Issue 18 - Jan 2013

Action

THE Airsoft Magazine

Airsoft Action

W IN KWA

red one milsim

CQR M 1 WORTH od OVER

£200!

operation: red dragon

new we gear

Karl Aston explores the crossover between the hobbies

Tokyo Marui MP7 GBB ❱ Skirmish Leicester ❱ Practical pistols ❱ Student ’soft AA_001_Provisional_Cover_Rev3CF.indd 1

January 2013 – £4.25

Wiley-X gloves and glasses go under the ’scope

9 772047 348018

We review KWA’s newest rifle – and you can win it!

Protocol 7: larp airsoft

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KWA CQR Mod 1 Wiley-X on reviewed test

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has the taiwanese manufacturer turned a new leaf?

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contents Airsoft Action – January 2013

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readers’ gallery Are you in this month’s gallery?

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Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant editor: Anthony Platt Sub-editors: Natasha Clark, Mike Hine, Natalie Parker Graphic design: Steve Dawson Art director: Chris Sweeney Ad design: Matt Smith Advertising: Toni Cole Group production editor: Colin Fallon Operations director: James Folkard Assistant publisher: Ruth Burgess Publisher: Wesley Stanton

Full UK 12-issue subscription rate: £59.40 For overseas prices visit: www.airsoftactionmagazine.com Cover photograph: H Photography Tel: 07979 912146 W: www.hphotography.me.uk Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street Leamington Spa.Warwickshire. CV32 5SZ Tel: 01926 339808 Fax: 01926 470400 E: info@blazepublishing.co.uk W: www.blazepublishing.co.uk © Blaze Publishing Limited, 2013

Airsoft News Magpul pts pdr teaser, new site, airsoft show...

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wiley-x kit test We put wiley-x glasses and gloves to the test

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Review: KWA CQR Mod 1 Ratty gets stuck in with KWA’s latest aeg

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MilSim: red one Oscar p has the action from red one’s milsim epic

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practical pistol: test Baz thakur finds out whether airsoft pistols are ‘practical’

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Review: TM MP7 GBB Is TM’s latest gbb smg up to scratch? scott allen has the answer...

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competition One KWA CQR Mod 1 is up for grabs this month

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Event: protocol seven karl aston discovers post- apocalypse larp

Big boyz toyz This month ratty tells us all about the humble universal carrier

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Site: skirmish leicester michael jones joins the action at skirmish leicester’s first open day

Debate: real or repro? is it worth splashing out on genuine military gear?

Review: maruzen ppk/s Bond fans will adore maruzen’s ppk/s – but not its performance...

Cold war warrior Gadge turns his attention to british ‘tropical’ kit

Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Blaze Publishing Limited 2013. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publishers in writing. The opinions of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

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Billy basics observation posts are crucial, says billy WE: from the ashes... are we’s latest releases enough to change jay s’ opinion of its offerings?

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Student Airsoft How do students balance studies and ‘softing?

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Skills Room: room entry Andy N teaches proper room entry technique

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Site: UCAP WING Oscar plummer: winging it

Skills Room: war at xmas Dan mills on the trials of deployment at xmas

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Site Directory Find somewhere to be next weekend (Don’t forget your thermals!)

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book shop Find a good book to curl up with this Christmas…

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uses. You know what they’re like – you wait for ages and then a bunch come along at once. Well it would seem that the airsoft industry has chosen to emulate London’s transport network, with guns coming from all over the place – and we’ve got the spike strips out to make sure they stop at our door!

Over the last few weeks we’ve got our hands on long-awaited arrivals from WE and KWA, and but for a delay in shipment would also have had the PTS Magpul PDR for you – you’re just going to have wait until next issue for that. There is also something else coming that we can’t tell you about (just yet) but it is so close that my trigger finger is already starting to twitch – and I know yours will too when it gets here.

As this year ends and we look forwards I can see a really bright future for airsoft in the UK. We’re still in the grip of a recession and yet airsoft continues to thrive and grow.

Every month we learn of new shops and sites and some truly innovative ideas to promote airsoft generally, like the British Airsoft Show, which is shaping up to be an amazing event (and if you haven’t got your tickets yet, why not?)

More and more people are becoming aware of airsoft and that it is not ‘just like paintball but different’. I think 2013 is the year that we will well and truly see airsoft standing on its own two feet and no longer living in the shadow of a vastly inferior game.

I am pretty sure there will be some bumps along the way but I hope, in 13 issues’ time, to be looking back on the year that belonged to airsoft.

From me and everyone at Airsoft Action, have a really wonderful Christmas and New Year and I’ll see you on the other side.

Nige

Find us on… facebook.com/AirsoftAction

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Letter, idea or question?

Got something to say? A question for our experts? Or an article, or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the assistant editor (anthonyp@blazepublishing. co.uk), send us a letter at the Blaze Publishing address on the previous page – or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

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READERS’ GALLERY Send your pics into anthonyp@blazepublishing.co.uk and see yourself in the mag – the more the merrier!

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Zombie Joe at MAW Halloween shoo Lee Kelly’s Afghan look at Phoenix Airsoft in Nottingham Team OAP’s Kev at the NAE!

Lloyd Brinkley at RAW War’s charity event

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airsoft | news

airsoft news Magpul PTS PDR on its way Airsoft Action has it on good authority that Magpul PTS’ Personal Defence Rifle (PDR) will arrive in the UK very soon – and at a much lower price point than we had anticipated. We can confirm that the rifle will retail at around £320 in the UK. Watch out for our February 2012 edition for a full review of this long-awaited RIF. It seems an age ago that Airsoft Action was chatting with Alex Ko on the PTS stand at SHOT Show in Las Vegas and he showed us the PDR. At that time it was expected to be launched sometime in the middle of 2012, but delays in manufacturing and PTS’ desire to make sure it is perfect before launching it culminated in a series of delays.

If all goes well and the wind sets fair from the Orient, we should have our grubby little mitts on one over the Christmas break and if we do, you, dear reader, will be the first to know about it.

So while we’re waiting, take a deep breath, count to 10 and take one last look at these pictures...

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New Cerberus site in theme park Cerberus Airsoft has agreed the use of Lightwater Valley Theme Park near Ripon in North Yorkshire.

The whole grounds of the park have been divided into areas and Cerberus intends to use each area for various airsoft-related activities throughout the year.

The first area, around 300 acres of disused golf course and woodland, will open in January 2013. The area contains one of the rollercoaster rides at the theme park, which is closed until summer,

leaving the whole area open for use.

This area includes a mix of woodland types, undulating terrain, roads, streams and even a couple of tunnels.

The first open day on the site is scheduled for 6 January 2013. If you want to be among the first to experience a new, unplayed site in what should be an awesome, unique location, get in touch with Cerberus via its website. Events dates and full details can also be found on the website at: www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk.

Armex Airsoft website launched Armex has finally caught up with the tech-savvy airsoft world and launched its airsoft-specific website.

Armex, the exclusive UK distributor of Umarex products, has

registered the domain www.armex-airsoft.com. The website details the full list of Armex’s airsoft weapons and accessories and includes a dealer locator for customers to find their nearest Armex stockist.

Propper unveils new ranges Propper International – the company behind A-TACS camouflage – has launched three ‘premium apparel collections’: Sweep, LS1 and CCMF. “These new collections are about looking at the public safety market a little differently without compromising fit, function or style,” said Propper’s president of international sales, Bryan Griggs. “Propper has experienced a dramatic shift in product creation, but will stay true to our heritage of quality and value.”

The Sweep collection is designed for use in the covert, nonuniform environment, while the LS1 is engineered to enhance your speed and agility. The CCMF range is built to withstand merciless heat and humidity. A portion of proceeds from the sale of all three collections will benefit Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, a volunteer organisation that supports military and law enforcement personnel in times of need.

For more information about Propper visit: www.propper.com.

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airsoft | news

Countdown to

British Airsoft Show By the time you read this there will be just over a month to go until the first ever British Airsoft Show, held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 9-10 February. If you’ve not yet bought your ticket there’s still time to buy advance tickets and save some pennies on the door price.

The dedicated website for the British Airsoft Show is now live too (previously it had been incorporated in the British Shooting Show website) – visit www.britishairsoftshow.com for more info.

Visitors to the show will have access to both the Shooting Show and Airsoft Show, so if you’re looking to expand your interest in shooting there’s no better time. Last year’s show was an excellent showcase for airsoft and this year is set to be bigger and better.

We’re very excited to be supporting what is shaping up to be a

very important event in the airsoft calendar. If you’ve not yet bought your tickets visit the website; advance tickets for both days cost £28 for an adults and £12 for children (aged 8-15; free entry for under-8s).

Xmas competition winners Last month we gave you the chance to win lots of goodies, including the new Medal of Honor: Warfighter for Xbox 360, courtesy of EA Games, and two fantastic pistols from Redwolf Airsoft.

Results are in and we are very happy to reveal the winners as follows.

The answer to our pistol competition was Dr No – and the

CORRECTION In our last issue’s Xmas Gift Guide we

Maruzen PPK/S goes to Gary Steel of Surrey. The second pistol, the RWL/Nighthawk Custom Talon, goes to Bart Kondratiuk. Congratulations to both.

The winner of the MoH competition – with the correct answer ‘Brazil’ – is Cameron Rimell of Middlesex.

If you’ve missed out this time, flick to page 32 for yet another chance to blag yourself some freebies.

misprinted Abbey Supply Company’s website – the address is: www.abbeysupply.com.

Our apologies to Abbey Supply Co and any

readers that found themselves wondering what a charity consultant had to do with demisting goggles or gassing guns…

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Ratty puts KWA’s lightweight M4 CQB variant to the test.

Is it just another M4, or something a little bit different?

KWA CQR Mod 1 B

efore you flick over to the next article, tutting to yourself and thinking, ‘Oh look! A review on yet another M4…

Yawn…’ hold your horses!

For some time now KWA has been producing outstanding AEGs in the mid- to high-end sector of the airsoft market. So what makes the CQR range different from its existing M4 range? The line from KWA is that the CQR range (Mod 1 = M4, Mod 2 = CQB) have been designed to be strong and durable yet lightweight, specifically for players at indoor and CQB venues.

Only one way to find out if these goals have been achieved, really…

First impressions As with all KWA RIFs it comes in a sturdy, plain box, which leaves you in no doubt that you have bought a KWA item. The only identifier is the label on the side, which states precisely what goodie is hidden inside and has the weapon’s serial number on it.

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I must say that the manual for the CQR is well-written and very comprehensive.

Taking out the CQR, my first thought was that it is a mix of traditional M4 and a more modern, funky version. It has the newerstyle six-position collapsible stock, and at the back end of the receiver is a single-point sling mount (which is often overlooked as a standard feature on many brands of M4).

The metal upper receiver is a normal M4 flat top version with a rail to mount optics of your choice, as it doesn’t come with the usual M4 carry handle/iron sight set up.

Instead it comes with an adjustable rear sight assembly, which you can either leave on as a back-up battle sight or remove totally depending on your optic option.

The lower receiver is where the real differences in the CQR range lie. Made

from a lightweight polymer, it is stamped with the KWA logo as well as its unique serial number. The word ‘lightweight’ does it a bit of a disservice, really – the polymer is stiff and looks like it will take a knock, so do not confuse it with ABS/plastic receivers found on other M4s costing much the same. The layout of buttons, catches, hop adjustment and so on are all in the places they should be, so no dramas there.

The insidey parts The magazine supplied is a 120-round polymer mid-cap which looks similar in many ways to a P-Mag, adding to the funky M4 look and feel. The one I tested came with an extra pair of these poly mags in the package – I’m not sure that this is a standard feature or whether mine was a special edition.

The front handguard is a standard M4 style made of reinforced fibre. This is where your battery is contained. A normal front foresight assembly is fitted as standard and the Mod 1

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the Armoury | KWA CQR Mod 1

On test

has a standard 14in metal outer barrel, with a 14mm CCW thread fitted with a an M16 A2 flash hider – so a pretty plain front end on what is otherwise a nice-looking M4.

This does, of course, allow end users to fit their choice of rail system if desired and customise their own rifle. The only downside I can see here is the fitting of your battery, as it would mean rewiring the rifle to the rear to fit a LiPo battery pack in the stock/buffer tube.

Internally, the CQR range is fitted with the ever-popular and bombproof 2GX gearbox. These gearboxes have enjoyed rave reviews in other models, but for those who have not come across these before, I’ll enlighten you a little. With its

reinforced gearbox casing, a set of steel gears and 9mm bearings, these gearboxes are deemed by many the best available on the market today for build quality and fire rate. Having had an AEG that had one of these gearboxes fitted, I can vouch for their robustness and reliability – and I’d add that I found it had a really good, quick trigger response.

Most AEGs have an internal barrel diameter of 6.08mm, and folks then fit a tightbore barrel (usually 6.03mm or 6.04mm).

However, the CQR comes fitted with a 6.05mm as standard.

This, along with the superior gearbox, helps make this gun a fantastic CQB weapon, given that speed, accuracy, quantity of rounds down and aggression are the name of the game.

KWA says that the CQR range is able to run on 9.6v NiMh, through to 7.4v and 11.1v LiPo batteries. So for this test I charged up a 9.6v 1600mAh GP cell battery and an 11.1v 1300mAh crane-stock-style battery. I set up a static target at a range of roughly 100ft and a course of five targets in one of our on-site buildings, and it was time to put this Mod 1 through its paces.

I took a bottle of both Blaster Devil 0.20g and Blaster Devil 0.25g BBs to give it an across-the-board test. After a little squirt of silicone spray where necessary and a quick barrel clean, I estimated where the hop adjuster should be set to. I loaded three

“At 100ft the 0.20s were thwacking away into the target.

On semi the trigger was really responsive, allowing double taps without any real obvious delay that you sometimes get in a normal AEG. I moved back another 10 feet and put some more rounds into the target.” www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

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the Armoury | KWA CQR Mod 1

120-round mags with 0.20g BBs, along with three hi-caps to bed it all in first.

First hi-cap in, I just blatted off the whole thing in a half-dozen trigger pulls. The BBs were flying past my static range target before dropping. By the time the third mag was emptied and I’d done a bit of fiddling of the hop adjuster, it was time to do some proper testing.

At 100ft the 0.20s were thwacking away into the target. On semi the trigger was very responsive, allowing double taps without any real obvious delay (which you sometimes get in a normal AEG). I moved back another 10ft and put some more rounds into the target; they were still achieving a decent grouping.

With another 10ft added it started to lose its impact, and groupings started to suffer. Still, 120ft with a standard rifle is no mean feat.

From there it was into my multi-target CQB area. With a fresh mag in I set off round the course. As I worked my way round the various rooms and engaged the ‘baddies’, the gun felt light, agile and manoeuvrable, with the fire selector giving an audible click when it went into position, so I was certain it had actually selected what I was after.

Flicking between semi to full and back again, the trigger was impressively responsive, and with an 11.1v LiPo fitted, this

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thing has a wicked rate of fire. At this point I thought it best to chrono the beast and see what it was pumping out as standard. On a mag of 120 BBs, readings varied from 315335fps. Not bad at all, given it is designed for CQB work.

I repeated the process again with 0.25g BBs; after adjusting the hop, off we went.

On the range the heavier rounds made a noticeable difference: at 100ft the grouping was much tighter and at 120ft they were still achieving a definite group, even though they took a little longer to get there. On the CQB scenario it was just awesome – especially with the 11.1v Li Po fitted. On the chrono with the heavier weight BBs, the CQR was still achieving 291-306 fps.

Summary This AEG has proved a bit of a toughie for me.

I am an M16/M4 fan and from the back end the KWA looks great. The standard M4 front end is a bit of a let down in comparison, but I can understand the reason. That said, I do still like the simplicity and ease of battery changing in this configuration. The fact that it’s a full metal upper receiver with a polymer lower is a novel idea. You would be surprised how agile and lightweight this CQR is: it certainly would make a top-performing CQB weapon. I know

some readers may think the Mod 1 is too long for CQB work – in that case opt for the CQR Mod 2, which is the short-barrel CQB version.

The Mod 1 is also a fantastic all-rounder.

The performance of that KWA 2GX makes this gun special for the price. I was impressed by both accuracy and rate of fire on my tests.

I even like the 120-round mid-cap mags.

Overall I think it’s a great offering from KWA and would make a good addition to anyone’s armoury. If you are playing predominantly at a CQB site it should be a serious contender on your shortlist. In old saying terms, it’s an airsoft wolf in sheep’s clothing.

KWA CQR Mod 1 Construction: Metal/polymer Length: 774mm (stock retracted)

857mm (stock extended) Weight: 2,770g Inner barrel length: 395mm Inner barrel diameter: 6.05mm Battery: 9.6v NiMh, 7.4v or 11.1v 15c LiPo/LiFe Magazine: 120-round mid-cap Velocity: ~320fps Price: Expect to pay around £200 CONTACT: Defiance Airsoft www.defiance-airsoft.com

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Wondering if it could ever happen for real, Oscar Plummer reports from Copehill Down on Red One/UTAG’s chilling scenario

OPERATION

RED DRAGON C

opehill Down lies hard in behind Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain.

While the latter is a focal point for tourists, druids and other assorted crusties, Copehill is a permanent fixture in the training regimen of the British Armed Forces – which means it’s not uncommon to see MTP and tie-dye gear in the same coffee shop at the nearby Solstice Park services.

But regardless of your dress sense it should be on every airsofter’s list of places to play. Built in the 1980s as a FIBUA training area it simulates a typical Bavarian village found on the former border with the Warsaw Pact – and therefore would

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have been a key battleground in the event of WWIII. Of course history intervened; the Berlin Wall and the entire Iron Curtain came tumbling down. Nonetheless, Copehill has remained one of the key urban training areas for British Forces and recent changes mean it more closely replicates the current area of operations.

It’s a fully formed battleground – streets, houses, hotels, shops, barns, church – every form of building you would expect.

That means a very complex environment to take, secure and hold, starting from FOBs which act as foundations for patrolling security forces.

