This was the third and most modern version Zealot prototype. While similar to the previous versions of the marker described on my website (v2.28 and earlier v1.19), the design being used here was the largest jump in technology compared to the previous revisions.
I built this marker using equipment in the Nummech machine shop. The previous Zealot markers were built by another machine shop and ultimately weren't useable due to insufficient quality. Eventually the decision was made that I would temporarily re-assume responsability of the fabrication in order to ensure the project would be completed without needing to pay yet another machine shop. The cost was reduced in this method, although the timeframe became elongated since I had to work around the existing production parts going through the shop at the time.
This project took several months of careful work while trying to make room for prototyping around the full schedule of production milling. Presently Nummech was heavily involved with frame and body milling, so the fabrication process is easily altered to make the complex Zealot parts. The end result was far better quality than anything I had built in the past, and I was able to save a lot of headaches by using tricks learned from making the orange v1.19 markers a few years earlier.
Revisions:
By this point, Zealot design had shifted in several important ways which make it differ greatly from the predeeding prototypes. Much of these changes can even be noticed from the outside.
· The bi-directional foregrip regulator was switched to a bottomline ASA-regulator combination.
· The front reg was replaced with a volumizing foregrip with interchangeable covers/sleeves.
· Eye cover layout was altered to eliminate internal wire routing.
· Quick-strip ball coupling system was added to the bolt endcap.
· Feedneck boss made compatible with published specifications for Empire Sniper/Vanquish, J4 Torque, and any body manufacturered by Nummech.
· Ergonomic enhancements.
· Refined GNB Underbore barrel cosmetics.
· Simplified frame-routed air supply (due to lack of foregrip regulator).
· Many cosmetic alterations to parts other than the body (body cosmetics were also tweaked in some areas).
· Heavily redesigned internals, meant to simplify the production process as much as possible.
Unfinished Marker Pictures:
Prototype Marker Pictures:
Two additional prototypes were created, but no promo pictures were taken to show them. One of them is gloss silver/pink while the other is gloss blue/silver. Marker serial number 1 was defective through the fabrication process (gloss silver/black).