As I was surfing the World Wide Web looking for new the latest AEG innovation, I came across YouTube videos on this brand new innovation in AEG MOSFETs and computers. I was struck with amazement when I saw what it did to a regular AEG! The video review was about the revolutionary SW Evolution. Fortunately, the credits showed the Website that which makes and sells these mind-boggling AEG MOSFETs and computers.

I am not an electrical or computer geek but I am always up for the challenge as long as I got a manual to follow for installation and operation. So, I decided to get one for my pet project, converting my standard M4 to a sniper rifle and just use the single shot or semi feature of these computers.

Originally, I was about to purchase the SW Evolution, but something cross my playful and creative mind. What if, I will send an email to the maker/dealer and ask them nicely if they can provide me a piece for review here in Europe, particularly here in the UK. I was really up for the challenge, because when I posted these brand new AEG computers on some of the UK airsoft Websites, it seems that they do not know what it is. The more vocal, yet clueless ones easily regarded these MOSFETs as some kind of trash!

I sent them am email asking for the SW Evolution and to my surprise and amazement, I was already exchanging email with the innovator himself. Terry Fritz, better known to the airsoft world as Sir Gandolf. He offered me his brand new innovation with Extreme-Fire, the SW Panther and told me that the SW Computer and Evolution are already obsolete. Ten days after he posted this special package I was able to receive it after so many sleepless nights. I was very excited. The upgrade parts for my pet project did not turn up in time, so I decided to do a preliminary installation and review of this great AEG computer with OptimusPrime. OptimusPrime loaned me his spare DBoys complete gearbox and started the installation.

Installation is straight-forward as long as you have the proper tools and have basic knowledge of soldering— especially when rewiring your gearbox, either front-wired or rear-wired, is necessary. The manual accompanying the product is dead on: idiot-proof, success! I am planning to rewire all my AEGs so I’d be able to transfer this SW Panther between my AEGs.

Here’s an excerpt of my “small chat” with the Lord of the ‘FETs:

Popular Airsoft: Hi Sir Gandolf! Can you please tell us who you are and what is the reason behind the callsign “Gandolf”?

Gandolf: I was loading the new operating system on the computer and it asked for a user name. I had no idea what to use... but the Harry Potter thing had just come out and I thought the name Gandolf would work fine, so I used it. A few months later I found that the correct spelling is actually “Gandalf”.

What’s your day job if not tinkering with AEG MOSFETS?

I am semi-retired. Normally an electrical engineer working with high-power switching power systems. After 20 years of working in the electronics industry, particularly in microelectronics, manufacturing, reliability engineering, etc. I got tired of it and decided to take some time off. That was three-and-a-half years ago. I have not found a reason to go back yet.

When did you start playing airsoft and how long you’ve been playing this game?

I have always liked guns and shooting things. I found airsoft and it is a great way to have loads of fun with guns while still being very safe. I actually don’t do the game playing skirmish side at all. Airsoft also has the fully automatic guns, which help me to actually hit something.

As I learned more about airsoft, I got involved in the electrical side of making them better. I have actually only been in airsoft for less then two years, but I spend a lot of time on it now.

How did you come across or discovered airsoft, as we all know, America is more of a real steel and paintball nation?

Others borrowed all my real steel and have not brought any of it back yet. But I don’t miss it since it was rather expensive and very difficult to find a nice place to shoot. For just having fun, I did not find any reason to use the power guns. Paintball is just too messy and not very realistic.

What game scenarios you fancy more and why?

I am an engineer, not a warrior.

Can you explain MOSFET to us, like we are 10-year olds?

No. You can’t really just say it’s “solid state” either since everything is solid state for people born after 1980. But the electricity and current are controlled by silicon electronics rather than mechanical contacts. The very high speed electronic switching does not produce sparks or switch wear.

What made you start developing MOSFET products?

I got interested in the MOSFET switches in late 2006 and immediately noticed that they were all messed up. So I made a few good ones just to play with and suddenly a whole lot of people wanted me to make ones for them too. Soon I started charging for them and soon it just grew into a little hobby selling them.

Can you tell us how you went about with developing the products?

Like any product, I had something people wanted to pay for and I knew how to make it for them. Most of the original profit went into testing and development. But soon all the bugs were worked out and I had pretty much learned all the details. Now the R&D even for new products like the Panther is not very expensive at all.

Most things work perfectly on the first try.

You mentioned that development is open-source, does this mean that anyone can contribute to this project and they can make modifications to it and sell it as their own? Have you adopted any of the Open Source licences at the Open Source Initiative?

