Just finished cleaning up the link for direct ordering of the A5FG through Paypal.
Be sure to read the posting: The Tactical Operations Custom A5 Foregrip. To get some insight on the creation process and of course for lots of pictures.
If you purchase a grip either from me or through tacticalpaintball.ca
I need your feedback and reviews! I also love to post pics of your gear with the Tac-Ops A5FG installed!
If you're feeling particularly Blog-ular why don't you head over to pbreview.com and post some pic's there with your personal review of the grip. I've been using it on my A5 for the entire paintball season and I know it'll get stellar points! 10/10 all the way!!
Let me know that you've been blogging about it so I can read your reviews!
Thanks!
~Frosty.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
How it all began...
I'm a full-time 3D artist so I spend a lot of time "sculpting" on computers. In order to keep my sculpting skills above par, I love to sculpt and cast real life products and so it was a perfect transition for me to go from virtual sculpting to real sculpting when I decided to start Radical Plastic! Combine this with my weekend addiction which is paintball and what do you get? Custom paintball gear designed by a real paintballer for paintballers!
I've been playing Paintball on and off for a number of years. I've seen my fair share of different markers and I've played with some really good ones and some really bad ones (rentals usually!) I play mainly Outlaw Scenario Woodsball and always have an awesome time!
~Frosty
I've been playing Paintball on and off for a number of years. I've seen my fair share of different markers and I've played with some really good ones and some really bad ones (rentals usually!) I play mainly Outlaw Scenario Woodsball and always have an awesome time!
~Frosty
Monday, September 8, 2008
Building the Tac-Ops. A5FG.
As promised, here's my next blog entry,
Radical Plastic's Custom A5 Foregrip. The Tac-Ops. A5FG.
Here is a basic rundown of the process that was taken to create the Tac-Ops A5FG.
Step 1.
The Tac-Ops A5FG was completely sculpted by hand, in place on the marker using professional prototyping clay. (the same clay that is used to sculpt prototype vehicles in the car industry.) I feel it's important to sculpt directly on the marker I'm creating a product for. This allows me to get a feel for exactly how the grip feels. The position and maneuverability of the grip, it's profile, shape and general level of comfort can be adjusted and tweaked early on in the process. No wasted time making parts that don't work.
Once I finished the clay "rough", the next step in creating the Tac-Ops. A5FG was:
Step 2.
I then created a plaster multi-part mold of the clay "rough"
Once finished, this mold was used to pour a Plaster "master" grip.
Step 3. - The "Master"
Using the plaster mold created in step 2, I pour a plaster copy of the clay "rough". This plaster copy is then turned into the "Master" grip. It comes out of the mold fairly rough and very similar to the clay "rough" I created previously.
Step 4. - Cleanup the "Master" Tac-Ops. A5FG.
Radical Plastic's Custom A5 Foregrip. The Tac-Ops. A5FG.
Here is a basic rundown of the process that was taken to create the Tac-Ops A5FG.
Step 1.
The Tac-Ops A5FG was completely sculpted by hand, in place on the marker using professional prototyping clay. (the same clay that is used to sculpt prototype vehicles in the car industry.) I feel it's important to sculpt directly on the marker I'm creating a product for. This allows me to get a feel for exactly how the grip feels. The position and maneuverability of the grip, it's profile, shape and general level of comfort can be adjusted and tweaked early on in the process. No wasted time making parts that don't work.
Once I finished the clay "rough", the next step in creating the Tac-Ops. A5FG was:
Step 2.
I then created a plaster multi-part mold of the clay "rough"
Once finished, this mold was used to pour a Plaster "master" grip.
Step 3. - The "Master"
Using the plaster mold created in step 2, I pour a plaster copy of the clay "rough". This plaster copy is then turned into the "Master" grip. It comes out of the mold fairly rough and very similar to the clay "rough" I created previously.
Step 4. - Cleanup the "Master" Tac-Ops. A5FG.
The Tactical Operations Custom A5 Foregrip.
