Tokyo Marui – JGSDF Type 89

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Manufacturer: Tokyo Marui (Japan)
Type: AEG
Date Acquired: 07/2006

I'm rather surprised on the popularity of the Type 89 outside of Japan. Already a few reviews out on this rifle. But hopefully here I can go over some facts that were missed on other reviews.


Tokyo Marui Type 89

Real Steel Info:

Type 89 rifle is a select-fire, gas-operated, rotating bolt firearm. The gas action and bolt group is somewhat similar to USA-designed AR-18 rifle, manufactured by HOWA under license from Armalite Co (USA). Type 89 rifle has receiver made from stamped steel, polymer furniture and flip-up aperture rear sights. It also has lightweight folding bipod. The type 89 was adopted by the JGSDF in 1989 thus the name Type 89.

The airsoft version has a full metal receiver, outer barrel, bipod, front and rear sights. Also includes the version 8 Mechbox which has mechanical 3 round burst. You can actually feel trigger feedback form the gearbox. 1 downside is the bipod scratches up the outer barrel when used.


Stock too short for 8.4 large battery ;(

The rifle takes a stick type battery in the foregrip , but also has a storage compartment in the rear stock that can fit a spare stick battery. The stock is too short to accommodate a large battery. It would appear that there was enough room but you'd have to hollow out the stock too much and affect the overall rigidity of the rifle. The foregrip battery compartment is only large enough for an 8.4 stick battery. The Laylax Battery Sling and Nitro V.O Battery Box + TM T89 Scope Mount are a viable and workable options for a larger battery.


Tokyo Marui Type 89 – With open issue of Toyguns Field from 02/2004.

You may think that the metal body, type 8 mechbox and other features of the Type 89 are new for TM. The reality of it is, Tokyo Marui made/delivered these for the Japanese Army (JGSDF) back in 2003. The above picture shows the 02/04 issue of Toyguns Field Magazine reporting on this. Fortunately, we consumers are seeing close to the same version the JGSDF had delivered.


Tokyo Marui Type 89 – M16 Mag Tests

I tested a few different M16 style magazines to make sure they worked. The magazines tested are:

  • Tokyo Marui Standard Magazine
  • Tokyo Marui Hi-cap Magazine
  • G&P Illuminated Tracer Magazine (Illumination worked fine)
  • MAG 100 round Mid-cap Magazine
  • Start 30 round Low-cap Magazine
  • DTP Electric C-Mag


Tokyo Marui Type 89 – with DTP Electric C-mag

All magazines worked flawlessly. The fit is a little odd if your used to the M16/M14 style of magwells, but it's something to get used to.


J.S.D.F. Family Shot. TM Type 89, P220, J.G.S.D.F. Modern BDU's, J.G.S.D.F./Iraq Ranger 1st Airborne Brigade T-Shirt. Other JGSDF goodies here.

Just chrono'd the gun. Pleasantly surprised with the results.

Tokyo Marui Type 89 Chrono Results (FPS)
.20 BB's
Min: 287.15
Max: 296.72
Avg: 291.36

Update 08/13/2006

Just a reliability update. This gun is still shooting as when it was brand new. 3 shot burst is working 100% and fps is still with a slight average increase.. Have shot a few hundred rounds through it so far and always using a mix of Armalite style mags.

Update 08/18/2006

First set of accessories came in!


Tokyo Marui Type 89 – with Type 89 Scope Mount and Left Side Selector.

Both Scope Mount and Left Side Selector are all metal. Typical TM high quality and installation instructions are in both Japanese and English.


Tokyo Marui Type 89 – with 1" Tube Reddot


Tokyo Marui Type 89 – with EOTech… I'm still thinking if this is a good combo ;P


Tokyo Marui Type 89 – Left Side Selector.

As you can see in the above pic the Left Side Selector enables right handers to thumb switch.

Update 04/2008

As really no surprise, the Type 89 never really caught on outside of Japan. But this doesn’t mean TM Type 89 3rd party add-on development has stopped. Still very hard to find TM Type 89, Version 8 Mechbox specific internal upgrades. Frontier Japan has made some nice TM Type 89 add-ons:

  • Type 89 R.I.S. Foregrip, Type 89 Side Folding M4 Stock Adapter

Reference Material:

Update 03/2010

First Factory has recently produced some accessories for the Type 89. R.I.S.and rear stocks. I picked up the EBR style stock.


