B.L. Tech BOSS Update

[PureSilver]

I figure this already has a News thread somewhere, but I can't find it and it's probably months or even years out of date. At any rate, we finally have an update on the elusive B.L. Tech Ballistic Ordnance Sound System, or BOSS for short. As before, this is a system designed to simulate the sound of a gunshot using the ignition of propane in air. B.L. Tech have been teasing this product for more than two years now, but it looks like we're finally making it into the home straight. Here's the original video demonstrating the system in action:
 

 

B.L. Tech have recently embarked on a tour of the US, and conducted a few interviews. You can watch their appearance on AirsoftGI's chat show here, but if you'd prefer not waste 45 minutes of your precious time watching someone give Twitter shoutouts, here are the salient facts:

• Estimated retail price is $600 per BOSS. That's not fixed, but it's the anticipated price point.
• The BOSS is compatible with all AEGs, and appears to have a Burst-Wizard-like system that is inserted between the gun's battery and the gun's own harness to determine when the gun is being fired.
• The BOSS is ready for mass production, but isn't yet in mass production. They still don't have a release date, but the US will get the BOSS before Europe. It looks to me like we should expect this in Q4 2016 at the earliest, and more likely 2017.
• The M203 version of the BOSS is the only one scheduled for release at present - the 'PEQ box' version is not currently in development and its potential release is wholly dependent on the success or lack thereof of the M203 version.
• It appears that only a QD RIS-attached version of the BOSS is scheduled for release, not a replica of the more common fixed M203.
• The BOSS is powered by the gun's own battery but is not anticipated to cause significant extra load.
• The BOSS is filled with propane much like a GBB magazine, and should get multiple thousands of shots (I think they're quoting 5,000-8,000) per fill.
• The BOSS will be fully programmable via smartphone App or button press combinations to adjust it for the rate of fire you wish to simulate (e.g. 15RPS for an M4, 13RPS for an M249, 40rps for an M134), regardless of what your AEG actually shoots. They don't elaborate on how many modes there'll be.
• The BOSS has a thermal protection sensor that will shut it off if it exceeds a preset temperature. Obviously the combustion of propane is exothermic and generates a considerable amount of heat.
• The BOSS is fitted with an RFID system that you will have to use to enable it every time you turn it on. This is apparently to discourage theft.

Here's a recent 'impressions' video; you can see a fairly substantial muzzle flash:
 

 

Here's a photo of the pre-production unit:
 

 

If you're interested, follow them on their own website, Facebook, YouTube and Google+ for more information.

[Cire_]

It really would do amazing things to milsin events, but sure hope they can make a better solution then m203 in the end. Something not high tech so you can have it on old style AK

[renegadecow]

Maybe they can adapt it for GBBs too like maybe a muzzle device that ignites the residual propane.

[PureSilver]

To be honest while I'm excited by it, I'm also a bit disappointed - the price is very, very high, and it doesn't meet the requirements I'd like (i.e., being a 1:1 replica of any actual grenade launcher). I'd be much more inclined to buy one if these were $300, or if they were $600 and fit into a 40mm shell, so I could put them into any existing grenade launcher I wanted.
 
I'm also not all that convinced by the options on offer. Some of them (adjusting for ambient conditions etc.) seem critical, but some of the others (the RFID system, for example) seem a bit overblown. I'm tempted to see if a drop-in conversion can be developed for a G&P M203; the components (FCU, solenoid, transformer/coil and spark plug) are extremely simple.
 

Maybe they can adapt it for GBBs too like maybe a muzzle device that ignites the residual propane.

 
I think you need the 'echo chamber' effect to get a decent noise, but the key problem is the stoichiometric ratio of propane to air. What's coming down the barrel of a GBB is almost all propane, presumably; you actually need 23.9:1 air:propane by volume, and it's very narrow - you won't get reliable combustion much either side of that.

[hitmanNo2]

$600?  I don't think we'll have to worry about skirmishes sounding like war zones any time soon.  Hopefully they can refine it to a more accurate launcher and bring the price down in the future.

[renegadecow]

Maybe that's in kangaroo dollars?

