Good day all,

I have been pondering the purchase of a Mini for quite some time now, and I thought it best that before taking the final plunge I should do a final round of research.

Recently some of the local paintball shops got stock of the new Planet Eclipse Etek 3 markers. They are a bit more expensive than the Mini's, but what I really find interesting is the fact that they are still made in the UK. This I thought would change considering the entry-level nature of the markers. The model I'm interested in is the Etek 3 LT, the one with the new composite frame. I believe it offers good value for money.

Now, what I'm busy debating is whether or not this is a better buy than the Mini. I've never been a fan of the fact that the Mini was made in Taiwan. But again, this is I realize is quite relative. Invert offers a lifetime warranty on their markers, and this indicates a level of dedication and commitment that warrants the fact that as long as there is sufficient quality control being applied, the place of manufacture shouldn't play a role. All else being equal, I believe an expensive marker, such as an Ego, can be just as beautifully made in Taiwan than in the UK. Unfortunately, everything is never quite truly equal. Manufacture quality is dependent on a variety of factors, the most important of which I believe is the company's profit margin, and the other factors just stem from this main one. The maximization of profit will determine the selling price of the marker, and where corners can be cut to achieve it.

My main question would be then, how does the Mini compare in reliability to the Etek 3? Have any of the fellow forum members experienced serious problems with the Mini that couldn't be remedied with some simple maintenance. Again, since I'm purchasing the Mini new, I will be getting the latest version with all of the initial teething problems sorted out. What I'm referring to is problems such as weak aluminum used in construction resulting in a bent barrel or problems of a similar nature. I.e. problems resulting from inferior materials used in production, since I believe this to be the main problem with products sourced from similar Asiatic countries. I've read about solenoids giving issues, resulting in the marker not firing on the first pull of the trigger, but this was apparently remedied with just a simple cleaning. Problems such as these I consider negligible, seeing that in most situations you get what you pay for. I realize the mini is cheaper than the Etek, and as such problems like these I'm willing to except since I believe them to be a consequence of the selling price of the marker. These are minor manufacturing flaws, such as an oring incorrectly fitted causing a leak, or some tooling marks in the aluminum. An Ego or Geo perhaps won't have these, but you pay for the extra quality control, in which I'm not really interested.

In terms of design, I favour the Mini. I believe it to be less complicated. Again, this is sometimes a problem with products being sourced from Asiatic countries, but I believe the Mini to be sound in its operation. It appears to be simplistic in its maintenance and operation. I understand it is a bit of a schlep to completely dismantle and service the regulator, but a reply to an email sent to Invert assured me that anything that can be easily removed are the only parts that need servicing. Apparently NDZ makes an TSO that effectively remedies the no on/off situation as well.

The Etek I do believe has an advantage in terms of the electronics used, since I believe the stock board might be better. I'm no tourney-level player so this does not concern me. Other than that I can see no real advantage justifying the price deficit. The Mini is small, and I'm really big (330lbs), but oddly enough the Mini is not uncomfortable to shoot, at all. I really enjoy the compactness of it.

Sorry for the essay, and any input will be much appreciated. Please, I'm open to any advice, and possible critique regarding my way thinking.

Kindest regards,

BigB.

If you wallet will allow you to get an ETek3 over the Mini, I'd say do it.

Eclipse makes some of the best markers in the world, and this includes the ETek line.

Performance, reliability, quality, ect ect ect.

The Mini is a fantastic marker but as I said, if you can do the Etek, do it.

__________________

I had one of the older Mini's and I never had an issue with it after upgrading the poppit to the version with a spring. This could be because I take care of my equipment and probably also because the Mini is made well.

If you do not play in tournaments, if you do not want the ability to change fire modes on the fly, or if you are able to count blinking LEDs then the stock board is for you.

The NDZ TSOO is a nice add on feature and I would recommend going to your loacl PB store and handling a Mini with the TSOO and a tank attached because it adds a few inches to the overall length.

The stock barrel is quite good, but there are better barrels out there. If you like the way the stock barrel looks on the Mini then I would recommend getting the barrel bored out to accept Freak inserts.

Some stock triggers are nicer than other stock triggers, but don't ask me why. A upgraded roller-bearing trigger is a nice upgrade but not a needed upgrade.

Personally, I would stay away from the aftermarket bolts and spring kits. I just don't have the time to tinker with it. I'd rather just air up and play.

I sold my Mini and now have an ETek3 LT. I once shot them both back to back in my back yard and was surprised at how smoother the brand new ETek3 shot over the highly used and worn in Mini. The ETek3 does have more moving parts, but it is also more efficient, more consistent, shoots smoother, quicker to clean and maintain, and also has one of the best customer service departments.

Since you already know that the Mini feels good in your hands, then I feel you will be impressed with its performance. The Mini is a great marker.

__________________

Both the etek and mini are great markers out of the box. The will perform well with little maintenance. Which one you get all depends on what you want to spend. With the release or the Empire Axe, the cost of the mini has dropped slightly. The axe is the successor.

__________________

Thanks everyone for the friendly advice.

I was wondering, how stable is the ASA/Regulator mount at the bottom of the Mini gripframe? I've heard people complain about the wobble that is observed and the ease of which the regulator can come loose during play , but apparently this is easily remedied with the application of some blue loctite.

Apparently people aren't really big fans of the solenoid design as well. Is this a catastrophic flaw, or is it not as bad as people make it out to be?

Thanks yet again for any input.

I've never experienced wobble in my ASA. It basically boils down to if you take care of your marker and properly maintain it, it will give you many years of service. The noid issues are not ad bad as people make them out to be.

__________________

I have to concur with Kanuck. If you are experiencing an issue from the solenoid, most of the time you just have to give it a quick wipe to clean it.

__________________

Thanks again for the replies.

For the most part I think I covered all of the major problems with the Mini.

Are there any other problems that I have not yet mentioned that have occurred?

In terms of the final decision, I'm leaning more towards the Mini.

The Planet Eclipse seems to be, by all accounts, an awesome marker, but the amount I would save when purchasing the Mini makes it more of an attractive proposition.

The Mini is a reliable marker and most of the time the major problems are a result of owner error or lack of maintenance. I think you will find that the Mini performs as you would expect a great marker to perform. Try not to let the higher priced, shinier models sway you into thinking the Mini cannot stand up on its own.

The Mini felt good in your hands. The Mini has enough firing modes on the stock board to accomodate your needs. It is built with quality in mind and it should last you a long time. It also comes with a warranty which helps give you a piece of mind. It shoots straight and it's quite easy to maintain. It is not perfect and a lot of people choose to upgrade the barrel, trigger, and add a New Designz TSOO. I didn't at first and only did so because I was itching to upgrade it.

__________________

I second the Kanadian and Stripey Guy's sentiments, bang for the buck it is really hard to beat... Ive owned 1300 dollar markers and have never been as happy with them as i have been with my mini. Its a real good marker with great features and it just flat works every time as long as you take care of it it wont let you down.