The colossus is indeed a great mod. The only problem with it is how hard and time-consuming it is to complete. There's a way to solve that. It's not as effective as the original colossus, but it still gives you the power boost, which is all that matters.
If you have a bike tube (or LRT) with and ID at least 1cm radius larger than the OD of your PC, then secure the tube around the PC, to look something like this:

When the PC expands enough, it will force the tube to expand as well, giving you the power boost.
There are problems with this, however. One, is that you will get drop-off when the rubber tube returns to its original size. Two, pumping will be awkward, as it will get harder and easier very suddenly.
How's the idea?

Basically, you're suggesting a loose-fitting Collosus-mod.

Some thoughts:
i) need to prevent loose tube from sliding around; not too hard if the original PC still has the outer casing intact
ii) cylindrical PCs expand in length as well as diameter; if the loose tubing is not extending as the original PC is extending, this means it will only be applying pressure to part of the original PC when the original PC diameter is large enough. This can add undesired stress points to the original PC
iii) depending on how loose the outer piece is, may not get very much shot time with the additional force of the outer tubing before the original PC falls below the threshold diameter

The mod may have some benefits, but if one goes through all the trouble of opening up a soaker in the first place, why not do a proper Collosussing?

B)

1 cm might be a bit much, but you should try it. It will be a bit weaker at the very beginning of pump/end of firing, but it shouldn't be much of a problem--especially if you tap/pump. The tubing will expand with the original bladder once the original bladder expands into the tubing. Also, 1 cm of extra radius isn't much compared to the entire radius, but it is a little more than desirable.

At any rate, having a single tube is far better than having thin strips of rubber. The strips won't expand lengthwise at all.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->cylindrical PCs expand in length as well as diameter; if the loose tubing is not extending as the original PC is extending, this means it will only be applying pressure to part of the original PC when the original PC diameter is large enough. This can add undesired stress points to the original PC
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That's true, but if the tube is attached to the jubilee clip rather than the back of the casing, it will also expand lengthwise. I might get a FF to try this mod on.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->At any rate, having a single tube is far better than having thin strips of rubber. The strips won't expand lengthwise at all. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
From my own experimenting, the strips I applied did stretch lengthwise as the PC was filled. Granted, the force of pull in the horizontal direction from strips won't be as strong as from the original, fixed-end PC, but I was surprised that the overlapping strips did stay in place as the chamber inflated and deflated. The tubing I applied was quite snug around the original PC... definitely no gap (was a PAIN to put on).

B)

Is this the 4100i? If so, then I can see what you mean, as your strips were quite long. But all too often you hear about people using 1 or 2 inch strips, which have no friction as the tubing expands and just let the layers beneath slide.

Mr. dude, I'd look for some smaller tubing and use talcum powder or something to slide it on.

Using larger tubing to slide over smaller tubing has been done before and it works well. I've done it myself in homemade water guns and I know of two people who have done it to replace CPS pressure chambers due to a rupture.

The tubing always expands in width first and then lengthwise. It inflates very much like a longer balloon, that is, from one side to another. Some people have difficulty understanding this because you typically have to see it to know it. If there is a small clearance between the inner and outer tubes, it will not cause a drop-off at a certain part of the shot. It would make the PC slightly less strong than it would be if there was no clearance, but it wouldn't cause a drop-off. And in my experience, stacking the tubes like this creates plenty of power to satisfy anyone, so it's not any less efficient really. As far as I'm concerned, stacking tubes is more efficient because it's so much easier.

I think I see what you're saying; this explains a lot. Does the tubing expand to full diameter at the top, and then have the wide part move downwards as more air is pumped in?

What do you do when you have a day off tomorrow? Make animations.



That's roughly what my Flash Flood's CPS chamber fills like...

Edit: In case you can't tell, the green parts represent the plastic stuff and the black is the actual rubber tubing.

@m15399: nice animation! That looks like what I've seen happen in pretty much all cylindrical PCs.

@Ben: interesting; I assume the length of tubing slid on is at least as long as the deflated PC then?

B)

Yes, putting at least as much tubing down as the deflated PC's length is a good idea. In my CPS homemade water guns more recently I've put the inner tube in some tension in a deflated state. This isn't enough tension for the inner tube to squish up the outer tube, but it gets the job done in keeping the tube over the PC for all volumes it could be filled to.

The tips and information I mention here will be on SSC in the coming months in some sort of article. This article would be a good place to point people to in the future.

Anyway, I might be able to make a video of a CPS chamber expanding if anyone feels it would be benefitial. Since I don't have school today (and need a break from school), I'll see what I can do.

Edit: To answer what SilentGuy asked (that I missed), that's exactly how it expands.

Interesting, I've never heard of anybody trying this, but what about Collosusing a FF? Could be wicked. All that power in such a small package.

Some have over at SSCentral; they supposedly get upwards of 45' on their modded soakers.

B)

I've done a 5-layer colossus to my friend's FF. Pretty awesome now.

Yup, it's been done. Godzillasoaker just finished his, maybe 5-7 layers, and gets 45 feet instead of 35 feet--with a nozzle drill.

I was under the impression that somebody had also replaced the PC with LRT...