Post by dragonm on May 5, 2008 21:18:40 GMT -5
I decided to copy my review from here mainly because that site doesn't get much traffic. I figured it would be helpful to some of you.
CYMA years before offered you weak, plastic gearbox, easily destroyed airsoft guns. Today, CYMA offers you decent, metal gearbox, durable airsoft guns.
Starting off with their lovely CM.027 MP5, they offer great alternatives to their originals. After the CM.027, they offered the CM.028 AK-47 followed by the CM.030 Glock 18C and the CM.031 AK-74. Every model after it's predecessor improved except for the CM.030 due to it being a pistol.
After the CM.031, which was claimed to last 100,000 rounds stock, CYMA released the CM.032 M14. The CM.032 M14 was a great gun. It included a tightbore which offered phenomenal accuracy. Where there was no metal, there was great plastic.
Now, as logic states... the CM.033 Thompson should have come out after the CM.032 M14. As the pattern seemed to show, it should have been better than the CM.032 M14. Does it?
No.
The CM.033 is a special gun. Apart from the naming and release date, it's first batch was bought by Cybergun. That's right! Cybergun! The French distributer-like company that everyone hates because they take advantage of the rights they earned! Cybergun was hated so much, that people even were crazy enough to believe that a boycott of them would bring them down. Sadly, our friends who ran the Cybergun Boycott site has decided to bring it down most likely because they figured out the task would be almost impossible. The ironic thing is that they claim Cybergun is hurting airsoft when in fact that by boycotting Cybergun, you ruin their sales. By ruining their sales, you also ruin their manufacturers! Without your manufacturers, how do you plan for your guns to be made?
But enough of this Cybergun Boycotting subject. Anyways, I remember back in the day where the CYMA Thompson was anticipated. That was sometime around April 2007. I was going to go to Hong Kong in June, and planned to get it. It just so happens that when I arrive there the first week of June, they weren't out yet. I had then decided to break my clone habit and buy a Tokyo Marui Thompson.
Great! I loved the Thompson! Three weeks later, I arrive at the Airsoft Haven in Hong Kong again and what do you know...? The CYMA Thompson had arrived at Gunners...
So why so long? It just so happens that, like stated before, Cybergun had bought the first batch. Then, they stuck trademarks on the gun and sold it in America for approximately $180 plus shipping from online sites and a whooping $250 plus tax in Sporting Good stores.
It also seemed to be illegal to sell any CYMA Thompson under the name "CYMA Thompson." That's why in Hong Kong shops, they are just "ACM M1A1 Thompson" or "M1A1 Thompson."
I got this Thompson as a "broken" gun from Kapowwe.com. These guns were, as Kapowwe claims, sporting good store returns. The description of the defect was "not shooting" and "gun jams."
You know what I did?
Hey look! A fuse lying around. Hey look! A bad fuse! Hey! Look! Let's put the good fuse in and remove the bad fuse!
TADA!
And to fix the "gun jams," I released all the red clear .12 gram BBs from the magazine provided and stuck in Crosman .20 grams!
TADA x2!
You can get the CYMA version (recommended) with no trademarks at Gunner's or RSOV. You can get the Cybergun Overpriced Version at Kapowwe, Airsoft Atlanta, or your local Sporting Good store that sells Cybergun.
Table of Contents[/size]
1. First Impressions
2. Quick Real Steel Overview
3. External Overview
4. Magazine
5. Internals
6. Performance
7. Differences With the Tokyo Marui
8. Modifications, Accessories, and Aftermarket Support
9. Pros/Cons
10. Conclusion
11. Pictures With Dragon M.'s Other Guns
1. First Impressions[/size]
All in all, the gun looks decent. There is one thing I loathe... and that's the faux wood. Compared to my CYMA M14 and the Tokyo Marui M1A1. It looks nothing like how the box advertised. It's much more lighter in wood color.
The receiver of the gun is actually pretty good. It's only half a step down from the Tokyo Marui and feels nearly as durable. My problem with it is that it seems to be painted on instead of how it feels like it's blended in with the receiver on the Tokyo Marui.
You get the following with the gun:
- CYMA M1A1 Thompson
- 300mAh Small Battery Wart Charger
- Battery
- Speed Loader
- 47 Round Plastic Magazine
- CYMA Sling
The battery included is a 1100mAh 8.4V Small Connector Small Cell (2/3A) battery if you get the Cybergun version. If you get the pure CYMA version, you will most likely get the traditional 1100mAh 8.4V Small Connector Medium Cell (4/5SC) battery.
The charger included is a wart charger giving a decent output of 12V DC 300mA. Due to this, you should charge the battery for 4 hours and 7 minutes.
You also get a speed loader. Surprisingly, the speed loader is of decent quality. Compared to the lovely ones that come with Wal-Mart springers, this one actually feels like it'll last. It sure beats the Tokyo Marui, which only comes with the long loading tools that are a pain to carry.
Finally, the sling is the classic CYMA sling included in the CM.027, CM.028, CM.031, CM.032, and possibly more. The quality can be said in two words: it "sucks." I've had my CM.027 stock break because of that sling...
2. Quick Real Steel Overview[/size]
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
If you read all of those, you would have known that the Thompson decreased to the low price of $45. Isn't it nice to know that the real gun was sold for approximately one-forth to one-fifth the price of your airsoft gun?
3. External Overview[/size]
The appearance of the gun is decent. It's solid black receiver is pretty nice.
But the grievances are in the wood, which I complained about before.
The wood feels pretty cheap compared the their M14 or the Tokyo Marui M1A1.
Starting off at the top, there is a hideous orange plug that just ruins the view of the muzzle.
If you get the original CYMA version, it should be painted on with orange paint. Depending on the retailer, your front sights may be painted on as well.
The foregrip of the gun is actually a little thinner than the Marui foregrip in some areas.
Although not visible, you can feel it. If you're used to the Marui, you may not notice it once you get used to it.
It has a sling mount on it. It looks durable. Like the Marui, it makes a lot of noise due to it's loose make.
The gun features a hop-up.
And by the hop-up is the magwell.
There isn't much to say about this. You spin the wheel to adjust the hop-up.
The wheel is MUCH easier to turn than the Marui hop-up wheel.
The magwell is made for CYMA mags. It will have a hard time holding Marui mags until you wear it down.
Do not slam the mag into the gun or you WILL break your hop-up.
To release the mag, pull up the magcatch and pull the mag down.
Following the magwell and hop-up is the receiver.
It feature a surprisingly durable pot metal upper receiver like the Tokyo Marui. The Tokyo Marui version feels a BIT stronger, but the CYMA cant be far behind.
The lower receiver is made of plastic. Although appearing in lesser quality than the Tokyo Marui ABS plastic lower receiver, it is still very durable.
