doesn't work, I'll get the shorter barrerl. 50mm won't change that much (I hope)