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  The Kingman Spyder has taken the world by storm, and with players of all levels using the gun it can no longer be said that blow-backs are for newbies and Walk-ons alone. In fact, Aftershock captain Renick Miller used a Spyder for the whole of this year's World Cup, that's some testament to the gun's quality. Of course, we're not talking 'bout an out-of-the-box version here. There was more than a little bit of filing here and hammering there to get it rocking at its optimum - but then the same can be said of Cockers and Mags. What it shows is that the gun offers a sound basis with which to start; this is the philosophy behind the Spyder. It's a gun that costs a fraction of the price of top flight competition guns, but with a little work can compete toe to toe with them. OK, so it's not an Angel or an RT, but it was never meant to be. What it is is a reliable, well-priced and extremely easy to look after gun that can be upgraded either a bit at a time or all in one go and turned into a Mag Masher or Cocker Killer.
 
So why is the Spyder so successful? Well to be perfectly honest, I don't know! As far as I'm concerned, it's in the middle of a massive selection of markers, all of which work on the same principle and cost around the same price. The Spyder is, at least in its basic operation, nothing special. Where it differs from the competition is mainly in looks and also in the simplicity of its construction. Cosmetically, the Spyder's Mag-esque exterior lends to its appeal - hence the popularity of silver models. Its Simple lines and no-fuss detail make it look and feel functional and worth three times the price. Mechanically, Kingman couldn't be accused of over-designing. Function and reliability are the watchwords and basis behind the design. Operating on an over-and-under blow-back principle, the design concept dates back to the very first semi-autos from the likes of Tippmann and Sheridan. What Kingman have done is to design out all the areas of weakness and over elaboration to make the Spyder more reliable, easier to maintain and cheaper to manufacture.

Now 'cheaper to manufacture' in Paintball generally means 'inferior final product'. What Kingman did was simplify the required machining processes but maintain a high standard of finish. Add to that a straightforward design and you have the reliability and ease of maintenance all sewn up. So there you have it, a few of the reasons why some of the companies manufacturing entry level semis have developed acute arachnophobia. The direct beneficiaries of the Spyder boom are the players. You're the ones getting such good value for your hard-earned cash, and about time too!

Upgrades
You name it, you can do it to a Spyder. I can't list everything hare, but check through the spec. sheets with the custom models 'cos all the upgrades on those guns are available individually as well as in a complete package. You don't need any fancy upgrades to simply go out and play with your Spyder, that's the beauty of the gun - but you can make it better. Firstly, think about your gas supply. These guns work really well on vapour C02, so get some kind of expansion system fitted to prevent any velocity jumps due to liquid CO2 in the valve. If you plan on going over to air/nitro, it's not worth getting an expansion chamber if it's going to be obsolete in a couple of weeks. If you live somewhere really cold it's worth considering liquid or nitro. And a word of advice don't get a stainless barrel if you're going to run liquid C02 in cold conditions, as it's a living nightmare if you get a burst ball in one if it's freezing.

Talking of barrels, there are literally hundreds available with names like Dye, Bob Long, Smart Parts, Ceramik Series and Jacko all making dedicated Spyder models. It's all down to personal choice, as the differences in modern barrels is minimal. I would stay away from 16" barrels as they make the gun too clumsy to manoeuvre. 14" are generally very nice, but even these can be a bit long on a Spyder - especially if you play up front. Smart Parts do a huge range of barrels to suit every pocket and style of play.

Once you've got an expansion system and a decent barrel sorted out then you've already made your Spyder much more competitive. After that, the best thing to get is a decent bolt: Bob Long's Cyclone Bolt and Taso's Starfire are both very good and extremely well priced. Venturi bolts help spread the impact force of the guns across the face of the Paintball. Whether they improve accuracy is a questionable claim, but what they definitely do is dramatically reduce barrel bursts.
From here, the list of add-ons is endless. It's quite easy to go totally mad and spend an absolute fortune on little widgets and trinkets, as it is on any gun. It also needs saying that, unfortunately, there's a right load of rubbish available. Cheap is OK, as long as it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. Take my advice and make sure you know exactly what you're buying before you part with your cash.
When you start upgrading your gun it's better to make your first few purchases performance upgrades rather than cosmetic ones. If you're not sure which is which, make sure you ask. Increasing performance first is going to help you enjoy the game more - and that's the idea behind doing it.

Once you've got your gun rocking then it's time to put your stamp on it and make it that little bit different As with the performance upgrades, if you want your Spyder to look nice then it's worth getting well made, good quality extras. Skimping on cosmetics could leave your gun looking a bit cheap and nasty, so it's worth waiting and getting what you really want rather than just going for what you can afford right now (I bat that one falls on deaf ears...).

Finally, I'll say what I always say when I do custom specials: don't spend outside your budget Always make sure you have enough cash left to play. It's no good spending a fortune on kit on credit and then spending months paying it back and not being able to afford to play. Gun looks cool and shoots like a dream, but it's sat in your cupboard. That's no good to anyone.

Custom Specials
Never slow to jump on a bandwagon, some of the biggest names in the sport produce the kind of custom kit and upgrades that were previously only available for the top spec. guns. As well as producing individual components, we've also got examples of three complete packages courtesy of Taso, National Paintball Supply and Smart Parts. All three sell the gun package complete or will upgrade your existing Spyder. You'll save a bit of money buying the complete package, and it should work without you having to weld some bits together 'cos you lost a flugged valve when you took the sucker apart... There's not much difference between the three kits, so think about exactly what you want from your gun before you buy, it'll save you money in the long run.
 
Taso Spyder Package
o Mini High Capacity Expansion Chamber
o 45 Frame
o Shark Rail
o Velocity Adjuster
o Spyder Elbow
o Vertical Adaptor
o Microline Kit
o 90 Nickel Elbow
o Bottom Line
o Venturi Bolt
o Nickel Eliminator Barrel
A really nice looking kit with some cool features, The expansion system is compact and the hosing is very neat. The 45 frame is a complete replacement and needs the internals (such as trigger, sears and springs) removed from the old frame and put into the new one. Probably the most difficult custom upgrade to fit at home.
 
National Paintball Supplies Autokicker
o Bob Long Expansion Chamber
o 45 Frame
o Sight Rail
o Double Trigger
o Field Strip Kit
o Bottom Line
o Field Strippable Back Block
o Bob Long Cyclone Bolt
o Bottom Line
o 12" Smart Parts Barrel
The Autokicker isn't the best looking of the packages, but it has some of the biggest selling and best known after-market components available. The Cyclone Bolt was the best selling Spyder accessory last year and it works well. The 45 grip is a new block, not a complete frame like Taso's. This makes it easier to fit but not quite as sturdy. The quick strip, all in one back block is a nice touch and can be added to any of the others. Double trigger makes for a far lighter action and very fast rate of fire
 
Smart Parts Starter Packages
o Smart Parts Vertical Expansion Chamber
o Smart Parts Wood Grips
o Eclipse Sight Rail
o Powerfeed Plug
o All Nickel Fittings
o Available in Black or Splash
o Barrels Available:
Progressive, Teardrop, All American (12". 14" & 16"), 14" stainless two- piece, 12" All Stainless, 14" Stainless Front
With a whole host of barrels available with this package, you can pick the perfect model for your style of play. The wooden grip block is really comfortable and has to be felt to be appreciated. With loads of splash parts available from Smart Parts, it's easy to personalise your package, and the expansion is slim and nicely curved to double as a foregrip. Of course, if you don't like any of these then there's nothing stopping you taking the best from all of the above and creating your own "Gee Bob, neat gun" Special. Have fun.
Jack Wood