[chiba]

Hey Gents,

After seeing Vindi's build off SL8, I've been itching to buy one for myself.

However, I can't readily decide on which brand I should get. Can you fine gents help me out with whatever experience you have with the gun?

My options are (with abit of researching on my end):

1)STAR SL8 (the grey one) (around $200 US)
- its on sale at most stores because its been discontinued
- its the grey one

- has the adjustable cheekrest
- good material
- decent quality internals (?)

2)ARES/STAR SL9 (the black one) (was hoping to get it from WGC.. but they've discontinued it now there's only one place I know which has it)
- more expensive (around $300US)
- more or less the same as the grey one, except it does look better

3) CA SL8 (black style, but with the scope)
- Much more expensive than STAR or ARES (around $20US less than the ARES one)
- Apparently comes upgraded already (6.04TB, upgraded V3 internals)
- Material is ok (?)
- Its not the grey one

*New* 4) The Conversion Pack (around $200US)
- you need to have all the internals

And I am not thinking at all about the BE one

P.S. My teams' FPS limit is around 350, so there isn't much for me to upgrade in terms of the mech box.

Thanks!

 

[chiba]

Thanks bobgengeskahn.

I have a JG G36E right now, and I can't get enough of it. That's why I also want the SL8/9. (Yes, I know they're both long guns, but I like the look of the SL8/9 )

My issue is that is it worth the price difference to get the STAR and upgrade it to the CA level (which I think really is just the 6.04 TB barrel, but almost a $80US difference). I mean if someone can tells me that the STAR internals are crap and I'll have to replace everything, then I would know to buy the CA one.

Btw, the only ones Star/Ares SL8/9 around here in **airsoft heaven are the grey colored ones or the conversion kit, which costs exactly as the sale price of the STAR right now.

Hehe, as for your sale, I don't think I would be able to buy it from you, since I live in Hong Kong (hence airsoft heaven)

 

[chiba]

Hmm.. I was hoping if someone could tell me if the STAR internals (not externals... I'll talk about it next) were good or bad, because I don't really want to replace that many things in the gear box - just yet

. I think I will definitely replace the inner barrel with a 6.04 or 6.03 (CA or Promy, depends on my budget), and get a Prowin hopup (or JG). H-nub + whipping the hop up rubber.

I plan to add an AB mosfet (I finally got all the components, just need to make) as well.

As for externals, I think I'm going to replace the front with my JG G36E Forestock whenever I'm using it (no problems with batteries hopefully), and then buy a roll of black self cling camo tape to cover the black (I don't really like the grey, but I want to make sure I can resell the thing later on).

Vindi - 2 quick questions

a) I've wanted to ask for a while: You're using a short inner barrel; are you also using a
corresponding shortened outer barrel as well?
b) how much space is there between the gearbox/motor and the handgrip area for the SL8? I've been reading about sound dampening materials that are around 1 - 1.5mm thick...

Bob - that's the XM8 as I recall. Its been discontinued so it might be rare to find a conversion kit.

 

[chiba]

Ohh! So that's what he was talking about!!! hahaha! Ok ok.. well, I was just curious. I think I'll kept the stock inner barrel length (509mm).

Also, I think I'll get a 6.04 instead of 6.03 inner instead. Any good brand suggestions? KM? Systema?

Also any of you have had a problem with the h-nub not pressing down on the hop-up sleeve enough on the G36? On my G36 right now (with the element H-nub), it only takes 1/4 turning of my hop-up dial to have the h-nub from fully pressing to fully not pressing.

 

[chiba]

All I can say is that a 9.6v mini battery *just* fits in the foregrip. So if the lipo is bigger than that, then you'll have some problem putting that sucker in.

As for the 6.04mm CA, I hope they will be good because they're pretty affordable. But it would be nice to know how it compares to the more expensive barrels.

 

[chiba]

Hey, as long as it works Vindi!

??? A teammate of my just told me that there's something bad with the STAR SL8. Aside from teh battery fitting problem, anything else?

 

[chiba]

Ya.. luckily there's no BE's left out there.. I'll be the grey Star one!

Thanks Vindi. That's true. I heard bad things about JG, but the G36 I got was pretty good straight out of the box. Hopefully I haven't screwed that up haha!

 

[chiba]

Gents, sorry, but I have a little sorta related question:

Has anyone tried using a prowin G36 hop up chamber? I'm using it on my G36, and my magazines aren't feeding unless I push the magazine forward.

 

[chiba]

Some of my teammates think that its the air nozzle as the JG one was made longer than normal (to accomodate for the JG hopup.. something was slightly shortened). It may be just the air nozzle and the hop up chamber not working together very well.

To be honest, I've never open my gearbox before, and I think I'll be doing that over the weekend to take a look-see at what's wrong. I'll probably buy a regular sized G36 air nozzle just in case as well. metal or plastic?

