-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- AQUATICA NEWSLETTER http://www.supersoaker.cjb.net -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Volume #1 Issue #1 March 19th, 2000 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TABLE OF CONTENTS A: ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER 1 - About the Newsletter 2 - About Aquatica B: ARTICLES 1 - Welcome to the First Official Aquatica Newsletter. 2 - SuperSoaker Classes: Making the Most of What You've Got - Bob Garces 3 - The 2000 CPS's, a reaction by Super Soaker Warrior - Nick Lowe 4 - Repairs: Save That Soaker - Framling 5 - Super Charger Triple Charge: Gimmick or good gun? - Mikah Woodward C: OTHER 1 - Advertisements 2 - Reader Input 3 - Subscribe/Unsubscribe 4 - Sponsors 5 - Thank You's -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=A=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1. About the Newsletter Designed to bring back to life the long passed spirit of the Soaked Newsletter, The Aquatica Newsletter delivers what the Soaked Newsletter in the Spring/Summer of 1998. The Aquatica Newsletter was created by fans, built by fans and done for fans, and will be released Between 1 to 4 weeks apart, depending upon the flow of information. If you would like to contribute or become a reporter to the Aquatica Newsletter, Send us an Email. Our Address is "aquaticanews@yahoo.ca" There is more information on Submitting below in Section C-2. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. About Aquatica Formed by the Webmasters of Aquatecnology and The Aqua-Nexus in September of 1999, The Aquatica Organization is set to deliver the best of service possible to the Struggling Super Soaker Onilne Community. With a Webring and Photo-Database for young websites, a Yahoo Club for discussing items on your mind, and a Newsletter to give what every SuperSoaker-Phile wants, INFORMATION, Aquatica keeps up it promise to let the Super Soaker Online Community See Progress, See Service, and See Updates... SEE AQUATICA http://www.supersoaker.cjb.net --------------------------------------------------------------------- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=B=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1. Welcome to the First Official Aquatica Newsletter Launched in the memory of the Soaked Newsletter, the Aquatica Newsletter seeks to restore the flow of information to the Online Super Soaker Community. To touch the shores that the Soaked! Newsletter did 2 years ago Today... Acting in that spirit, this Aquatica Newsletter was designed upon the Original Soaked Newsletter... The Original All text letter is quite universal for the means of reading it, and the table of contents and article layout system easy to understand... However, even though it was nicely built, Aquatica felt it needed improvement. The format of the Newsletter below is based upon the Soaked! Newsletter, with certain improvements to make it easier to access. Below, you will find whats different. Sections were given large noticable borders, and the Articles were given Borders to designate where one Article ends and the other begins. Not only that, but each article has a clearly divided Article Name/Body, so that the Articles inside can be easily found... Now Without further Delay... Go ahead and read this issues finely written articles... Because Seeing is Believing.. =See Aquatica= --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. SuperSoaker Classes: Making the Most of What You've Got. - Bob Garces So, you plan on joining/having in a waterfight. Unless you're one of the priviledged few with more money/resources, your choice of weapon will be limited. You might only have something like an XP70 or XP110 or perhaps a CPS2500, but with only one or two weapons, you may feel your options are too limited. Fact is, virtually any SuperSoaker can be used effectively in water combat if you make the most of what you do have and prey on the weaknesses of your opponents. First and foremost, you must admit your own weaknesses. Knowing your weaknesses should tell you what you are really capable of and what type of situations to avoid to prevent your opponents from taking advantage of them. Things to think about are how quickly you can run, how well you can hide, the range of your water blaster, how much water it holds, how much extra water you can comfortably carry, how quickly you can refill in the field, etc. For example, if you cannot run too quickly (perhaps due to the size of your SuperSoaker), travel with a partner. If your SuperSoaker does not carry much water, bring extra if possible or stay near to refilling stations. Most weaknesses can be compensated for using a little imagination. Different SuperSoakers have their own strengths and weaknesses. Main things to consider are how much water your weapon carries, how long it can fire before needing to be pumped and how many pumps it takes before another good shot can be taken. The Original/Classic series have a great water supply-to-water delivered ratio, meaning that they can last a long time during battle. The problem is that they do not