First Facotry – Type 89 EBR Stock

 

Toy Soldier – Swimmers Headset

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With Military Style PTT (Talkabout Version)
Manufacturer: Toy Soldier (Hong Kong)
Type: Electronics
Date Acquired: 08/2006

The Toy Soldier Swimmer Headset With Military Style PTT (Talkabout Version) is a replica of the Selex TASC1 Headset. This version is made by Toy Soldier, the same guys that makes 12" Military Figures.


Toy Soldier Swimmer Headset With Military Style PTT (Talkabout Version)

I purchased this from Den Trinity in Hong Kong. The model I ordered was the Motorola Talkabout version and worked flawlessly out of box. This headset is PTT (Push to Talk) and the PTT switch is visually modeled after the the real version, but functionally it's just a pressure switch.


Toy Soldier Swimmer Headset With Military Style PTT (Talkabout Version)

The headset has 3 velcro adjustable straps and can be work over or under caps and under boonies and helmets. This is a single sided left ear piece. The boom mic works well and there are no obvious wiring problems with the unit (The tell tale "crackling" when wires and and connector shift position) I'm not going to purposely test the Toy Soldier version of headset for it being waterproof though.


Toy Soldier Swimmer Headset

Under helmet you have to thread the boom and cabling through the left side of the para style chin strap. But its very comfortable when all is in place. I prefer a headset over a throat mic. It's a very positive physical connection and visually you can direct your voice volume towards the boom mic rather then pushing on neck sensors.


Toy Soldier Swimmer Headset
and MBITR Dummy Radio

Edit Aug 2006.

I scored the Toy Soldier Dummy Radio to go with the Swimmers Headset. First off, it's HUGE it will not fit into my BHI radio pouch ;( It also turns out my specific Motorola Talkabout won't fit within the unit ;( And unlike what Dentrinity's description of this Dummy Radio as a BB holder… it won't even work well as that! But it looks good on the collection shelf form a distance ;P


Toy Soldier Swimmer Headset
and MITBR Dummy Radio

Here are the usable internal dimensions of the Dummy radio:

1.9375 inches Wide
8.125 inches Tall
1.25 inches Deep

EOTech 511 and 553 Holographic Weapon Sight

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Manufacturer: EOTech (USA)
Type: Holographic Weapon Sight

With the assistance of AEX… I finally bit the bullet… Brought home the EOTech 511.A65 Holographic Weapon Sight.


EOTech 551.A65 Mounted on M4-S System

So the big questions are:

Q: Is it worth $350.00+???
A: If you can afford it, then yes. But for airsoft players with limited budgets, the Chinese copy aimpoints and redots work just fine.

Q: Are the optics that much better then a sub $100.00 reddot?
A: Yes, build wise this things rugged and was built to take a beating. If the lens gets damaged, the holographic dot will try and work on a non damaged portion of the lens. It's waterproof and since it was built for real steel rifles, very shock proof. The holographic dot is drawn by a laser against a holographic coated lense.  Most other red dot systems use led's reflecting on a lense.  The holographic image is extremly bright shows up easily in direct sunlight with 20 levels of adjustment.


EOTech 551.A65 Mounted on M4-S System

I went with the N size battery model for the shorter looks. The AA version while physically longer, has a much longer battery life.


EOTech 551.A65 Mounted on M4-S System

Features:

  • Waterproof 10 feet or 33 feet depending on model
  • 4 or 8 Hour Auto Shutdown
  • 200 Hour (N Battery) or 1100 Hour  (AA Battery) Battery Life
  • Reticle is 65 MOA ring with 1 MOA dot.


EOTech 551.A65 Mounted on MK46 Mod0 (M249 Para with rails)


EOTech 551.A65 Mounted on MK46 Mod0 closeup


EOTech 551.A65 Operator View in direct sunlight.


EOTech 551 Scopecoat


EOTech 551 Scopecoat

AEX Bruiser's EOTech 553
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EOTech 553 Flat Dark Earth

The EOTech 553 features:

  • Integrated dual A.R.M.S. quick release throw levers.
    Powered by two 123 lithium batteries
    7mm raised base to provide consistant cheek weld with all other standardized optics
    66 feet water submersibility
    Waterproof, fogproof, shockproof, and temperature proof
    Battery cup tether
    Gen I-III+ Night Vision Compatible
    20 brightness levels
    Reticle pattern with 65 MOA and 1 MOA aiming dot
    SOPMOD Block 2 program approved


EOTech 553 Flat Dark Earth.

