Issue 01 - Oct 2011

ACT

ION

OCTOBER 2011 - £3.95

GROUNDZEROWEEKENDERLAUNCH EDITION

MASADA UPDATESITE REVIEWSBIG BOYZ TOYZ

RIFLESPISTOLSYOUNG GUNS

top Tactical tips ■ special operations ■ essential kit ■ game reports ■ dangerous stuff!

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of G1098 kit

AirsoftA

ctionOCT

OBER

2011

THE Airsoft Magazine

2 October 2011

3www.airsoftaction.com

004 October 2011

CONTENTSAIRSOFT ACTION - OCTOBER 2011

7 AIRSOFT NEWS IF IT’S NEWS IT’S HERE

10 RIFLE OVERVIEW DONSANG’S KTW RANGE

15 SNIPERS EYE VIEW IT’S NOT ALL HOLLYWOOD

18 GROUND ZERO WOODLAND WALK-ON DAY

22 STIRLING AIRSOFT ALL OUT WAR SINCE 2005!

26 MAGPUL PTS MASADA UPDATE – AKM

28 UKAPU/UKARA UK ORGANISATIONS NEWS

30 EDGAR BROTHERS INSIDE EB’S AIRSOFT DIVISION

33 YOUNG GUNS AIRSOFT IS NOT JUST FOR ADULTS

36 ENTER THE DRAGON’S LAIR A NEW SITE OPENS IN ESSEX

42 TIER 1 IS THIS THE ULTIMATE MILSIM?

45 GROUND ZERO WEEKENDER EVENT GUIDE AND RULES

50 TAKING THE PISTOL A PISTOL WHO’S WHO

54 IS IT REAL OR IS IT AIRSOFT? HOW TO LOOK THE PART

57 BIG BOYZ TOYZ MAGNIFICENT MILITARY MACHINES

62 THE OUTPOST NAZI ZOMBIES BEWARE!

67 COMMUNICATE IN SILENCE BASIC HAND SIGNALS

70 EUROPEAN AIRSOFT ASSOC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE CHANNEL

71 TEAM PROFILE SPECIAL ZOMBIE SQUAD

74 MEDIA PREVIEW COMING SOON... EA’S BATTLEFIELD 3

76 MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE THE ORIGIN OF CAMO UNIFORMS

79 COMPETITION A HUGE COMP WITH A HUGE PRIZE

81 ANGELS COSTUMIERS MORE THAN JUST FANCY DRESS

83 COMPETITION WIN £500 WORTH OF G1098 KIT

84 DESERT BOOT REVIEW ALT-BERG AND LOWA IN ARIZONA

86 AIRBANA SITE DIRECTORY FOUR PAGES OF WHERE TO PLAY

90 SUBSCRIPTION FORM SUBSCRIBE AND WE’LL DONATE

Editor: Nigel Streeter

Assistant editor: Anthony Platt

Design: Chris Sweeney

Ad design: Ryan Dixon

Advertising: Hannah Benson

Operations director: James Folkard

Assistant publisher: Ruth Burgess

Editorial director: James Marchington

Publisher: Wesley Stanton

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© Blaze Publishing Limited, 2011

Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800

Copyright © Blaze Publishing Limited 2011. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publishers in writing. The opinions of the writers do not necessarily refl ect those of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

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SEE PAGE 79 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR MONTHLY CAMOFLAGUE COMPETITION

005www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

Welcome……to the fi rst Issue of Airsoft Action:

The Airsoft Magazine.

Back at the beginning of June I had a phone call asking if I’d be interested in becoming editor of a new airsoft magazine – and I think I broke the world record for the shortest thinking time before saying “Yes!”

Just three months later and here we are: prepared, printed and published! I’ve got to say that there were times I wondered if it would be possible to go from zero to published in three months but the support we have received, from all sectors of the airsoft community, has been absolutely superb and for that, I say a huge Thank You!

So what are you going to fi nd here?Simple answer: everything that

has anything to do with airsoft, or is connected to airsoft in any way.

Of course there will be reviews of sites, guns and equipment, but I want to be clear about what an Airsoft Action review is all about.

A review is one person’s thoughts

on a particular subject, at a particular time and is completely subjective. So you will not fi nd stars or marks out of ten in any of our reviews – but you will fi nd an open, honest opinion and, if it interests you, go try it for yourself. Just remember: One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Whenever possible, equipment reviews will be conducted in the conditions for which the item being reviewed was designed. For example, in this issue we take a look at a couple of pairs of desert boots, so the reviewer took them out to the Arizona Desert to see how they performed.

Airsoft Action tests will be different though. A test is where comparable pieces of equipment will be put through their paces in controlled conditions and the results given for comparison. No grey areas, just total objectivity.

What else?How about a ‘Young Guns’ column,

written by a 16-year-old player who has been playing since he was 11, or ‘Big Boyz Toyz’ (because we all get a kick out of big metal and there’s loads of it on airsoft sites across the country).

All Airsoft Action features are written by people with direct experience of their subject: our ‘Sniper’ article was written by a former sniper, our article on hand signals was written by personnel that have used them for real – and so on.

We’ll cover games and events of every shape, size and variety and we’ll also be casting an eye towards Europe, to see what’s happening over there too.

Bottom line is, if it’s got anything to do with airsoft then Airsoft Action wants to know about it.

One fi nal thing before I sign off…I have a simple belief. The most

important people in airsoft are not me, site owners, manufacturers or retailers – it is YOU the players. Without you there would be no airsoft, nor Airsoft Action, so we will do our utmost to support and promote airsoft at every opportunity and at every level.

I hope you enjoy this fi rst issue of Airsoft Action and hope to see you out there soon (I’ll be the one with the camera!).Keep safe,

Nige

6 October 2011


AIRSOFT NEWSAIRSOFTNEWSSSAFA FORCES HELP RIDE OF BRITAINWill you challenge yourself for SSAFA this summer and support the fi rst Ride

of Britain cycle? SSAFA is the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. They provide

support for those who serve in our Armed Forces and those who used to serve – even if it was only for a single day – and care for the families of both.

Like all registered charities they organise a number of events during the year to help raise much-needed funds.

The Ride of Britain takes place from 20-25 September and covers the 470 miles from Edinburgh to London, by bike, hand-bike, or tandem.

The route covers countryside through Cumbria, the Yorkshire Dales, the fl at land of Lincolnshire and quaint villages of Cambridgeshire. On the fi nal day, you’ll peddle through the buzzing atmosphere of London, fi nishing at the iconic Horse Guard’s Parade.

Leading the way by hand-bike and tandem will be Rifl eman Michael Swain, who lost both his legs, and Rifl eman Paul Jacobs who was blinded in Afghanistan in 2009 in a separate explosion.

Michael says, “I hope we can inspire the public to sign up to support SSAFA, as well as servicemen and women who are receiving rehabilitation at Headley Court. SSAFA helps so many families and I’m proud to be able to give something back.”

Paul, who will be guided on a tandem bike by his brother, is appealing to more of his fellow servicemen and women to take part. “We need members of the Army, Navy and Air Force to sign up to represent their service and support this amazing charity”.

If you would like more information, or to sign up and take part, contact either Laurena at SSAFA, on 020 7463 9297, or Challenge Event Organisers, Across the Divide, on 01460 30456 (yes, it is a short number!).

WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HEROESBeing there: that’s the only way to truly understand what our forefathers endured on the fi eld of battle. The anticipation, the fear, the camaraderie – we can but imagine it, but to those who fought and died it was as real as it gets.

There is a saying: “A battlefi eld without a guide is just a fi eld.”

If you want a really unique insight into the workings and horrors of war, you need to be right where it actually happened.

Matt Limb served in both Bosnia and Iraq and was awarded an OBE in the Operational Honours list in October 2003.

Matt now runs Matt Limb

Battlefi eld Tours and will take you step-by-step across the most famous fi elds of confl ict – from the mud-fi lled tranches of The Somme, to the tank tracks of Normandy and beyond. You’ll experience fi rst-hand how campaigns were won, or lost, and what it must have been like to grapple with the enemy at close quarters.

Matt will take you right to the battlefi eld, not the memorials and museums of battle.

If you are interested in joining Matt as he walks in the footsteps of heroes, he can be contacted via his website – www.mlbft.co.uk – or by phone on: 01476 560645 and if you mention that you’ve seen this article, he might even give you a discount!

008 October 2011

The Airsoft Arms Fair is the UK trade and retail show for the airsoft industry, attracting a mix of manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, game sites, airsoft media, private sellers and (of course) airsofters in large numbers.

The event happens twice a year – May and October – and is hosted at The Grange, a combative sports and events centre in the Midlands.

AAF4, which is running over the weekend of 8-9 October, is set to be the biggest show so far.

With new product launches, prizes galore (£3,000 in prizes given away by different sponsors last time) and the all-important opportunity to see and handle guns and gear, rather than just viewing them on the web, it’s no wonder the event is growing so rapidly.

Back in May, AAF3 had 18 different distributors and retailers showing their latest offerings to the airsofting masses. AAF4 is already on target for 30 distributors and retailers to be in attendance and around 1,000 airsofters over the two days.

There will also be the opportunity to try out the sport of Airsoft IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation), possibly for the fi rst time. The old ‘live-fi re, precision-shooting’ tournaments have been resurrected thanks to the popularity of airsoft and are already taking Asia and the Philippines by storm.

Tickets for the Show are on sale now and it has a track record of selling out, so don’t wait too long to book your place.

Visit www.airsoftarmsfair.com for bookings, event updates and news. regular updates are also available through their Facebook page.

KEEPERS OF THE GATEWAY TO HELL – SIMON CHAMBERSPathfi nder Publishing has just released Keepers of the Gateway to Hell, its fi rst book by Simon Chambers, an Iraq War veteran and former British Para.

After 22 years of military service Simon Chambers wasn’t ready to retire into civilian life. He had served in four wars and the thought of driving trucks for the rest of his days was not an appealing prospect. Simon needed to fi nd somewhere he could use the skills he had gained from being in the Paras. Iraq seemed like the right answer, but he was soon to learn that he had got more than he bargained for.

Simon explains the problems of initially getting the job, the cap badge rivalry and the backstabbing between the companies. The book highlights the negligence and ineptitude of some and the sheer bravery and heroics of others. He tells of the dangers and pitfalls within the Theatre of Operation. This should serve as an eye-opener for others contemplating going into this line of work. In Iraq, gunfi ghts, sandstorms, dangerous driving, IEDs, friendly fi re and suicide bombers are just another day.

Keepers of the Gateway to Hell is available as a Kindle download from online retailer Amazon; just visit www.amazon.co.uk and search for either ‘Simon Chambers’, ‘Keepers of the gateway to hell’ or the ASIN number ‘B0056U9PNM’.

AIRSOFT ARMS FAIR – 8-9 OCTOBER 2011


010 October 2011

Dongsan is a new name to UK airsoft, so we asked Ratty to give us an overview of its KTW range.

DONGSAN KTW RANGE OVERVIEWW

hen a large package arrived in my offi ce, I rubbed my hands together with anticipation as to

what it could be. Seeing that it had come from Blaze Publishing, a smile spread across my face – I knew then it was a load of rifl es to review. I opened up the parcel and saw ‘Dongsan, product of Korea’ written on the fi rst

box. My initial response (and that of several others in the offi ce that day), was ‘Who?’ Korean airsoft guns – who’d have thought it?

Getting everything out of the box, I was presented with a range of airsoft shotguns, rifl es and even a pistol, spanning a 200-year time period. From a replica of George Washington’s fl int lock pistol, through to Winchester lever actions, Vietnam-era rifl es and

shotguns up to the modern day. ‘Wow!’ I thought, ‘There’s something here for everyone’.

So, rather than going into each model massively in depth, what follows is a general overview on the build quality and how well each one functions. All testing was done using Blaster Devil 0.20g BB’s, and readings taken from a Madbull V2 chronograph. Here we go…

George Washington’s Flint LockOn fi rst inspection this pistol is very well-presented and comes with a simple instruction manual that is in surprisingly good English. Constructed out of wood effect plastic with bronze effect barrel – but with metal work markings – it weighs in at 738g. The hammer and frizzen are metal and both need to be cocked to be able to fi re. Loading is simple enough and the magazine holds 12 BBs. There is a safety selector located to the rear of the hammer which was occasionally diffi cult to engage. It has adjustable hop-up which makes this a skirmishable pistol. On test I was achieving results of between 180-220fps. For those of you that are looking for something different, or are playing a pirate-themed skirmish, this is ideal for you. It certainly put a huge smile on my face!