deliver very much water at a time and their ranges tend to be more limited. These are best used for hit'n'run tactics. Always make use of higher ground if possible. The XP series have a decent water supply-to-water delivered ratio. However, their larger stream size also means that they drain their tanks more quickly. Sure that means that one can soak up an opponent fast, but, at the same time, missing is more costly. Long duration shots should be avoided unless a hit is guaranteed. The CPS series are the worst at water supply-to-water delivered ratio. As you may have read in many places, CPS weapons can drain their water reserves very quickly. Their streams are great at soaking down to underlayers with single hits but a lot of water is wasted if your stream misses. For CPS weapons, make use of their greater range and firepower but use short bursts only. These weapons also take awhile to fully charge so minimize wild-fire and make each shot count. The SC series lies somewhere between the XP series and CPS series in terms of water supply-to-water delievered. Their strength lies in the ability to quickcharge but this is only applicable at a QFD-fitted station. These weapons are most effectively used near to active QFDs. Granted, the above paragraphs generalize the different SuperSoaker series. To determine how your own weapon will fare in battle, you should practice using it. Get to know its weight when full and empty. Know how long or hard it is to refill it, charge it, carry it, etc. Knowing the quirks of your own weapon will allow you to face off even against someone with a larger weapon who may be less experienced in its use. Of course, if they also know what they are doing, a larger weapon will pose a larger threat to your dryness but that is when one should take advantage of their pump times, aim, etc. As you can see, weapon knowledge is the beginning to soaking with impunity, but not the end. However, it is always a good idea to start with what one has and maximize its potential before worrying about what the others have. Start with this and one will fare well in any water war. (Close-quarter soaking will be discussed at a future date.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The 2000 CPS's, a reaction by Super Soaker Warrior. - Nick Lowe By now, some of us have at least seen some sign of the presence of this year's new soakers. Whether it be the reviews on the Aqua-Nexus and Aquatechnology, or actually seeing or purchasing one at your local department store, the 2000 Soakers are here and they're here to stay. So far, I've been one of the lucky ones to see, purchase and test a 2000 Soaker and I must admit, I don't see any of the differences that we thought we'd see when we first looked at the New Soakers at SuperSoaker.com on January 1st. So far my eyes have been graced with the presence of 5 of the new Soakers (Sadly, no Monsters yet). They are as follows: XP 270, XP 310, CPS 1200, CPS 1700 and the SuperCharger Big Trouble. Although the XPs look like their capacities have been increased by 25% like their boxes say, I cease to think the CPSs were so lucky. On January 1st, 2000, we saw the New Blasters for the first time. Some were beautiful, some were ugly, and some were big... Actually, they all looked big.. And they sounded absolutely huge after reading SuperSoaker.com's Capacity reports. 100oz for the 1200 (Compared to 1000's 77oz), 127oz for the 1700 (Compared to 1500's 105oz), 165oz for 2700(CPS 2500 - 105oz), and 3200, well a backpack's a backpack. Not only did the capacities look high, but the guns looked bigger as well. This was great for a next generation of blasters, these guns sounded like they could get a whole extra shot per load - but worst of all, they posed a GREAT threat to the existing 1998 Series CPSs which held noticably less than their newer counterparts. Funny though, isn't it? They sounded like they could get an extra shot per load, but nobody noticed that the extra shot was already in the pressure tank. When I brought home my first 2000 CPS, the CPS 1700 (now called "Beserker"), I put it right next to Mr. Grinch(My 1500) and immediately looked for differences... Besides the obvious color change and the sticker logos, it was a mirror match. When I finally got to do the benchmark for the gun, a sickening reality dawned on me that told me that things weren't all they were cracked up to be. My second benchmark of the CPS 1200 proved my theory correct.. SuperSoaker.com had used the Fill-Pump-Fill method for their posted measurements... The extra 20+ Ounces of H2O that made each gun sound bigger was from the pressure tank. Now I don't mean to sound like the 2000 CPS Soakers are stupid. In fact, they're not. (Well, the colours on the other hand... err.. nevermind). I'm just a little disappointed that the 2000s won't be supplying that little bit of extra shot time and shots per tankload that we all crave for in the thick of battle. But size isn't everything. Two of the New CPS weapon's look like Direct rips from their 1998 Counter Parts, 1500/1700, and 3000/3200. This can be viewed as disappointing, but really, they kept the styles