Budget Thompson at AW...and review

I've just ordered one - I'll let you know.

I have a cunning plan.........

I have a cunning plan.........

You should change your name to Baldrick

I`ve just ordered an M95 spring to see if I can up the fps a bit (or is that test the gearbox to destruction ).

I have an M100 spare from trying to get my Cyma below 328 for local site - it stayed around 360. 1J did the trick, though.
Besides, I'm not wanting it for the gearbox...

Update on TM/CYMA compatibility:

Just got my "lovely" green budget Thompson.
Fresh battery - My real 8.4V mini, NOT the one in the gun box.
Average 250 FPS @ around 480 RPM EDIT - (with the supplied BBs)
Is it TM/Cyma compatible?

YES, and NO

Magazines
The hi-cap that came with my Cyma/Cybergun M1A1 fits the budget, and feeds well. The KA 110-round midcaps do too.

BUT the budget gun's mags DON'T quite fit the Cyma.

So, that means they're close - and we're talking fractions of a millimetre. It'll take a bit of sanding the magazines' runners, but I think they can be made to fit.

The drum magazine has a loading hatch on the front, meaning you'll have to take it off to refill it - I believe the Cyma drum that comes with their 1928-wannabe has a hatch on one side, and can be refilled while fitted.
The only concern I have with the drum mag compatibility is that it looks a bit thick, and might not fit in the cut in the Cyma's receiver. That's something I won't know for sure until the mag's rail is modified. That said, I'm probably not going to need it on my Cyma anyway.

Body parts
As said in the above part about magazines, the mags for my Cyma fit the budget, and feed. This means, as slick said, it is very close to being a "plastic Cyma".

Upper receiver/ barrel assembly
The tabs that hold the hop down are wider on the budget, but I think they'd still fit the Cyma.
Construction looks similar, so I assume it could suffer the same barrel-cracking as the TM/Cyma. That said, the light weight of the gun, and the flexibility of the plastic might make it less prone.

I tried fitting the Cyma assembly on the budget gun, and vice versa. Again, it didn't fit, but it felt like it was the fraction of a millimetre thing again.

It also has a rear sight like the Cyma which looks like the stamped M1A1 sight, but is adjustable.

Frame and stock
This is where it differs more.
I've not had it apart completely, but I don't think there's much here that would be cross-compatible. The grip attaches in a different way to the Cyma, and the battery fitting method is different.
The mag catch is lighter on the budget, though, but not detrimentally so.

Conclusion

It's close to TM/Cyma compatibility, and with some tweaking the differences could probably be ironed out. The low cost means that you won't be crying too much if you screw up a conversion to a 1928, and if you can tweak the mags properly, you could gain a drum and low cap for your TM/Cyma.

Me again - with art this time.

Here's my Cyma/Cybergun M1A1 with the budget gun's drum mag fitted. Probably the last time before it becomes an M1928.

-- attachment is not available --
Here's what needed sanding:
-- attachment is not available --
The surfaces numbered "1" are the most important to the fit, and also the hardest to sand without marring the rest of the surfaces.
Number 2 might be needed, depending on the fit.
Number 3 is taking the corner off the top of the BB stopper - It fouls on the hop's feed tube and wont fit if it's left flat.

Once that was done, it fed reliably as fast as my gun wanted - 700-odd RPM

Also, I retested the budget gun's muzzle velocity with known 0.2g BBs, and it was still around 250 FPS.

I've not been able to do range tests yet.

Cracking review buddy, thats a few compatibility questions answered. FPS is surprising. I would`ve thought you would have bought the normal coloured Thompson not the green one though.

WRT FPS:
I think the budget gun's barrel might be tighter than the Cybergun - a BB dropped into the muzzle takes longer to get to the hop than the same BB dropped into the Cybergun. The tighter barrel would explain the relatively high FPS. Not sure if that would affect the hop effect, though.

I would`ve thought you would have bought the normal coloured Thompson not the green one though.

I'm going to use it for parts, and the "woodwork" is too different to bother with. Besides, why dismantle/wreck a perfectly good gun when you can buy one someone else has already ruined?

WRT FPS:
I think the budget gun's barrel might be tighter than the Cybergun - a BB dropped into the muzzle takes longer to get to the hop than the same BB dropped into the Cybergun. The tighter barrel would explain the relatively high FPS. Not sure if that would affect the hop effect, though.

I would`ve thought you would have bought the normal coloured Thompson not the green one though.

I'm going to use it for parts, and the "woodwork" is too different to bother with. Besides, why dismantle/wreck a perfectly good gun when you can buy one someone else has already ruined?

So does this mean that this cheapo gun provides AEG users with a tighter barrel as well as a spare hop, drum-mag, etc...? Awesome!

So does this mean that this cheapo gun provides AEG users with a tighter barrel as well as a spare hop, drum-mag, etc...? Awesome!

Possibly. I'm going to try to fit them in my Cyma later.

I've also found an easier way to sand the drum mag rail to fit. The mag comes apart quite easily - pics later today.

Drum mag disassembly

Too late for me, I've found out that the drum mag's rail comes off. This would make it MUCH easier to sand the parts to fit your gun without marring the rest of the surfaces.

Note: Nothing pinged out of mine when I did this, but the screws are small.

First off, make sure the mag is completely empty.
Open the BB loading hatch, then undo the 6 screws on the front.
-- attachment is not available --
Close the BB hatch, then take off the front of the mag. Closing the hatch isn't essential, but does stop it falling out, and makes reassembly easier.
-- attachment is not available --
Remove the mechanism. This isn't screwed in, just located on pegs. The BB feed outlet at the top is a separate piece to the main mechanism, again, no fixings.
Undo the 3 screws holding the mag rail on.
-- attachment is not available --
Turn the mag over, and pull off the rail.

Now, you can easily get at the surfaces you need to sand, and can refit just the 3 rail screws to test fit.

The hop unit will NOT fit the Cyma without modification. It looks like the mounting tabs and the plastic ring in front of the hop would need to be modified.

The budget gun's barrel is aluminium, the Cyma's is brass. They look like they might be interchangeable, but I have no intention of trying that at this time.

Well the plastic gears didn`t like an M95 spring

Well the plastic gears didn`t like an M95 spring

heh, hope the gearbox isn't a write-off. Many thanks for taking the plunge/being the sacrificial lamb and trying it

Well the plastic gears didn`t like an M95 spring

Or did they like it so much that they stripped?

Well the plastic gears didn`t like an M95 spring

Or did they like it so much that they stripped?

You got it in one buddy, two gears stripped. Luckily I`ve got a set of V3 gears but the tommy motor has a straight cut gear and so won`t run on the bevel gear. I have got another motor but its slightly too long for the plastic casing. Looks like I`ll have to keep a look out for a complete v6 box

don't know if this will help but a v6 gearbox for a p90 con be found on rsov website under all china made, most of the box is the same, even same motor but the motor mounting bracket is different, however for I think only about 30 quid it might be worth a look depends how much money you want to throw down the same hole.

Cheers Dadio, will bear the P90 box in mind, motormount is a pain though.

Well thanks to no1sonuk my thompson is back in business....and I won`t be attempting any more upgrades on this box

There was someone at my local site using one of these (a two-tone) in skirmishes last weekend.
It sounded more like the ROF of an M3 Grease Gun than a Thompson. It lasted out the day OK though.

Sorry to resurrect a (relatively) old thread, but is there anywhere still selling these?

thanks,
Joss