I was at Copehill to take a look at Operation Red Dragon, a 36-hour MilSim event organised by Red One Airsoft in association with UTAG. The background scenario is chilling: the US, weakened economically, has succumbed to a Chinese-sponsored attack and fallen from the world stage.

Meanwhile, a coalition of former Eastern Bloc states are revolting in other western countries, and have brought open warfare to the towns and cities of the UK. As this is a full MilSim event I did not take part as a player as that would have limited me to just one perspective of the event. Instead I was an observer, and this

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MILSIM | RED ONE

article is a snapshot of episodes from an eight-hour period of a 36-hour game, fought through the streets of a village many of us could recognise as home.

Game on I approach a fortified gate. It’s a quiet, almost silent morning. The sunlight is bright and the ground is still wet from heavy rain overnight, but there is tension in the air.

I’ve been walking through a built-up area for 15 minutes, all the while feeling as though I’m being watched though I’ve seen nothing but the odd flash of a face at a window, a figure in a distant doorway…

It was the faint rumble of a generator that led me to this corner of the village and I know I am being watched. I knock gingerly on the door and receive a gruff challenge – I explain my predicament and the gate swings back, just wide enough for me to step through.

I’m immediately relieved to see Union Flags on the men and kit inside the gate.

I’m less reassured by the wary, untrusting expressions on their faces, and the fact that at least three weapons are trained on me. I raise my hands and am gestured inside.

Some 30 minutes later I’m handed a cup of tea and the situation is explained.

The base is held by UK armed forces – a mixed bag of regulars and SF have come into the area to re-establish government presence and restore order. Outside the walls, though, is a hostile insurgent

force mixed among the innocent civilian population. I’m shown pictures of individuals and asked if I have seen any on my way into the base – I’m told they are members of the Chinese and Iranian Special Forces who have whipped local malcontents into the near-revolution going on outside the walls. The UK forces are trying to hunt down these individuals – remove them and the insurgency will be left headless, and order can return.

Shortly after, a vehicle comes to life in the courtyard. A Quick Reaction Force is saddling up to act on intelligence that one of the High Value Targets may have been spotted. They look tired – they spent the night patrolling the village and although there was little contact the tension is clearly taking its toll. At least they managed to set up covert OPs in the village, one of which is sending back intelligence.

“From concealed positions, the supporting insurgent squads open up a withering crossfire on the troops leaving the gate. Within seconds the net is alive with shouts that the entire Callsign is down” www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

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The vehicle roars out of the gate, heading for a building a few streets away.

From my position near the main Ops table I can overhear the reports coming in to the team coordinating activity. I sneak a look at the roster and see that two sections are outside the FOB and being manoeuvred to dominate the target.

It’s not long before the QRF calls in a contact, with two hostiles swiftly downed as the UK teams work their way professionally towards the objective.

But success does not last long. Faces fall around the Ops table as the first casualties are called. With scant reserves of manpower every casualty is a blow.

While the teams out on the ground shake themselves into a line of advance, the QRF vehicle is loaded with casualties and sent back to the FOB, pursued by the mocking taunts of the OPFOR. Over the next hour the situation outside fluctuates – at times the UK forces seem pinned by a fluid, unstructured gaggle of insurgents who appear, fire,

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then fade away. At other times, the superior organisation and firepower of the military tells and groups of insurgents are surrounded and either captured or eliminated. Ultimately, though, organisation tells and the teams achieve their goal. They return to the FOB, a debrief is called and food and fluids are consumed. In the Ops Room, another insurgent photograph is marked inactive.

The men in the FOB are sure there is a bigger plan in action outside the walls, but they don’t know exactly what it is. Around the Ops table intelligence is gathered, insights are formed and a plan is drawn together.

Show of force But this is not a one-sided battle. Talking to the men inside the FOB it’s clear that they have been kept on their toes all night and expect a long day to come. There are tales of insurgents harassing the FOB, hiding amid civilians for protection. I witnessed at least one attempted breach of the FOB, with the QRF called out to sweep their own backyard. Throughout the day,

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MILSIM | RED ONE FOB, who have disrupted an exchange of drugs for guns. The troops, unwittingly, had actually separated one of the HVTs and the consignment of narcotics from his comrades, forcing him to hide under a burnt-out vehicle for several hours. The drugs were stashed in a quiet building while the revolutionaries constructed a plan to recover them, make the deal and then sort out the troops. They proudly show me a map showing an intricate web of IEDs, booby traps and ambush points they are crafting around the FOB. Their intention is clear: as soon as their business is complete they will silence the FOB once and for all. They proudly show me mobile phone footage taken within the FOB – last night they had infiltrated the site and filmed a UK forces orders group.

I remark that it seems quiet; they tell me they are husbanding their forces.

They have a small number of combatants effectively tying down the entire FOB and any patrols that push out – either with weapons or by posing as unarmed civilians, while their main strength is bunkered into two heavily fortified positions waiting for nightfall.

I decide to try my luck and ask if they were unable to mount a full-scale assault on the FOB. Grinning they answer me with action, not words. A few swift phone calls are made and squads of insurgents muster unseen, taking cover within striking distance of the FOB. The leaders themselves mount up in the back of the truck, and move slowly in the direction of the FOB. As they reach the final corner they up their pace and roar towards a sangar built into the corner of the concrete fence.

Debussing at speed they suppress the defenders while one of their number tacks in and posts a frag straight through a viewing slit. That almost seems to be a signal for the defenders to bite back – a squad bursts through the gate and a vehicle-borne section pushes out on a flanking sweep.

What happens next silences the UK forces’ leadership – from concealed positions the supporting insurgent squads open up a withering crossfire on the troops leaving the gate. Within seconds, the net is alive with shouts that the entire Callsign is down. The QRF vehicle turns

insurgent vehicles and personnel circled the FOB just out of range before sweeping in close to roll grenades towards the gate and send speculative shots towards wary sentries.

After one of these incidents I took my leave of the FOB and set out to try and make contact with the insurgents and get the view from their side.

It doesn’t take me long – I’m less than 100ft from the gate when the first rifle is trained on me; a pair of lightly-armed insurgents are tucked into a doorway, observing my progress. I try to explain my presence but words fail me – in desperation I ask them to take me to their leader.

The insurgent hierarchy – PLA and Iranian advisers – are clustered around a pickup, planning their next moves. They quickly explain their intentions to me; their strategic aim is clear cut – the overthrow of the remnants of the government. Their tactical objective in this area is similarly straightforward – obtain weapons.

They have been thrown off track by the intervention of the troops in the

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MILSIM | RED ONE laid and observers are watching carefully for targets moving into their area of effect.

So as I walk out of the village towards open country, two strategies are beginning to collide. Another night and morning remain before the victor is known, but what is already certain is that neither plan is going to survive contact with the enemy.

Conclusion

sharply and heads back to try and extract casualties and turn the situation around.

Luck is with them and their journey brings them neatly up behind a contingent of insurgents who are swiftly eliminated. The PLA advisers, devastating the opposition just moments before, find themselves outflanked and pinned.

Cooler heads soon prevail – both command teams know that they need to conserve their strength for their main aims and pull in their horns. Both sides step away to lick their wounds and continue planning.

Seven Ps As light starts to fail both teams are completing their plans for the final phase of the engagement, and know that conserving their troops’ stamina is key. In a twist to the tale, both sides are convinced that the other has more resources and more energy than they do, and that affects their plans.

The insurgents need to retrieve their stash and make the trade. They plan to retrieve their resources as soon as possible as they believe that the UK forces

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will wait until the early hours to make their move. The UK forces need to push out and capture the final HVT but believe the insurgents will set heavy ambushes during darkness, so intend to move quickly.

As I am pulling out from the conflict zone the next series of clashes between the two sides begins to flare up; two insurgents sent to retrieve the stash are fatally surprised to discover that the UK Recce platoon has pushed out to occupy the building in which the consignment remains concealed. This is part of a plan to dominate the village with overwhelming firepower, plotted painstakingly to cover all arcs, with sniper pairs in covert OPs. SF teams are stacked up inside the gate, ready to swiftly and mercilessly sweep through the buildings dominated by the fixed positions.

But as the first rounds from the Recce HMG plough into the unsuspecting couriers, the UK forces are suffering their own setbacks – one pair of snipers is discovered by chance, captured and interrogated while nervous trigger fingers at the gate lead to a needless civilian fatality. Meanwhile, more IEDs are being

That’s just a few snapshots of some of the tactical and strategic situations I witnessed in what was a deep, immersive and fluid scenario. Although I didn’t shoulder a RIF myself the players I spoke with were clearly having a great event.

One really important bit of feedback that they gave me on the day was that the level of planning and preparation that had gone into the session was immense, but it had still been designed to allow people to play in a role which meshed with their skills and their style of play. And in MilSim terms, players thought it was top-notch as well. The organisers were set up to provide a real experience for the players and a lot of the insights and structures came from genuine real-world experience.

From my perspective I saw some great decisions and interventions by the organisers to ensure the MilSim aspects of the game were preserved, and to make sure that the players were getting everything they could from the event.

The organisation was great, with lots of nice touches, including a tech on hand and a photographer capturing images of players in action and printing them on site.

Crucially, they were a really helpful and committed crew with a lot of real-world experience which they were passing on to players in a positive way.

The brilliant news is that more of these events could be on the horizon – and I for one will be making sure I play next time!

RED ONE AIRSOFT Operation Red Dragon was the first MilSim event hosted by Red One Airsoft in conjunction with Ultimate Tactical Assault Group (UTAG). No future dates have been announced yet but keep an eye on the website for details. The cost of taking part in Operation Red Dragon was £85 for the weekend.

RED ONE AIRSOFT: www.red1airsoft.co.uk

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THE ARMOURY | PRACTICAL PISTOL

PRACTICAL Baz Thakur finds out if airsoft pistols cut it when it comes to practical pistol shooting

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have been shooting since I was eight years old – everything from .177 plinkers up to some quite exotic bits of kit in both civilian and military armed forces. Shooting has been a part of my life for so long it just wouldn’t seem right without it. Unfortunately, in today’s society it has become exceedingly difficult for responsible adults to enjoy it as a hobby, sport or pastime.

When handguns were (for all intents and purposes) banned in the UK, those of us involved in pistol shooting saw our sport wiped out – even the British Olympic team have to travel abroad to practice. A few shooters managed to carry on, using a variety of weapons, but not until the advent of good quality, readily available airsoft weapons have we been able to get back to any semblance of how it used to be.

However, airsoft pistols within the shooting fraternity have got a dreadful reputation – but is it deserved? Are airsoft pistols really practical?

A few weeks ago I had a call from the Ed, who asked me if I would take a look at a selection of Umarex pistols to see how things have progressed and whether I felt they would be suitable for practical pistol

“Airsoft pistols within the shooting fraternity have got a dreadful reputation – but is it deserved? Are airsoft pistols really practical?” www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

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shooting. I am a member of East Barnet Shooting Club, where both Malcolm Dowding and Mark Hurding (two of the UK’s top PP exponents) also shoot, so I was more than happy to relieve him of the box of goodies under his arm!

So what have we got?

We have a CZ, a 1911 and a race gun from Elite Force and a MK23 and USP Tactical from H&K. They represent a nice range of sizes, styles and weights, plus the race gun is CO2-powered, so we can see the difference there as well. I needed some help so it was down to EBSC to round up four willing volunteers (Mark, Richard, Craig and Lee) and put them through their paces – the pistols, not the volunteers!

First things first: all the pistols were taken out of their packaging, gassed up and left to warm up to room temperature – that way we knew the ambient would be the same for each. Before we did anything else we put each one over a chronograph to see what sort of consistency we would get out of the box.

None of them were particularly wild but the CZ varied by 20 per cent between the highest and lowest, which was felt to be excessive. We then each picked a gun, re-gassed, reloaded and had a go at

BOTTOM OF PACK ELITE FORCE RACE GUN

CHRONO: High 344fps; Low 322fps; Avg 333fps POSITIVES: Power, accuracy, trigger action and handling very good.

NEGATIVES: Build quality, finish and reliability not good.

Test gun had issues and similar reports from other shooters experiencing problems.

Comment from Mark Hurding: “The Race Gun would be good for limited competition target shooting but not practical pistol until the durability and reliability issues have been resolved.”

SECOND LAST HK USP TACTICAL

CHRONO: High 283fps; Low 266fps; Avg 278fps POSITIVES: A reasonable all-rounder that shoots well and has good sight pitch. The trigger guard is large enough to accommodate a gloved hand and it can be worn in a variety of rigs.

NEGATIVES: Disappointing when compared to the MK23 with nothing like the power and accuracy.

three standard targets on the 10m range, over three disciplines. The first was two shots, rapid fire on each target, to see how quickly they would cycle and what drop-off would be caused by rapid-fire. The second was two shots, aimed slow-fire to check accuracy of the stock sights and consistency of trajectory – did the BB go where the sights indicated, did they fly off all over the place?

The third test was a simple ‘load it up and let it rip’ – not very scientific but gives a good indication of how each would perform in an environment where consistent rapid fire would be required, such as in a competition. Each shooter tried all five of the guns.

With all that done, we got together and

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THE ARMOURY | PRACTICAL PISTOL

BRONZE ELITE FORCE CZ

CHRONO: High 292fps; Low 243fps; Avg 270fps POSITIVES: A good all-rounder that is probably best for ‘instinctive’ shooting as it fits the hand and presents very well, no matter where it is drawn from.

NEGATIVES: Not consistent and power varies. The sight pitch is very bad.

RUNNER UP ELITE FORCE 1911

CHRONO: High 295fps; Low 279fps; Avg 285fps POSITIVES: Feels like a 1911 should – fits the hand nicely, points well and has good build quality; a good all round pistol.

NEGATIVES: Single stack mag which cools quickly during rapid fire. The narrow mag also makes it harder to do tactical mag changes.

compared notes. I wanted to find out what they thought of the gun they shot and which was overall favourite.

Richard (CZ): The CZ has a really nice trigger action but shoots a little high off the sights. It feels nice in the hand and is very easy to shoot. My overall favourite is the MK23 as it seems to be more powerful than the others and pretty accurate.

Lee (1911): The metal construction feels good and heavy, which helps it sit well in your hand but the single stack mag is a bit of a pain. Although it feels good to hold and shoot, it does suffer from power drop on rapid fire. My favourite? I’d like to say the 1911 because it felt very nice but I’m going with the MK23.

Craig (MK23): This is not the most

comfortable of guns to hold as it is a bit big and bulky but it shoots really well. It’s got a right kick and doesn’t seem to suffer too much power drop on rapid fire. Although it’s a bit big in terms of grip I do like it, but would go for the race gun as my favourite if it could be made to work consistently.

Baz (USP): The USP Tactical is a nice gun and even has a decent de-cock but it was shooting low and left. That said, it has a nice kick to it and feels good to shoot although it does suffer a bit of power drop on rapid fire. Overall I liked the USP but if I had to choose just one, I’d pick the MK23.

Mark (race gun): (Note: Mark is a competition shooter so it was natural he should test the gun aimed at that discipline.) The race gun has virtually no recoil and you get very little feedback from it. While some shooters like this, others prefer to ‘feel’ what their weapon is doing and respond to it, which is very important in comp shooting. It was accurate and pretty powerful but I have heard reports from other shooters that they suffer reliability problems; the one we tested has a sticky slide. Would I use one in a competition? If I could be sure all the wrinkles had been ironed out and it was reliable then yes, I probably would. As things stand though, I am going for the MK23 as it is more powerful and has a longer barrel, which makes it more accurate – although the size of the grip made it a little uncomfortable to hold (but that is just my personal preference).

The overall feeling among my volunteers was that each pistol had positive and negative points, a view I share. It also showed that airsoft pistols are making good progress, and though they’re not taking huge strides they are slowly getting closer to what practical pistol shooters require.

“I have been playing airsoft for many years but have never been a fan of airsoft pistols, and while CO2 gives some level of accuracy the reloading is poor and simply not realistic” www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

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THE ARMOURY | PRACTICAL PISTOL

WINNER HK MK23

CHRONO: High 323fps; Low 308fps; Avg 316fps POSITIVES: Consistent, powerful and accurate over distance (good groupings). Big but feels good in the hand with manageable recoil.

NEGATIVES: Feels like a big lump of plastic until you put the mag in.

Comment from Mark Hurding: “Ideally, for airsoft practical pistol, I would want MK23 performance with the same build quality as the 1911.”

So, are airsoft pistols practical?

Yes, I believe some are and others could be. If manufacturers really got to grips with producing top quality ‘competition level’ weapons, with all the features and benefits PP shooters require, then I am sure they would be very successful.

While CO2 gives some level of accuracy, the reloading is poor and unrealistic. For many, airsoft is about realism first and foremost – fiddling around with CO2 capsules out on the field just doesn’t cut it. Gas is the only other useable alternative but tends to suffer from cooling and consistency problems.

For me, the ultimate airsoft pistol would feature rugged, full-metal construction with a double-stack mag, powered by a non-temperature sensitive propellant that doesn’t drop in performance – and looks like a 1911 because I love ‘em!

ARMEX Many thanks to Armex Limited for supplying the review items.

For more information on these and other products, contact Armex on 0121 643 4900, or visit www.armex-airsoft.com.

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MP7 GBB Scott Allan asks whether Tokyo Marui is becoming the ‘Ducati’ of the airsoft world

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okyo Marui has remade its MP7 A1.

Originally an innovative micro-AEG design, this is the gas blowback effort – and damn is it pretty. So what’s the catch?

There are, like most things in life, die-hard fans. Ducati fans hate everything that isn’t a Ducati, BMW fans hate everything that isn’t a BMW, TM fans swear by TM. Personally I think TM is on a bit of an undeserved pedestal these days: it is slow at producing new rifles and pistols, which tend to be plastic, very expensive and generally sub300fps.

So why should you keep reading?

Unfortunately, Tokyo Marui also makes some of the most reliable and best performing rifles ever available to airsofters.

Hell, TM invented the gearboxes used in all airsoft guns these days and if that isn’t something to be impressed by I don’t know what is.