On the lower receiver, there are selector switches. They click into place nicely and are metal.
However, know that they WILL wear down. The lovely "click" sound will die down with every switch you do.
There are two switches. The safety switch and the fire mode switch. I guess Mr. Thompson couldn't find enough space to stick it all into one selector switch.
The bolt is a great part of the gun.
Pulling it back and letting it go is really fun. You'll hear a "clank."
Please excuse the cylinder color in my pictures. I had already replaced the cylinder on the gun before taking the picture. The cylinder is originally yellow.
Also, on Cybergun specific models, you get trademarks.
On the "pure CYMA" version, there are no trademarks. Instead, it offers a nice blank space.
Finally on the gun is the stock. It is also the battery compartment.
Made of the same ugly faux wood as the pistol grip and fore grip, it feels a bit weaker than the Marui.
The butt plate is made of metal.
To get to the battery compartment, flip up the little round thing.
Then, you pull out the butt plate and flip it over. This will reveal the connector. The connector is a small connector, so make sure to keep that noted when buying a new battery.
4. Magazine[/size]
The magazine included with the CYMA is NOT the same as the Tokyo Marui. However, they are still compatible.
For the Tokyo Marui mags to work in the CYMA, you need to wear down the CYMA magwell.
CYMA mags work perfectly with the Tokyo Marui so there is no need for modification.
The first difference in the mag is the trademarks and material it's made of.
Top: Tokyo Marui. Bottom: CYMA
The Tokyo Marui has words on it. It is also metal.
You can also notice a color difference. The Tokyo Marui mag is a flat black while the CYMA is a bit gray.
The CYMA mag is open able by the three Phillips screws on the side.
That doesn't really contribute to realism does it...?
The Tokyo Marui mag is a one piece mag.
The base of the mags are a bit different as well.
The Tokyo Marui mag is a bit more realistic, offering little closing ends while the CYMA is a complete pointed corner.
The top of the mags are different as well.
Now, this is a good difference in the mag.
Notice how the Tokyo Marui has two little hoods coming out? That tends to contribute to a faster hop-up breaking.
But the CYMA is flat, therefore reducing the risk.
The magcatch openings are different as well.
The CYMA is a square while the Tokyo Marui is an oval.
This could be another hop-up saver. Instead of the possibility of pushing it further than needed, it could stop at the end of the square.
The final difference is the way they fit on the receiver.
The Tokyo Marui stays close to the magwell.
The CYMA magazine is further away and gets closer to it.
All in all, I personally like the Tokyo Marui magazine better than the one CYMA included.
As for feeding, the magazine feeds perfectly. There are no misfeeds. It fits smoothly into the magwell.
4. Internals[/size]
Let's just say that the internals are a BIG part of the gun. In fact, if it weren't for the internals, I wouldn't get this gun.
Now, let's compare the legendary Tokyo Marui (right) internals to the CYMA (left) internals.
Shim and Grease
Let's start off with the stock shim and grease job.
The CYMA arrived with one shim per bushing. The grease was terrible, arriving completely dried up or in the wrong places.
Compared to the CM.032 and the Tokyo Marui grease job, this was a shoddy job.
I dried up the grease, reshimmed it, and regreased it.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 10/10 - Perfect shim and grease job.
CYMA: 3/10 - At least HAD shims. The grease was dried up.
Piston/Piston Head
The piston seemed very strong. CYMA's piston was made of what feels like polycarbonate (top) whereas Tokyo Marui's piston (bottom) wore down when I stuck a stock Jing Gong spring in (around 1J).
The piston head on the Marui is not ported, meaning that there will be more stress on the gearbox.
The piston head on the CYMA is ported, therefore relieving the stress on the gearbox.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 6/10 - Perfect for stock spring. However, when moving over to a stronger one, you're going to encounter wear.
CYMA: 7/10 - Perfect for the stock spring. I'm actually running a 400FPS spring in my CYMA M14. So far, there is no wear.
Gears
Gears on the CYMA are full steel gears. I have much confidence in them. They seem just as strong as Jing Gong gears.
They have the "XYT" marking on them, which is occasionally used by Jing Gong. If not XYT, Jing Gong will either use "CA" or no markings at all. In all the CYMA's I've opened or owned, they consistently use XYT gears.
The gears come from the website listed, www.gear.net.cn/.
Compared to the Tokyo Marui gears, CYMA wins the battle.
Tokyo Marui runs off an aluminum sector gear. Upgrading the FPS can be a pain with it.
Also, the other gears in the Marui don't feel as hard as the CYMA either.
The anti-reversal latch (no depicted) is also much better than the Marui. It's made of steel while the Tokyo Marui is made of a soft metal (most likely aluminum).
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 5.5/10 - Aluminum sector gear and what appears to be softer gears.
CYMA: 8/10 - Full steel gears. There are better out there. However, for the average FPS and ROF range, these gears are perfect.
Spring Guide
The isn't much to say about the spring guide.
It's a plastic polycarbonate spring guide/
It's decent. The Tokyo Marui is also plastic, but black.
They're both pretty much the same.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 6.3/10 - Black plastic spring guide. It just looks better than the CYMA, therefore concluding the 0.3 difference.
CYMA: 6/10 - Tan spring guide like ones used in some non-Echo 1 used Jing Gong guns.
Tappet Plate
The tappet plate isn't that important in most guns.
However, it is on the Version 6 gearbox.
OVER and OVER again, I see people's tappet plate's break on the first instance of opening their gun.
Why? Because they fail to release ALL pressure from the gearbox before opening it. They always forget to release the tappet plate tension.
Therefore, the tappet plate will push forward breaking the tappet plate.
These break on both Tokyo Marui AND CYMA.
The Tokyo Marui tappet plate is only a TINY bit stronger than the CYMA depicted above. The Tokyo Marui is black while the CYMA is white.
My Tokyo Marui one broke, so I got a Guarder Reinforced Tappet Plate. It's MUCH stronger.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 9.3/10 - Basic tappet plate. Unless it was clear plastic, you really cant get less than a 9.
CYMA: 9/10 - A tiny bit weaker. It's white, which makes it look uglier.
Compression
Compression is made up of the cylinder, cylinder head, the nozzle, piston head (not shown), and the o-ring(s) (not shown).
The compression the the CYMA is phenomenally loathsome.
Out of all the CYMA models I've worked with, the Thompson has to be the worst.
I would highly recommend a new bore up kit for the CYMA Thompson.
The main problem with the CYMA compression system is most likely the cylinder and o-ring.
I had put on a Jing Gong cylinder and it was much better. I also replaced the piston head o-ring.
The compression was decent after that.
