| Following the trends in paintball and being able to react and respond to them in a way that benefits the player in a positive way is a difficult thing to achieve. Being able to provide a product that is all things to all men is even harder. Planet Eclipse have always prided itself on being able to react quickly, give the customer what they want, when they want it, and to give users the flexibility to have their marker just how they like it. This philosophy has never been more evident than it is in the Planet Eclipse Ego11 Paintball Marker.
Over the past 18 months we've seen Planet Eclipse taking steps to help improve the “feel” of the marker during play, as well as to improve the ability of the markers to handle super brittle tournament paint. Controlling the speed of the bolt in any marker is the key to achieving improved feel, reduced sound signature, and more gentle handling of the paintball within the marker. The more gentle the acceleration and deceleration of the system, the smoother the marker feels. Doing so does have its drawbacks. For example, by slowing the cyclic speed of the marker you also reduce the rate of fire. As with many things in life there is a trade off. As Planet Eclipse looked to improve the feel of the marker on one hand, they inhibited it in terms of outright speed on the other. But what if you want your Ego to shoot fast like Egos used to shoot? If the marker is tuned for smoothness, how do you get the speed? What if you want to shoot 15bps but want it smooth? What if you only care about shooting 12bps because that’s all you can use with PSP rules but want it to be as smooth as possible? How can you cram all these things in one solitary marker? It wasn't possible without making major physical changes to the pneumatic system of the marker.
The Ego11 comes equipped with an industry first bespoke solenoid manufactured by MAC Valves USA that incorporates twin flow control devices. Etched into the side of the solenoid body are two incremented scales and two one-quarter turn Solenoid Flow Controls. These Solenoid Flow Controls, fitted with pointer and limit stops, can now be used to independently control both the forward and rearward speed of the rammer. For the first time ever in a poppet marker the user can now tune the speed, feel and rate of fire of their own marker with a simple twist of an adjuster. In the time it takes you to turn off your tourney lock, the Ego11 can be switched from a high speed, max ROF, uncapped, free-for-all machine, into the softest, gentlest, smoothest shooting capped PSP poppet you have ever felt. The analogue adjustment means infinite control of the speed of the bolt and rammer in either direction giving unprecedented influence over the dynamic characteristics of each marker.
But the solenoid is not the only place that Planet Eclipse completely overhauled. The Ego11 has a completely new concept in on/off/purging ASAs. POPS stands for Push On Purge System, and the idea is simple. Just push back on the front bonnet section of the POPS and this depresses the pin in your tank, gasses up the marker and latches itself into place in a fraction of a second. Once gassed up the bonnet stays in position until the pushbutton on the side of the POPS bonnet is depressed, at which point the bonnet pops forward and the marker purges its air in a the same fraction of a second. The new POPS utilizes the Eclipse T-slot mounting to the frame, but now with a longer adjustment range than the previous Eclipse ASAs. It also hosts front porting for the first time on an Eclipse ASA, as well as new fittings that can be removed quickly and easily with a hex key.
The new fitting takes air via the shortened macroline hose into a new angled swivel on the exceptional SL3 regulator which also comes with one of the new fittings. The SL3 reg retains all of the simplicity of the old Eclipse regulators, but throws in a load of new features and even better performance. The regulator has a new, more durable seal system that allows the regulator seal to be flipped or replaced if required. The regulator performs across a very wide range of input pressures so you can run HP or LP tank, flipping between the two without any effect on marker velocity.
A common complaint in high end markers during the last two seasons has been that markers have actually become too small. The inclusion of the new solenoid has given the Ego11 the opportunity to spread its stance a little. The frame has been moved backwards allowing more room between the front regulator and the trigger guard. Just enough to add some additional support and control to the marker, but not enough to forsake the compact dimensions and sharp handling that Ego users have become so accustomed to. The new frame profile along with a higher grip position combine with an all-new grip design that is actually sunk into the frame around most of its perimeter. These in turn with a brand new co-molded console that runs all the way up the back of the frame to add comfort and grip. Slimmer in the middle section of the grips, and with textured rubber running down the back of the frame, the look and feel of the Ego11 is still fresh. Simple mechanical changes ensure that the grip screws clamp down firmly into place without the chance of crushing the grips or, more importantly, some delicate internal component.
Of course, inside the frame still lies the ubiquitous Eclipse circuit board, fitted with extra large tru-color backlit LCD module, sounding device, triple external pushbuttons, micro and opto sensing triggers, 16-bit processor and expansion port that allows connection to PC with the optional E-Portal2 kit. With all the adjustable options and functionality you could ever need, the range of adjustment on the Ego11 is simply breathtaking. Refill counters, ROF indicators, timers, audible beeper, debounce presets, RF enabled, you name it, the Ego11 board will do it or support it. Combined with the new direct acting solenoid, the prioritized drive circuitry will ensure that shot-to-shot consistency and rate of fire accuracy are the very best they can be.
Inside the frame actuating the micro and opto switches on the board is a new trigger design with a re-engineered bearing carrier and spring system. The trigger has 5 points of adjustment for forward travel, rearward travel, magnetic return strength, spring return strength and micro-switch actuation point. The reverse trigger has the smooth, slop-free action that has been the backbone of Eclipse markers for years. It’s wide range of adjustment and option of magnetic or spring return make it quick and easy to set up to any individual's liking without the need break the gun apart to get at adjusters. As with everything in an Eclipse marker, simplicity is key.
Internally the Ego11 boasts the Zick2 kit, the Cure3 bolt, the same adjustable LPR found on SLs as well as the LP protection vent that was found in the Ego10. All highly proven, tournament winning components. Up front you’ll find the new Shaft4 barrel in 14 inch length, .689 bore diameter, re-designed for better efficiency and consistency, and ported for reduced sound signature.
The Ego11 comes packaged in a new zippered case, which includes in its contents a full hex key set, oil, barrel sock, full-color 84-page manual, and a comprehensive spares kit that includes regulator components, o-rings, detents, springs and screws.
The Planet Eclipse Ego11... developed and created with the soul intention of giving the modern player the things they most desire in a modern paintball marker.
Features:
- Weight – 882g/1.94lb without tank or loader
- Length: 542mm with 14 inch barrel
- Height: 211mm
- Width: 27mm
- 3 pushbuttons rear frame interface,
- Tourney lock on PCB
- Transflective LCD screen w/ Tru-Color adjustable backlight
- 16 Bit 16MIPS processor
- Powered by one 9vt battery
- E-Portal compatible
- T slot mounted adjustable rail with POPS (Push On Purge System) ASA
- Micro switch and break-beam optical trigger switch option
- Spring or magnetic return trigger option
- Dual instrument ball raced trigger pivot mounted in bearing carriers
- 2 Piece Micro Honed Shaft4 14 inch .689 barrel
- Lever Clamping Feedneck with Sprocket Thumb Wheel
- Stack tube poppet design
- Custom MAC solenoid valve
- Zick2 rammer system
- Cure3 Bolt
- Contoured dual density grip
- Multiple fire modes for semi and ramping, capped and uncapped
- 10 Debounce Modes
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