Paintball

[jincay]

Review of the Mark three splatoon.This is probably the very first gun to be made to run on compressed air.

The mark one was very similar to a splatmaster the mark 2 version had a pump action and a collapsible shoulder stock. Both were stock class neither had an auto trigger. But both had a small reservoir under the barrel that would be filled with compressed air, this held for about 45 shots. All three guns are shoot .62 calibre paintballs and were used exclusively by a small number of playing fields as rental guns.

My very first paintball game in ’89 was played with a mark one and I quickly grabbed a mark two after a few games.

As best I can figure this is the mark 3 version . I have never heard of the mark 3 being made and can only guess that this is it due to its similarities to the early versions.



The splatoon mark 3 is very similar to a nelson, in about the only real difference is the power stem set up and the use of compressed air. The small air cylinder that the gun uses actually has the power stem in the top.





This cylinder is filled from the base, so there is no need to remove it from the gun, although you could carry several as spares for longer play time.





The cylinder screws into the rear ASA as per normal on nelson’s





But as you should be able to see the large pin is in fact the power stem, that inserts into the rear ASA. The rest of the gun is a nelson clone, when you pull the trigger the sear releases the hammer, send it back to hit on the front of the main power stem which hits the second power stem on the cylinder.

AS you can see from this pic of the power stem and rear ASA, there is a slight gap between the body, this is only evident when the gun is complete and under some pressure. I say some pressure because the gun will actually cock once with an ‘empty’ cylinder, after that first cocking and firing the gun will not cock again. Not knowing much about this I can only guess there is one psi in the cylinder????







The trigger group is very similar to a VM68 featuring a separate block from the grip and attaches in the same way, although with two angled bolts from the back of the trigger block into the rear ASA The rear ASA also has a bolt through the top of the body to hold it in place, this is under the sight rail and features a hole to remove that bolt without having to remove the sight rail.





The pump arm screws have a small ‘collar’ to feed through into the bolt, this keeps the pump arms at the correct distance from the body preventing any wear.



The bolt has a basic venuri design although I cannot tell for sure if this was modded by the owner.



I have not found the threads to be similar to anything else (yet) but can only guess they are metric.



To sum it up I have no idea who actually made this gun, I have no idea how many were actually made nor how many still survive. Since my very first game this is the only splatoon I have ever seen. I doubt if many were made maybe a few hundred at most and after spending years asking around I’ve not found anymore. It is a very well made gun, seemingly of a high grade aluminium that has withstood time and use well. Certainly a collectors item for the small amount of .62 guns that were made and a novelty by the fact that it was not a co2 powered gun. Back when paintball first started in the UK there were many grey areas concerning paintball guns, the fact that the co2 propellant could possibly land owners in jail was the main reason behind the splatoon being made. However since the laws were cleared up the need for these guns was quickly dropped.'

I have a book around somewhere, written in the early 90's it features the mark 1 and 2 and also has some more info, I will try to dig it out sometime. Or maybe Bacci could type it up as I have no idea where my one is nowadays.

[VVulfe]

Is the Splatoon here a later version of this Splatoon?

[jincay]

Thats the mark 2, essentially the mark 1 with a pump action and I think it was slightly larger. Held 15 rounds in the top tube.
You can just see the on the lower tube in front of the pump, the attachment nipple for the compressed air fill.

[VVulfe]

Originally Posted by jincay

Thats the mark 2

Aha!

Makes me wonder what the Mark I was.

[russc]

Wow. That is one oddball gun! I've always wanted a platform with an onboard reservoir, although I think that co2 would give a much better shot count and consistency in velocity.

Thanks for posting!

[idkfa]

That is really nifty!

Do fields have any problems filling it? Or is this a wall hanger? Would the reservoir need to be tested? So many questions!

[Talfuchre]

How is it that so many markers I see I NEVER saw EVER - even though I have played now for 21 years and I was an expert on any marker on the market for probably the first 10?

Amazing.

TF

[Painthappy]

Thanks for the review on a cool gun Jincay... You wouldn't have an extra would you?

[jincay]

The air cylinder might not need be tested as its under 2" but then again as it has no stamps I have no idea what pressure it can take. Not very high as it is somewhat thin for a tank. I do have a tank converter so i can screw a regular Co2 tank on the back but for a lack of .62 its a wall hanger. (actually hidden away at the bottom of the gun cabinet as I dont wall hang)

Some field insurance only covers .68 paint so it may be a problem to use even if you found good .62 paint. I have run into that problem before when I did have paint for my smg, being told the full auto wasnt the problem the paint size was.

[HP_Lovecraft]

Ahhhh....

Someone was showing that gun here 3-4 years ago, and nobody could figure out what it was.