DONGSAN REVIEW

M70 Black Shadow Rifl eThis is based on the pre-64 model and thus would be ideal for Vietnam and later themed

loadouts. Feeling nice and chunky, weighing in at 2.8kg, fi nished in black ABS furniture with metal barrel and working parts, it’s a very sleek looking rifl e. It also comes with scope mount and

rings as well as a 22 BB magazine. Again, the instruction manual is informative and easy to follow. Cocking action is very smooth and the safety selector is conveniently located on the bolt itself. The hop up is easily adjustable and I was getting consistent results of between 289-295fps. At this time, I am not sure as to what upgrades are available or if other manufacturer’s parts are compatible, but with a little tweaking this has all the potential of making a really good skirmishable sniper rifl e.

Winchester M1873 Carbine and RandallFeeling a little bit out of my comfort zone in saying that I think these two models are awesome, the 1,873 Carbine weighs in at 2kg, which is about half of what the real thing weighs. It has a 37 BB mag capacity and comes with a spare mag in the box as well. Safety selector is located on the underside of the stock. The furniture is good old wood effect ABS, but the barrel, working parts and lever mechanism are zinc diecast. The offi cial blurb says that this surface has been specially treated so that the more you use it the more it will look like the real thing. Cocking the weapon using the lever mechanism, takes some oomph, so only real cowboys can operate. The look and feel of this made me want to go home and watch the original True Grit all over again!

As for the Randall, what can you say? This is such an iconic model after being used by Steve McQueen in the long run-ning TV Western Wanted Dead or Alive between 1958 to 1961. Built to the same standard as the Carbine, your sacrifi ce is a much smaller mag capacity (14 BBs) and no stock to speak of. Saying that, this makes it ideal either as a secondary weapon or something completely different for CQB. As Josh Randall would say, “If they got a price on their head, I’ve got an empty pocket.”

Both of these exceeded my expectations and returned readings of between 260-290fps.

Spas 12 CustomMore up to date is this airsoft version of the ever-popular Spas 12. This is the full stock version and majority of it is of ABS construction. Picking it up, you realise how light it is, weighing in at 1.8kg. The magazine for this holds 60 BBs, plus nine can be held in the chamber. The great thing about all the Dongsan shotgun range is the selectable one- or two-shot fi ring mechanism. On the Spas, the selector is located on the top of the receiver and is a simple slide back and forwards to select the option you require. The pump action is easy enough to do, but you must ensure that the grip goes all the way forward before fi ring. Velocity results were not disap-pointing at all, with a respectable 275-290fps on single shot. Overall, I was really impressed with the quality of the Spas, and how easy it was to use.

12 October 2011


Ithaca M37 Shotgun RangeThere are four models in this particular range: M37 Feather Light, Riot, Police and Sawed Off. As with the Spas 12, all of these models have selectable one- or two-shot capability and adjustable hop-up. All have the same mag capacity of 46 plus six in the chamber, and the mags are easy enough to change in the fi eld. The Riot, Police and Sawed Off make excellent CQB/backup weapons. Results on single-shot were between 275-299fps, while on two-shot they were achieving between 240-255fps.

The M37 Feather Light is your full size, full stock version, weighing in at 1.5kg. The stock and pump grip are wood effect ABS, as is the majority of the externals.

The M37 Riot is a more modern looking version, weighing in slightly less than the Feather Light. With a full stock in black polymer, but with cut down barrel, this really looks the business.

The M37 Police is bang up to date with cut down barrel and a pistol grip. All black in colour and again made of ABS, it weighs in at 1kg.

Last, but by no means least, is the M37 Sawed Off. This, as the name says, has a cut down barrel and no stock. What furniture there is, is wood effect ABS. For those of you who followed Tour of Duty, you will recognise this shotgun as it was used by Zeek Anderson, making it ideal for Vietnam loadouts. Weighing in at 950g, this is the lightest model in the range.

Overall, I was very taken by the range and the quality available from Dongsan. After years of ‘Chinglish’ instruction manuals, the ones provided are easy to follow and the diagrams are better than average. It’s always hard for a new brand to establish themselves in the UK marketplace. With this cross-section of recognisable and some famous models, there is no reason why Dongsan will not do well with UK airsofters. Although throughout this article I have been careful not to mention any pricing for these, the range is sensibly priced and I do believe that they represent good value for the money. Look out for the long-term reviews on the Winchester Randall and the M37 Sawed Off, which may well have found their way into my collection!

14 October 2011


FEATURE

Currently with a specialised unit in the British Armed Forces, the author of this article has served in countries such as Sierra Leone, Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland and has two years’ experience as a sniper in the fi eld

EYE VIEWL

et me start by saying that this article is not going to teach you how to be a brilliant sniper. This is more an overview of the

crossover that exists between real world tactics and equipment and the airsoft world.

Many people seem to believe that the life of a sniper is just like a Hollywood portrayal: Get in… take your shot… get out! However, what a lot of people don’t realise is more often than not you have to stalk to the target, ranging anywhere from 400m to 2,000m, depending on terrain. You will be on

your belt buckle, crawling through everything that stands between you and the target. Then, once you have reached your fi nal fi ring position it may be days until you can take your shot. This means living on hard routine: no cooking, going to the toilet where you lie and generally living a very

016 October 2011016 October 2011

uncomfortable life. After you’ve taken your shot, you do not (as in Hollywood) jump up and call in the helo to swoop in and pick you up; you turn around take everything with you (and I do mean everything) and crawl back to your cache. You recover your kit and yomp back out to a suitable helicopter landing zone or pickup point.

Obviously there are many differences between sniping in the real world and airsoft. In airsoft the type of sniper you are is primarily dictated by the

type of game you play, whether it be a weekend skirmish or a full-on mil-sim. I have seen many people don a ghille suit, pick up a bolt-action rifl e and go out and play as a sniper – crashing through bushes and very rarely crawling to a target. This is no fault of their own, it is the nature of the game and the fact that everyone wants to be a part of the action. However, a major part of being a sniper is patience.

I am not saying that I’ve never met airsoft snipers with patience – of course I have. But these people are very rare specimens, and have usually decided to take the role of sniper very seriously – from their equipment all the way to their tactics and general gameplay. These players are generally very good at stalking targets and getting close to the enemy, sometimes within 30m without being seen. They choose to play as snipers because they enjoy it, and often they are very good at it. However, without meaning to demean these guys’ achievements, this is very easy to do having had a full English in the morning and knowing that you are going back to your bed in the next 24 hours. When you are sat in your fi ring position for days on end, eating cold rations, using a plastic bag as a toilet, and are cold, wet and miserable, things are rather different. A real sniper must be able to endure these conditions and still be able to stalk and engage the enemy.

“When lying prone it’s not so clever to be all ghilled-up if somebody’s standing behind you, the big black

sole of your boot staring back at them”

FEATURE

Another difference between the two worlds is probably the most obvious one: the weapons, and the ability of these weapons. An airsoft sniper will spend hundreds of pounds upgrading their rifl e so at a push they may accurately engage a man-size target out to around 100m. A real sniper would be actively looking to engage targets anywhere from 400m – and the longest recorded shot ever, which was made by a British sniper, is 2,475m.

Now I know these differences are very obvious – no one’s expecting you to use a spring-powered airsoft rifl e to take out a target at 2,000m. But although the differences in ranges are massive, the tactics and equipment employed to get into a fi ring position, whether airsoft or real, should be the same. Slow and methodical, allowing you to approach your target without being seen, heard, or generally letting the enemy know that you are even there, till you decide to reveal your position by taking your shot.

I have seen many would-be airsoft snipers let down by their equipment. By this I mean the type of webbing they are wearing, their ghille suits, their boots and even their basic camoufl age and concealment. I could write an entire book on just these four points, but I will restrain myself and briefl y explain a few of them.

A sniper spends most of his life on his belt buckle, so things like plate carriers and any type of webbing or vest that has pouches mounted on the chest are a massive no. Ghille suits

are personal to the individual and time should be taken to build one yourself.

Here’s a little tip for you: there is nothing in nature that is pure black – meaning if you wear black leather boots they need to be painted, paying special

attention to the sole. When lying prone it’s not so clever to be all ghilled-up if somebody’s standing behind you, the big black sole of your boot staring back at them. As for basic cam and con, use camoufl age paint on hands, face, ears (inside and out), back of the neck and anywhere else that skin may be exposed when stalking a target.

This article is a very brief insight to a snipers’ world. I have done this job for real and understand that, although there is a crossover, sometimes these two worlds are very far apart. But despite all this I enjoyed my job and was good at it. If you believe this is a role for you then take some time, do some research and speak to people. You will be amazed at what you can learn and achieve as a sniper with a few simple questions.


018 October 2011

Hailstones! That’s what it sounded like - millions of them hammering on the roof and walls around me. A staccato barrage of

sound assaulting my senses, pounding my eardrums and muffl ing all other noise as I tried to squeeze myself even further into the corner of the hut…

Welcome to a Ground Zero walk-on day!

For those of you who don’t know Ground Zero Woodland, the site is about a mile off the main road, down a well-maintained gravel track leading to the car park, a large open area which, despite the rain from previous days, was dry and fi rm. Bounded on one side by a fi ring range and with a camping area set further back, they are obviously used to running big games here and this was confi rmed when we met up with Neal and Dan Collins, the father and son team that own Zero One Airsoft and operate Ground Zero.

“About 150,” was Neal’s estimate for the number of expected players, although as it was Father’s Day it could be less but, being the kind of people they are, they had brought enough supplies for considerably more, just in case…

Also in evidence was a good number of hi-vis-jacketed marshals, who were already busy getting the site prepared, the on-site shop stocked and (most importantly) the catering van fi red up.

Headed up by H, the site manager, it is easy to see why the marshals know what they’ve got to do. H’s enthusiasm and passion for the game is obvious. “There is a right way and a wrong way to do things” he said, “and we haven’t been doing what we do, for as long as we have been doing it, by doing it the wrong way.”

As the clock ticked past 10:00 the car park looked much fuller and, as

Ground Zero is a very popular site, just outside Ringwood in Hampshire – but as this was Father’s Day it was surely going to be a quiet one. How wrong can you be?

GROUND ZEROWOODLAND WALK-ON DAY


SITE REVIEW

features that I doubt we would have found for ourselves.

So, what’s here?It would probably be easier to ask

“What isn’t?” as the many years of development have created a playing area that is loaded with features and yet, due to its size is not cramped or overcrowded. There are also plenty of Dead Zones, so regen is kept to a minimum and players can get back into the game in the shortest possible time.

It took us over an hour to walk round the site and Rob showed us evocatively named locations such as ‘Checkpoint Charlie’, ‘The Prison Camp’, ‘The Village’, ‘The Nest’ and ‘Heartbreak Ridge’.

Heartbreak Ridge is an example of something else that Ground Zero enjoys; great topography! Running up the slope to Heartbreak Ridge is tough enough with just a camera (I know, I did it!), so pushing up under fi re from well-entrenched defenders with the advantage of height and range must be quite a challenge!

There are two other features that really stood out for me, one natural and the other man-made.

If you know your way around Ground Zero it is possible to move using a system of natural ‘tunnels’, concealed in the bushes and foliage. Using this natural feature players can move, unseen by watchful eyes, from one location to another and hit the opposition where (and when) they least expect it. Rob led us into the tunnels at the centre of the site and we popped out again just a few yards

from the car park (but don’t ask me how we got there!).

The other feature was still under construction but, when complete will be sphincter-muscle-testing in the extreme!

Rising from the bushes is the ground fl oor of a “Killing House”. Looking like something that Wimpey or Stalin would

players were called together for the safety briefi ng and team division, the head-count was over 200 (it eventually reached 215 – good job Neal and Dan were well-prepared!).

There were to be two teams for the day (Bravo and Delta), with a rolling scenario that started with a VIP snatch and evolved into the acquisition of a number of strategically placed parts that were required to construct a bomb. The day would end in a full-scale assault, with the eventual winners being the team in occupation of the village at the centre of the site at game-end.

As the players gathered we were struck by the sheer variety of load-outs, camoufl age and kit on display and also by the players themselves. There were veterans of the game, completely comfortable with their weapons and kit, alongside fi rst-timers nervously fi ddling with their rifl es, shifting from foot to foot and dressed in jeans and tees. There were also quite a few youngsters and one or two ladies. After the main briefi ng was completed, the fi rst-timers and youngsters were called together for a separate briefi ng, and given a chance to ask any questions they might have hesitated about asking in front of a large crowd – a very nice touch indeed!

