The Nerf Vortex Lumitron was released alongside the N-Strike Rayven in Australia Early 2012, as part of the new sub-line, Light It Up. I reckon the origins of the Lumitron was to give the Vortex line some justice (since the Vortex line was first released, glow discs were a real possibility) and now, we'll see if the Lumitron can stack up to it's N-Strike 'distant' cousin. :P
The first moment you set eyes on the Lumitron's box art, one certain word springs to mind: Praxis. Yes, the Lumitron is basically a re-painted Praxis with a new paint job, minus the stock, and a whole new Firefly Tech clip thrown in for good measure. If you already own a Praxis, you'll probably just shrug this off and look elsewhere. But, there are some things I like about the Lumitron. Let me explain the good points :P
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| You can see that area around the name is slightly indented :P |
In the good 'ol box, you get your Lumi, 10 glow-in-the-dark discs, the Vortex Firefly Tech clip, and your Instructions. (Seriously, who reads them? :P)
The first about the Lumitron I noticed (apart from one word, Praxis) is that it feels fantastic in hand. The grip feels great, and there is a good weight to the blaster, thanks to the new clip.
For newcomers to the Vortex line, I'll point out the basics. In order to fire the damn thing :P, load up the magazine with discs, pop in the magazine into the slot until you hear a good loud click, pull back the pump handle back towards you, then push it back forward to load the disc into the firing position. Then, it's simple as pulling the trigger. Simple, really. :P
The new paint job reminds me of my brother's shoes, which also glow-in-the-dark too :P It kinda makes sense with these new Light Up blasters, because the standard Vortex paint-job wouldn't fit with the whole Light It Up theme, flouro, I think the word I am looking for :P. I like it, but Nerf has skipped a few places with the re-colouring, preferring with less colours, and more of the same. Therefore, I like the original Praxis colour scheme. don't mind me, I like seeing new colours, but Nerf was a little lazy with the Lumi.
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| Praxis (top) VS Lumitron (bottom) |
But, I absolutely LOVE the detailing the Vortex line, they give off the vibe of these are real alien technology. The hexagonal markings features everywhere on the blaster, and is really great to look at close up.
The clip
eject button is located at the back of the blaster, the two switches above the trigger. Its clearly obvious that Nerf has catered to everyone, depending on your preferred hand. It doesn't matter how you wield the Lumi, it still feels fine and natural. I'm going left-handed, just for something a little, 'different' :P
In case of a
jam, (of which from my testing, rarely happens, which is awesome :D) it is located on the right-side of the Lumi, above the Vortex logo. Simply pull it back and point the Lumi downwards to clear the jam.
Okay, time for the differences. One thing different from the Praxis, is the change in clip disposal. With the Praxis, the clip automatically drops downs, without anything holding onto it. With the Lumitron however, you have to pull down on the clip to remove it. I like this, because it prevents the clip from being damaged if you accidentally pressed down on the switch. Also, I've heard that most people prefer Praxis non-stock attacked, so it gives off that real 'shotgun' vibe to it. :D
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The internals are the same as the Praxis, for you modders out there :P
Bad points? It's essentially a Praxis, so distance and accuracy are very alike. The Vortex line is famed for it's ridiculous ranges, and the Lumi isn't any different. Ranges can be up to 20 - 30 metres, and accuracy is bang-on up to and including 10 metres. Just a little tip, discs travel slower than darts, but gain more distance. How you use this information, is up to you, my young Padawans :P
Now onto the Firefly Tech Clip. (4x AA batteries needed) I find this clip to be the most effective of the two Firefly Tech clips, thanks to the location of the LED lights, activated by the little orange switch located at the bottom of the clip. The main LED is located at the bottom of the clip, above the battery slot. Other two LED's are located inside the top disc holder slots. Pictures below. I really like the bottom LED. It's really effective at charging the discs, thanks to the disc slider/pusher-upperer (I don't know the proper name for it, does anyone know?) being transparent, allowing the light emitted the shine through. The top LED's are a welcome addition too, emitting more light for maximum glow effect. :D
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Now, for the night-time pics :D As with the Rayven's effects, it's best seen in person.
The glow discs themselves work very well. When they zoom throughout the air, it gives off the impression that they are little lasers firing about the place :P A very cool effect, and awesome to show off to your mates and onlookers. :D
The Lumitron is compatible with all Vortex clips and most N-Strike accessories, with a Tactical Rail located on the top of the Lumi, and the rear is home to a stock attachment slot. Can't see getting my Stampede shield on this thing any time soon :P
So, the verdict. Is it worth your time and money? Coming from a collector's point of view, yes and no. If you already have a Praxis, then this probably isn't for you. But, if you are exactly like me or haven't got a Praxis, then go for it. It's worth it, for the aspect of the glow discs/lasers :P, and a fabulous new, interesting clip. :D And it has a few improvements over the Praxis.
The Lumitron is currently going around for $40-$45 AUD. Pick one up and give it a whirl in the dark, I think you'll like it.
S.O.F.T.'s Official Rating: 8 discs/10 discs :P
Thanks for reading! New review every Friday. I've been a bit slack with this one :P
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