Aerostar
Aerostar was an American paintball equipment manufacturer and supplier operating under the name Aerostar West, Inc. Based in Brea, California, the company was active during the 1980s and early 1990s and marketed pump-action paintball markers and accessories under its Assault Line product range.[1]
Its documented markers included the Assassinator, Assassinator II and EC 2000, all of which used Nelson-style pump mechanisms.[2]
History
[edit]Aerostar West was operating from Brea, California, by May 1988, when it advertised its Assassinator paintball marker in Action Pursuit Games magazine. The company's advertisements promoted the Assault Line range of paintball equipment, including pump handles, barrels, CO₂ systems, feed systems and marker accessories.[1]
The Assassinator was sold both as a complete marker and as a conversion kit for the Nel-Spot 007. A May 1988 advertisement listed the complete marker at a suggested retail price of US$329, while the conversion kit was offered for US$135.[1]
The same advertisement described a range of interchangeable barrels, aluminium pump components, direct-feed equipment, sights and constant-air accessories.
Aerostar continued advertising its products during 1988, with further advertisements appearing in the June and September issues of Action Pursuit Games.[3][4]
A United States federal court record dated 23 July 1991 identified Gayle Goss as doing business under the name Aerostar West. The company was among the defendants named in a patent infringement action brought by Chauncey Toombs of Cooper-T. The published decision concerned a motion by another defendant, Sheridan Products, and did not determine the infringement allegations against Aerostar West.[5]
The company's precise founding and closure dates have not been established.
Paintball markers
[edit]The historical paintball equipment database VintageRex records three markers associated with Aerostar.[2]
| Marker | Action | Valve system | Gas source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assassinator | Pump-action | Nelson | 12-gram CO₂ | .68-calibre direct-feed marker, advertised in 1988 and also available as a Nel-Spot conversion kit. |
| Assassinator II | Pump-action | Nelson | 12-gram CO₂ or constant air | .68-calibre direct-feed marker supporting both cartridge and constant-air operation. |
| EC 2000 | Pump-action | Nelson | Constant air | .68-calibre direct-feed marker using a fixed-barrel configuration according to VintageRex. |
Assassinator
[edit]The Assassinator was a .68-calibre pump-action marker using a Nelson-style valve system.
The marker was available as a complete paintball gun or as a conversion kit intended for existing Nel-Spot 007 owners.
Aerostar's May 1988 advertisement described a complete package with three interchangeable barrels, a 6-inch aluminium pump, direct-feed system, dovetail sight mount, sight, stock and constant-air equipment.
Advertised barrel lengths included a 4⅝-inch stock barrel, 10-inch assault barrel and 13-inch sniper barrel.[1]
VintageRex separately catalogues the Assassinator as a direct-feed marker using 12-gram CO₂ cartridges, with a fixed-barrel configuration.[6]
Assassinator II
[edit]The Assassinator II was another Nelson-style pump-action marker offered by Aerostar.
VintageRex documents the marker as .68 calibre, with a direct-feed system and compatibility with both 12-gram CO₂ cartridges and constant-air systems.[7]
The precise introduction date and production quantities have not been established.
EC 2000
[edit]The EC 2000 was a .68-calibre pump-action marker using a Nelson-style valve system.
According to VintageRex, it featured a direct-feed configuration, fixed barrel and constant-air gas supply.[8]
The introduction date and production period of the EC 2000 have not been established.
Other equipment
[edit]Aerostar West marketed equipment under its Assault Line brand, including marker barrels, pump components, CO₂ accessories, feed systems and other paintball equipment.
Contemporary advertisements also promoted the company's ability to supply individual components and conversion kits for existing paintball markers.[1][3]
See also
[edit]- List of vintage paintball markers and equipment
- Nel-Spot 007
- Cooper-T
- History of paintball equipment
References
[edit]- Aerostar West, "Assault Line Products", advertisement in Action Pursuit Games, May 1988, p. 57, archived by VintageRex.
- VintageRex, "Aerostar", historical paintball marker catalogue.
- Aerostar West, "Assassinator", advertisement in Action Pursuit Games, June 1988, archived by VintageRex.
- Aerostar West, "The Assault Team!", advertisement in Action Pursuit Games, September 1988, archived by VintageRex.
- United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Toombs v. Goss, 768 F. Supp. 62, 23 July 1991.
- VintageRex, "Assassinator", historical marker record.
- VintageRex, "Assassinator II", historical marker record.
- VintageRex, "EC 2000", historical marker record.
