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8 ARMOURY: EMG GOLDEN EAGLE DD4 M4A1 FSP RIII S 14.5”
In an airsoft-world overloaded with different AR variants it’s without doubt that there’s a plethora to choose from, and it’s not at all surprising that the “black rifle and carbine” remain the most popular primary choice for many, many players! But what makes one stand out from another? Bill looks at one of the latest “Daniel Defense” models from GOLDEN EAGLE by way of EMG and finds it unique in many ways…
20 ARMOURY: SIG AIR MPX-K SPORTLINE AEG
As much as we love to look at the very latest airsoft platforms each month in AA, sometimes it’s great to just come back to simplicity, and to AEGs that are priced for every player out there to enjoy! And it’s especially nice when the AEG is question turns out to be a fullylicenced version of the MPX K from SIG AIR… Bill digs back into past articles and gets to basics as he puts the K through its paces!
28
ARMOURY: WELL PRO WE06 PPK 20 GBBR
When possible in any issue of AIRSOFT ACTION we always like to feature an OPFOR platform to balance the BLUFOR models that have come before, and this month Bill was finally able to get his hands on something for testing that he drooled over at IWA… in the shape of the WELL PRO WE06 PPK 20 GBBR; was it all that he hoped it would be?
48 RED CELL: SUPPORT GUNS UPDATE 2025
We’re moving RED CELL along again this month as we head towards the end of the test program, and what a ride it has been without doubt! It’s time again to look at Support Guns, and area of airsoft that’s not without a degree of controversy, but one that when used right can make all the difference to an effective team-play in-game!
38 INSIDE AIRSOFT: MODIFY
One of the first places Stewbacca visited way back when he had first arrived in Taiwan was Modify Airsoft; over seven years later he thought it was well past time for a return visit, and once again followed our local lady ‘Military Anny’ Wu to get the more in depth story about the origins of Modify Airsoft and what they have been up to as of late.
68 GETTING TO KNOW YOU: MIMI
As the new members of the AA LEGION start to properly cement themselves fully within our ranks, it’s time again to focus on players that bring something fresh and new to our global community! Sara has been speaking to some of the female community members out there again and now brings us insight into Spanish airsofter Mimi!
80 AA LEGION: PORTUGAL
We’re back to Miguel in Portugal to talk about the games that he and his fellow GHOST OPS team mates have been playing of late, illustrating again just how cohesive the airsoft community is there. Whilst many games happen on a yearly basis for Miguel and his fellow “GHOST’s” he now tells us all about a new site trialled by fellow team, The Mountain Wolves, and it sounds totally like a site that we’d all love to play!
62 TECH: T238 UPGRADE PARTS
Relatively new to AA, but in no way new to airsoft tech, our “FNG” Bruno is always looking to find maximum performance from any airsoft platform that he gets his hands on, and of course he is constantly searching for the latest and greatest upgrade parts with which to work his magic. This month he introduces us all to premium parts from T238!
76 AA LEGION UK: SHIFT YOUR RIFTS 2025
“Shift Your Rifts” has fast become another of the “UK Summer Season’s” must-attend events, and with a great vibe alongside a solid airsoft game and support from many leading manufacturers, it’s fast becoming a player favourite! AA Legionnaire Rich had a chance to get involved, and now offers a unique perspective on what it means to be “behind the scenes” at such a major event!
86 AA LEGION: JAPAN SPECIAL REPORT
We were contacted by a new friend in Japan to tell us all about his tour business that highlights all the delights of his very special part of the world in a very unique way… including AIRSOFT! Of course, this was something we wanted to find out more about, so we tasked our old mate and AA Legion Associate, Rai Sensai, to connect with Hiroki at ATAGO CONCIERGE OF JAPAN and find out just what was on offer!
94 AA LEGION: USA
Dan is usually our main go-to-guy when it comes to technical matters, and his new product reviews are pretty darn awesome too, but just like the rest of us at AIRSOFT ACTION his boots are still firmly rooted “in-game”, and this month he brings news of the now annual “D-DAY” game in the USA that he attends as a player… and thoroughly enjoys for the sheer fun of it!
‧ SSS.III E-trigger system (SSS only)
‧ Smart Trigger & Pre-cocking Function (SSS only)
‧ MASTER Upgraded Internals (SSS only)
‧ T-Dean Plug
LIGHT, THE WAY
‧ ICS Split Gearbox
‧ QD Spring Guide Design
‧ Forward Assist Spring De-Tensioner
FIGHTIN’ IRON!
IN AN AIRSOFT-WORLD OVERLOADED WITH DIFFERENT AR VARIANTS (SOME OF WHICH ARE ACTUALLY “M4S” THESE DAYS!) IT’S WITHOUT DOUBT THAT THERE’S A PLETHORA TO CHOOSE FROM, AND IT’S NOT AT ALL SURPRISING THAT THE “BLACK RIFLE AND CARBINE” REMAIN THE MOST POPULAR PRIMARY CHOICE FOR MANY, MANY PLAYERS! BUT WHAT MAKES ONE STAND OUT FROM ANOTHER? BILL LOOKS AT ONE OF THE LATEST “DANIEL DEFENSE” MODELS FROM GOLDEN EAGLE BY WAY OF EMG AND FINDS IT UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS…
When it comes to choosing a primary platform for airsoft these days it’s pretty certain that you’re going to look at one style of AR or another, and then of course you need to choose your “OS”, electric, gas, or HPA… and with performance levels that get better and better every year across the different systems this choice becomes even harder!
For many taking their first steps into airsoft the
AEG is undoubtedly still king of the hill, but times and tastes continue to change (as they always do!) and with new and better “OS”, this choice in and of itself becomes harder too. Once upon a time, and not so long ago in this very galaxy, the thought of a new player immediately choosing a gas platform over an AEG would have been pretty much unthinkable, but these days… not so much…
TM have of course continued to rock along with their MWS program and made many, many players all over the world very happy indeed; having tried many MWS and MWS-based systems now I can see the attraction, but TM are, and always will be a law unto themselves and a somewhat expensive option, and price alone can deter a new player from heading down this particular route.
However, as I’ve said, there are now a myriad of MWS-based systems out there, all using the same magazine tech, and many of them are pretty darn good straight out of the box… and then you have VFC driving things along in the “gas universe” too,
“FOR MANY TAKING THEIR FIRST STEPS INTO AIRSOFT THE AEG IS UNDOUBTEDLY STILL KING OF THE HILL, BUT TIMES AND TASTES CONTINUE TO CHANGE (AS THEY ALWAYS DO!) AND WITH NEW AND BETTER “OS”, THIS CHOICE IN AND OF ITSELF BECOMES HARDER TOO”
“WITH A “GASSER” YOU’RE NOT JUST GETTING A PLATFORM WHERE THE MAGAZINE CAPACITY AND WAY THEY WORK IS AS SIMILAR TO “THE REAL DEAL” AS YOU’LL GET, BUT ALSO NOW WITH NUMEROUS MANUFACTURERS PUSHING ALONG WITH THEIR LICENCING AGREEMENTS, YOU’RE ALSO GETTING SOMETHING THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE “THE REAL DEAL” TOO”
“OBVIOUSLY THE M4A1 WE KNOW ALL ABOUT SO I WON’T DWELL ON THAT, BUT THE FSP JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE VARIANTS USED BY THOSE “GOOD GUYS AT THE SHARP END”, AND FORMS PART OF THE ARMOURY FOR MANY MILITARY UNITS, INCLUDING THE “TIER 1” TEAMS DUE TO ITS ROBUSTNESS AND ADAPTABILITY”
“EVERYTHING ABOUT THE REPLICATION OF THE FSP IS BANG-ON, AND ALTHOUGH IT’S THE STANDARD M4-LENGTH IT SOMEHOW LOOKS LONGER AND LEANER. THE ALLOY RECEIVER SET AND RIS III M-LOK HANDGUARD ARE BEAUTIFULLY FINISHED AND FEATURE AUTHENTIC DANIEL DEFENSE MARKINGS IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES”
GOLDEN
So, this is a classic “M4” option that’s been updated with both the newer RIS III FSP along with some other cool-guy accessories, and I have to tell you that it looks absolutely stunning! Although I had the plain black version for rangetesting there’s also an alternate model that comes with that “SF Bronze” rail, and having had hands on that too that is 100% the one I would buy for myself.
Everything about the replication of the FSP is bang-on, and although it’s the standard M4length it somehow looks longer and leaner. The alloy receiver set and RIS III M-LOK handguard are beautifully finished and feature authentic Daniel Defense markings in all the right places… and yes, I did go to the Daniel Defense website to check out “the real” too!
The seven-slot M-LOK rail (actually I’d call it 7.5 as there are two smaller cut-out L and RHS) is long and slim, and feels great in the hand for a classic grip, but I think I’d be heading for a foregrip here.
The adjustable EMG “ETA” stock with an integrated storage compartment and cheek pad closely resembles the Daniel Defense adjustable buttstock which is designed to keep from snagging when shouldering the rifle, and there’s a QD swivel attachment point for ambidextrous sling connection. Again, the EMG pistol grip looks amazingly close to the new Daniel Defense pistol grip which is an improvement to the old standby A2. This has been designed with ergonomics and controllability in mind, and shares the angle of the classic 1911 pistol for “the most natural hand position and a comfortable feel.” The grip marries up to an oversized trigger that easily accommodates for gloves.
The FSP has a fixed A2 front sight that sits in a cut-away in the top part of the system (with further top rail in front of it!) and a detachable rear dioptre sight mounted on the rear of the full length top rail; add that to all the M-LOK cut-outs
and you have significant space on which to mount ALL the accessories and optics you could ever want!
Internally everything looks tidy and durable enough, and although older Double Eagle gassers have relied effectively on the old Western Arms system, to my non-tech eye it looks like the BCG/ nozzle has been updated a little, and is somewhat more “GHK”… although of course this system was also influenced by Western Arms too! The trigger group looks solid enough, and provides a nice crisp break… other than that there’s not a lot to talk about as it’s a GBBR, and unlike an AEG there’s only so many moving parts to contend with.
The hop-adjustment also resembles a slightly older unit as it’s adjusted inside the chamber with a 1.5mm allen key (not provided BTW…); with all the muzzle/gas-block adjuster these days this seems a little bit of a throwback, but it’s nonetheless a relatively easy to set and effective adjuster, that once set for your chosen weight of BBs STAYS sets.
Research tells me that the hop rubber and bucking are AEG spec, so that does mean that these will be easy to upgrade should you wish to do so, and this is definitely something I would consider doing (along with a new inner barrel) to get the best performance.
DOWNRANGE
And of course talking about performance, on a beautiful summer’s day that should be absolutely ideal for any GBBR I trotted out to my woods range with the FSP, my First Tactical go-bag and Direct Action plate carrier. What could be better?
As some of you now know, I am already a big GBBR fan, mainly because of their “realism”, recoil, mag cut-off and reliability these days, so I was really, REALLY looking forward to getting some BBs downrange with the FSP, and I’m
“INTERNALLY EVERYTHING LOOKS TIDY AND DURABLE ENOUGH, AND ALTHOUGH OLDER DOUBLE EAGLE GASSERS HAVE RELIED EFFECTIVELY ON THE OLD WESTERN ARMS SYSTEM, TO MY NON-TECH EYE IT LOOKS LIKE THE BCG/NOZZLE HAS BEEN UPDATED A LITTLE, AND IS SOMEWHAT MORE “GHK”…”
pleased to report it did not disappoint!
Having only a single magazine again (EMG state that the FSP will handle Matrix, Golden Eagle, King Arms, S&T, G&P WOC, Western Arms and other WA style gas mags… none of which I own!) was going to slow my rangetime down a little, but would give me more time to get a feel for the magazine which holds 50BBs, and proved easy to load with an adapter (nice!), and again has a little of the GHK-style about the valve and knocker arrangement.
The first magazine was used to chrono, and power started at a very solid 317fps (0.95 Joule) using regular green gas and .20g BBs, but as the FSP was new I expected some rise in numbers as testing progressed and things settled a little…. a little bit of a pull-through also removed quite a bit of grease from the equation too!
Mag two was used to set the hop (a little fiddly, but easy enough) and after a further two magazines, I was hitting the Red Cell steels at 30m without issue. After a few mags settled things down to a relatively consistent 323/325 fps (iro 0.98 Joule) on .20g, an ideal power level for most skirmish fields and even most CQB sites around the globe!
I started then to fire off BBs in semi and full auto, switching between both; rate of fire in both modes is perfectly adequate, and both the trigger and selector switch on the FSP are indeed crisp, with just the right amount of resistance for my liking, and in terms of the trigger it’s a very positive break and reset.
I chose due to the excellent little diopter sight and big old front-post not to put an optic on the FSP and get a feel for the “irons”, and once set, I was very happy with sight picture and acquisition. I’m increasingly a fan of M-LOK rails, and like my other M-LOKs this light, slender front-end really made the FSP feel nimble when transitioning from target to target; at 805-880mm, and weighing in with the mag at 3100g this is a very easy carbine
“I’M
to manipulate, even in tight spaces.
Readjusting the hop I moved on up to .30g BBs, and the FSP shrugged off the change in weight with ease. The sights that come fitted as standard to the FSP are indeed more than adequate, and so it’s ready to roll straight from the box just by adding gas and some BBs. On full-auto the trajectory was still flat, but I did start to see some lateral spread at the 30m mark… back to my recommendation about changing up the hop arrangement and inner barrel! Even so, on semiauto with .30g at 30m unsupported it was easy to get hits on a torso-sized target with each BB flying straight and true.
The FSP is undoubtedly a great-looking AR, and is equally nice to shoot, and other than perhaps the minor barrel-related changes I have suggested I can see absolutely nothing to alter.
Bottom line is that the FSP looks stunning, manipulates easily for a full-length carbine, and shoots very well indeed. Although the “OS” may seem a little dated given what else is out there, it is tried and tested, and solidly built too; this is a GBBR that given proper maintenance will give you great performance for an extended service life.
With its SOPMOD “blocks” heritage, just bang on an EoTECH, PEQ-15 and a SF suppressor to the 14mm CCW front end and you’re good to go!
The EMG GOLDEN EAGLE DD4 M4A1 FSP RIII S 14.5” is most certainly a model that I would seriously consider owning if I didn’t already have “a few” GBBRs (especially the “bronze”!), and the uniqueness of its look, combining old skool with new really does appeal to me; add to that the new Daniel Defense-style accessories and it’s a bit of a winner all things considered! And the truly great thing to me is that it retails just a touch under the UK£400 mark, and compatible mags should be easy to find (and cheaper to buy!), even secondhand given the stated compatibility choices, which puts in firmly in contention for those on a budget!
INCREASINGLY A FAN OF M-LOK RAILS, AND LIKE MY OTHER M-LOKS THIS LIGHT, SLENDER FRONT-END REALLY MADE THE FSP FEEL NIMBLE WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM TARGET TO TARGET; AT 805-880MM, AND WEIGHING IN WITH THE MAG AT 3100G THIS IS A VERY EASY CARBINE TO MANIPULATE, EVEN IN TIGHT SPACES”
GOLDEN EAGLE DD4
If you’re considering your first GBBR, either as a new player, or indeed as a seasoned AEG-player that fancies moving into AR/M4 gas territory, then the FSP is most definitely worth a look. With a modicum of upgrading I honestly believe that you could have yourself a great-looking, tack-driving fightin’ iron to use taking objectives in-game or
running and gunning the barricades on the range! Thank you to the guys at iWholesales who supplied the FSP for test, and do be sure to check this model out with your local retailer if, like me, you like a GBBR that’s good to go from the box and that has the full blessing of the “real steel” manufacturer! AA
“WITH ITS SOPMOD “BLOCKS” HERITAGE, JUST BANG ON AN EOTECH, PEQ-15 AND A SF SUPPRESSOR TO THE 14MM CCW FRONT END AND YOU’RE GOOD TO GO! THE EMG GOLDEN EAGLE DD4 M4A1 FSP RIII S 14.5” IS MOST CERTAINLY A MODEL THAT I WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER OWNING IF I DIDN’T ALREADY HAVE “A FEW” GBBRS…”
NEAT N’ NASTY!
AS MUCH AS WE LOVE TO LOOK AT THE VERY LATEST, AND INDEED SOME OF THE MOST ELITE AND EXPENSIVE, AIRSOFT PLATFORMS EACH MONTH IN AA SOMETIMES IT’S GREAT TO JUST COME BACK TO SIMPLICITY, AND TO AEGS THAT ARE PRICED FOR EVERY PLAYER OUT THERE TO ENJOY! AND IT’S ESPECIALLY NICE WHEN THE AEG IS QUESTION TURNS OUT TO BE A FULLY-LICENCED VERSION OF THE MPX K FROM SIG AIR… BILL DIGS BACK INTO PAST ARTICLES AND GETS TO BASICS AS HE PUTS THE K THROUGH ITS PACES!