The MP7 is always popular owing to several games that pit players against each other in fictional battles online to the wee hours of the morning. Seems a bit pointless when you have airsoft, but each to their own.

There are now two gas blowback versions and an electric version (I will not count the various copies of the electric version) so there are a few variations of this SMG for you to consider.

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Real-steel MP7 The real version concept was an SMG designed for tight areas and defeating body armour with its 4.6x30 round. Working with a round that is essentially a small rifle round, the rest of the rifle mimics a modern assault rifle’s features but on a smaller scale – and with a reported range of 200m.

The design allows for pistol-like use, or you can extend the stock and flip down the front grip for a compact SMG design with single or fully-automatic fire capabilities. The external appearance and sizing does not seem a million miles away from the Mac 11 or Uzi, but the different calibre means it’s a whole different kettle of fish. The MP7 is a force to be reckoned with (unlike its ‘spray and pray’ cousins from years ago), providing accuracy at longer range.

On test Externally this version looks good. Like the real version it is largely constructed of polymer to keep the weight down. Despite that, the whole thing does feel quite solid and it is slightly heavier than previous versions. Selectors, release catches, sights and rails are metal – these are the parts that need to be strong. The cocking handle is plastic, disappointingly, as is the bolt inside. The only HK markings are on the

pistol grip and the base of the magazine – nothing overly exciting. The only thing I would say about the externals is that, while nice, I do not think they stand up well against the KWA/KSC MP7, which has been around for a few years now.

During testing it was what you would expect from a TM gas blowback. It was good, although I was slightly surprised that the bolt was more of a gentle thump rather than the KWA’s sharp crack. After the external appearance the weaker blowback did really let it down for me.

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THE ARMOURY | TM MP7 GBB

Chronographing at 330fps on a Blaster 0.20g BB with Abbey Brut Sniper gas was good, and it did finish the magazine on single shot, which was great. The hop-up is always where a TM product performs well and the MP7 is no exception. The range easily passed 40m and although it wasn’t greatly accurate it did get there. Fully-automatic was, like with all gas blowbacks, not the best, and it struggled to finish a magazine. I have never really met anyone who has used any gas blowbacks on fully automatic, though, so it shouldn’t be a major issue.

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THE ARMOURY | TM MP7 GBB

The feature list is not bad and the 14mm suppressor is a very nice touch, and a useful addition. Overall the package does look good in almost every way. Personally I prefer the KWA/KSC version as I found the blowback better. Plus, there is the major crunch point, and it is a big one – the TM version is around £100 more than the KWA/KSC version!

Clincher Now you can take all the little ‘ifs, buts and maybes’, but at the end of the day £100 is an extra two magazines for the KWA version, so I guess this is where the TM name alone sells the MP7. It is by no means a bad SMG and I think the continuing high prices for Japanese parts almost seems to enhance the aura of quality – when in actual

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fact they aren’t all that much better in my opinion. If they are better I would strongly argue that they are not 40 per cent better, as the pricing seems to suggest.

MP7s are almost resigned to pistol/ shotgun only or indoor game sites, like most gas blowback rifles. They appear out for the odd game as a primary weapon with some players but they are in the minority.

Playing against these SMGs in close quarters is tough and they do tend to fare well against pistols, rifles and shotguns, when the need for a higher number of rounds is less important and the flexibility and the speed of the platform you are using becomes more important.

If you must own an MP7 you won’t go far wrong with this version – but if you

do not have the money to burn you may wish to consider the KWA version instead.

By anyone’s standards £100 is a lot more money, and it is a real shame because if you took the price away I would probably prefer the TM version. I guess this one really does come down to how deep your wallet is.

TOKYO MARUI MP7 GBB CONSTRUCTION: Primarily polymer WEIGHT: 2,300g LENGTH: 380mm MAGAZINE: 40-round POWER SOURCE: Gas blowback VELOCITY: ~330fps PRICE: Around £350

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win...win...win...win...win...win...win...

KWA CQR Mod 1 Worth over £200!

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hanks to the generous boys and girls at Defiance Airsoft we’ve got one KWA CQR Mod 1 to give away this issue. We’ve reviewed this cracking rifle this issue, starting on page 12. The CQR Mod 1 is perfect for CQB airsoft with fantastic out-of-thebox performance. If you fancy your chances at bagging yourself an extra Christmas pressie, answer the question below, add your details and get it to us in the usual method.

Question: The KWA CQR Mod 1 comes fitted

with an inner barrel of what diameter?

A 6.03mm n n B 6.04mm n C 6.05mm n D 6.08mm

Name_______________________________________ Address______________________________________ Postcode_ ____________________________________ Telephone_ ___________________________________ Email_ ______________________________________

Post your entry to: January KWA competition, Airsoft Action, Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5SZ. Or, email your entries to competition@blazepublishing.co.uk, quoting ‘January KWA competition’ in the headline. Entries received after 10 January will not be valid. One entry per household. Winner will be first correct entry pulled from the editor's hat.

Blaze Publishing would like to keep you informed of other offers and publications. Please tick here if you would NOT like to be contacted by post or email

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SITE REVIEW | SKIRMISH LEICESTER

Michael Jones checks out Skirmish Leicester on its first airsoft open day

SKIRMISH

leicester O

n a freezing winter morning I pulled into the car park of Skirmish Leicester’s first open-tothe-public shoot. Now before I go any further I’d like to clear up a few things.

Skirmish, and specifically Skirmish Leicester, is a well-known paintball site. When I did a little digging on the internet, most of the advertising was for the paintball side of things – there was

just a smidgen about the airsoft. Initially I was concerned that this was going to be someone just a giving airsoft a go to expand their business. Fortunately that isn’t the case.

Site manager Matt does run paintball, but if you don’t already know him he’s one-third of the recently-defunct Sabreforce/East Midlands Airsoft enterprise. He therefore has plenty of

experience of our much-loved hobby under his belt.

With that out of the way, back to the site. After parking up it was a short walk to the HQ/Safe Zone where I found my greeters and a handful of players already set up and ready to go, two hours before the first game.

As we got chatting, Matt’s enthusiasm was clear to see from the way he spoke about airsoft and his hopes for Skirmish Leicester. His partner in crime (and partner, Mel) kept me entertained while Matt readied the day’s effects and rounded up the troops. Over a mug of coffee and exquisite toffee muffin, I began to get a feel for the site and the people who ran it.

The site isn’t new to the airsoft scene.

Sabreforce and its regulars have used it on occasion over the years – and obviously enjoyed themselves as a large chunk of the 40-odd attendees had shot there before.

The site’s velocity limits are bread and butter stuff and prices are sensible for

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what’s on offer. Hire rifles are available for people who haven’t got their own and include BBs in the package, which is a nice touch. At present the open shoots are scheduled for once a month.

The site is a large wood split into different sections. Some are for the paintballers, with the rest and best (in my opinion) for us. The first game got underway: a fast warm-up to get the blood pumping. After that we moved to the abandoned ‘outdoor pursuit centre’ that had a certain Chernobyl feel to it.

Both teams really got stuck in here, with the Reds desperately trying to destroy the ‘super computer’ and the Blues repelling them like rain off a mac.

As lunch broke I decided to mingle in the ranks to find out what the players thought of the site. Speaking first to the veterans (the loud ones) they told me how the site was everything they wanted from a woodland site and was as good as any other they had played at.

The thing they made a point about was how good the marshals are.

“I was concerned that this was going to be someone just giving airsoft a go to expand their business. Fortunately site manager Matt has plenty of experience of our much-loved hobby under his belt” 036

Some players were completely new to airsoft and had never picked up a rifle before. They seemed at ease and didn’t have to worry about making a mistake, possibly messing it up for the team.

They really enjoyed the friendly, relaxed atmosphere and told me they would definitely go again.

As lunch was coming to an end I had just enough time for another coffee and muffin. At this point I noticed the ‘ammo drop’ flier and asked Matt about the promotion. Essentially, if you pay a small annual membership you get access to essentials and some pretty tasty toys, too. The really important part is the discount this membership offers: even if I were never to play at the site, it’s still worth me getting all my consumables here.

At present, the site doesn’t have full catering facilities but it’s on the cards.

They do, however, offer tea, coffee, Pot Noodles and a wide range of snacks.

They also sport the usual battery charging facility, portaloos and card payment facilities.

After lunch we headed to the very edge of the site’s limits for a game that saw the Red Team get a chance to

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SITE REVIEW | SKIRMISH LEICESTER AMMO DROP EXPLAINED Paying for a £30 annual membership gives you access to more favourable prices on consumables and other necessities – take a look at the examples below.

BLASTER DEVIL BBS (3,000 X 0.2G): £5 BLASTER DEVIL BBS (3,000 X 0.25G): £6.50 ULTRAIR GAS: £7.25 ASG M4 HI-CAP: £8 KWA USP COMPACT: £80

SKIRMISH LEICESTER Lutterworth, Leicester, LE17 4HP Price WALK-ON: £25 RIFLE HIRE: £45 (includes rifle, magazine, face mask, combats, 3,000 rounds) CONTACT: www.skirmishpaintballleicester.co.uk 0844 870 9385

level the scores. The game involved the Reds attacking the enemy to secure the church. Players battled across ditches, water and bridges which made the battlefield really challenging.

Skirmish Leicester may not be to everyone’s taste – if you like low-cap limits and MilSim-style play then it probably isn’t for you. Matt has aimed his market at new and seasoned players who want to have fun and not worry too much about anything else. The games are simple yet satisfying and the day went well. If you want a good laugh with good people and, of course, a good game, I recommend it.

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+ Used by the US military, Wiley-X kit is now available to UK airsofters.

Oscar P takes a look at some of their top offerings

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n every Safe Zone, at every game, kit is a key topic of conversation. Every player has got an opinion (or several) about the best camouflage and rigs and RIFs. But despite that it’s not very often you hear people comparing notes on glasses and gloves. For some reason these seem to be the Cinderella of the gear world.

Strange, really – vision is irreplaceable and eye-pro is mandatory at every single site. People seem to view it as a basic item though, rather than something that

can really affect your effectiveness. The same goes for choosing gloves – efficiently manipulating your weapon is at the heart of the game, so good kit on your mitts can make a huge difference.

So when Thomas Jacks Limited sent us some of the latest Wiley-X glasses and gloves to review I got pretty excited.

Wiley-X has a reputation for producing some of the best kit in the world – and having had a chance to try some out I can say it is richly deserved.

Always wear protection Looking at the eye-pro first, we got to test out three options: Saber Advanced, CQC Goggle and Gravity Black Ops Glasses.

They came exquisitely packaged in rigid cases with back straps and microfibre lens cloths as standard; the appearance and build quality is top-notch.

The Saber features an interchangeable lens system – Pale Yellow, Light Rust, Smoke Grey, Clear or Vermillion lenses are available, each suited to various conditions

The Saber comes supplied with interchangable lenses

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KIT REVIEW | WILEY-X and similar to the ESS glasses that are common on the skirmish field.

The Wiley-X offering, however, is streets ahead. The lenses themselves are much thicker than ESS’ and the nose and temple pieces are much heftier – and more comfortable! I’d call these the ‘standard’ glasses of the three – mid-sized allrounders. They’re pretty Goldilocks – not too loose yet tight enough to feel secure without pinching – just right.

The CQC is a lightweight goggle, similar to the Saber but featuring a comfortable foam rubber pad around the inside of the frame. They ship with both smoke and clear lenses, as well as a pair of clip-on sections which fit on the hinge of the frame. These act as a kind of blinker – I presume for bright-light or dusty conditions – but also prevent BBs from coming in at the temple. The foam backing is dense and has sizeable vents to help air circulation.

The arms aren’t extendable and feel heftier than those of the Saber.

These goggles are seriously comfortable and feel rock-solid without being heavy.

They are slightly higher profile than the Saber, but nowhere near as chunky as conventional goggles.

The Gravity Black Ops are a different proposition altogether. They are solidframed and come fitted with a smoke lens (unlike the others, the Black Ops do not have interchangeable lenses). They are a slicker cut than the others with a lowerdrag feel. The arms are non-extendable.

The Black Ops’ nifty feature is called a ‘detachable climate-control system’. This is

Covert ops or Xmas shops, the Gravity Black Ops are up to the challenge

essentially a vented foam lining that clips around the inside of the eyepiece, allowing you to manage the fit and comfort to your own preferences. Overall the styling of these glasses (and the case) feels much more like something that could be worn casually as well as in play.

Glasses: conclusion These three eye-pro options have different attributes but all are premium products.

The build quality is marvellous – they feel like they could take anything that is thrown at them. The Saber and CQC feel more ‘military’ than the Black Ops, which are as much ‘town’ as ‘field’.

But, as always, the biggest test with solid eye pro (as opposed to mesh) is

the fog factor. This is something I really struggle with; I have used lots of different eye-pro options yet never found a product that doesn’t start to mist up eventually.

However, the Wiley-X kit puts up a pretty decent fight. The hidden ace is a lens coating that lives up to its promise, and, while a big part of this issue is always down to personal fit, I can honestly say that each of these products is really highperforming in this respect. The vents on the CQC and Black Ops are great and work wonders when the game gets intense.

The Saber’s top rim is cunningly shaped to minimise adherence to the brow without feeling loose. They did fog, but I had to work up quite a sweat before things started to get cloudy.

The CQC goggles are a more heavy-duty offering than the Black Ops

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PRICE LIST GLASSES SABER ADVANCED (including a single lens): £38 CQC GOGGLE: £72 GRAVITY BLACK OPS: £84 GLOVES PALADIN: £84 CAG-1: £67 DURTAC: £59

Gloves on

The Wiley-X CAG1 gloves

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As with the eye-pro, we had three different pairs of Wiley-X gloves to test.

Wiley-X has shaped the design of each of these around a certain environment and utility, though they all have a few common features.

Each is cut to fit snug around the wrist to prevent it running up the forearm. They also all have a sturdy leather/Velcro fixing to tighten.

I’ve no doubt that each of these will take a severe battering before starting to wear. Each pair has a nicely-sited loop for hooking the gloves to your rig when not in use. Also, the logos are restrained and not brash – quality over bling!

First up, the Paladin is described as an intermediate cold-weather glove. It is the thickest of the three, and has a (frankly lovely) fleece lining. The palm is goatskin leather with a padded section across the knuckles. The manufacturer has woven Kevlar through the fingers and the back of the hand to maximise fire and tear resistance. Obviously I can’t say how effective this is in practice! Available in green and tan, the Paladins are the bulkiest of the three but are really comfortable and definitely the warmest. However, it does feel slightly odd for a coldweather glove to be cut short.

The CAG-1s feel the most conventional of the trio. They, too, have Kevlar through the fingers and the back of the hand, and the same durable goatskin palm as the Paladin. The main difference is that they sport an injection moulded knuckle-plate that will be familiar to many from Oakley’s Pilot range. However, the plate is cut a tad wider than the Oakley and feels more flexible, without losing the essential punch of the feature. They are medium weight but feel sturdy, and are available in green, tan and black.

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KIT REVIEW | WILEY-X The Durtac was the last pair we looked at. These are badged as all-purpose but are definitely the most tacticool of the lot – they have a lighter construction than their counterparts with a matte, synthetic leather palm. The Durtac have open-weave materials on the back of the hand and a similar knuckle protector to that on the CAG-1; they also feature hardened plates on the back of the fingers for added protection, along with vents. The cuff is neoprene, rather than leather, and Wiley-X has added a tactile rubber grip to the trigger finger. Just like the Model-T Ford, they are available in any colour – so long as you want black.

Tacticool advantage: Durtac

Gloves: conclusions Here we have three horses for three different courses. The Paladin are the bulkiest, heaviest and warmest, and at this time of year they will score high on the comfort factor.

For my money they also feel like they will last the longest, but the short cuff does feel odd. For all of that though, they don’t restrict movement; I had no issues at all with my benchmark ‘fish-the-BFG-pin-outof-pouch’ test!

The CAG-1 are clearly the workhorse of the lot.

They feel sturdy, comfortable and resilient. They also score big with me for not being too flash – workmanship beats showmanship here. I don’t have any doubt these would be a good addition to virtually any kit bag.

The Durtac are a slightly different proposition – if the CAG-1 are ‘steady’ and the Paladin are ‘solid’, the Durtac must be ‘speedy’. They are a little bit flasher, a little bit lighter, and probably a little bit easier to work in. These, to me, say quicker fingers but possibly a shorter lifespan – the materials don’t feel as hardwearing as the others. Which quality is more important to each player is obviously a subjective point.

That aside, the overall verdict is: quality! All six of these products are the proper job; great materials, great build and great design.

But they don’t come cheap. Wiley-X kit is designed for serving professionals and is built with real-world needs in mind. That quality translates to cost – and when I say cost, I mean similar to an entry-level GBB pistol.

To return to my first point: if you are going to spend cash on kit, what should you prioritise? Your eyes and hands are two of your main tools in a skirmish – and in the rest of your life. I think they are worth looking after, and Wiley-X will do a good job of that.

All airsofters should know the old adage: ‘buy cheap, buy twice ’. There’s truth in that, so when you come to invest in gloves and glasses – in your eyes and hands – give all of these product some serious consideration!

THOMAS JACKS

Workhorse: Wiley-X Paladin

Many thanks to Thomas Jacks Limited for supplying the review items.

For more information on these and other Wiley-X products, contact Thomas Jacks: 01789 264100, www.thomasjacks.co.uk

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PROTOCOL

SEVEN Karl Aston delves into Protocol Seven’s post-apocalyptic LARP adventure

I

t began with a train crash in London on the eve of the Olympic Games. The train had a secret cargo, a virus, which was released in the impact.

As the world prepared to celebrate the physical potential of humanity, the virus began its attempt to extinguish the light of mankind.

Five years later that light still burns, but Britain remains a wild and dangerous place. The infected roam the land, crazed and cannibalistic; everything is scarce, including compassion. But life is no longer just about survival – for some it is about trying to pull together the threads of a new society.

If it happened, how would you react?

Would you help the weak or prey upon them? Would your abilities see you through or just see you into yet another unmarked grave? Protocol Seven’s (P7) live action roleplaying (LARP) game gives you the chance to find out.

