REVIEW: L-3 GPNVG18 vs. FMA GPNVG18 Dummy

"Zero Dark Thirty" and some photos of DEVGRU that have been "leaked" in books or elsewhere show a new type of night vision device, which is not entirely new for experts. The GPNVG18 from L-3 was originally developed for pilots, providing a special panoramic view but also gives significant advantages to house fighters in Close Quarter Battle (CQB). Since the real device costs 35,000 euros and is strictly limited in availability, battle displayers and collectors settle for replicas. But how good are they? SPARTANAT is pleased to exclusively show the comparison. Here you see three GPNVG18 devices lying on the street: SATC Spartan Dummy (left rear, covered), original L-3 GPNVG18 (center), and the FMA GPNVG18 Dummy (right). (Click on all images to enlarge.)

FMA was the fastest and threw the first non-functional replica on the market. HERE you can read the SPARTANAT review. We give you the first look in a direct comparison Original vs. Replica: the color is not bad. But it immediately stands out that the FMA seems a bit larger.

It also looks coarser in the details. The white markings are missing, even though the grooves are there. The axis on which the two optical groups (two tubes in the original and a panoramic eyepiece each) are mounted is significantly thicker on the right in the replica than on the left in the real device.

View from above: the original (left) looks almost delicate compared to the FMA replica. Noticeable: the real device is marked with QR codes on inserted plastic plates. On the FMA, there is only a recess on the right that can be filled with a sticker.

The comparison becomes particularly clear when we move closer and look at just the field of vision. The real GPNVG at the top, the FMA replica at the bottom. Like a regular TV against a big screen. Note the blue in the real device when the unit is not turned on.

And now the counter shot: night vision device and dummy from the front. The original is clearly at the top. It is immediately noticeable that the lenses are significantly smaller in the original. However, the wall thickness at the front edge of the optics is greater. By manually rotating all four, the GPNVG18 is focused. Also compare the length of the bar here. Note the shimmer of the real and replica optics. The blue is gone when not looking directly into the optics.

CONCLUSION: The FMA clone is clearly too large. It is somewhat rough in some areas and a bit bulky, but it convinces with the choice of materials. It looks very similar visually and feels similar in terms of touch.

HERE is the SPARTANAT review of the FMA GPNVG18 Dummy.

The FMA GPNVG18 Dummy is available at TOY SOLDIER for $55 (excluding shipping).

TO BE CONTINUED: Next week, SPARTANAT will present the comparison of the original L-3 GPNVG18 with the replica from SATC Spartan.