While the teams headed out to their starting positions we were joined by one of the marshals, Rob, who had volunteered to give us a guided tour of the playing area, so we could gain a good overview of the various locations. I have to say that I am really glad he did because, even though we had maps of the site, he was able to show us


020 October 2011

be proud of, this two-storey, block and concrete structure is one huge maze of corridors, rooms and hides that will test the skill and nerve of even the most experienced CQB exponent.

Speaking to Dan later on, he told us that they had tarpaulined the ground fl oor to try it out and it was everything they hoped it would be – and more!

One thing I really liked about this site is that it lends itself very well to continual play. Its size means there is always something new that you can try and, speaking to players who play here regularly (of which there were

So a good day was had by all. Sure, there were odd moments when the adrenaline was pumping and things got heated but the professionalism of the marshals ensured these were quickly defused and things never got out of hand.

I think it safe to say that everyone left happy but before I close, a few congratulations are in order…

To Neal, Dan, H, the marshals and everyone else involved in Ground Zero for putting together an awesome site and a great day.

To the guy who shot the lady player on her left forehead for going over to apologise and make sure she was OK immediately afterwards.

To Rob for showing us around but, most of all to the players, for making the day what it was and for playing with honour and integrity – nice one!

Just one last thing: It took us over an hour to walk around it but what we saw was just half of the total playing area. Ground Zero deliberately don’t use the whole site for every game. This helps to keep the wear and tear down and the site fresh even if you play it regularly.

Elsewhere in this issue you’ll fi nd a preview of The National Airsoft Event which, if you are reading this article before 1 September, is where you are now. All I can say is that you’ve got a great weekend ahead! Keep safe and enjoy it.

www.groundzerowoodland.com

many), they said the sheer variety of possibilities is one of the factors that keeps them coming back.

As with most site visits there is always something, or someone, that sticks in your mind and for me the “something” and “someone” were (quite literally) harnessed together…

We had been moving forward with one team and decided to push ahead, to see how the defenders were preparing for the inevitable assault on their position. Moving along the road we were greeted by members of the advancing team, moving rapidly in the opposite direction. Our polite enquiries as to why this was were met with a one-word answer: ‘Rampage!’ (those of you that know what ‘Rampage’ is, will know what’s coming!!).

‘Rampage’ isn’t a ‘what’, he’s a 6ft stick insect, sporting a ZZ-Top goatee and toting an evil-looking, 50 rounds per second, six-barrelled mini-gun! With fi repower like that coming at you, a rapid tactical withdrawal is probably the best (and certainly the least painful) option!

The day came to a close with an all-out assault on the Village, which the defenders managed to survive and hang onto, to win the game but, you know what? It didn’t seem to matter who won or lost. Everyone we spoke to said they’d had a fabulous day –

from the fi rst timer in jeans and tee-shirt, sporting a site AK and the hugest of smiles, to the guys who had travelled over 100

miles to get there and even the lady player, who’d taken a round to her left-forehead from close range (which must have stung a bit) was grinning from ear to ear!

020 October 2011


022 October 2011

All Out War is Stirling Airsoft’s on-going storyline for its themed events – and has been running continuously since 2005

STIRLING AIRSOFT

British Private Military Contractor (PMC), Strategic Solutions, is one of fi ve International PMCs to secure contracts in African countries including Nigeria and The Congo. Violence escalates as armed militia attack protected locations and local population.

Conference attended by heads of state for African nations attacked by terror group and siege only ended after intervention by self-proclaimed General, Ubadi Azear.

Azear calls for African leaders to unite with him and bring Africa together for Africans, under African rule.

Formation of The Union of Southern Africa (USOA), The Central African Nations Group (CANG), The Northern Alliance and Western States, followed by The Eastern Alliance leads to control of most of Africa by Azear.

Azear calls for the destruction of ‘Western invaders’.

UK Special Forces reported to have captured and then lost Azear in Kazakhstan. Reports denied by MoD.

Intelligence suggests The International Revolutionary Council (IRC) has been created to control and promote terrorist activity on a global scale. Azear’s name features in many of the reports along with other known terrorists.

Violence escalates in Chad as capital city N’Djamena attacked and captured by rebels. UK and US launch Operation Condor to secure the city and fi nd and detain General Azear in the process. Rebel forces fl ee Chad.

Civil unrest grows as free elections take place in Chad. Henry Tuwkani wins election but is accused of being a Western puppet.

Following escalation of violence between Tuwkani’s supporters and Azear’s hard-line followers, Tuwkani is kidnapped and tortured by new guerrilla group Devine Brotherhood of Roy (DBR), before being rescued by UK/US Special Forces.

DBR seize control of N’Djamena.

Set in countries across the world, from South-East Asia to Europe, from Russia to Africa, All Out War (AOW) has seen constantly evolving scenarios, the outcome of which is not pre-determined and depends solely on the results of each event.

More recently, Stirling Airsoft introduced AOW – Tour of Duty, which concentrates on an individual operational theatre for six months at a time. The current Operation is scheduled to be completed this Autumn.

The story so far….


MILSIM

For more information on AOW and Stirling Airsoft, visit the website at: www.stirlingairsoft.com

General Azear found guilty of war crimes by Haig judges and sentenced to death by hanging, with sentence to be carried out in Chad on 18 August. The announcement triggers violence across Chad and in Ugandan capital of Kampala.

Under a power-sharing deal with hardliners the Kanem Guera Brotherhood (KGB), DBR forces withdraw from Chad.

Car bomb explosions in Tenerife, Paris and London are claimed to be the work of The Knights of Azear (KOA), as part of their terror campaign.

UK offers Sudan’s King Jubba Jubba Chuffa protection and stabilisation troops in return for allowing ISAT bases to be built along Chad-Sudan border.

King Chuffa assassinated by his bastard son, Bobitin Chuffa, who seizes power and allies himself with the IRC.

Bobitin Chuffa overthrown by rightful heir to the throne, Nubbi Nubbi Chuffa, who allows construction of ISAT bases to be completed.

President Tuwkani of Chad is killed after fresh violence breaks out in N’Djamena.

Task Force Black raid N’Djamena’s bank to seize IRC’s total assets of £24m, leaving IRC unable to continue Global terror campaign.

KGB leader, Victor Aluma, assumes control of country until new elections can be held.

UK and US governments create Alexander Battle Group, with intention to locate, identify and eliminate DBR violence across Chad, in preparation for the Election.

Heavy DBR resistance is met in Nema Nemasso, Northern Chad while Operation:Kingsman is launched to clear Mousorro of DBR forces, which also meets heavy resistance.

Intelligence suggests that KOA member Rasheed Sedeeki was responsible for attacks on ISAT forces but has evaded capture multiple times and is now one of top fi ve World’s Most Wanted.

Victor Aluma elected President after landslide victory against

Otto Jobre of the DBR and Pascal Tombalaye of the Chadian National Party. Fighting breaks out and Otto Jobre is killed as he attempts to assassinate Aluma.

Following request from President Aluma, ISAT forces withdraw from Chad – even though DBR retains control in many remote regions of the country.

UK and US forces begin Operation Alexander 2, with multi-national SF task forces working alongside the KGBNA to clear Chad of DBR threat.

Following successes by joint forces, the Chad National Army faces large-scale counter-offensive and a task force is sent to restore order and rescue captives taken during offensive.

During Operation: Storm King, UK/US Special Forces rescue last remaining hostage while other units secure areas known to be housing DBR fi ghters.

Operation Alexander 2 concludes this Autumn.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Chad, its President and its people.

To be continued….

24 October 2011


026 October 2011

The Masada AKM is Magpul’s latest rifl e and Scott Allan, from Land Warrior Airsoft, puts it through its paces

MAGPUL PTS

Masada, isn’t that a curry?The Masada is named after the site where Sicarii rebels refused

to bow to a powerful Roman Empire. The Romans encamped an entire Legion in the hostile desert and spent months constructing a ramp up to the inaccessible fort. The Sicarii, rather than bend to Roman rule, made the ultimate act of defi ance and organised a mass suicide. It was this defi ance in the face of oppression that inspired the name for the rifl e.

So the Romans didn’t use an assault rifl e?The real rifl e was described as caveman simple, a fully modular battle rifl e that could be suited to every mission and end-user. The multi-calibre system which allows fast changing barrels, receivers, stocks and handguards, is everything and anything you want it to be.

The Airsoft versionThere are currently two airsoft versions, an M4 and AKM version. The AKM is the second variant released and has several improvements over the last.

MASADA UPDATE


THE ARMOURY

DATA:Velocity: 320 Feet Per Second (with a Blaster 0.20g BB)Rate of Fire: 900 Rounds Per Minute (11.1v 1200mah LiPo Battery)Weight: 2.9 Kg / 6.4LbsMagazine: AKM 150 Round PMAG only

On the outsideExternally the materials are nearly the same as the real version: the unloaded weight is pretty much spot on and, comparing both at the Shot Show, I was astounded that this replica could look so similar. Coming in two colours (black or fl at dark earth), the AKM has an 11.5in barrel, a 150-round AK PMAG magazine and takes a NiMH Mini or LiPo battery.

The front handguard is polymer, as is the lower receiver and fully-adjustable stock. The upper receiver and top 20mm RIS rail are metal. It comes with a MBUS removable rear sight and an integrated fl ip-up front sight. The fi re selector, magazine release and bolt catch release are all ambidextrous. The cocking handle can be quickly changed from one side to another in about 30 seconds. The whole package comes in at around 2.9kg compared to 3.1kg for the real counterpart – pretty damn close!

Getting into the gutsThe Internals are similar to many airsoft rifl es, although one of the key differences is a micro-switch trigger rather than a straight trigger contact. This gives a better trigger response and provides a more reliable fi ring system all in all. The barrel set is a quick-release type, true to the real version, which allows new barrel lengths to be quickly attached. The hop adjustment is a fairly standard and looks similar to the G36/AUG type. The gearbox is an 8mm type, as is common in high-end design at the moment.

The AKM has a new motor type which

gives better trigger response and rate of fi re compared to the previously-released M4. The only issue I’ve seen is that some cheaper or rebranded BB’s may cause feed issues – but if you use cheap ammo then that is to be expected.

PerformanceAn airsoft gun is just that: it’s designed for skirmishing against other players. It’s never going to knock a buffalo down at 300 yards but, at 320fps (using a Blaster 0.20g BB) it is very respectable for use all over the UK.

One thing that can really count with an airsoft rifl e is the quality of the inner barrel and hop unit – these are almost as important as the overall power of the rifl e. This rifl e can easily place shots 20m further than a standard airsoft rifl e, even some that are considerably more powerful. I was happily putting shots out to 60m with a reasonably tight grouping of around 50cm – plenty tight enough to hit an opposing player.

In the fi eldI’ve used mine for a couple of months now and I’ve enjoyed everything about it. It’s lightweight, compact and, most important of all, reliable. It can easily hit targets out as far as 60m, which is surprising given the 320fps reading on the chronograph.

One other thing I quite like is the smooth sounding gearbox, without the grinding, smashing noises I’ve experienced with some other rifl es. This all sounds like a fi nely tuned car.

For all the body work is polymer I’ve never felt like it would fail me. I treat my gear as an accessory – it’s there to do a job and it bloody well better do it! The Masada AKM does certainly not disappoint.

SummaryKeeping ahead of the game is tough but it seems that Magpul, having embraced the airsoft market as an equally important part of its business as the real steel side, is set to succeed with the Masada range. It’s not a budget item, but in airsoft you get what you pay for.

028 October 2011

NEWS

UKARANEWS

Hello and welcome to UKAPU news – a new output for the UKAPU Committee to reach members of

the airsoft skirmishing community. As a special treat we have two new announcements for you all.

Firstly, airsoft operator Op Tactical UK – www.op-tac.co.uk – has announced that it will give £3 off game fees to UKAPU members at all four of its UK sites, including The Stan CQB site in Sheffi eld. To be able to claim the discount you simply need to show up with your offi cial UKAPU membership card. With annual membership to UKAPU

costing only £5...Well, we’ll let you do the maths.

Secondly, UKAPU is now offering one year’s free membership to everyone who signed up to the now-disbanded Association of British Airsoft (AoBA). UKAPU would like to help out those who signed up to the defunct scheme and ensure their investment was not in vain. UKAPU feel it was unfair of the AoBA to take monies and then disappear without providing any information to any current or potential future members.