Regulars that have dipped into AIRSOFT ACTION for a while will know that we’ve followed the SIG MCX/MPX “story” for a good few years now, and it’s been amazing how SIG AIR has really rolled along with both AEG and GBB options, including some super pistols! We’ve also looked at a number of the non-licenced models of the MCX/MPX just to be thorough, and many of them have been darn good airsoft platforms too!
Back in ISSUE 134 Boycie took a long look at the then-new VFC OEM’d SIG SAUER-licenced MPX and told us of the platform:
“The MPX which was designed in 2013 and released in 2015 was a contender to the replace the venerable yet ageing MP5. The MPX though was to be available in 9mm, .357 SIG and .40 S&W calibres. Firing from a closed rotating bolt there are two main versions which are available from SIG. The Submachine Gun (safe, semi and auto version) is only available to Military and Police units, and the semi-only version is available to the civilian market and where the local laws allow.”
He went on to conclude of that AEG...
“To round off, this AEG is really, really nice to handle, but was a bit disappointing on firing tests initially. On our test rifle, once the spring and motor were swapped out the MPX performance picked up and will perform well on the skirmish field… Internally I feel, for an AEG in the higherend price bracket, that the motor and gearbox internals should be better. Externally a really great AEG, but a couple of basic internal component
changes internally will help the performance greatly and turn it into an awesome skirmish tool.”
So of course, we got Dan to delve inside the VFC/SIG AIR MPX and give it a touch of his magic to bring the performance up to par with the great external build… if you’d like to check this out then you’ll find it in ISSUE 136, and both articles are available in the BACK ISSUES area of the AA website.
Moving on to the model under the spotlight here though, the real MPX K is the smallest variant to date (think MP5k, “k” for “kurz,” or “short” in German) again using a closed-bolt gas piston system that has thus far proved to be ultra-reliable and durable for its users. As with all MPX variants, the K is fully modular allowing for multiple handguard and barrel lengths and is set up for suppressor use as standard. The K also features an updated M-LOK handguard which is available as an accessory in multiple lengths for suppressor coverage. The SIG website also tells me that...
“The K is upgraded with the ultra-smooth, ultrafast Timney Trigger. Co-designed by Timney and SIG, this trigger offers the Timney performance you have come to expect we with the ultimate reliability to make it survive the punishment of a sub gun platform. If you are looking for the ultimate modular sub gun, look no further than the MPX K from SIG SAUER.”
Although we’ve seen a few unlicenced versions of the MPX turn up since “Da Bois” first looked
“REGULARS THAT HAVE DIPPED INTO AIRSOFT ACTION FOR A WHILE WILL KNOW THAT WE’VE FOLLOWED THE SIG MCX/MPX “STORY” FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS NOW, AND IT’S BEEN AMAZING HOW SIG AIR HAS REALLY ROLLED ALONG WITH BOTH AEG AND GBB OPTIONS, INCLUDING SOME SUPER PISTOLS!”
at the VFC MPX, it’s been a while since we saw anything more AEG-wise on the platform direct from SIG AIR themselves, but thankfully they have taken a cool direction and provided not just another version of the MPX, this time the K, but put it into their “sportline” category to make it more available to players who are on a tighter budget… and for this reason I already love it!
GOOD TO GO
The MPX K Sportline accurately replicates the external look of its real-steel counterpart, and appears to be, even at first glance created with some degree of precision in mind; the overall look is great, and although the entire platform has been created in high-quality lightweight polymer rather than metal, when you first lift it from the box it feels nice and sturdy… there’s not a creak, groan, or wobble in evidence anywhere!
Going from front to back externally there’s an awful lot to like… the outer barrel is 14mm CCW and fitted as standard with a somewhat unremarkable “birdcage” flash hider which
just cries immediately to be swapped out for a suppressor or tracer unit.
Behind this is a chunky one-piece handguard with 2.5 slots L &R, and 1.5 slots on the bottom, so just enough to fit a foregrip should you wish to. The top picatinny rail, pre-fitted with front and rear flip-up sights, runs the entire length of the platform offering more than adequate space to optics and LAMs, and at the rear of the upper is a picatinny mounting point that will accommodate many aftermarket stock options, although the MPX comes fitted with quite a solid minimalist version as standard. The motor-grip is SIGstandard, with an oversized trigger-guard ahead of it, and on the LHS of the lower are all the trades that make this little AEG sing and show clearly that it is indeed licenced product.
Getting inside you’ll find a modified V2 gearbox with 7mm bearings to ensure reliable, sustainable operation, and it also features a useful quick-change-spring-system, as well as full compatibility with most standard V2 gearbox components such as the piston assembly and gears.
The battery is wired to the front, and it’s advised that the MPX is used with 7.4v or 9.6v batteries, and NOT 11.1v batteries... yeah, right, let’s see how THAT goes later, although no doubt using an 11.1 will knacker the warranty and probably the AEG itself in short time!
Stepping back to the battery storage on-board, when I first looked at the MPX I thought “Oh no!
Another cracking little AEG that’s going to need spoiling with an external
“THANKFULLY THEY (SIG AIR) HAVE TAKEN A COOL DIRECTION AND PROVIDED NOT JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF THE MPX, THIS TIME THE K, BUT PUT IT INTO THEIR “SPORTLINE” CATEGORY TO MAKE IT MORE AVAILABLE TO PLAYERS WHO ARE ON A TIGHTER BUDGET… AND FOR THIS REASON I ALREADY LOVE IT!”
battery box…” and that’s a real pet-hate of mine, but thankfully NO! Looking down through the rail you’ll see a space running almost the entire length of the upper beneath the top-rail, and this is where a stick battery happily lives; to change the battery, simply loosen a screw on the underside of the handguard and slide it forward away from the receivers, then simply insert the battery, connect everything up, and securely reattach the handguard. The official spiel tells me that “the battery compartment accommodates small 7.4 - 11.1 volt batteries”… Mmmm…. and everything marries up on a standard mini-Tamiya battery connector. This is an elegant on-board solution and shows that someone has actually once again put some thought into this little MPX, and how we want it to look when we run it.
So, everything looks totally neat, and if the internal setup of the Sportline MPX looks unremarkable, it’s completely workmanlike to get you going, and 100% upgradebale in the long-term. Externally the MPX looks great, and all the polymer does not in any way detract from
that; it’s high-grade nylon polymer and as I’ve said many times before this is similar to the stuff they use for real firearms so I am not going to see this in any way as a negative… if anything the fit and finish of the external parts is way better than I’ve seen on many full-metal AEGs at this price.
DOWNRANGE
The problem, though, when you see an entrylevel AEG that looks superb, is that you immediately worry where corners have been cut to hit the cost-bracket, and will this mean that performance has been sacrificed? Over the years I’ve had my hands on some truly handsome replicas that at the end of the day couldn’t deliver a BB consistently to target!
Luckily with the MPX the performance is good, and in fact better than good! A 100 BB magazine, again SIG SAUER branded, is included in the package and with this filled and the hop set it’s simply a case of pop in the battery, engage safety, insert the magazine and you’re good to go. The rotary hop adjuster is located, as with almost every AR-style (remember the MPX is the sibling of the MCX) AEG, beneath the ejection port. To adjust the hop, simply open up the cover; you’ll need to do this manually as the charging handle is purely cosmetic on the MPX, given that the space for any faux-BCG system is actually used for the battery compartment… DO NOT try and rack the charging handler as it only moves a fraction… if you want a realistic charging action then buy a GBBR! All that said it appears to be a
“THE MPX K SPORTLINE ACCURATELY REPLICATES THE EXTERNAL LOOK OF ITS REALSTEEL COUNTERPART, AND APPEARS TO BE, EVEN AT FIRST GLANCE CREATED WITH SOME DEGREE OF PRECISION IN MIND; THE OVERALL LOOK IS GREAT, AND ALTHOUGH THE ENTIRE PLATFORM HAS BEEN CREATED IN HIGH-QUALITY LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMER RATHER THAN METAL”
and I can’t see you needing anything more; the motor sounded quiet and efficient, and the gearbox was equally muted which bodes well for a system working well and lasting for a good while… however, I couldn’t help myself… popping in an 11.1v stick and switching things to fullauto… oh hells yeah! This thing is super-neat, but also would be pretty nasty to be on the receiving end of! I am in no way endorsing using a battery other than that specified by the manufacturer, and with an 11.1 fitted I could hear the motor straining a little, and the gearbox audibly rattling on full-auto, so although I did this for “testing purposes a la Stewbacca” I cannot recommend that you use anything more than a 7.4v in the MPX as I believe you’d have a very poorly AEG very quickly indeed… but time will tell (wink!)…
A LOT TO LIKE
And talking of manufacturers, word is that the OEM behind this true-to-scale airsoft replica of the MPX K Sportline is in fact Taiwanese airsoftaces King Arms under the SIG SAUER license; I have a grudging respect for King Arms as they’ve actually produced a few of my favourite AEGs and GBBs, and given what I’ve found on the range with the MPX it looks like they’ve come up with another winner. Please note though that this means the MPX K is only compatible with the original King Arms MPX-K magazines.
So, SIG has grown its airsoft/training line again with the release of the SIG AIR Proforce MPX-K Sportline, and that’s a VERY good thing as it brings the MPX platform solidly into the entry-level price range, and there’s much to like here. Okay, it’s not made of metal like its higher-end sibling, the VFC/ SIG AIR MPX, as it’s nylon polymer construction, but it is solid, and unlike the more expensive version I can’t see anything that would stop you taking it straight out and getting it in-game. It’s
“USING .20G BBS THE MPX K GAVE A MEAN CHRONOGRAPH READING OF 0.94 JOULE/319FPS WHICH WAS VERY CONSISTENT AND OBVIOUSLY PERFECTLY SITE FRIENDLY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CQB ENGAGEMENTS THAT THE MPX WAS DESIGNED FOR!”
not just affordable and comfortable to run and gun with, but weighing just 1600g (including the magazine!), and measuring just 390/595mm this is a kick-ass little platform that even the smallest player could use all day long!
But I will say that it’s not just smaller players or those new to airsoft that will benefit from the MPX K, as I would genuinely have one in a heartbeat, and I may just have to part with some cash and not send the sample back… yes, really, I like it THAT much!
It takes me back to my early days of airsoft where we all ran “plastic guns” that were simple with the most basic electronics and that’s a really cool feeling… but the fact is that the SIG AIR Proforce MPX-K Sportline is actually a pretty darn cool, solidly-
performing little AEG by modern standards too! As I said earlier, even as stock from the box this is a neat little AEG that will serve you well if you look after it, and run it to spec… but down the road when something inevitably goes awry (as it does with all AEGs!) a few choice little upgrades, the ability to make use of an 11.1 regularly, and perhaps a slightly longer handguard (for me) will make it downright door-kicker NASTY!
My sincere thanks to the guys at www.iwholesales.biz for providing the test AEG; if you’d like to keep updated on the latest news about the SIG AIR line, and many other new developments, keep an eye on their website and socials! AA
“I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD STOP YOU TAKING IT STRAIGHT
OUT
AND GETTING IT IN-GAME.
IT’S NOT JUST AFFORDABLE AND COMFORTABLE TO RUN AND GUN WITH, BUT WEIGHING JUST 1600G (INCLUDING THE MAGAZINE!), AND MEASURING JUST 390/595MM THIS IS A KICK-ASS LITTLE PLATFORM THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST PLAYER COULD USE ALL DAY LONG!”
FIGHTIN’ IRON!
WHEN POSSIBLE IN ANY ISSUE OF AIRSOFT ACTION WE ALWAYS LIKE TO FEATURE AN OPFOR PLATFORM TO BALANCE THE BLUFOR MODELS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE, AND THIS MONTH BILL WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET HIS HANDS ON SOMETHING FOR TESTING THAT HE DROOLED OVER AT IWA… IN THE SHAPE OF THE WELL PRO WE06 PPK 20 GBBR; WAS IT ALL THAT HE HOPED IT WOULD BE?
It sometimes strikes me when I’m testing AEGs and GBBs these days that I’m almost always quite impressed with what I have to get onto the range, in one way or another… that’s not me pandering to the industry, but just acknowledging that what I usually see now is so far removed from what I had to field when I first started shooting AEGs (and as soon as I could GBBs) as to be utterly different beasts entirely!
Although I’ve certainly become more of a discerning buyer (I know what I like!) it strikes me time and again when I get a new platform up onto the woods range that things are just so much better than they used to be, and although prices can still be high in certain areas (GBBs especially), what I, and we, now lift from the often shiny, bright box as new in 2025 is vastly superior to what we dragged from its drab packaging back in the late nineties.
“WHILST I DO REMEMBER OLDER AEGS AND GBBS WITH A CERTAIN MISTY-EYED FONDNESS OF AGE-DIMINISHED-RECOLLECTION, EVERY TIME I TAKE A NEW MODEL UP ONTO THE WOODS RANGE IT JUST WORKS… OKAY, SOME BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT WORK THEY INVARIABLY DO!”
“crap”, and I have to wonder what the author’s term of reference may be…
If I’m totally honest it’s why I don’t play in the UK as much as I used to (although I do try to play overseas whenever invited!), as when I visit a site I want to be with fellow airsofters who truly value one another and the community we create together, playing hard and fair, and totally loving the game... I don’t want to be listening to gucciclad, uber-gun-toting and posturing morons who regurgitate what they’ve half-heard from a paid-for talking head on Tik Tok as if the very gods of airsoft have reached down and given them some sort of sacred and irrefutable insight…
Again, perhaps my viewpoint has changed with advancing years as there was always “BS”, and always certain players not calling hits, but in the past we just laughed it off, and if a player consistently played without honour they were very swiftly asked not to return… please don’t get me wrong as I know a whole heap of really splendid, totally honourable players these days that I still call “friends”, but it does appear to me that as the AEGs and GBBs we use to play have improved that expectations and attitudes towards one another have changed… and not for the better…
Fact is that whatever anyone says even a truly GREAT airsoft platform will only reach out so far, and although most will get you out to 50+ metres stock these days, once you factor in shooting on the move this range decreases dramatically. It’s why I test to 30m, as to me that’s a relatively realistic engagement distance, certainly for urban and most woodland scenarios… yes, my personal “witnessed record” is still just over 100m with my WE SVD GBBR, but that was from a stationary, supported position… and thankfully the player I hit had the very good grace to call it!
“FACT IS THAT WHATEVER ANYONE SAYS EVEN A TRULY GREAT AIRSOFT PLATFORM WILL ONLY REACH OUT SO FAR, AND ALTHOUGH MOST WILL GET YOU OUT TO 50+ METRES STOCK THESE DAYS, ONCE YOU FACTOR IN SHOOTING ON THE MOVE THIS RANGE DECREASES DRAMATICALLY. IT’S WHY I TEST TO 30M…”
concentrates my thoughts on OPFOR platforms!
Again, once upon a time playing OPFOR with a proper “Com-Bloc” platform in your hands was a difficult thing to pull off… yes, there were AKs out there, but by and large (even in the early “noughties” when I got my first SU) they weren’t brilliant, and you needed some serious upgrades and had to be a sneaky so-and-so to make them effective.
Now of course thanks to the likes of TM, CYMA, LCT, ARCTURUS, and now SPECNA ARMS (to mention but a few!) we have a wonderful world of choice when it comes to our “OPFOR arsenal”, and any of the manufactures listed there will deliver you, via your local (or not so local these days) airsoft store, something that performs pretty darn well out of the box!
But “WELL” is the word, right there! At IWA over the past couple of years I’ve been very impressed by the advances I’ve seen on the WELL PRO stand, with some very, very interesting developments appearing year on year. One model I saw at the 2025 show was the WE06 PPK 20
“AT
The 9mm PPK-20 submachine gun, based on the Vityaz-SN, differs from its predecessor by its compact size, lower weight, optional quickdetachable sound and flash suppressor, folding telescopic polymer buttstock, ergonomic pistol grip and ambidextrous fire selector switch.
The main cartridge for this submachine gun is the 7N21 high-power armor-piercing round, but the PPK-20 can also use all types of 9x19 rounds. The use of a pistol round allowed use a simple and reliable blowback action. Scopes can be mounted on a Picatinny rail on the dust cover, and other accessories can be attached on the Picatinny rails on the top and bottom of the handguard, as well as the M-LOK interface on the sides.”
So, just how closely does the WELL PRO replica match up to this? It’s pretty bloody spot-on!
