It’s true that some things do get better with age, and you can just ask Bill if that’s true as he’s been around longer than most in the AA Crew!
However, longevity means that we can always look back on things that we’ve seen in the past, and give a nod to the improvements when they happen… way back in ISSUE 109 (YES, 2020!) Bill said of the then-new CYMA CM.097B AR AEG that;
“This is a carbine that you can currently buy for an excellent price that looks utterly superb, feels so solid that you could use it to hammer nails, and is more (way more!) than adequate in terms of performance. If you’re in need of a cheeky new AR then the CYMA 097 models are most definitely worth a look. My concluding comment… buy an 097 and get out and play airsoft with it… you’ll be glad that you did!”
And this has certainly proved to be true, as this little AEG has now been through the hands of a number of the AA Crew and been hammered during RED CELL and with minimal maintenance is still spitting BBs downrange as well as it ever did… it’s been a true “keeper”!
But time moves on, and CYMA continue to improve their new platforms, so when the guys a TAIWANGUN let us know that a new, upgrade “097” was available we were all ears… they told us;
“Taiwangun, in cooperation with CYMA, presents a new generation of replicas from the Platinum series with the upgraded GEN-2 gearbox. Key components such as the upper receiver, barrel, fire selector, and iron sights are made from durable aluminium alloys. In the High Speed configuration, it offers a rate of fire of up to 25 BBs per second, as well as a programmable ETU module from Eshooter, allowing fire mode customization and extended functionality, while also increasing service life and protecting the mechanism.”
So, the bottom line is that an already-exemplary AEG platform has now been equipped with the upgraded V2 GEN-2 gearbox, designed for high performance. This design is intended to operate at high rates of fire and under intensive use.
The new reinforced shell with increased durability features improved bearing seats and machined radii that effectively distribute stress acting on the front of the gearbox shell. A CNC-machined nozzle made from high-quality materials is fully sealed and perfectly matched to the cylinder head.
Precision CNC gears with a 13:1 ratio combined with short-stroking allow for high rates of fire and fast trigger response. Durable 8 mm steel ball bearings are used, improving operating smoothness and overall performance, and a high-end aluminium pneumatic set manufactured using CNC technology includes silent, sealed, and reinforced piston and cylinder heads, as well as a piston with a full steel rack. The setup is completed by a steel bearing spring guide, improving gearbox work culture.
Not only this, but you now get an Eshooter advanced programmable ETU (Electronic Trigger Unit) offering:
- Additional fire modes (BURST, BINARY)
- Pre-cocking adjustment
- Mech and battery protection
- Compatibility with brushless motors and High Speed / High Torque motors.
- Active Brake – gearbox stabilization
- Motor jam protection
- Protection against over-discharge and low/high voltage (2S minimum 6V, 3S minimum 8.5V, max. 17V)
So, a platform we already love just got a serious upgrade! Yes, the price has gone up but with all the extra features we believe that the CYMA CM.097B still provides excellent value for money… and if ARs are not to your taste then there’s a lot more “GENII” models that have been given the same upgrades!
Cool!