 

[chiba]

That's what I'm up to over the weekend. Breaking apart my gearbox (with someone who's done it before in tow). Once I've learned how that works, I'll be making my AB mosfet and rewiring my trigger too.

I'll take a look at the Tappet Plate as well to see if its pulling back enough.

Gonna get the SL8 tonight

 

[chiba]

No radio shack or anything similar in the US?

I used RS-components online to get my stuff. Its not the cheapest, but hey, its situated in HK

I finally cracked the G36 gearbox yesterday under the directions of one of my teammates. That was pretty easy. However, I still don't quite get how to know when the gears are nicely shimmed and the motor height properly adjusted.

I'm tried moving the motor height up and down, and I can hear the different sounds, but how do I know its the right sound? Also, is there a sound I can hear that tells me the gears are shimmed properly? My teammate did the shimming in front of me, and he does it by instinct XS

 

[chiba]

Sigh.. update:

I finally went to eHobbyAsia today to get the Star SL8... and lo and behold.. they only had 2 left in stock.

So I ask them to bring both out so I can pick which one I want. I first one had a few very deep scratches and the magazine adapter seemed like its seen better days. Some of the metal parts were rusting.

The second one was slightly better, except for one part of the plastic starting to fade in colour >.<

In the end, I just couldn't bear to buy either one >.< I think the only SL8/9 available now in the market are either the CA brand or the Conversion Kit >.<

SIGH!

 

[chiba]

Another update:

Well, I gave in... and bought the SL8!!!

Initial impression:

Its slightly heavier and longer than the G36E. Love the cheek rest!

I'll use it stock over the weekend and see how it goes. I heard that the stock hop up sleeve is bad though.

 

[chiba]

The conversion Kit is available at Dentrinity Shop (from HK). Check its website.

However, I'm alittle disappointed at the gun. Here's my super quick-no-picture review. I'll try to write a more detailed one later on.

1) As it's grey, the injection points of the mold are pretty visible. This will most likely require some sanding (which may be a problem.. will write about further below)

2) 8.4v battery pack with 3 cells parallel and 1 across DOES NOT FIT in the forestock.

3) No cleaner rod - com'on...>.<

4) No fuse!

5) Was hoping to do a rear stock battery mod - I don't think its going to work out. Not enough space unless you extend the movable stock entirely. Even then, you can't fit a 9.6v battery >.<

So I brought it out to play stock yesterday (Sunday) and here was my impression:

1) Had to borrow a 7.2v lipo from my friend.. it fitted, but wasn't the best. I think the wiring has to be shorten to allow easier battery fitting

2) The BB curved up around 8 to 10m after firing... and that's with the Hop Up turned OFF! However, did occur as much after using full-auto and playing for a while. But as soon as I let it rest, it would start curving all over again. I heard the hop up sleeve was typically bad on STAR guns.

3) The body scratched pretty easily - I played in a forest and a part near the foregrip was scratched up pretty badly (to a lighter shade of grey). Since the body its not black, its very visible. As mentioned in my first point, I think if I tried sanding it down, there would be dis-colouration. I also used the mesh steel half mask yesterday, and it also scratched the body pretty badly when I had the gun up in the shooting position (I was aiming by eye since I didn't have time to calibrate the iron sights or put a scope on).

4) Like Vindi said though, the balance of the gun is pretty good. I didn't feel tired at all while holding it in the shooting position. But I would suggest getting a sling anyways.

5) Slight misfeeding from hi-caps (various brands) and mid caps (MAG). However, that might be attributed to having to spray some silicon in my mags to lube things up

6) Ohh, I tried the Vindi mod and interchanged the forestock with my JG 36Es'. Just for clarification, they were not 100% compatible with each other. The forestock pin holes didn't did not line up perfectly. So in the end, I used a M4 bolt and nut to secure it.

So overall, I really wasn't impressed by the performance and quality of the gun for the price I paid (around 200US). The gun can't be played stock for its role (something of a mid to long range gun). As I don't wish to get a Lipo, I have to now try to find a battery pack that actually fits. I think the SL-9 deals with this issue with a bigger forestock.

Also, I'll have to think of a way to protect the gun from scratching - probably buy a roll of camo-form camo tape and wrap it around the gun.

Comparatively, my JG G36 was very good when I first bought it. I didn't need to change anything for it to shoot straight and far. It was also super durable as well.

Out of 5, I would only give it a 2.5 for the STAR SL8

New Update: Was taking off the outer barrel to take off the forestock yesterday... and the part of the 'gas chamber' that the outer barrel screws onto broke right off! That part wasactually connected with crappy pot metal. I'm pretty mad right now, but I've superglued it back on. Hopefully the repair will take the stress of screwing the out barrel off and on. I might have to figure out a new battery location >.<