I'm running a fairly stock Tippman A5. It's always been a great marker for me and I've never had a problem with it. All in all the A5 has been fairly reliable. The only thing that I never really liked with the A5 was the stock grip. I realize it's design is based on the MP5 but I never really liked the look of the real-steel versions vertical grip either. It's a bit long, not so dynamic looking and I've always felt that it was too compact (close to the trigger frame) which doesn't give me lots of leverage to keep the marker steady while lining up a bead on a target.
I tried out a number of different grips but couldn't find anything that was quite what I was looking for. So I built my own! I like to call it the Tactical Operations A5 Foregrip. or Tac-Ops A5FG. :P (Things always sound better abbreviated!)
The Tactical Operations A5FG.
The Tac-Ops A5FG has gone through over 40 man hours of design and development work. I completed all of the work myself. I cast the grip myself and package them myself. All the work is done in-house and I'm proud to say that it's 100% Canadian Made. No grip leaves my hands to be sold if it doesn't live-up to my standards.
The grip is also fairly rare. They are cast in small batches which naturally limits quantity. So if you buy one, chances are, you'll be the only guy on your field with one and it'll definitely turn some heads in the tactical realm. I spent a while researching real grips on a variety of gun designs.
The Tac-Ops. A5FG. is based on a combination of different real world concepts including:
hand ergonomics, anti-fatigue, balance, leverage, compactness and mechanical simplicity.
I wanted the grip to be usable by a particular type of player. One that was smarter than the spray and pray amateures that frequent most rental fields.
The Tac-Ops. A5FG. is for players that don't shoot until they've actually got a shot! Players that like to prefer to hit their targets BEFORE reloading a 200 round hopper! My grip gives me a more solid hold of my marker while allowing me to get low to the ground and the wider hand position gives me more leverage and better aim. Of course your aim is totally up to you! Not as easy with your hand on the stock vertical grip or just grabbing onto barrel or little "nub" on the front of the A5 receiver halves. Whichleads me to another reason I made the A5FG. I really don't like the little "nub" on the front of the A5 so I covered it up!
If I'm inclined to lie prone, my new grip is perfect for that too.
If you use a gas-through magazine on your A5, most of, if not all air-through designs will work with the A5FG as it's mounted far forward. The grip requires the use of the stock A5 foregrip bolt and mounting hole, therefore if you're using any other gear that requires the use of that forward mounting point, you'll have to remove it in order to use the Tac-Ops A5FG.
It's also important to note that the A5FG uses your existing mounting bolt from the stock A5 grip WITHOUT the lock washer. Simply remove your stock grip, pop out the bolt, remove the lock washer and insert the bolt into the A5FG, it's a tight fit and may require screwing in with your proper sized allen key before attaching to the marker.
If you've lost your stock A5 Foregrip Bolt. It is a standard bolt which can be purchased through Tippmann. I know that Home Depot sells the identical bolts and they're very inexpensive. I will post the exact specs of the A5 foregrip bolt in a future post. (t's late and I don't want to get into the specs now...!) In any case, you should already have the bolt in question as it comes standard with all A5 markers.
I'm also looking for a hard-core sniper that likes to blog about gear to field test it for me and write up a review!
Pictures of the grip to follow very soon!
Stay tuned for my future posting:
Creating the Tac-Ops A5FG.
The process I followed to design, sculpt, prototype and finally cast the Custom Tactical Operations A5 Foregrip.
Thanks for reading. "happy tagging"
~Frosty.
----------------------------------------------------------
Jeff, AKA Frosty, is a sculptor, designer and avid paintballer. He started Radical Plastic through a desire to create wicked paintball gear for fans of Tactical Style, Scenario Paintball and Woodsball. His first product is the Tactical Operations A5 Foregrip or Tac-Ops. A5FG.
I tried out a number of different grips but couldn't find anything that was quite what I was looking for. So I built my own! I like to call it the Tactical Operations A5 Foregrip. or Tac-Ops A5FG. :P (Things always sound better abbreviated!)
The Tactical Operations A5FG.
The Tac-Ops A5FG has gone through over 40 man hours of design and development work. I completed all of the work myself. I cast the grip myself and package them myself. All the work is done in-house and I'm proud to say that it's 100% Canadian Made. No grip leaves my hands to be sold if it doesn't live-up to my standards.
