Fort Boards Assist in Nerf Game Bunker construction
Fort Boards! Pretty cool! Fort Boards are 8″x8″ plastic interlocking panels that can be used to create a variety of shapes, including curved surfaces, blocks, walls, panels, panels with doors, etc. They come in a variety of colors, in a “Starter” pack of 22 panels (along with additional connectors) or a “Prime” pack of 44 panels (with additional connectors. Customizable with (sold separately) metal or wooden texture inserts, bull’s eye inserts (coming soon with Blaster Board Target panels). There’s a LOT of potential I see here with this toy, with a little practice building your own customizable bunkers (with targetable panels) could work out pretty quickly. Different color schemes would keep things fresh as well (and maybe even help with branding for some arenas) while the modular nature keeps things varied and enhances objective style gameplay. I most certainly see the applications of this toy, and they are diverse beyond just building a clubhouse. Not going to lie, building an octopus looks pretty neat though.
Basic Stats:
Starter Pack: Includes 22 boards (8”x 8”) and 21 connectors (for interlocking) and instructions – $61.99 Prime Pack: Includes 44 boards (8”x 8”) and 46 connectors (for interlocking) and instructions
Find the Fort Boards on Amazon – Amazon Associate Links (affiliate links, help keep the lights on for F2A! This is a provided sample by Fort Boards for review, I assure you my opinions remain my own):
Building a KForce K-10V blaster (How long did it Take?) Vas The Stampede
Spoiler:
24 minutes
In a new installment, you see how long it took me to build one of the new K’Nex KForce Kitsfrom K’Nex (that means, product provided, but my opinions are my own).
The “Build and Blast” KForce line has a lot of really good ideas in it, from the actual building and construction of the blasters (which any modder out there can appreciate) to the near-limitless possibilities what someone can build with a kit and a whole lot more K’nex pieces (something I would like to test for myself in the future).
I might be tempted to do a slower video in the future, mainly because while time-lapse is cool you don’t get a feel for some of the mishaps I had during building (I think the manuals could be a bit clearer on instructions, but that’s a discussion for another post, such as when I do a firing video). I wonder if someone who is familiar with K’Nex can do these builds faster, or if even someone who more regularly builds construction kits might have a leg up on me and shave time off what I did.
In any event, the line is still being supported and innovated on, and that’s all one can really ask in a super competitive arena like blasters. Companies are going for range, capacity, aesthetics, and K’Nex continues to fuel imaginative building while trying to produce a blaster that fires on par with most others, even if rate of fire may suffer slightly.
So let’s try this; if you have the same kit, or any kit that I post here, video yourself building it too and tag me in it! Whatever time I have, see if you can beat it or challenge me to build a KForce blaster faster than you (and get away with it)!
I still have a few more upcoming projects to do, so make sure to come back and keep checking for updates! Blaster reviews, photos, and the NvZ video are all on the way. Thanks again!
After a bit of press for the last year or so, Paper Shooters is finally ready for the U.S. shores! I’ve been following the brand ever since they approached me some time ago, and it was good to finally see and shoot a finished product. I went for the GoPro POV while aiming and shooting. Note the priming between shots and the shell ejection.
The basic kits will run $29.99 and may include the following (pulled this from their website, I assume it will be the same in the U.S. during release:)
“Your 138 piece kit contains : – All plastic components, screws and springs to create your PaperShooters™ base model – 8 highly detailed A4 die cut cardboard pieces that contain all the individual pieces to create your awesome Zombie Slayer camo skin
Also included :
– 50 ‘Soft- splat’ paper pellets. Just dip them in water for 20-30 seconds, load them into shells and blast away! – A mould to create endless amounts of ammo from ordinary paper. Got paper,? Got ammo! – 6 shells that eject with every shot!”
I will have a more in-depth look at this when the samples come in and will give more of my thoughts then. Already, I know that it’s supposed to be a pretty involved build and I am looking forward to taking a crack at it. It’s not going to be the usual blaster out of the box experience, but I am definitely taken with the look and feel of the product.
K’Nex K-Force continues into 2016! The construction set blasters introduce turrets and motorized blasting with the new crop of blasters coming out later this year.
K-10V Building Set Build your own K-FORCE Build and Blast K-10V blaster that fires up to 75 feet! Set features 83 pieces including, K’NEX rods and connectors, 1 blaster chamber, 1 quick fit grip, 1 preload ring and 5 foam darts. Customize and create your own K-FORCE blaster or combine with the K-FORCE Build and Blast Mini Cross Building Set (set sold separately) for an awesome downloadable combo build! All K’NEX rods and connectors are made in the USA. Suggested retail price is $14.99. Ages 8+. Available Spring 2016.
K-25X RotoShot Blaster Building Set
Get ready for rotating blaster action with the new K-FORCE K-25X RotoShot Blaster
Building Set from K’NEX! The K-25X RotoShot blaster allows you to construct an incredible blaster, and then fire off 5 shots without reloading! Set includes 1 NEW RotoChamber, 5 foam darts, 1 quick fit grip, 1 preload ring and downloadable instructions for 4 additional custom blasters and targets. Models can be built one at a time. Compatible with the entire K-FORCE Build and Blast line. All K’NEX rods and connectors are made in the USA. Suggested retail price is $39.99. Ages 8+. Available Fall 2016.
Super Strike RotoShot Blaster Building Set
Rotating blasting fun is what you will get with the new K-FORCE Super Strike RotoShot Blaster Building Set from K’NEX! The Super Strike RotoShot blaster allows you to build an amazing blaster, and then fire off 5 shots without reloading! Set includes 1 NEW RotoChamber, 5 foam darts, 1 quick fit grip, 1 preload ring and downloadable instructions for 4 additional custom blasters and targets. Compatible with the entire K-FORCE Build and Blast line. Models can be built one at a time. All K’NEX rods and connectors are made in the USA. Suggested retail price is $39.99. Ages 8+. Available Fall 2016.
