A couple weeks back I purchased a large lot of classic Trracers pumps off ebay. Included with these pump Trracers were several set up PMI’s Chameleon kit semi autos. Most were in pretty beat shape aside from a couple new kits. Also included were a couple unique Chameleon style kits for Standard Nelson Spec paintguns (Bushmasters, Nelson Challenger, lapcos) that I had never seen before.
The standard PMI Chameleon kit was the simplest drop in kit available to convert a trracer to a semi auto paintgun. It was not the most durable though.
PMI’s standard Chameleon kit converted a pump Trracer into a semi automatic nelson using pneumatics hanging off either side. The Chameleon kit is probably my least favorite Auto Nelson semi kit (compared to the Auto Spirit, Tornado, Automaster, Autotrracer and the many others).
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This kit did offer one of the simplest conversions to a semi automatic though, with asa fitting outputting air to PMI’s LPR on the right side and an enclosed ram and clippard switch bolted on the left (driver) side inside a tin casing.
I dislike this kit because of the awkward way PMI setup the switch actuation. The Chameleon kit uses a bar hanging off the side of a trigger shoe to depress the switch and cock the bolt that gives the feeling the trigger shoe is going to slide off.
The Nelson spec semi conversion kits Included were assembled on Nelson Challengers and were a little different than the standard Chameleon pieces I have seen before. This strange kit uses PMI’s same pneumatic components but with a custom made aluminum bracket that mounts to the side of the Nelspot receivers rail.
At first glance I ignored these kits for a crude homemade adaptation to work on a standard nelson specification pump (instead of trracer dimensions) but after taking a closer look they are actually nicely put together. Rereading an email from the seller I noticed these kits were described as “prototype semi automatic kits.”
The trigger actuation on these kits is a little better than a PMI Chameleon kit, since the trigger shoe is removed, but will still prove difficult for a lefty to use comfortable.
Instead of having the bar directly attached to a trigger shoe, the steel bar piece attached to the spring hole on the rear of the standard nelson trigger. When the trigger is pulled the trigger trips the hammer’s sear releasing it (as it would on a standard nelspot) but as the trigger is pushed back further, the bar will hit the switch recocking the bolt to the hammer hammer.
There were small differences between the several kits included but all mounted on Nelspot Challengers and the rams had PMI’s logo silkscreened onto them. I hadn’t seen this logo on any of the Chameleon kits’ rams I’ve looked at so maybe these kits were actually associated with Pursuit Marketing International (PMI).
PMI might have been trying to create an easy drop in kit for standard nelsons other than Trracer/Maverick/Razorback spec pumps? The aluminum bracket is bolted onto the side of the nelson 007 rail so this kit can used on an early Bushmaster, Lapco, AGS or Taso pump just by switching receivers (grip frames).
The side tapped asa piece and pneumatics are the same. The pump arm (ram to nelson bolt screw) piece is different though.
I’ll be scanning one of the instruction packets from the unused PMI Chameleon’s eventually.
Find these the standard PMI Chameleon kits on baccipaintball at:
http://www.baccipaintball.com/nel1912.html
And find the pictured PMI Chameleon kit (a kit I’ve had for a while that didn’t come with this batch of parts) assembled here:
http://www.baccipaintball.com/t1278-01.html
And the Nelson Challenger pictured above:
http://www.baccipaintball.com/t1401.html
If you have any information on these prototype kits please post or email me!
