Bob Long Intimidator

The Intimidator (or Timmy for short) is an electropneumatic paintball marker manufactured by former professional paintball player Bob Long and his company, Bob Long Technologies. First introduced in 2000, [ [http://www.paintballtimes.com/Article.asp?ID=160 Has Paintball Technology Reached a Plateau?] by Mohammed S. Alo, April 2004, The Paintball Times] it was, along with the Smart Parts Impulse, one of the first fully electropneumatic markers to be adopted by professional tournament teams on a widespread basis. [ [http://www.ultratwistedpaintball.biz/page/TIMMYHISTORY.html Intimidator Tech Page - Timmy History] at Ultra Twisted Paintball] There are currently over 27 versions of the Intimidator, spread over five "generations." [ [http://www.pbreview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372472 Intimidator and Ego Comparison: Fair and Balanced] at pbreview.com]

History

The Intimidator was developed and tested by Bob Long personally, and manufactured in the United States. [ [http://www.paintballstar.com/pn/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=138 Mini Interview: Bob Long and the Intimidator] , March 2, 2004, at Paintball Star] The marker was tested using computer controlled shooting machines and ballistic chronographs, invented to test machine guns. [ [http://www.paintballstar.com/pn/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=138 Mini Interview: Bob Long and the Intimidator] , March 2, 2004, at Paintball Star]

In 2004, Bob Long introduced the Alias Intimidator. [ [http://www.pbreview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372472 Intimidator and Ego Comparison: Fair and Balanced] at pbreview.com] The marker was redesigned from the ground up. [ [http://www.paintballstar.com/pn/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=138 Mini Interview: Bob Long and the Intimidator] , March 2, 2004, at Paintball Star] Features like the regulator and valve were made smaller to increase flow and lower the pressure of the marker. The LCD was moved from the top of the trigger frame to the grip frame, and the internals were modified so that it cycled faster. [ [http://www.paintballstar.com/pn/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=138 Mini Interview: Bob Long and the Intimidator] , March 2, 2004, at Paintball Star] As a result of these modifications, the Alias was more compact than the original Intimidator, and about 20% more gas efficient. [ [http://www.paintballstar.com/pn/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=138 Mini Interview: Bob Long and the Intimidator] , March 2, 2004, at Paintball Star] This version of the Intimidator served at the basis for all subsequent markers under the Intimidator name. [ [http://www.pbreview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372472 Intimidator and Ego Comparison: Fair and Balanced] at pbreview.com]

At the peak of its popularity in the mid-2000’s, the Intimidator saw widespread use in national and international tournament play. [ [http://www.paintballstar.com/pn/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=138 Mini Interview: Bob Long and the Intimidator] , March 2, 2004, at Paintball Star] Its popularity began to decline however in later years as smaller, lighter markers with similar rates of fire (such as the Planet Eclipse Ego) became available in the same or lower price range. Nonetheless, the Intimidator can still be seen in use today at many paintball fields.

Operation

Like the Ego and other open bolt, poppet-valve-based markers, the Intimidator uses a solenoid to drive a pneumatic ram into a poppet valve, which causes it to open, firing the paintball. [ [http://www.ultratwistedpaintball.biz/page/TIMMYOPERATION.html Intimidator Tech Page – How It Works] at Ultra Twisted Paintball] . On earlier Intimidators, one of the most recognizable external features was a dual low-pressure chamber.

References

External links

* [http://www.boblongdirect.com/ Bob Long Technologies, Inc.]
* [http://www.deltapaintball.net/ Delta Paintball Store] , owned and operated by Bob Long and his family.
* [http://www.cei.net/~defiance/intimidator_faq.html Unofficial Intimidator FAQ]