of 2 of the most popular 1998 CPSs. Cheaper for Larami - true - but for the most part, they're maintaining the image of the Good Guns. Firstly, who wouldn't forget the ghastly visage of the Super Soakers that intimidated them on the battle field, what Super Soaker maniac has never craved for the sheer size of the 3000, or the Wide Adaptability of the CPS 1500? They are the same people who will go into stores this Spring to buy those same soakers that oppressed them, when they find that the one gun they're looking for has gone the way of the Dodo and have been replaced by hunks of plastic they've never seen before. By Recreating the 1500 and 3000, Water Gun Shoppers will find exactly what they're looking for - even though it looks a little off-coloured. As for current fans of the 1500 and 3000, they can know that they can always grab a new one if their beloved pet water gun ever kicks the bucket. Lets Look at the Changes Shall we... CPS 1200: Almost the same size as the CPS 1000, with a radically new look. This puppy sports a half second more shot time than the CPS 1000, Half a Shot/Tankload more, and 200mL more in the Reservoir. In fortunatley, these differences are set too closely together to give the 1200 any real advantage over the 1000, the guns excellent likeness to the 1000 improves upon the already best all around Super Soaker. Will the 1200 become the new Best All around Super Soaker? We shall see... CPS 1700: Like the 1500? Like it alot? Want a New Paint job on it? Then 1700's your gun... The 1700 Provides absolutely no difference from the 1500, except for maybe a bit more range, and a few improvements to the structure to make the 1700 more reliable than it's shoddy predecessor. It feels a bit more solid anyway.. CPS 2700: This gun bears no resemblance to its predecessor. It looks like an OverGrown 1500. It is also the only fully new CPS of the Bunch. How well does it work? I have no more than a few clues at the moment, but I would sure like to know.. So far, All reports say this is an excellent gun, and could very well be the best CPS released this year. CPS 3200: We already know what this gun is saying to us, "Huge, BIG, I soak people like they were nothing". CPS 3000 said that to us. Now, 3200 also says "Cheesey Paint Job". What are the Differences besides the Colours and the Plastic Backpack? The Quick-Filling BackPack.. Yes, it doesn't Charge the whole gun, but the Backpack can be refilled without taking it off. I also suspect that because of this, the pack was made plastic instead of its former Rubber Bag in a Bookbag... I can hear what you're saying.. "What? No Improvements from Last year? No new innovative CPS sizeing or Nozzles? No 20x on the 2700?". Maybe this will jog your memory. In 1998, the CPS Line replaced the Pioneering CPS 2000. The CPSs now cam in all shapes and sizes, but none were quite as powerful as the CPS 2000 was. Larami had clearly reduced the power the CPSs had in the New lines.. It could be alot worse. The new CPSs could all have 2x nozzles, SC600-like power and XP-90-like range. They could be Ugly looking puky coloured half-beasts that would fail to hold their ground against older CPSs. Instead, only the puky coloured part is true. In fact, Last fall, on the MiB Chat board we even doubted the CPSs would return in 2000. The new CPSs may not be bigger than before, but they are the same... And I think that's the best thing we could have hoped for. If you want a bigger CPS, pay the extra for the Monster XL when it comes available... But really, if you look at the capacity specs, The Monsters hold less than the Biggest CPSs. Of course thats just my opinion... --------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Repairs: Save That Soaker - Framling Hey, all you wacky watergun toting.....umm....insert plural noun here! It's me, Framling, with the first in a hopefully somewhat regular series of columnmnmns generally having something to do with some kind of repairs. (I'm not making any guarantees about my ability to stay on the topic.) Anyway, as this is the inaugural issue of this newsletter, it's obviously also the inaugural issue of this columnmnmn. Since this columnmnmn is "about" repairs, let's get started with the repairs. Today, I woke up at eleven or so. I decided, not having school today and all, that I would do some repair work on my supersoakers. I'd better just stop right now and say this. DISCLAIMER: It's not my fault. If you try something I tried here and it doesn't work, don't complain to me. Odds are, it didn't work for me, either. So I have enough problems. Wait for me to tell you how it turns out before you try it yourself. Anyway, now that that unpleasantness is over with, let go on to the repairs. The first order of business: The pump shaft on my 110 was broken. Again... This is the third or fourth time this has happened. Note to reader: SuperGlue, in my experience, is utterly useless on SuperSoakers. Anyway, this time, I took a different approach. Lately, I've been using this sealant crap called Goop to do my repairs with. What I did was I found that a Bic EraserMate II Blue Erasable Ink Pen fits perfectly into the hollow space of my 110's pump shaft. So, I put that badboy in there and gooped it all up, cut off the extra, and called it good. I haven't gotten a chance to test it yet, though, as you have to let Goop cure for at least 24 hours. More info will follow on that account. But anyway, on to more repairs. Next on the agenda was my 150. For some reason, my 150 had taken it upon itself to leak like a...like a.... like something that leaks a lot. So, I began to open it up. The 150 is a very tricky specimen to open up. Not only are there.....