The P7 game is organised and run by a team of four people: Ed, Jason, Joe and Dave. All four are, or have been, keen airsoft players, and I initially met them at an airsoft event. I asked how they would describe their game. Dave said it was ‘28 Weeks Later meets The Crazies made by the director of

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Children Of Men’.

It was a compelling tagline and my curiosity earned me an invitation to their next event – Event Four: Reading Material – at First & Only’s Asylum site near Kidderminster.

The origins of the P7 game go back a few years, to a conversation between Ed and Joe about designing their own game. They had played other live action roleplaying systems, including sword and sorcery themed games. Ed and Joe wanted their system firmly rooted in reality, though, where everything that happened in the game could actually be seen; there would be no room for gods, magic or flying characters.

They gave their game a postapocalyptic setting, which provided a logical reason for the scarcity of resources. It also gave a plausible reason for the game to take place in ‘safe havens’ surrounded by minefields: the minefields help to keep the infected out.

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LARP | READING MATERIAL

“Airsofters used to firing hundreds of BBs in a firefight will need to revise their tactics – ammunition is extremely scarce, and a commodity to be conserved until you really need it” It took the team about a year and a half to move from sketching out initial ideas to looking for a site to run their first game, which took place in May 2010. That first game served as a test-bed for the game rules. Putting their ideas together was fairly easy; the real work came in turning those ideas into a coherent storyline, one robust enough for the random questions players will always ask about the world they are playing in.

LARPing about The game is run as not-for-profit and there are two P7 events each year. Running the game is a hobby for the organisers, but one that takes up a great deal of time. There is paperwork to maintain, online forums to moderate, story-threads to develop and props to build. Some of these props can be very elaborate – one event required a nuclear bomb, complete with resettable countdown charger and radio trigger.

But for all the hard work the team put into preparing for the game, the most memorable incident can be the result of a chance event – such as when

a government representative and his bodyguards were sent in to pick up two criminals. As the representative arrived and stood in the town square, a police helicopter (responding to reports of a rave in the area) illuminated the area with its spotlight. It looked amazing and players assumed the helicopter had been arranged just for their game!

The cost to play at a P7 event is £50, for which you get a day and two half-days worth of gaming. Players need to bring their own food, bed and some bedding (an indoor sleeping area is provided).

The break-even figure at the Asylum event was 50 players, but fell short of this target when some players dropped

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out close to the event. Among these players were some key characters in the P7 narrative, which led to some hasty rewrites of the story in the organisers’ car journey to the Midlands!

I arrived at the Asylum site on Friday afternoon and final preparations for the game were in progress. As the clock ticked down towards the start I took a chance to speak to some of the players. I was keen to talk to them out of character before the game commenced.

Andy Farthing, 36, was at his second P7 event. He was attracted to the game because of the self-reliance you need to show and the interaction with other players. Then there was Danny Wells, 23, who plays a character called Ferret.

For Danny, the attraction is escapism and he soon finds that his character is swaggering around like a wannabe gangster! Danny is a big fan of zombie and post-apocalyptic fiction, an interest shared by a good number of the players.

The last person I spoke to before the start was Jeff Ainsworth, 52, who plays as John Shamus Lynch. Jeff was born

in Michigan and is an ex-US Marine Sergeant who saw action in Beirut in 1983. He took up LARPing when he turned 50 and says he enjoys putting the skills he learned in the Marines to use in the game.

Each player’s character details are contained in a file. That information evolves over each event and is carried forward to the next one, along with their injury history, ammunition, money and any other items they have.

Character development is a key part of the game, but unlike in some tabletop roleplaying games, characters do not develop super-strength as they gain experience. In P7 you are human and remain vulnerable; reach the end of your eight-page injury book and your character is dead.

Death means the character is out of the game forever, but does not mean your game weekend has to be over.

The organisers can help you create a new character or you can assist as one of the crew who help run the event, playing key roles such as the infected,

or characters delivering key information or tasks to other players.

Twists and turns Combat in the game is resolved using either hand-to-hand weapons or airsoft guns, so eye-protection must be worn by all players at all times (apart from in the Safe Zones). However, airsofters used to firing hundreds of BBs in a firefight will need to revise their tactics – as in many FilmSim games ammunition is extremely scarce, enough that it becomes an alternate currency and a commodity to be conserved until you really need it.

Hand-to-hand weapons provide a practical alternative to guns and come in all shapes and sizes: house bricks, axes, baseball bats and even a fire extinguisher.

These items are made from foamrubber and latex, meaning you can hit an opponent very hard and do no damage.

I had found out lot about the game, but I was also keen to find out how I would feel if placed within it. Fortunately the organisers devised a way for me to find out. They had written me into the game as a reporter from UK PLC, sent to assess the situation in the settlement.

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LARP | READING MATERIAL

UK PLC appears to be the new government, though the consensus among players is that they cannot be trusted. As a reporter for UK PLC I was immediately viewed with suspicion, especially as I was attempting to take photos of everyone!

My involvement in the game began with a guided tour of the settlement, and I was soon involved in an attack by the infected. I narrowly avoided injury; unlike in most airsoft games the combat situations give a feeling of genuine peril – there is no easy re-gen here!

I met many characters, including Doctor Watt, who was working on a cure for the infection and carried a homemade taser, and the strange religious sect known as The Hospitaleers – white crosses emblazoned on their backs, they took the role of medics while spreading word of their religion.

In-game events can be as bizarre as some of the characters – I was told about a scene that had played out on Saturday night where some players had apparently been ‘inside’ someone else’s dream!

The key point of the whole weekend came on Sunday, in the last hour of

the event. A representative from UK PLC (Lenton) arrived at the settlement to arrest a character named Dominic Green. To assist him in this task, Lenton was escorted by two ominous ‘Shadows’, black-clad warriors carrying automatic weapons and reputed to be virtually unstoppable.

The situation was tense and there was a heated conversation between Green and Lenton – suddenly the Shadows raised their weapons and opened fire on Lenton, killing him instantly. They then turned their guns on everyone else and streams of BBs filled the air. The choice was simple – run or die.

The future The Shadows rampaged through the settlement, attempting to slay everyone in sight. Why? What had gone on between Lenton, the Shadows and Mr Green? More pieces of the P7 jigsaw for players to ponder. The game ended shortly after the attack by the Shadows, with surviving players hurriedly evacuated from the settlement.

I asked Jason and Dave what they would say to those who aren’t sure

that the LARP concept is for them.

Jason said that airsofters are, in a way, already LARPing – imagining they are in a military unit and fighting a battle against people trying to kill them. LARP is the same concept but scaled up, so you spend more time as that character and more of what happens around you is relevant to the game world. The game, Dave said, is like a Wild West town, a settlement where people will trade, gamble, mug each other and (occasionally) try to get along.

Both agree that while LARPing may not be for everyone, it is surprising how many sceptics enjoy it once they try it. Some question how easy it is for players to stay in character throughout the game – but the organisers thought of that too: one of the early symptoms of the infection is that you start having delusions and talking about things that can’t be real. So in terms of the game it is perfectly reasonable for other players to point a gun at you if you drop out of character, because they suspect you might be infected!

I really enjoyed the taste of postapocalyptic Britain the P7 team had created.

I was impressed by the world they had developed and how the game works within it. The level of detail ensured plausibility; the unfolding plot twisted, turned and surprised the players while the nonlinear structure of the game kept it player-driven. This really was a chance to step outside of who you are and live another life, if only for a day (and two half-days).

Plans are already in place for the next P7 event which takes place 5-7 April 2013 at the team’s regular site, Gunman Airsoft’s Tuddenham venue. Players new to P7 or to LARP in general, are always welcome, so if you fancy helping as one of the crew, playing a character, or just want to be yourself and see how you would cope, get in touch with the P7 team. You definitely won’t regret it.

PROTOCOL SEVEN The fifth P7 event takes place 5-7 April 2013 at Gunman Airsoft’s Tuddenham site. The event costs £50 and is only open to over-18s due to insurance restrictions.

For more details visit P7’s website.

PROTOCOL SEVEN: www.protocolseven.co.uk

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11/12/2012 09:46

THE UNIVERSAL (BREN GUN) CARRIER

Ratty turns his attention to the most-produced armoured military vehicle of all time

T

he other day I was playing Top Trumps with my eight-year-old.

It was an old pack about tanks (some of them are not strictly tanks, but that’s another rant!) and one card I had in my hand was the Universal Carrier, more commonly known as the Bren Gun Carrier.

Although it was a pretty awful card to have in this instance (I lost the round to a King Tiger on weight!) one of the facts that stuck out, and indeed I could have won on every time, was numbers produced. While you would probably think that something like the Sherman was the most mass-produced armoured fighting vehicle of all time it was in fact this little machine, with over 113,000 produced in total.

History At the end of WWI the British army underwent a massive makeover, with regiments amalgamated or disbanded and consigned to the annals of history (sound familiar?). One area that suffered most

048

was tanks. Despite the fact that we British invented the tank, which changed the face of modern warfare, the ‘top brass’, in their wisdom, could not for see a role for tanks in any future conflict. Money for development was slashed, tank tactics were forgotten (not by the Germans – they thought these ideas and tactics were great, and used them as part of the Blitzkreig!) and the powers that be went back to their ‘Tiffin’ ways.

Minus a few select projects it was down to manufacturers to continue any development of tracked armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs).

Many of these vehicles were derived from agricultural machines and adapted with armour plating and light weaponry. After the horrors of 1914-918, nobody dreamt that warfare on that scale would ever be seen again and that armoured fighting vehicles would be at the epicentre of any modern battlefield.

In the UK ‘tankettes’ were the order of the day. These little tanks (not Lt Gruber’s!) were designed for one or two men and

were about the size of a small car. Designed as a Scout vehicle or for infantry support, they were very lightly armoured and carried light weapons. A company called Carden Lloyd Tractors (founded by Sir John Carden and Vivien Lloyd) were at the forefront of tankette design and development. Their MK VI, first produced in 1927, was very popular and could be used in a variety of roles, from a recce vehicle to a battlefield towing vehicle for small artillery pieces, mortars and such.

In the early 1930s Carden Lloyd was bought by Vickers Armstrong, which was already very well established in the production of military hardware and other equipment. As a commercial venture it started to develop a light tracked vehicle.

It had to be able to tow a light field gun or at least carry a machine gun, which at that time were much too heavy for one man to lug around. The prototype, known as VA D50 had an armoured area at the front to protect the driver and gunner and a bench seat in the back for a gun crew. The War Office was

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BIG BOYZ TOYZ | UNIVERSAL CARRIER shown the prototype and ordered an initial batch of 69, designated the ‘Light Dragon MK III’ and intended to replace its ageing ‘Dragon’ artillery tractors.

The Universal/Bren Carrier is born However, one was built and designated ‘Carrier, Machine-Gun Experimental (Armoured)’ and was specifically designed to carry a machine gun and its crew. This design was changed. Initially, there was the ‘Carrier, Machine-Gun, No 1, Mark 1’ with a crew of three (driver, gunner and third crew member to the rear next to the stowage area) and a small number entered service in 1936.

Some were converted into the other variants while the rest were used in training.

Four variants emerged: Medium Machine Gun Carrier (fitted with a Vickers machine gun), Bren Gun Carrier (designed to carry the section light support weapon (.303 Bren)), the Cavalry Carrier and Scout Carrier (both designed to support armour and infantry alike).

The Bren Gun Carrier’s hull differed in that it jutted forward to allow more movement of the Bren Gun, which fired though an armoured slit.

By 1940, with World War II still in its early days, things were simplified and just one universal model was to be produced. Now known as the ‘Universal Carrier’ it looked much the same as the Bren Gun Carrier, with its jutting-out hull, but differed from the earlier models by having a rectangular rear body which allowed more space for crew or equipment.

The driver and commander sat side by side with the driver to the right. The Commander was in charge of the machine gun and had the extra hull section in front of him.

An 85hp Ford V8 sat in the centre of the vehicle powering its final drive at the rear and giving it a top speed of around 30mph.

The suspension was a weird mixture, using Horstmann Springs and parts from the Vickers Light Tank. The steering was different to the normal tank ‘tiller’ system – it used a vertical steering wheel which turned the road wheels when performing small turns, causing the track to warp in that direction and the carrier to ‘drift’ to that side.

Larger turns on the wheel caused braking on the track in the direction you wanted to turn.

With a length of just over 12ft, a width of 6ft 9in and a height of just 5ft 2in, it

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BIG BOYZ TOYZ | UNIVERSAL CARRIER really was a dinky armoured vehicle! On the downside it was only lightly-armoured, so the crew and other occupants were vulnerable to small arms fire. Worse still it was completely open and everyone was exposed to the elements and incoming fire from the air.

Early manufacturers of the various carrier types were Aveling and Porter, Bedford Vehicles, Morris Motors, Thorneycroft and Sentinel Wagon Works and the British side of the Ford Motor Co. Between them these companies made some 2,400 of these early variants.

When the ‘Universal’ carrier was introduced, Aveling-Barford, Thorneycroft, Sentinel, Ford and Wolseley became the manufacturers. By the end of hostilities in 1945, around 55,000 carriers had been produced.

On top of this, Ford Motor Company of Canada also manufactured 29,000 of the Universal design and in Australia it was manufactured in small numbers, to a total of around 5,000. A further 1,300 were even made in New Zealand.

After the end of the WWII the Universal Carrier still saw service – and production didn’t actually cease until 1960! In total 113,000 were made, making it the most produced armoured fighting vehicle of all time.

Operational history The Universal Carrier in all its forms and variants has seen combat in many theatres of war. After being taken into service in 1936 some early carriers were serving with the British Expeditionary Forces in France and were later destroyed or abandoned at Dunkirk. They saw service with the 8th Army in North Africa to great effect, transporting

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troops and equipment at rapid speed and keeping up with the advancing tanks.

They saw service all through the Italian campaign and, ultimately, landed on the beaches on D-Day. These little wagons proved invaluable for transporting vital supplies and troops from the beachheads up to the front lines. Even American Forces had Universal Carriers on their books!

Later they were used in lesser numbers in the jungles of Burma.

At the end of the war, with more regiments amalgamated or disbanded, many Universal Carriers were sold, scrapped or sent to Territorial Units and training Regiments. A fair number went to the new state of Israel where they saw service in both the Six Day War and Yom Kippur.

Funnily enough, Egypt used Universals in the same conflict. India also had a sizeable amount of Universals and some were still in service until the late 1980s.

Universals today No self-respecting military vehicle museum or war museum is complete without a Universal Carrier in some shape or form.

There are many on show throughout the UK and around Europe, though many were scrapped and some ended up on various shooting ranges around the UK. Universal or Bren carriers do not often come up for sale and those that do have either been lovingly restored or look like they have been dug up from the battlefield last week. Two came up for sale in the early part of this year at £6,500 and £7,500 respectively, but both needed full restoration. Saying that, you never know what may be in someone’s barn, garage or tucked down the back of their yard.

Summary For such a small vehicle that started off as a tractor/tug vehicle, to have seen active service on every major battlefield throughout WWII and to then be forgotten about or overshadowed is a travesty. They saved many a life, not just as ambulances or by being able to put down supporting fire, but by making sure that vital supplies got to where they were needed, thus allowing the battle and advance to carry on.

So next time you go to a military vehicle show or War and Peace and you see one in the reenactors’ section, don’t just walk past it in favour of an M10 Tank destroyer or something more ‘glamorous’. Spend a moment and take your hat off to a true unsung war hero – the Tommy Atkins of the military vehicle world!

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January 2013

11/12/12 16:48:08

debate debate | real | xxxxxxxx or fake?

Airsoft Action Debate Repro Deal or Real ‘Steal’?

O

ne of the few issues guaranteed to have veteran airsofters at odds with each other is the all-important question of kit quality. For many players it’s irrelevant they simply wear what’s comfy and practical for skirmishing – but for others and in particular those going for a real world ‘look’, the big issue is, “Do you buy the real steel kit or the cheaper repro?”

And the crux of the question seems to be whether the cheaper kit really offers better value for money. To many players the feeling is that as long as it looks accurate, they can’t see the point in spending over £100 on genuine CRYE BDU pants when a knock-off repro version looks the same but costs a fraction of the price. Advocates of the ‘real deal’, however, are quick to point out that this cheaper kit doesn’t always cut the mustard.

It’s certainly fair to say that top-end private purchase brands such as CRYE and 5.11 provide well-built, rugged kit, designed for the rigours of modern warfare and a dangerous battlefield… but do you need this at your local woods on a Sunday skirmish? Towards the middle of the scale, military issue kit – while still made by the lowest bidder to the government – can still be shockingly expensive, especially kit recently off the drawing board and designed for Special Forces. For others into historical airsoft, repro might be the only choice. If you doubt it, try finding genuine WWII German combat fatigues for less than the price of a family car.

But the big question is, is it really worth shelling out for the extra readies for genuine kit or will that Viper set of PLCE do the same job as the government issue stuff?

As Gunman Airsoft skirmisher ‘BL4CK0P3R4T1V3’ of Oxford told Airsoft Action, “Buy quality... Buy once. Buy cheap...

Keep buying.

“I’m relatively new to the sport but my gaming style means I’m constantly crawling, creating my own path through any woodland that gets in my way, rolling into ditches and wading through swampy ground. Cheap kit wouldn’t last a weekend with me.”

While there is certainly some truth in the argument that kit used for airsoft doesn’t have to put up with the same level of dangerous combat as a real soldier’s kit, it’s worth bearing in mind (as one of my skirmishing buddies pointed out) that an airsofter might do over 50 reloads from a pouch in a day. This is something a real soldier is only ever going to be doing in combat in extreme circumstances.

It’s entirely possible that if you play at weekends, your airsoft kit might actually get more of a hammering in a year than someone on the frontline for a few months.

And for some of our readers, repro is the only option as ‘BigKie’ from the West Midlands points out: “One consideration is that of size. I am a big guy, both height and gut, and it is not possible to get real gear so that leaves only one option. The fact is that if you search hard enough, there are companies

out there who happily supply a tailoring service, and some of these can be made to even higher standards than any military issue hands down. It does cost but in this game, just as any other, the phrase ‘You get what pay for!’ is fitting.”

