Got asked this today so I decided to throw it out for you.
Okay, even I have to admit all the cool guns have a V2 gearbox.
CONS....
However, when TM designed the V2 gearbox it wasn't designed to be
upgraded. It has sloppy gear meshing, not enough material in the
cylinder head section, difficulty in motor stabilization and angle,
can't service trigger switch unit without opening gearbox,
wires run right next to pinion gear, easy to get incorrect nozzle angle
(G&P's and older CA) difficult to re-enforce and the list goes on
and on. Many brands changed there V2 to only fit there AEG. There
realistic capability is limited, no matter the brand.
When TM
willed the Version 3 into existence there were more upgrade options so they
kept that in mind but mostly it was designed as a gearbox to fit in their AK series. It was plagued with trigger switch problems, and the Version 3 that
went into the AK series wasn't secured into the receiver that well. Depending on if you pulled the pistol grip back or forward it would not
feed, or it would feed and lose 40fps. These issues are really not relevant
anymore due to many generational improvements, and by the time TM got there AK
series stateside they were perfection.
PROS....
The version 2 gearbox
is narrow and can fit in a ton of different receivers. Components are
everywhere and fairly cheap. All the "cool" guns have them and all of
them can be upgraded theoretically.
Ok now we get to the V3.
The version three gearbox is almost precisely the same dimensions and
design despite the brand. So you can use almost any Ver. 3 gearbox shell. The front cylinder head portion of the shell is re-enforced by design so most V3
gearbox shells can handle huge springs (except G&G combat machine
AK's.) The piston has almost perfect gear meshing in stock form, and the gears
also mesh much better. So this means less broken gears, less stripped pistons,
and less gearbox noise. Then we get to the motor. The motor is anchored
to the gearbox in a motor cage so your motor won't flop around in a
pistol grip but stay in perfect synch with your bevel gear. The version 3
can handle higher ROF, bigger springs, and because the wiring is on the
outside there tends to be more heat dissipation. That's why an ugly old
AK runs forever while a really cool M4 is a bottomless money pit (sometimes.)
What about a KWA 2GX gearbox you say? Haven't they improved it a lot?
YES they have, but these gearboxes are restricted to a plastic cylinder
head. You can install a metal one but due to KWAs weird air nozzle it
will be an air loss and often top out fairly low for those DMR projects.
Plus their horrible pistons and piston heads. It takes a lot of building
just like anything else but it can be done given money, money, and more money.
Personally, I will not buy anything with a Ver. 2 gearbox anymore. And over the last
10 years the AK AEG has grown on me for appearance. A little bit of ugly
keeps me from working on my own guns and allows me to work on yours : )
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