We would also like to remind members that the AGM will occur on 19th November and the venue should be fi nalised soon. Updates will be

posted on the UKAPU forum, so please do keep checking for updates if you wish to attend. All members will be issued with a postal voting form prior to the AGM so that their vote will be counted regardless of attendance. If you want to be involved then remember to sign up as a member soon.

If you have joined UKAPU already, then thank you! Annual membership to UKAPU is available for only £5 from www.ukapu.org.uk. Existing members can renew membership online. It only takes seconds to renew so be sure not to miss out.

Chris Neill,United Kingdom Airsoft Players Union

The United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers’ Association – UKARA – was formed in 2005 in response to the Violent Crime Reduction Act and the threat it posed to airsoft.

UKARA STATS■ The UKARA database has been going strong for four years now■ Currently 42 retailers have signed up to the scheme■ Almost all sites – more than 150 – have registered, and provide entries onto the database■ More than 14,500 players registered on the database■ Players signing up to UKARA at a rate of 20 a day

UKARA FOR PLAYERSPlayers do not need to pay to be registered with the UKARA database.They must visit the same UKARA-registered site at least three times in

no less than two months – so if you play once a month that’s plenty enough. Once you are registered with UKARA, buying RiFs is a whole lot easier. Membership must be renewed each year, so you must continue to play.

UKARA FOR SITESIt is free for insured sites to register with UKARA. They get free access to their own player data.

UKARA FOR RETAILERSJoining the UKARA scheme allows retailers to quickly and simply ensure their customers are legally allowed to buy RiFs. There is a low annual cost, which is used to cover maintenance of the database and admin tasks.

VIOLATORS OF THE VCRAIf you are aware of a shop or market trader selling RiFs without checking their customers’ eligibility, please report them. Traders fl aunting the VCRA put the survival of our sport at risk – we fought hard to gain the exemption, don’t allow them to ruin it for all.

To report a trader call: Crime Stoppers, 0800 555 111 Consumer Direct, 08454 040506

www.ukara.org.uk


030 October 2011

Edgar Brothers has been supplying police and military departments for over 60 years – more recently it has moved into the airsoft market. Lisa Riley, Edgar Brothers’ Marketing & Sales Manager, gives us the lowdown

Edgar Brothers is a family-owned fi rearms and ammunition wholesale business, founded in 1947 by John J Edgar and his brother Roy.

Ian Edgar MBE and Allan Edgar built the business up in the second generation. Derek Edgar now runs the company and it has continued to go from strength to strength supplying both private and public sector organisations.

AIRSOFT DIVISON

EB’s customers include sporting goods retailers, the Ministry of Defence and UK Police Constabularies, which all require high-quality, high-performance products.

The company has been involved in the airsoft market since 1995 and has become experts in the fi eld with a reputation for delivering value, choice and availability across specialist

product ranges. These include torches and weapon lights,

performance clothing and now airsoft weapons

and accessories. Edgar Brothers

has seen substantial growth in this division in the past 18 months because players, sites and dealers are demanding higher quality, recognisable and well-respected brands, and EB is perfectly positioned to develop this opportunity and add a new level of service to the industry.

Carl Miller joined Edgar Brothers in 2009, as Airsoft Business Manager, and spearheads the airsoft division.


INSIDE AIRSOFT

For more information or to open a trade account with our Airsoft Division please contact: Carl Miller, 01625 660664 Or email [email protected]

A professional skier and windsurfer competing at international level, Carl’s background was in the extreme sports market. He quickly embraced the airsoft culture, becoming heavily involved in gaming and promoting the sport through Edgar Brothers. Carl recognised that there was an opportunity for tier one products aimed at the airsoft market in the UK and was responsible for the launch (and subsequent product management) of Magpul PTS.

Carl says, “We see more airsoft sites appearing almost weekly and there is a noticeable transition from paintball to airsoft. This growth is due in part to the gaming market infl uence, with games like Call of Duty having a big impact

on a player’s perception of guns and the military. Both players and sites are embracing all aspects of the military and gaming market, trying to make the experience as realistic as possible.

“The Edgar Brothers Airsoft Team has the ability to target specifi c customer requirements, with merchandising and training to support our portfolio of well-respected brands including BlackHawk and Vertx performance gear, HWI and Line of Fire gloves, SureFire torches and weapon lights, Danner Boots and ESS eyewear to name but a few. The airsoft community love these tried and tested products because they are used by military forces globally and meet the aspirational need to be as realistic as possible.”

Edgar Brothers has a long-standing relationship with Magpul, so it was a natural progression for the company to work with Magpul PTS. In April 2010 we signed an exclusive distribution deal with Magpul PTS, investing heavily into the full line of guns and accessories and working closely with RoHS to ensure that all products were UK compliant.

Derek Edgar explains, “In September 2010 the Magpul PTS Masada launched in the UK. The most important thing was making sure we had great availability while still providing our retailers with sales and product knowledge support. Our Airsoft Team travels the country supporting retailers and meeting end users, getting valuable feedback which we pass back to retailers and, most importantly, the manufacturers.”

Edgar Brothers has a network of retailers stocking the full line of Magpul PTS. These are Airsoft Centre Ireland, Combat South, Dingo Dogs Airsoft, First & Only, Land Warrior Airsoft, Patrol Base, Platoon Stores, Rules of Engagement, Swindon Airsoft and Wolf Armories. All these retailers have a dedicated tech expert in store for Magpul PTS. EB also has standard retailers that stock a smaller line of products – Airsoft Armoury, Airsoft Skirmish, Combat Action Games, Red 1 Airsoft, Special Airsoft Supplies and Xsite Airsoft.

Edgar Brothers recently hosted an airsoft open day to give retailers direct access to the manufacturers, with Alex Ko and Sam Lam from Magpul PTS in attendance.

Carl explains, “It’s the fi rst time that an airsoft manufacturer has visited the UK and taken a workshop aimed at training the retailers on all the Magpul PTS products available. Over 50 retailers attended the day, from all corners of the UK, including registered fi rearms dealers. The event was rounded off with an evening airsoft skirmish at the brilliant Anzio Camp in Leek, co-ordinated by First & Only Airsoft. I want to take this opportunity to pass on a big thanks to all the retailers that attended, everyone joined in and made the event a day to remember”.

Edgar Brothers plans to expand its product line in 2011/12 with Magpul PTS, including the new M4, which is currently due out before the end of this year. The gun features a new barrel system that incorporates the hop-up unit in one complete barrel unit and is similar to the barrel on the Masada. Edgar Brothers will also launch a new pistol line, as well as products from King Arms including BBs and batteries. Airsofters who live and love the extreme should watch this space for future developments.

EDGAR BROTHERS AIRSOFT DIVISION - THE HOME OF MAGPUL PTS

32 October 2011


FEATURE

Hello fellow Airsofters! You might be looking at this page and thinking “What on earth is ‘Young Guns Airsoft?’”, well here’s the explanation…

YOUNG GUNS

A irsoft attracts both older and younger players – you probably call the younger ones ‘noobs’, ‘newbies’ or even ‘target practice’!

I am probably a more experienced airsoft player than most of the people I play with. I am a young gun airsofter and this is all about youths’ opinion on airsoft. I’ll also be writing reviews of

different sites and many things which some older players didn’t realise us ‘youngens’

have an opinion about.So, keep reading every issue and

there will be many different views and stories from me about many different things.

But how rude of me! I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Jeremy Blume (though I prefer to be called Jezz). I’m 16 years old and have been airsofting since I was 11. In the fi ve years I’ve been playing I have been to a lot of popular sites across the UK and have played internationally many times, probably more than most players.

I recently led my local team from Ground Zero, named Delta, to victory against very determined opposition. So you could say I am a trueborn airsofter.

How did I get into airsoft? Five years ago my dad (Neill Blume) mentioned that he had been told about a sport just like paintball but apparently more realistic. So my dad being my dad, he went to his fi rst airsoft game, which I think was at either Combat South or Ground Zero. When he got back he told me how awesome it was, how it


was just like playing a video game – except you’re in it!

He said that he had asked the owner of the site if I could come and he had agreed, but only if I accompanied my dad at all times. I don’t think I cared. You can imagine my fragile 11-year-old mind was buzzing at the thought that I could be one of the Rainbow Six or something. I remember dreaming about it every day until we fi nally went to my fi rst game, at Ground Zero.

I don’t remember much of the game itself, but I remember getting my fi rst kill and the resulting buzz of excitement. Adrenaline pumped through my body and from that very

moment I fell in love… with airsoft!So that’s how I got into airsoft, and

I continue to love it to this very day. For anyone who’s reading this and has a son or daughter who would be interested, I’m telling you now – take them with you. It’s an instant bond between father and son or daughter.

But while playing airsoft as a young player is brilliant, don’t be surprised if older players sometimes don’t respect you just because of your age. Don’t let me put you off because, frankly, I am bracing you for the truth: some people simply won’t listen to a ‘child’. Some players don’t seem to care about your experience or ability – they just won’t treat you the same as they would an adult. This can sometimes make playing as a young player very demeaning and demanding, but if you just ignore it, push through and keep playing how you want to play, you can still enjoy yourself to the absolute max, and improve too.

But playing as a young player isn’t all bad – you can fi t into the little holes that the older players can’t and ambush them, if you don’t giggle in the bush that is, or have a bright orange/green/blue two-tone gun. When you are younger, you approach playing airsoft as if it’s a videogame. You know, playing as if you’re Rodriguez from Call of Duty is awesome – it gets a lot of younger players into airsoft in the fi rst place, and the enthusiasm it inspires is great too.

I was like that once, every young airsofter was, or is like that, and if you keep playing you will quickly learn from your mistakes, and as you get more experienced you will become very good players. In my experience, it is better to come into airsoft at a young age – I started when I was 11 and now, after fi ve years of playing, I can really feel how much I’ve improved.

So my opinion on airsoft as a young player is simple: stick with it, keep playing and over time you will be just as experienced as the older players, if not more. Don’t be put off if some people don’t look past your age – you are faster and more mobile than them, and you should use that to your advantage. After a few years of playing your game will be much stronger, you will learn from your mistakes and teach yourself to be a true master of the AEG, or whatever suits your style of play.

“When you are young playing airsoft is just like a videogame. You know, playing as if you were Rodriguez from Call of Duty is awesome – and the enthusiasm it inspires is great too!”


036 October 2011

It started quietly, with just a single posting on Arnie’s saying ‘New Airsoft Site – FREE Open Day’ but this was the beginning of something really special…

How often have you heard a site operator say “Come and play on my site for free and all I want in return is for you tell me how I can make it better for you to play on”? My guess is probably not too often – but that is exactly what Ray

Cain did when he decided to open up his paintball site to airsoft.

Ray, his wife Jean and their son (also called Ray) have been involved in paintball for over 25 years and their site, “Dragon’s Lair”, was one of the fi rst independent paintball sites to open. Over those 25 years Ray has continually worked to improve the site, making it one of the best-loved sites in the UK – and one of the safest! He has seen

paintball at its best but recently had become disillusioned with the antics of certain companies who, he felt, were more interested in making money than looking after customers and, in Ray’s book, the customer is paramount.

Ray and I have been friends for a long time, having worked on rival paintball publications, so when I was asked to be editor of Airsoft Action and was looking for site reviewers Ray was one of the fi rst people I called. He accompanied me to Ground Zero where I was meeting Neal and Dan to fi nalise the magazine launch arrangements and cover their walk-on day.

To say that Ray was bitten by the airsoft bug would probably be putting it mildly.

On the journey back to Essex we talked of little else, other than the possibility of turning Dragon’s Lair into an airsoft site. He needed to speak to someone with more experience and so I arranged for him to meet up with Ratty, from BadgerTac. The meeting confi rmed what Ray already felt and he decided to see if he could make it work – which lead to the posting on Arnie’s and 26 players turning up on 3 July, including a

Dragon’s Lair has been a paintball site for over 20 years but now its owner, Ray Cain, believes the future lies in airsoft

ENTER THE DRAGON’S

LAIR


SITE REVIEW

a bunch of guys from Essex-based team, Bad Company.

Dragon’s Lair is dead easy to fi nd – just head for Brentwood and follow the signs to The Secret Nuclear Bunker (still makes me grin). Unfortunately the bunker is not part of the site, which is in 35 acres of woodland adjacent to it.

Puggy had already been in touch with Ray and went down to check out the site the previous Saturday. He had written a couple of scenarios that he felt would play well – and he wasn’t wrong!