Don't expect buying a cylinder will fix the problem. Bore up kits are kits for a reason. You must use ALL or nothing.
Now, the Tokyo Marui compression is much better.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 9/10 - Great compression. May be better with a bore up kit.
CYMA: 3/10 - Detestable compression. I bet the FPS would increase by the millions if you got a bore up kit.
Gearbox Shell
The gearbox version on the Thompson is a Version 6.
Both seem great and durable. However, the Tokyo Marui gearbox shell seems more resistant. The CYMA seems to be made with a slightly weaker material.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 10/10 - As good as it gets. Version 6 gearbox shells are durable and Tokyo Marui seemed to make it with good material.
CYMA: 9/10 - Feels a little weaker. But it's still a Version 6 shell and should hold up a lot.
Bushings
Both come with plastic bushings.
Unlike Jing Gong and Echo 1, standard bushings will work in the CYMA. There is no need to buy "Jing Gong specific" bushings.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 5/10 - Plastic bushings.
CYMA: 5/10 - Plastic bushings.
Motor
The rate of fire the CYMA motor gives is monstrously abominable. After testing with the same battery and wiring, the CYMA motor STILL wouldn't give rate of fire compared to Jing Gong, the CYMA CM.032, or DBoys.
CYMA seems to be known for sub-decent motors. In fact, it seems to be at the bottom of the chain of what I mentioned; which by the way, goes like this:
Tokyo Marui > DBoys > Jing Gong/Echo 1 > CYMA
It's also very sewing machine like. You hear a "SQEEEAAKK POP SQEEEAAKK POP SQEEEAAKK POP SQEEEAAKK POP" throughout your shooting. The slow rate of fire isn't helping either.
The motor used is a short, black motor.
Being that the CYMA CM.032 uses a gray motor, that may be the reason that it's better quality.
However, CYMA still has a long way to go with motors.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 7/10 - Good motor. There are obviously better.
CYMA: 3/10 - Loud and obnoxious motor. Weak and gives extremely low rate of fire. Only thing under these are LPEG motors and they sometimes don't make loud obnoxious sewing machine sounds either.
Wiring
The general conclusion around wiring is that Chinese wires are low quality.
Actually, the fact is that I got a slightly higher rate of fire with the CYMA wires on the same gearbox, motor, and battery.
It wasn't a GREAT deal of difference, but it was certainly noticeable.
A good estimate would be an increase of 1.5 rounds per second.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 7/10 - Great wiring. Better than many others.
CYMA: 7.5/10 - Even better wiring. Gave a higher rate of fire than the Tokyo Marui.
Internal Conclusion
Tokyo Marui: 75.1% (C)
CYMA: 60.5% (D-)
The CYMA is barely passing if while the Tokyo Marui is about average as a comparison to the WHOLE airsoft world.
Comparing the Tokyo Marui and the CYMA M1A1 Thompson's ONLY, the CYMA is 14.6% away.
Therefore, you may want to ask yourself. Is it worth the $180/$250 for the Cybergun version with trademarks? Is it worth the $135 ($85 plus $50 shipping from Hong Kong) for the plain CYMA version? Or should you just save up $300 for the Tokyo Marui?
You could always use the money you spent on the CYMA to buy parts to fix the ones that have problems and have higher FPS. But you could also have a gun you would never need to open with the Tokyo Marui.
4. Performance[/size]
Performance is a big part in getting a gun, yes?
Well, the CYMA's performance is mediocre.
Let's start off with the FPS.
The FPS I got with the gun was 353FPS on average. Pretty nice, eh?
Pretty nice for and advertised 426FPS with .12 gram BBs (which results in 1 joule and 330FPS).
FPS can be nice, but it's useless without your accuracy.
Now, the groupings at 80feet with this gun are 4".
That's pretty decent at that range. I'd probably expect 5" groupings at 100 feet, but I cannot acquire a 100 feet testing ground.
The range with hop-up almost reaches 140 feet. I find it VERY nice. This shows a pretty good hop-up is being used mixed in with the high FPS.
Finally, the rate of fire will be discussed.
The rate of fire is disappointing. Like all batteries that come with CYMA (with the exception of the CM.030), they give an extremely low discharge rate. Then, the fact that the motor is detestable and that shimming and greasing aren't the best aren't helping much.
With everything completely stock, I achieved the following rate of fire:
4 Rounds Per Second
That, my friends, is 240 rounds per minute. That is NO WHERE close to the rate of fire of the real Thompson.
You may be saying "HOLY BEJEEBUS!?! 4 ROUNDS PER SECOND?! HOW DO YOU INCREASE THAT!??!"
Well, the easiest thing to do is get a new battery. Make a custom one out of large SC Elite cells from Cheap Battery Packs. Make sure you use a small connector!
By using a Sanyo battery, it increased by 2 round per second. By using an Intellect battery, it increased by 3 round per second.
Next up reshimming and regreasing. This may not increase noticeably, depending on the state of your gun.
Finally, a new motor is probably needed. A good idea is to buy a used Tokyo Marui motor from fellow forum members. Or, you can buy a new Tokyo Marui motor for $38 (that includes shipping) at EHobbyAsia (search "short motor" and you can buy either "Marui EG1000 SHORT HI-TORQUE Airsoft AEG Motor" or "Marui EG700 SHORT Super Tune Airsoft Rifle Motor TMP-43." The EG1000 is known to just keep going and going.) By using the Tokyo Marui motor that came with the gun, I had gotten approximately 15 rounds per second with the Intellect battery. That's 900 rounds per minute!
Other than the rate of fire, the rest of the gun's FPS and accuracy is pretty decent.
7. Differences With the Tokyo Marui[/size]
There are actually quite a lot of differences between the Tokyo Marui and CYMA not already mentioned.
The one already mentioned is the magazine and magwell. The magwell on the CYMA needs to be worn down to fit Tokyo Marui magazines and the CYMA magazine is different.
Now, the most noticeable difference is the faux wood color and the body color.
The Tokyo Marui faux wood is amazingly beautiful (in my opinion) compared to the CYMA faux wood.
The Tokyo Marui body is a lighter black than the CYMA matte black body.
The second most noticeable are the trademarks. They obviously say different things, are different colors, and are put on differently.
For those who cant read the Tokyo Marui trademarks, they are:
Other side says:
The Tokyo Marui trademarks are actually engraved into the body while the CYMA trademarks seem painted on with white paint.
Expect the CYMA trades to wear out faster.
The third most noticeable are the screws used especially the one connecting the barrel to the receiver.
Tokyo Marui (top). CYMA (bottom).
The screws for the Marui are actually twice as long as the one used for the CYMA. The CYMA also uses Phillips screws.