This month we put the question to the Nottingham University Student Airsoft Association. Their responses: Kalon: “In my opinion the division mainly comes down to an individual’s opinion. In my particular opinion I prefer the ‘cheap’ kit just because it means it doesn’t matter should it ever get damaged or stolen.”

Christopher Jackson: “Cost is always the main thing on my mind when it comes to gear, and given that an airsoft environment is not necessarily going to require the kit to take the same hammering as a real squaddie’s, I would normally err towards the cheaper stuff.”

Kinsey Hodgson: “I had a china-soft chest rig and it lasted two skirmishes before the thing started to disintegrate. After that I bought a plate carrier that cost nearly £200 but the thing is indestructible. I’ve had it nearly a year now and it’s still as strong as when it was new. Camos are the same. Cheap China stuff is ok until you push it too far, whereas the real stuff lasts until you set it on fire or wash the colour out of it. At the end of the day it’s down to personal choice, but in general the more expensive stuff lasts longer.”

Trane Pham: “I go for multicam copy kit, with the whole kit around $300. With the mil standard it could be $300 for only shirt and $300 more for pants. If I had plenty of money and didn’t need to care about what I spent, I would go for military quality, but unfortunately I’m a normal person with poor wallet so I am satisfied with the cheap kit.”

Samuel Buck: “I began to get sick of cheap sets of varying camo patterns that cost about £15 tearing apart after one game. So I have recently invested in some 95 DPMs, which have been with me to about six game days and haven’t shown any sign of wear and tear at all. In my opinion you get what you pay for. If it’s £15 it’ll more than likely die on you within a day. Spend a bit more cash and get some real DPMs that will last a lifetime.” 

have your say Got an opinion on the real versus repro debate? Got an idea for a future topic? Get in touch – letters can be sent to the address on page 4 or emailed to: nigels@blazepublishing.co.uk.

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125th anniversary edition 007 is the epitome of suave style and the Walther PPK has long been Bond’s lifeline. How does Maruzen’s anniversary airsoft version shape up?

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aruzen is a long-established Japanese company that has produced some unique models over the years. Due to Japanese laws, it generally produces plastic, low-powered airsoft rifles and pistols.

A plastic pistol that costs £170 and fits in the palm of your hand? I must be mad for even reviewing this. I should be angry and

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disappointed with the price, but I’m not (shaken but not stirred, I guess).

The original version of the real deal pistol was first produced in 1929 and, in case you can’t count, that is… er… a long time ago. The PPK or PolizeiPistole Kurz (Police Pistol Short) was, unsurprisingly, a short version of the PP pistol. Like anything that has been produced for a long time, there

have been several variants, slightly larger or heavier and in different calibres. Overall, the pistol has become an icon, a jewel in Carl Walther’s crown, and James Bond made the whole thing cool beyond belief. Of all the things that are iconic about 007, this is one of the most affordable, especially when set against the Aston Martin DB5 or the Omega Seamaster (hey, you can dream can’t you?).

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the Armoury | Practical Pistol the Armoury | Maruzen PPK Special

Maruzen PPK 125th Anniversary Construction: Full plastic Weight: 385g Length: 158mm Magazine: 22-round power source: Gas blowback velocity: ~220fps price: Around £170

Maruzen PPK When you open the compact box it is hard not to be excited. Like anything a little special, you take an extra second to look just before you pick it up. It is a plastic pistol but the finish looks identical to a blued steel version. Very impressive stuff. The markings are excellent and clear in a high contrast white, and even the magazine markings are nice. The only real shame is that it feels very light.

Unfortunately, thanks to Japanese law, there is no way around this, but if you could produce this pistol in a metal with a realistic weight, I would give my arm for it without hesitation.

Japanese gas blowbacks never excite me, except for Tokyo Marui’s, which are generally good performers. I would like a Maruzen pistol to impress me, but the P99 gas blowback crushed my hopes. Instead, I settled for the non-blowback, which has been a solid sidearm for games all year round.

I gassed this up, preparing myself for another dull, asthmatic effort from a Japanese pistol. Instead I was pleasantly surprised by a sharp crack. It produces a fairly sad 220fps on a 0.20g Blaster BBs, but from such a humble velocity comes a surprising range – a nice 30m, which was good enough for me.

For the amount of money I wouldn’t say it rocks my world, but on the other hand I am a giant Bond fan. Still, this is a stretch.

If I had that kind of money burning a hole in my pocket then it would be an easy choice. It has the trademarks and licensing of Walther and the 007 franchise, sure; but you can buy any other pistol on the market pretty much for this price – hell for this price you could often get a spare mag to go with it.

It does look absolutely stunning, though, which annoys me because it makes me want it even more, and I find myself trying to justify the pricetag.

Conclusion If I was going to use this in a game I would unquestionably have to be wearing a tux.

Then I would arrive at the casino in an appropriate car with a suitably stunning woman by my side. Following this, I would proceed to walk up to the main bad guy and insult him as he leaves me to deal with his goons.

Of course, unlike 007, I’d then have my furry little arse handed to me, but this scenario aside, I can’t see any real reason to use this pistol in a game.

Maybe just once though… just to see.

Argh, there I go, trying to justify it to myself again!

To conclude, if you have £170 spare and you are a big Bond fan you will not be disappointed by the Maruzen PPK, but you will be a bit poorer. Do not expect a heavyweight or powerful pistol and everything will be fine – just enjoy it for what it is.

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RECRUITMENT | WE NEED YOU

WE NEED YOU… …to write for Airsoft Action!

Do you compose gripping accounts of skirmishes in your head?

Have you got a natural way with words?

Can you take high-quality photos of kit and events?

Do your mates refer to you as ‘the brainy one’?

If so, we’ve got the opportunity to get yourself in print on the pages of Airsoft Action. We’re growing the magazine and we’re looking for freelance contributors to help us do that. If you understand the game, are an excellent writer and want to see your name in lights (well, on a page) then get in touch at the email address below. No arty-farty types, please – we want serious writers and airsofters.

CONTACT US NOW!

To pitch an idea, submit an article or just introduce yourself, email nigels@blazepublishing.co.uk and we will take it from there!

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COLD WAR WARRIOR | TROPICS

BRITISH

TROPICS Ready for a rumble in the jungle?

Gadge runs through a Cold War-era British jungle load-out

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rom the Chindits of WWII to the Paras in Sierra Leone, the British soldier has shown the world that he fights as well under the tropical jungle canopy as he does on the European battlefield.

For an island-dwelling nation, raised in temperate climes, Britons have made surprisingly good jungle fighters, often outclassing nations far more familiar with the ‘green hell’ of the jungle and quite literally beating the enemy in their own backyard.

Prior to WWII, Britain showed little interest in jungle warfare or the development of any proper tropical kit (in fact the troops defending the empire against the Japanese began the war in khaki shorts and shirts!). But beginning with the long-range penetration raids undertaken by the Chindits, Britain began to take tropical warfare seriously.

Britain’s small wars In the years immediately after WWII, and entering into the Cold War era, Britain played a substantial role in taking on communist-backed rebels and revolutionaries across South East Asia and the pacific. For these ‘limited wars’, reliable, comfortable and practical jungle kit was essential.

Between the end of WWII and the end of the Cold War, Britain fought successful ‘small wars’ in Malaya, Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, Kenya, Cyprus, Suez and Oman as well as making a significant contribution to the Korean War. Some of these warzones were clearly not jungles but the tropical kit came in equally useful!

Britain kept a permanent presence in Belize, Cyprus and Kenya after the wars had ended to ensure these vital jungle skills were not lost. So successful were British

jungle warfare techniques (many of them mastered in the verdant hills of Malaya) that it is even rumoured, though officially denied, that British soldiers were sent to Vietnam to teach US Special Forces in counter insurgency techniques.

While the Chindits went to war wearing hastily-dyed and converted khaki kit, the 1942 ‘Lethbridge Mission’ undertook a serious study into exactly what the British soldier needed. It found nearly all of the issue kit seriously inadequate. With the findings of the mission to guide them, the war department quickly developed and produced an outstanding set of combat gear, webbing and equipment for jungle warfare, commonly known as ‘44 pattern’.

This new kit started to be issued to British troops, unfortunately just as WWII was drawing to a close – very little of it saw any

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combat use at all. It was, however, to prove invaluable in the battles of the Cold War. While the initial 44 pattern series of items were largely in plain olive green (a ‘windproof’ camouflage pattern set was also trialled), as time wore on and the regular army was issued disruptive pattern material uniforms in the 1970s, it was not long before the jungle uniform followed suit.

In this month’s instalment of Cold War Warriors we’ll take a slight departure from our usual policy of replicating the kit and weaponry of a specific uniform and instead feature a plethora of ‘typical’ jungle kit of the 1970s and early 1980s.

Tropical DPM Our warrior this month wears the distinctive ‘tropical DPM’ uniform, known to the men simply as ‘tropics’ or ‘tropicals’. It is notable for the distinctive and incredibly bright shades of green and brown, which border on lime and orange. This somewhat garish palette is largely

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to make the camouflage effective when wet (as it invariably would be in the humid jungles of South East Asia). The uniform contains a high plastic/nylon content that allows it to dry out quickly compared to the heavy, fully-lined 68 pattern DPM trousers.

This quick drying feature made tropics a popular choice for those soldiers able to flaunt uniform regulations and wear them in Europe, but the high plastic content made them a liability when under incendiary attacks. Many units banned them in urban environments.

Completing the uniform is a wide-brimmed ‘bush hat’ in DPM (although a darker shade of DPM than the trousers and jacket). This welldesigned piece of kit was the evolutionary apex of the 1944 jungle hat and popular with the troops, both in the jungle and the European theatre.

Our soldier wears a pair of 1980s UK jungle boots, in essence a perfect copy of the American jungle boot used throughout the Vietnam War. Earlier UK jungle boots had

been unsatisfactory affairs, resembling a high leg ‘hockey boot’ but with poor durability and lacking any real ankle support. While this original UK boot was almost a disposable item and become unserviceable within weeks, the copy of the US boot proved ideal and is still in service in a modified form today. Its leather lower, panama sole, drainage eyelets and lightweight webbing uppers provide the perfect combination of support, grip and durability. Completing our warrior’s clothing is a camouflage face veil first introduced In the 1940s, here worn as a neck scarf but equally likely to be worn as a bandana or sweat rag (given the crippling humidity encountered in most jungle environments, the face veil was a popular item to have close to hand!).

The soldier’s machete or ‘gollock’ (as it is known to British soldiers) is as much a part of his ‘uniform’ as his actual clothing is. The gollock, or ‘tree beater’, is so vital to a soldier’s jungle survival that it is kept permanently attached to him via a separate utility strap so

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that he is never separated from it – even if he should lose his webbing or be forced to ditch it for any reason. While Airsoft Action does not recommend you take a machete on to the skirmish field we have included it here for the sake of completeness and accuracy.

WWII vintage Equally of WWII vintage is our model’s webbing. The 1944 webbing set was designed to replace the 1937 pattern WWII webbing entirely but ended up as an item of tropical issue kit. The 44 set differed from its predecessor by being pre-shrunk and pre-dyed a deep green shade (removing the need for messy and time consuming ‘blancoing’). Its metal fittings are anodised in either a dark green or black finish.

Its broader shoulder straps, which split into four yoke straps to spread the weight equally, are a further improvement over the 37 kit, and allow it to be comfortably worn even when unbuttoned. The large 44 utility pouches featured the ‘tab and loop’ fastening system trialled in very late pattern 37 pouches, but perhaps the most outstanding feature of the set was its water bottle and carrier. The 44 pattern water bottle was a sturdy metal affair with a capacious mug which fitted around the bottom. Carried in an oversized carrier with a

small pocket for purification tablets, the ‘44 water bottle was a popular piece of kit that continued to be seen on webbing until the 1990s. It was even superior to its successor, the 58 pattern mug and cup, as the latter’s plastic construction made it impossible to directly heat over a fire or stove.

Here our warrior carries two such canteens to counter the debilitating effects of sweating and heat exhaustion in the jungle. Also attached to our soldier’s webbing is a privatelypurchased jungle knife; many soldiers carried an additional ‘survival knife’ with a multitude of ‘survival aids’ including a rudimentary first aid kit, fishing hooks and line, a small compass and matches.

Jungle ambush Lastly, our jungle trooper carries the venerable British Army L1A1 SLR rifle. The British Army first began to use this powerful 7.62x51 battle rifle in Kenya in the late 1950s. By the Malaya and Borneo wars it had become the standard rifle among British soldiers, although frequently replaced by the US M16 rifle.

While a fantastic infantry weapon for a European battlefield, the SLR was found to have serious shortcomings in jungle warfare.

Its considerable length (and corresponding weight) made it unwieldy in close quarters and

in firefights that could occur at incredibly short ranges. Its lack of automatic fire capability made it difficult for British soldiers to quickly put down enough rounds to allow them to extricate themselves from an enemy ambush or supress an enemy hidden in the dense jungle. While the lighter, fully-automatic M16 soon became the British Army’s jungle rifle of choice, it was still not unknown to see UK troops soldiering on with the SLR right up until the introduction of the SA80 family of weapons in the late 1980s.

As an airsoft impression, Cold War British jungle kit is surprisingly practical and comfortable – if you can find it! It’s lightweight, hardwearing and ideal for the skirmish field, but surviving genuine examples are becoming hard to find. As with many items designed for jungle warfare, the harsh climate in which they have been used often takes a toll on them, with rot and rips from tropical swamps and foliage quickly making kit unserviceable. But if you can find yourself a set it’s a great look for the skirmish field and just that little bit different from the everyday DPM which is so commonplace.

Many thanks to our model for this edition of CWW: Samuel Buck from NTUSAS airsoft society.

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We all know what they are but how do you set one up and use it effectively?

Over to someone who has been there, seen it and done it for real…

ESTABLISHING AN OBSERVATION POST O

bservation Posts or Positions (OPs) are hard, dirty, generally very unpleasant and crap, which is why only the fittest, best trained soldiers are tasked to do them.

They are a pinpoint use of manpower to monitor the enemies’ movements, report on their activities or even provide a trigger for a strike.

OPs of some description have been used by the British Army in every theatre of war since it canned the bright red tunics and squares formation back in the day, and started employing forward skirmishers.

They were equipped with light equipment suitable for the task and led by officers and seniors who valued skill, discipline, cunning, shooting and toughness more than a crisp

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salute and a pair of boots you could see your reflection in.

There are as many locations, types and styles of OP as there are flavours of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Anything from overt OPs in Bosnia in high rise towers, keeping tabs on locals and baddies equipped with sophisticated comms kit; to sniper OPs in piles of rubbish (and even horse carcasses in No Man’s land in WW2); to covert OPs in Northern Ireland where Close Observation Platoons would go in with troops raiding a house and stay behind, hiding in the roof, observing the house opposite by lifting the tiles to look through.

These types of operations were particularly unpleasant, as the lads had to

live in such difficult conditions. They had to urinate and defecate in plastic bags, remain absolutely silent to avoid being found by the family in whose house they had taken up temporary residence, and undertake long, hard, stressful work in cramped conditions in constant fear of discovery. The lengths that some soldiers will go to in order to achieve a mission is testament to their unfailing professionalism.

Over the next few editions, we’ll be taking a look at this fascinating topic in detail. OPs can make an interesting, fun and challenging addition to an airsoft event, where you can get them pre-dug in and reuse them, and we’ll also show you how the Forces do it.

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SKILLS ROOM | BILLY BASICS Look and listen…

OPs are defined as, ‘A position that affords good camouflage and concealment from aerial, ground and thermal observation and fire in order to collect and report information about the enemies’ activities and movements by using covert observation.’

Different categories include surface ops, in which the guys have only an hour or so before first light to prepare a hasty OP and occupy it. I have been on plenty of exercises where the head shed has made a balls-up of the time appreciation and we’ve done 10km of knees to chest, knees to chest to get to the OP site and scrape something together – and then get beasted by the DS! Subsurface OPs require a couple of nights to complete. They can be backbreaking work and frustrating if you get retasked almost as soon as you’ve occupied it. The next two categories are urban and vehicle OPs, which we won’t really cover here in too much depth but the principles can apply to these too.

Right, story time! We can’t have a Billy Basics article without a tale.

I learnt a good lesson many years ago about teamwork. I was on an arduous course which was definitely a ‘pass or fail’ affair and I really wanted to pass. We were tasked to mount an OP on a building.

We selected our site on the map and arrived just about 21:00, so we had a good night’s construction ahead of us to ensure ‘eyes on’ by first light. There was an ideal location at the forward edge of the wood but we wouldn’t be able to get all four of us in, so decided to go for a split OP-Lay Up Position (LUP) with the LUP about 70m behind us. I was the PC so I decided that I would build the OP to my satisfaction and the 2IC would take the LUP and we would swap over the following night.

It was a tough night’s construction and my mucker and I barely got it done in time; we were so pressed that I didn’t have an opportunity to get back to the LUP to check with my 2IC that all was cool. He did pop down several times in his warm kit though, to see how we were getting on – I should have smelled a rat at that stage.

Anyway, as the sun came over the horizon my buddy and I were crawling into our cold hole in the ground for a boring day ahead. About three hours later we heard the sound of a heli over our OP. It was loitering over our heads which made me rather nervous. It alighted in front of us and six very angry soldiers got out, most of whom I recognised as our Instructors. They headed straight for us at the run. I cursed myself for what was obviously my sloppy cam and readied myself for a beating and for the train ticket home when they’d binned us all.

As the first two crashed into our OP on top of us I heard ‘What the hell!’ or similar and realised they hadn’t seen us at all. I still got a few hefty blows to the face and body mind you, but they hadn’t seen me and my mate. When they had gathered us all in for a debrief they took me and my OP buddy over to the LUP and showed us why they had seen us from the air. There were two bivvy bags covered with two perfectly square green cam nets, which were so distinct from the mud they lay on that the lads in the heli had seen them straight away.

