Thunderbird Magazine

This is my best solution to 3d printed lightning compatible magazines. Big thank you to Redcowl and Dingus for providing inspiration and geometry!

Features

More features incoming soon! If you have any suggestions, drop a comment

Blaster Compatibility

Necessary Hardware

• 31k style drum spring (other types may work, but I've only tested these)

• Lubricant! (Slug slym works great but any sort of light lube should work. Avoid grease given exposure to likely dirty darts.)

Necessary Tools

• A ruler or something similarly sized, for assembly

Optional Hardware

This hardware is used for attaching the endcap, given that there are now 3 different endcaps to chose from

Standard & Attachment Endcap Hardware

• 4-40 x 3/8" screw

• Toy screw (sized in whatever the Fury-X/Longshot/Thrasher use) [Replaces 1x 4-40 x 3/8" screw]

• Glue [Replaces 1x 4-40 x 3/8" screw]

• FOR ADDER ENDCAP: 2x more toy or 4-40 x 3/8" screws for holding the attachment

Adder Endcap Hardware

• Glue

Printing

I have printed mine with between 2 and 4 walls, but extensive durability testing has not been conducted enough for me to recommend anything.
PRINT BODIES WITH A BRIM, especially if it's large! Please don't print the body with supports. Other parts are 

Assembly

1. Insert a drum spring into the top slot

2. Use a ruler or similarly long object to push the drum spring down to the bottom of the mag

3. Put the follower onto the drum spring and hold your finger inbetween the feed lips, then insert the follower into the mag and let go. If you don't put your finger or something else there to reduce the shock it could break the feed lips!

4. Put a dot of lube in each of the follower channels

5. Add the endcap of your choice. Attachment and Standard endcap can be screwed on; the adder endcap must be glued on. 

6. Run the follower up and down the mag a couple times rapidly using the ruler. This should ensure proper lubrication spread and wear-in the follower channel, ensuring consistent feeding.

Customization

Once the design stabilizes, I intend to release an Onshape link allowing for easy customization and forking. ATM if you want STEP or f3d files just ask. 

Updates

7/15/2026
- Published!

7/16/2026 
- Fixed onshape scaling issue
- Adjusted multiplicative factor to reduce dead space

7/18/2026
- Added more lengths
- Removed Onshape link until more finalization is completed
- Adjusted catches (significantly), enhanced use with smiley and lightning.  Brute pro is still tenuous.
- Thrasher compatibility finalized

7/29/2026 - VERSION ALPHA 1
- Standardized version numbers between testing environment and published environment
- Adjusted feed lips to reduce darts seating too high
- Changed to 13.5 degree angle!
- Increased follower max sit height by 4mm
- Changed follower shape
- Fixed issue with test dart body
- Added two new endcaps, an adder endcap and an attachment enabler endcap
- Adjusted multiplicative scaling factor to reduce dead space
All previously printed parts should probably still work, but I would print new ones to be safe. 

8/5/2026
- Updated page to show compatibility with hardball blaster

8/12/2026
- Removed experimental adder endcap, fully tested and functional one incoming ASAP!

8/31/2026 - ALPHA 2.4
- Increased tapered side to side dimensions to match nightingale/thrasher mag (to improve catching)
- Increased overall front to back length (to improve catching)
- Changed Smiley relevant catch to have a wall between the catch and the follower. (to improve feeding)  Big thanks to JC Works
- Remade and readded adder endcap. Much more functional now!
- Changed follower geometry
- Changed mag calculation for longer mags, hopefully nominal dart capacity more accurately matches actual dart capacity now
- Made the lower catch all fire-rat-y. Fine tuning will come when my thrasher is unexploded. Big thanks to Misplaced Moose