 

I think you need the 'echo chamber' effect to get a decent noise, but the key problem is the stoichiometric ratio of propane to air. What's coming down the barrel of a GBB is almost all propane, presumably; you actually need 23.9:1 air:propane by volume, and it's very narrow - you won't get reliable combustion much either side of that.

I'm pretty sure that thing injects pure propane as well and simply uses the fixed vents on the side of the tube to aspirate it. So something the size of a suppressor should work and has that chamber to resonate the sound. At best maybe it will sound like a real suppressed .223 running subsonics.

[hitmanNo2]

Still, nearly £300.

[PureSilver]

Maybe that's in kangaroo dollars?

 

Unfortunately it's USD; that's £400.

 

I'm pretty sure that thing injects pure propane as well and simply uses the fixed vents on the side of the tube to aspirate it. So something the size of a suppressor should work and has that chamber to resonate the sound. At best maybe it will sound like a real suppressed .223 running subsonics.

 

Yeah, I think it probably does use venturis or something similar to draw in air with every injection. There's no premix chamber, for sure. A suppressor-style item might work but bear in mind the effect of a shockwave travelling back down the barrel and into the nozzle; I fear not much good would come of that. I'd definitely be interested to see it tried...

[BioRage]

$600?! Pass, THAT and it's not even a PEQ box, oh and I also only run GBB's so..

 

That being said, even at $200 USD, I don't think many people would buy this.

 

Had high hopes for that, but for $600 mmmmmmmmmmm 

 

[hitmanNo2]

If I ran AEGs and at $200 I'd go for it I think.  It does look pretty damn fun. Are there any vids of it at max rps?

[3vi1-D4n]

Having seen this work on our fields, it is definitely cool. Prototype had No issues in dry conditions but had not been in a torrential downpour until that day, which would've killed all mosfet systems anyways. In other games, the noise issue was enough to get the neighbours and councils involved for noise pollution at one of the sites on a farm 70 km from city.

 

Is it worth $600? Given the R&D and production is in a very small first world country with minimal labour force and limited mass production capabilities, $600 price tag is reasonable considering oxyacetylene machinegun sound fx units are similar in price made in the US. But knowing most airsofters get into Airsoft because it is cheap, $600 is high, but in my opinion, worth it. It's worth to note that this is a small ambitious startup with 4 years in the making, and most of the revenue will go to the R&d of the PEQ unit.

[TheEgo]

At a $600 price point your targeting the upper end of the market. Dare I say mainly Milsim.

 

I would be very interested in getting one even at the high price point. But it doesn't look nice.

A unit that looks realistic or could fit in any 40mm launcher maybe with a few mods for what looked like the side vents I think would gain more interest from the Milsim community.

 

I hope they do sell well and version 2 comes out that suits my needs.

[BioRage]

At a $600 price point your targeting the upper end of the market. Dare I say mainly Milsim.

 

I would be very interested in getting one even at the high price point. But it doesn't look nice.

A unit that looks realistic or could fit in any 40mm launcher maybe with a few mods for what looked like the side vents I think would gain more interest from the Milsim community.

 

I hope they do sell well and version 2 comes out that suits my needs.

 

For the serious milsim-er's that run PVS-14's and 15s, and what not, I highly doubt they would run something like this to give away their position..

 

Just saying.

[blobface]

For the serious milsim-er's that run PVS-14's and 15s, and what not, I highly doubt they would run something like this to give away their position..

 

I think people that run pvs-14s / 15s might be able to appreciate the realism aspect of once you start firing, people will know your position. However, they might not appreciate that fact that they have a M203 attached to their gun that doesn't fire TAG rounds... 

[shmook]

It sounds ace, but at that price...

 

They'll probably sell about 4 before they decide to give up. 600 bux to make toys sound more bangy-bangy? Dreamland, unfortunately.

[thatguy404]

Everyone is going to hate that one guy at the cqb site hosing it on 40rps....

 

That aside 400 quid is steep. Still nice to see some Innovation.

Wonder how. Insurance views this..

[Brigg]

Unfortunately I would have to agree, though I thought it was kinda cool when it was first announced. They've priced themselves out of the market..Even assuming the price is in AUD, thats still $433 USD (assuming its not USD). given that price one could buy a really nice AEG or almost any GBB. For what is essentially a gimmick that doesnt even look the part, i cant see it going well.