The WE06 PPK 20 GBBR is undoubtedly a CQB-beast given its 786/870mm length (and that’s with the stock folded out!), but its full metal construction with a stamped steel receiver and top cover gives it a weight of 3800g which means it’s no lightweight to be hefted around in tight spaces… this is not a replica for the weak of limb
IWA OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS I’VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED BY THE ADVANCES I’VE SEEN ON THE WELL PRO STAND, WITH SOME VERY, VERY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS APPEARING YEAR ON YEAR. ONE MODEL I SAW AT THE 2025 SHOW WAS THE WE06 PPK 20 GBBR…”
“THE WE06 PPK 20 GBBR IS UNDOUBTEDLY A CQB-BEAST GIVEN ITS 786/870MM LENGTH (AND THAT’S WITH THE STOCK FOLDED OUT!), BUT ITS FULL METAL CONSTRUCTION WITH A STAMPED STEEL RECEIVER AND TOP COVER GIVES IT A WEIGHT OF 3800G WHICH MEANS IT’S NO LIGHTWEIGHT TO BE HEFTED AROUND IN TIGHT SPACES…”
and faint of heart in any way!
Kicking things off as I usually do at the “sharp end” there’s a model-specific steel flash-hider marrying up to the outer barrel on 14mm CCW male barrel threads, which of course means that you can easily fit a suppressor (just like the real) or tracer unit for those “light up the night” moments! Again totally as per “the real” we move back to a somewhat unique handguard that’s very slim but manages to incorporate both traditional picatinny rails top and bottom, with newer M-LOK-style accessory attachment points on both the left and right-hand side. Also incorporated into this handguard is the shrouded front-sight post which you can adjust for elevation through a hole in the top of the shroud.
The lower receiver is a thing of beauty with the correct Cyrillic markings where they should be, and a new take on the traditional AK-style fire-selector, updating it with a more modern, throw-lever function… which then links via a cam system to an ambidextrous fire selector of a more “western” design above the pistol grip on the left-hand side! This truly brings this style of selector bang-up-to-date, and for those used to an AR rather than an AK it makes things far more user-friendly and intuitive; for experienced AK-users though, do note however that unlike a standard AK selector , the PPK 20 has “western” fire modes, so it goes from safe to semi-auto and then to full-auto in the lowest position…
The stamped-steel dust cover is full-length picatinny-railed and largely unremarkable although it does incorporate the correct “9mm” ejection port, and features a really nice removable and fully adjustable “peephole” aperture rear sight; although this works perfectly with the shrouded front sight I believe that the PPK 20 is just made to run a wide-view holosight or fast-acquisition red dot… the JJ AIRSOFT VZ-1 or IP87 (this needed a slight “field mod” of the tensioning nut to get it to fit perfectly) that I
“INTERNALLY
checked out in ISSUE 176 last month would be just perfect, and “IRL” images show that both have been used on the platform.
In terms of the pistol grip, this is of the AK-12 style with a great grip-angle, and it’s a one piece grip and trigger-guard affair; the guard itself is nicely oversized for use with gloves. Directly ahead of this is the magwell assembly which is sturdy polymer, and it’s here that there is one “dated” operating part as the mag release is an “old-skool” paddle job, and that’s all she wrote… it’s not a problem though as this is easy enough to use for quick mag changes.
Moving to the far-rear is the fold-to-the-right adjustable stock, and this is very nice indeed, and resembles the stock first seen I believe during the Russian Army Expo 2017 on the 5.45×39mm AM17 rifle (alongside the integrally suppressed AMB17, which is just cool!) . Again made from good quality polymer if feels solid as a rock both open and closed, although when folded it does occlude the traditional AK-style selector… thankfully that’s solved thanks to the ambidextrous controls! The folding mechanism is controlled by an obvious, large and textured button on the top of the stock directly behind the lower, and length is controlled by an enclosed paddle at the farrear; both controls are super-positive, and when fully deployed to the extent of its six positions the stock is long enough for even my ape-arms! Externally then the PPK 20 looks and feels like the absolute “bizness”, and it’s certainly got the weight and feel of something real, although in fact the real thing only weighs in at 2700g!
Internally things are pretty darn interesting too, as I’m reliably informed by our “Tech Vikings” that the “OS” of the PPK 20 is based off the TM AKM GBBR setup, and to further enhance this alreadysuperlative system the nozzle has an NPAS-style adjustable valve, allowing you to adjust your power level to the site you’re playing on! With a 6.04 tightbore in place as standard, this power-
THINGS ARE PRETTY DARN INTERESTING TOO, AS I’M RELIABLY INFORMED BY OUR “TECH VIKINGS” THAT THE “OS” OF THE PPK 20 IS BASED OFF THE TM AKM GBBR SETUP, AND TO FURTHER ENHANCE THIS ALREADY-SUPERLATIVE SYSTEM THE NOZZLE HAS AN NPAS-STYLE ADJUSTABLE VALVE”
adjustment will also let you get things just where you want them in relation to accuracy given your chosen weight of BB.
DOWNRANGE
The PPK 20 on the range proved to be just superb… there it is!
Okay, it functioned entirely like a classic Kalashnikov, but with some modern twists; the only part of readying the replica for firing is that you need to charge the magazine with gas and BBs rather than real rounds! For testing I used simple Green Gas which functioned superbly in warm weather, but to get the best from the PPK 20 in the winter you’d probably want to vary your gas to take lower temperatures into account; as it cools down I’ll try this myself and report back at a later date.
Once the 38 BB magazine (the WE06-GM magazine, neatly styled to look like the real polymer one with 9x19 markings!) was ready, the chronograph registered a very consistent 0.83 Joule/300fps using .20g BBs. Once everything was set up BBs were happily sailing out to the end of the 30 metre “woods range” with a good, flat trajectory. Upping the BB weight to .30g and adjusting the hop, the PPK 20 was still banging BBs away sweetly.
Again, something to note here, even for the most experienced player; the hop adjustment is unusual to say the least in that it’s really, REALLY tucked away and not at all obvious at first glance! To adjust the hop there’s an allen bolt just ahead of the cocking handle on the right side of the receiver on the trunnion block. This bolt can adjusted with the included tool (or an allen key) and the adjustment direction is subtly yet clearly marked... thankfully the PPK 20 comes with a very thorough instruction manual written in pretty clear English, so here it’s most definitely a case of “RTFM”!
Once the hop was set and I’d become comfortable with the new selector setup, on semi-auto accuracy was spot on, with empty BB bottles being easy to hit at mid-range, and the 300mm x 300mm steels at 30m range. Switching up the PPK 20 kicked BBs out at a good rate with the additional pleasure of having the bolt slam back and forward with each shot…. it’s slightly addictive to say the least!
Overall my time spent with the WELL PRO WE06 PPK 20 GBBR thus far has been thoroughly positive. If your style of play is more “MilSim” or you want to add a little spice of realism to your game then this excellent replica should be high on your list to consider, especially if you favour a modern OPFOR loadout. As I always say with GBBRs the cost of additional magazines is going to put up the overall price of things, but in my opinion that extra spend would be well worth it, especially if you make your purchases over time. To wrap things up, I genuinely like the PPK 20 as it looks 100%’s modern, is built and functions very well indeed, and shoots equally superbly! The fact that it comes in a really nice hardcase with room for extra mags, accessories and potentially even your GRACH secondary really sweetens the deal, but the SMG on its own would have been enough for me to give it a solid thumbs-up. The WE06 PPK 20 GBBR really is what I hoped it would be (all is most definitely WELL!), and it’s absolute fun to run; with a good maintenance regime I can see it providing a long and happy “service life” to many OPFOR shooters out there!
Sincere thanks as always go to the guys at www.iwholesales.biz for supplying the PPK 20… they know I like a gasser, and they know I love an AK variant, and it seems like they’re more than happy to continue feed my habit, bless their hearts! AA
“ONCE THE 38 BB MAGAZINE (THE WE06-GM MAGAZINE, NEATLY STYLED TO LOOK LIKE THE REAL POLYMER ONE WITH 9X19 MARKINGS!) WAS READY, THE CHRONOGRAPH REGISTERED A VERY CONSISTENT 0.83 JOULE/300FPS USING .20G BBS”
“OVERALL MY TIME SPENT WITH THE WELL PRO WE06 PPK 20 GBBR THUS FAR HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE. IF YOUR STYLE OF PLAY IS MORE “MILSIM” AND YOU WANT TO ADD A LITTLE SPICE OF REALISM TO YOUR GAME THEN THIS EXCELLENT REPLICA SHOULD BE HIGH ON YOUR LIST TO CONSIDER”
REGULAR AS CLOCKWORK
ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES STEWBACCA VISITED WAY BACK WHEN HE HAD FIRST ARRIVED IN TAIWAN WAS MODIFY AIRSOFT; OVER SEVEN YEARS LATER HE THOUGHT IT WAS WELL PAST TIME FOR A RETURN VISIT, AND ONCE AGAIN FOLLOWED OUR LOCAL LADY ‘MILITARY ANNY’ WU TO GET THE MORE IN DEPTH STORY ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF MODIFY AIRSOFT AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN UP TO AS OF LATE.
Thinking back to when I first started investigating the local airsoft industry and making contacts through the likes of the inaugural MOA show and the latter few Hooha shows, I had finally managed to book some holiday off from my first job posting down in Zhubei, mostly to head to Thailand and take part in an old university friend’s wedding there. As it happened I was unable to book a spot in the north to make use of the time it had taken too long to book off, so, I figured, why not make use of the time off to make inroads locally, visiting Bolt Airsoft and Modify Airsoft one after the other over a couple of days between returning to Taiwan and returning to the day job.
Back then Modify were still best known for their precision gearsets, gearbox components, pistons, and spring action/bolt action rifles, which they not only sold under their own brand but were responsible for significant OEM work for other recognisable brands. At the same time they were making inroads into AEG products with a small but growing XTG AR electric guns range available at the time which I was happily testing along with their bolt guns on their flat roof.
This was the time before they made the leap into GBB systems with their bold and surprising Russian PP2000 GBB SMG/PDW system which I reviewed all the way back in Issue 123 and have had excellent experiences of aside from some recent magazine wear and feeding issues I haven’t had time to address. Their HOP unit and buckings clearly have some secret sauce in them which allows them to very well make use of even its much smaller barrel compared to their longer bolt-action offerings and AEGs.
In my earlier interview we had touched on the beginnings of the company and how it evolved into the Modify we know better these days, of course on this later visit having Anny along again helped with the native language nuance of the stories and the freer flow of the particulars
“BACK
regarding things I may not have picked up previously.
IT’S ALL ABOUT PRECISION
Modify was co-founded by Jane Liu and Dennis Sun, the latter of whose father Jane unfortunately never had the chance to meet prior to his passing away, but who was a prominent watchmaker 60 years ago, being the maker of the first watch hands available in Taiwan, and ‘Sun the watch hand’ as he was revered at the time, paved the way for future generations to develop the nascent horological industry in Taiwan.
Having been educated in Japan and spending a lot of time with many local expert engineers there for a significant portion of his life, as well as becoming very conversant in Japanese in the process (all of which allowed him to transfer a great deal of critical technical knowledge and experience into Taiwan along with himself) when he was working for leading Swiss watch brands such as Zurich as an OEM supplier of components the owner of this brand in Switzerland in fact being Taiwanese themselves and thereby facilitating outsourcing to Taiwan’s growing high quality manufacturing capabilities at the time, especially helped along with Dennis’ father’s expertise at the time.
However, many of the industry leaders who did spring up in the mid-twentieth century gradually transferred their businesses to mainland China as it opened up economically, while others still simply retired out as the horologist’s life is a stressful and demanding lot, especially considering the eyestrain and fine handicraft required by the delicate and miniscule components required in the production of a fine watch movement.
Despite many of the other industrialists shifting over the strait, at the time Jane and Dennis remained steadfast and decided to maintain their Taiwan based operations; if they hadn’t done so it
THEN MODIFY WERE STILL BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR PRECISION GEARSETS, GEARBOX COMPONENTS, PISTONS, AND SPRING ACTION/BOLT ACTION RIFLES, WHICH THEY NOT ONLY SOLD UNDER THEIR OWN BRAND BUT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNIFICANT OEM WORK FOR OTHER RECOGNISABLE BRANDS”
would be unlikely that they’d have had to diversify in the manner they would in the end. Research and development is always a cost intensive aspect of any product oriented business, and the decision to not relocate at least allowed for more investment in new product lines to shift the focus of their design efforts, resulting in Modify Airsoft.
Dennis’ father’s philosophy in starting a new business was summarised as “sharp tools make good work, if you want to do your job well”, and he also passed this concept down to Dennis. Modify has since been passed down to their third generation within the family thus far with Dennis and Jane’s son handling a lot of show presentation work and English language introduction of new products as well as the development process and management.
But, what exactly does Mr Sun’s “sharp tools make good work, if you want to do your job well” mean? In simple terms; if a craftsman wants to do his job well, he must first make his
tools excellent; in fact this philosophy took a somewhat literal turn in the earlier businesses, with one of their many different machines at the time being Taiwan’s first knife sharpening system! This process could be labour intensive at the time and a slow deliberate process that suited the patience of watchmakers, however longer term they pondered how to transform the business and diversify into other markets.
At the time Mr Sun was also an avid photographer and quite capable of reverseengineering machinery or components merely from reference photos he took at exhibitions, perhaps himself being somewhat responsible for such things being prohibited by some brands in later shows!
But with all of this experience and capability in precision small components manufacturing, where to take the brand? In 2001, Jane and Dennis began to produce parts for well-known toy guns in the industry (prior to founding Modify,
“THEY MADE THE LEAP INTO GBB SYSTEMS WITH THEIR BOLD AND SURPRISING RUSSIAN PP2000 GBB SMG/PDW SYSTEM WHICH I REVIEWED ALL THE WAY BACK IN ISSUE 123 AND HAVE HAD EXCELLENT EXPERIENCES OF ASIDE FROM SOME RECENT MAGAZINE WEAR AND FEEDING ISSUES I HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO ADDRESS”
Dennis inherited his father’s technology and made many machines) and also liking to play with remote control cars, he had the idea of making components for the RC car industry… not unlike Tokyo Marui’s story arc, in reality!
Taking further inspiration from the likes of the L-shaped levers in 3.5” floppy disks of the era (Editor’s note; if you know what these are, be sure to take care of that backache!) which were used to automatically close the sliding access ports which allowed them to be read within the disk drives, they applied a similar idea to build AEG gearboxes and novel anti-reversal systems upon. While these were not innovative new inventions per se, they can be patented for use in other industries or applications, allowing Modify to begin drawing on experiences from somewhat unrelated industries and apply their knowledge and ideas to airsoft.
The ‘New Design Patent Description’: in Article 106 of Taiwan’s Patent Law stipulates that “a new design refers to the creation of the shape, pattern, color or combination of an article”. Article 107 also states that if the same or similar design has been disclosed before the application, or the new design applied for is a creation that is easy to think of by those familiar with the technology, it is not allowed to apply for a new design patent under this law. Thus the outcome of the above articles is that any design of the appearance, shape, pattern, colour or combination of an article can obtain a new design patent if there is no same or similar design disclosed before the application date, and it is not obvious to those familiar with its design.
FOUNDING STEPS
In 2006, Jane and Dennis officially founded the Modify brand; with Dennis as the general manager as well as being a competent technician in his own right with a product innovation background and dozens of existing patents held
“DESPITE MANY OF THE OTHER INDUSTRIALISTS SHIFTING OVER THE STRAIT, AT THE TIME JANE AND DENNIS REMAINED STEADFAST AND DECIDED TO MAINTAIN THEIR TAIWAN BASED OPERATIONS; IF THEY HADN’T DONE SO IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY THAT THEY’D HAVE HAD TO DIVERSIFY IN THE MANNER THEY WOULD IN THE END”
in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as following the brand spirit and philosophy of continuous improvement extolled by the promise of ‘there is no best, only better’ . The company logo itself was conceived as an M for Modify that also looks stylised as the kind of face mask commonly used by their target end users, evoking a reminder for players to consider their own safety, but at the same time enjoy their Modify’s products. Furthermore, the shape of the M is reminiscent of two hands meeting, signifying the long history of handicraft techniques and expertise, as well as the protection and caring attitude towards the end users.
Initially money was somewhat tight for the company, but nonetheless they had their own factory, an array of existing intellectual property and experience to work from. Searching online to find suitable website names that were still available, their initial ideas of ‘snow leopard’ and ‘tiger’ were already spoken for… following some further consideration Dennis decided on ‘Modify’ as their products were already becoming advanced in the Japanese markets.
With the URL registered and beginning with upgrade component kits in 2006, they gradually developed their product range to the point where entire guns were undertaken, following a similar story arc of many manufacturers, especially in Taiwan. They began with making parts, before progressing to spring action systems, then progressing to AEG gearboxes and complete guns, and now more recently working in the gas blowback space with their aforementioned PP2000 SMG and related carbine kit systems.