The other screw differences are the ones for the gearbox and the one used for the pistol grip. Originally, the ones for the gearbox are Torx T10 screws. CYMA replaced those with Phillips screws. The second one for the pistol grip originally used flat head screws. CYMA replaced that with a Phillips screw.
Next up are the manufacturing markings.
Tokyo Marui (top). CYMA (bottom).
CYMA had neglected to put them on, most likely thinking it was useless.
The next difference is the foregrip screws method.
Due to a barrel change (mentioned in a little bit), CYMA probably changed this with it.
The screw that screws the foregrip into the barrel goes in vertical. It goes in 90 degrees.
The Tokyo Marui, however, goes in diagonally.
This results in Tokyo Marui foregrips to work on the CYMA but the CYMA foregrips to not work on the Tokyo Marui.
The MIGHT cause problems with wood kits depending on what it's made for.
Another difference is the bolt plate.
The bolt plate on the CYMA is matte black on the front and back.
The bolt plate on the Tokyo Marui is gray on the back and light black on the front.
However, if you notice, the spring mount are in different places.
That means, the CYMA bolt spring is larger than the Tokyo Marui bolt spring.
CYMA most likely changed the bolt spring position to use the full bolt instead of only half of the bolt on the Tokyo Marui.
And finally, there is one difference that might possibly make a difference.
The Tokyo Marui Thompson is known for a barrel crack. It will crack and you will need to use JBWeld to fix it (which works quite well by the way).
Take a look at the Tokyo Marui barrel (top) and the CYMA barrel (bottom).
Do you see any differences?
It would appear that CYMA has attempted to reinforce the barrel.
Of course, this doesn't mean it will eliminate barrel crack completely, because it wont. However, with that extra bit of metal, it may outlast the Tokyo Marui.
Of course, when it dies, you can always use JBWeld like how I used on my Tokyo Marui barrel.
These are external differences. Other than that, the internal shapes are all the same, making it internally 100% Marui compatible.
8. Modifications, Accessories, and Aftermarket Support[/size]
This is a Thompson! There aren't many accessories you'd really want to put on it... even if it was possible.
You CAN get wood kits for it from RSOV here. I personally think that wood kit is ugly and would prefer a Tokyo Marui wood styled kit.
Other than a wood kit, there are conversion kits available.
There is a rare CAW Mosquito Mold Thompson conversion kit that changes it from a M1A1 to a M1928. It consists of a M1928 style barrel (ribbed barrel and Cutts Compensator) and a upper receiver (M1928 width and bolt). It is sadly, missing the stock, selector switch, and the foregrip.
There is also a Phoenix Conversion kit specifically for the CYMA. As of April 06, 2008, it is not released yet. Any news of them was last on December 14, 2007 on AirsoftNews.Eu.
Finally, there is an AZR Machine Co. barrel and foregrip conversion. More info can be found here at AirsoftNews.Eu.
For modifications, you can do my bolt mod:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihk3BHXu4S4
Some things I would like to bring up before you do this mod on the CYMA:
Aftermarket support for the Thompson is uncommon.
Here's a store right here that may prove useful: Marui Parts Showcase
They offer the upper receiver, lower receiver, selector switch nubs, stocks, foregrips, and a motor cage.
You can use gears and anti-reversal latches advertised as Version 6 or Version 7 gears/anti-reversal latches.
Pistons, piston heads, cylinders, nozzles, and spring are standard. The spring guide is a Version 2 spring guide. The motor is a short motor.
The tappet plate is Version 6, but is widely available. The cylinder is also Version 6, but are provided in kits.
Parts you need to be careful with are the external parts not available, the hop-up chamber, and the gearbox shell.
9. Pros/Cons[/size]
Pros:
Although Cloned, It's Still Uncommon; You Can Be Special
Upper Metal Receiver and Barrel
Good Internal Durability
Nice Hop-up
Good Range
Comfortable FPS
100% Internally Marui Compatible
Barrel Appears to Be Slightly Reinforced
Trademarks [Cybergun Only]
Adjustable Sights
Movable Bolt
Overall Very Durable
Version 6 Gearbox
Steel Gears
Polycarbonate Piston
Decent Shim/Grease Job
It's CYMA: Increased Quality Since the CM.027 MP5
Cons
Long, But Short Barrel Length
FPS MAY Be a Bit Too High For CQB
Pot Metal Construction
Horrid Battery
Detestable Motor
Some External Incompatibilities With Tokyo Marui
Small Battery [Cybergun Only]
4/5SC Battery [CYMA Only]
Low Quality Battery
Small Connector
Weak Hop-Up Design (Mag Slamming)
Plastic Magazine
Some Minor Real Steel Inaccuracies
Weaker External Parts Than Marui
TERRIBLE Compression
Ugly Wood Compared To Marui
Weak Barrel Design; Barrel Crack
No Accessories; Who Needs Them On the Thompson Anyways?
Less Aftermarket Support
10. Conclusion[/size]
The CYMA Thompson is a decent alternative for those who cannot afford the Tokyo Marui Thompson.
I would, however, unless you plan on replacing all the internal parts, get the Tokyo Marui Thompson if I had the money.
However, if you don't have the money or simply just cant wait, the CYMA is perfect.
It performs nicely with the exception of the rate of fire. Great range, good accuracy, and shoots at the FPS range I like.
As time passes, you may want to improve the rate of fire starting off with the battery.
Just for the heck of it, I decided to include The Crimson Falcon's Review Rating Checklist.
External Score: 36/50
Internal Score: 24/50
Total: 60/100
60% (D-)
How ironic... Didn't it get a D- on the internal score I gave it way up there?
11. Pictures With Dragon M.'s Other Guns[/size]
We all love pictures... that's why I have about 50 of them in this review.
The sexy Tokyo Marui Thompson and the "okay-looking" CYMA Thompson.
The CYMA Thompson and it's woody friend the CYMA M14. Both were used in Vietnam. However, the Thompson got old and dropped out prematurely.
The CYMA Thompson with the DBoys RK02. The DBoy's predecessor was used in Vietnam, just like the Thompson!
The CYMA Thompson with it's friend, the M4. The M4's cousin the M16A3's grandfather was in Vietnam just like the Thompson!
The CYMA Thompson with it's friend the CYMA Glock 18C. The Glock and the Thompson are both capable of killing, therefore making them friends.
CYMA [Cybergun] CM.033 M1A1 Thompson
CYMA years before offered you weak, plastic gearbox, easily destroyed airsoft guns. Today, CYMA offers you decent, metal gearbox, durable airsoft guns.
Starting off with their lovely CM.027 MP5, they offer great alternatives to their originals. After the CM.027, they offered the CM.028 AK-47 followed by the CM.030 Glock 18C and the CM.031 AK-74. Every model after it's predecessor improved except for the CM.030 due to it being a pistol.