Ray has gone to great pains to develop Dragon’s Lair for Paintball Tournaments and this has resulted in the entire site being populated with features that make you think before you move. There is very little ground cover, although there are some sneaky little paths and ditches (plus a small lake, for the more adventurous!), so he has added strategically-placed bunkers, barricades, buildings and bridges. This promotes team play and encourages communication because, without those two things, you will quickly realise that this Dragon bites!

The day kicked off with a short

acclimatiser, followed by a number of simple attack and defend scenarios. The closeness of the Dead Zones kept regen time down to a minimum and objectives were being achieved within the allotted time-spans.

My favourite moment of the morning had to be when Red Team was attacking the Fort and one of the players (Steve, from Billericay Skirmish) got himself underneath it. Noticing

there was a space between the walls and fl oor, he drew his dagger, crawled slowly the full length of the structure and took out two of the opposition by stabbing them through the gap! His grin was huge – nice one Steve!

Later in the afternoon, we were to witness two of the funniest moments I have seen on any fi eld but the next scenario was going to test both sides to the max.

Running through the site is a small stream, across which Ray has built two bridges. The objective was simple; get one live player across each bridge. The stream lies at the bottom of a small valley, both sides of which are fortifi ed with barricades and loads of cover. Snipers come into play here and, although the shots are not simple, they are extremely effective and very satisfying.

Needless to say, this made for an interesting fi re-fi ght and the realisation that when you thunder across a seemingly undefended bridge, you should look out for hidden booby-traps!

At 35 acres, Dragon’s Lair is not especially large but, due to clever use of space and the layout, it plays (and feels) like a much bigger site. To keep

play going, rather than having to continually go back to the Safe Zone Ray had brought along a wheeled trolley, in which

38 October 2011


SITE REVIEW

players could put water, ammo and extra guns and take it with them. A very simple idea that worked perfectly.

By 3 o’clock the scenarios had been completed in both directions but the players had not yet had enough, so Puggy came up with two sparks of genius. The fi rst was called Thor’s Hammer, and involved the use of a rubber axe that gave the player who held it 10 seconds’ invulnerability. During that time any player he hit with the hammer was killed but, if he held it for longer than 10 seconds he would die. The sight of players running away from

Things seemed to be going well until the leader of one of the gangs drew a pistol, pointed it at the chest of his opposite number and pulled the trigger – but in the excitement he’d forgotten to take off the safety! After the initial shock all hell broke loose, with bodies bleeding out everywhere as there were no medics left alive. However, it seemed that all was forgiven and the rival factions decided to try and do the deal again.

This time they didn’t get as far as the centre of the bridge! The moment they faced each other across the stream, both sides exploded into a barrage of fi re that had everyone dead in seconds – except for one player who managed to grab the drugs and leg it back up the valley to safety!

Not MilSim but huge fun and hysterically funny!

The day ended with Ray holding a feedback session, where players gave their opinion of the site and discussed

how it might be improved. To be honest, along with a couple of excellent ideas, the general consensus was ‘leave it alone, it’s great as it is’ – a fact borne out by later comments on both Arnie’s and ZeroIn.

Based on this, Ray and Jean have opened Dragon’s Lair Airsoft for walk-ons, on the second and fourth Sunday of every month. Ratty will also be there with his mobile BadgerTac Shop and will be happy to bring kit along for you to collect.

Thanks to everyone for making it such a cracking day, for playing with honour and for putting one of the biggest smiles on Ray’s face that I have ever seen!

One last thing…Ray asked me to put in print his

thanks and appreciation to you all and especially to Puggy, who kept things moving along and did a superb job. Puggy, you’ll never have to pay to play at Dragon’s Lair!

Dragon’s Lair runs airsoft games every second and fourth Sunday of the month.For more details contact Ray on 07703 530189 or visit the website at:www.dragonslair-paintball.com

The sight of players running away from a screaming, axe-wielding maniac as he tried to smite them with his hammerwas superb

a screaming, axe-wielding maniac as he tried to smite them with his hammer was superb.

By the way, the hammer-wielder might be invulnerable but that doesn’t mean they can’t be shot, just that they won’t die. Maybe that’s why it’s called Thor’s Hammer – because afterwards you don’t half feel thore!

The fi nal scenario also brought the biggest laughs.

Take a briefcase full of cash, a box full of drugs and two gangs agreeing to do a deal in the middle of a bridge and you have a perfect recipe for total mayhem – and that is exactly what we got!

40 October 2011


042 October 2011

Ed Denson doesn’t waste words. “At Tier 1 we are totally and entirely dedicated to providing a 100 per cent as-real-as-it-

gets-outside-the-military experience. We only conduct military simulation games and military simulation training events. We do not run skirmish type airsoft events.”

“The aim is to quickly and totally immerse you in a very realistic and demanding modern military operational scenario and maintain that level of realism throughout, giving the participant a genuine sense of achievement on completion. Our Tier 1 Combat Operations are aimed at giving you a snapshot of what it is like to be a highly-trained and motivated soldier or an elite/special forces operator in current operational confl ict zones, such as Afghanistan.”

“During the event you will experience everything a modern soldier has to be capable of dealing with in order to carry out his or her mission. The duration will generally be between 30-36 hours, beginning on a Friday evening and concluding on a Sunday afternoon. Prior to upcoming Combat Operations, players will have the option to attend a series of structured and progressive training days that will prepare them for their role in the forthcoming exercise and enable them to get a much deeper experience from it.”

Tier 1 Military Simulation is a military simulation training company owned and managed by two former-Royal Marine Commando Non-Commissioned Offi cers, with over 35 years’ regular service

“Depending on the theme of the upcoming Combat Operation, training days are available on a large number of subjects and techniques, covering every aspect of what a serving soldier might require while on operations.”

Operation Rolling Thunder is the next Tier 1 Combat Operation and will take place over the weekend of 16-18 September, on a disused

TIER 1AS REAL AS IT GETS!

SOME OF THE MANY COURSES TIER 1 OFFER:

■ Weapon handling drills■ Using military radios and correct voice procedure■ Marksmanship training■ Close quarter battle (CQB)■ Planning military operations (including understanding, writing and delivering written orders)■ Patrolling urban and rural areas■ Area search (locating an enemy position in order to report on or assault it)■ Fieldcraft (patrol hand signals, methods of movement, night movement, noise and light discipline)■ Camoufl age and concealment■ Stalking (covert approach and engagement of an identifi ed enemy target)■ Surveillance including Close Target Reconnaissance■ Observation posts (planning, selection, construction and routine) in both urban and rural areas.■ Covert insertion techniques (vehicle and foot-borne)■ Preparation of personal equipment (packing your bergan, webbing/assault vest)■ Map reading and land navigation (theory and practical)■ Contact drills (offensive and defensive)■ Section and platoon battle drills (assaulting a fi xed position)■ Lying Up Position (LUP) procedures■ Platoon harbouring drills■ RV procedure■ Camp-craft (cooking, eating, sleeping in the fi eld. Construction of shelters etc)


MILSIMwhat a modern soldier or elite forces’ operator does – and has to go through – in today’s current operational climate. The key word in that last sentence is learning. Learning is what Tier 1 is all about. Period!”

“If you want to aimlessly run around a piece of woodland somewhere, clad from head to foot in any load-out, regardless of the tactical environment and expend industrial amounts of bb’s… Do not sign up!”

“We have real-world operational experience of much of the above and we want to give you a snapshot of what it is really like, both mentally and physically. If this is what you really want to gain from playing airsoft military simulation games, then dare to be tested, dare to be challenged and dare to come to Tier 1!”

As I said, Ed doesn’t waste words!

For more information on Operation Rolling Thunder and Tier 1 Military Simulation, visit the website at: www.tier1militarysimulation.com or email [email protected]

missile testing site at Westcott, near Aylesbury. This 600-odd acre site contains around 100 compounds along with green zones, irrigation ditches, disused aircraft hangers, a disused railway track and several large woodland areas.

Operation Rolling Thunder is the third instalment of Tier 1’s ongoing storyline.The operation sees the TIER 1 Special Operations Forces Task Force Viper, made up of operators from both the UK and the US, push deeper into Pakistan chasing the High Value Target (HVT) Mullah Kazim Numair (aka Panther) and his group of fearless Al Qaeda fi ghters. The group have also linked up with a large group of Pakistani Taliban on the outskirts of a large township.

Reconnaissance teams from the UKSF Special Boat Squadron and US Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta will deploy in front of the main task force in order to identify likely target buildings housing potential HVT’s. Four sections from

Seal Team 6 will then assault the targets at fi rst light after being rapidly deployed and inserted via helicopter, directly onto their targets.

Members of the UKSF Special Forces Support Group and Rangers from 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, will deploy during the early hours in order to establish inner and outer cordons around the target buildings. Thereafter they are to provide the main overt footprint on the ground when pushing deeper into the suburbs as the task force advances to contact, and attempts to clear the multitude of compounds and bunkers in order to kill or capture Panther, his associates and the Taliban fi ghters.

And if that description of the operation isn’t enough to make you want to be a part of it, Tier 1 probably doesn’t want you anyway – this is for folks who are serious about Mil-Sim.

Ed again: “If you are still reading this then you are hopefully genuinely interested in learning something about

44 October 2011


WEEKENDER

The Ground Zero Weekender is the biggest airsoft event in the UK. As the venue for the launch of Airsoft Action, we reckon it might be useful to give you all a handy guide to what to expect at this year’s event

GROUND ZEROWEEKENDER

046 October 2011

WEEKEND SCHEDULE 0930 hrs Sat Players should congregate at the Landing Zone for the main brief 1000 hrs Teams start to move off to bases for game start 1700 hrs Main games ends 1900 hrs Scores and raffl e start by main Zero One tent 2100 hrs Night games start 0000 hrs Sun Night games end 1030 hrs Main game continues 1600 hrs Main game ends

FPS LIMITS (all calculated with .2g bbs) ■ 350fps with a fully-automatic gun or a gun that has a fully-auto feature ■ 425fps with a semi-automatic (with a four second pause between shots to simulate cocking) ■ 500fps with a bolt action rifl e


WEEKENDER

■ Anyone using a gun over 350fps must not fi re at a target less than 30m away ■ If you do not know what velocity your gun is fi ring at – or if you have borrowed a friend’s – then please ask a marshal or member of staff to check it before the game starts. Ignorance is not an excuse ■ To be classed as semi-automatic a gun must either have no full-auto function or have had the ability to switch it to full-auto permanently deactivated. We cannot chrono every gun before the game starts, but marshals will be stopping players and doing random checks ■ No magazines in guns, under any circumstances, in the safe zone. If you want to test your guns then please use the fi ring range provided. Remember to remove your magazine and clear the chamber of your gun by shooting it into the air before you cross into the safe zone ■ Eye protection must be worn at all times when you are not in the safe zone. Dead zones are not safe zones and you are still at risk if you take your eye protection off there ■ Ground Zero recommends full face protection; if you want to wear safety glasses then please do not get upset if you lose a tooth or get shot in the face from close range, even from your own team

048 October 2011

AbusePhysical or verbal abuse is not tolerated at any time and will result in you being removed from the game and asked to leave the site immediately CheatingIf you see a player deliberately cheating, even if they are on your side, the correct thing to do is inform a marshal and let him know the cheater’s tag numbers. All players accused will be informed of the accusation and if their number keeps appearing, they will be removed from the game. Anyone caught deliberately cheating will be removed from site without warning PyrosNo hot burning pyros are allowed on site; 9mm blank fi ring grenades (no 12 gauge shells), gas-operated grenades, spring-operated gadgets and bi-carbonate grenades are fi ne. If in doubt, have them checked by a marshal. Heavy grenades should be thrown lightly and under arm in a lobbing motion please. Throwing them like a baseball will cause serious injury if they hit someone First AidA lot of our marshals and site staff are qualifi ed fi rst aiders, and there are two paramedics on site this year. For minor scrapes and cuts there is a fi rst aid tent in the safe zone, but if you are seriously hurt, have bad pain or are with someone who does, please do not move them until a qualifi ed fi rst aider is on the scene When you are HIT!“Hit Delta”, “Hit Bravo” or “Hit Others” must be called loud and clear when you are shot, not only so people can stop shooting at you, but also so that the attacker knows you have taken the hits. Shooting a player on your own team means both players (the shooter and target) must do the dead time on show at the nearest dead zone. You are asked to use common sense when re-spawning from any dead zone


050 October 2011

Airsofters are spoilt for choice when it comes to pistols. Scott Allan, of Land Warrior Airsoft, shares his personal thoughts on the subject

TAKING THE PISTOLBUT WHICH ONE?