The grip is also fairly rare. They are cast in small batches which naturally limits quantity. So if you buy one, chances are, you'll be the only guy on your field with one and it'll definitely turn some heads in the tactical realm. I spent a while researching real grips on a variety of gun designs.
I wanted the grip to be usable by a particular type of player. One that was smarter than the spray and pray amateures that frequent most rental fields.
The Tac-Ops. A5FG. is for players that don't shoot until they've actually got a shot! Players that like to prefer to hit their targets BEFORE reloading a 200 round hopper! My grip gives me a more solid hold of my marker while allowing me to get low to the ground and the wider hand position gives me more leverage and better aim. Of course your aim is totally up to you! Not as easy with your hand on the stock vertical grip or just grabbing onto barrel or little "nub" on the front of the A5 receiver halves. Whichleads me to another reason I made the A5FG. I really don't like the little "nub" on the front of the A5 so I covered it up!
If I'm inclined to lie prone, my new grip is perfect for that too.
If you use a gas-through magazine on your A5, most of, if not all air-through designs will work with the A5FG as it's mounted far forward. The grip requires the use of the stock A5 foregrip bolt and mounting hole, therefore if you're using any other gear that requires the use of that forward mounting point, you'll have to remove it in order to use the Tac-Ops A5FG.
It's also important to note that the A5FG uses your existing mounting bolt from the stock A5 grip WITHOUT the lock washer. Simply remove your stock grip, pop out the bolt, remove the lock washer and insert the bolt into the A5FG, it's a tight fit and may require screwing in with your proper sized allen key before attaching to the marker.
If you've lost your stock A5 Foregrip Bolt. It is a standard bolt which can be purchased through Tippmann. I know that Home Depot sells the identical bolts and they're very inexpensive. I will post the exact specs of the A5 foregrip bolt in a future post. (t's late and I don't want to get into the specs now...!) In any case, you should already have the bolt in question as it comes standard with all A5 markers.
I'm also looking for a hard-core sniper that likes to blog about gear to field test it for me and write up a review!
Pictures of the grip to follow very soon!
Stay tuned for my future posting:
Creating the Tac-Ops A5FG.
The process I followed to design, sculpt, prototype and finally cast the Custom Tactical Operations A5 Foregrip.
Thanks for reading. "happy tagging"
~Frosty.
----------------------------------------------------------
Jeff, AKA Frosty, is a sculptor, designer and avid paintballer. He started Radical Plastic through a desire to create wicked paintball gear for fans of Tactical Style, Scenario Paintball and Woodsball. His first product is the Tactical Operations A5 Foregrip or Tac-Ops. A5FG.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
How to I buy a Tac-Ops. A5FG.?
You've seen the A5FG, you read about it's creation. You've studied it's design....
Now you want one!
Only option currently is to buy it directly from me using PayPal for $39.97 CND. I also include free shipping to Canada and Continental USA.
Just click the Buy Now button at the window to the top right. This will take you directly to PayPal from where you can complete the transaction.
PLEASE NOTE when ordering directly from me:
I check orders twice a week. You will receive a confirmation email from me when I see that you've placed the order. I will also send a confirmation when your grip has been shipped.
If ordering directly from me, Please understand that I cast and package the grips as orders are received so there can be a UP TO a 6 business day delay from the time I actually review your order to the moment it is shipped.
All orders are shipped out Canada Post, Registered Mail. No exceptions.
For your information, you can also find me on A5OG.net, Callsign Frosty.
Thanks for buying!
Now you want one!
Only option currently is to buy it directly from me using PayPal for $39.97 CND. I also include free shipping to Canada and Continental USA.
Just click the Buy Now button at the window to the top right. This will take you directly to PayPal from where you can complete the transaction.
PLEASE NOTE when ordering directly from me:
I check orders twice a week. You will receive a confirmation email from me when I see that you've placed the order. I will also send a confirmation when your grip has been shipped.
If ordering directly from me, Please understand that I cast and package the grips as orders are received so there can be a UP TO a 6 business day delay from the time I actually review your order to the moment it is shipped.
All orders are shipped out Canada Post, Registered Mail. No exceptions.
For your information, you can also find me on A5OG.net, Callsign Frosty.
Thanks for buying!
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