Following their horological roots, Dennis pondered at the time as to why so many manufactures installed their typical three gears into their gearbox shells as separate entities, meaning they have to be individually disassembled and reinstalled each time a gearbox is dismantled for maintenance or upgrade. Why not, then, take a cue from watch actions and make unitised gear sets where all three gears are mounted into a common armature which makes their installation and maintenance far easier within the gearbox shells, as well as maintaining meshing distances far more rigidly, leading to exceptionally smooth running gear train units, further improved by roller bearings to ensure the best quality and operation?
However, the underlying philosophy of remaining affordable for the players by carefully considering design aspects and manufacturing saw their brand and products initially finding their way overseas first with clear positioning as well as targeted offline marketing.
Using mounted gearbox units to demonstrate their components at trade shows, industry insiders and end users alike could see the benefit of their precision and smooth operation and extol
“THE UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY OF REMAINING AFFORDABLE FOR THE PLAYERS BY CAREFULLY CONSIDERING DESIGN ASPECTS AND MANUFACTURING SAW THEIR BRAND AND PRODUCTS INITIALLY FINDING THEIR WAY OVERSEAS FIRST WITH CLEAR POSITIONING AS WELL AS TARGETED OFFLINE MARKETING”
their growing ‘TAA’ quality aspects to potential buyers; their specialities being ‘Toughness’ in terms of manufacturing and materials applied to small precision components, ‘Accuracy’ obviously carrying over the high quality control capabilities of their watchmaking background, and ‘Airtightness’ - capitalising on the tolerances they can work with to ensure reliable and consistent operation of their pistons and cylinders to deliver peak performance and the best end user experience.
In terms of on-site capabilities, their fivefloor dedicated facility encompasses not only upper level offices for management, meetings, operations and other such things, but lower floors for goods in and out, storage, and in house CNC machining cells which feature automatic bar stock feed system. Spring manufacturing equipment is used to produce the smaller internal springs for gearboxes, whilst mainsprings for the pistons have to be outsourced, along with injection moulded components, metal injection moulded and cast parts all of which happen with specialists off-site.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT MODIFY?
But what is happening behind the scenes at Modify in terms of products?
MWS is the hot platform from Marui; indeed, even in Taiwan with all of our domestically available alternatives, many of my teammates and others have acquired Marui’s latest GBBR system due to its increasingly famous consistency and excellent gas efficiency. Many are once again following suit and adopting this standard and Modify are no exception,
with their recently announced high-quality CNC machined and anodised unitised flat-blade twostage trigger pack system for competition rifle style performance and controls, which I spent a considerable amount of time handling at their facility and enjoying the crisp hammer and sear reset as well as the brushed bronze finish of the external casing.
Furthermore their own MWS GBBR 30 BB AR magazine will support this growing ecosystem alongside a custom HOP unit and bucking with 70 and 80 degree Shore hardness options to allow use of heavier BB ammunition which is not permitted in Japan and a typical shortcoming of the otherwise excellent systems. Evidently Modify haven’t been resting on their laurels in the intervening years since I last visited them, with much to look forward to as well as continuous improvement and re-iteration of their existing industry leading bolt action sniper systems. Many thanks to Jane and the Modify team for their hospitality and time helping both Anny and I gain a greater understanding of their rich history and precision manufacturing-oriented background and capabilities. AA
“THEIR OWN MWS GBBR 30 BB AR MAGAZINE WILL SUPPORT THIS GROWING ECOSYSTEM ALONGSIDE A CUSTOM HOP UNIT AND BUCKING WITH 70 AND 80 DEGREE SHORE HARDNESS OPTIONS TO ALLOW USE OF HEAVIER BB AMMUNITION WHICH IS NOT PERMITTED IN JAPAN”
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RED CELL LAYIN’
IT DOWN… ONE MORE TIME!
WE’RE MOVING RED CELL ALONG AGAIN THIS MONTH AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE END OF THE TEST PROGRAM, AND WHAT A RIDE IT HAS BEEN WITHOUT DOUBT! IT’S TIME AGAIN TO LOOK AT SUPPORT GUNS, AN AREA OF AIRSOFT THAT’S NOT WITHOUT A DEGREE OF CONTROVERSY, BUT ONE THAT WHEN USED RIGHT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO AN EFFECTIVE TEAM-PLAY IN-GAME!
Over the past four and a bit years we’ve been lucky enough as a group to have access to AEGs and GBBs from a whole host of manufacturers, and we’re looking forward to compiling all the data we’ve gathered along the way and publish it all as a bit of an “AA Special” in 2026.
This time though, we bring things pretty much full circle to where we started on the first ever RED CELL meet-day where along with a table full of G-SERIES and 1911 GBB models we also got into the first tests on a number of Support Guns! Although this category hasn’t grown as much as others, the fact that we’ve stuck with the same models all the way through has, if anything, given us a far deeper understanding of the variants that have been with us, in some cases, for the duration!
So many times we hear horror stories of fastfiring Support Guns “going down” almost from new, and due to the fact that they are used by many as “BB hoses” we can kind of understand why, although frankly a purpose-designed “SAW”, a Squad Automatic Weapon in its broadest sense, should be designed from the outset to handle the heavy fire-loads that be will required of it… and truth be told, some ain’t!
Again, all too often we see designs, more so in AEG territory, that are just bog-standard AEG internal setups thrown into the body of something like an M249 or an RPK and expected to do the heavy-lifting of laying down thousands and thousands of BBs for prolonged periods, and the fact is that their gearboxes and motors just aren’t up to the job. Then you throw in massive box
and drum magazines, quite often with intricate and fragile motor-driven feed systems that are supposed to just somehow work perfectly and consistently in harmony with internals that just aren’t up to the job, and… well, I believe you can see where I’m heading with this!
And then there’s that big old grey, elephantine mass lurking in the corner of the bunker, and that’s maintenance… or the lack of it. We expect our AEGs and GBBs to just work, and although I’d be the first to say that this is an expectation that should be met by the manufacturers from the outset by them designing the correct thing in the first place, the truth is that as players we all have the responsibility to keep our kit up to par over time… not just as new, but during their “service life” too… sadly maintenance is an area that is oft-neglected, and most certainly in my own experience a Support Gun is something you need to keep right on top of when it comes to cleaning, maintaining, and ultimately upgrading it.
With all that said I truly believe that an effective “gunner” with a well-maintained Support Gun can be a massively addition to any airsoft group, and a decent support gunner who knows what they’re about will be the friend of every other player on their team! As I’ve said before, if you’re prepared to put in the “gruntwork” both in terms of physically carrying a support gun AND properly learning the “gunner’s trade” then you can be an invaluable force multiplier both in attack and defence.
I’ll go back to my own words from before here:
“The key word here of course is “support” and if you are using your “LMG” to effectively help
“ALTHOUGH THIS CATEGORY HASN’T GROWN AS MUCH AS OTHER, THE FACT THAT WE’VE STUCK WITH THE SAME MODELS ALL THE WAY THROUGH HAS, IF ANYTHING, GIVEN US A FAR DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIANTS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US, IN SOME CASES, FOR THE DURATION!”
the rest of your team to achieve objectives, to lay down accurate, effective, and controlled suppressive fire whilst your teammates either advance, retreat or flank, then you’re doing the job right and you’ll be an asset that everyone wants to have play alongside them. A good gunner needs to securely park their ego in the safe zone, and in play they need to get work done, and this is equally true in a skirmish setting as it is during a MilSim.”
Miguel, well-known as effective and efficient Team Leader had this to add...
“In my team, we do have the role of support gunner. And it’s not just handing an LMG to someone, or having a team member buying one
and just using it on the field; for us, it has to be something more coordinated. Like any other role in the team (navigation, comms, etc), support is only available to the sergeant’s group, players who have been in the team for a while and have shown interest in having more responsibility within the team.
“And before using an LMG in a game, a player in our team will go through a trial period during our practices, because one thing is being interested, and being able to use it is another. We highly value this role; it’s been proved very useful ingame time and again, not only in defensive positions, but as cover for flanking manoeuvers, with firepower and noise. Remember, the enemy might not see you flanking, but they might hear you. So if you have an LMG making noise, it might help!”
In my view when it comes to Support Guns, the AEG is most definitely, 100% still king when it comes to laying down massive amounts of suppressive fire in any airsoft setting, even up to and including the very highest levels of MilSim. Yes, there are GBB versions of certain Support Guns now, like the awesome VFC M249, but this is also an area I believe where HPA-powered systems have, and should, really come into their own when properly managed in-game… I never thought I’d say this, but an efficient HPA system to me is just about perfect for the support role as it takes a lot of the strain out of the “OS” to keep things rolling, and the
“SADLY MAINTENANCE IS AN AREA THAT IS OFT-NEGLECTED, AND MOST CERTAINLY IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE A SUPPORT GUN IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KEEP RIGHT ON TOP OF WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING, MAINTAINING, AND ULTIMATELY UPGRADING IT”
external tank here isn’t so much of an issue as a proper support gunner will usually be working from the prone position, or a more static base.
PUTTING “ROUNDS DOWN”
Once again this time I’ve asked the members of The Cell to concentrate on models that have been with them for a considerable time, and have one sterling service consistently over the years, and have had many thousands of BBs down their barrels! This is what The Cell is all about; when we put Red Cell together we knew that we had a lot of long-term knowledge among the members, but it’s times like this that we realise just how much, and how deep that knowledge is, and just how committed the guys are to creating something pretty darn special!
Bill: I have to admit that I’ve had numerous Support Guns in my personal airsoft armoury over the years, and I do love ‘em! Many moons ago when my beard was just a wispy ‘tache kind of thing I was trained on the BREN and then the L4, and I ended up lumping one about as I was “the big lad” in my cadet section! I also spent some very happy days with the L7 on the ranges down at Hythe, so for me an airsoft Support Gun was a no brainer as soon as I could afford one!
Support Guns have come and gone though, and whilst some, like my beloved G&P Stoner, the big old A&K PKM, and my much-adored LCT RPD will always be “keepers”, the likes of the old STAR M249 (yes, the one with the plastic gearbox!) and the A&K M60 VN have been consigned to “nonactive status”.
Of the new breed so to say, the first up of my personal choices in the Support Gun category is the KRYTAC TRIDENT LMG. I’ve had one of these knocking around since they first arrived in the UK, and I like it because it’s a truly mobile option for any would-be gunner who’s making their first steps into the role.
Weighing in at just 3530g and with an overall length of 750/835 mm, the Trident LMG Enhanced actually combines the firepower of a full-sized LMG with the portability and the controls the traditional “M4”platform, so it’s easy to get to grips with! With a Keymod handguard and shortened barrel the LMG is even more usable than before; the size and weight mean that even the smallest player can comfortably carry and LMG for extended periods of time, and with its large 3000 BB box magazine, the Trident LMG is ideal for laying down copious suppressive fire.
There are a number of manufacturers following the “lightweight polymer body” path right now when it comes to SAWs, another model that’s been with us from the outset is the SPECNA ARMS SA-249 PARA CORE. The CORE line makes good use of polymer, alloys and steel in combination to create a solid and durable AEG that in the form of the PARA weighs in at a not insubstantial 4970g with the empty box in place; after a couple of minor “hiccups”, which I’ll put down to a newly-fitted spring, the SA-249 chronos consistently, at 1.07 Joule/340fps on .20g.
The box mag feeds very evenly, and in terms of accuracy I’m actually more than happy just on the iron sights. As I said when we first looked at this model “it’s supposed to be a “full-auto supportbeast” and be able to spit out BBs consistently and give an area-dominating effect rather than being nail-on-the head accurate”, but I will tell you that it’s proved to be massively effective in the role between 30 and 50m!
Boycie: I’ll stick with the comments that I made initially when we first looked at Support guns, in that over the years I’ve owned a number of support guns but always seem to have got bored with them as they were not too accurate and I didn’t like pushing out a rod of plastic with high ROF, so I decided to go more to employing an LMG for the purpose it was designed, to create a cone of fire and a reasonable beaten zone. I
“BEFORE USING AN LMG IN A GAME, A PLAYER IN OUR TEAM WILL GO THROUGH A TRIAL PERIOD DURING OUR PRACTICES, BECAUSE ONE THING IS BEING INTERESTED, AND BEING ABLE TO USE IT IS ANOTHER. WE HIGHLY VALUE THIS ROLE; IT’S BEEN PROVED VERY USEFUL IN-GAME TIME AND AGAIN”
CLASSIC ARMY M249
Price: iro UK£300.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 6300g
Length: 1050mm
Magazine Capacity: 300BBs but drums will fit
Cold Chrono:1.07 Joule/340fps
Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps
Optic Compatibility: Good
Suppressor Compatibilty: No
Available From: www.taiwangun.com
SPECNA ARMS SA-249 PARA CORE
Price: iro UK£280.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 4970 g
Length: 790-920mm
Magazine Capacity: 2500BBs
Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Optic Compatibility: Yes
Suppressor Compatibilty: Yes
Available From: www.gunfire.com
KRYTAC TRIDENT ENHANCED
Price: iro UK£500.00
Age: Five Years
Weight: 3530g
Length: 750-835mm
Magazine Capacity: 3000BBs
Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps
Hot Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps
Optic Compatibility: Good
Suppressor Compatibilty: No
Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com
VFC MK48 MOD1
Price: iro UK£900.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 3950g
Length: 1009mm
Magazine Capacity: 800 (internal)/8000 (box)
Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Optic Compatibility: Good
Suppressor Compatibilty: No
Available From: www.redwolfairsoft.com
G&P STONER MK63
Price: iro UK£580.00… if you can find one now!
Age: OLD… like its owner!!!
Weight: 4620g
Length: 930mm
Magazine Capacity: 1200 BBs
Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Optic Compatibility: Only on the yucky railed version!
Suppressor Compatibilty: Yes
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
had the opportunity to get a KRYTAC TRIDENT LMG and this seemed to fit my needs really well. I didn’t have to lug about a huge long RIF and could even use the LMG indoors on sites where semiauto rules apply. The KRYTAC also allows me to use mags from other team members if I run out of ammo, much like the Classic Army M249 does, but the Trident feeds in the same way that an M4 type rifle does.
I’m consistently working on it to create more of a spread at 40-50m so tightbores are not needed; I’m now running a 6.08, to help with the spread and have the hop set for .25s. I really enjoyed the SPECNA M249 when Red Cell had chance to try one out; it was accurate but with a good little spread at longer distances, felt solid and handled really well, yet lightweight to the point where I was firing it one handed like a pistol...
Stewbacca: You might think LMG AEGs are nothing new as such, and indeed I had hands on with such things way back in the winters of the mid 2000’s when my teammate had a full metal M249 at First and Only Matlock, running around in the snow with it for a round or two…
The difference that all those years have had, is a great deal more design and innovation squeezed into the latest LMGs, and the VFC Mk48 MAXIMI LMG is a great example; with a greatly reduced overall weight compared to longer serving competitors, contrasting a ridiculous heavy weight of fire brought to bear, the amount of ammunition that can be laid down in a single loading of the Mk48 is equal to around half the weight of the gun itself! Boasting an overall weight of around 4000g ‘dry’, the ease with which the Mk48 LMG can be wielded compared to its typical counterparts cannot be understated!
This ultra-light-weight is achieved through the extensive use of aluminium for the construction, with the majority of functional controls or fixture components being steel. The bulk of the receiver and barrel bodies are aluminium that is specially surface finished and anodised in a manner that closely resembles parkerised steel, giving you all of the look and lustre of the heavier construction of the real steel counterpart, without the actual real ‘steel’ and associated weight. Some may see this as a disadvantage or adversely affecting the
“THE DIFFERENCE THAT ALL THOSE YEARS HAVE HAD, IS A GREAT DEAL MORE DESIGN AND INNOVATION SQUEEZED INTO THE LATEST LMGS, AND THE VFC MK48 MAXIMI LMG IS A GREAT EXAMPLE… WITH A
GREATLY REDUCED OVERALL WEIGHT COMPARED TO LONGER SERVING COMPETITORS, CONTRASTING A RIDICULOUS HEAVY WEIGHT OF FIRE BROUGHT
TO BEAR”
A&K M60VN
Price: iro UK£450.00 (average)
Age: Not as old as Bill’s Stoner but old!
Weight: 7600g
Length: 1110mm
Magazine Capacity: 3500BBs
Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps (after Spring Change)
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Optic Compatibility: No
Suppressor Compatibilty: Yes, but why?
Available From: Most good airsoft retailers!
LCT RPD
Price: iro UK£920.00
Age: Four Years
Weight: 7000 g
Length: 1043mm
Magazine Capacity: 2800 BBs
Cold Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps
Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps
Optic Compatibility: Hell NO!
Suppressor Compatibilty: Yes, but NO!
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
CYMA CM052 RPK
Age: Six Years
Weight: 4500g
Length: 1080mm
Magazine Capacity: 800 BBs (AK drums will fit nicely!)
Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps (after Spring Change)
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Taclite Compatibility: No on the “classic”
Suppressor Compatibility: Yes
Supplied By: www.gunfire.com
A&K PKM
Price: iro UK£550.00 (average)
Age: Seven Years
Weight: 7350g
Length: 1185mm
Magazine Capacity: 5000 BBs
Cold Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps
Hot Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps
Optic Compatibility: No, but accessories available
realism or heft and user experience of the Mk48, but on the contrary!
The intention, as with all VFC products, is to provide a quality replica which is not just a wall hanger to be appreciated, but a genuinely useful and enjoyable reproduction that brings great firepower capability without crippling or exhausting the user. Suffice to say all those years ago I’d had my fill of the other full weight M249 after a round or two of running around with it in freezing miserable conditions and my back would undoubtedly give out if I were to have to deal with that kind of load over a whole game or MilSim weekender.
All of the team have tried their hand with the LMG and loved the recoil function, range, added realism of the belt feed shaking unit and the obvious performance the Mk 48 offers, and we’re seriously considering clubbing together and buying one as a team gun we can all share and make use of, particularly in MilSim games where we like to use more realistic squad roles and tactics together.
In relation to the M60, I had the pleasure of borrowing my team mate’s at one of our Copehill games for doing attack buggy runs in; it’s perfect for vehicle use with its side-mounted box mag and general heft, although as with apparently many AEG LMGs it had some feeding issues with the connection hose thing, still bags of fun. As for the old LCT version, it must be a very accurate replica, as the TWAAA have one as part of a militaria display at their headquarters and Mr Zhang was telling me how they exhibited it at a gun show years back and an enthusiastic American buyer was making joyful plans to purchase a whole load of them until he was finally informed they were not, in fact, real steel guns!
Bill: To be honest it’s my OPFOR fetish that brings out the support gunner in me and there are two models that are real “keepers” for me, and the first is the LCT RPD! This replica was
one of my “holy grail” models out in airsoft-land; whether you be a Cold War player, a ‘Namsoft commando, or indeed a modern day OPFOR MilSimmer then it’s way high on the list of “things I must have”. Let’s not be too harsh on the pricetag of the drop-dead gorgeous LCT RPD, as LCT have simply (ish!) made a true 1:1 replica of the RPD with stamped steel and wood, the same way the original guns were made during the Cold War! The RPD just absolutely oozes quality with absolutely impeccable steel (NOT alloy or “monkey metal”) metalwork and superb, highly burnished woodwork. The attention to detail is utterly staggering wherever you look; muzzle? Absolutely spot on! Folding steel bipod? Yup! Three position gas regulator? Yup again! Nowhere and nothing on the RPD looks as if it has been rushed or bodged and I’d go as far as saying that it’s probably better made than the real thing ever was. I’m seeing a few LCT RPD’s being used “in game” now, and for a properly “old skool” platform (albeit with some seriously solid airsoft internals!) it has an outrageous amount of “OPFOR Cred” and it really is just the thing!
And then there’s the A&K PKM. This AEG has been with me about six years now, and it is one of the very few AEGS that I have been “gifted” after I completed a review; the guys at A&K supplied one to me for testing via my mates at NUPROL, and when I went to return it they told me to hold onto it and really give it some beasting and report back… which I have continued to do at regular intervals! In fact, if pushed it was that proactive action on the part of A&K that first gave me the fledgling idea to create Red Cell, to test our beloved platforms over an extended period and bring our findings back to other airsofters before they spent their money!
And the PKM itself? It’s big and heavy (heavier than you might think!), and is a serious amount of metal to lug around all day, but it never fails to impress those that lay their eyes upon it
“TO BE HONEST IT’S MY OPFOR FETISH THAT BRINGS OUT THE SUPPORT GUNNER IN ME AND THERE ARE TWO MODELS THAT ARE REAL “KEEPERS” FOR ME, AND THE FIRST IS THE LCT RPD! THIS REPLICA WAS ONE OF MY “HOLY GRAIL” MODELS OUT IN AIRSOFT-LAND”
in the Safe Zone! The internals of the gun are thoroughly workmanlike, but you do get a bore-up cylinder and cylinder head, 8mm steel bushings, hi-torque motor, ball bearing spring guide and low resistance wiring throughout. There’s also an adjustable MOSFET which allows you to change the ROF which at the time the PKM was introduced was still a rarity!
The self-winding green metal box on this gun holds an outrageous 5000 BBs, allowing you to bring down the “heavy rain” on you opponents to your heart’s content, and the box can be filled by splitting it as per a drum or via a neat fill port on the right hand side should you need to reload “on the fly”. The box also holds the battery and connection for the self-winding mech, and there’s lots of space for a big battery inside…. although this adds even MORE weight to an already hefty beast!
The PKM is by no means a new model, and in actuality is now a bit of an “old campaigner” just like me… but A&K, even given more recent trials and tribulations, have been with us for years, and sometimes it’s genuinely worth looking at a model more than once, and I have seen the price for the &K PKM slowly rising... where I was seeing PKM models in my home market around the UK£450-£470 mark the last time we updated this category, that appears to have risen to around UK£540-£570 so there’s onbviously a market for these big bois! I’d still say though that for a big old support gun that gives solid performance, covers off many timelines, and positively oozes “OPFOR Cred” that’s still a good price!
Dan: Obviously, like Bill, I am a big fan of the PKM myself! Between the massive BB capacity, excellent box mag design and robust construction, it’s among one of the better support weapon platforms made, in my opinion. I do want to explore the RPK platform in-depth next as I’m keenly interested in lighter-weight MG’s that still check off reliability and other attributes.
Support guns themselves are still to this day in a bit of a weird spot; prices continue to rise, but the internals have not kept apace of developments and are lower quality than what one might expect given the price tag slapped on the box. While there now exists a premium tier of support weapons rapidly approaching (and exceeding) the $1K USD mark, these are divided into two arenas: hyper-complicated, fragile and admittedly low performance such as the VFC MG4 and Tokyo Marui MK46 or “Buy a gym pass” heavy suckers like the LCT PKP and Lambda MK48 fitted with much more simplistic, albeit still lacklustre internals. With that in mind, my opinion remains that much like DMR’s and sniper platforms, great support weapons are built, not bought.
Being an Airsoft tech who has fielded and built multiple highly-upgraded support guns now, I’ve come to realize that the unlocked potential of the platform is rather unique in that it can be a true display of what is colloquially termed “overmatch.” This is the realm of the “accurate support gun”, not Bubba Joe who’s mixing .20g’s and .25g’s to create “spread” whilst manufacturing a ratio of 1000 BB’s per kill. The accurate MG has the reach and accuracy of a DMR build, but with full auto and massive ammunition capacity on tap. It’s a more precision platform capable of grounding entire squads, if not much more in the hands of the savvy operator. For the player willing to heft the weight, this is indeed “the meta” as the kids would say.
Robbie: I think the most fun times we ever had was with a PKM, after we smoothed out it’s gearbox by adding a sector delay clip and, unlike others, swapped the barrel to a tightbore! It was just great fun to carry and field, and created a good “fear factor”. The thing was most teams didn’t utilise it the way it was needed, but I believe on a proper fire team they are awesome!
“OBVIOUSLY, LIKE BILL, I AM A BIG FAN OF THE PKM MYSELF! BETWEEN THE MASSIVE BB CAPACITY, EXCELLENT BOX MAG DESIGN AND ROBUST CONSTRUCTION, IT’S AMONG ONE OF THE BETTER SUPPORT WEAPON PLATFORMS MADE, IN MY OPINION”
INNER BEAUTY
RELATIVELY NEW TO AA, BUT IN NO WAY NEW TO AIRSOFT TECH, OUR “FNG” BRUNO IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO FIND MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM ANY AIRSOFT PLATFORM THAT HE GETS HIS HANDS ON, AND OF COURSE HE IS CONSTANTLY SEARCHING FOR THE LATEST AND GREATEST UPGRADE PARTS WITH WHICH TO WORK HIS MAGIC. THIS MONTH HE INTRODUCES US ALL TO PREMIUM PARTS FROM T238!
Welcome to a custom build using mostly T238 parts! In this article you will learn more about T238 inner parts, so it is going to be little technical I have to admit… buckle up!
But first let me give you a short background about the brand; since 2018, T238 has emerged as a leading force in the airsoft industry, driven by a passion for innovation and community. Born from the dedication of airsoft enthusiasts, T238 designs and manufactures high-quality equipment for a broad spectrum of players, including Airsoft, Milsim, SpeedQB, Gelsoft, and Foam Dart communities.
Their comprehensive product line, from MOSFETs and ETUs to tracers, chronographs, and even toy grenades has earned them an increasingly positive global reputation, with their gear available in over 30 countries. This article will explore specific aspects of some products from the airsoft line, highlighting their commitment to quality and performance.
Recently I finished building out my HK416 AEG, and I have to say, the combo of these T238
parts completely transformed it. Talking a little about each T238 part I installed, starting with the heart of operation, the DTU V2 QUALITY(V1.42), this DTU relies on reliable mechanical trigger detection, which means you don’t have to worry about light interference or alignment issues that can sometimes affect optical setups.
With this unit, you can fully program your fire modes, including semi, burst, and auto, so you can customize your trigger response exactly how you want. The programming process is intuitive and can be done directly through the trigger without extra tools.
It supports 7.4V all the way up to a crazy 14.8V LiPo, LiFe and Li Ion batteries, giving you plenty of flexibility depending on your build and performance needs. The built-in smart battery protection and low voltage cutoff help keep your setup safe. With this I would say that the key features of it are:
• Mechanical trigger sensor - no optical parts to misalign
• Active braking for faster gearbox reset
• Binary trigger mode option for ultra-fast
“SINCE 2018, T238 HAS EMERGED AS A LEADING FORCE IN THE AIRSOFT INDUSTRY, DRIVEN BY A PASSION FOR INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY. BORN FROM THE DEDICATION OF AIRSOFT ENTHUSIASTS, T238 DESIGNS AND MANUFACTURES HIGHQUALITY EQUIPMENT FOR A BROAD SPECTRUM OF PLAYERS”
response
• Compatible with V2 gearboxes (HK416, M4, MP5, etc.)
• Rated for up to 14.8V batteries
• Short circuit and overheat protection built in
ALL POWERED UP
After this, I have to say that the Helical gears 13:1 are really an amazing addition. The set comes already with a motor pinion to be attached to your current motor, just remove the screw, give a little heat to the shaft to remove burn a little bit of the glue under the stock pinion and you are good to go!
With this upgrade you will notice a higher performance coming from your battery and motor; this is because the helical gears actually give a smoother operation. Instead of the gears smashing into each other like with standard straight teeth, spiral gears mesh gradually. That means everything runs way smoother and just feels more refined. This will make the mechanical movement sound way quieter too, an extra with that is that it will be stronger and more durable because the curved teeth give more contact area and we all know more contact area gives less stress
“HELICAL
on each tooth and because the teeth mesh progressively; helical gears run noticeably quieter compared to standard straight gears, and to top that of, we also know that stress can break gearboxes that’s why the smoother meshing and continuous contact help reduce vibration, which also benefits the motor and the rest of the gearbox components.
Basically...
• Spiral gears = smoother, stronger, quieter,
Straight gears = louder, cheaper, and more basic. Definitely worth the upgrade if you’re serious about your AEG’s performance. Jumping into the Motor, brushless motors are becoming more and more popular, the version I installed is the T238 2520KV/28000RPM. This motor sits in the “high-speed plus highefficiency” sweet spot, being that is perfect for high torque for midstrong springs.
So why is the brushless so much better than the old brushed motors? Fast reply to this question is no brushes = no friction from brushes! In traditional brushed AEG motors, carbon brushes physically contact the commutator. This creates friction, heat, and wear over time. Brushless motors convert
GEARS ACTUALLY GIVE A SMOOTHER OPERATION. INSTEAD OF THE GEARS SMASHING INTO EACH OTHER LIKE WITH STANDARD STRAIGHT TEETH, SPIRAL GEARS MESH GRADUALLY. THAT MEANS EVERYTHING RUNS WAY SMOOTHER AND JUST FEELS MORE REFINED”
more electrical energy into mechanical rotation because less is lost as heat from friction. Ultimately because there’s less friction and heat, the motor doesn’t get nearly as hot under sustained fire.
In the end, after using a full-metal-rack piston and a m100 spring, closing the gearbox was easy, without having to file down any material for the DTU to fit in. It was down to battery; the T238 Ultra Performance LiPo 11.1V really gives out the feeling of reliable and sturdy battery. My version is the 1400 mAh which is a big battery, and having the high efficiency parts working together you know it will last a long time in-game, and it has a discharge rate of 30C although it is starting to be normal to the todays standards lots of brands still make 20C or 25C.
A RAINBOW OF GUNFIRE
With a red dot sight and a foregrip, there was on last thing to add, the T238 Ultra Flame Tracer Unit; I slapped it on my HK416 build, and wow, it instantly takes the visual game to another level. It’s compact, light, and gives your BBs that epic glow that really sells the tracer effect! The carbon fiber really does look good, but regarding the performance and specs? Well, it has Three modes, flame-only, tracer-only, or flame + tracer effect, basically comes to your choice depending on whether you want just the glow trail, just a flash, or both… if you go for the RGB version, it makes a literal rainbow of gunfire!
“DID
I MENTION THAT THE T238 ULTRA FLAME TRACER UNIT HANDLES UP TO 50 ROUNDS PER SECOND? YEP, THOSE SUPER-FAST BUILDS WON’T BE A PROBLEM, EVEN THOSE CRAZY-FAST HPA BUILDS THAT GO BRRRT!”
It is available in 95 mm/122 mm/152 mm lengths, with a 36mm outer diameter and 14mm bore. Weights range from 110g up to 170g, being that the version I used on my build was the 122mm. Out of the box comes with a bunch of adapters, 19mm standard, with adapters included for 14mm CCW and 16mm, so it’s super versatile for different barrels!
It packs a 760 mAh Li-ion battery that gets you up to iro 40,000 tracer hits, charges via USB-C, and shuts off automatically after twenty minutes idle or when the battery runs low, and my favorite part is that it is waterproof, which means you can play under heavy rain and it will have no problems at all… and did I mention that the T238 Ultra Flame Tracer Unit handles up to 50 rounds per second? Yep, those super-fast builds won’t be a problem, even those crazy-fast HPA builds that go BRRRT!
So in the end, the HK416 build was ready to rock, and I’ve got to say, this is easily one of the best AEG setups I’ve ever put together. If you want
something reliable, fast, and just plain cool to shoot, this combo is hard to beat.
The brushless motor delivers crisp, lightningfast trigger response and stays cool even during long games. The spiral gears keep everything smooth, quiet, and super consistent at high speeds, so every shot feels solid. The DTU adds programmable fire modes and dependable mechanical trigger detection without any of the alignment headaches you get from optical systems. Paired with the 1400 mAh battery, you can play all day without worrying about running out of juice, and the Ultra Flame Tracer Unit tops it off with bright tracers and that awesome muzzle flash that looks incredible in low light or CQB.
Together, this setup makes my AEG fast, efficient, and just ridiculously fun to use, and you’ll know that it looks just as cool inside as it does outside! If you’re thinking about upgrading, I honestly can’t recommend the T238 parts enough; check them all out on https://t238.net/ AA
“TOGETHER, THIS SETUP MAKES MY AEG FAST, EFFICIENT, AND JUST RIDICULOUSLY FUN TO USE, AND YOU’LL KNOW THAT IT LOOKS JUST AS COOL INSIDE AS IT DOES OUTSIDE! IF YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT UPGRADING, I HONESTLY CAN’T RECOMMEND THE T238 PARTS ENOUGH”
AL MAL TIEMPO, BUENA CARA!
AS THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE AA LEGION START TO PROPERLY CEMENT THEMSELVES FULLY WITHIN OUR RANKS, IT’S TIME AGAIN TO FOCUS ON PLAYERS THAT BRING SOMETHING FRESH AND NEW TO OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY! SARA HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE FEMALE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT THERE AGAIN AND NOW BRINGS US INSIGHT INTO SPANISH AIRSOFTER MIMI!
Maria Novella, also known as “Mimi” in the airsoft community, is from Valencia, Spain. With her passion for airsoft and all the hard work that she evidently puts onto the content of her Instagram page, she has reached thousands of people worldwide and is now part of the ambassador team of Specna Arms. As always though, I wanted to dig a little deeper, to find out more, and what drives here always forward so that I could share her story with you all!
AA: Who are you outside of Airsoft?
Mimi: I work as community manager in a tattoo studio and I also study psychology virtually at the university. I really like to hike on my free time and spend time in nature. I enjoy spending time with friends and family and my pets (a dog and two cats). I’m not really a social person, so I really just spend time with my “close community”. I work from Monday to Sunday, so I don’t have much time left.
AA: How did you learn about airsoft and how did you begin playing it?
