AirsoftPope

Manufacturer: Airsoft Innovations
Package: 1x AI Gas Can, 1x Bottle GBB Oil, 1x Propane adapter + cap + duster adapter, Manual.
Type: Accessory
Rating: 5/5

AI: GasCan

I have never have been much for gas guns, mostly because of the weight of the mags or portability of green gas containers. In fact, it would be safe to say that outside of 40mm grenades… I hated gas devices. When Orca approached me, touting that the new AI GasCan will make me fall in love with gas guns all over again, I literally laughed in his face. There is no way this little accessory will convert me, I thought. I stand before you today a changed man.

GasCan + accessories in the package

The AI GasCan is basically a reusable aluminum gas storage tank for Green, Duster and Propane gas. It is slightly larger than a 40mm 168rd shower shell and weighs next to nothing with a retail price tag of approximately $40 USD. Two can fit in a double M4 mag pouch and with that kind of portability, what’s not to like?

Operation of the GasCan is pretty simple and AI does an amazing job (as in all their manuals) on how to use it. So much so that instead of having me butcher the instructions, I’ll just post that portion of the instruction manual. It’s not that I’m THAT lazy, but why mess with what honestly works?

GasCan user manual

My favorite feature of the GasCan is the hassle-free oiling of my magazines/grenades. Basically all you have to do is add GBB oil or Tornado oil into the GasCan and gas up accordingly. No more adding oil between the propane adapter and propane bottle! I’ll be honest.. I have terrible aim and constantly lubed the outside of my propane bottle on almost every refill. AI went one step further and actually had the foresight to put checkboxes on the side of the GasCan, allowing the user to mark what this particular can is used for, preventing any possible cross contamination. I think I will still used colored tape for fast recognition, but still, very thoughtful on their part.

On a side note, when my GasCan arrived via USPS the fill nozzle would vent any gas put in immediately. I went to Airsoft Innovations’ website and submitted a tech request. They had a new cap out to me with nothing out of pocket. Amazing customer service. Here’s how the replacement cap packaged arrived from USPS. Amazingly no damage was done and my GasCan is back to 100% operational status.

The AI GasCan is beautiful in it’s sheer simplicity and honestly is one of the most useful airsoft accessories on the market today. From the range of devices it can be used with, any role in airsoft will benefit from this accessory. I love the GasCan so much, I bought a second one. Seriously.

Manufacturer: Airsoft Innovations
Package: 1x Burst Ring, 50x Burst Discs, Manual.
Type: Grenade Add-on
Retail Price: $14.95 USD
Rating: 5/5

By now you probably already know all about the Airsoft Innovations Tornado grenade and it’s bb-throwing sphere of doom, but did you know that it can be converted to a Flash-bang devices too? I sure didn’t. While gearing up for a local game, I contacted Orca from ORCA Industries to see if he could set me up with a 12-pack of Thunder-B grenades. Orca earlier had sold me on a few AI Impact and Timer grenades just a few weeks earlier, and suggested I give the AI Distraction Kit (AI:DK for short) a shot, siting the close performance and economical side of the AI:DK over the Thunder-B’s. My wallet rejoiced and $14.95 + shipping later, I had the AI:DK in-hand.

I have been using Thunder-B’s for a while now, being very satisfied with both the cost and overall performance. My only real gripe was been carrying around extra 12g CO2 cartridges and the bulky shells, but I was glad to hump it as an effective sound-grenade was, at the time, hard to come by. Even with the Tornado’s in-hand, I still carried a few Thunder-B’s. With the distraction kit, my Tornado is now a multi-role monster! Now I carry 1 Tornado armed with BBs and a second Tornado armed with the Distraction Kit, supplying me with enough boom to get any job done.

To install the distraction Kit, first remove the valve cover from the bottom of the Tornado. Remove the over-pressure plug from the valve cover by applying pressure with your thumb. Be sure to keep the plug as you will need it to restore your Tornado to BB-throwing operation. I ended up getting a spare valve cover just for AI:DK use.