After the CM.031, which was claimed to last 100,000 rounds stock, CYMA released the CM.032 M14. The CM.032 M14 was a great gun. It included a tightbore which offered phenomenal accuracy. Where there was no metal, there was great plastic.
Now, as logic states... the CM.033 Thompson should have come out after the CM.032 M14. As the pattern seemed to show, it should have been better than the CM.032 M14. Does it?
No.
The CM.033 is a special gun. Apart from the naming and release date, it's first batch was bought by Cybergun. That's right! Cybergun! The French distributer-like company that everyone hates because they take advantage of the rights they earned! Cybergun was hated so much, that people even were crazy enough to believe that a boycott of them would bring them down. Sadly, our friends who ran the Cybergun Boycott site has decided to bring it down most likely because they figured out the task would be almost impossible. The ironic thing is that they claim Cybergun is hurting airsoft when in fact that by boycotting Cybergun, you ruin their sales. By ruining their sales, you also ruin their manufacturers! Without your manufacturers, how do you plan for your guns to be made?
But enough of this Cybergun Boycotting subject. Anyways, I remember back in the day where the CYMA Thompson was anticipated. That was sometime around April 2007. I was going to go to Hong Kong in June, and planned to get it. It just so happens that when I arrive there the first week of June, they weren't out yet. I had then decided to break my clone habit and buy a Tokyo Marui Thompson.
Great! I loved the Thompson! Three weeks later, I arrive at the Airsoft Haven in Hong Kong again and what do you know...? The CYMA Thompson had arrived at Gunners...
So why so long? It just so happens that, like stated before, Cybergun had bought the first batch. Then, they stuck trademarks on the gun and sold it in America for approximately $180 plus shipping from online sites and a whooping $250 plus tax in Sporting Good stores.
It also seemed to be illegal to sell any CYMA Thompson under the name "CYMA Thompson." That's why in Hong Kong shops, they are just "ACM M1A1 Thompson" or "M1A1 Thompson."
I got this Thompson as a "broken" gun from Kapowwe.com. These guns were, as Kapowwe claims, sporting good store returns. The description of the defect was "not shooting" and "gun jams."
You know what I did?
Hey look! A fuse lying around. Hey look! A bad fuse! Hey! Look! Let's put the good fuse in and remove the bad fuse!
TADA!
And to fix the "gun jams," I released all the red clear .12 gram BBs from the magazine provided and stuck in Crosman .20 grams!
TADA x2!
You can get the CYMA version (recommended) with no trademarks at Gunner's or RSOV. You can get the Cybergun Overpriced Version at Kapowwe, Airsoft Atlanta, or your local Sporting Good store that sells Cybergun.
Table of Contents[/size]
1. First Impressions
2. Quick Real Steel Overview
3. External Overview
4. Magazine
5. Internals
6. Performance
7. Differences With the Tokyo Marui
8. Modifications, Accessories, and Aftermarket Support
9. Pros/Cons
10. Conclusion
11. Pictures With Dragon M.'s Other Guns
1. First Impressions[/size]
All in all, the gun looks decent. There is one thing I loathe... and that's the faux wood. Compared to my CYMA M14 and the Tokyo Marui M1A1. It looks nothing like how the box advertised. It's much more lighter in wood color.
The receiver of the gun is actually pretty good. It's only half a step down from the Tokyo Marui and feels nearly as durable. My problem with it is that it seems to be painted on instead of how it feels like it's blended in with the receiver on the Tokyo Marui.
You get the following with the gun:
- CYMA M1A1 Thompson
- 300mAh Small Battery Wart Charger
- Battery
- Speed Loader
- 47 Round Plastic Magazine
- CYMA Sling
The battery included is a 1100mAh 8.4V Small Connector Small Cell (2/3A) battery if you get the Cybergun version. If you get the pure CYMA version, you will most likely get the traditional 1100mAh 8.4V Small Connector Medium Cell (4/5SC) battery.
The charger included is a wart charger giving a decent output of 12V DC 300mA. Due to this, you should charge the battery for 4 hours and 7 minutes.
You also get a speed loader. Surprisingly, the speed loader is of decent quality. Compared to the lovely ones that come with Wal-Mart springers, this one actually feels like it'll last. It sure beats the Tokyo Marui, which only comes with the long loading tools that are a pain to carry.
Finally, the sling is the classic CYMA sling included in the CM.027, CM.028, CM.031, CM.032, and possibly more. The quality can be said in two words: it "sucks." I've had my CM.027 stock break because of that sling...
2. Quick Real Steel Overview[/size]
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
If you read all of those, you would have known that the Thompson decreased to the low price of $45. Isn't it nice to know that the real gun was sold for approximately one-forth to one-fifth the price of your airsoft gun?
3. External Overview[/size]
The appearance of the gun is decent. It's solid black receiver is pretty nice.
But the grievances are in the wood, which I complained about before.
The wood feels pretty cheap compared the their M14 or the Tokyo Marui M1A1.
Starting off at the top, there is a hideous orange plug that just ruins the view of the muzzle.
If you get the original CYMA version, it should be painted on with orange paint. Depending on the retailer, your front sights may be painted on as well.
The foregrip of the gun is actually a little thinner than the Marui foregrip in some areas.
Although not visible, you can feel it. If you're used to the Marui, you may not notice it once you get used to it.
It has a sling mount on it. It looks durable. Like the Marui, it makes a lot of noise due to it's loose make.
The gun features a hop-up.
And by the hop-up is the magwell.
There isn't much to say about this. You spin the wheel to adjust the hop-up.
The wheel is MUCH easier to turn than the Marui hop-up wheel.
The magwell is made for CYMA mags. It will have a hard time holding Marui mags until you wear it down.
Do not slam the mag into the gun or you WILL break your hop-up.
To release the mag, pull up the magcatch and pull the mag down.
Following the magwell and hop-up is the receiver.
It feature a surprisingly durable pot metal upper receiver like the Tokyo Marui. The Tokyo Marui version feels a BIT stronger, but the CYMA cant be far behind.
The lower receiver is made of plastic. Although appearing in lesser quality than the Tokyo Marui ABS plastic lower receiver, it is still very durable.
On the lower receiver, there are selector switches. They click into place nicely and are metal.
However, know that they WILL wear down. The lovely "click" sound will die down with every switch you do.
There are two switches. The safety switch and the fire mode switch. I guess Mr. Thompson couldn't find enough space to stick it all into one selector switch.
The bolt is a great part of the gun.
Pulling it back and letting it go is really fun. You'll hear a "clank."
Please excuse the cylinder color in my pictures. I had already replaced the cylinder on the gun before taking the picture. The cylinder is originally yellow.