They had made no attempt to cam the rear LUP and the lazy buggers had not even offered to help dig the forward OP. We never saw either of them again and my mate and I were allowed to move location and put in as best a position as we could and continue with the ex.

Bare necessities So what must an OP have, apart from hardworking teammates that can be relied on?

It must have good eyes on the target for a

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SKILLS ROOM | BILLY BASICS

start. It must be close enough for you to be able to observe the enemy, but not so close that he can detect you with a routine leg stretch patrol, so binos and a spotting scope are a must. It shouldn’t be in an obvious position – if there’s one small tufted bush in the middle of a bare field, avoid it. You should be able to get away if you’re compromised so an escape route needs to be recce’d when you’re choosing a site. You should have cover from view as well as cover from fire, so a dug-in position with plenty of foliage over it is good – it must blend in.

You need to be all over your personal admin and kit; you can’t leave stuff lying about, or pouches undone, or you’ll lose

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things. I have an admission to make here: I nearly didn’t survive that incident with the heli compromise because my skills weren’t good enough.

An OP log, a detailed account of what you’ve seen, is always written – and it’s as important as comms. If you don’t have either you’re wasting your time. So there I was in the OP, scribbling down all the things I could see in front of me, when disaster struck and we got our kicking at the hands of the instructors. I was so surprised when it happened that the log slipped out of my hand as I reached for my weapon to defend the position. As you can imagine, before we got called in for the debrief we were spread

throughout the woodblock like mad things and I realised I had dropped the notebook – and basically that was me done for. I was history for sure, an entirely unacceptable slip up.

So as I walked downcast back to the position to receive my rifting and my rail warrant I placed my bergen on the floor to pack something away. At least if I got binned I was going to do it with my kit in a good state. I looked down and there was the log on the floor next to the bergen! Sometimes Lady Luck will smile on you, but don’t call on her too often, she rarely picks up!

Coming up next time, we’ll go through the construction, occupation and routine in your OP. Billy out

January 2013

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WE: THE PHOENIX WE doesn’t have the best of reputations – but is that set to change?

Jay Slater reckons it just might be…

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nce upon a time, WE, a Taiwanese airsoft manufacturer, had a lessthan-stellar reputation. From its leaking magazines and faulty parts, its weapons were a woeful choice on the airsoft battlefield. Taiwan – better known for its temples, beaches, smiling faces and neon-lit bars of scantily-clad maidens – was a bridge too far in terms of reliability and performance. Metal-stamped with a dodgy reputation, WE was criticised as a cheaper alternative to KWA, TM or WA. Worse yet, forums buzzed that WE equalled ‘crap quality’, ‘fail cloning’ and ‘the worst mags ever’… and once the forums are against you, you have well and truly had your chips.

But that was then, and this is now...

WE would appear, like a phoenix from the ashes, to have reinvented itself with some truly impressive weaponry. With support from Ra-Tech, an airsoft heavyweight internationally renowned for its full-steel internals that improve quality as well as range and hitting power, WE has turned over a new leaf. The WE M14 Ra-Tech Lvl.2, as reviewed in the October 2012 issue, is perhaps the finest GBB rifle despite its high maintenance. WE pistols of old were known to suffer from leaky magazines, while metal slides would stick and internals of dubious quality and pot metals would sooner or later crack and snap.

Take, for example, the iconic M1991 A1.

Every airsoft collection should have one for its ease of use and reliable firepower.

Arguably the best pistol of all time, Tokyo

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Marui had pretty much cracked it with its M1911 A1. Smooth, with a devilish gas blowback action, the TM M1911 A1 is an airsoft legend. With faithful trademarks and a plastic upper slide (full-metal airsoft guns are illegal in Japan) this is a reliable sidearm of choice. Even in the bitter cold (green gas and propane will revert to liquid), this belter gives it her best. And now the new and improved WE has come onto the scene, fighting fit with 1911s and more.

WE Mecca In late November 2012, the editor and I were fortunate to have a national scoop at a new WE distributor, Target One Field Sports in Epsom, Surrey, where we were proactively encouraged, at gunpoint, to get to grips with the latest WE hardware. And it was impressive!

Not only does Target One import rifles and pistols, it stores thousands of spare parts and the guys there are only too happy

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THE ARMOURY | WE WEAPONRY

to assist. Make no mistake, this truly is WE nirvana – and I was ordered to arm up and go testing for Action Airsoft. What’s the truth of that unsavoury reputation – has anything changed? Only one way to find out: lock and load, people!

The 1911 needs little introduction. A single-action, semi-automatic handgun designed by John Browning, it was the standard-issue sidearm for the US armed forces before the outbreak of WWI and until 1985. However, it is a favourite for civilians due to its ease of use and man-stopping power, and modern variants are still in use by specialist units such as the US Navy and US Marine Corps.

It is popular due to its slim width and awesome delivery of lead on target. For me, the 1911 is the finest sidearm period; it feels right in the hand, the centre of gravity is perfect and it is simple to maintain and shoot. Above all it does the job incredibly well. For what it lacks in an excessive magazine it makes up for sheer style.

Hi-Capa 5.1 Government Issue On the ‘bling’ side of things, WE’s HiCapa 5.1 Government Issue is a monster of a 1911 mutation. Large, heavy and uncompromising, this is the Desert Eagle of the 1911 series. Highly decorative with grooving throughout for an aesthetic, pleasing edge, this is a beastly hand cannon. The magazine is double-stacked and holds around 25 rounds. Like the true 1911 it features a double safety and this version is powered by a 12g CO2 bulb, so it’s more practical for use in cold climates than green gas.

The box art states that it is ‘Hi-Kick and Hi-Grouping’, whatever that means. Despite a little slide rattle, this is a cordite behemoth of a 1911. The trigger response is crisp, however, on the second magazine the bulb vented with five shots left. Perhaps the CO2 bulb was exhausted and unable to slide back the heavyweight infrastructure of the weapon, which does question the practicality of such hardware for blowback

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slide action. That said, the Tanfoglio KWC EAA Witness CO2 of similar weight is more than delighted to pop off six magazines or more without cooling, and packs a searing punch. Range and power of the WE is within the typical 260-280fps mark.

Baby Hi-Capa 3.8 Bella donna: this bambino is a cutie. I was asked to test a two-tone pistol (shudder) and fortunately the all-metal orange top slide is surprisingly high quality – in fact the best I’ve seen. Despite its ‘Baby’ name, this tidy package manages an impressive wallop from its 23-round double-stack magazine. Overall delivery is on target.

It feels just right: intuitive, instinctive.

The ‘Baby’ shoots hard with snappy recoil, although its gas efficiency tails off towards the end of the magazine. This is no great shakes though, as this sweet lady gives all.

We liked the integrated rail and it boasts attractive cutting curves and creases. With no markings, this is a desirable, petit 1911,

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and surprisingly heavy for its diminutive stature. Superbly crafted, its performance is spectacular, even in cold weather. Not only will this fit into an upper pocket for quick delivery, she packs a comparable wallop to the Hi-Capa 5.1. Size does not matter, gentlemen: it’s not the size of the ship, but the motion of the ocean that counts.

M1991 The box art is unclear as to what version of the 1911 this is supposed to be, but the smart money is on the ’43 issue. This highly-impressive package comes with two magazines – manufacturers, take note – and the 1911 is a solid, heavy, matt-black metal piece with a striking muzzle.

Having fired an authentic firearm, this is the real deal with no markings. Its 15-round single-stack magazine is pleasingly gasefficient and packs a solid punch. A true joy to fire, it is crisp, clean and responsive, just as the 1911 should be. Also, it mimics the weight of the real-life performer.

Range and firepower are comparable to the

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THE ARMOURY | WE WEAPONRY Range and firepower are comparable to the TM M1911, but the WE version does not feature the same lightweight plastic parts that can snap and scuff. The genuine clack is a source of utter joy and airsoft nirvana, threatening to rival and supersede the Tokyo Marui. However, prolonged winter use has yet to be endured to test for the infamous frozen metal slide issue, and the lack of official Colt markings may not appeal to the purist.

M4 A3 CQBR The M4 semi-automatic rifle, like the AK-47, is the airsoft pedigree of choice for many.

The M4 carbine is stomped in the clay footprint of the earlier M16 and is used mainly in the US military as a frontline weapon in Afghanistan, and previously in Iraq.

Constantly upgraded in performance, and with modifications such as rails and underslung grenade launchers available, the M4 is a much-loved and extremely common weapon in airsoft for its reliability and common parts.

The M4 A3 CQBR is all metal, all singing and all dancing. Extremely impressive from the outset, it is sharp and tidy with excellent weight and dynamics, remarkably similar to the real-steel. A lightweight heavyweight – and combined with the Mad

Bull XM203 launcher for CQB devastation – the open bolt system offers a crisp and responsive trigger action and is so very beautiful. The delightful blowback complements the hard firepower and extreme range. Each shot is delivered with a racket and plume of spent gas. The superb engineering and design (including extendable stock) makes this little devil ideal for woodland gaming as well as CQB. Indeed, some have converted their WE M4 A3 CQBR into sniper rifles – not bad at all for a small package.

In all this rifle from WE is superb. I’ve never been a real fan of the M4 in airsoft, due to its popularity as I prefer something a little more individual – but the WE M4 A3 CQBR has converted me. I shall invest in the Ra-Tech custom model with the precision 6.01 inner barrel, steel CNC hammer, steel CNC sear, steel CNC trigger, valve locker, firing pin base, hop rubber and NPAS. Another bonus is that WE produces both gas and CO2 magazines, making this juicy number a serious contender.

Poor man’s chrono results All weapons were tested on a cold afternoon and the chrono used was a Stella Artois can topped with water. At a range of 70-80ft the 1911s were mostly accurate and caused serious dents or penetration of the metal, suggesting a 280-290fps or so.

The M4 A3 CQBR ripped the can apart – the BBs not only shot through the metal but zapped through the water and out the other side. One can now appreciate that, with the Ra-Tech internals and NPAS, this little fella can be used as a highly efficient sniper platform.

The conclusion was unanimous for all weapons tested: the quality and performance was second to none and one shall be keeping a very keen eye on WE’s future developments.

PRICES AND THANKS HI-CAPA 5.1: £115 BABY HI-CAPA 3.8: £105 M1991: £110 (without spare mag) or £125 (with spare mag) M4 A3 CQBR: £300 A big thanks to the guys at Target One Field Sports for lending us the review guns.

Target One Field Sports: 0203 137 1244

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12/12/12 14:17:46

BAKED BEANS, BBS AND BEER! Airsoft Action took some time out to visit Nottingham’s NTUSAS airsoft society and find out exactly how tricky it is to balance lectures and load-outs

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surprising amount of airsofters we speak to at skirmish sites across the country are students. While many are still at school, quite a few are skirmishers in full-time higher education. They face the tricky situation of having to make that student loan stretch to green fees as well as life’s essentials of Pot Noodles, pizzas and lager!

So how easy is it to keep airsofting while supporting yourself away from home and on a student loan? Airsoft is far from cheap, as hobbies go, with an average day’s play costing around £30 before you even look into getting your own kit. How do you keep your AEG’s safe in student accommodation and are you risking social suicide by coming across as the ‘resident gun nut’ of your halls of residence?

To answer all these questions and more I went along to the Nottingham Trent University’s

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Student Airsoft Society (or more accurately I tracked them down at one of Nottingham’s well-known pubs to join them at their weekly Thursday night social).

Having made contact with the guys (and girls) of the society via Facebook, it was easy to spot ‘social secretary’ Samuel Buck – largely due to the impressive Mohican haircut he sports. After making my introductions I ventured upstairs to the pub’s function room to be introduced to a score of young airsofters, including this year’s president, Tom ‘Cotterz’ Cotteril. As soon as a decent amount of society members were there, Tom took to the DJ box to make a few announcements about the society’s upcoming games and issues.

I was quickly impressed. After outlining plans for the society’s next day out, Tom turned his attention to some issues within the

group. Accusations had been made by some of their local site’s regulars that a few of the new players were not taking their hits and it was reassuring to see the society tackle this tricky issue head on. Nobody likes to deal with this sort of thing in their team and Tom’s ‘no nonsense’ approach, with a strict warning that any future infringers would face a ban from future games was quick, to the point and fair.

We’ve been airsofting for a long time and all too often teams are quick to whinge about ‘the other side’ having Teflon characteristics, while brushing their own infractions under the carpet. It was promising to see a young and relatively new society with a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to one of the sport’s trickier issues.

With this unpleasant issue dealt with, it was time for the society to start having fun; as Samuel started DJing for the evening I took

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STUDENT AIRSOFT | NTUSAS head honcho Tom and former president Sean Lawless to one (quieter) side of the venue to chat about being an airsofting student.

Team advantage The society has been skirmishing in its present form for around four years, but surely the university didn’t approve of its students running around with RIFS of a weekend?

“At first, when the society was proposed, there was a bit of concern from the Students’ Union, but we took in some AEGs and showed them it was all pretty harmless and they agreed to help us out in forming a society,” said ‘stealth specialist’ Sean.

As the guys explained, while the university doesn’t help out directly with green fees, it has been more than helpful in providing equipment and other aid to the group.

“With the university’s help, the society now owns five AEGs with four mags each, batteries, chargers, eight radios with headsets and even a chrono to make sure all guns are safe,” Tom told me. “We also get to use the university’s mini bus to help get players to our regular events which helps cut down costs.”

The society currently boasts about 20 or so members (which traditionally rises to about 35 later in the academic year and drops off again in July as third-year students graduate). This roll call has allowed the society to negotiate very favourable ‘hire fees’ with local site Phoenix Airsoft. “We can get a discount for our members and, as we all play once a fortnight, it works out well for the site too as they have a large body of regular players provided by us – although we usually split up and play alongside the regulars on both teams,“ said Sean. “We also try and make sure that a new player’s first

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STUDENT AIRSOFT | NTUSAS

game is a ‘private hire’, against other NTUSAS members, to ease them in gradually. Having a society AEG and comms on loan means they are not disadvantaged by playing with a hire gun that may have had a battering in the past, or by being out of the radio net.”

In fact, first time players are in their element here. Many NTUSAS members are more than happy to take new ‘softers under their wing; at the social I met a few members yet to try their hand at airsoft. Tom Seddon, a second-year student, was keen to get to grips with an AEG despite having some experience of real-steel shooting: “I’m not expecting the range or the recoil to be the same but I am expecting a great game,” he said. “While I’ve had a go with a lot of the guys’ guns already, I’m really looking forwards to an actual battle. I’ve played a lot of paintball too but one of the things that I’m really looking forwards to is trying out a sniper rifle – I know it’s not everyone’s thing, but I think I’ll like it.”

Starting from scratch So with cheap green fees, free gun hire, and free comms, it does seem to be almost ideal to be skirmishing while at university – but there is a downside. Unfortunately, you can’t keep your own AEG in most universityowned accommodation.

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“The University provides us with secure storage for all our AEGs and comms gear,” Tom explained. “But it’s against halls of residence regulations to have any sort of firearm, replica, blade or weapon in a halls room or universityowned house. This means that players have to leave them with friends, or risk getting into serious trouble.

“In the early days of the society one guy left his entire arsenal out on his bed and went away for a while, only to find the police waiting for him when he came home!” Equally, as Sam was keen to point out, if you don’t have a car then getting your AEG around campus can be a challenge. “Using public transport with a ‘gun shaped bag’ isn’t too discrete; it’s like getting a wrapped up bottle of wine as a gift on your birthday – you can always tell what it is.

It’s really obvious when a bag has guns in it so it pays to be extra careful.”

It was clear though throughout the interview (and at our later photo-shoot) that the University really was supportive of the airsoft hobby, even allowing Airsoft Action access to the NTU’s ‘crime scene training centre’ (a mocked up family house used to train forensic scientists) to take some pictures of the guys in their load-outs! (All pictures here are posed, with guns made safe. Always wear eye protection when playing for real.)

So what advice does the society have for those at university and starved of airsoft?

Sam and Sean suggest checking out your university’s students’ union and freshers’ fairs to see if there are any airsofting (or similar) groups, and if all else fails set your own up!

“Apply for a maintenance grant! Get in touch with your university’s society and, if there isn’t one already, take the plunge and set one up – then apply for all the grants and funding you can.” said Sam. Sean added that quite often the university’s wargames, computer gaming and even rock societies will have members who are highly likely to have an interest in airsoft: “It’s such a fun sport and a great way to meet new people that you then enjoy hanging out with every week.”

The society clearly pulled in a large crosssection of the student population, with a higher proportion of female airsofters than you’d find in your average team. Many were no strangers to airsoft before moving from their home city.

Karen, from Buckinghamshire, was a regular skimisher back home with her boyfriend and found the society allowed her to carry on playing. Yorkshire lad Kinsey, meanwhile, discovered airsoft via an interest in first-person shooters, and seeing the guys displaying their wares at the freshers’ fair.

“Other students see us at freshers’ fair and go ‘Oh my god! That guy’s got a sniper rifle!’ and then come over to see us and we can explain the game to them. Many see it as like paintball and we can explain how it’s different.

A lot of people come to us from a background of FPS games and that’s an easy transition for them, as Kinsey found out,“ Sean told me.

The society doesn’t just stick to its local site. In the past couple of years they’ve challenged societies from universities including Loughborough and Reading, and even combined forces with other universities to field the ‘Combined University National Taskforce’ at the recent Ground Zero weekender.

So, far from airsofting as a student being a case of battling against a budget, it can actually pay off to play more – assuming you can get the backing of your students’ union. One thing is for certain: you won’t be short of like-minded people to join in! 

NTUSAS If you’re a student and interested in joining the NTUSAS, challenging them to a game or perhaps just after some advice in setting up your own society, can contact them at: NTUSAS@hotmail.co.uk

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Continuing his look at all things tactical, Pro-Tact’s Andy Nightingale gives us the low-down on one

Room entry: wall flood T

here are many different ways in which to enter and clear a room during a skirmish scenario, but do they all work? The best and safest option is always to work as part of a small group – at the very least as part of a pair. Real-world tacticians spend months planning and prepping for the real thing but for an airsofter, time to plan and prep may simply not be an option.