Next, insert the Burst Ring into the bottom of the grenade. The o-ring should be facing towards the valve cover. You should be able to clearly see o-ring now. Press on the Burst Ring to ensure it is securely in the valve cover body.

Back to the valve cover… clean the inside of the valve cover, removing any dirt, oil or debris. This is critical for making a tight seal with the Burst Disc. Apply the Burst Disc, sticky side down (duh) to the inside of the valve cover. Be sure to press all the bubbles out of the Burst Disc, ensuring a solid seal.

Replace the valve cover and you’re done. Gas up and give it a whirl. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but trust me it’s easier than it sounds.

Note: DO NOT LOAD BBs

According to AI, the AI:DK registers in at 119db @ 3ft. I have no way of measuring but needless to say, my ears were ringing after the first test-fire in my closed garage. While I don’t feel the AI:DK is as loud as the Thunder-B, the difference is negligible and you will probably won’t notice.

Now here’s the best part, the cost. The AI:DK cost $14.95 USD and comes with 50 Burst Discs. That’s 50 uses before you need to think about buying more. Even better, 50 Burst Discs from AI costs.. $4.95 USD. Can’t beat that. Overall, best $15 bucks I’ve spent in a very long time. I would highly recommend the AI:DK to any and all Tornado owners out there.

Manufacturer: Airsoft Innovations
Package: Tornado Impact Grenade, manual, 1 x bottle of grenade oil.
Type: Grenade
Retail Price: $99 USD
Rating: 5/5

Airsoft Innovations, the company that (in my opinion) finally got the non-pyrotechnic airsoft grenade right, recently pushed out a new version of their venerable Tornado Grenade coined the “impact” grenade. The impact version is “detonated” at the point of impact, doing away with the timer system of the original version. The advantages of the impact version make it a must-have for a grenade/kaboom junkie like me, namely the booby-trap and not having to deal with finicky timer issues.

Like the timer version, the impact version is larger than a dummy frag grenade but a tad smaller than an smoke grenade. Most standard smoke/flashbang pouches will accommodate the impact grenade, even with the vertical pin position. I use Bulle smoke grenade pouches on my molle rigs which keeps the grenade snug and safe from snags. The valve cover safety and durable polymer coating are where the similarities between the two grenades stop.

The firing mechanism on the timer is a set of steel stems and discs that are aligned vertically via the pin and when under pressure, are held firmly in place between the shuttle body and cap. It sounds complicated, but in reality, it’s quite simple. Initially I thought it would be a fragile, easily detonated device, but despite my best effort to shake the crap out of it… the grenade stayed in the armed position. The cool part is dropping it only one foot will set it off. This translates into my having to have better aim and NOT knock the edge of a wall/door when tossing it into a room. Yea, that’s experience talking. Unlike the timer, the impact grenade is unforgiving and will detonate on hard surface despite my best intentions! With the timer, I can let it ricochet and not be as mindful of the impact location. This is probably the only real downside to the impact grenade, and it’s 100% user error.

To arm the impact grenade, follow the below steps:

1) Unscrew the valve cover.
2) Unscrew the top cap.
3) Insert the pin.
4) Stack the stems & cams in this order:
– Big stem
– Offset disc
– Slide disc
– Small stem
5) Align top cap so that the pin fits into the hole in the shuttle & screw on the top cap.
6) Fill with propane.
7) Fill with BBs.
8 ) Screw on the valve cover.

In conclusion, the AI Impact Tornado is by far my favorite bb-throwing airsoft grenade to date. It’s simple, robust and extremely effective. Even if you already have a timer grenade, I would still suggest picking up the impact model as it’s above mentioned characteristics come in quite handy. The impact model retails for around $99 USD at most major airsoft dealers, I picked up mine from Airsoft Extreme.