For those who have been prudently setting aside their hard earned money for the newest generation of Tokyo Marui airsoft electric guns, the universe is offering a delightful early Christmas present. The company has formally announced the release date for the inaugural model in this new series: the M4A1 Carbine Evolt. This long-awaited replica, along with its dedicated spare magazines and the necessary MS Li-Po Battery Set, is scheduled to hit the Japanese market on December 24th.

While we across the waters might not find one under the tree on Christmas morning itself, those dedicated to securing one should soon see them arriving, provided their local retailers managed to place pre-orders with their Japanese suppliers.

Our considered advice? Securing the rifle, the spare magazines, and the battery kit in a single transaction would be the most efficient path. This ensures readiness for the skirmish field upon arrival, avoiding the mild frustration of a staged delivery. But before committing funds, let us examine precisely what the company is presenting.

The M4A1 Carbine Evolt: A Technological Leap

The "M4A1 Carbine" Automatic Electric Gun EVOLT series arrives with a suggested price of JPY90,000 (before tax), which is roughly US$580 at exchange rates as of this writing. While a sum that might prompt a brief internal consultation with one’s bank manager, Tokyo Marui suggests the internal engineering justifies the expenditure. The cornerstone of this new model is the purpose-built mech box, which houses the M-SYSTEM Type II. This system represents an evolution of the M-SYSTEM previously introduced in the next-generation MP5 models, now specifically optimized for the M4 platform.

• Design for Realism: A key feature is the separation of the gearbox into a "cylinder assembly" and a "gearbox" proper. This allows the upper and lower receivers to be completely independent, facilitating a realistic field-stripping procedure, an achievement for an electric gun. It is worth noting, however, that this model is a "shockless model," meaning it does not incorporate a recoil feature.
• The M-SYSTEM Type II: The brain of the operation is the MCU (Microcontroller Unit), which assumes a supervisory role over the FET, motor, and battery, managing operation and flagging any anomalies.
• Enhanced Gearing: The bevel, spur, and sector gears have been redesigned. They have transitioned from conventional sintered metal to MIM (Metal Injection Molding). Furthermore, the shaft diameter for the spur and sector gears has been increased to 4mm. These adjustments are intended to enhance durability, ensure smoother rotation, and contribute to exceptional quietness.
• Internal Refinements: The cylinder is a minimalist, small-bore type, finished with a smooth, fluorine-coated lubricant. The hop-up chamber is an EVOLT-exclusive component, featuring a newly developed "stabilizer nozzle" designed to maintain a consistent nozzle position for improved accuracy.
• Battery Management: The Carbine is designed for the proprietary MS Li-Po battery Stick type. The battery is housed within the buffer tube following a takedown procedure.

External Details and Operation

Tokyo Marui states that the dimensions of various components—including the upper and lower receivers (with realistic-sized internal width), handguard, charging handle, pins, grip, buffer tube, and stock—have been faithfully reproduced based on measurements of a non-functional real firearm.

For adaptability, the 14.5-inch outer barrel can be substituted with the included 11.5-inch barrel extension, offering operators the flexibility of a barrel change system. The flash hider, crafted from machined aluminum, can be removed, allowing for the attachment of separately sold muzzle options featuring a 14mm reverse thread.

The ambi-type selector is directly connected to a shaft passing through the gearbox, providing a smooth, unified rotation and a solid click feeling when changing firing modes. The grip, styled after the A2 model, is made of reinforced resin and has been left unpainted to replicate the texture of the real item while achieving a realistic size through a balance of thinness and durability.

Finally, the rifle replicates authentic operational features: the charging handle must be operated to chamber the first BB; the bolt locks open when the magazine is empty; the bolt catch must be pressed after a magazine change; and the enhanced stock can be adjusted to six different positions. A dedicated cover is also included for protecting the internal mechanism when the upper and lower sets are stored or transported separately.

Left: Electric Gun Evolt / Right: NGRS

The Evolt M4 Series 81-Round Magazine

Available separately, the spare magazines are constructed with a steel-pressed outer shell and have a capacity of 81 rounds. These are specifically designed for the Evolt M4 series.

Feeding System: An "inner elevation system" is employed to prevent feeding errors. This system applies upward tension to the magazine's inner section, pushing the magazine catch against the main body's feed port. An important consideration for existing owners: conventional M4/M16 magazines cannot be used with the Evolt M4A1 Carbine.

One-by-One Loading: The developers have introduced a "One-by-One Loading System." This system closes an internal shutter after a BB is sent to the chamber, preventing the next BB from entering the gun body until after the previous one has been fired.

The MS Li-Po Battery Set and Starter Kit

Tokyo Marui recommends the use of their proprietary Li-Po battery system, which integrates essential safety features with the rifle’s M-SYSTEM Type II.

MS Li-Po Battery (Stick Type)

This is a 7.4V 800mAh Li-Po battery housed in a flame-retardant PVC hard case for protection against external impacts. Being slimmer than conventional nickel-metal hydride AK batteries, its compact nature and high output are cited to improve the trigger-to-fire response time.

Crucially, the battery incorporates five integrated protection functions:

1. Over-discharge prevention.
2. Over-charge prevention.
3. Discharge overcurrent protection.
4. Short circuit protection.
5. 0 (zero volt) charging prohibition.

The battery also includes a temperature sensor. This allows MS/Li-Po-compatible chargers and electric guns to detect the battery temperature and cease operation if the temperature becomes abnormal or exceeds the operating range. Internal circuitry manages the two series-connected cells, monitoring the voltage of each and adjusting charging to prevent further deterioration.

MS Li-Po Starter Set

While the battery can be purchased individually, the MS Li-Po Starter Set bundles the battery with the MS•Li-Po Safety Charger.

• Dedicated Charger: This charger is exclusively designed for Tokyo Marui MS Li-Po batteries and cannot be used with any other Li-Po batteries. It works in concert with the battery’s built-in sensors and protection functions to facilitate safer charging, use, and storage.
• Charger Protection: The charger is equipped with six protection functions of its own, managing battery temperature, charging current, and charging voltage to mitigate the risk of overheating and other issues.
• Storage Mode: A particularly useful function is the Storage Mode, which automatically adjusts the battery voltage to the appropriate level for long-term storage, preventing degradation.
• Status Notification: LED indicators and a buzzer provide clear notification of the charger's status (standby, charging, or storage) and signal any detected abnormalities.

A Gentle Reminder: The company strongly advises users to only employ products compatible with MS Li-Po batteries. They also stress the importance of acquiring the MS•Li-Po Safety Charger and the MS•Li-Po Safety Bag (both sold separately) as essential precautions for safe Li-Po battery management.

If you think having the latest and greatest from Tokyo Marui is worth the money, then feel free to get them. The series will present a daunting challenge to other competitors to match what the company offers as given that while there have been attempts to equal or clone their NGRS series, nobody has ever successfully done so. The Evolt series may just raise the bar even higher, especially with the second release in the series expected next year, the EVOLT RS: FPR Mk IV which comes with the recoil feature.