A pistol was the fi rst thing I ever bought for Airsoft. My fi rst purchase was a KWA G26c, compact and nicely fi nished

with single-shot and full-auto options – I could hardly put it down! It would sit on my desk at home (in its box) and I would get it out just to look at it and feel the replica power in my hand – smitten doesn’t quite cover it.

I’ve always liked shooting, and the bigger the better in my eyes. When I fi rst stumbled into the airsoft market it was a wet dream of easily available gear that looked as good to me as the real thing.

WE & Socom GearWE (or WE-Tech) is a Taiwanese manufacturer that didn’t really do anything special until a few years ago. These days its pistols are good all-rounders: their full-metal construction makes them popular with newer players, yet they still occupy the budget end of the market. They don’t deliever the best performance – but then you aren’t paying top dollar. After releasing some innvoative designs, in particular a Browning High Power, WE grew in popularity; more designs are being released every month. Most of the pistols remain faithful to the 1911 and high-capa design, although the Berettas and full-metal Luger in various lengths are worth a mention.

■ Expect to pay around £90

Socom Gear is effectively a tuning company that produces licensed, higher-quality versions of WE pistols. Its licenses such names as Novak, Gemtech and Daniel Defense, and the company releases more reliable and better performing versions of WE pistols – complete with upgraded valves and seals as standard.

■ Expect to pay around £130-150 for a Socom Gear pistol set

Prices ahoy!That Glock cost me £135 back in the day. Bugger all I thought, but these days I see people baulk at the cost

of a full-metal 1911 for £95. It’s a beginners market just now – cheaper pricing has

opened up airsoft to a whole new price bracket of player.

So what’s in it for me?Pistols are often what people want the most but use the least. Whether it is for decoration, to fi t in with a specifi c look or just because you truly believe you are the coolest cat on the planet, pistols are plentiful on the fi eld. The market is packed with replicas that are well-built in terms of both looks and function. In this

overview I have listed what I believe are the main reliable brands.

There are a few decent Chinese clones appearing on the market these days, but in my experience poor performance and leaky seals (and sometimes no seals at all) reign supreme in the clone market. When there are good, fairly-priced entry level brands there is no need, in my opinion, to buy even cheaper – after all you are simply eating into the quality of the goods you are buying.


PISTOL PREVIEW

Western ArmsOne of the original IPSC favourites, largely based on the high-capa/1911 design, Western Arms’ offerings are nice and expensive. While they work well with their full plastic design, magazines can be crippilingly expensive at around £50 each. Some of the most outrageously-cool custom jobs are done on WA pistols. They are often thought of as the connoisseurs’ pistol choice.


Tokyo MauriThe biggest name in airsoft, TM pretty much started the whole affair as we know it. The pistols are very good, designed for the Japanese market. They are normally plastic in construction so they work well all year round. Genuinely seen as the original and best by many players, you can’t go wrong with a Tokyo Marui pistol.

There are a large number of TM pistols available, from 1911s and Glocks to more modern efforts such as the PX4 and Five Seven.

■ Expect to pay £130-150

KJ WorksAnother of the Taiwanese manufacturers, and with similar focus on the budget, full-metal market. Again like WE there is certainly nothing wrong with these pistols, but there are of course better performing systems out there. Though KJ Works produces many types of well-known pistol they tend to have their own names for them – for example the Sig 226 is known as the KP-01.

■ Expect to pay around £110-120

MaruzenMaruzen produce a handful of pistols, primarily for the Japanese market – in particular the Walther P38 and P99. Its gas blow-back pistols are not the most earth-shattering, but they are nice pieces and often not made by any other manufacturer. The non-blow-back P99 is a personal favourite of mine for all-year-round use, as it doesn’t suffer any major issues with outside tempreture.


052 October 2011

MarushinMarushin only produces a handful of pistols; many are 8mm format and quite unique. It produces a limited number of shell ejection BB pistols such as the CZ75 which, although not easily skirmishable (imagine having to pick up your shells all day), are a nice feature on an already cramped market.


KSC/KWAKWA (Taiwan) is the OEM manfacturer for KSC (Japan). Although the pistols are effectively the same there are subtle differences. KSC pistols are designed for the Japanese market only, so they have real trademarks (they do not recognise the US trademark laws, so use them regardless). They don’t have a metal top slide though, and they cannot produce over 1 Joule of muzzle energy.

KWA is, in my opinion, at the forefront of gas pistol performance at the moment. The company utilises a system called System 7 (or NS2 – same thing, two names) which is, in short, brilliant. Quite possibly the most effective gas pistols in terms of performance are made by KWA. Almost all are accurately produced with weight, metal and polymer parts made up correctly. Many KWA pistols are rebranded with trademarks by ASG or Umarex so that they come with authentic B&T or H&K markings.

■ Expect to pay around £100-150

Gas Blow-Back / Non-Blow-BackPart of the love of pistols in airsoft is their realistic cycling action, so why would you ever consider a non-blow-back?

Ever wonder why most airsoft rifl es are electric and not gas? Gas isn’t the most reliable system in the world. As it changes from a liquid (in the magazine) to a gas it cools the mechanism around it. Each shot lowers the tempreture of the gas – and the pressure drops accordingly. So a shot on a hot day is different from a shot on a cold day. Now, imagine fi ring off 15 shots quickly; the cooling effect lowers the power, your pistol will cycle slower and the shot will travel a shorter distance. This is the same from all gases available, though different gas types can make a difference to some degree. The non-blow-back benefi ts because it does not rely on power to cycle, so all the gas power goes straight down the barrel. Less cooling takes place and overall they perform with greater stability in cooler conditions.

MaintenanceLike anything that has moving parts airsoft pistols must be kept within an operating specifi cation. They will wear and, eventually, break. A good pistol will last years with regular maintenance however. Silicone is the lubricant of choice for most airsoft items as it prevents degrading seals and rubber. The slide and frame interact across a runner which will need the occasional clean and re-lubing. Most pistol maintenance shouldn’t take anymore than 15 minutes. Literally just slide off, give a liberal spraying with silicone and wipe down with a cloth to lift out all the skirmish dirt. Once the dirt is out apply a silicone grease along the runner area, apply a quick silicone spray and it is done.

The magazine seals are a slightly different matter. Leaking magazines are common, and the repair is a short, simple affair that anyone can do. The most susceptible area for leaking is the base of the magazine. Each magazine is slightly different but the base is always removable. Around this base is a rubber seal which needs a liberal coating of grease and, if youlike,PTFE tape.

IPSC pistolsThe International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) is the governing body for a sport based around the concept of practical pistol shooting. Many pistols are specifi cally geared for IPSC – these offerings tend to be larger, compensated, red-dot loaded and generally ostentatious. Many of these pistols are custom built to near perfection. One of the largest names in this scene is Clarence Lai. He made his name by building pistols and taking part in competitions, and by working with Red Wolf Airsoft he has remained a key industry celebrity for the sport.

So the topic of pistols is clearly quite long-winded, and like almost anything airsoft depends hugely on personal experiences. This overview is designed simply to give you a brief insight into what’s available, the differing qualities out there, and what to expect from specifi c companies. There are many, many other factors and opinions – as there always are – and we could go on forever on the subject. But we won’t – it’s time to take the trusty Glock out of its box and marvel at it once again...


054 October 2011

REAL LOADOUTS

IN AN AIRSOFT WORLDCharles Colton said: “Imitation is the sincerest form of fl attery”Getting the look right is very important in airsoft, so in this occasional series we compare the real deal with items that are readily available to airsoft players and see how close we can get.

In this issue we take a look at one of the favourites: British Army Desert.


FEATURE

1 Rifl e WE GasBlowBack L85 A2 (SA-80)2 Shirt British Desert DPM UBACS3 Vest British Desert DPM Assault Vest MOLLE4 Trousers British Desert DPM5 Belt Blackhawk Riggers Belt6 Boots Danner Desert Arcadia

Thanks to the guys at BadgerTac for supplying the gear to put the airsoft version together.Contact BadgerTac:Phone: 01296 658600Web: www.badgertac.com.

1

2

3

4

5

6

56 October 2011


FEATURE

Some of you may be asking yourselves what relevance, if any, this series of articles has to airsoft? The answer, in reality, is fairly simple:

we all love kit! Let’s face it, we all lust after equipment of all shapes and sizes, whether it be the latest airsoft rifl e or pistol, a new camo pattern or even a new style of pouch. Big Boyz Toyz is essentially the next step in the procurement process.

Those of you that know Ratty, from BadgerTac, will also know he is one of the few people to get a Challenger airborne, so who better to let loose on a series of articles entitled Big Boyz Toyz?

BIG BOYZ TOYZWAR & PEACE 2011

As a small boy I, like many others, was fi xated with military hardware I had seen in fi lms and on TV. Who can forget Oddball’s Shermans in Kelly’s Heroes, or the Hueys from Apocolypse Now?

Some years later I was sat in the Army Careers Offi ce watching a fi lm of trades available. As soon as I saw a 60-tonne giant tearing up the battlefi eld, it was obvious that was where I wanted to end up. During many years’ service in a tank regiment I was, still am and forever will be fascinated by military machines, whether they be on land, in the air or on the sea.

When I fi rst got into airsoft, back in the mid-90s, with my then-business Airsoft Adventures, I managed to convince my business partner that what we really needed for our game site at Greenham Common was a military vehicle. We picked up our NI spec Humber Pig from

a car dealer in Buckinghamshire. It was in a bit of a sorry state after being used in a fi lm, but it ran and drove well. After

much elbow grease and olive-drap paint we were ferrying players around and using it in scenario-based games.

Since then many airsoft sites and skirmish companies have bought and are running all kinds of military hardware, all adding to the experience that airsoft players strive for. Why walk into battle when you can be chauffeured in the back of a 432 APC?

So, Thinking of Buying a Military Vehicle?You don’t have to be a business to be able to afford and run former military vehicles. There are plenty on the market to suit all purse sizes. If you have a team you could all club in and acquire your own vehicle to go skirmishing in, as well as completing the look that you’re all after. Case example is the Dog Squad who had Winston, a very nice Saracen that used to be based at Sopley Camp. A look around on the internet soon threw up some interesting items, from ex-MoD Land Rover Defenders from £2,750 through to a late mark Chieftain for just over £10,000.

Events like the War & Peace Show throw up all manner of vehicles for sale, not just British – there’s oodles of US, German, French and Soviet stuff too.

Obviously, when looking, you must make sure that you have

the correct licence to drive your chosen vehicle on Her

Majesty’s highways. Beyond that it’s much like purchasing any other vehicle: gather as much info as possible so you know what you’re looking at and any possible pitfalls involved. You don’t, after all, want to end up with a right lemon or money pit.

“I even found a WWII British torpedo boat that had been converted into

a house”

058 October 2011


FEATURE

Airsoft was well-represented at this year’s War & Peace Show and it was a great excuse to get up close and personal to some pretty awesome hardware.

Many of the vehicles at The Largest Military Vehicle Spectacular in the World looked in prime condition and had obviously had a lot of time (and money) spent on them.

There were a number of airsoft companies present including Airsoft Skirmish, Airsoft World, All About Airsoft, BadgerTac, GASS Airsoft, Gunman and The Grange. Although probably not quite as busy overall as they would have hoped, many of the companies said they were more than pleased with the outcome (except Josh from Gunman, who was nursing a monumental hangover!).

The Shooting Range at BadgerTac seemed to be quite a draw, along with a large display of weapons and kit, while Jim (The Grange) saw both A-TACS and his range of new guns fl ying out the door (well, tent-fl ap actually). Even our friends at Airsoft International seemed to be doing a good trade.

Next year’s War & Peace Show will mark the show’s 30th Anniversary; it takes place 18-22 July.For more information visit www.warandpeaceshow.com or ring 01304 813945.

Joining an appropriate club or society is also a big help. The Military Vehicle Trust (MVT) is probably the biggest of these associations in the UK, but it is not specifi c to one type or style of vehicle. Again, researching the particular vehicle you are interested in will no doubt throw up a specialist club or society you can join. These are invaluable, both for helping you during purchase and the long-term running and preservation.

Insurance can vary but, with membership to an organisation like the MVT, that this can be heavily discounted. Running costs will depend on how much you use it and how mechanically-minded you and your friends are.

