Airsoft Canada - View Single Post - Mechbox Review - Lonex drop-in mechbox

Stealth · September 24th, 2013, 09:56

To-date the only truly-good, well-designed, well-executed 2-piece gearbox has been the ProWin 7 and 8mm boxes.

I had high-hopes for the WE system but ... some key design decisions ended up making it a disappointing product. I understand the idea that they were trying to achieve, but both systems just fell short in execution. In defense of all standard 1-piece gearboxes, I can't with good conscience say that the WE Katana and ICS gearboxes are great mechboxes.

Here's why.
Katana:
* Copies the PTW Tappetless design which has been known to not work for anything considered "high-speed". I don't have personal experience with this since I only shoot semi-auto, well that and I don't have extended trigger time behind a PTW. But I haven't witnessed any fast PTWs.
* Weak spring-release mechanism - anybody who has released the spring via the ARL in a mechbox designed with this provision knows how much force is required to pry the ARL loose. And since you're dealing with a system that basically REQUIRES you to release the spring before you can separate halves and you're basically looking at a matter of time before that part fails.
* Short stroked cylinder set - why?
* Requires proprietary bodies - standard bodies could be made to fit with modification (not sure how extensive)

ICS:
* Clunky - the upper is literally just a chopped standard upper which you'll have to open up anyway - so what's the point?
* Proprietary parts - hop-up, nozzle, ARL
* Requires proprietary body which in turn requires proprietary stocks, RIS and delta rings, pistol grips, and even the trigger guard

On the other hand - if someone can come up with an ACTUALLY great system, doesn't use proprietary parts, then please take my money. (remember when Systema released their 1-piece hop-up system? That shit was bananas) The truth of the matter is that - while we (referring to the gunsmithing population) not resistant to improvements, proprietary parts have never really gained much traction in the market for the exact reason - they're just trends. We're still very much grounded on the Marui-principle.

September 24th, 2013, 09:56	#152
Stealth Mr. Silencer Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto	To-date the only truly-good, well-designed, well-executed 2-piece gearbox has been the ProWin 7 and 8mm boxes. I had high-hopes for the WE system but ... some key design decisions ended up making it a disappointing product. I understand the idea that they were trying to achieve, but both systems just fell short in execution. In defense of all standard 1-piece gearboxes, I can't with good conscience say that the WE Katana and ICS gearboxes are great mechboxes. Here's why. Katana: * Copies the PTW Tappetless design which has been known to not work for anything considered "high-speed". I don't have personal experience with this since I only shoot semi-auto, well that and I don't have extended trigger time behind a PTW. But I haven't witnessed any fast PTWs. * Weak spring-release mechanism - anybody who has released the spring via the ARL in a mechbox designed with this provision knows how much force is required to pry the ARL loose. And since you're dealing with a system that basically REQUIRES you to release the spring before you can separate halves and you're basically looking at a matter of time before that part fails. * Short stroked cylinder set - why? * Requires proprietary bodies - standard bodies could be made to fit with modification (not sure how extensive) ICS: * Clunky - the upper is literally just a chopped standard upper which you'll have to open up anyway - so what's the point? * Proprietary parts - hop-up, nozzle, ARL * Requires proprietary body which in turn requires proprietary stocks, RIS and delta rings, pistol grips, and even the trigger guard On the other hand - if someone can come up with an ACTUALLY great system, doesn't use proprietary parts, then please take my money. (remember when Systema released their 1-piece hop-up system? That shit was bananas) The truth of the matter is that - while we (referring to the gunsmithing population) not resistant to improvements, proprietary parts have never really gained much traction in the market for the exact reason - they're just trends. We're still very much grounded on the Marui-principle. Last edited by Stealth; September 24th, 2013 at 09:58..