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ECLIPSE GEO CS1 - THE POWER OF 1!
The CS1 signals the dawn of a new era for the Eclipse Geo line.
Not
just a facelift of a previous generation but a complete rework of the
platform. Every facet scrutinized. Every aspect deliberated. From the
ergonomics to the electronics, reliability to maintenance, and
performance to aesthetics, the engineers at Planet Eclipse have left no
stone unturned in that elusive quest for perfection.
The result? A radical departure from what came before.
Before
delving into the technical innovation that has gone into the CS1 just
take a minute and look at the aesthetic beauty of this groundbreaking
new marker; at how every component has been designed and manufactured to
run seamlessly into the next. Note how the all-new POPS assembly blends
effortlessly into the grips, which in turn run smoothly and
uninterrupted into the frame and upwards into the body. Gone are the
disjointed and disconnected collection of components found on other
markers. The CS1 has been created with a holistic approach in order to
achieve a new and striking panoptic design language. The attention to
stylistic detail unmatched. The flow of the lines mirrored in the
structure of the components. A work of art.
Part of the new
aesthetic has been the removal of all external hoses and pipes. For the
first time on an Eclipse marker all air lines run through the frame of
the marker. This has been achieved by relocating the new SL5 inline
regulator (HPR) to the inside of the frame. But unlike other markers
that place the primary regulator in the frame, the CS1 retains a full
size piston virtually identical to the previous generation SL4
regulator. The benefit of retaining such a large piston?
Well,
primarily it means that the CS1 will run equally well on tanks of a very
wide output range. The CS1 will work just as well on a tank with 850psi
output as one with 250psi output. The secondary benefit of this is that
the CS1 can shoot deeper into the tank without fear of plummeting
velocities as the tank pressure drops.
The SL5 regulator is
actually housed between the new POPS assembly and the frame with
velocity adjustment through the bottom of the POPS bonnet. The
construction is incredibly robust. And of course you will still find the
helpful + and - indicators to help guide you on which way to make
adjustments.
From the SL5 regulator air is fed through the frame
and directly into the all-new ISCIS3 (Innovative Solenoid Controlled
Isolation System) solenoid assembly. The air doesn't travel through any
bodywork first, and all gas transfer ports between components (POPS,
frame and ISCIS3 solenoid) use enclosed and captured gaskets rather than
cheap o-ring face seals. Far more reliable and durable and able to deal
with far higher pressures without fear of blowing out or leaking. The
new solenoid has a single spool assembly that is manufactured in-house
by Eclipse and which serves the dual purpose of controlling the position
of the bolt and the supply into the firing chamber during the firing
cycle.
Driven by a custom SMC pilot valve that is significantly
over-rated for this application means the solenoid is robust and durable
enough to handle the very worst conditions paintball could throw at it.
And because every component barring the pilot is now manufactured
in-house we have been able to make it completely user-serviceable - not
that it should ever need it.
From there, the new ISCIS3 solenoid
feeds air into the next generation IVCore drivetrain assembly. The
IVCore was the first commercially available system to bring true
decoupled breech-sensing valve technology to a system tuned for
reliability and efficiency whilst being completely dwell insensitive.
Yet in this latest iteration, larger volume for the firing chamber,
modified bolt port geometry and a larger adjustment range for the SFR
combined with significant changes to the marker layout mean that all
aspects of the shooting experience have been improved. Significantly
smoother and quieter than the previous generation yet retaining the
efficiency and unquestionable reliability that the IVCore brought first
to the Geo, this latest evolution is the most refined yet.
But
the improvements introduced with the CS1 don't end there. With the SL5
regulator now located in the frame it's enabled even more exciting
features to be added to the foregrip area.
The largest and most
obvious can be found housed within the foregrip. Slide off the tool-less
grip and you will expose a custom manufactured glass fibre composite
battery holder. But rather than finding a regular 9V battery you'll
discover two AA batteries.
Running at a mere 3V, the CS1's
advanced industry-leading electronics achieve better performance from AA
batteries than the previous GEO did from 9V batteries. The combination
of increased battery efficiency and the switch to AA's means that not
only have the running costs of the CS1 been significantly reduced, but
it will run off the same battery-type as all current high-end loaders.
And when you do need to replace them, it can be done without the use of
any tools.With the foregrip off you also have access to the tool-less
breech sensor covers. This means that the detents and the breech sensor
can be fully serviced without the use of any tools. Maintaining and
cleaning your breech furniture has never been as simple or
straightforward. And as an added bonus, the breech sensor cover also
reveals a spare set of detents for use in emergencies.
The rear
grip frame has also been completely re-designed. Greater emphasis has
been placed on the overall ergonomics and fit of the grips into the
design of the marker. The grips run seamlessly into the frame, body and
POPS. The grip is now constructed of two parts that overlap and lock
together down either side of the frame. The rear section houses the
now-magnified GUI (Graphical User Interface) and pushbuttons, all molded
into one piece. The front section wraps around the front of the frame
and up behind the trigger. All key contact areas are covered in micro
texture both on the foregrip and rear grips. This texture ensures a
steadfast purchase on the marker in the wettest and slimiest conditions.
As
well as the regulator, the frame also houses the electronics. Designed
and programmed in-house by our own electronics and software guru, the
circuit board carries all the usual premium features you have come to
expect from Eclipse: both Opto and Micro trigger switches; a super fast
processor; and rock-solid transflective LCD module that can be read in
the very brightest of conditions, something that other display
technologies really struggle with. As always there are an extensive
array of parameters that are adjustable either on the gun or through a
new E-Portal 3 interface that utilises a standard micro USB port mounted
to the board. Splash screens and firmware updates can be uploaded
quickly and easily via PC and micro USB cable. E-Portal3 is available as
a free download from the Planet Eclipse website (planeteclipse.com).
The
trigger has also been reworked as a 2-piece design. Still running on
widely spaced dual ball races, all trigger stops are now hidden so that
no screws strike external metalwork leaving a far cleaner look. The CAD
for the trigger shoe will be made available open source for those
wanting something different, so they can design and make their own.
As
with all Eclipse markers, one of the primary objectives and design
criteria has been to make the CS1 as easy to maintain as possible. It's
taken a lot of time and hard work to achieve, but at last the CS1 offers
elegant hoseless design without compromise to reliability, ease of
maintenance or teching.
The CS1 utilizes a new interface between
the electronics in the frame and those mounted to the body, such as the
breech sensor and the solenoid. Gone are the plug-in wire-type
connections, replaced instead by edge-mount sprung terminals as used in
mobile military telecommunications devices to provide reliable and
durable connectivity. This type of interface allows the body and frame
to be separated without the need to remove the grips or any of the
electronics. Simply remove the two hidden frame screws and the frame and
body separate effortlessly. This allows quick and easy disassembly to
aid with rapid diagnosis and repair in the unlikely event of an internal
issue.
The CS1 has been years in the making. Thousands of hours
of design. Many thousands more of testing. To get to what you see before
you. It really is a new beginning for the Geo. One we know you'll enjoy
exploring and discovering.
We are proud to present to you, the CS1.
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