Mimi: I have two brothers, my twin and a younger brother, and they started playing before I did. My twin started in 2011 and that’s how I learned about airsoft; he started buying replicas, uniforms… If I have any doubts about stuff, I always ask him, because he has so much experience.
I started playing in 2019. My first experience was “familiar”; our team was me, my two brothers and three friends! They were very kind and supported me a lot. I had no loadout, so I used my brother’s loadout (who’s 1.90 meters high, approximately 6.23 feet) and he wears a Large, while I normally wear an Extra Small.
Before the game started, he told me: “Mimi, start running, because I’m going to shoot you, so you know how the BB hurts and you won’t fear it anymore!”. I was very nervous, because I was the only girl playing that day and I was a bit scared, but it was fun!
AA: What’s the best memory you have of all games you’ve been part of?
Mimi: It’s hard to choose just one, because for me airsoft is part of my life. I started playing airsoft, but now I create content, so that’s a big plus. For me, spending time with my friends is the most valuable part of this hobby. People make the difference. People make me keep playing and keep creating content.
There is one memory though…
In 2023 we were in Taiwan for the G&G event where were considered Press. Capsule Airsoft was invited to Taiwan to record and do a report of that event and Lluís, who is my best friend (whom I met from playing airsoft), suggested me to travel with him to Taiwan.
It was really fun; we were lost, we met a lot of people from all around the world, we had the opportunity to meet the G&G team and to see all the new products. It was amazing! I had never been in Asia and that was maybe the best moment from my airsoft life.
I enjoy so much to spend time with my photographer and friend, we create all that content together, that’s like a whole project (Instagram page: @d.delmonte_photography). The photography page started in 2020. Since then, we are friends, we create together, the creative process is amazing, I enjoy it so much!
AA: What did airsoft bring you?
“I STARTED PLAYING IN 2019. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WAS “FAMILIAR”; OUR TEAM WAS ME, MY TWO BROTHERS AND THREE FRIENDS! I HAD NO LOADOUT, SO I USED MY BROTHER’S LOADOUT (WHO’S 1.90 METERS HIGH, APPROXIMATELY 6.23 FEET) AND HE WEARS A LARGE, WHILE I NORMALLY WEAR AN EXTRA SMALL…”
Mimi: It brought me a lot of good memories, good times and good people too. My two brothers play airsoft, my best friend comes from airsoft and my boyfriend plays airsoft too! I didn’t meet him through it, but it’s a hobby we share. We can talk and create content together. He always supports me because he understands what I do and that’s really nice. Airsoft brought me the opportunity to go to some nice events too.
AA: Do you belong to any team? What’s it like being part of it?
Mimi: Yes! It is a small team “Airsoft Rural”, because we come from a small rural town in Valencia.
Our vibe on the team is very rudimental, very simple. Some teams have some strict rules but we are not like that, we’re very chill. If you can play every Sunday, it’s ok, but if you can’t play for two months that’s also ok. We are friends, we are equals and we enjoy spending time together, playing airsoft or recording videos about airsoft. We are maybe seven elements on the team, so it’s very small and very familiar.
AA: As a woman, what were the biggest challenges you’ve faced in Airsoft?
Mimi: I’ve had many challenges. I’m very happy in my community, here the men are very supportive, my friends too, they’re always helping me. Face to face, I was never told anything bad. I also
“AIRSOFT IS PART OF MY LIFE. I STARTED PLAYING AIRSOFT, BUT NOW I CREATE CONTENT, SO THAT’S A BIG PLUS. FOR ME, SPENDING TIME WITH MY FRIENDS IS THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF THIS HOBBY. PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. PEOPLE MAKE ME KEEP PLAYING AND KEEP CREATING CONTENT”
have a strong personality, so if anyone would say something to my face, I would just tell them to shut up and move on.
I have had problems on the Reddit platform, when I started posting there our photoshoots. There people were very rude, telling me that I wasn’t real… or commenting on my acrylic nails… “How can you play with those!” … or “You know nothing because you’re a woman!” and “You have all that you have because you are a woman!”
I am in the ambassador team program of Specna Arms; I was only able to join the program at the second attempt… I to put in a lot of effort, create a lot of content to earn that value and get in. However, some people will always say “You have what you have because you’re a woman” and that’s not true.
Who really knows me? I work from Monday to Sunday and I still find the time to create content and all the process that comes before that (the planning, the ideas and the meetings before). Some Saturdays, I start work at 1000, but I’m at the airsoft field at 0800, to record. That’s an effort I need to do because I’m a woman. On the other hand, I have very supportive friends, men, that are always helping me. And I always say that in the airsoft world, you will never be a master; you will learn every single day from the veterans or the people who started playing yesterday.
AA: Do you play with your
“I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS ON THE REDDIT PLATFORM, WHEN I STARTED POSTING THERE OUR PHOTOSHOOTS. THERE PEOPLE WERE VERY RUDE, TELLING ME THAT I WASN’T REAL… OR COMMENTING ON MY ACRYLIC NAILS… “HOW CAN YOU PLAY WITH THOSE!””
husband/partner? How’s that experience for you?
Mimi: I just played with my boyfriend once, because we have a dog that struggles with separation anxiety. We adopted him when he was five years old and he has some traumas. We are working on it and he’s taking medication, but it’s not easy. So, we can’t leave him alone. We both have our own teams. We live together, we spend a lot of time together, so we understand the importance of alone time. We played together once, and I really enjoyed it. I’m the kind of person who screams a lot while playing and he’s more tactical. He gets to a door, enters, scans the room and I’m more chill. It was a contrast, but was really fun!
AA: Have you ever had a bigger part on a game, like a faction commander? How was that experience?
Mimi: No, I always play as a low rank character or a medic, because I think it’s a very important role and I’m very selfdemanding playing airsoft, so I am scared about not doing a good job or do the wrong thing and how it could be bad for the team. So, I prefer the low rank roles and to actually enjoy the game. If I have a team that is mainly people I know I might like to try out that higher role, but if there are people I don’t know, then probably not. I need to feel confident about myself and the team in order to accept that
“WHO REALLY KNOWS ME? I WORK FROM MONDAY TO SUNDAY AND I STILL FIND THE TIME TO CREATE CONTENT AND ALL THE PROCESS THAT COMES BEFORE THAT (THE PLANNING, THE IDEAS AND THE MEETINGS BEFORE). SOME SATURDAYS, I START WORK AT 1000, BUT I’M AT THE AIRSOFT FIELD AT 0800, TO RECORD”
role.
AA: What message would you like to send to other women playing Airsoft?
Mimi: Airsoft in Spain is not popular. It’s not something you can find on television or social media so much because of the shadow ban and all that stuff, so women, when they find or learn about airsoft, they tend to think that it’s a world for men and that’s not real.
I think that they shouldn’t be afraid to join the community and try airsoft out. If you like something, try it. We might have some problems with the loadout’s sizes, like the uniforms and sometimes if we don’t feel comfortable with what
we’re using we don’t feel safe, which makes it hard to keep pushing to play airsoft…
Maybe you’re afraid to try airsoft, you might not know anyone, but you need to continue to come in order to learn and feel confident and enjoy airsoft. We always say that we all had our first game, our first fail…
So, women, start playing with no fear, join it, enjoy it and make the number of women in the airsoft community huge! Be brave, feel free and enjoy the hobby!
PLEASE NOTE: All non-game profile images without eyepro were taken in studio conditions for the article with replicas made safe. AA
“MAYBE YOU’RE AFRAID TO TRY AIRSOFT, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ANYONE, BUT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO COME IN ORDER TO LEARN AND FEEL CONFIDENT AND ENJOY AIRSOFT. WE ALWAYS SAY THAT WE ALL HAD OUR FIRST GAME, OUR FIRST FAIL… SO, WOMEN, START PLAYING WITH NO FEAR, JOIN IT, ENJOY IT”
A MARSHAL’S LOT…
“SHIFT YOUR RIFTS” HAS FAST BECOME ANOTHER OF THE “UK SUMMER SEASON’S” MUST-ATTEND EVENTS, AND WITH A GREAT VIBE ALONGSIDE A SOLID AIRSOFT GAME AND SUPPORT FROM MANY LEADING MANUFACTURERS, IT’S FAST BECOMING A PLAYER FAVOURITE! LAST YEAR AA LEGIONNAIRE RICH REPORTED FROM THE PLAYER PERSPECTIVE, BUT THIS YEAR HE HAD A CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED, AND NOW OFFERS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE “BEHIND THE SCENES” AT SUCH A MAJOR EVENT!
RIFT AIRSOFT’s “Shift Your Rifts” is a weekender event that’s been growing in scope and popularity since the first one, and this year saw the biggest iteration yet with a great range of trade stands and a multitude (or should that be “horde”?) of players over the weekend!
Originally I’d booked in to play alongside a few friends as per last year, but the Saturday before Stu Knight and I received a message from organiser Tony’s wife Hazel asking if we would like to join the Marshal Team for the weekend to bring the marshal numbers up, ensuring the best possible experience for the players attending. We had never marshalled formally at an event of this size before, but we jumped at the request; I covered both days while Stu covered the Sunday and played the Saturday.
Like last year I got there at 16:00 Friday and it seemed like everyone had the same idea as there was already a long queue to get in. I parked up and said hi to Hazel before setting up my tent.
Alongside the traders there were numerous car-boot sales as well where I managed to pick up
a few bargains (just because you have to, don’t you?), then the evening was spent wandering around the car-boot stalls again for a “second peep”, grabbing some food and partaking of a couple of ciders before hitting the sack.
At 06:30 on Saturday I was in Tony’s room collecting a hi-vis, radio and a printed itinerary for the day which had everyone’s jobs listed. Then at 07:00 I went to the first job of the day which was to assist with the chrono, which due to me being long-sighted and having to wear eyepro, saw me at the entrance to the chrono stations ensuring the players had their eyepro down. It’s surprising the amount of players that have their eyepro on top of their heads and forget to put it down!
Just before 09:30 a call came over the radio for all marshals to attend the Safety Brief where I was given one of the raffle prizes to hold aloft when Jake from White Sphere Tactical announced it. After the brief the marshals all went to their assigned jobs, of which mine was co-pilot in one of the Snatch Land Rovers as I knew the land and could guide the driver… we also had a CVRT Scorpion following us as part of a two-vehicle
“I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM ORGANISER TONY’S WIFE HAZEL ASKING IF WE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE MARSHAL TEAM FOR THE WEEKEND TO BRING THE MARSHAL NUMBERS UP, ENSURING THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE PLAYERS ATTENDING”
they wanted to go and I’d been given the heads up by Banzai as to where the Scorpion couldn’t go which was predominantly near the local residents houses near the site. At one point the starter motor on the Land Rover wouldn’t do its job so we had to get the Scorpion in front of the Landy to tow start it, I then had to walk in front of the Scorpion because of the driver’s limited view to a point where the landy could get in front again. When Endex was called for lunch we had to gather all the captured props from the
we were now the Red Teams “taxi service”. After lunch the vehicles were re-jigged due to ours with the starter issue not being used; this meant that I found myself in the top of the Scorpion where a slight mis-communication saw us heading to the wrong spawn! Thankfully this was a quickly rectified mistake and the afternoon was pretty much a repeat of the morning but we were now Reds as opposed to Blues.
At the evenings Endex all the props were gathered in and the vehicles parked up for the night and after a little bit of finalising we could relax and chill over a burger and a beverage while catching up with old friends.
EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING
Sunday morning saw Stu and I in Tony’s room for the Marshal Briefing where different roles were handed out along with a radio on a different channel; the Safezone and Gamezone had their own frequencies and today I’d be a Safezone Marshal.
Once again I was assisting with the chrono then at 09:30 I went to the gate to help check the wristbands and gun tags of players entering the game area for that mornings brief. Like last year the players who sat through Saturdays brief didn’t have to attend the Sunday Brief though they did have to be at the game brief at 1015.
as well as change the colours as
Getting the players to the game area was now much easier; previously it had been a case of marshals walking around the car park saying to the players to get to the brief or chrono or the next game. This could take a while for the marshals to do the rounds. This year we had Steve Walker stationed in the camping area with a tannoy system doing all the announcements. It was noticed that getting players ready seemed quicker this year.
Once the game had started I split my time between manning the gate and walking the camp area as well as any odd jobs that needed doing. At
“07:00… SAW ME AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHRONO STATIONS ENSURING THE PLAYERS HAD THEIR EYEPRO DOWN. IT’S SURPRISING THE AMOUNT OF PLAYERS THAT HAVE THEIR EYEPRO ON TOP OF THEIR HEADS AND FORGET TO PUT IT DOWN!”
down quickly and safely.
Just before lunch had finished Stu and I were asked to join the Gamezone marshals to help during the last game, so with a quick change of radios later we headed out with the players. I found myself at the top of the field by High Cabin in the woods where there was a lot of action to
keep an eye on while taking photos on my phone. At around 16:15 Endex was called and then it was all hands on deck for the clean-up. Land Rovers were parked up and the CVRT’s were loaded onto the lorry for the journey home.
Then it was gazebos taken down, tank traps removed from the runway, red and white barriers loaded onto the lorry or stored away. Then the concrete and tarmac had to be cleared of BBs with a leaf blower and brooms.
Another marshal Dan and I walked through Echo Base with bin bags picking up all the thrown pyro, and all the rubbish was gathered and thrown in the skip. Then Whitesphere Tactical had to take down the shop and load everything into the vans. By this point the camping area was empty of all tents and players apart from mine so I rapidly took that down as the last job of the day. And then finally at 19:00 we all gathered in the main Safezone building where Tony thanked us all and handed out some goodies. It was 19:30 when I drove out of the gate to head home.
So, my thoughts on the weekend...
I saw the event from a different perspective. I had been assisting on a few build days helping
“AFTER THE BRIEF THE MARSHALS ALL WENT TO THEIR ASSIGNED JOBS, OF WHICH MINE WAS CO-PILOT IN ONE OF THE SNATCH LAND ROVERS AS I KNEW THE LAND AND COULD GUIDE THE DRIVER… WE ALSO HAD A CVRT SCORPION FOLLOWING US AS PART OF A TWO-VEHICLE UNIT!”
construct some new bits of Gamezone so I’d seen the amount of work that goes into an event of this size. The team were onsite for a couple of days before the event setting everything up.
Until taking a stint as a marshal I hadn’t realised that the marshals used two different radio frequencies, one for the Safezone and one for the Gamezone, and Tony at all times carried both.
While the marshals could essentially clock off at the end of the day and relax, Tony didn’t. He kept going making sure everything went as smoothly as it could. During his last words to us before we went home he said, was it perfect? No. Would it ever be perfect? Doubtful. But we as a team adapted and worked around the imperfections. I spoke to Tony a couple of days later and he recounted an analogy said to him by Ratty from Viper Tactical. “Players look at the event and all they see is a swan floating along calmly, they don’t see the legs flapping away madly underneath.”
Now that is the truth! They say that “a marshals lot is not a happy one”, but that said, even with the hard work it entailed I totally enjoyed my stint as a marshal on the “other side” of the event, and
would honestly do it again if asked.
I’ll leave the last words though to Tony, and this is what he posted post-event on www.riftairsoft. com (where you can also find out information on all the great RIFT AIRSOFT games and events);
“The words “THANK YOU” cannot truly express how grateful we all are for your support! “Shift Your Rifts 2025” was indeed an absolute blast and we are so happy that everyone had a good time!
“Was it perfect? NO! Can it ever be perfect? NO! Can we do better? SURE THING!
“Having said that, with such a huge gathering of people, we can all agree it was a very good event! The messages and phone calls I have received have been mind-blowing! So many people have congratulated ME for running such a great Event!
“Let’s be clear... it wasn’t ME!
“It’s the dedicated Rift MARSHAL Team, support crew and helpers! It’s the Traders, Staff and Caterers! And... it’s YOU!!!! The Players/Guests and supporting Family members who let you out to play! You guys are the real Heroes!
“I would just like to say how proud I am of EVERYONE who supported the Event.
“Thank you ALL so much.” AA
“THEY SAY THAT “A MARSHALS LOT IS NOT A HAPPY ONE”, BUT THAT SAID, EVEN WITH THE HARD WORK IT ENTAILED I TOTALLY ENJOYED MY STINT AS A MARSHAL ON THE “OTHER SIDE” OF THE EVENT, AND WOULD HONESTLY DO IT AGAIN IF ASKED”
OP URÂNIO I
WE’RE BACK TO MIGUEL IN PORTUGAL, THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE GAMES THAT HE AND HIS FELLOW GHOST OPS TEAM MATES HAVE BEEN PLAYING OF LATE, AND ILLUSTRATING AGAIN JUST HOW COHESIVE THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY IS THERE. WHILST MANY GAMES HAPPEN ON A YEARLY BASIS FOR MIGUEL AND HIS FELLOW “GHOST’S” HE NOW TELLS US ALL ABOUT A NEW SITE TRIALLED BY FELLOW TEAM, THE MOUNTAIN WOLVES, AND IT SOUNDS TOTALLY LIKE A SITE THAT WE’D ALL LOVE TO PLAY!
