Need design feedback

[DevilMan]

Very good point. Someone needs to come out with the "whole package". Barrel, frame, body/rail...everything made together.

Or if not MADE together at least made to accept something like CP barrels and benchy frames BETTER than the other stuff.

Meaning you can hobble it together with parts, or you can get these certain ones and they'll look better in the end. Not saying CP for the win, just because their barrels have a shape to them.

Take a look at a System X NME for example, from the trigger guard to the barrel tip to the ASA, LPR and HPR.... all made as one "look"

DM

[Maghog]

How many bodies have you guys sold altogether? 20? 30? 50 would be a lot.
Of the possibly 10000 still active Mag toters out there, only about 10% tops are serious about modifying their gun. Let's say that half of those guys have already done it and are happy with their gun. Another hundred or so go the "do it yourself" route while a few more have the "wait and see what's coming" attitude. This is all just guesstimation, but I think it's in the ballpark if you are realistic.
So now you have to factor in competition, including various AGD bodies, as well as the many aftermarket styles we know. Your biggest competition, the PTP Micro 2009 just hit the market, and it has made quite an impression. It has two very impressive features that have even those like myself who aren't even in the market for a new body buying one. Those are the material being used, and the versatility factor. Still, how many will be made? 2-300? That's an admirable number, but it's not going to shore up the mag in the future either. It's more of a novelty for us mag fans, as are the bodies that you and XMagterror make.

I will be happy to give you my opinion on your designs, but remember that they are just a point of view, and everyone sees your stuff differently. What matters most is what is appealing to you.

The Ripper concept has so much potential,but the front and the back clash for me totally. The "cone" shapes in the front just don't go with the ripples in the back. The ripples themselves are beautiful, but there are too many of them and they are too consistently placed. Less can be more.

The Phoenix design is absolutely the most beautiful aftermarket body out there. The design is very simple and that's what makes it so strong. If there is anything I don't like about it, it is where the line ends at the front where the barrel opening is. It's a bit abrupt, but it's minor when observing the piece as a whole. Very clean and elegant.

The Shockwave is a close call. I personally don't like it, but I can see where other people may find it very eye-catching. The waves just aren't for me. Like the ripper, they are too consistent and the piece just doesn't generate any "life" when I look at it.

As with all of your work, the execution and finish is top quality, and that is worth a lot. I'm not really sure what you are after though. If you really want to sell masses, then you have to go all out and make a design that is just so mind boggling that it blows everything else out of the water. This means some serious thinking outside of the box though. You would have to reinvent the mag in a sense, spend hours upon hours with design and research and put all of your resources on the line with the hope that you have a winner.
In the end, if it doesn't pay off, the disappointment is enormous. The risk is huge, and the investment of time and finances even more so, but if you happen to make it work, the reward would be very gratifying, and possibly even profitable.
Good luck to the both of you,
Dan@Triggernomics

[BlueDragonX]

There are three reasons why I, personally, would not buy any of these bodies.

First and foremost, they just don't appeal to me. The designs feel unfinished. The Ripper and Phoenix are too symmetrical, front to back, which fails to capture the organic look that they seem like they were going for. The Shockwave is a step in the right direction. It has more depth, allowing you get the flowing look you're after, and it doesn't seem like it's repeating itself.

Secondly, they're unfinished bodies. I can buy all the other parts I want as finished pieces except these bodies. I happen to like gloss black. Everything comes in gloss black. Except this, because it's unfinished. That's additional time and an additional cost over and above the competition.

Third, it's just way to expensive, especially after I've gotten it polished and anno'd. I understand that there's not that much overhead on these, that's just the cost of machining. But that's the problem with short-run work - it's going to be expensive and so only the people who have the money and really like the body are going to buy it.

I like the Shockwave, but not enough to pay $258 + polishing + anno. And that's even assuming that I was in the market to build another Mag. I'm not, as I've already built my Chord Mag (I can only accurately shoot one gun at a time, after all).

[sffudapparel]

I want that blue lion body. I think the market would too

[cougar20th]

Like it or not I think ive found the some of the answers I was looking for. Thank you everyone.

http://paulchinetti.com/paintball/Lion%20fantasy%20e-mag.jpg
I want that blue lion body. I think the market would too

I can design it if you fund it. That is far from a cheap venture. That would not be a easy design to do. I really dont see the market going to something that exteme of a design.

Like it or not I think ive found the some of the answers I was looking for.

[mostpeople]

I want that blue lion body. I think the market would too

agreed, I would probably buy it assuming 200 or less

[BigEvil]

agreed, I would probably buy it assuming 200 or less

I bet your looking at $1000 - $1500 just for the machining

[LanceRodman17]

I believe that the market is just dead right now due to the current economic situation. I know for myself, I would have bought the Shockwave in a heartbeat but I have to wait for the money situation to stablize (for myself) before I can spend the money.

That is the only reason for me!

[Smoothice]

I bet your looking at $1000 - $1500 just for the machining

Not to mention the $1,500 - $2,000 in design work

[cougar20th]

Not to mention the $1,500 - $2,000 in design work

Probably alot more. I can see that taking easily 100 hours to get the look right & make it machinable. There would also be alot of research needed to make sure everything is correct shaped to a real lion.

[wimag]

I made a custom body for myself. I just sent it off to the Fool for anodizing. Its a SFL inspired unibody. I personally don't like the flowing curves and organic look bodies they are every where so I made my own.

sweet !! I recall you mentioning this at the last tourney i was at with you. Look forward to seeing it. If it is anything like the other work i have seen of yours it has to be feather light.

[luke]

Build it and they will come!

:)

[BigEvil]

Build it and they will come!

:)

I think XMT may disagree with you on that.

[Dend78]

Probably alot more. I can see that taking easily 100 hours to get the look right & make it machinable. There would also be alot of research needed to make sure everything is correct shaped to a real lion.

yeah but by the time they would be done they would be damn sweet looing, even sweeter when you put the vavle in after you just get it anno'ed and bend the crap out of the tail but sweet none the less

[going_home]

Polishing

The only complaint I have is how rough the bodies are.
Its a lot of money to put out in this down economy especially when they need so much more
work done on them before anodizing.
If its only an hour of work till they are so polished you can see your face (as XT has said),
then put the extra hour of time into them and polish them before you sell them.
I think it would help them sell.
I wouldnt mind owning a Shockwave unibody but only if it was anno ready.
I still have my Phoenix......