G&P M16 Illuminated Tracer Magazine

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Manfacturer: G&P


G&P M16 Illuminated Tracer Magazine

The G&P Tracer magazine uses an internal LED to charge light into special tracer BB's. I grabbed a few bags of Excel orange tracers and had an old bag of .12 green tracer rounds. Once you insert the magazine and lock it in the magwell, the LED is on. The longer your wait until you fire, the brighter the bb's will glow. The LED does a suprisingly good job of charging the special bb's with light.

One design flaw is the LED sit's up at the magazines' opening. If you try alternate rounds (i.e 1 tracer bb, 5 reg bbs, 1 tracer bb, 5 reg bbs, etc, etc) the regular bb's will block the LED's light from the rest of the tracer bb's inline in the magazine. It's best to laod the entire magazine with tracer bb's. Fortunatley there is no LED light externally visible when the mag is in place and on.

The unit ships with 3 "N" size batteries but can also be powered by 2 AAA batteries (Not confirmed yet).

The unit is supposed to take 130bbs, but it got difficult to load any more then 115. And.. I'm sad to confirm typical G&P weak spring. left 6-10 bbs in the mag, but no misfeeds.

MAG M4 Midcaps w/HK Markings

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Manufacturer: MAG


MAG M4 100 round Midcaps w/HK Markings

HK marked M4 mags??? I think you can guess what my next project is.


MAG M4 100 round Midcaps w/HK Markings

You get 8 mags in the set. Each magazine will carry 97-101 bb's and the spring is very strong compared to the Star 30 round low caps and G&P 130 round mid caps. Each magazine is molded plastic and accordingly very light in weight. The markings are crisp and esy to read.

Star S-Point Red Dot Sight

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Manufacturer: http://www.starairsoft.com


Star S-Point Sight Mounted on a G36c

I wanted to get a compact red dot that sat low profile enough to use the iron sight on my G36c. The Star S-Point fille dthe requirement.

The Star S-Point is a clone of the Zeiss Z-Point sight. Physically it's a good copy. Functionally there's room for improvement even among the many red dot copies out there.

There is only 1 brightness setting which is either on or off, adn the body seem sto be mostly made of plastic. I'm also a but worried about the durability of the spring loaded rail clamp and even the sigle button switch.


Star S-Point Sight Mounted on a G36c

Overall, get this sight for looks alone. Functionality wise, a Guarder or King Arms Aimpoint clone at least has variable brightness.

Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 and 4.3

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Manufacturer: Tokyo Marui (Japan)
Type: GBB

Scored 2 of the TM Hi-Capa GBB pistols today. I've always held Tokyo Marui in high regards when it comes to their GBB line of pistols. While these are not the highend replicas like Western Arms makes, these have always been good quality, affordable and above average in performance straight out of the box. The other nice part of any Tokyo Marui guns, are how many 3rd party upgrades are available shortly after the guns release. Like my other TM GBB's (Glock 26 Advance, Desert Eagle .50, MK23) these guns handle Green Gas w/o any modification.

The 5.1 is the original Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa and the 4.3 is the compact version. These are both 1911 style, single action, high capacity style guns.


Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa's and the usual TM packging design

Even though the are the same base gun, there are differences between the 2 guns. Main differences are:

 
Hi-Capa 5.1
Hi-Capa 4.3
Length
5" Barrel
4" Barrel
Magazine Capacity
31
28
Rear Sight
Tactical Adjustable
Fixed
Safety
Double Sided
Single Sided
Grip Safety
Beaver Tail
Short Tactical
Rail Mount
Optional but Included
Yes
Lanyard Mount
No
Yes


Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1


Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 4.3


Made some additions…

  • Prime SV Infinity Metal Slide
  • King Arms 150% Slide and Hammer spring
  • Guarder Performance Valve
  • NineBall SAS Striker Front End Set
  • Just Delta Silencer

Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 Chrono Results (FPS)
.20 BB's
Min: 301.85
Max: 331.3
Avg: 322.65

Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 4.3 Chrono Results (FPS)
.20 BB's
Min: 282.8
Max: 316.23
Avg: 311.45