 

But hey, good luck to them anyway. Its at least an original idea.

[blobface]

Wonder how. Insurance views this..

 

Maybe this gun would run on pyro rules... once it goes off, everyone in the room are hit. 

[hitmanNo2]

Become the most hated player at your site for only $600 ha ha.

[Im going space]

Ah that's a shame. I was well looking forward to this. But $600 is too much.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[TheFull9]

As per usual, every airsoft release is too expensive.

 

D4n got it right IMO, in this miniscule cottage industry that is airsoft, developing new *suitcase* is a nightmare.  Honestly I'm surprised anything ever changes at all in this game; though when 99.5% of players are still running around with basically the exact same gun as Marui Man, one could argue nothing's really changed since the invention of the AEG.  I don't personally agree with the "priced themselves out of the market" sort of view because somehow I highly doubt there was a viable option of setting the RRP at 300USD and they were just like 'nah bruv'.

 

Overall, I'm honestly surprised it's even making it to market at all.  Sadly I have to say I think the weight, aesthetics and functionality (taking up the place of an actual launcher) combined with the price will make for problems.  An awful lot of the folks who're actually willing to pay the entry fee will be looking for a faithful replica of a 203.  It's the budget end of the market for the most part that isn't terribly fussed about appearances and 'small details'.

 

Everyone remember this?

 

http://www.incentivedesigns.co.uk/#!scene-1--venon/c1soa

 

Yeah, few similarities in overall philosophy?

 

Ever actually see one at your skirmish fields or sim events?

[hitmanNo2]

That Venom thing is pretty pants though.

[PureSilver]

Even assuming the price is in AUD, thats still $433 USD (assuming its not USD). given that price one could buy a really nice AEG or almost any GBB.

 

I should have been more specific - that's 600USD, not NZD (they're from New Zealand, not Australia); it's 885NZD.

 

I would be very interested in getting one even at the high price point. But it doesn't look nice.

A unit that looks realistic or could fit in any 40mm launcher maybe with a few mods for what looked like the side vents I think would gain more interest from the Milsim community.

 

Sadly I have to say I think the weight, aesthetics and functionality (taking up the place of an actual launcher) combined with the price will make for problems.  An awful lot of the folks who're actually willing to pay the entry fee will be looking for a faithful replica of a 203.  It's the budget end of the market for the most part that isn't terribly fussed about appearances and 'small details'.

 

Hit the nail on the head for me. If this was a perfect 1:1 replica of an M203, or a drop-in conversion for G&P's M203s, I'd be all over it even at $600. But at $600 I'm not compromising on the appearance of it, and I suspect the rest of the top end of the market is going to be in a similar position. I think they've missed their mark somewhat in its construction; I can't imagine that they gained so much from being able to make their own externals that it cancelled out the huge cost benefit of using donor parts that cost peanuts.

 

That Venom thing is pretty pants though.

 

Agreed.

[3vi1-D4n]

I think people that run pvs-14s / 15s might be able to appreciate the realism aspect of once you start firing, people will know your position. However, they might not appreciate that fact that they have a M203 attached to their gun that doesn't fire TAG rounds... 

 

We have guys with BOSS and TAG.  You can't use TAG in close country (bush warfare), the BOSS works well for group ambushes and assaults ("*suitcase* hits the fan" factor on the enemy). 

 

The BOSS unit isn't for those who prefer to sneak around.  It is designed to provide battlefield ambiance and a pyschological effect over the enemy when used in teams.

 

I had guys who were rehearsing a Break contact drills with the BOSS units while I was 100m away trying to deliver orders on a mudmap, it was very distracting but satisfying.

 

BTW its New Zealand, not Australia.  We don'thave kangaroos here

[TheFull9]

That Venom thing is pretty pants though.

 

Heh, well personally I think ID actually did a decent job overall.  Given the form factor it gives off an impressive muzzle flash IMHO and when it first hit the market it was all over the 'big' airsoft YouTube channels getting touted by all the famous types who only over showcase stuff they've been given for free, just as the BOSS is at the moment (though ofc I am just jelly because I hardly ever get stuff for free).