Last Updated 05/18/01
WARNING! I’ve had (what I think) is a major problem with my tank.
I picked up my marker the other day and noticed the tank was
empty. I started to fill it up from my
SCUBA tank and heard a hissing sound. Upon further investigation it was found to
be leaking
Out of the HIGH Pressure nut that houses the pressure sensor,
part # ar009 – the transducer nut.
The leak was coming from the screen area and not a pressure
relief valve. I had the O-Ring replaced
And tightened up the nut a bit. WDP said just tighten the nut.
This is on the 4500 PSI side of the
Regulator! The only
other A.I.R I know of in the area had a similar problem – leaking from the
electronics.
I have never had a problem with a tank less than a month
after having it. This reinforces my
view of the
Product. Too many
Quirks!
If anyone is having similar problems PLEASE send me an
email. I think this could be a major
design flaw
And potentially dangerous and should be brought to the
attention to WDP if it proves to be wide spread.
click
here to send me an email if you’ve had this problem PLEASE!
Last Updated 05/13/01
I have been playing with this tank a few times now and have been fiddling with it. So it’s about time I
Toss my 2 cents in and speak up.
The tank is a
68 CI 4500 PSI HPA only vessel. Cost is
$595 retail. It has an electronic gauge
on it that
runs on 2 CR2032 batteries.
These are the same ones used in Radio Shacks talking timer in case you
need a
quick replacement. The display stays on for 20 seconds after your done pushing the button. This tank IS
ALWAYS ON regardless of the display status. HPA (at your set output pressure) is always
in the Micro/Macro lines. There is no
“shut off” except for adjusting the regulator pressure nut counter clockwise to
reduce the
output PSI. I think
this is a serious design flaw. Every
tank should be able to be shut off some how.
The only
way I can see it with this tank is to install a slide
check. This solution is bulky and just
adds to the weight.
Not an elegant solution for a tank that cost this much. All the fittings are metric of course since
it comes from
WDP. It attaches to
your grip via it’s own integrated drop forward which must be used to attach the
tank with.
Ordinary drop forwards that have little room or are angled
will not work with this arrangement.
WDP is rumored
To be coming out with a new drop forward to address this
issue. It remains to be seem if it will
be more friendly
towards 3rd party drop forwards or just a way to buy
something from them.
The tank
unscrews from the electronic regulator very easily. More so than any other cylinder I’ve come
Across. Because of
this you MUST USE the LOK-SOK neck attachment (see review/pictures here:
http://www.theperrys.net/waynespb_miscbits.htm)
to secure the tank firmly to the regulator.
3rd party tank
covers may work as long as you use this piece. I wouldn’t recommend it though. That is why you get the
LOK-SOK with the unit.
The regulator
is probably the best thing about it although it is nothing special. It tells you the PSI in the tank to the
nearest whole number, what your output pressure is and if you calibrate it how
many shots are
remaining. You MUST
fill your tank up above 2000 PSI the first time you use the thing otherwise you
can’t
calibrate your tank/marker with less than this. To calibrate how many shots are remaining
you hold the button down for 2 seconds until it reads CALC. Then fire about 20-40 shots and it will tell
you how many shots left in
the tank. This is
about the ONLY thing this will do for you above any other tank. As far as recharge rate I
don’t think it’s any faster or slower than any other tank
I’ve used. You push the only button on
the unit to cycle
through the displays and it shuts off the DISPLAY only after
20 seconds. You don’t need to calibrate
it.
The unit on
the whole is not much heavier than a similar tank and cradle combination. It is rumored to
Be coming in an 88 and 114 CI capacities. I really don’t think this will happen
although all they would have to
change is the tank.
About the only good thing I can say is it doesn’t have any gauges
hanging off of it. It is somewhat more
stream lined than a normal tank.
There are just
too many things quirky about this thing.
I love electronic things but unfortunately the only
Thing this will do for you over and above any other tank is
tell you how many shots you have left.
My thoughts
Are BIG DEAL. It’s
expensive, it’s metric, it’s requires a special cover and it does nothing for
you over and
Above any other tank on the market to today at a cheaper
price. I can look at a gauge and judge
when I
need to refill it.
Don’t waste your money unless you’ve got money to burn or can get one
really cheap – like
in the $350 range.
I don’t think
this is worth the money for what you get.
Pass this baby up!
I don’t like it.
Thumbs down 
See below for additional information and
see my misc-bits page for some more pictures.
Last Updated 05/01/01
I got my Angel AIR last Thursday,
April 26th.
First!
the cylinder/tank spins off very easily compared to typical High
Pressure tanks. The directions
Actually
tell you to spin off the tank – COMPLETELY EMPTY – if you have problems
installing the unit.
PLEASE
MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL WARNINGS and DIRECTIONS!
I didn’t like the way the tank
attached to my angel (see picture 1).
The stock drop forward that
comes
with the unit MUST BE USED. It felt
fine this way shooting right handed.
But, when I switched
to
shoot off handed or (actually) right handed shooting off my left shoulder, the
tank stuck out about 3 inches
too
far for me. I emailed Frazer @ WDP and
he said they would be coming out with a NEW drop forward in
about
3 weeks (as of 04/30/01). Be careful of
which drop forward you use. You must
use the stock drop to attach the tank and you need enough clearance to screw it
in.
In the mean time. I searched my stock of parts and came across
the WGP STO drop forward
(see
picture 2). This drop forward works
just perfect. You can attach the AIR
drop to the WGP drop forward and still have room to attach that to the tank.
I should start using it soon so I will
update on it’s use.
I
have played a few times with it so far and I am still testing it out. I let some other players use it and they
said
“like the nubby feel on the back of the tank, doesn’t slip” and “not much
heavier than a normal tank”.
I
will update soon with a full review.
Picture
1 – stock drop forward Picture
2 – WGP drop forward – a little tighter
mounting
the tank Be
careful of just any drop forwards
© 2001 By Wayne Perry