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Saturday, 28 December 2013

Nerf Vortex - Nitron Review

The Nitron is a fully automatic disc blaster from the Vortex line, it comes packaged with 20 Vortex discs a clip and centre fire tech electronic scope.


Usability

The Nitron is a heavy blaster with a build in shoulder stock and fore grip.  It requires some strength to heft around and is probably better suited to older children or adults because of this.  The Nitron is flywheel propelled blaster that is fired by holding the acceleration trigger (pictured below the main trigger) to bring the flywheels up to speed and then holding down the trigger.  This blaster will fire in full automatic mode or in semi-automatic mode whatever your preference is.

The blaster has two sling points which would be recommended to use as this blaster is quite difficult to wield.  The integrated front grip helps to balance out the blaster but due to the 6 C batteries required for the Nitron it is very heavy in the back.  

The blaster features only one tactical rail and this is best suited for the scope that comes with the blaster.  The scope is quite cool looking but the flashing light show is of little help for proper aiming.  The clip is simple to load and reload.  The clip release switch found above the trigger needs to be pressed down to release the clip and then a second can be inserted ready for firing.  The extra clip storage in the shoulder stock is handy for full scale battles.

This blaster is probably best suited as a suppressing type weapon with a quick firing close quarter blaster as a secondary such as a Maverick.

The fact that this blaster is fully automatic and can carry up to 40 XLR discs ready for battle makes a formidable blaster but its usability is let down by its weight and its less than subtle roar.

Usability Score - 6/10

Styling/Tacticool

The Nitron is a futuristic blaster featuring the striking green and orange of the original Vortex line.  The overall styling with the stubby front quarters and the lengthen shoulder stock (to hold the 6 C batteries) result in a unique but not overly attractive looking layout.  It is disappointing that the Nitron has only one tactical rail as this reduces the opportunities for tacticool layouts.  Because of this I believe that the best loadout for this blaster is the stock layout with centre fire scope (no loadout photos for this blaster because of this).

Styling score - 4/10

Performance

The XLR discs result in some interesting testing results.  They are reasonable accurate unless a wind is blowing as they are quick to be effected much like a mini Frisbee.  But on a calm day or indoors this blaster is very accurate, often able to hit a tight circle for well over half the XLR discs in the clip.  Out of the 30 blasters currently tested the Nitron sits in 9th place for distance.

Disc Distance (XLR Disc) - 13.4m (44 feet)

The Nitron is a fairly strong performer when fired at a flat angle it managed a maximum distance of 17m (56 feet) and a minimum distance of 13m (42 feet).  The majority of the clip (around 10 discs) landed at the 14m (46 feet) mark.

Discs fired per second - 1.32 dps

This result is somewhat disappointing for a fully automatic blaster, as the rate of fire is actually less that that of a Maverick fired quick draw styles.  This result reaffirm the need to use this blaster for suppressing purposes preferably at a distance.

Performance score - 5/10

Overall

The Nitron was the fully automatic blaster that I have owned and that alone has made it a favourite in my collection.  But the size and poor rate of fire let down the overall recommendation for this blaster.  Although these issues may be remedied by some modifications to voltage and size much like this example found at Instructables.

Overall I give this blaster a score 15/30.





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