Also, on Cybergun specific models, you get trademarks.
On the "pure CYMA" version, there are no trademarks. Instead, it offers a nice blank space.
Finally on the gun is the stock. It is also the battery compartment.
Made of the same ugly faux wood as the pistol grip and fore grip, it feels a bit weaker than the Marui.
The butt plate is made of metal.
To get to the battery compartment, flip up the little round thing.
Then, you pull out the butt plate and flip it over. This will reveal the connector. The connector is a small connector, so make sure to keep that noted when buying a new battery.
4. Magazine[/size]
The magazine included with the CYMA is NOT the same as the Tokyo Marui. However, they are still compatible.
For the Tokyo Marui mags to work in the CYMA, you need to wear down the CYMA magwell.
CYMA mags work perfectly with the Tokyo Marui so there is no need for modification.
The first difference in the mag is the trademarks and material it's made of.
Top: Tokyo Marui. Bottom: CYMA
The Tokyo Marui has words on it. It is also metal.
You can also notice a color difference. The Tokyo Marui mag is a flat black while the CYMA is a bit gray.
The CYMA mag is open able by the three Phillips screws on the side.
That doesn't really contribute to realism does it...?
The Tokyo Marui mag is a one piece mag.
The base of the mags are a bit different as well.
The Tokyo Marui mag is a bit more realistic, offering little closing ends while the CYMA is a complete pointed corner.
The top of the mags are different as well.
Now, this is a good difference in the mag.
Notice how the Tokyo Marui has two little hoods coming out? That tends to contribute to a faster hop-up breaking.
But the CYMA is flat, therefore reducing the risk.
The magcatch openings are different as well.
The CYMA is a square while the Tokyo Marui is an oval.
This could be another hop-up saver. Instead of the possibility of pushing it further than needed, it could stop at the end of the square.
The final difference is the way they fit on the receiver.
The Tokyo Marui stays close to the magwell.
The CYMA magazine is further away and gets closer to it.
All in all, I personally like the Tokyo Marui magazine better than the one CYMA included.
As for feeding, the magazine feeds perfectly. There are no misfeeds. It fits smoothly into the magwell.
4. Internals[/size]
Let's just say that the internals are a BIG part of the gun. In fact, if it weren't for the internals, I wouldn't get this gun.
Now, let's compare the legendary Tokyo Marui (right) internals to the CYMA (left) internals.
Shim and Grease
Let's start off with the stock shim and grease job.
The CYMA arrived with one shim per bushing. The grease was terrible, arriving completely dried up or in the wrong places.
Compared to the CM.032 and the Tokyo Marui grease job, this was a shoddy job.
I dried up the grease, reshimmed it, and regreased it.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 10/10 - Perfect shim and grease job.
CYMA: 3/10 - At least HAD shims. The grease was dried up.
Piston/Piston Head
The piston seemed very strong. CYMA's piston was made of what feels like polycarbonate (top) whereas Tokyo Marui's piston (bottom) wore down when I stuck a stock Jing Gong spring in (around 1J).
The piston head on the Marui is not ported, meaning that there will be more stress on the gearbox.
The piston head on the CYMA is ported, therefore relieving the stress on the gearbox.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 6/10 - Perfect for stock spring. However, when moving over to a stronger one, you're going to encounter wear.
CYMA: 7/10 - Perfect for the stock spring. I'm actually running a 400FPS spring in my CYMA M14. So far, there is no wear.
Gears
Gears on the CYMA are full steel gears. I have much confidence in them. They seem just as strong as Jing Gong gears.
They have the "XYT" marking on them, which is occasionally used by Jing Gong. If not XYT, Jing Gong will either use "CA" or no markings at all. In all the CYMA's I've opened or owned, they consistently use XYT gears.
The gears come from the website listed, www.gear.net.cn/.
Compared to the Tokyo Marui gears, CYMA wins the battle.
Tokyo Marui runs off an aluminum sector gear. Upgrading the FPS can be a pain with it.
Also, the other gears in the Marui don't feel as hard as the CYMA either.
The anti-reversal latch (no depicted) is also much better than the Marui. It's made of steel while the Tokyo Marui is made of a soft metal (most likely aluminum).
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 5.5/10 - Aluminum sector gear and what appears to be softer gears.
CYMA: 8/10 - Full steel gears. There are better out there. However, for the average FPS and ROF range, these gears are perfect.
Spring Guide
The isn't much to say about the spring guide.
It's a plastic polycarbonate spring guide/
It's decent. The Tokyo Marui is also plastic, but black.
They're both pretty much the same.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 6.3/10 - Black plastic spring guide. It just looks better than the CYMA, therefore concluding the 0.3 difference.
CYMA: 6/10 - Tan spring guide like ones used in some non-Echo 1 used Jing Gong guns.
Tappet Plate
The tappet plate isn't that important in most guns.
However, it is on the Version 6 gearbox.
OVER and OVER again, I see people's tappet plate's break on the first instance of opening their gun.
Why? Because they fail to release ALL pressure from the gearbox before opening it. They always forget to release the tappet plate tension.
Therefore, the tappet plate will push forward breaking the tappet plate.
These break on both Tokyo Marui AND CYMA.
The Tokyo Marui tappet plate is only a TINY bit stronger than the CYMA depicted above. The Tokyo Marui is black while the CYMA is white.
My Tokyo Marui one broke, so I got a Guarder Reinforced Tappet Plate. It's MUCH stronger.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 9.3/10 - Basic tappet plate. Unless it was clear plastic, you really cant get less than a 9.
CYMA: 9/10 - A tiny bit weaker. It's white, which makes it look uglier.
Compression
Compression is made up of the cylinder, cylinder head, the nozzle, piston head (not shown), and the o-ring(s) (not shown).
The compression the the CYMA is phenomenally loathsome.
Out of all the CYMA models I've worked with, the Thompson has to be the worst.
I would highly recommend a new bore up kit for the CYMA Thompson.
The main problem with the CYMA compression system is most likely the cylinder and o-ring.
I had put on a Jing Gong cylinder and it was much better. I also replaced the piston head o-ring.
The compression was decent after that.
Don't expect buying a cylinder will fix the problem. Bore up kits are kits for a reason. You must use ALL or nothing.
Now, the Tokyo Marui compression is much better.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 9/10 - Great compression. May be better with a bore up kit.
CYMA: 3/10 - Detestable compression. I bet the FPS would increase by the millions if you got a bore up kit.
Gearbox Shell
The gearbox version on the Thompson is a Version 6.
Both seem great and durable. However, the Tokyo Marui gearbox shell seems more resistant. The CYMA seems to be made with a slightly weaker material.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 10/10 - As good as it gets. Version 6 gearbox shells are durable and Tokyo Marui seemed to make it with good material.