What Else is Out There?So, what if vehicles don’t fl oat your boat, so to speak? Or perhaps you have just rummaged down the back of the sofa and found a massive pile of cash

you didn’t know you had (well, we can all dream can’t we?).I was amazed, while researching for this article, at the number of boats and Naval ships that are available to buy. The choice is in no way limited – everything from a ridged Raider (around £5,000) up to a former Swedish Navy mine layer (€125,000) is up for grabs. I even managed to fi nd a WWII British torpedo boat that had been converted into a house, yet retaining all its period external features.

As for planes and helicopters – well, where to start? After countless hours of searching on the internet it became quite apparent that the sky – if you’ll forgive the phrase – is the limit. There are classic P51D Mustangs, DC3 Dakotas, even Mig 15s and recently-decommissioned Harriers – and it’s all for sale (if, that is, you did fi nd a huge wad of cash stuffed down the sofa).

Helicopters are much the same story. Everything from early Wasps through to Gazelles, Lynx and even a Hind ‘D’ are up for grabs. A few years ago a good friend of mine bought a Bell Long Ranger, an ex-Saudi gunship. It still had the rocket/gun selector and fi re switch on the stick!

Over the next few months I hope to bring you more in-depth features on all manner of military hardware that is for sale. So, in the meantime, start checking those piggybanks and get ready as I show you traditional as well as more off-beat vehicles, aircraft and boats that could complete your armoury.

Now, where did I put that lottery ticket?

60 October 2011


062 October 2011

First & Only Airsoft is well-known for the variety of sites it offers around the UK. None, however, is more unusual than The Outpost.

The Outpost is situated in (and on) The Drakelow Tunnels, a former underground complex built during the Second World War to manufacture aeroplane engines and then upgraded in the 1980s to become a Regional Government HQ. The tunnels were fairly recently (1993) decommissioned and sold into private ownership and, although they were not sealed for a while and were subject to a measure of vandalism, the result is an atmosphere of cold, quiet, dark desolation.

Four parallel tunnels make up the main playing area, separated by a series of inter-connecting cross-tunnels and rooms. Some of these rooms still contain equipment used by the former incumbents, such as the kitchens, an old BT exchange and a complete BBC broadcast studio. Transcripts pinned to the studio wall make chilling reading, containing details of the required broadcasts in the event of war. To further enhance the experience, rat-runs and crawl holes have been knocked through some of the internal brick walls (great for ‘sneaky-beaky’ stuff).

The sandstone tunnels run for around three and a half miles and where there are no lights it is not just dark, it is can’t-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face dark. Torches are a must – along with a good sense of direction.

The Safe Zone at The Outpost has got to be the safest Safe Zone on any airsoft site, buried as it is in an ex-Nuclear Bunker, under a hill in the Staffordshire countryside!

THE OUTPOSTWITHOUT NAZI ZOMBIES!


SITE REVIEW

Today was a walk-on day and to be honest, I was glad to be underground and out of the rain. I guess about 50 others thought the same, as the Safe Zone slowly got busy with players readying kit and preparing themselves for some pretty intense, close combat.

The site is run by Felix, ably assisted by an above-average number of marshals. I thought there were plenty of marshals but Felix told me he was actually a couple down on the usual number, due to other commitments.

Once out in the tunnels it soon becomes obvious why so many marshals are needed. Luckily we had a bit of time before play would start and so one of the marshals, Gaz, took me on a tour of the facility. I am glad he showed me round as I reckon it wouldn’t take much to become completely disorientated and lost down here.

After a very good safety briefi ng play kicked off with a game of three, 20-minute phases, designed to familiarise the players with the site. Some players had been here before but there were also a good number of fi rst-timers.

As play got underway, it didn’t take long to realise just how good the tunnels are. The layout means you have to get off your butts and move to be successful – you can’t just sit and wait because, if you do, someone will fi nd a way round behind you and you won’t even see them coming!

Due to the CQB nature of the place a site limit of 350fps is strictly enforced and full-auto is forbidden, although certain pyros are allowed (actually, I should write that as ‘all loud’ – a Thunderfl ash going off down here reverberates like sticking your

head in a bucket and having someone beat it repeatedly with a baseball bat). Due to the lack of ventilation smoke grenades are banned, but the smoke from other whiz-bangs is enough to fi ll the tunnels with an eerie fog through which shadowy fi gures can occasionally be glimpsed.

Every player is given a light-stick, which is held aloft to signify a ‘dead man walking’ and is certainly needed in the smoky darkness.

“The layout means you have to get off your butts and move to be successful – you can’t just sit and wait”

64 October 2011


SITE REVIEW

CONTACT DETAILS:First & Only Airsoft: 07786 075129Felix at The Outpost: 07779 157440Or visit the website at:www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

Over lunch I got to chatting with a team called The Special Zombie Squad, a bunch of guys who take their airsoft seriously but their fun even more so. I really liked their attitudes and decided to make them the subject of our fi rst Team Profi le, which you can fi nd on page 71. My colleague Matt Limb had joined me for the day and, as he is a professional photographer, he took (I think you will agree) a great photo of the team.

The afternoon was all about different scenarios that made best use of the tunnels, the closeness, the atmosphere, the noise and the enthusiasm of all the players to get up and fi ght and, at the end of the day, the smiles said it all.

During the afternoon Felix took the opportunity to show Matt and I around unused areas of the site, and also up top, out into the woodland site that sits above the tunnels. I am not going to say too much about this here (as I want to make it the subject of a future review) but I think it is probably quite challenging and players with some experience (as opposed to none) would really enjoy it.

As it came to a close, I asked a number of players what they thought of day and of The Outpost in general.

All said the same: A great site and a great day.

Personally, I really like this type of gameplay and think The Outpost is a site that you really should check out for yourselves. Felix doesn’t just run MilSim games – the site lends itself brilliantly to all sorts of scenarios, including post-Apocalyptic and fi lm re-enactments.

If you have seen the fi lm The Outpost, you may have an idea as to why this site is named what it is. Thankfully, no Nazi zombies were lurking in the tunnels while we were there.

Or were they..?

Regen, re-spawn and medic rules are kept simple and play tended to ebb and fl ow as fi rst one, then the other team got the upper hand. As always there were objectives to achieve and points were awarded for completing these and other tasks.

An excellent touch was that lunch – of freshly-cooked sausage and chips – was brought in hot from a local pub; hey, no one expects soldiers to fi ght hungry! It was washed down with a much-appreciated can of Pepsi, and all included in the walk-on fee.

066 October 2011

UKARA LISTING

FOUNDING MEMBERS

AIRSOFT ARMOURY3 Chalfont HouseChalfont Station RoadLittle ChalfontBuckinghamshireHP7 9PS01494 766373www.airsoftarmoury.co.uk

AIRSOFT WORLD4 Main Street,CrossgatesCowdenbeathFifeKY4 8AJ 08453 700433www.airsoftworld.net

FIRESUPPORTThe Court YardConquest DroveFarcetPeterboroughPE7 3DHUK01733 247171www.fi re-support.co.uk

IRONFOOT INDUSTRIESHollygroveMorwenstowBudeEX23 9JLUK01288 331748www.ironfoot.co.uk

REDWOLF AIRSOFT UKUnit C1, Northway Trading EstateNorthway LaneTewkesburyGloucsGL20 8JH

Wholesale Only01684 273070www.redwolfairsoft.com

WOLF ARMOURIES203 Royal College St. Camden TownLondon NW1 0SG England, UK0870 754 9653 or 0207 284 0001www.wolfarmouries.co.uk

ZERO ONE AIRSOFTUnit 9, Branksome Business ParkBourne Valley RoadPooleDorsetBH12 1DWUnited Kingdom 01202 769614www.zerooneairsoft.com

MEMBERS

ACTION GAMERS UK08456 190020www.actiongamers.co.uk

ACTION HOBBIES (TITAN IMPORTS)01908 376556www.actionhobbies.co.uk

AIRSOFT DIRECT07757 368767www.airsoft-direct.co.uk

AIRSOFT HUTTelephone not listedwww.airsofthut.co.uk

ALL ABOUT AIRSOFT01353 860171www.allaboutairsoft.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES01252 315225 / 07595 948760www.ambushadventures.co.uk

BLACK VIPERTel: 01978 853033www.bbgunsuk.co.uk

BULLSEYE COUNTRY SPORT02837 569908www.bullseyecountrysport.co.uk

CRAWLEY SURPLUS STORE01293 525880www.surplusstore.co.uk

D&B MILITARIA01342 312716 / 07782 188138www.dandbmilitaria.com

DINGODOGS AIRSOFT08448 462826www.dingodogsairsoft.co.uk

ELITE AIRSOFT ESSEX (RULES OF ENGAGEMENT)01702 554503www.eliteessex.co.uk

ELITE SHOOTING CENTRE07816 992417www.eliteshootingcentre.co.uk

FIRESTORM UK01262 469904www.airsoftaps.co.uk

FROGMORE GRANGE (SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF)01676 532384www.suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

G1098 TACTICAL0845 269 9473www.g1098tactical.com

GONE FISHIN & AIRSOFTTelephone not listedwww.gonefi shin.carboncookie.com

GREEN ZONE COMBAT07772 919974www.greenzonecombat.com

JD AIRSOFT01543 466356www.jdairsoft.net

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT0131 654 2452www.landwarriorairsoft.com

MAD BADGER AIRSOFT07956 030255www.madbadgerairsoft.com

MILSPEC SOLUTIONS01257 453689www.milspecsolutions.com

MMG TRADINGTelephone not listedwww.military1st.co.uk

PATROL BASE01484 644709www.patrolbase.co.uk

PET PET PET01273 884949www.getairgun.co.uk

PLATOON STORES01634 829063www.platoonstores.co.uk

RED1 AIRSOFT01727 846069 / 07837 424565www.red1airsoft.co.uk

SG1 COMBAT STORES02825 658761www: Not Listed

SWINDON AIRSOFT SUPPLIES01793 435999www.swindonairsoft.co.uk

TACTICAL AIRSOFT020 8665 1299www.tacticalairsoft.co.uk

TACTICAL QUARTERMASTER0208 665 4646www.tacticalquartermaster.co.uk

TOY SOLDIERS AIRSOFT (NI)02890 297398www.toysoldiersairsoft.com

TRIGGER HAPPY07561 561331www.triggerhappyfun.com

XSITE AIRSOFT01494 881430www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

APPROVED UKARA RETAILERS

As an irsoft player or retailer it is your sport, or living, which the VCR Act threatened to extinguish. It is our joint responsibility to make sure we do not cause the exception we gained to be removed by foolish acts which, although perhaps not technically breaking the law, might lead to a threat to the concessions we worked so hard to gain.

An example is the purchase and gift of a realistic imitation fi rearm (RIF). This may be quite legal but, to do this with intent to supply a non-registered person would not be if, in reality, it was just a ‘back-door’ sale.


SKILLS ROOM

“Oi! Bert! He’s over there! Next to the big tree with the blue fl owers in front of it! If you go round to ‘is right you can get ‘im from there easy!”

COMMUNICATEIN SILENCETACTICAL HAND SIGNALS

Bellowed at full volume, the above will probably give the guy behind the tree a clue that he’s been spotted!

What you need is a way of imparting the same information without the intended target being any the wiser – and for that you might need to communicate in silence. Over to the guys from Airbourne Airsoft…

Most military forces worldwide use some form of tactical communication. These methods covertly communicate information in situations where tactical awareness dictates that discretion is the better part of valour – ideal if you are attempting a ‘sneaky beaky’ mission, or to achieve a crucial objective without the situation going unnecessarily loud and all hell breaking loose!

There are a huge variety, but we are going to focus on the 10 most basic hand signals, relevant to airsoft, as used by the British army. By these you can quietly and signifi cantly increase the chances of your team winning games and outwitting your opponents.

1 All clear, no enemy in sight.This is probably the most instantly recognisable signal for things being good

and is a simple ‘thumbs up’ (clenched fi st with a raised thumb pointing upwards), held away from the body to aid sight in low light conditions. This indicates the current tactical situation is good, or ‘clear’.

2 Enemy in sight, or near

Naturally following on from the thumbs up, ‘thumbs down’ – meaning danger or caution – is typically used when enemy are seen. This is a clenched fi st with the thumb extended and pointing downwards, again away from the body to aid sight.

This signal is often accompanied by a number of extended fi ngers pointing upwards from the fi st to indicate number of enemy, followed by distance to target in tens of metres (by holding fi ngers out to the side), followed by an open hand pointing in the direction of the enemy, completing the sequence. Such a sequence indicates enemy seen, in what numbers, how far away and in what direction and is an excellent way of gaining a tactical advantage on an enemy unaware of your presence.