Flash Fire Motorized Blaster Building Set
Blast darts as fast as you can with the K-FORCE Flash Fire Motorized Blaster Building Set! Build your blaster and then load the clip with up to 10 darts, and the new motorized rapid fire chamber will fire darts as fast as you can pull the trigger! Set includes 1 motorized rapid fire chamber, a 10 dart clip, 10 foam darts, 1 quick fit grip and downloadable instructions for 6 additional custom blasters and targets. Compatible with the entire K-FORCE Build and Blast line. Batteries required, but not included. Most models can be built one at a time. All K’NEX rods and connectors are made in the USA. Suggested retail price is $49.99. Ages 8+. Available Fall 2016.
I caught wind of Paper Shooters on twitter and instagram, they seemed interesting enough. Behold, a triggered paper wad shooter! While the paper wad part brought back memories of the Shadow Hawk/Max Force line, they looked like replica M4 rifles and had a trigger… not to mention these things were supposedly made out of cardboard. You know the motto around these parts, “If you can fire it, I will try it.”
Right off the bat, this line isn’t fully in production yet. On Friday, their indiegogo page goes live – www.indiegogo.com/papershooters – and from there you can pre-order your own shooter kit. As stated in the video, they need to cover some further costs on die-cutting parts of the kits so that’s where the donations come in.
The team was nice enough to send along a bit of info:
Included in each kit:
– Plastic shape (skeleton) and all internal mechanics, rivets, springs etc – Layer one Camo Skin (with rivets/ screws to attach to plastic) – Layer two Camo Skin (glues onto layer one to add significant detail)
– A Magazine- additional Mags available – 8 Gold Shells with 50 pcs of pre made ‘soft splat’ paper ammo – Mould to make ‘soft splat’ ammo from ordinary paper (never need run out of pellets) – Zombie head target (this is a cardboard model head- made from the box itself)
“Everything is included in the box. It uses screws and a patented ‘rivet’ ststem. An ordinary rivet cannot be opened when fixed but the ones utilsed in our kits can. We include a tool so you can ‘un pop’ them and change the skins, pieces etc. Glue/ screwdriver etc all included!”
Price: Around $50-$60 – Target Audience: Ages 14+
Digital Ops, Golden Touch, and Zombie Slayer Skins
Anyone else love unlocking the “Golden Gun” in Goldeneye on the N64?
The Ammo! (It does look similar to the Max Force paper wads…) Requires to be set inside a casing, THEN placed inside the magazine.
First, this isn’t the typical fare of shooter/blaster we’re used to seeing. These are construction kits moreso than a toy (think like making a model plane) where the end product is a replica (of sorts) of an m4 rifle. But this actually has a function and shoots projectiles. In this case, wet paper wads. The experience of building is the sell before target practice. If you mod your toy blasters, you know what I’m talking about. The kit is your starting ground. You have the option to build your blaster from the ground up (albeit being handed the pieces), craft your own ammo with the mould included, and customize as more pieces are available.
I’m not sure this qualifies as a blaster toy. It’s a creative experience first, followed by the play. Additionally, it’s geared to 14+, NOT within the usual range of 8+ like most of the other blasters I write about (I believe BlasterPro was aged 14+ as well.) I’d qualify these as a type of display piece/model, that you can play with. While these are modeled after an actual firearm, they are scaled smaller(like an airsoft rifle might be), have the visible orange tip, and colored in atypical designs. While they do fire, the rate of fire is slow compared to current toy blasters (bolt-action, no slam fire, it uses casings to hold the paper wads which eject after each shot, etc.) good for some hijinks in the office and target practice but until I get these in-hand I can’t attest to the actual experience of these in use. Between the casings and the rate of fire, it is at a distinct disadvantage for most of the ways I play dart tag.
The base of the model is plastic but then decorated and finished off with the cardboard accents. Word has it the cardboard on the exterior will be treated specially to make it more durable than regular cardboard. Again, should I get my hands on these I’ll test for sure.
Pricing – admittedly $50-$60 is a bit steep, but when you think that buying additional paper wad ammo packs isn’t necessary (you can make your own from scrap paper, but additional magazines and casings will be available), that’s one thing you save on, and you get a very nice looking replica you made yourself. AND A HUMAN ZOMBIE HEAD TARGET MADE FROM THE BOX. But in this case, the value is all on what you’re into. This is an interesting level of customization and ‘smithing right out of the box in regards to Things That Shoot, so I’m intrigued to say the least.
So you build your own shooter, then what? If the indiegogo does well, they have plans for an RPG, “Call of Duty”-type crossbow, additional sights and accessories, and stronger internal mechs and springs to add to your models after some time. So, you start with these and then continue to upgrade as pieces are made available. This only happens though if they have enough support! When the page goes live Friday, if this seems right up your alley, go for it. www.indiegogo.com/papershooters It looks great aesthetically, and the creative process of crafting your own shooter and ammo (from paper scraps, no FBR or additional materials necessary) might interest you creative types. Give them a look, and if they get to their pre-order target I’ll hopefully be back with a proper live test/review of these things when they’re available.
Bottom line:
For the 14+ crowd Jury is still out on playability VERY STRIKING aesthetically Offers a creative element usually only experienced in the mod community (build your own) Pricey, but full of potential in customization and future product offerings Indiegogo preorders must be made for this to come out
Foam From Above 