Planet Eclipse

Planet Eclipse is a British paintball equipment manufacturer headquartered in Manchester, England. Established in 1991 as Paintball Planet by Julian Carr and Anthony Leadbetter, known as Ledz, the company originally specialised in retailing and customising paintball equipment before developing its own markers and accessories.[1][2]

Planet Eclipse manufactures electronic and mechanical paintball markers, including the Eclipse Ego, Eclipse Geo, Etek, Etha, Gtek and EMEK product families. The company has also supplied equipment and sponsorship to professional tournament teams competing in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), Millennium Series and National Xball League (NXL).[1][3]

History

Origins

Planet Eclipse traces its origins to 1991, when Julian Carr and Anthony "Ledz" Leadbetter established a paintball business in Manchester, England, under the name Paintball Planet.[1][2]

The business operated a small retail shop on Deansgate, supplying imported paintball equipment and accessories to British players.

Carr and Leadbetter were both involved in competitive paintball through the Manchester-based Banzai Bandits team. Their experience as players influenced the development of custom equipment and modifications intended to improve the performance of existing markers.[2]

Jack Wood, a paintball player and engineering student, was involved with the business during its early development and subsequently became its principal marker designer.[2]

The Banzai Bandits finished third at the 1993 Mayhem Masters, an established British tournament. According to Leadbetter, the team's use of modified equipment helped generate interest in the company's custom parts.[2]

Custom paintball markers

During the 1990s, the company developed and sold customised versions of existing paintball markers under the Eclipse name.

These included modified Sterling, Automag, Autococker, Spyder, Bushmaster, Shocker, Impulse and Angel markers.[4]

The Eclipse custom markers incorporated upgraded components, modified trigger assemblies, custom milling and distinctive anodised finishes.

Early production was comparatively limited, with many markers built to order.

The company subsequently adopted the Planet Eclipse name as its manufacturing activities expanded.

Development of the EBlade

Around 2002, Planet Eclipse introduced the EBlade, an electronic trigger frame developed for the WGP Autococker.[1][4]

The EBlade replaced the marker's mechanical trigger mechanism with an electronic system controlling its pneumatic operation.

The conversion allowed Autococker owners to compete with newer electronic markers without replacing the underlying marker platform.

Jack Wood was involved in the mechanical design, while Steve "Flash" Monks contributed to the development of the electronics.[4]

The EBlade became one of the company's most significant early products and marked its transition from a custom equipment workshop towards the development of complete electronic paintball markers.

Planet Eclipse subsequently produced additional electronic upgrades, including the E2 EBlade.

Introduction of the Ego

In 2005, Planet Eclipse launched the Eclipse Ego, its first complete marker designed and developed independently of another manufacturer's platform.[5]

Unlike its earlier customised Autocockers and other modified markers, the Ego incorporated a complete proprietary design.

The marker used an electronically controlled, ram-driven poppet-valve operating system.

Development was led by Jack Wood and the company's engineering team, drawing partly upon experience gained through the EBlade project.[5]

During 2004, Planet Eclipse approached Rich Telford of Sacramento XSV concerning sponsorship and use of the forthcoming Ego in professional competition.[6]

The Ego subsequently became one of the company's principal tournament marker platforms, undergoing numerous revisions during the following years.

Expansion of the product range

Following the Ego, Planet Eclipse introduced additional marker platforms aimed at different segments of the paintball market.

The Etek series provided a less expensive electronic marker based on technology developed for the Ego platform.[7]

The Geo series introduced a spool-valve alternative to the company's existing poppet-valve designs.

Further product families included the Etha and Gtek, which expanded the company's range of electronic tournament and recreational markers.

The company also continued developing the Ego platform, introducing the LV series with a redesigned lever-operated valve system.

In 2010, Planet Eclipse closed its original Manchester retail shop as the business concentrated on marker development, manufacturing, servicing and international distribution. The final day of retail trading was 30 October 2010.[8]

Mechanical and magazine-fed markers

During the late 2010s, Planet Eclipse expanded further into mechanical and recreational paintball equipment.

