Where can I find general technical info on AEGs?

[Cunningdeath]

I'm new to the sport of Airsoft, and have thus far weighed my options and am debating between purchasing a FAMAS or Steyr AUG (Tokyo Marui for both). However, some of my decision making could be helped if I could find somewhere they explain things like how specific gear boxes and motors work, and would give me a basis for determining differences between them. I have searched for this kind of info, but haven't yet been able to locate it (excepting a treatise on batteries that was rather beyond my technical background). I ask because statements regarding guns like "It has the Version 1 gearbox, allegedly TM's strongest ever" (In reference to the FAMAS. I have since inferred it means least subject to malfunction) mean very little to me. Also there is the question of the motors - the EG560 High Torque in the FAMAS "pisses BB's", but why is that?

I suppose to simplify - is there an online manual or the like which I have not run across yet which explains the function of the innards of an Airsoft electric gun to me? What information I have found is very case-specific (how to repair such and such) or not technical enough to be of further use than as a description (the EG560 motor was compared to an EG1000 on the basis of cars - it made sense, but won't help me understand why).

I don't need incredibly detailed specs, and haven't the technical background for it anyhow, but I'd rather read and understand for myself as opposed to pestering you folks for the information.

[Dawg Bait]

WOW nice first post, and Welcome to MIA Boards. I am not to sure about that, but i heard that the FAMAS is harder to upgrade then the AUG. but i never had either.. Sorry that i really couldnt help you out..

Ross
Dawg Bait

[DE50man]

I would personally go for the AUG, the FAMAS was an earlier model and a bit too "plasticy" for my taste, as far as upgrades, there arent many parts available if something goes wrong with your FAMAS but for the AUG you CAN replace the entire gearbox

If you were just going to buy a gun to start you out, You probably couldnt go wrong either way if you stayed stock, but really you should feel and fire both guns before you make your decision.


Sorry, dont have a link off hand

[Jacko]

Welcome to the boards, Cunning.

www.AirsoftPlayers.com has quite a bit of technical information, both in the number of AEG manuals they have as well as numerous upgrade articles which show the true 'guts' of an AEG.

[camophreak]

WELCOME!!

As I am a newbie also, my opinion would be to opt for the AUG!

I have the TMM16A2..which seems to kik butt...Ive added a bippod, IR heatseeker, M203, and a 4x32 scope.

I havent had any probs finding accessories or add-ons for mine.

You might wanna go with the newer A4 version with detachable carry handle...that way you can opt for the RIS system to add additional items...just depends on your budget and what you want I guess!! My stock TM came tweeked from the store...I guess I havent had it long enuff to actually put it to hard use yet.

Take care and WELCOME!!!!

Thank God for CAMO!!!

-CP

[Knief]

Real technical articles are hard to come by. Follow Jacko's link to ASP and head over to www.arniesairsoft.co.uk for some other articles. Some of what you're looking for gets burried within random posts about "teh bestest AEG evar!!11" and some of it people know, but doesn't come up very frequently on forums.

I'll try my best to answer your questions here.

Motors:

From TM, there is the EG560, EG700, and EG1000. The EG 560 isn't special in any way, shape, or form. It's not exactly the bottom of the barrel, but there is no quality in it that stands out. The EG700 is a higher torque motor. It does more work in the gearbox without increasing it's speed. If you're going to upgrade a gun to a significantly higher spring, then an EG700 motor is nice to have. At some point though, you'll need a systema tourque up motor. The EG1000 motor is a higher speed motor, but sacrafices some torque from the EG700. Guns with an EG1000 motor typically have a higher stock ROF (not significantly, maybe an extra round every second or two) than a gun with either a 560 or 700, but when you put a bigger spring in there, it'll slow the ROF down more dramatically. If you upgrade to a higher spring, you'll have to replace the EG1000 motor at a weaker level spring than you would have to replace the EG700 motor.

Gearboxes:

You only really need to know about three types of boxes (typically only 2 types, but the FAMAS adds a third one to know). Those are the versions 1, 2, and 3. The version 2 and 3 are similar. The main difference is that the version 3 is slightly stronger for taking that bigger spring, and they are shaped a little differently to fit the gun's body type. The version 3's also typically attach the motor to the box so it's all one unit so you don't have to worry about motor adjustment (this isn't always true, the MP5 K and PDW have a version 3 with a motor that's not attatched to the box). The gear ratio is the same in both the 2 and the 3, and most parts are interchangable. They're the two standard boxes in most TM, ICS, and CA AEGs.

The version 1 is the odd-ball of the group. You're right, the FAMAS is a true bb pisser. I've never looked inside a FAMAS gearbox, but my guess would be that the gear ratio is such that it sacrafices torque for increased speed (the short version of gear ratios is that you give up speed to produce torque, or give up torque to produce speed. If you want higher both, you need a bigger motor). People always complain that you can't upgrade a FAMAS very high, and I'd believe it. If the gear ratio does sacrafice speed for velocity (note, that's not bb velocity, it's gear velocity - which will translate to ROF), then it would suffer from the same syndrom that a gun with an EG1000 motor suffers from (although it's probably worse in the FAMAS). You can only upgrade the spring to be so stiff before the motor and gears just can't pull it back. Why not just upgrade the motor? Because the FAMAS motor is an intergal part of the gearbox. It's the only AEG like that. I don't know if an upgrade motor to replace an EG560 is available (it probably is), then you could drop that in. The problem is whether or not various small gearbox parts would hold up to the extra stress of a stronger spring. I wouldn't put money on the version 1 being the strongest box that Marui has ever made. There are two things to consider before you try upgrading a FAMAS, then. The first is how readily available upgrade parts are. They really aren't. Most upgrade parts are for version 2 and 3 boxes, not the version 1. The other thing to consider is what the word on the street is about upgrading the FAMAS. The word on the street is, "DON'T!"

If you want a gun to keep stock, either the FAMAS or the Aug will be fine. They'll both perform very similarly, with the FAMAS having the higher ROF. If you're looking to upgrade, i'd stay clear of the FAMAS and stick with the Aug. It's got both the version 3 box and EG700, so it'll take quite the load.

And welcome to MiA, CunningDeath

[Cunningdeath]

Thank you for your responses - the articles have been helpful, and I appreciate the welcome. Kneif, the explanation helps a lot - as a bonus, I got to watch my friend, who is a robotics vocational student, dissassemble and upgrade his M733, to put in a 140% spring and oilless bushings. Actually, when we put the gearbox back together, it wouldn't fire - it took us the better part of 40 mins to realize that the trigger spring was in the wrong slot. I get the sense Occam plays a powerful part in AEG maintenance and malfunction...