At your home site you may have the best plan available to execute the attack or rescue, but if you’re a visitor at another site the layout won’t be familiar, and what works for one building or structure may not work for another.

Although there are many different ways to enter a room, there are several things to take into consideration before we make any moves.

Numbers First we must make sure we are not going to be outnumbered and outgunned. It’s no fun entering a room only to find that you and your

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mate are standing face to face with the entire opposition, and the fact that you are armed to the teeth with a pistol and shotgun may not be a match for a squad of AK47s and a couple of M249s bearing down on you.

Make sure you have the numbers (as far as possible) and guns to take on whatever is in the room, and if in doubt try to get some intel first.

Light and noise discipline Be as quiet as possible when approaching the entry point. Don’t give your position or intentions away to the enemy forces as any sign of your attack will force them to set up an ambush. Approach with care, and don’t just concentrate on the avenue of approach: you will need 360° protection as you move onto the target area.

Take note of the light around you and look for shadows. Your shadow crossing the threshold of a door or a window will alert the

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skills room | CQB Tactics enemy to your presence. Likewise, look for their shadows – anything that can give you away can also give them away. Make sure that any switches on lasers and torches are not inadvertently activated during the approach phase as even in daylight they are very visible.

Make sure that none of your equipment or weapon systems make a noise as you move.

Keep close to walls do not come into contact with them; kit scraping along a wall is a very distinct sound and will surly give you away.

Tread carefully, placing your feet down softly.

Talking should be at a minimum and when you need to talk it should be done in a whisper or by radio.

Entry Before entering, line up outside the room one behind the other. Keep the security tight; never let your guard down for one second.

Your weapon should be up into your shoulder ready for anything that may come through the door. Stay back from the doorway. Often during a game you will see people hugging the doorway with the weapon or even part of their leg protruding past the door jamb and into the room – a dead giveaway that you are just the other side of the door!

Signal to move When you are in position and everyone is ready, you will need a signal to go. The first person into the room will need to know that everyone behind them is ready and set to move. I don’t know how many times I have seen the group standing in line only to find that the first person has entered the room on

their own, because the second person wasn’t ready. That sense of being out-numbered becomes painful as you walk back to the Safe Zone covered in hits!

Keep your eyes to the front and your weapon ready. The easiest way for all members of the team to know that everyone is set to go is by a physical signal. When the last person in the line is ready, they should tap the person to their front on the back of the thigh (use a knee to leave both hands free).

If you can’t reach the man in front with your knee then you are standing too far back.

This is a positive signal that the person behind you is set to go. Pass the tap on to the next person in front only if you are 100 per cent ready to move. When the first person in the line receives the tap they will know that the entire team is ready for the entry phase.

Entry How many people you have in your team and the size and shape of the room will determine the type of entry you make. This is a typical ‘Wall Flood’ entry with a four-person team.

The easiest way to enter a doorway is to follow the path of least resistance, known as a dynamic entry. If for example you are standing to the left of the doorway, the first person into the room should go to the right as they enter the room and follow the wall down. The second person will enter and turn to the left, doubling back. The third person should enter the room and follow the first person then the last person enters and turns to the left to follow the second into the room. As each person enters the room the other members of the team must follow as close as possible, to get the group into the room as fast as possible.

If there are any bad guys in the room they will have too many targets to concentrate on one at a time. Keep your weapon up into the aim as you enter and point the muzzle into the centre of the room, then to the direction that you are moving. If you see a target in the opposite side of the room then leave it be and get on with clearing your own side – the other team members will deal with that threat. At this stage you should be in one long line along the wall.

Searching Once in, turn to face into the room and start your search. Sweep your muzzle in a figure of eight as you look for the bad guys. First look at things at eye level then down to the floor as you sweep, then look above head height.

Deal with any threats as you come to them. If you need to search deeper into the room then

you can either all move forwards as one line or send one person forwards to search as the rest of the group cover their move.

Shooting If there is shooting during the entry or searching phase then before you leave the room you must conduct a weapons reload.

Handguns run out of rounds very quickly and fast firing will drop the gas pressure pretty quick as well, but don’t all reload at the same time. Half of the team should reload then once done the other half will complete the drill – and don’t forget that long guns run out of ammo too. Once the search and reload is complete the team can get ready to exit the room.

This is a typical four-person entry into a single room. There are lots of other considerations to take into account during high risk entry scenarios, such as distraction devices, stairs, odd shaped rooms and also adjoining rooms. If you are moving down a corridor with multiple rooms to check and clear, you must have at least one person in the corridor at all times as security.

Stay safe and happy airsofting.

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uc a p:

Disregarding his propensity for injuring himself, Oscar Plummer headed off to UCAP’s new CQB site The Wing

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should probably start with a declaration: My first ever game (and first concussion) was at the UCAP Bunker at Portsmouth. Following that, I spent inordinate amounts of time charging around their now-closed Virus site (and being stitched back together at the A&E department of nearby Chichester Hospital) and although I’ve not yet picked up an injury at the Sandpit in Kent, I did manage to set part of my rig on fire in a typically cackhanded Mk5 related incident in that

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particular quarry. The less said about the IED/brown pants episode at Green Ops, the better...

So I was understandably excited to hear that they have opened a new site “The Wing”, in Bicester.

Based in an ex-MoD facility, it’s a 99 per cent indoor, CQB experience jampacked with rooms, corridors, stairwells and a fair supply of bigger, open spaces which have been judiciously sprinkled with barricades, redoubts and sundry items of cover. Parking facilities and

the Safe Zone are excellent, as are the location and amenities.

And there are a lot of lasers. Yes, you heard me. Lots of lasers... and smoke... not to mention a lift. More on that later.

The site offers a tonne of possibilities.

Built over two levels connected by three staircases, you have to fight your way through corridors, open rooms, passageways and the aforementioned stairways. UCAP rules are pretty simple: there are no restrictions on frags other than the standard less-than-9mm/Mk5 volume level, and 350fps max on RIFs at this site.

The day I play is one of the first games on the site and we’re on single shot, though with no ammo/mag regulations. There is no bang rule in play – and no minimum engagement distance – though a common-sense stab arrangement is briefed in.

The arrangement’s as much about sportsmanship as anything else. If someone gets close enough to tap you on the shoulder, then you really should take that as a hit. The alternative is to take a double tap out of the end of a barrel at close range, and I think we can all agree that’s to be avoided.

Nonetheless, it’s the sort of trust in player

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Site review | the wing discretion that I think raises the bar and makes the game more immersive.

However, UCAP do operate two rules which may divide opinion - you may or may not have a strong view about either of these restrictions, but it’s an important part of the character of the site.

Firstly, no box mags are allowed in play – UCAP feel that a 3,000rd mag would totally over-balance this closein site, and I have to agree with that judgement.

Secondly, no two-tones are in play.

As I understand UCAP’s position, they feel that they undermine the immersive experience. I totally understand that this is a significant debate on which people have strong opinions, particularly in with regard to getting new younger players into the game. I can see both sides of the argument on this one, but despite the restriction there was a really good quota of younger players at The Wing, and they certainly were punching above their weight!

We kicked off the day’s games with a sweep and clear affair. Starting from

the top floor of the site, each team had to work their way through the level, eradicating the OPFOR until they were in a position to call that tier clear and start on the next. Immediately the tactical complexity of the site jumped out at me; there are doors everywhere, and a really varied layout. Lighting has been cleverly controlled throughout to ensure contrast between pools of light and dark shadows – perfect for ambushes and sneaky lurking. There’s also a nice pitch between fiercely-held corners and flanking opportunities. On more than one occasion I found myself committing

to a fight-hit-respawn-overrun battle on a corner, only to realise that there was a flanking opportunity staring me in the face – if only I took the time to stop, look and listen.

One thing we learned to listen for very quickly was the sound of the lift. The elevator swiftly became a major element of the day, with both sides using it to alternatively pop up behind the lines, or mount raids into enemy territory.

It was at the same time a wonderful opportunity and a terrifying prospect – it was a great feeling when the doors rolled back to reveal an empty corridor,

“It was a great feeling when the doors rolled back to reveal an empty corridor, but rather less fun to be confronted with a phalanx of OPFOR on stag. Or worse, a BFG casually posted in by your feet!”

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room lit with coloured lasers and fogged with masses of dry ice, with eerie SFX pumping through a tannoy. But the next time you enter the room, you find that the overhead lights have been triggered, and what was previously a place of refuge is now a spotlit, target-rich environment.

Oh, and the PA is now blaring out the theme from Peppa Pig! (Ed’s note: How did you know it was the theme from Pepper Pig, Oscar?)

So what’s the verdict?

I’m not going to hide the fact that UCAP‘s style of skirmish is close to my heart, just as various parts of their sites have been in too-close proximity to my increasinglybattered carcass. But (in the way that all close couples can see the worst as well as best of their other half and you have to be most honest with your closest friends) just like every other airsofter in the UK, there will have been the odd occasion when I’ve come away after a game with a touch of disappointment. So I’m going to be honest.

but rather less fun to be confronted with a phalanx of OPFOR on stag. Or worse, a BFG casually posted in by your feet!

The main game of the day was a bomb mission – each team had to find the components of a briefcase bomb, assemble them and then start a timer.

The quality of the props was astounding and probably the best I have seen on a game. The briefcase itself was fully wired up and once assembled (two dummy charges and a wiring loom), it had a fully operational timer in it which counted down. It’s things like this that really make a game for me but finding the pieces was no picnic, mainly

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because of the Wing’s defining factor; its ground floor.

I didn’t really make it downstairs in the first game, contenting myself with a game of cat-and-mouse with some rather sneaky and fast moving elements of the other team. That was a shame because I was soon to discover that the lower level is a treat.

Down there it’s all about sensory deprivation. The UCAP team have loaded the bottom floor with lighting effects, smoke machines and noise – and it is a complete blast. The setup is built to vary across the day and during games, so at one point you may be fighting through a

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Site review | the wing Halfway through my day at The Wing I wasn’t having a good time. I was cold, battered, knackered and frankly, a bit narked. 90 per cent of that I chalked up to a head-cold, a mild hangover and – most of all – a thoroughly uncooperative RIF. Nothing irritates me more than a loose battery connection! But the other 10 per cent of was because I was getting annoyed with the single shot rule. I found it, on this site, to be restrictive and frustrating rather than helpful and, crucially, to be weighting the games in favour of the defensive team.

But my doldrums didn’t last. To their credit, the UCAP team were keen to learn from every single game and clearly wanted to learn from feedback from players during the day, as well as between games. On the day I was there they asked people how they were finding play and asked if people wanted to try auto – with the proviso that short bursts only were to be used. The general consensus was to try it, and it was totally the right thing to do!

The move to burst fire was great. It really unlocked the site, things opened up and the games went up a notch, from my perspective. The character of the site came to the fore, and the speed and fluidity of play was amazing. I swiftly went from a snivelling wreck to a grinning loon, sticking my neck out rather than lurking in a corner. Other players also totally grabbed the spirit of the change, but I can honestly say I didn’t see or hear a single Arnie-esque hi-cap-emptying fusillade.

So, to sum up. A great site, a great team and great possibilities. Crucially, this is a site which is developing with every game and has a lot to give. Give it a go, and let the UCAP guys know what you think It’ll be worth it.

The low down Full Day Walk on fee (own kit): £25 Evening/Half Day Walk on fee (own kit): £15 Full Day Rental fee: £45 - includes AEG, full face mask and max 3,000 rounds Evening/Hal Day Rental fee: £30 includes AEG, full face mask and max 2,000 rounds.

Web: http://ucap.co.uk/thewing Tel: Matt - 07910 371034

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12/12/12 18:29:07

With Christmas just around the corner Dan Mills explains what it’s liketo be deployed at this time of year

OPERATIONS AT CHRISTMAS

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perational deployments often overlap important times and events for many service personnel. No date is more important or emotive to those deployed than 25 December. Christmas is our main celebration of the year – a time for family and friends, of feasting and entertainment.

A typical deployment lasts for around six months; time off in this period is called rest and recuperation (R&R). With so many soldiers, sailors and airmen to get home to their families for some well-earned time off, the R&R tour plot usually starts shortly after deployment did – around six to eight weeks after ‘flag change day’. Flag change day is the day one unit hands over responsibility of a given area of operations to another.

Where the tour is somewhat dictates where the time off takes place. During my time in Northern Ireland it was relatively easy enough to fly or even drive home, but in Iraq R&R was taken in the UK or Germany (depending on the location of the unit or base for each soldier’s family). It is the same today for Afghanistan – I was lucky enough to get Christmas at home after flying out from Kabul. Short instances of

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leave can be taken relatively locally.

During WWII soldiers could take a spot of leave in major liberated cities like Paris and Rome, and during a tour in Iraq I took some men over the border into Kuwait on a three-day pass by driving for several hours in convoy along deserted roads. Time out from constant hostilities was enjoyed, frayed nerves relaxed, decent food was eaten and plenty of sleep taken. Trips into the shopping centres of Kuwait city were arranged, visiting the famous towers and market souks among other things.

The leave taken also depends on the requirements of the army, not the individual. A certain percentage of the fighting force must be in theatre at any given time and through history we can see a mixture of local and home leave.

Early R&R could be bad news for those who drew the short straw, normally a first-timer.

After some experience I found that the more experienced soldier would usually break the back of the tour by completing at least half of it or more before taking leave.

Some units organised a system in which those with children would get first pick on

spending Christmas at home; those without had their names put forward to the pool for New Year’s Eve. Those left behind on tour (the majority) would have to mentally deal with events as normally as possible considering the circumstances. For most the reality was: get on as normal.

Sentries still had to occupy sangers or trenches and patrols still had to be conducted – although throughout history there have been occurrences of warring factions setting aside their differences and attempting to celebrate the day. The most famous instance of this truce was probably the first Christmas of WWI.

Yuletide truce The truce took different forms all along the line of opposing positions; in some areas hostilities completely stopped, while in other areas fighting continued as on any other day.

After the British, Belgian and French armies had stopped the German advance at the River Marne, defensive positions sprung up for around 500 miles, from the North Sea to the Swiss border. Defensive stalemate had set in.

The opposing armies didn’t move much more

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than 10-15 miles further forward or backwards for the remainder of the war.

Positions that started as entrenching tool scrapes in the ground evolved into individual fire trenches, then into connecting trench systems that spread the whole distance.

These included communications and support trenches front to rear. The trenches further back from the front became areas for soldiers to be sent for some rest out of the daily grind, harsher conditions and killing on the front, as did local towns and cities.

As Christmas fervour built up during that week many widespread unofficial ceasefires took place on the Western Front, ranging from a reluctance to carry out aggressive action to singing songs and shouting exchanges. There are reports of soldiers on both sides openly venturing into ‘No Man’s Land’ to talk with the enemy. Some exchanged gifts, as was their tradition, and swapped souvenirs.

Various events against the opposing nations were arranged and football matches took place out in the open, Germans versus British. It also became time to collect and bury the dead and hold memorial and burial services.

I can recall one particularly cold tour of Belfast at Christmas, 1989. I was a Corporal in West Belfast with One Queen’s and on Christmas day itself all nonessential patrols and duties were cancelled. During the build up to Christmas there had been plenty of snowfall and the city was looking pretty festive so to avoid any incidents most patrols were limited to friendlier areas.

It was not uncommon to have a can of beer thrust into your hand (to save for later), or for a young girl to kiss you and wish you a Merry Christmas. Patrols were cut short so the call

sign could drop off its booty before continuing.

Some very nice people even opened their doors and invited you in, offering a wee drink or hot glug to warm you up. It was sometimes hard to excuse yourself from the hospitality and get back out into the harsh snow falling outside, but it had to be done.

On one occasion I had been given so many crates of beer I had to call in my mobile supporting snatch vehicles to carry my stash back for me! In those days in Northern Ireland you had a ‘two-can rule’, meaning we could drink two cans a day without getting in trouble.

Wherever I have been posted and found myself serving at Christmas time we have had some sort of Christmas dinner. Some of these have been full-on with tree and trimmings; some have been much smaller affairs. Generally speaking the postal system has been fantastic at this time of the year too – in the early days parcels would be sent out by loving parents and families with nice little bits of home in: decorations, cards, food… These all helped create a special atmosphere, nothing like being at home, but different all the same.

Nowadays there has been such an upsurge of support from well wishers that often the system becomes clogged up. Charity companies and organisations do a brilliant job raising morale at this time of the year but there has been some call to limit the parcels sent because the system becomes too busy.

Current and recent tours have seen small isolated positions spread out over wide areas.

To get parcels and mail out to these, as well as the normal resupply, has often led to difficulties if the system is overloaded. Add that travel is often very dangerous to and from these locations and you get a better picture.

After all, nobody wants somebody to get killed or injured delivering niceties or nonessentials.

Also, if you are going to send something then think about what it is: do not send rubbish, send something useful. Sending chocolate into the desert is not wise!

I can’t speak for the military in this day and age but throughout the 1980s and ‘90s there was one tradition in the cookhouses that was looked upon favourably: the food fight.

If often started with the odd verbal shout at one of those serving the food – traditionally Christmas dinner is served by the Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers to the seated, enlisted men. You would also see them go round first thing in the morning waking up the men and issuing a tot of rum and wishing all a merry Christmas.

Yuletide was seen by some as the perfect opportunity to get back at one of the officers or seniors who you didn’t like particularly. It usually started with the odd spud or carrot being thrown in the general direction, which would escalate and often end up as a massive free-for-all. It was a waste of food and did not make any friends among the catering corps!

Nowadays this is rightly frowned upon – the massive amount of effort and lives risked to get supplies to the table does not warrant such a waste. These days you’re more likely to see very civil, excellently-prepared dinners and bunting and decorations up. Most people have by then been sent a Santa hat in the post, pictures and videos of the event are made and some go as far as making a pop video for Youtube! My, how things have changed!

To all our service personnel at home or (by the time this gets to you) abroad – have a good one.