CYMA: 9/10 - Feels a little weaker. But it's still a Version 6 shell and should hold up a lot.
Bushings
Both come with plastic bushings.
Unlike Jing Gong and Echo 1, standard bushings will work in the CYMA. There is no need to buy "Jing Gong specific" bushings.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 5/10 - Plastic bushings.
CYMA: 5/10 - Plastic bushings.
Motor
The rate of fire the CYMA motor gives is monstrously abominable. After testing with the same battery and wiring, the CYMA motor STILL wouldn't give rate of fire compared to Jing Gong, the CYMA CM.032, or DBoys.
CYMA seems to be known for sub-decent motors. In fact, it seems to be at the bottom of the chain of what I mentioned; which by the way, goes like this:
Tokyo Marui > DBoys > Jing Gong/Echo 1 > CYMA
It's also very sewing machine like. You hear a "SQEEEAAKK POP SQEEEAAKK POP SQEEEAAKK POP SQEEEAAKK POP" throughout your shooting. The slow rate of fire isn't helping either.
The motor used is a short, black motor.
Being that the CYMA CM.032 uses a gray motor, that may be the reason that it's better quality.
However, CYMA still has a long way to go with motors.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 7/10 - Good motor. There are obviously better.
CYMA: 3/10 - Loud and obnoxious motor. Weak and gives extremely low rate of fire. Only thing under these are LPEG motors and they sometimes don't make loud obnoxious sewing machine sounds either.
Wiring
The general conclusion around wiring is that Chinese wires are low quality.
Actually, the fact is that I got a slightly higher rate of fire with the CYMA wires on the same gearbox, motor, and battery.
It wasn't a GREAT deal of difference, but it was certainly noticeable.
A good estimate would be an increase of 1.5 rounds per second.
Score is as follows:
Tokyo Marui: 7/10 - Great wiring. Better than many others.
CYMA: 7.5/10 - Even better wiring. Gave a higher rate of fire than the Tokyo Marui.
Internal Conclusion
Tokyo Marui: 75.1% (C)
CYMA: 60.5% (D-)
The CYMA is barely passing if while the Tokyo Marui is about average as a comparison to the WHOLE airsoft world.
Comparing the Tokyo Marui and the CYMA M1A1 Thompson's ONLY, the CYMA is 14.6% away.
Therefore, you may want to ask yourself. Is it worth the $180/$250 for the Cybergun version with trademarks? Is it worth the $135 ($85 plus $50 shipping from Hong Kong) for the plain CYMA version? Or should you just save up $300 for the Tokyo Marui?
You could always use the money you spent on the CYMA to buy parts to fix the ones that have problems and have higher FPS. But you could also have a gun you would never need to open with the Tokyo Marui.
4. Performance[/size]
Performance is a big part in getting a gun, yes?
Well, the CYMA's performance is mediocre.
Let's start off with the FPS.
The FPS I got with the gun was 353FPS on average. Pretty nice, eh?
Pretty nice for and advertised 426FPS with .12 gram BBs (which results in 1 joule and 330FPS).
FPS can be nice, but it's useless without your accuracy.
Now, the groupings at 80feet with this gun are 4".
That's pretty decent at that range. I'd probably expect 5" groupings at 100 feet, but I cannot acquire a 100 feet testing ground.
The range with hop-up almost reaches 140 feet. I find it VERY nice. This shows a pretty good hop-up is being used mixed in with the high FPS.
Finally, the rate of fire will be discussed.
The rate of fire is disappointing. Like all batteries that come with CYMA (with the exception of the CM.030), they give an extremely low discharge rate. Then, the fact that the motor is detestable and that shimming and greasing aren't the best aren't helping much.
With everything completely stock, I achieved the following rate of fire:
4 Rounds Per Second
That, my friends, is 240 rounds per minute. That is NO WHERE close to the rate of fire of the real Thompson.
You may be saying "HOLY BEJEEBUS!?! 4 ROUNDS PER SECOND?! HOW DO YOU INCREASE THAT!??!"
Well, the easiest thing to do is get a new battery. Make a custom one out of large SC Elite cells from Cheap Battery Packs. Make sure you use a small connector!
By using a Sanyo battery, it increased by 2 round per second. By using an Intellect battery, it increased by 3 round per second.
Next up reshimming and regreasing. This may not increase noticeably, depending on the state of your gun.
Finally, a new motor is probably needed. A good idea is to buy a used Tokyo Marui motor from fellow forum members. Or, you can buy a new Tokyo Marui motor for $38 (that includes shipping) at EHobbyAsia (search "short motor" and you can buy either "Marui EG1000 SHORT HI-TORQUE Airsoft AEG Motor" or "Marui EG700 SHORT Super Tune Airsoft Rifle Motor TMP-43." The EG1000 is known to just keep going and going.) By using the Tokyo Marui motor that came with the gun, I had gotten approximately 15 rounds per second with the Intellect battery. That's 900 rounds per minute!
Other than the rate of fire, the rest of the gun's FPS and accuracy is pretty decent.
7. Differences With the Tokyo Marui[/size]
There are actually quite a lot of differences between the Tokyo Marui and CYMA not already mentioned.
The one already mentioned is the magazine and magwell. The magwell on the CYMA needs to be worn down to fit Tokyo Marui magazines and the CYMA magazine is different.
Now, the most noticeable difference is the faux wood color and the body color.
The Tokyo Marui faux wood is amazingly beautiful (in my opinion) compared to the CYMA faux wood.
The Tokyo Marui body is a lighter black than the CYMA matte black body.
The second most noticeable are the trademarks. They obviously say different things, are different colors, and are put on differently.
For those who cant read the Tokyo Marui trademarks, they are:
TOKYO MARUI CO.,LTD. MADE IN JAPAN.
TYPE M1A1 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC GUN
TYPE M1A1 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC GUN
Other side says:
SUBMACHINE GUN MILITARY MOD.
CALIBER .45 M1A1
NO. 473699
CALIBER .45 M1A1
NO. 473699
The Tokyo Marui trademarks are actually engraved into the body while the CYMA trademarks seem painted on with white paint.
Expect the CYMA trades to wear out faster.
The third most noticeable are the screws used especially the one connecting the barrel to the receiver.
Tokyo Marui (top). CYMA (bottom).
The screws for the Marui are actually twice as long as the one used for the CYMA. The CYMA also uses Phillips screws.
The other screw differences are the ones for the gearbox and the one used for the pistol grip. Originally, the ones for the gearbox are Torx T10 screws. CYMA replaced those with Phillips screws. The second one for the pistol grip originally used flat head screws. CYMA replaced that with a Phillips screw.