There are few experiences in Airsoft quite like exploring a brand-new field, and when everyone is seeing it for the first time it’s extra-special, right? Oh, oh! You know you’re in for a treat! With no one knowing the sweet spots, the game unfolds in curious and unpredictable ways.
That’s exactly what happened when we were invited by our good friends, the Mountain Wolves Airsoft team. They had secured access to a newly-opened field in Nelas, Viseu, located in the northern part of Portugal, and they extended the invitation to us, to be part of the first small group of teams to try out the new site. The Mountain Wolves have been a constant presence at our events, always bringing great energy and fair play… so it was a no-brainer… we hit the road!
The game was scheduled for Sunday, but as is often the case with games farther from home, a few of us drove up on Saturday. We arrived in the afternoon and spent some time relaxing and having a few beers with other familiar faces who had also made the trip. As dinnertime approached, we all headed to a local restaurant for a shared meal among several teams. It’s become a bit of a tradition, enjoying good food and drinks together the day before hitting the field. After some great conversations, especially among team leaders, we called it a night to make sure we’d be rested for the next day.
The next morning, after breakfast, we drove to the meeting point and then joined a convoy heading toward the field. We parked just outside and carried our gear to the first floor of a building right at the entrance. From there we could see much of the field; it was an old nitrogen industrial complex, featuring a variety of structures including offices, warehouses, furnaces, and some truly unique buildings. If you’re into urban warfare or CQB, this place would make you drool!
For this game, I was running the Specna Arms PRIME P23, Invader Gear Predator pants in
Stone Desert (ATACS-AU), and the Viper Tactical Special Ops OD combat shirt with the VX Multi Weapon System. We geared up, chrono’d our replicas, and made our way down to the briefing area. While we waited, we snapped a team photo and studied the field layout using the Ares Alpha app, because remember, knowledge is a weapon in itself!
Although the game module had already been shared in our faction’s WhatsApp group, a quick refresher during the briefing was still welcome. We also took the opportunity to ask a few questions about the game mechanics and field layout. Afterward, each faction headed to its respective starting point. Before the game start we linked up with the Quimera team to coordinate a simple plan.
TESTING, TESTING
The game module was straightforward; the main purpose of the event was to test the field and provide feedback. Our faction represented a mercenary group tasked with forcing captured scientists to build two rockets, which we then needed to launch. First, we had to escort the scientists to an abandoned lab. As soon as the game started, we pushed forward
“THEY EXTENDED THE INVITATION TO US, TO BE PART OF THE FIRST SMALL GROUP OF TEAMS TO TRY OUT THE NEW SITE. THE MOUNTAIN WOLVES HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT PRESENCE AT OUR EVENTS, ALWAYS BRINGING GREAT ENERGY AND FAIR PLAY… SO IT WAS A NO-BRAINER… WE HIT THE ROAD!”
them to the lab.
course, we faced heavy opposition during this phase. While we held our defensive line, the enemy faction tried to break through to prevent the rockets from being completed.
It was building-to-building, door-todoor, and window-to-window combat. More than once, the enemy nearly broke through… but we held strong! As more “uranium containers” were recovered and brought to the lab, the completion timer for the rockets began to drop. At this point, we focused fully on defence. However, we began hearing some complaints from the opposing team; the lab and their respawn were too close together, and our defensive line was severely limiting their movement. Some players were even beginning to “give up.”
rocket. For every container missing, the time required to complete a rocket would increase. Of
After discussing the issue with the event organizers, it was decided to move the rockets to the next area earlier than planned. This allowed the enemy faction more room to manoeuver, as the new launch location was situated in the middle of the field; open discussion and finding a resolution ensured that the game modules continued well.
While the Quimera team transported the rockets, we provided cover. Once their retreat was secure, we fell back as well and established new defensive positions. We didn’t have much time to prepare. Soon enough, enemy forces began appearing, and our lines were tested again. Despite several players needing to respawn, we managed to hold our ground and defend the objective until the end. And so Op. Urânio 1 came to an end.
Exhausted from the heat and a fast-paced, confrontation-heavy game, we returned to the
“WE COULD SEE MUCH OF THE FIELD; IT WAS AN OLD NITROGEN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, FEATURING A VARIETY OF STRUCTURES INCLUDING OFFICES, WAREHOUSES, FURNACES, AND SOME TRULY UNIQUE BUILDINGS. IF YOU’RE INTO URBAN WARFARE OR CQB, THIS PLACE WOULD MAKE YOU DROOL”
gear room and shed our equipment… and what a relief that was! After the game, we had the opportunity to take a refreshing shower at the local municipal football stadium’s locker rooms. It felt amazing.
And of course, no event is complete without a post-game meal. We were treated to roasted veal with a side of bean rice, a true feast for our hungry bellies. It was the perfect way to end the day, surrounded by good food and great company.
A big thank you to the Mountain Wolves for inviting us to test this new field, especially their team leader, Coelho. The field is a true gem, capable of hosting a large number of players and accommodating
“A BIG THANK YOU TO THE MOUNTAIN WOLVES FOR INVITING US TO TEST THIS NEW FIELD, ESPECIALLY THEIR TEAM LEADER, COELHO. THE FIELD IS A TRUE GEM, CAPABLE OF HOSTING A LARGE NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND ACCOMMODATING IMMERSIVE GAME MODULES. WE CAN’T WAIT TO RETURN!”
Airsoft
“ WHAT IF” there was an alternative?
WHAT IF...
You could use your gas blowback system all year round
Winter and Summer, the same way? Imagine consistent performance regardless of the weather, no more struggling in the cold or worrying about performance dropping in the heat of battle.
You will not have cool down effect and can shoot full auto at the same fire rate?
Sustained fire rates without performance degradation would be a game-changer, especially in scenarios requiring rapid engagement.
You could shoot at any angle, even upside down?
Shooting at any angle, even upside down, adds a new level of tactical flexibility and dynamic gameplay possibilities.
Your mags will be lighter weight?
Reduced weight would decrease fatigue and improve handling, especially during extended games.
You will have multiple ways to fill your mags?
More convenient filling options would increase efficiency, and reduce cost, making it a more accessible, viable solution.
Temperature will not impact your gun's performance, same output?
This translates to reliable power across all conditions, meaning more accurate shots and consistent groupings, improving gameplay significantly.
A JAPANESE ODYSSEY
A LITTLE WHILE AGO WE WERE CONTACTED BY A NEW FRIEND IN JAPAN TO TELL US ALL ABOUT HIS TOUR BUSINESS THAT HIGHLIGHTS ALL THE DELIGHTS OF HIS VERY SPECIAL PART OF THE WORLD IN A VERY UNIQUE WAY… INCLUDING AIRSOFT! OF COURSE, THIS WAS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AND SHARE WITH YOU, SO WE TASKED OUR OLD MATE AND AA LEGION ASSOCIATE, RAI SENSAI, TO CONNECT WITH HIROKI AT ATAGO CONCIERGE OF JAPAN AND FIND OUT JUST WHAT WAS ON OFFER!
Rai Sensei here once again to bring you another slice of the Japanese airsoft world! A fellow team member and long-time friend, Mr. Hiroki Kishi, has recently launched a business that centres around Japan’s booming tourism industry. Though his company focuses on a variety of tour experiences, one of the most unique offerings (and the one that caught our attention) is his specialised airsoft tour service.
Japan has been a hot topic recently in terms of social media trends and the many exciting experiences one can enjoy in such a majestic country. Since the end of the pandemic, Japan has seen a massive boom in tourism and renewed global interest in many facets of its culture, history, food, media, and more; with so many things to do, why not add airsoft to your travel itinerary?
Japan is the country of origin
of our beloved hobby, and it boasts its own unique playstyle, community spirit, and fields unlike anywhere else in the world. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just curious, experiencing airsoft in Japan is a must for any player visiting the country. So, let’s get into it!
Without further delay, let’s sit down with our good friend Mr. Kishi and delve into the details of his new venture, ATAGO Concierge of Japan.
GETTING PERSONAL
The following is the transcribed and translated interview from Japanese into English between myself and Mr. Hiroki Kishi of ATAGO CONCIERGE OF JAPAN.
Rai: Good afternoon, Hiroki, nice to see you again, could you start by giving us a brief introduction about yourself? Please include your background, hometown, past work experience, and how you got into airsoft.
Kishi: It’s nice to meet you. My name is Hiroki Kishi, born and raised in Osaka.
I used to serve in the Japan Maritime SelfDefense Force (JPN NAVY). I became interested in military-related things after watching “The Matrix” when it was popular during my student years, which led me to join the JMSDF. Even after leaving the service, I still travel overseas to enjoy real steel firearms shooting. It’s rare for a Japanese person to have experience with real firearms, due to it being illegal for regular citizens to own firearms. This is a major reason why Japan created airsoft, to give gun nuts like myself a chance to touch and feel something very close to the real deal.
I got into airsoft when my senpai (older friend) from my neighborhood invited me to play. Since I already had
“JAPAN IS THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF OUR BELOVED HOBBY, AND IT BOASTS ITS OWN UNIQUE PLAYSTYLE, COMMUNITY SPIRIT, AND FIELDS UNLIKE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. WHETHER YOU’RE A SEASONED PLAYER OR JUST CURIOUS, EXPERIENCING AIRSOFT IN JAPAN IS A MUST FOR ANY PLAYER VISITING THE COUNTRY”
experience, I was comfortable with firearms so it interested me. I’m not particularly athletic, and sports like soccer or baseball (which are popular in Japan) weren’t really a good fit for me either. Airsoft, on the other hand, allows people of various athletic abilities to enjoy the sport.
Rai: How often do you play airsoft, and what do you enjoy most about it?
Kishi: Depending on the season and my work schedule, I go airsofting about twice a month. I really enjoy the thrill of a consecutive kill streak from an excellent side flank or sweep, especially when working with teammates who are on the same wavelength. The thrill of a single good play makes a whole day.
Rai: What inspired you to start offering airsoft tours for international visitors?
Kishi: When I wanted English-speaking friends to help improve my language skills, I found a Facebook group where foreigners in Kansai were gathering to play airsoft. That group was your group, Rai!
Rai: Haha! Thank you for joining, we welcome all players, foreign or Japanese.
Kishi: Through that group, I met people who said, “I like airsoft, but the language barrier makes it hard to join in even casually.”
That’s when I thought, “Wait—most military terms are in English. If I go with them and interpret, everyone could have fun.”
That became my motivation. I also hoped that
“I GOT INTO AIRSOFT WHEN MY SENPAI (OLDER FRIEND) FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD INVITED ME TO PLAY. SINCE I ALREADY HAD MILITARY EXPERIENCE, I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH FIREARMS SO IT INTERESTED ME… AIRSOFT… ALLOWS PEOPLE OF VARIOUS ATHLETIC ABILITIES TO ENJOY THE SPORT”
provide this kind of service. What specific services and tour options do you offer? Are custom or private tours available?
Kishi: At ATAGO CONCIERGE JAPAN...
When traveling, the most important thing is the weather, right?
You come all the way to Japan, looking forward to some outdoor activities… and then it rains.
That’s where indoor airsoft becomes a great alternative.
Some guests enjoy airsoft in their home countries, but of course, due to legal restrictions, you cannot bring your airsoft replicas to Japan.
That’s why we have everything prepared; gear, transportation, and even outdoor fields.
Want to go full auto on a huge field? Want to breach and clear buildings with your squad? Leave it to us, we got your six. And remember, the greatest souvenir from any trip is the friends you make along the way. Meeting locals during travel is often difficult due to time constraints, but playing together with people who share your hobby? That makes it easy to connect.
HIDDEN JAPAN
Rai: Now, while we are here for the airsoft fun, I am aware of your main business. Can you tell us a bit about your main business offering motorcycle tours?
Kishi: As you probably already know through social media, Japan currently has a massive
“DEPENDING ON THE SEASON AND MY WORK SCHEDULE, I GO AIRSOFTING ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. I REALLY ENJOY THE THRILL OF A CONSECUTIVE KILL STREAK FROM AN EXCELLENT SIDE FLANK OR SWEEP, ESPECIALLY WHEN WORKING WITH TEAMMATES WHO ARE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH”
are becoming more and more “starbucksified”. Especially for multi-time return visitors, the old sights can get boring. You came to see cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, but left feeling tired... That’s something I hear a lot.
Sure, Japanese trains are among the most punctual and comfortable in the world. But most are unaware that a large majority of Japan is only accessible via motor vehicles Japan also leads the world in motorcycle sales. If you bring an international driver’s license, we can take you to hidden, secret spots where no one else goes. Helmet? Motorcycle? Don’t worry… we’ve got everything covered!
Rai: Is it possible to combine airsoft and motorcycle touring into one experience?
Kishii: Whether it’s a bike tour or an airsoft tour, weather can be a problem. So let’s say the original plan was airsoft on Day 1 and a bike tour on Day 2.
But then we see rain in the forecast for Day 2. No problem, we can just switch them around. Day 1 becomes the bike tour, and Day 2 becomes airsoft. Flexibility is key.
Rai: What areas or regions of Japan do your tours typically focus on?
Kishi: Our operating areas are currently based in the Kansai region; Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and
“WE HAVE EVERYTHING PREPARED; GEAR, TRANSPORTATION, AND EVEN OUTDOOR FIELDS…. WANT TO GO FULL AUTO ON A HUGE FIELD? WANT TO BREACH AND CLEAR BUILDINGS WITH YOUR SQUAD? LEAVE IT TO US, WE GOT YOUR SIX”
Hyogo.
Rai: Could you provide an example of the types of airsoft fields, gear, and games included in your airsoft tours?
Kishi: Sure...
Fields:
• Kishiwada Buddy
• Frontline Nose
• Brave Point Esaka
Game types vary by field but may include:
• Medic Mode
• Domination
• Team Elimination
• VIP Escort (“President Game”)
All gear is available for rental at each field. We also offer veteran-level gear “souped up replicas”, so don’t worry. If possible, please wear longsleeved clothing to reduce the impact of getting hit!
Rai: Since Japan is known for rare and unique airsoft replicas and gear, do you also offer airsoft shopping tours or visits to specialty stores?
Kishi: Besides airsoft and motorcycle tours, we also offer “Treasure Hunter” tours. We’ll help you search for merchandise and memorabilia from anime and movies you used to love.
And of course, we can also help you shop for airsoft parts and products. Feel free to reach out!
Rai: For travelers interested in booking a tour (whether airsoft, motorcycle, or both) how can they get in touch with you?
Kishi: Please contact us via our website’s inquiry form, or message us on WhatsApp; we accept both. https://www.atago-concierge-ofjapan.jp/form.html
If you contact us via the website please enter your information into the FOUR boxes; name, email address, email confirmation, and type your inquiry into the bottom box, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Rai: Right! That was an excellent overview of your services that you offer, but one last question
I have for you personally. What is your favorite airsoft replica or manufacturer, and why?
Kishi: I’m not particularly into overly customized gun designs. I prefer brands like Tokyo Marui, which is well-known in Japan, and KRYTAC for its ease of use during actual games.
Through airsoft and motorcycles, I hope people around the world can get to know Japan better. I look forward to meeting you here in Japan!
FINAL THOUGHTS
We continued to chat for a while longer after the interview, and while Mr. Kishi is an old friend of the team, he is also a member of multiple teams throughout the Kansai region thanks to his exceptionally outgoing personality. He’s not only helped connect international players with local Japanese airsofters, but has often played a key role in merging communities from Japan, the U.S., Europe, the Philippines, Korea, and many more into thrilling multi-national skirmishes.
Though many of us may not speak a common verbal language, the replicas, the gear, the strategy, and the games themselves become our shared method of communication. Airsoft, in this way, becomes more than just a sport… it’s a medium that bridges cultures and forges longterm squadmates.
The sport continues to grow as a welcoming, inclusive, and adrenaline-fueled way to experience unforgettable moments, hilarious missteps, and true comradery. Why not be part of our airsoft community here in Japan and join one of Mr. Kishi’s unique tours around the Kansai region?
Whether your passion lies in motorcycles, airsoft, anime, manga, or even just niche shopping, Kishi and his team have you covered… and they’ll ensure you make the most of your time in Japan!
Until next time, Rai Sensei signing out. AA
“THOUGH MANY OF US MAY NOT SPEAK A COMMON VERBAL LANGUAGE, THE REPLICAS, THE GEAR, THE STRATEGY, AND THE GAMES THEMSELVES BECOME OUR SHARED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION. AIRSOFT, IN THIS WAY, BECOMES MORE THAN JUST A SPORT… IT’S A MEDIUM THAT BRIDGES CULTURES AND FORGES LONG-TERM SQUADMATES”
D-DAY!
