TECH: SPITFIRE TRACER UNIT

A TALE OF TWO TRACERS

WILL A LONGER TRACER UNIT WORK WITH AN EXTENDED INNER BARREL WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED? STEVE T MAKES A CUSTOM BUILD FUNCTIONAL AFTER DARK.

I’ve been very happy using Acetech’s BT Lighter S minimalist tracer unit in a range of applications for a while now, but it turns out that one of the things I love about it may also be its undoing. The Lighter S is small enough that the additional weight doesn’t stress pistol barrels and also doesn’t dominate longer builds, but its compact nature comes with an unexpected problem.

My modified ‘Tactical Tuna’ F2000 by G&G - as covered in a previous issue - now has a slightly longer inner barrel; not by much, but just enough to ensure that it extends past the Lighter S’ activation lights, blocking them from charging tracer BBs on the way out. As a result, that tracer no bueno in this particular build.

What I needed was a full-sized unit with those all-important lights further away from the end of

the barrel to make the futuristic F2K shoot suitably appropriate lasers.

SHOOT HERE!

If we’re upgrading and adding a new tracer anyway, then why not try out something that also adds some drama with added muzzle flare? I’ve seen a couple of different tracer units lately that claim to add a lifelike flash at the end of the barrel with every round and I think it looks fun. Milsimmers everywhere will recoil in horror - as will anyone that plays airsoft as a competitive sport - simply because that artificial muzzle flare will give away your position quicker than a big pointy finger over your head saying ‘Shoot here!’ But if you play to have fun - or your usual arena is indoors CQB - then this might just be for you. “MILSIMMERS EVERYWHERE WILL RECOIL IN HORROR - AS WILL ANYONE THAT PLAYS AIRSOFT AS A COMPETITIVE SPORT - SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT ARTIFICIAL MUZZLE FLARE WILL GIVE AWAY YOUR POSITION QUICKER THAN A BIG POINTY FINGER OVER YOUR HEAD SAYING ‘SHOOT HERE!’ ”

This isn’t intended as a head-to-head comparison, but I purchased two options to fix my problem and I thought our readers might be interested in a combined review of both. We’re looking at the Blaster from established brand Acetech, as well as something from a less well-known name, the Ghost Spitfire.

UNCHAINED, NOT OFF THE HOOK

Let’s start with the UK£52.99 Ghost Spitfire, for no other reason than it arrived first in the post. Just look at the outside of this thing. It has the word ‘TRACER’ written in big, white capital letters. I wonder what it might do? Subtlety might not be a strong point -and a camo paint job beckons - but it works like an absolute champ, shooting strong, bright green beams, even on full auto.

With its simplistic cylindrical design, the Spitfire won’t win any cool awards, but it’s innocuous enough and won’t overpower any build in terms of looks. The metal outer casing unscrews to reveal innards that seem just a little less factory than you might hope, but at least everything seems well grouped. That’s where you can plug in the charging cable, with an LED that flashes red until it turns green to show fully charged, taking a couple of hours from empty to full.

And when you do? Yeah, it’s a cliche to say it, but the Spitfire paints tracer BBs like laser beams. Obviously, there’s no effect on accuracy or range, but they carve super crisp and sharp lines across night fights - or in darkened rooms - easily the match of any tracer unit I’ve ever used.

IMPRESSIVE BUILD

The Acetech Blaster costs around £20 more, but it’s not a case of just paying for a brand name - the build quality is more impressive and it’s a winner in the looks department, too. Not only does the machining seem better finished, but it also features more stylised crenellations for added intimidation. The markings are also less toylike.

Where the Spitfire’s guts are on display when you need to charge - complete with a film wrap that a heavy-handed operator could easily put a thumb through - the Blaster is a more tightly constructed unit that exposes less of its innards to potential damage. The Blaster takes it on construction then, but there’s very little between the two when it comes to actual performance after dark. They both make every skirmish a Star Wars fan’s dream. If you have yet to experience laying down a neon hail of fire, then rest assured that you won’t be disappointed with either option.

COMING IN EARLY 2022!

FLASH IN THE PAN

That supposed muzzle flash though? Well, erm, not so convincing on either front, as it happens. I guess I’d hoped for a bit more drama, but both units are more of an orange glow than spitting fire. They both kinda work - and I shouldn’t be surprised - but I’ll admit to being slightly disappointed. At least with an AEG... Both units look far more impressive when used with a Gas BlowBack Rifle (GBBR), where the vented gas from the muzzle gives the light output a more dramatic backdrop to work with. In that scenario, the lightshow gains some depth and perceived heft that elevates performance to something that’s actually kinda cool. But gas runners are a minority breed and my preference with a GBBR is still for a sound amplifier that scares the bejesus out of the opposition.

Either way, if you want a tracer anyway and think you might enjoy the added bonus of some kind of flare, then both units are up to the task. Back to the reason for purchase in my specific use case - looking for a tracer that would work with an extended inner barrel - and only one of these units matches my requirements. And that is the Ghost Spitfire. I prefer Acetech’s unit overall, but only the Spitfire does what I need in this application. So it’s a keeper, right? Maybe not. While it’s perfectly effective and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, I just don’t feel it’s worthy of a fully sorted custom rifle like my beloved Tuna. So while I’m more than pleased that I now have a working solution for shooting after hours, I’m going to keep looking for something that ticks all my boxes and I’ll bring you my findings soon... AA “... MY PREFERENCE WITH A GBBR IS STILL FOR A SOUND AMPLIFIER THAT SCARES THE BEJESUS OUT OF THE OPPOSITION. EITHER WAY, IF YOU WANT A TRACER ANYWAY AND THINK YOU MIGHT ENJOY THE ADDED BONUS OF SOME KIND OF FLARE, THEN BOTH UNITS ARE UP TO THE TASK.”