By being open source, anyone can help everyone out to make it all better. I have worked with patent attorneys in the past. I think that is when I started buying a lot of real steel. But I have no use for any legal mess at this level. I have no competitors, just a very few others that make a few themselves too. Just “me” can’t supply the whole world so any others making them is very welcome. I left the manufacturing world and I really don’t want to return to it. I would rather engineer new things. But the switches I do sell pay for that.

MOSFETs have a lot of benefits, why is it that many airsoft manufacturers are not yet adopting MOSFET?

Airsoft is almost all about mechanical engineering. There just did not seem to be on open opportunity to use electronics. Systema was the first bright star with their electronic switches, but they also got hit with some bleeding edge issues. There were a lot of hobbyists and end users wiring things up. But nothing really worked well enough to use as a standard. That is changing fast now as Systema’s Revolution system comes out. Jing Gong is using IRF1404Z-based MOSFETs now too. Extreme-Fire, Unconventional-Airsoft, Awsairsoft, etc. are putting a lot of pressure on the main manufacturers now.

If you’re going to compare the SW Panther to the SW Evolution, what makes one better than the other?

The SW-Computer, SW-Evolution and SW-Panther all do exactly the same thing and have virtually the same computer chips and software. The SW-Computer uses very small breaking MOSFETs and is very physically small, allowing it to fit into virtually any standard stock AEG. However, the very high-powered modified guns could overheat the breaking MOSFETs. Many people started using 3C Li-poly batteries and the neodymium magnet motors. Some of them are shooting 30+ RPS! “Normal” peak currents of 320A... Two major problems with the SW-Computer appeared in those guns. The breaking MOSFET is just too small to dissipate the energy needed to stop the drive train. They need a larger breaking MOSFET. Another problem is that the battery voltage was dropping too low to run the computer chip when they start the motors.

Although larger in size, the Evolution has the fullsize breaking MOSFET and a dual-stage internal power supply that runs the computer if the main battery voltage is lost for a moment. This solves the problems of the standard computer in high power AEGs. A voltage spiking problem was found but that was solved by twisting the battery, motor, and trigger wires which cuts down the wiring inductance drastically and solves the problem. The Evolution was introduced in mid-April so it is now “old”.

The Panther is VERY different. It is designed from the ground up as the best that can be made using the best information and components made. It can run 500A peak, 400A pulse, and 60A all day long! That will ‘incinerate’ any known AEG, and those numbers are well within the new MOSFETs comfort region. It is based on the monstrous IRF1324. It also uses the super reliable IRF4905 from the standard SW-AB-Long as a breaking MOSFET. It uses the Evolution’s dual power supply and virtually the same excellent V3.2 software, which has not changed for six months now. It also uses the biggest, fastest and most powerful spike protection that can fit. The Panther ‘platform’ actually is a whole family of MOSFETs based on the same basic ‘best of breed’ components. Many are purely experimental, so the SW-Panther computer-based version is the main one at the moment. The Panther also uses screw clamp wire terminals eliminating the need for soldering, attached wires and extra connectors. The instructions and packaging are also different, allowing for reduced cost and even other languages now.

Although the Panther did not have a specific need to be designed, it was designed just because it offered so much more advantage. It was simply a vast step ahead and promises to deliver far into the future with little change.

Where did you get your inspiration in creating such great stuff for all airsofters out there?

I seem to have the skills that just matched up to the need. It is great fun! I do everything from IT, purchasing, building them and packing them... I don’t spend a lot of time with my “staff” arguing about things in long meetings.

It seems that Extreme-Fire is doing well. Are the MOSFETs selling like hotcakes? And do you plan to have your products mass-produced soon rather than yourself building these?

The SW-S and SW-AB mostly go to special quantity buyers. Most people wanting MOSFETs get the SW-ABLong or one of the computer versions. It is sort of hard to keep up, but I do fine. I certainly don’t have any intention of mass-producing anything. Maybe someone else will. I retired from that world.

Are you planning to go into full-time with Extreme- Fire?

I only work 24/7/365 now. But the computers do 95% of the real work. I have been known to work on orders at 3AM and I do ship on Christmas day. But it really all is just a hobby for me. Real businesses have a lot of headaches that have nothing to do with the technology or customers. If Extreme-Fire is a full business with a factory and employees, I would probably never see a MOSFET again...

Lastly, can you leave a message or wisdom from the Lord of the ‘FETs to all airsoft enthusiasts out there?

Keep the batteries charged! Aside from installation, 95% of MOSFET problems are caused by weak batteries.