(counting)....a lot of screws, there are two, count 'em, two ring thingies (technical term, try to stay with me) holding it together. So, I undid all the screws, keeping track of them by drawing the gun on a piece of paper, then punching the screw through in the approximate position on the drawing that they were on the gun. Then, I used my jackknife and haphazardly chipped away at the o-rings. Many moons later, or at least it felt that way, I finally managed it pull it apart. Now, the 150 is a very strangely built gun. Most guns have to halves. The 150, when divided into it's two halves, can then be further divided into four chunks. Two barrel halves, and two main body halves. Creepy. Anyway, I finally got the thing apart, and I found the problem. One of the pressure tanks had evidently decided it was time to crack. Actually, It wasn't the tank itself. It was the base that the pressure tank attaches to. So, I gooped up thoroughly. It took a lot, because the crack was both below and above the washer on the pressure tank. Take one apart and you'll know what I'm talking about. Anyway, I gooped it up and now, all that's left is to let it cure. Allright, kids, what did we learn today? 1. I get up late on weekends. 2. Keep track of screw with a picture. 3. It's not my fault. 4. Bic EraserMate II Blue Erasable Ink Pens have many uses. 5. Taking apart Supersoakers isn't as scary as everyone thinks it is. 6. It's not my fault. 7. Goop is a funny word, but a good sealant. 8. Taking apart a XP 150 is hard and takes a long time. 9. I don't know how to spell columnmnmnnmnmmnmnnmnmn. 10. It's not my fault. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Super Charger Triple Charge: Gimmick or good gun? - Mikah Woodward That was not the question on my mind when I bought the SCTC, but it probably should have been. There are several problems with this gun that I overlooked when I decided to buy the gun. First of all, the tanks are rather small. They only hold 28oz, or in metric, about 826mL per tank. Altogether, you have 84 oz. or 2.478L. This may seem like a lot, but you have to take the time to change tanks. That can be a big problem in the heat of a waterfight. Being forced to change tanks when you have a CPS 1000 aimed at your head is not a good idea. The whole pressurized backup tank idea is, in my opinion, pretty dumb. Instead of one 84 oz. tank, they have three 28 oz. tanks. This means, instead of spending lots of time firing, you're spending lots of time reloading. Also, the tanks have a tendency to slowly lose pressure when not in the gun. You're carrying the weight of 84 oz. anyway, so why not have it all in the gun instead of only 1/3 in the gun and 2/3 of it attached to your belt? In conclusion, the SCTC was doomed when it was in the planning stages. Why they released this thing, I have no idea. It's on par with the XP 90 and XP 85. --------------------------------------------------------------------- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=C=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1. Advertisements Visit Aquatica Yahoo Club! - http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/aquatica Nexus Newswire on the Aqua-Nexus - Your Prime Source of Super Soaker Information --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Reader Input If you would like to make a submission to the Aquatica Newsletter, or join on as an Aquatica News Reporter, send us an Email at "aquaticanews@yahoo.ca". Include the information you want us to post, your name, your Email address, and anything else you think we should know. All Information is Very Welcome.. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Subscribe/Unsubscribe Want to subscribe to the Aquatica Newsletter? Visit the Newsletter section of the Aquatica Website - "http://www.supersoaker.cjb.net". If you want to unsubscribe from this Newsletter, there should be information about it at the bottom. OR Send us an Email asking to unsubscribe at "aquaticanews@yahoo.ca". --------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Sponsors Listbot - Thanks for the Mail List Server. Aqua-Nexus and Aquatechnology - Co-Founders of Aquatica --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Thank You's Larami - For the Awesome Line of Super Soakers.. Soaked Newsletter - For Pioneering the Super Soaker Newsletter. --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Aquatica" Copyright 1999, 2000 Aqua-Nexus/Aquatechnology "Aqua-Nexus" Copyright 1999, 2000 Aqua-Nexus "Aquatechnology" Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000 Aquatechnology