'Vivalution' Hopper modification

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

christ thats a bargain, id have that for my main loader lol

[Jonny - SZ#03]

That's what I was thinking too, just gonna bounce from loader to loader. Always nice to have options, more over high-end options.

Quick update, below you'll find a shooting test video which shows how smooth the Viva2 is feeding. Apologies for the quality, it doesn't really give it justice.



Additionally I've found out what the original problem was and it's actually very, very annoying on the consideration I butchered a raceway last night to compensate. It wasn't my original diagnosis at all. It wasn't the brain, eyes or even the loader at all.

Get this, it was the Q lock. Apparently and I've never heard of a case of this (although you might of) the plastic on the feed of the raceway has more give than you'd think (which is a testament to how brittle and cheap the plastic is on those bloody things), when I put the loader into my markers feed I obviously tightened it as always making sure to never tighten it too far which I've done since the release of the first lock. I settled it so it sat comfortably in the lock. What's happened is the lock has pushed on the feed neck by a millimeter or 2 which has been enough to jam the larger sized .697 proto balls. The code in the brain of the Viva knew not to push and held off from pushing any harder to force the ball through the tight feed. This has obviously caused the jam. Because of the temperamental nature of the problem and working with a completely new prototype technology I'd built myself it was hard to diagnose such a problem so I can forgive myself for thinking it was a software error but I'm rather annoyed such a minute problem has caused four hours of extra work, a raceway and more work to reposition the eyes and prepare another other raceway I have (which are like rocking horse poo to get hold of in the UK). The plus side is this is the last time I'll have to do it. Everything will be nicely enclosed in the shells without holes here there and everywhere and once I've finished I can buy some brand new shells and the loader will not only be as good as new, it'll be a brand new loading system. The only one of its kind and the product of three months worth of alteration, hard work and strong design based on a silly idea.

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

Only just replying on here now as ive been replying on my phone and couldnt see the video untill i got home.
Deffinatly onto a winner with it mate, hopefully with the halo shells it all should fit in and look the danglies.
Sorry i havnt had that much input into the project, basicly dont have the patience for small fiddly projects and i basicly hate electronics lol

[Jonny - SZ#03]

Thanks the plan my dearest bro and you need not apologise, I didn't expect you to have much input with such a busy schedule at the moment! I have the Reloader on its way and managed to get a cheap set of Vlocity shells brand new for £10 so hopefully pending it isn't the usual 'awww they are actually out of stock' malarky we're in business trooper!

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

haha yea we seem to be getting that quite a bit at the moment.
Atleast you can give it a good test on thursday at training.

[Jonny - SZ#03]

Yeah that's what I was thinking too bro, hopefully the Virtue board will land for you tonight too fella It would be great if the reloader landed tomorrow but I'm happy to go with the flow either way

I have a checklist of things I'm working through today but your hopper is on there too so I should have it gutted and repaired by the end of the day, at least ready for tomorrow

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

My virtue came about 12 today, posted in the other thread but you cant have got there yet lol, im getting it installed when i get in today so should be sweet for tomorow.

Thats sweet cheers mate, ive got new battries for my halo so all good if its not sorted by then

[Jonny - SZ#03]

Just about to sit down and perform the operation. Just need to get my scrubs on and we can begin opening the patient up...

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

Hopefully it can be fixed because it rips when it works and its like half as light as my big ass halo!

[Jonny - SZ#03]

All done fella, it was a connection on the chip housing that was slightly loose, a quick fiddle and it's running like a charm. I've ran through the chip settings to make sure it rolls okay and it's all good. I've set it on the lowest but to be honest it can be bumped up with the press of a button depending on what forcefeed setting you prefer. I'll pop it into my kit bag for you brosph!

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

excelent, cheers mate, aslong as nothing needed replacing that was my only concern, like i say the loader was awesome when the gat was ripping but when it was stopped it made that all mighty crunching noise as if it was trying to force balls, thank got the paint we were using was tough that day!

[Jonny - SZ#03]

Haha yeah man it's defo not gonna force anything through now. Because the eyes weren't registering a ball the board was bypassing them and just pumping power into the motor. The crunching noise was the motor just forcing itself into the stack and bouncing off like a fly against a lightbulb. All the while the paint is shouting 'HAHA BRING IT ON BIZNITCH!'

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

god healp me if the paint was brittle that day, would have turned it into a blender.
Ill use my halo tonight as A) ive just put new batteries in it and B) it has a lid to keep the rain out if it starts lol

[Jonny - SZ#03]

The Gods of paintball were kind to us last night actually, no rain until we were wrapping up. A wee shower before we began would of saved the knees and elbows but all in all you have to be happy!

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

Yea i was quite supprised that it never rained, the clouds were black all day, then it just brightened up when we started.

[Jonny - SZ#03]

Heeeya guys!

Jonnys Hopper repair shop is open for business! Naaah not really although to keep you all up to date, I will soon be in stock of a further two sets of revy software which powers the Mk2. I should be able to offer one of these to anyone who would like a Vivalution mod. With the Mk2 all you need to do is supply a working Vlocity.

What you will get in return is a customised finished Vivalution Mk2 with tweaked Y-board operation, 28-30bps feed rate and a prolonged battery life (when I say prolonged imagine the Vlocity's average battery consumption and cut it by 600%), you'll also get your Vlocity board back. What you wont get is a warranty or guarantee because I couldn't offer one even if it was available. This is prototype technology guys and the modification is just that, a modification. On the flipside you all know me, I'd do anything I can to address any issues, problems or tweaks so not to worry .

Finally, if you can get your hands on an old revy board then all the better. I'd have to charge a wee bit to make a return on the ones I've purchased and because they are hard to come by would rather keep these in the event something goes tits up. They are ideal for operating this system though so by all means have a scout around

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

What revvys have you baught? are they the brittle shells or the dull black ones?

I would be up for this mod if it wasnt for the velocity having the hyper drive chip, im gonna see what its like, because i know that it rips fine, it was just that little problem that you have since fixed for me. Just see what the battery life is like on mine.

[Jonny - SZ#03]

I think they are the older ones bro, the really durable shells that could withstand 5000 pounds of high explosive and still feed perfectly. It's quite hard to tell from the photo. If it is the older ones I'm tempted to keep one of them and put it to one side being as they are well hardcore and tough to find.

[Jamie D - SZ#27]

I was gonna say id give you some cash just to keep it, they are light, feed up to 16bps or something, perfect for what we need shooting 10.5 bps.

[Jonny - SZ#03]

That's just it fella. The most ideal situation would be that one is and one isn't but I'll take it as it comes. Either way I'll have a couple of handy loaders and a Viva I'll just keep my eyes out for Revys from now on in, the blessing is they are so cheap now