Hello All!

This mod was a result of playing with my Pro-Vantage in cold but wet weather. My mask fogged like crazy; it looked like a sheet of ice. My team mates said they could not even see me through the lense!! I played poorly, and I needed a fix.

I was going to play a game in less than two days, and my Profiler that I had ordered did not arrive yet, so I decided to get to work. Using the Profiler Fan mod on this site as a rough basis, I went to work. I should have taken pictures throughout, but I had little time. I hope this gives you an idea.

**WARNING: THIS IS A VERY INTRUSIVE MOD THAT WAS QUICKLY DONE OVER ONE NIGHT. PARTS OF MY MASK LOOK HACKED APART ON CLOSE INSPECTION. I PROMISE I WILL MAKE IT LOOK BETTER**

I originally had planned on getting two of the 25mm x 25mm 12 V micro fans on eBay (I now have two for my Profiler), but there was only two days until the game. Instead of that, I went to my local Circuit City and picked up a single 40mm x 400mm fan. It was alot bigger, but it worked fine.

Here is what I did:

1. Using a dremel and a drill, I managed to get through the REALLY hard black rubber right above the rim of the lense (I took the lense off). It was so hard it broke one of my dremel attachments. That is part of the reason why it looks so bad. I will make it better! Read my improvements at the end of this!!!



2. I slid the fan into the cut I had made, and secured it with elastic thread that was ran through the slits in the top of the lense assembly.







3. Using more elastic, I attached a 9V battery on the right side of the mask, on the inside. I put a piece of foam on the outward side of the battery to cushion my forehead.





4. I picked up a small SPST switch, and wired the 9V battery, the fan, and then the switch in series.



5. I popped the switch head out through one of the slits above my ear on the right side of the mask. I wrapped the connection and wire at the bottom with a large amount of electrical tape. I made about a 1 inch long paddle of tape at the bottom of the switch, which not only kept the wires together, but also slide behind the head strap. This meant that I could easily flip the switch, as the tape paddle would move against the swtich motion, but it would just press against my head behind the strap, which stopped the switch from moving around with the rubber.



6. I decided to make the mask look a little sinister while I was at it. Using a utility knife, I removed the side jaw panels from the mask. I then slid them about 2 inches up into the mask, and then attached them with elastic. It protects my ears, but allows better air circulation around my mouth, and looks cooler.




FINISHED MASK:













As you can tell, this is a working model that I just threw together for an upcoming game. If I never had a Profiler on it's way, I would have been a little more hesitant, but I like it nonetheless.

Here are some things I am going to change to make it look better, and function better:

1. As the fan is only held in with downward tension from the elastic, it can still slide around somewhat. I plan to get 2 bolts, slide them through the mounting holes on the fan, down through the lense slits, and attach them with a nut.

2. I may experiment with the placement of the 9V battery. I think it is perfectly comfortable where it is, but it may work better behind the other head strap. I was restricted by my lack of wire.

3. After I get some more wire, I am going to move the switch to my left side. The way it is currently set up, I have to either take my firing hand and switch it, or cross over my face.

4. I am also going to think about changing the mounting system. The elastic is working fine, but it is not overly strong, and is only a temporary fix. If I mount the battery inside the strap, there won't be elastic on the forehead protector. I may try some sort of glue on the side pieces, but I don't mind the elastic I have there. It is symetrical, where the forehead elastic looks off balance.

5. I am also going to get a thin strip of black rubber and cut it so that it fits around the fan on the outside of the mask. The hack job on the forehead protector looks a bit bad close up. I promise I will fix it!


THE RESULTS:

Test Effectiveness: To test this mask, I put it on and ran around in my backyard for a couple minutes in the freezing cold until it fogged up. The mask went to its usual white ice look. I flipped on the switch, and within 2-3 seconds, it was crystal clear.

Noise: You can hear it when you are wearing it, but the noise level is rather low. In a quiet room, you can hear it about 3 feet away. When we were playing outside, and everyone geared up, you had to hold my head to your ear to even get a slight noise

Field Effectiveness: The first game I used it, I decided to use it as a constant running fan, rather than using it occasionally to prevent fogging. I think when I move the switch, I may stop keeping it on, but I played perfectly fine with it on constantly. It does not distract you, especially over the cold Atlantic breeze. The only fog that I experienced was a small amount (maybe 1mm thick) around the edge of the lense on the side that the fan was farthest away from. I barely noticed it.

I hope you like it! Just remember, it will become my backup mask when my Profiler gets here, and I will make it look better!

quick question
the fan, which direction is it blowing in? is it blowing air into the mask or is it drawing air out of the mask?

If you wear glasses then the fan would be best set with the air coming into the mask to help keep your glasses or lens from fogging up. If you have two fans then they both can be set so the air goes inwards or have one fan shooting air in and the other fan shooting hot air out of your mask. It's up to you on how you would like it on your mask.

I have it this mod on my mask. I have a Vforce Shield mask. It helps alot I tell ya. Long time ago back in the old A5OG. A member posted a mod for his fan on his Vforce. Diggs was his username He emiled me a fan mod almost as close to this one. Tho Diggs had two fans on his Vforce mask and it does the job. One can do the job but it always good to have two fans. I love it and playing paintball on a hot humid day or at night it can be a life saver. Before my glasses would fog up during a game I couldn't see. I would call myself out because I couldn't see anyone. Now that's all change. GAME ON!

idkfa thanks for posting this fan mod. A lot of people have this problem of their goggles or glasses fogging up and don't know how to fix the problem when they have a mask that doesn't have a fan as an add on accessorie.

idkfa is that a cheat mod on the old Doom 2 game? It's been so long it sounds familar. hehe

*Tippmann the AK-47 of the paintball world.*

__________________
"A little fear will keep you smarter." - Steve Claggett -Dallas SWAT/ Combat Mission's Team Champs- Bravo Squad!

I have it set up to blow air into the mask. I have heard that drawing air out does not work as well.



Thanks!! I have updated this mask in the last few days, and I will post pictures when I am done. I used plastic ties instead of elastic to hold the side pieces on, and I completely re-arranged the wiring. I made a switch/battery combo pack held together by a zip tie, similar to what the guy did for the "Profiler Fan Mod" that is stickied above this.

I am still looking for a good place to mount it, but since there is a snow storm today and I have no work, I think that is a good time! I had it mounted in the mouth section with the switch coming from the side of the grill, but if I took a hit on that spot, the battery pack would smash into my jaw. (I tested it by hitting myself in that spot fairly hard with the heel of my hand...Not fun...) I also re-installed the visor to cover up the cut I made.

Speaking of two fans, I actually have two 25mm x 25mm micro fans that I bought on eBay. I am going to use those on my Profiler, assuming I need it to stop fogging! Bwahahaha. Doesn't this smiley remind you of the shape of the Profiler:

idkfa would indeed be a cheat from the original Doom games. It was the All Weapons+Ammo+Items cheat. Just a little homage to my old obsession!

I finally finished my Fan-tage mask. Everything is pretty much self explanatory, but ask if you want an explanation. The battery pack design was almost directly copied from the Profiler Fan Mod sticky.





















The new design, which has plastic ties instead of elastic, and a central wiring system as opposed to previous space out, is much more comfortable, and works much better. I also replaced alot of the standard foam with some of my own (it is the grey stuff).

Just sold it for $60 CDN to a friend of mine.

__________________
"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"(Therefore, who ever wishes for peace, let him prepare for war.)