Next up are the manufacturing markings.
Tokyo Marui (top). CYMA (bottom).
CYMA had neglected to put them on, most likely thinking it was useless.
The next difference is the foregrip screws method.
Due to a barrel change (mentioned in a little bit), CYMA probably changed this with it.
The screw that screws the foregrip into the barrel goes in vertical. It goes in 90 degrees.
The Tokyo Marui, however, goes in diagonally.
This results in Tokyo Marui foregrips to work on the CYMA but the CYMA foregrips to not work on the Tokyo Marui.
The MIGHT cause problems with wood kits depending on what it's made for.
Another difference is the bolt plate.
The bolt plate on the CYMA is matte black on the front and back.
The bolt plate on the Tokyo Marui is gray on the back and light black on the front.
However, if you notice, the spring mount are in different places.
That means, the CYMA bolt spring is larger than the Tokyo Marui bolt spring.
CYMA most likely changed the bolt spring position to use the full bolt instead of only half of the bolt on the Tokyo Marui.
And finally, there is one difference that might possibly make a difference.
The Tokyo Marui Thompson is known for a barrel crack. It will crack and you will need to use JBWeld to fix it (which works quite well by the way).
Take a look at the Tokyo Marui barrel (top) and the CYMA barrel (bottom).
Do you see any differences?
It would appear that CYMA has attempted to reinforce the barrel.
Of course, this doesn't mean it will eliminate barrel crack completely, because it wont. However, with that extra bit of metal, it may outlast the Tokyo Marui.
Of course, when it dies, you can always use JBWeld like how I used on my Tokyo Marui barrel.
These are external differences. Other than that, the internal shapes are all the same, making it internally 100% Marui compatible.
8. Modifications, Accessories, and Aftermarket Support[/size]
This is a Thompson! There aren't many accessories you'd really want to put on it... even if it was possible.
You CAN get wood kits for it from RSOV here. I personally think that wood kit is ugly and would prefer a Tokyo Marui wood styled kit.
Other than a wood kit, there are conversion kits available.
There is a rare CAW Mosquito Mold Thompson conversion kit that changes it from a M1A1 to a M1928. It consists of a M1928 style barrel (ribbed barrel and Cutts Compensator) and a upper receiver (M1928 width and bolt). It is sadly, missing the stock, selector switch, and the foregrip.
There is also a Phoenix Conversion kit specifically for the CYMA. As of April 06, 2008, it is not released yet. Any news of them was last on December 14, 2007 on AirsoftNews.Eu.
Finally, there is an AZR Machine Co. barrel and foregrip conversion. More info can be found here at AirsoftNews.Eu.
For modifications, you can do my bolt mod:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihk3BHXu4S4
Some things I would like to bring up before you do this mod on the CYMA:
- MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE GEARBOX WELL. I get YouTube messages about problems and it's 99% all GENERAL GEARBOX PROBLEMS. In fact, 50% of those problems are the tappet plate problem mentioned above. KNOW THE GEARBOX BEFORE YOU OPEN.
- For the CYMA, I'd HIGHLY recommend reinforcing the bolt plate. In fact, I'd recommend that for the Tokyo Marui as well. But the CYMA has a weaker bolt plate meaning it might break anytime.
- Both on the Tokyo Marui and CYMA: The paint around the bolt on the receiver WILL wear off. It's general wearing off that will happen anyways if you play with the bolt a lot.
Aftermarket support for the Thompson is uncommon.
Here's a store right here that may prove useful: Marui Parts Showcase
They offer the upper receiver, lower receiver, selector switch nubs, stocks, foregrips, and a motor cage.
You can use gears and anti-reversal latches advertised as Version 6 or Version 7 gears/anti-reversal latches.
Pistons, piston heads, cylinders, nozzles, and spring are standard. The spring guide is a Version 2 spring guide. The motor is a short motor.
The tappet plate is Version 6, but is widely available. The cylinder is also Version 6, but are provided in kits.
Parts you need to be careful with are the external parts not available, the hop-up chamber, and the gearbox shell.
9. Pros/Cons[/size]
Pros:
Although Cloned, It's Still Uncommon; You Can Be Special
Upper Metal Receiver and Barrel
Good Internal Durability
Nice Hop-up
Good Range
Comfortable FPS
100% Internally Marui Compatible
Barrel Appears to Be Slightly Reinforced
Trademarks [Cybergun Only]
Adjustable Sights
Movable Bolt
Overall Very Durable
Version 6 Gearbox
Steel Gears
Polycarbonate Piston
Decent Shim/Grease Job
It's CYMA: Increased Quality Since the CM.027 MP5
Cons
Long, But Short Barrel Length
FPS MAY Be a Bit Too High For CQB
Pot Metal Construction
Horrid Battery
Detestable Motor
Some External Incompatibilities With Tokyo Marui
Small Battery [Cybergun Only]
4/5SC Battery [CYMA Only]
Low Quality Battery
Small Connector
Weak Hop-Up Design (Mag Slamming)
Plastic Magazine
Some Minor Real Steel Inaccuracies
Weaker External Parts Than Marui
TERRIBLE Compression
Ugly Wood Compared To Marui
Weak Barrel Design; Barrel Crack
No Accessories; Who Needs Them On the Thompson Anyways?
Less Aftermarket Support
10. Conclusion[/size]
The CYMA Thompson is a decent alternative for those who cannot afford the Tokyo Marui Thompson.
I would, however, unless you plan on replacing all the internal parts, get the Tokyo Marui Thompson if I had the money.
However, if you don't have the money or simply just cant wait, the CYMA is perfect.
It performs nicely with the exception of the rate of fire. Great range, good accuracy, and shoots at the FPS range I like.
As time passes, you may want to improve the rate of fire starting off with the battery.
Just for the heck of it, I decided to include The Crimson Falcon's Review Rating Checklist.
External Score: 36/50
Internal Score: 24/50
Total: 60/100
60% (D-)
How ironic... Didn't it get a D- on the internal score I gave it way up there?
11. Pictures With Dragon M.'s Other Guns[/size]
We all love pictures... that's why I have about 50 of them in this review.
The sexy Tokyo Marui Thompson and the "okay-looking" CYMA Thompson.
The CYMA Thompson and it's woody friend the CYMA M14. Both were used in Vietnam. However, the Thompson got old and dropped out prematurely.
The CYMA Thompson with the DBoys RK02. The DBoy's predecessor was used in Vietnam, just like the Thompson!
The CYMA Thompson with it's friend, the M4. The M4's cousin the M16A3's grandfather was in Vietnam just like the Thompson!
The CYMA Thompson with it's friend the CYMA Glock 18C. The Glock and the Thompson are both capable of killing, therefore making them friends.