The company introduced the EMEK, a mechanical marker intended for entry-level players, recreational use and commercial paintball field rental fleets.[9]

The EMEK platform also became associated with the renewed popularity of mechanical tournament paintball.

Planet Eclipse subsequently developed magazine-fed markers, including the EMG100, later known as the EMF100.

The EMF100 allowed players to use detachable paintball magazines, including magazines compatible with shaped projectiles.

The company continued developing this product category with the EMF200 and associated accessories, including the CF20 continuous-feed magazine.[10]

Products

Planet Eclipse has manufactured several families of paintball markers.

Product family	Description
Eclipse EBlade	Electronic Autococker trigger conversion introduced around 2002.
Eclipse Ego	Electronic poppet-valve tournament marker introduced in 2005.
Etek	Electronic marker series derived from the Ego platform.
Eclipse Geo	Electronic spool-valve tournament marker series.
Eclipse LV	Evolution of the Ego design using a lever-operated valve system.
Etha	Electronic and mechanical markers aimed at recreational and tournament players.
Gtek	Electronic spool-valve marker series incorporating Gamma Core technology.
EMEK	Mechanical marker platform used for recreational paintball and field rentals.
EMF	Magazine-fed mechanical markers developed for recreational and scenario paintball.

The company also manufactures barrels, protective clothing, playing apparel, marker components and other accessories.[1][10]

Tournament involvement

Planet Eclipse has maintained relationships with professional, amateur and regional paintball teams through equipment supply, sponsorship and technical support.

Its early involvement in professional tournament sponsorship included Sacramento XSV and London Nexus, both of which used the Ego during its introduction.[5][6]

The company subsequently supported numerous teams competing in major American and European tournament circuits.

These have included Edmonton Impact, San Diego Dynasty, Los Angeles Infamous and San Antonio X-Factor, among others.[11]

Planet Eclipse has used the collective name Emortal Army for its sponsored teams and associated players.

The company also provides technical support at selected tournaments, including marker servicing and assistance with equipment maintenance.

Media production

Planet Eclipse has produced paintball videos documenting professional teams, tournaments and equipment.

Its Eclipse TV (ETV) project featured tournament footage, interviews, instructional videos and documentaries.

Productions included the Emortal series and Artifact, a documentary series following professional paintball teams and competition.

The Artifact series was produced with Disconnected Media and featured narration by professional paintball player and commentator Matty Marshall.[12]

Planet Eclipse also supported the production of Rivalry, a documentary about the competition between XSV and Vicious during the 2009 PSP season.[13]

International operations

Planet Eclipse developed an international distribution and support network following its expansion into marker manufacturing.

The company maintains its British headquarters in Trafford Park, Manchester, alongside operations in Warren, Rhode Island, United States, and Düsseldorf, Germany.[14]

Its products are distributed internationally through paintball retailers and authorised dealers.

References

About Planet. Planet Eclipse. Official company history.
Inside Planet Eclipse. Paintball Sports, interview with Anthony Leadbetter, 2021.
20th Anniversary Collectors Editions. Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 16 December 2011.
Let's Make Something Slow, Really, Really Fast. Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 13 July 2017. Development of the EBlade and earlier custom markers.
The EGO Has Landed!. Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 25 May 2017. History and development of the first Ego marker.
XSV to EGO. Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 20 April 2017. Development and early professional sponsorship of the Ego.
Say Hi to the Ego's Little Brother: The Etek. Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 19 October 2017.
Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, October 2010. Planet Eclipse. Announcements concerning closure of the UK retail store.
How Far Will the EMEK Take Me?. Planet Eclipse USA, 15 January 2020.
Featured Videos. Planet Eclipse. Official product announcements and video archive, including EMF100, EMF200 and other markers.
Factory Teams. Planet Eclipse. Official sponsored team profiles.
Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, March 2011. Planet Eclipse. Coverage of the Artifact documentary series.
Rivalry. Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 16 February 2010. Announcement of the Rivalry documentary.
Contact Us. Planet Eclipse. Official international office information.

External links