Feng Jia Toys has emerged as one of the many surprising results from Chinese toy factories over the past few years. Unlike other blaster-building companies (Zecong comes to mind), Feng Jia tends to actually produce unique blasters. Even the blasters with obvious origins tend to have their own personalities. While the actual blaster names seem to change depending on color scheme and translation, their roles are consistent. This blaster will be called the Sniper Rifle. Although the blaster’s price tag is high, it is well worth it.
Beautifully Deadly
I acquired the translucent green Feng Jia model, which comes with glow in the dark darts and an illuminated dart turret. The fake scope at the top flips between raised and lowered positions. The grips both in front and back are spacious. The on/off switch is located just above the rear grip. However, there’s no rev trigger. The turret itself is entirely made of clear plastic. Why clear?
It turns out there are two sets of LEDs sitting above and below the dart turret. The blue glow is very pretty and blends well with blaster’s alien vibe. It is visible in daylight but it shines brightest in the dark.
The turret may look familiar because it is almost identical to the turrets from the Buzz Bee Mech Tommy 20 or Automatic Tommy 20. In fact, if you wanted to swap turrets with the Buzz Bee, you could. Theres no reason to do that, though, unless you really want to be a special snowflake.
The NiMH battery pack (four AA-sized cells for 4.8V) has its own plug sitting in the back, and it rests in the battery tray slot. If you have another Feng Jia electric blaster, youll see that the battery trays are all interchangeable, and the tray still fits here! The spring contacts in the other models are not soldered to the metal tabs like they are here.
I made my own to be able to use either a rechargeable pack, or any AA batteries that I had. I will eventually replace the entire shell with a LiPo Battery.
The Belly Of The Beast
The pusher mechanism can be seen when you open the blaster. The power switch on the side of the blaster blocks the trigger from being pulled. The wires used can be seen if you pay attention.TINY. All current must pass through the tiny switch. If the wire from the switch ran to a MOSFET or a relay, that would be one thing. In any case, wire replacement will help stock NiMH-powered performance, and would beessential for any form of overhaul.
The motor cage is rather large! However, the blaster still uses 130-size motors. The flywheels are smooth and large. Their spacing is slightly farther apart than you would find in a Nerf Stryfe or Rapidstrike. It is still less than the Buzz Bee Brute. I imagine that its tailored to the darts that shipped with the blaster. Standard Elite darts will still work, as doother brands of foam darts.
It’s Lesson Time
The wiring is simple. A small capacitor is connected to each motor. They reduce electrical noise. The variance caused by the spinning magnets inside the motors can lead to the generation of electromagnetic waves. Small circuits are not a problem. However, higher current loads or longer runs of wire (which can act like an antenna) help to reduce radio interference.
Performance
Performance of the Feng Jia Cyber Hunter Sniper Rifle is excellent for a stock blaster.
The darts‘ velocity hovers around 70 FPS upon exiting the muzzle. Ranges of 65 (angled) are common. The motors don’t have enough time to rev up, so rapid firing can reduce range. It takes only a few seconds between shots to keep darts moving a fair distance.