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Available to download now for iPad and iPhone

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EVENT REPORT | ENDURANCE RUN

THE PARAS’ 10 JB, owner of BadgerTac 2, had never heard of the Paras’ 10 – but four weeks later found himself taking part in the charitable endurance run

E

ver heard of Paras’ 10? Neither had I, until I stumbled across it searching for a replacement Parachute Regiment wristband. Having found the wristband on Airborne Shop (the official shop of the Parachute Regiment charity) I noticed a category called ‘Paras’ 10’. Being a curious shopper I decided to check it out and discovered a ‘P Company Challenge’ and a ‘running race’ option.

My dad served with 2 Para, so the Regiment was not an uncommon

subject in our household and quite often comes up in conversation between my mother and I. I mentioned the Paras 10 to her in a conversation, and she told me I couldn’t complete it. To be fair I didn’t really think I would be able to run, let alone complete a Tactical Advance to Battle (TAB) and a 10-mile endurance course created by Paras.

However, I’m not a huge fan of taking my mum’s advice (who is?) so I signed myself up for the Paras 10 Colchester run (not the TAB – I’m just a civvy!). I

may have missed one small detail – this was just four weeks before race day!

The only information I had to go on was what was on the Paras’ 10 website: ‘10 Mile Endurance Run: The Parachute Regiment challenges you to complete this gruelling running course in the fastest possible time. NB. This is not a PB course nor is it suitable for spikes – trainers are advised. The Route: A multiterrain endurance event, the race will follow the same route as the Parachute Regiments ‘P’ Company Selection Ten

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Mile March Route. There will be water stations located along the route and at the start and finish. The First Aid Station will be located at Race Control with a roving back up facility.’

History of the Paras’ 10 Founded by WO1 JJ Wilson PARA, the Para’s 10, was hosted by the Parachute Regiment in Aldershot, 1982-1993. The Paras left Aldershot in 1993 and the event was dormant until Major Sam McGrath revived it in 2008; now it is run by Pegasus Company, the Parachute Regiment’s own training and selection

wing. Now in its fifth year the Paras’ 10 is well established as one of the UK’s ‘must do’ endurance challenges as indicated below by the fact over 8000 runners and ‘TABbers’ have attempted it over the last 3 years. This year saw the addition of a new Paras’ 10 in Colchester.

All profits generated by Paras’10 are donated to the Parachute Regiment charity, which was established to support soldiers of the Parachute Regiment and their families, as well as Airborne Forces members. The charity has three main goals: the relief of need,

“Just as I slowed down as if to stop a group of guys on the corner of the main camp shouted out to me ‘Don’t stop now son, not far left!”

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hardship and distress among past and present members of The Parachute Regiment and their dependents; the promotion of efficiency of the Parachute Regiment; and the promotion and maintenance of the heritage of the Parachute Regiment.

At the races Race day soon came around. Was I prepared? Let’s just say that I had been running no more than 10 times – and the farthest I had ever run was eight miles. I didn’t even own a proper pair of running shoes until the night before the race!

On race day I arrived at 9am and instantly thought to myself ‘What have I got myself into here’ –looking around I felt I was the only civilian entering.

As time went by more and more runners had turned up, all TABbers bergens were weighed in to ensure that everyone entering the P Company challenge had the correct weight (even though a friend of mine did end up

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EVENT REPORT | ENDURANCE RUN completing the TAB with a 60lb bergen).

The Red Devils were set to perform a free fall display but unfortunately due to the weather it had to be called of. That was a shame, but more importantly the poor weather meant the course itself was even harder than it would usually be.

Not long before race started someone had told me that there is a section of the course nicknamed ‘The Travelator’ – an inclining cow field where you feel yourself slipping down with every step you take. With that unhelpful titbit floating around in my mind it was soon time for all runners to be one side of a fence, with TABbers the other. There was a quick warm-up session with an instructor then the countdown to the race start; at this point I was starting to become nervous, mainly due to the fact that I weigh 4st when wet and had done about as much training as Elmer Fudd on a hunting course. A 105 sounded for the start and everyone was off!

Across the Abbey fields into the main camp, I paced myself with the intention of a constant 5mph to get me across the line in two hours and save myself the embarrassment of being a straggler that fails to complete it in three hours

and gets a lift back in the back of a wagon – not an option!

Soon the route took us into the woods and the real work was about to start. Straight away there was a copious amount of mud – at least my new trainers weren’t going to stick out like a sore thumb now. I did, however, strike gold when everyone in front of me had to cross a chest-height stream, and the guys marshaling started telling people to take the bridge. Don’t mind if I do! I did feel bad, almost a cheat, for not going through the stream though, so made the effort at subsequent streams and got stuck in (at waist height…).

I soon reached the dreaded Travelator which I mentioned earlier.

This was tough – guys were walking and panting their way through this part of the course but I remembered some sound advice that had been given to me: the worst thing you can do is stop. I pushed on through

and didn’t stop once for the rest of the course.

I had around half a mile left when my legs just couldn’t take any more. I kept trying to push on, struggling, and just as I slowed down as if to stop a group of guys on the corner of the main camp shouted out to me “Don’t stop now son, not far left!” This spurred me on, back over the Abbey fields.

The cheering of the crowds as I came through to the finish line really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! What a run; I had completed the course in 90 minutes dead which truly put a smile to face, ear to ear. I received my medal and finisher’s t-shirt with a tremendous amount of pride. God only knows how I completed this course as by no means is it easy, but I must have been fitter than I gave myself credit for. The Paras’10 is well worth training for, even if just it to give you that confidence boost you need – and your pain and suffering is all for a good cause, so get stuck in!

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DEALER LISTINGS

ADVERTISERS INDEX Action Hobbies .......................................................................17 Armex ...................................................................................21 BadgerTac .............................................................................30 Badger Tac 2 .........................................................................82 Bullseye Country Sport ..........................................................65 Dragon Valley Airsoft LTD .....................................................65 Edgar Brothers ......................................................................27 First & Only Airsoft ...............................................................12 Gunman Airsoft .....................................................................12 JD Airsoft ..................................................................33, 69, 82 Just BB Guns Ltd ...................................................................42 Land Warrier Airsoft ..............................................................2 Military 1st............................................................................22 Outdoor Pursuits / No VAT ....................................................22 Patrol Base ............................................................................12 Pro Airsoft Supplies ...............................................................84 Redwolf ...................................................................................9 Shoot n’ Scoot ........................................................................82 Socom Tactical.......................................................................10 Surplus Store.........................................................................22 Thatchreed ......................................................................47, 62 The British Airsoft Show .......................................................29 Wolf Armouries .......................................................................3

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11/1/13 14:37:58

SITE DIRECTORY Find somewhere to be this weekend…

SYMBOL KEY

Is it woodland or urban?

Check the key!

UKARA

UKARA MEMBER UKASGB MEMBER WOODLAND

£

SHOP ONSITE BATTERY CHARGING URBAN PYROS ALLOWED REPAIR SERVICE DESERT

ATROOP AIRSOFT

AIRSOFT COMMANDOS

AMAZON EVENTS

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT

ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT

AIRSOFT KGB

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM

ARENA AIRSOFT

Clocaenog Forest, LL16 4SP 07967 394976 www.atroop.co.uk

Maidenhead, SL6 3SS 07871 314951 www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES Penkridge, ST19 5RE 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk

ACE COMBAT

Kent, TN12 7DG 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com ayrsoft@gmail.com

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Sutton, near Ferrybridge 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com

Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com www.kgbairsoft.com.

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

Stoulton, WR7 4QW 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL 0844 2570433 www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk

Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com

Grimsby, DN31 3JD 07752 404060 www.arenaairsoft.com

AWA HERTS AMBUSH ADVENTURES – SOUTHAMPTON

New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB

Studley, B80 7LY 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT

Near Trawden, BB8 8SN 07909 683464 www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je

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AIRSOFT SITES | DIRECTORY Huge thanks to our friends at Airbana (www.airsoftmap.net) for supplying data!

BARNSLEY AIRSOFT

Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE 07779 236166 www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT SHEFFIELD WOODLAND

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT

Sheffield, S6 6JE 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL 07921 336360 www.dragonvalley.co.uk

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT

EAST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT

BATTLETEC AIRSOFT

La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2 07781 104068 www.battletec.co.uk

Corby, NN17 3BB 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk

Earlswood, B94 6SF 0844 870 9785 www.sabreforce.co.uk

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

ELITE ACTION GAMES – DORKING

BETTER BATTLES

Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH 07967 940043 www.better-battles.com

Maryland, Norfolk, NR10 4 01328 711867 www.combatactiongames.co.uk

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT

Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport. PR46JX 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com

BRISTOL AIRSOFT

Bristol, BS1 2HQ 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT

Sheffield, S2 5TR 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com

BUNKER 51

Charlton, SE7 8NJ 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk

COMBAT SOUTH URBAN Portsmouth, PO6 3LS 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND Fareham, PO17 5ND 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL

Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk

COOL UNDER FIRE

Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk

Dorking, Surrey, RH5 5AB 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – EPSOM

Epsom, Surrey, KT18 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING

Worthing, BN13 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE COMPLEX

Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE SANDPIT

Bradford, BD2 1BQ 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CORNWALL AIRSOFT ASSAULT

Truro, Cornwall, TR2 07837 475012 www.cornwallairsoftassault.co.uk

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT

Dumfries, DG12 cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net www.cumbria-airsoft.com

Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk

Keighley, BD20 0LS 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS

Lewisham, SE13 5SU 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk

St Andrews, KY10 3XL info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com

FINMERE AIRSOFT DOGS OF WAR

CERBERUS AIRSOFT - RIVOCK EDGE

Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN 01380 728982 www.experienceairsoft.co.uk

FIFE WARGAMES DELTA TEAM 3

Houston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP 07853 195290 www.dow-airsoft.co.uk

Buckingham, MK18 4JT 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com

FIREBALL SQUADRON DRAGON’S LAIR

Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA 07703 530189 www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk

Leek, ST13 8 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – BATTLE LAKES

Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9AP 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – BUNKER WOOD

Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – KHE SANH WOODS

Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – MANCHESTER WOODLAND Bolton, BL7 9TS 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

ELITE BATTLEZONE

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT C3 TACTICAL

FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMP

Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com

FIRST AND ONLY – ASYLUM Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – THE EMBASSY

Leicester, LE2 6EA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – THE MALL Reading, RG1 1NR 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

GROUND ZERO WOODLAND

Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF 01329 849818 www.groundzerowoodland.com

FREE FIRE ZONE

Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH 01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk

FRV AIRSOFT

Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ 07730 586926 www.frvairsoft.com

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SITE DIRECTORY Find somewhere to be this weekend…

LINDSEY AIRSOFT

NTAC

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES

OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLL

MAW

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS

MIA

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION

Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com

Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 07562 479966 maw.airsoft@hotmail.com

GASS AIRSOFT – PENN

Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON

Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT

Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft

INVICTA AIRSOFT – RAINDEN WOODS

Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AY 01227 763335 www.invictaairsoft.co.uz

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT

Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com

GREENZONE COMBAT

Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30 07964 751047 www.islandrecon.co.uk

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT GUN HO AIRSOFT

Guisborough, TS7 0PG 07525 435696 www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk

Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

LAC SITE 1 GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGE

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 2 GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICH Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

HIGHLAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT IV25 3PY 07702 846090 www.highlandtacticalairsoft.co.uk

Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 3

Saxillby, LN1 2JW 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

Durham, DL4 2ER 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk

Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com

Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk

Cornwall, EX23 9JL 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk

Former RAF Camp Sopley/ Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 02380 899369

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

Wrightington, WN6 9PL 01942 514724 www.*militaryoutdooradventure. co.uk

MILSIM UK

Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk

NCIS AIRSOFT

Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk

NOMAD AIRSOFT

Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY 07904 998250 www.nomadairsoft.com

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk

Budby, Notts, NG22 9FG 01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

PLATOON 1HQ

Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

PLAYERS OF WAR

High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF 028 4377 0566 www.predatorcombat.com

RAVEN’S NEST

Suffolk, IP8 4 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

NORTHFLEET CQB

Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

NSC AIRSOFT HILTON PARK AIRSOFT

Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com

086

LAC SITE 5

Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM) Cambridge, CB24 8RL 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

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AIRSOFT SITES | DIRECTORY Huge thanks to our friends at Airbana (www.airsoftmap.net) for supplying data!

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

Shotts, N Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – THE ROCK Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

SG1 COMBAT GAMES

Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETER

Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

STIRLING AIRSOFT

Coventry, CV3 6NX 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT

UCAP GREEN OPS

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT

UCAP SANDPIT

TASK FORCE SKIRMISH

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM

Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk

Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT SUSSEX AIRSOFT

Slinfold, RH12 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

Redford, DD11 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk

THE EX SITE SW WAR GAMES – SCRAESDON FORT

Antony, Cornwall, PL11 3AB 08456 345011 www.swwargames.co.uk

SW WAR GAMES – TREGANTLE FORT

Antony, Cornwall, PL11 3AZ 08456 345011 www.swwargames.co.uk

Mold, CH7 4 07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk

THE WARGAMES CENTRE

Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN 08456 434326 www.scottishadventurecentre.co.uk

Bean, Kent, DA2 8 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD

Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13

Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN6AIRSOFT – IVYWOOD Elmhurst, Lichfield WS13 8EU www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN6AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT

Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ 07921 837658 www.airsoft-xcalibre.co.uk

TA EVENTS

Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk

Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0QN www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN ASSAULT UCAP AIRSOFT

Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk

VIKING AIRSOFT

Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk

WARMINSTER AIRSOFT

Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST Dunstable, LU6 2EE 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP 01494 881430

Email anthonyp@ blazepublishing.co.uk to add or change a site listing

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AIRSOFT

ACTION

BOOKSHOP

Total War - SRP £25.00

The Retreat - SRP £10.99

AA Price £21.00

AA Price £9.00

Tank Men - SRP £8.99

Never Surrender - SRP £8.99

SAS Operation Storm - SRP £25.00

Kill Switch - SRP £6.99

The Kill Zone (hdbk) - SRP £18.99

The Kill Zone (pbk) - SRP £6.99

AA Price £6.00

Killing for the Company (hdbk) SRP £18.99 AA Price £16.00

Soldiers Pocket Book - SRP £10.00

Cadet Pocket Book - SRP £8.00

Air Cadet Pocket Book - SRP £8.00

Army Cadet’s Log Book - SRP £4.00

Skill at Arms - SRP £6.50

AA Price £7.50

AA Price £16.00

AA Price £7.50

088

AA Price £7.50

AA Price £7.50

AA Price £21.00

AA Price £3.50

AA Price £6.00

AA Price £9.00

AA Price £5.00

January 2013

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Visit www.virtualnewsagent.com for these fantastic offers. Either fill in the form below – don’t forget to put a tick by the books you’re ordering – and post/fax to us, or call us on the number at the bottom

Elite:160 World War II Infantry Assault Tactics - SRP £11.99

AA Price £10

Soldier I – The Story of an SAS Hero - SRP £8.99

AA Price £7.50

Elite:168 World War II Street Fighting Tactics SRP £11.99

AA Price £10

Elite:170 Special Operations Forces in Iraq - SRP £11.99

AA Price £8.50

Title

Author

Category

Tank Men

Robert Kershaw

Non-fiction 0113-001

Code

SRP £8.99

AA price £7.50

Never Surrender

Robert Kershaw

Non-fiction 0113-002

£8.99

£7.50

Total War

Michael Jones

Non-fiction 0113-003

£25.00

£21.00

The Retreat

Michael Jones

Non-fiction 0113-004

£10.99

£9.00

SAS Operation Storm

Roger Cole & Richard Belfield

Non-fiction 0113-005

£18.99

£16.00

Kill Switch

Bill Shaw

Non-fiction 0113-006

£6.99

£6.00

The Kill Zone

Chris Ryan

Fiction

0113-007

£18.99

£16.00

The Kill Zone

Chris Ryan

Fiction

0113-008

£6.99

£6.00

Killing for the Company

Chris Ryan

Fiction

0113-009

£18.99

£16.00

Soldiers Pocket Book

Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd), Rupert Godeson and John H Harris

Non-fiction 0113-010

£10.00

£9.00

Cadet’s Pocket Book

Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)

Non-fiction 0113-011

£8.00

£7.50

Air Cadet Pocket Book

Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)

Non-fiction 0113-012

£8.00

£7.50

Army Cadet Log Book

Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)

Non-fiction 0113-013

£4.00

£3.50

Skill at Arms And Shooting

Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)

Non-fiction 0113-014

£6.50

£5.00

World War II StreetFighting Tactics

Stephen Bull

Non-fiction

0113-015

£11.99

£10.00

World War II Infantry Assault Tactics

Gordon L Rottman

Non-fiction

0113-016

£11.99

£10.00

Pegasus Bridge Benouville 1944

Will Fowler

Non-fiction

0113-017

£11.99

£10.00

Soldier I – the Story of an SAS Hero

Pete Winner

Non-fiction

0113-018

£8.99

£7.50

Special Operations Forces in Iraq

Leigh Neville

Non-fiction

0113-019

£11.99

£8.50

Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan

Leigh Neville

Non-fiction

0113-020

£11.99

£8.50

Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger

Leroy Thompson

Non-Fiction 0113-021

£9.99

£8.50

The Rocket Propelled Grenade

Gordon L Rottman

Non-Fiction 0113-022

£9.99

£8.50

Total

Raid:11 Pegasus Bridge – Benouville D-Day 1944 - SRP £11.99

AA Price £10

Elite:163 Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan - SRP £11.99

AA Price £8.50

Name ...........................................................................................................................

Address ....................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

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I enclose a cheque for ______ payable to Blaze Publishing Ltd. Please debit my Switch/VISA/Mastercard/Maestro for _____ (No Electron or Amex please)

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Weapon:2 The Rocket Propelled Grenade - SRP £9.99

AA Price £8.50

Weapon:7 The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger - SRP £9.99

CVV No. (Last 3 digits on reverse of card) Your credit card statement will read Blaze Publishing Ltd. Please call +44 1926 339 808 for international postage costs.

Now fax or post this form to: Blaze Publishing Limited, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5SZ England T: 01926 339808 F: 01926 470400 E: info@blazepublishing.co.uk

AA Price £8.50

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