DAN IS USUALLY OUR MAIN GO-TO-GUY WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNICAL MATTERS, AND HIS NEW PRODUCT REVIEWS ARE PRETTY DARN AWESOME TOO, BUT JUST LIKE THE REST OF US AT AIRSOFT ACTION HIS BOOTS ARE STILL FIRMLY ROOTED “IN-GAME”, AND THIS MONTH HE BRINGS NEWS OF THE NOW ANNUAL “D-DAY” GAME IN THE USA THAT HE ATTENDS AS A PLAYER… AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYS FOR THE SHEER FUN OF IT!
As the name implies, “D-Day” is given to commemorate the fateful Normandy Invasion of June 6th, and now stands as the largest annual airsoft event in the inland northwest of Washington State. Hosted by Nitehawk Airsoft and Paintball, this is an event that draws in many players, and perhaps contains equally as many moving pieces.
This was the 3rd D-Day event under my belt, topping out at a little over 300+ players present, not including staff and a small number of casual observers enjoying the shelter of their RV whilst their sons and daughters board the boats and helm the battlements of a mock shoreline. In lieu of water, we had the characteristic moon dust and rocks Nitehawk is known for; a fine almosttalcum-powder-like dust that infiltrates every crevice and surface… surfaces that I inevitably and painstakingly scrub to white-glove treatment with a toothbrush and microfiber cloth postgame… but I digress.
Here, the dust is as much an enemy as dehydration, food poisoning, hangovers, swollen BIO’s, puffy LiPo’s and burst discs venting 4,500 PSI into the nether. Of the myriad ways one can have their day cut short, actually getting shot on the field of play is not really analogous to its real life counterpart.
A NOT-SO-AMPHIBIOUS LANDING!
As a forewarning, one should perhaps possess a sense of sadistic devil-may-care for themselves if signing up for the Allied side. After all, much like the titular opening scene in Saving Private Ryan, the hapless Allies disembarking from the landing craft here will fare no better.
Here, of course, it should be noted that D-Day doesn’t necessarily seek to realistically depict to Normandy landings.
For clarification, it is neither a skirmish, nor a MilSim, but rather what one might term “a veritable human blender” with the historical aspect added for theme and flavour. The players run the gamut from period correct impressionists, to modern kit, with a dash of anime ears, Halo Marine helmets and light sabers sandwiched somewhere in between. A true mish-mash of timelines that might find appeal with fans of Harry S. Turtledove’s historical fiction, but conversely might induce a bit of eye-roll amongst the stiff lipped Victorians out there.
It was a few weeks shy of my big “4-0”, and having put nearly two decades of airsoft under my belt, I was already feeling old hat at the game. Not quite settling into a controlled descent, but still finding the idea of a midlife crisis equally bewitching and bemusing. Which is also to say, the battle dress of the players does not particularly faze me these days, but conversely, the salt in my veins is beginning to keep apace
“FOR CLARIFICATION, IT IS... WHAT ONE MIGHT TERM “A VERITABLE HUMAN BLENDER” WITH THE HISTORICAL ASPECT ADDED FOR THEME AND FLAVOUR. THE PLAYERS RUN THE GAMUT FROM PERIOD CORRECT IMPRESSIONISTS, TO MODERN KIT, WITH A DASH OF ANIME EARS, HALO MARINE HELMETS AND LIGHT SABERS SANDWICHED SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN”
of a box of Saltines. And being a salty soul, you tend to realize that jumping off the landing craft is either a fool’s errand or a young man’s game. Thus, my friends and I elected to run on the Axis side this year and content ourselves in the security of cover and overlapping fields of fire.
The weather this year was on point, a cool 60F, with a light breeze and plenty of cloud cover, chance of rain at 50%. This was a far cry from the year previous, which hit a high of 102F in the shade and consequently resulted in me stepping off due to the onset of heat exhaustion!
We took our positions on the “bank” of the shoreline, studded with bunkers, downed trees and various debris. I set up a hasty firing port, with a rusty tire rim to rest the bipod of my PKM against and some well-weathered pressboard panels to either side acting as
proverbial hard cover.
Between us, lay “no man’s land”, moon dust, hedgehogs, craters, a downed airframe and the landing craft. In that brief pause before all mayhem ensues, the PA system blasts the sound of crashing waves, rain and Captain Miller saying a few words of encouragement. Referee’s spritz water over the sides of the craft, then a tense few seconds drag on before “DROP THE DOORS! DROP THE DOORS!” hails forth, the doors simultaneously opening on all the landing craft as they eject forth their cargo of troops. In a fraction of seconds, it is over; the phalanx of firepower amassed on the shoreline cutting down every last player just mere steps from the ramps of the craft.
The referee’s howl at the fallen, who rise from the dust and regroup again at the back of the boats for another attempt. Again
“THE WEATHER THIS YEAR WAS ON POINT, A COOL 60F, WITH A LIGHT BREEZE AND PLENTY OF CLOUD COVER, CHANCE OF RAIN AT 50%. THIS WAS A FAR CRY FROM THE YEAR PREVIOUS, WHICH HIT A HIGH OF 102F IN THE SHADE AND CONSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN ME STEPPING OFF DUE TO THE ONSET OF HEAT EXHAUSTION”
and again, they throw their bodies into the fray. Again and again, they are cut down. Sometimes making feet instead of inches, sometimes managing to hug a small bit of cover for precious seconds, unable to move, much less squirm. Sometimes even using the bodies of their fellow players as cover, for that’s all there was in that moment when they hit the dirt.
The slaughter shifts into a slow-roiling war of attrition. The minutes drag on, and soon overhead buzzes a Stuka, a RC controlled drone, in this case, to drop a line of ordnance from above as further punishment. The rapid consumptive pace of firing works inexorably to grind down players and guns alike; draining batteries, tanks, and redlining magazines. I had already poured on a bit under 8,000 BBs by this point, the brushless motor in my PKM purring contentedly cool
despite the sustained volume.
The Allies ushered in a tank, which made good progress across most of the beach before being taken out by a concentration of AT rounds. With the Axis forces doing more shooting, and the Allies doing more moving, the attritional aspects eventually shifted in their favor as we started losing numbers to downed guns, lack of ammo or simply getting shot.
Soon, the Allies would take the beachhead, and we were forced to withdraw to a temporary second defensive line. I posted my PKM up next to a mortar team and tried to provide defensive fire against a concentration of Allied forces trying to work up from the far left flank. We held this position for a while before being ordered to withdraw further back to our main fallback point. After making my way back to respawn, I took
“IN THAT BRIEF PAUSE BEFORE ALL MAYHEM ENSUES, THE PA SYSTEM BLASTS THE SOUND OF CRASHING WAVES, RAIN AND CAPTAIN MILLER SAYING A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. REFEREE’S SPRITZ WATER OVER THE SIDES OF THE CRAFT, THEN A TENSE FEW SECONDS DRAG ON BEFORE “DROP THE DOORS! DROP THE DOORS!” HAILS FORTH…”
a little breather to discuss next moves with my friends. The Allied forces were consolidating and beginning to renew their assault, so we had to disperse and set about fending them off again. Unfortunately around this time, one of our own made a jump off a berm and landed badly on their leg. With a real world emergency declared, the game was paused while he was carried off the field on a stretcher. We stepped off to help assist with getting their gear and belongings back to camp, then helped tear that down so they could get on the road and to the urgent care for a proper exam.
As I was later informed, nothing was fortunately visibly broken on the ultrasound, but further assessment would be required by an orthopedic specialist to determine the full extent of injuries. For his part, I daresay he was quite the trooper and wanted to continue pressing on with the day despite being unable to stand on his foot!
Soon after, lunch was called and players shuffled off the field to eat, hydrate and reequip. Having expended approximately 14,000 BBs by that stage, I elected to give the PKM (and my arms) a rest and field my Arcturus PP-19-01 the rest of the day.
After lunch concluded, we restaged at the town and set up a hasty defense. The Allies pushed forward two tanks and a large 2 1/2 ton M35 “Deuce”, itself acting as a mobile respawn point to keep the players from having to return all the way back to “the beach”. At this point, player numbers were stacked against the Axis forces, and between the mobile respawn point (which incidentally was somewhat abused as hard cover), and the medic revives, it was an unrelenting push on the part of the Allies. We held the town
“WITH THE AXIS FORCES DOING MORE SHOOTING, AND THE ALLIES DOING MORE MOVING, THE ATTRITIONAL ASPECTS EVENTUALLY SHIFTED IN THEIR FAVOR AS WE STARTED LOSING NUMBERS TO DOWNED GUNS, LACK OF AMMO OR SIMPLY GETTING SHOT”
for as long as we could, but with a lot of players stepping out from exhausted batteries and ammunition reserves, as well as a general lack of cohesion, it was more of a rolling retreat than a static defense.
IMPROMPTU ALAMO
From there, it was bit of bunnyhopping in the newly-dug hummocks, trading shots back and forth in a kind of languid retreat.
At this point our main objective had transitioned to trying to outlast and hold off the Allies for as long as we could. If they overran the final objective point, that technically counted as a win in their favor. We would soon discover we had a distinct lack of individual anti-tank capability in our ranks, and consequently the Allied tanks proved to be a continual pest. We were reliant
on a single tank on our side, which being outnumbered both in enemy tanks and individual AT on the Allied sides, meant it was down more often than it was up. Regrettably, rules prohibited storming the tanks and simply lobbing a grenade down the hatch. Given that leeway, we would’ve had a fighting chance at halting their advances.
At some point, a couple of other guys and I found ourselves stranded far ahead of the main Axis forces. We reasoned that it looked like a good place to die, so we resolved to stage our own little “Alamo” and hold out for as long as possible. This turned out to have a devastating effect of halting the far left flank of the Allied advance!
To our advantage, we had solid cover, and in our possession, well-tuned AEGs which had the means of ‘reaching out and touching someone’
“IT WAS AN UNRELENTING PUSH ON THE PART OF THE ALLIES. WE HELD THE TOWN FOR AS LONG AS WE COULD, BUT WITH A LOT OF PLAYERS STEPPING OUT FROM EXHAUSTED BATTERIES AND AMMUNITION RESERVES, AS WELL AS A GENERAL LACK OF COHESION, IT WAS MORE OF A ROLLING RETREAT THAN A STATIC DEFENSE…”
too. The Allies threw a lot of bodies at us in frontal attacks, which were well-repelled. Despite the defenders advantage, our enemy ultimately became resources; to a man, we were down to our last magazines, which forced us to save our shots for when they could count. Eventually they summoned a tank to try and take us out.
Fortunately, our tank joined in at the defense, helping to disable the Allied tank a total of three times before it was finally taken out itself. Lacking defense against the pestilent tank, we were at the point where we were simply outgunned and up against too many numbers. The tank poured on some withering close range fire, pinning us behind the hard cover. I managed to get off a single grenade and take out two players with me in the end.
From there, it was around a 200 yard walk to
“A
the Radio Tower, which was the next respawn point. Amidst this, the Axis forces were loosely arranged in a defence, but clearly the Allies were accomplishing their plans for an encirclement “a la Falaise Pocket”. For some reason undisclosed, the town was taped off, so we couldn’t pull back into that area, which would have provided a lot more static defense and a harder fight for the Allies. Instead, we were told to pull back to the area past the Power Station, almost the same direction I had previously come from at our ‘Alamo’.
There were some frantic fights with my pistol as enemy players filtered into the adjacent trenches and tried to work an angle on us. With a brief respite gained from this, we pulled out, circling wide around the Radio Tower and diving into the trenches towards the Power Station and FOB. Sensing blood
COUPLE OF OTHER GUYS AND I FOUND OURSELVES STRANDED FAR AHEAD OF THE MAIN AXIS FORCES. WE REASONED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO DIE, SO WE RESOLVED TO STAGE OUR OWN LITTLE “ALAMO” AND HOLD OUT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THIS TURNED OUT TO HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT OF HALTING THE FAR LEFT FLANK OF THE ALLIED ADVANCE!”
in the water, the Allies gave chase, nipping at our heels like bloodhounds on the heels of a fox.
There were a few moments calm in which we had withdrawn far enough away from the main action to find space to reload our mags, change batteries and hydrate. The Allies were pushing up the Deuce, once again acting as both mobile respawn and cover. Against this, there was admittedly a frustrating sensation of futility as players readily abused the administrative oversight. We discussed the possibility of corralling up some teammates to make a hard push and try to “overrun the spawn point” and take it out of play.
This would be a permissible tactic given the general rules around how spawn points worked. But no sooner had consensus on this idea been reached then we were told to withdraw to the final defensive point, which is known locally as the “Satellite Base” for its large satellite dish parked out front.
THE FINAL DEFENCE
By this point, our numbers had dwindled
substantially too, as players dropped out from lack of ammo, downed guns or other issues. I estimated we had at most two or three dozen Axis players left.
My buddy had the brilliant idea of posting up on a small 4x4 barricade about 75’ forward of the Satellite Base. It had relatively good cover and could help slow down the attack which was coming from the direction of the FOB. We did good work from the barricade, burning through mags whilst the Allies parted around us like water breaking against a rock. Eventually my friend was taken out, and I was left up there alone. I still had some mags and frags, so I decided to stick it out and keep pouring the hate on for as long as I could.
I tucked in tight to the barricade and tried to make myself as small as possible, while taking out targets of opportunity, some of whom didn’t realize I was behind the barricade. I burned through a couple more mags and was in the midst of pulling out my Odin speedloader to ‘recharge’ my vest when I noticed three Allied players dive into the trench at my two o’clock.
I dropped my Odin and the magazine I was loading and pulled out a Thunder B. It was a beautiful throw, landing at the feet of the trio and blasting off without a hitch. Right as this occurred, another player rushed around the side of the barricade and pulled off a sprinting snap shot that nailed me.
I collected my things and walked back to the final respawn point. Most of the Axis players had retreated to behind the building, which left the front largely in a blind spot to their advances. It was a matter of minutes from there until we were overrun, dying to the last man in a whirlwind of
“BUT BEYOND THE BASIC GAME MECHANICS, ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT STAND OUT; THE SHEER MAYHEM OF THE BEACH ASSAULT, THE MOMENTS OF FRANTIC ENERGY, INTENSE FIREFIGHTS AND CRAZY LAST STANDS… AND YES, THERE ARE MOMENTS OF INCONGRUITY TOO…”
BBs and frags tossed to and fro.
D-Day is many things; a massive chaotic battle first and foremost and a war of endurance and attrition against men and their machines, but also a war in which the basic game mechanics are by design biased towards the Allied forces. Whilst the Axis forces are typically capped at a set number of players, Allies are given no player caps and thusly the numbers are often a little lopsided, especially as the day wears on.
True, most of the players signing up for the Axis side generally go in with the expectation that it’s going to be a rumbling retreat and are fine with that. After all, this has been the trend for as long as the event has been conducted. But beyond the basic game mechanics, are the other things that stand out; the sheer mayhem of the beach assault, the moments of frantic energy, intense firefights and crazy last stands… and yes, there are moments of incongruity too...
The Imperial Japanese soldier rising from the grass like some spectral figure, Katana in hand and a shriek of rage as he charges the line. The out-of-left-field argument with a player over who gets to keep the expended Thunder B core (hint: it belongs to the player who owns it). The most well-intentioned grenade throw that ricochets off the window sill and kills the thrower and everyone around him.
The mobile respawn turned mobile bunker. The medics who were self-reviving and seemingly requiring the better part of a magazine dump to drop like some kind of cybernetic terminator from the future. Of knowing that you’ve just shot more BBs in a single day than the entirety of that year… and likely also the remainder too!
Typical silly airsoft foibles and
moments where the train runs off the rails aside, it is all still great fun! And despite the obviously ponderous task of coordinating many multiple moving parts, it’s remarkable that the event flows as smoothly as it does.
D-Day is also a moment to reconnect with friends and players who you sometimes often only see for this one annual event; both old hands cemented into local history and new ones you meet along the way.
Despite our tempestuous times, I’m always reminded that this little hobby is the great equalizer, bringing together people from far and wide, from different backgrounds, political beliefs and ideals to pour themselves for one weekend into one giant veritable human blender.
Photos for this article were provided and used with permission by Joy Way Photography: https://www.instagram.com/joy_way_ photography
You can also check out more of Nitehawk Airsoft and Paintball at their website: https:// nitehawkpaintball.com/ AA
“TYPICAL SILLY AIRSOFT FOIBLES AND MOMENTS WHERE THE TRAIN RUNS OFF THE RAILS ASIDE, IT IS ALL STILL GREAT FUN! AND DESPITE THE OBVIOUSLY PONDEROUS TASK OF COORDINATING MANY MULTIPLE MOVING PARTS, IT’S REMARKABLE THAT THE EVENT FLOWS AS SMOOTHLY AS IT DOES”
