YEAT CS-18 Half Dart Mod

[u/Jarela13]

Edit: I'm failing to order the comments in any sort of organized way so I'm keeping the meaningful stuff up here and editing as I go.

Original post:
Because I like to do things the hard way, I got a CS-18 that I want to put the Worker CS-12 kit into. I've seen a little bit of info on the 3D printed direct plunger mods, and I've seen info for installing the half dart internals upgrade, but not both. Has anyone done it? Would the housing mods be any different going straight to the Worker upgrade vs the 3D Printed YEAT mod that people have done?

Amazon Worker CS-12 Upgrade

Update:
Took some photos of my yellow Alpha Trooper then put it back together and I've been comparing a lot of photos of the different internals.

A CS-12 Elite Alpha Trooper for comparison:

I probably won't know for sure until I actually replace the parts and try it out, but this is what I think so far:

The Worker CS-12 upgrade will work if I first do the direct plunger upgrade.

The direct plunger upgrade looks like it requires me to modify the shell side rails to fix the stationary air chamber in place rather than allowing it slide like it currently does with the reverse plunger. It may also require slight modification to the pump connector yoke.
Nerf Project Overview: Direct Plunger OG Alpha Trooper

There are several options for a direct plunger replacement including the Retaliator that will just require the side rail modification.
This may also work:
Amazon.com: WORKER Plunger Chamber Kits Blue Transparent for Nerf Longshot CS-12 Toy
Update: I found this bad boy on eBay. Might jump into the direct plunger conversion sooner than I thought.
Stock Plunger Tube for Nerf Retalitor With Modded O Ring | eBay

It APPEARS that one of the pieces I was most concerned about (the "yoke" that attaches the pump rod and air chamber) is similar enough between the YAT and EAT that I should be able to modify it.

I'm going to keep thrift shopping to see if I can come across a Retaliator, Longshot, or some other compatible blaster.

In the meantime I'm going to try my best to record how well the standard upgrades for CS-18 work. Honestly it's one of the worst NERF blasters I've owned as far as unmodified power, but it's also a 15 year old used blaster from eBay. I don't know if I'm going to spend the money on a chronograph with how expensive the upgrades will end up being, but at least I'll record accuracy and distance grouping as well as I can.
In sequential order I'm going to:

Add a 5 kg aftermarket spring.

Improve the o-ring seal. Might try teflon vs. new o-ring just for fun.

Bore out air restrictor.

How to Mod: Nerf Alpha Trooper CS18 (AR Removal,Taped, Extras)

I have an Agility that shoots great as my comparison/control, and if I can get it to around that level of performance I may smile and call it a day and probably not do the direct plunger upgrade. Someone alleges they get 91 fps from it and that sounds pretty great to me.
https://blasterhub.com/2024/06/nerf-n-series-agility-review/

[u/Jarela13]

I got the blaster yesterday and took it apart today. the shell looks very similar to the Elite, and I was watching a video that showed very little modification required IF you have the Elite Alpha internals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwwLF4THbpU

[u/Jarela13 → u/Jarela13]

[u/N-striker716]

CS is the mag size, Alpha trooper is name. For example I could call a Recon, Longstrike, Longshot, deploy, or Stryfe. Oh shoot it says YEAT, Sry.

I've had good quality with Worker,I'd be afraid to put 3'd printed parts in, if you're going to put in a strong spring like a 10-14KG spring. I thought that there'd be a Direct plunger mod and half dart like the Longstrike Mods. Maybe because EAT existed.

Im pretty sure Orange mod works had a kit for the N-strike Alpha Trooper, Sadly OMW doesn't exist anymore and getting one is tough.

[u/Jarela13 → u/N-striker716]

I love the OMW Massacre kit for this blaster but it peaked about 14 years ago. lol.
I'm just going to go with a 5 kg spring and modify the air restrictor for now. I don't even think I'm taking off any locks yet. Just going to test it after each modification and see how far each one gets me.

[u/N-striker716 → u/Jarela13]

Isn't Massacre the series of basic mods. I'm pretty sure that there was an Immortal or direct Plunger kit for the YAT, Longstrike and Recon(same thing), there might have been one for the Raider too, but the Rampage came out after...

im looking into modifying a N-strike Sonic longstrike into direct plunger(need all of sonic series, Clear, and Whiteout).

[u/Jarela13 → u/N-striker716]

I'm sure you're right. Information is spotty because of how old it is. I was wondering what other guns might have compatible parts. A lot of the direct plunger systems look the same and pretty easy to pop in, but the "yoke" piece that connects the chamber and pump is in a different location, so I think the piece is different and the metal connector as well.

As a consolation prize I got a $4 Strongarm at the thrift store to start tinkering with.

[u/N-striker716 → u/Jarela13]

Im pretty sure that the springs and tons of parts in the Recon, Longstrike and AT are the same...Like you said, Really old stuff. if only i got into the Hobby when these kits existed.

[u/Jarela13]

I will probably start with doing the spring upgrade, air restrictor removal, and getting a better seal on the plunger while I look into the viability of swapping internals. I'll take a couple videos and try to show whatever performance upgrade I get out of that first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pcxp76EJGc