Air soft and after market electronics

[tomhugill]

Another thread prompted this question, some people aren't happy with how IBU handles airsoft units but do the likes of Clark, el mod etc do the job better? If so how? I don't use airsoft but from what I can see the airsoft unit it a motor and Spring combination with no limit switches. Is this correct? Answers on a post card!

[wibblywobbly]

As far as I know the airsoft unit runs off the 8 pin plug, so seeing as the aftermarket boards use it they make use of the same circuit. There is a slight mod needed with the Clark, but this may be due to the way that it uses the two way barrel elevation function.

On the 8 pin it is pins 3,4,5 that control the gun fire and elevation, one is a common live that they both share, the other two are the negatives, one for each. In order for the current to be reversed for the elevation up and down, rather than the HL one way system, the Clark has to have a wiring mod so that the airsoft that uses the same live feed can still get power. At least that is the way I see it? A diode only allows current to flow one way, so the airsoft circuit can be retained by using one.

The IBU is plug and play for airsoft as far as I am aware, I think the Elmod is as well, but without checking the manual I can't be certain.

The airsoft power is a pulse that is triggered when the gun is fired rather than a continuous power feed, so the motor only runs for a short burst to release the plunger and relatch the mechanism.

I could of course be talking complete and utter garbage but I think that's how it all hangs together.

[jackalope]

Getting the airsoft gun in time with the aftermarket electronics is the issue. For example both of my IBU2'S are impossible to get in time, I've tried for months and just gave up. Every 5th shot no BB but the other 4 fire fine. My IBU3 however is in perfect time withy Jagdtiger unfortunately the IBU3 sound setup isn't as nice as the IBU2 so it's a toss of the coin as to which is more important gun timing or sound? Not to mention the cost.

I've pre-ordered the ASP2 in hopes that it solves all of the above problems that the IBU just can't.

As far as the Clark board I just got one in my M36B1 and as soon as I can replace it I will, it's controls are terrible IMHO!

I just don't know why no one makes aftermarket electronics that run as good as the IBU3, sounds as good as the IBU2 with amp card, can control the volume from the transmitter like the IBU3 but has a way to hook up the airsoft the proper way so it'll work every time? Its always a sacrifice one way or another.

[tomhugill]

Getting the airsoft gun in time with the aftermarket electronics is the issue. For example both of my IBU2'S are impossible to get in time, I've tried for months and just gave up. Every 5th shot no BB but the other 4 fire fine. My IBU3 however is in perfect time withy Jagdtiger unfortunately the IBU3 sound setup isn't as nice as the IBU2 so it's a toss of the coin as to which is more important gun timing or sound? Not to mention the cost.

I've pre-ordered the ASP2 in hopes that it solves all of the above problems that the IBU just can't.

As far as the Clark board I just got one in my M36B1 and as soon as I can replace it I will, it's controls are terrible IMHO!

I just don't know why no one makes aftermarket electronics that run as good as the IBU3, sounds as good as the IBU2 with amp card, can control the volume from the transmitter like the IBU3 but has a way to hook up the airsoft the proper way so it'll work every time? Its always a sacrifice one way or another.

Ive not managed to run my ibu 3 yet, in what way is the sound worse?

[wibblywobbly]

This is the old Elmod system rather than the newer Fusion one, like he says, airsoft and IR are active at the same time. Drive system? There are 100 user configurable options on this board, and the sounds even do gearchanges.

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and here's a Fusion in a metal Sherman.

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[jackalope]

Tom, you'll find the main gun volume is way to low compared to everything else. There's no way to adjust the volume of the different sounds so the my Jagdtigers actual BB mechanism is louder then the sound system gun firing, I've tried every main gun in the IBU library and they're all the same, way too soft!

Other then this and it's cost being so high it's a very nice system.

[wibblywobbly]

The gun issue is known with the IBU, mine sometimes makes no sound at all, it doesn't like trying to play the gun sound and engine sounds at the same time, so it seems to drop the gun sound if the tank is moving. As you say it isn't loud enough when it does play, but there is a workaround for that if you learn your way around Audacity, a sound file editor. You can boost the amplification of the wav file, so that the gun sound is a higher volume than the engine sounds.

[jackalope]

There in lies another issue Wibbley, this hobby is supposed to be about tanks not computer programing. I shouldn't have to figure out work arounds with outside programs. At worst I should be able to hook my tank upto my laptop ad adjust the base volumes of the individual sounds. Not download audacity, go find a gun sound out in the world that I like, rework and remix the sound file so the IBU3 can make sense of it then upload it to my tank, then hope it's loud enough so I don't have to redo the whole process! Not for the $300+ they charge for the thing anyway, crap for THAT price it should be perfect out if the box!

But I digress, Ian said they're working on the problem and he's never let us down before so I'll be patient and stand by while they figure out how to fix their IBU3.

[Tankbear]

Terry if you can provide me with a good quality sound sample of a jadptiger firing I can create a better sound for you. As I don't have access to stand next to one firing with my tape recorder, the ability to get good samples is a little limited.

[jackalope]

Ian, like I said before I'd be happy with any main gun firing sound that's louder then the ones on there now.
Anything 120mm and bigger without the shell hitting the floor sound would be perfect. Remember the JT didn't have a shell.