Eclipse Ego

The Eclipse Ego is a family of electronic paintball markers manufactured by Planet Eclipse, a British paintball equipment company based in Manchester, England. Developed during 2004 and introduced for the 2005 tournament season, the Ego was Planet Eclipse's first complete paintball marker designed and manufactured in-house.[1][2]

The Ego uses an electronically controlled, ram-driven poppet-valve operating system with a stacked-tube body configuration. The series became widely used in professional speedball competition and subsequently developed into the Ego LV range, including the LV1, LV1.6 and LV2.[2][3]

History

Development (2004–2005)

Before introducing the Ego, Planet Eclipse had established itself through custom paintball markers and aftermarket components, particularly Autococker modifications and the EBlade electronic trigger system.

During 2004, the company completed development of its first marker designed entirely in-house.

The resulting Eclipse Ego used a compact stacked-tube electronic operating system, differing from the modified Autococker platforms previously associated with the manufacturer.

According to Planet Eclipse's retrospective account, the company approached Rich Telford at the 2004 NPPL Denver Open about sponsoring Sacramento XSV and introducing the team as the principal professional user of the new marker.[1]

The original Ego was introduced for the 2005 tournament season and subsequently became known as the Ego 05.

Sacramento XSV

The Ego's early commercial development was closely connected to Sacramento XSV.

Planet Eclipse supplied the team with markers during its first season of professional use.

In 2005, XSV became the first leading American professional team to compete with the Ego.

The team won the NPPL Denver Open and the PSP Northeast Open during the season.

In 2006, XSV won the NPPL Huntington Beach Open, Tampa Bay Open and PSP Chicago Open while continuing its relationship with Planet Eclipse.[1][4]

Planet Eclipse later identified its relationship with XSV as an important part of the Ego's introduction to professional tournament paintball.[1]

Annual Ego models

Following the original Ego, Planet Eclipse introduced successive numbered models incorporating changes to their bodies, pneumatic systems, electronic controls and ergonomics.

The principal numbered generations were:

Ego 05 – Original commercial model.
Ego 06 – Revised second-generation design.
Ego 07 – Updated body, pneumatic components and electronic systems.
Ego 08 – Further refinement of the ram-driven platform.
Ego 09 – Revised internal mechanisms and body design.
Ego 10 – Updated electronic controls and pneumatic components.
Ego 11 – Final numbered generation before the LV series.

Planet Eclipse also produced limited-edition models, including the SL66, SL74, SL8R, SL94, SLS and CSL.

These versions incorporated specialised milling, alternative finishes and selected component upgrades.[3][5]

Lever Valve series

Ego LV1 (2013)

In 2013, Planet Eclipse introduced the Ego LV1, a substantially revised version of the original Ego platform.

The LV designation referred to the marker's Lever Valve operating system.

The design used a lever-actuated valve intended to improve the control of gas delivery during firing.

The LV1 also introduced an internal air-transfer pipe connecting the front regulator area to the marker body, replacing the conventional external macroline arrangement used by earlier Ego models.[5][6]

The marker retained a stacked-tube, ram-driven operating system.

LV1.1, LVR and LV1.5

Planet Eclipse subsequently developed revised versions of the LV1 platform.

The LV1.1, introduced in 2015, incorporated pneumatic and ergonomic refinements.

The limited-edition LVR followed during 2016, with revised body milling and a carbon-fibre barrel system.

The LV1.5 was introduced in 2017, incorporating changes to the body, trigger, feedneck and air-system components.[5][6]

Ego LV1.6 (2020)

The Ego LV1.6 was introduced in 2020.

It incorporated a revised solenoid system designed to be serviceable by users, distinguishing it from earlier LV models.

Other changes included revised body milling and the Shaft FL carbon-fibre barrel system.[6]

Ego LV2 (2022)

Planet Eclipse introduced the Ego LV2 in June 2022.

The model retained the Lever Valve operating principle but introduced a substantially revised body and air-system arrangement.

It eliminated the exposed air-transfer pipe used on the LV1 series and incorporated the high-pressure and low-pressure regulators within the front grip assembly.

The LV2 also introduced the Shaft S63 barrel system with interchangeable PWR inserts.

Additional features included tool-free access to selected components, an OLED display and an updated electronic control system.[2][6]

Operating system

The Ego is an electropneumatic paintball marker using a stacked-tube construction.

Its firing system incorporates:

An electronic trigger and control board.
A solenoid controlling pneumatic operation.
A rammer that operates the bolt and valve system.
A poppet-type valve regulating the release of propellant gas.
Pressure regulation appropriate to the marker's operating requirements.

The marker uses compressed air stored in a refillable cylinder.

Unlike spool-valve markers, which generally use a single moving bolt assembly to control firing, the Ego employs a ram-driven mechanism that operates the bolt and valve.

The LV series retained this general configuration while introducing a lever-actuated valve and revised pneumatic arrangements.[2][5]

Models

Model	Introduction	Notes
Ego 05	2005	Original commercial Ego marker
Ego 06	2006	Second numbered generation
Ego 07	2007	Revised marker platform
Ego 08	2008	Updated ram-driven design
Ego 09	2009	Ninth-year designation
Ego 10	2010	Updated electronic and pneumatic systems
Ego 11	2011	Final numbered Ego generation
Ego LV1	2013	Introduced Lever Valve system
Ego LV1.1	2015	Revised LV1
Ego LVR	2016	Limited-edition LV variant
Ego LV1.5	2017	Revised LV body and components
Ego LV1.6	2020	Serviceable solenoid and revised components
Ego LV2	2022	Redesigned air system and Shaft S63 barrel

The model chronology is documented in Planet Eclipse's product records, manuals and historical retailer catalogues.[2][3][5][6]

Tournament use

The Ego became associated with professional and amateur tournament paintball during the mid-2000s.

Its early professional use by Sacramento XSV contributed to the establishment of Planet Eclipse as a complete marker manufacturer.

The company subsequently supplied Ego markers to numerous sponsored tournament teams.

The marker competed alongside other electronic platforms including the WDP Angel, Smart Parts Shocker and DYE Matrix.

The Ego's ram-driven operating system distinguished it from the spool-valve markers increasingly used in professional competition.

Planet Eclipse subsequently developed the Eclipse Geo as a separate spool-valve marker family while continuing to manufacture the Ego range.[1][2]

Related Planet Eclipse markers

The Ego should be distinguished from other Planet Eclipse marker families.

The Eclipse Etek was a separate electronic, ram-driven marker range designed for a different price category.

The Eclipse Geo used a spool-valve operating system rather than the Ego's ram-driven poppet-valve arrangement.

The company subsequently developed additional electronic and mechanical markers, including the Gtek, Etha and EMEK product families.

Although these products share the same manufacturer, they are distinct marker platforms.

References

External links