5 ListenInternationally recognisable,

the signal for ‘listen’ is placing your cupped hand up towards your ear. The side placed can indicate a rough direction, or can be followed up with a point of direction.

If given when moving and it’s tactically appropriate, drop to one knee when stopping to listen.

6 Get down, take coverThis signal can be used if on

the move and you need your team to quickly take cover, for instance if you stumble across the enemy but haven’t been seen. It will allow you to maintain your tactical advantage, lower the risk of detection and to give further signals from a position of cover.

It is signalled by placing an open hand with outstretched fi ngers palm down, parallel to the ground and waving the hand slowly downwards towards the ground. Anyone stopping should adopt a position of all-round defence, where arcs of fi re are covered.

7 Recce, lookThis signal represents looking

through binoculars and is indicated by holding both hands up to the eyes with the tips of fi ngers and thumbs touching across the brow and nose respectively – as you would if you had hold of a pair of binoculars. It is used when you want one of your team to move forward and perform a close target reconnaissance of an objective (usually indicated by a simple pointing gesture).

8 Deploy, get into attack positions

This signal is indicated by a sweeping motion with an open hand and outstretched fi ngers, usually following the direction of the area you want your team to deploy to prior to attack.

It is used, after you have briefed your team, when you are preparing to move into your attack positions and while the enemy is still unaware of your presence.

3 Form on me, come hereThis is a basic and very obvious

hand signal used to indicate to one of your team that you require them to move to your position.

The sign, in its most basic form, is placing the palm of your hand onto the top of your head, arching the fi ngers slightly.

In the military it would be accompanied with other signals indicating rank or squad position required to attend. For airsoft purposes a simple point at the target of the signal followed by the ‘on me’ sign would suffi ce to get one of your team to join you for a snap briefi ng.

4 Halt, stopThis sign is simply created by

raising your open hand to just above shoulder height, away from the body to aid sight in lowlight conditions.

If indicating to someone in front of you to halt the palm will be towards the target and open. If indicating to someone behind you the palm will face away but the gesture still has the same meaning.

In an experienced patrol this would usually be accompanied by all patrol members adopting the kneeling position in an all-round defence, covering all arcs of fi re.


Airborne Airsoft offer Training Courses to Teams in the use of basic Military hand signals. Signifi cant improvements have been noted in the tactics of Teams who communicate in silence.The guys have over 40 years’ military experience between them, and eight years’ with Police SO19. This article is based on their joint knowledge and experience, gained in the military and police and as airsofters.If you would like more information about their courses, contact Airbourne Airsoft via the website: www.airbourne-airsoft.co.uk

9 Snap ambush, quick ambush

The signal is indicated by holding a fi st, with four outstretched fi ngers, up in front of the face.

You would use this signal in situations where, for example, your patrol has encountered an unaware enemy patrol advancing along the same axis. It indicates to your team that you want them to deploy in a similar manner to the previous signal but also to be ready to ambush the incoming enemy patrol.

In this situation, once the team is in position and the enemy has

10 AttackThis is indicated by using an

open hand with fi ngers outstretched in a chopping motion up and down, with the arm bending at the elbow, in the direction of the intended attack. It is an aggressive and decisive movement and there should be no misunderstanding in the team that you are ordering an attack.

Hand signals will always work, whatever the terrain or conditions and if you take the time to practise them, both you and your team will benefi t immensely.

strayed within the ambush area, the signaller fi res the fi rst shot to initiate the ambush and to save any further need for discussion or signals.

SKILLS ROOM

070 October 2011

Dedicated to the advocation of airsoft in Europe, the EAA lobbies on behalf of the sport at EU level

EAA NEWS

The truly remarkable thing about airsoft players from across Europe is that they have so much in common. Whether from

Portugal, Norway or Turkey, we all share the same excitement over new gun releases, the same apprehension about opportunistic politicians and misguided media attacks on our hobby, and love an interesting airsoft site (and the odd beer, of course).

In short, Europe is full of brothers in arms who love to play airsoft.

In this spirit, people from across the continent are founding the European Airsoft Association (EAA), the world’s fi rst pan-continental airsoft organisation. As the decades

go by more of our laws are dictated by directives from the European parliament, so the traditional approach of lobbying state Governments to protect airsoft from restrictive legislation may not remain effective in the future.

The European Airsoft Association (EAA) intends to represent the interests of European skirmishers by talking directly to the relevant bodies of the EU, while legislation and directives are still in the draft stages. In addition the EAA will provide recognition and guidance to properly-run national associations, which will form our membership. Among other projects, we will do our best to help players from across the continent

join together and enjoy airsoft games abroad. If people are willing to commit time to the project then the possibilities for the EAA are endless.

During the next year we are going to formalise the association by creating a constitution, enrolling the appropriate national associations. We are also looking towards holding a formal meeting in Brussels.

EUROPEAN AIRSOFT ASSOCIATION

A list of countries, and their respective associations, that actively participate in the EAA:

Hopefully France, Austria and Poland will also soon be joining us.Please keep an eye on our progress via www.europeanairsoftassociation.eu You can also follow our twitter feed @europeanairsoft and like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/europeanairsoft

■ Portugal (FPA)

■ United Kingdom (UKAPU)

■ Belgium (AAB)

■ The Netherlands (NABV)

■ Ireland (IAA)

■ Germany

■ Spain (FEA)

■ Turkey (TAC)

■ Switserland (ASVD)

■ Italy (ASNWG, CSEN, GAS)

■ Sweden (Sverok)

■ Croatia (CAF)

■ Ukraine (UAF)


TEAM PROFILE

There is only one thing these guys take more seriously than their airsoft – and that’s the fun they have playing the game!

SPECIAL ZOMBIE SQUAD

Following an idea by two founder members and zombie enthusiasts, Sam and Mark, the Special Zombie Squad (SZS) formed six years ago,

after their fi rst skirmish at Fireball.Derived from the SAS, they are a crack

team of anti-zombie combat specialists, waiting to be called upon by the MoD in times of crisis. Over the intervening years they have taken on board new players, all of whom long for a Zompocalypse.

All members of the SZS enjoy more of a MilSim style of gameplay, although without the hardcore military structure. The members play for fun, which is something they feel some other airsofters can forget at times. The team can normally be found in one of two places: the site’s safe zone having a brew, or the front line leading the attack! Amateur dramatics are a big part of the SZS-style, as there is nothing better

than acting out your ‘wound’ to give a sense of realism.

Though SZS have played at many sites over their career, ranging from woodland through to urban, they have settled on First And Only sites in the Midlands as they prefer the environments. Their regular site is The Outpost in Kidderminster.

They have attended several large Mil-Sim events, including Uprising 1 and

REGULAR TEAM MEMBERS ARE:Sam Beckett – Callsign: SeadogJon Talbot – Callsign: CommandoMark Simpkins – Callsign: Bum FluffSimon Bailey – Callsign: SimoMatthew Bailey – Callsign: MaccaPiers Gilmore – Callsign: Happy

Uprising 2, as they found these suited their playing style and allowed them to incorporate the back story of the team.

Ed’s note: I recently met these guys, when I was up at The Outpost doing a site review (see page 62 in this issue of Airsoft Action). They are a really nice bunch of blokes who played with both skill and honour but, above all, had fun while doing it. Smiles all round, all day!

If you would like your team featured in a future issue of Airsoft Action, please email a good quality, hi-res picture, along with your profi le to [email protected]

72 October 2011


074 October 2011

Battlefi eld 3 is the latest in the Battlefi eld series, and a welcome return to the slightly more realistic side of the franchise. Alex Wharton takes a sneaky look-see

This game is going to be epic… ‘Nuff said!

Made by Dice and published by Electronic Arts (EA), Battlefi eld 3 will be

available in the UK from 28 October. EA’s crosshairs are fi rmly on the Call of Duty franchise with this title – the company even claimed that it intends to wipe its closest competitor from the face of the earth.

So this is serious business then – let’s get to it...

Jumping out of your APC you are greeted with the most realistic looking Middle-Eastern city to date. Sunlight streams down through windows as you patrol through buildings; dust shakes from the ceiling as heavy vehicles roll by. Slowly you realise that your team is not alone in the city – the insurgents are here, and they want your blood…

A sniper drops your squad mate and the action begins in earnest!

The combat is frantic: grenades fl y over walls and cars while enemy

combatants circle around to try and trap you, displaying some incredibly advanced AI. Men appear in windows and on balconies with RPGs and machine guns. Nowhere is safe, even brick walls are chipped away as bullets smash into them.

More impressive than the visuals themselves, though, is that from the very beginning this is in-game, not a rendered video. The surroundings look incredible and the environment feels more alive than ever as you move through it. Tank

PREVIEW


MEDIA REVIEWtreads throw up dust, as does popping holes in a wall with your M4 – and when vehicles go down and things start to burn, everything is blanked out in dark smoky clouds. I think we are all going to spend a lot of time blasting at shadows in the smoke!

Dice has updated its Frostbite engine to V2 and it’s looking better than ever. Buildings collapse left and right and, if you need to get into a building from the back, you can simply blast a hole in the wall and hop right through. It doesn’t appear that building size is limited – hell, if a sniper’s terrorising your squad you can take down a whole hotel just to take him out.

Vehicle capability has also been updated, with planes making a grand return. Pilots better dig out their old joysticks – it’s going to get savage up there.

Multiplayer classes have also been tweaked, and rearranged a little since Bad Company 2.

‘Engineer’ is the only class that remains untouched. ‘Assault’ class can no longer dish out ammo, though it can use paddles to resurrect teammates and dish out med-packs. The idea behind these changes are that they are on the

frontline, and therefore closest to the shooting. ‘Support’ class has taken over control of the ammo, hefts the big gun and can now also deploy a bipod to massively increase accuracy and reduce recoil – at the cost of mobility.

‘Recon’ is the new name for what was previously the ‘Sniper’ class. Dice has shifted the emphasis of this class from long-range kills to more of a scout role. You are still armed with a rifl e but there’s no more quick scoping – for long, accurate shots players are going to have to hold their breath. Playing as this class is therefore now more about locating the enemy and guiding the other classes in and around obstacles.

Overall, Battlefi eld 3 is shaping up to be a very worthy next chapter in the Battlefi eld saga. But is it seriously about to knock Call of Duty off the throne? Only time will tell.

I’ll see you on the Battlefi eld... 3.

Created by DicePublished by Electronic ArtsDue date: 28th October

076 October 2011

DPM, ACU, A-TACS, Woodland, Desert and even Scrambled Egg – the sheer variety of camoufl age patterns is mind-boggling - and all down to a portable hunting blind developed by Scottish gamekeepers

We all (well, most of us) wear it when we are playing and probably don’t give a second

thought to where it came from, but the origin of camoufl age uniforms is quite surprising. I am no camo expert – but I know a man who is. Eric Larson is an expert, and a member of the International Camoufl age Uniform Society, so he knows a thing or two about it.

It is possible to trace the origin of modern camoufl age uniforms back over a century. During the Boer War, the British pioneered the use of personal camoufl age by a professional army.

Offi cers and NCOs of the Lovat Scouts, familiar with the concept of the ghillie suit (from the Gaelic word

THE ORIGIN OF MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS

gille, meaning servant), introduced the design for wear by snipers and scouts serving in Southern Africa. Originally a hooded jacket or cape to which loose strips of multi-colored cloth, twine or burlap were fastened, to create a foliage-like appearance. These overgarments had fi rst appeared in the 19th century and were worn by Scottish gamekeepers in their native Highlands.

During the First World War the camoufl age suit concept was expanded upon by British designers, who took boiler suits or jackets and trousers and similarly covered them with bits of fabric or burlap. These suits were also primarily worn by scouts and sharpshooters.The best-known of these was the Symien sniper suit.

The French Army organised a Section de Camoufl age under Eugene Corbin in 1914, which experimented with its own concept of personal camoufl age. Likewise, American University engineers tested various designs that were used by snipers and observers in Europe. Several cape and oversuit designs appeared during this era, most of which were hand-printed in a variety of blotch, spot and stripe patterns. Although they did not see widespread usage, these were certainly the very fi rst printed camoufl age uniforms to by used by a professional army. It was not until the 1930s that the idea of printed

camoufl age took hold and blossomed.The very fi rst mass-produced camoufl age design was the Italian M1929 telo mimetico, a wavy three-color design printed initially on light canvas shelter halves. Around 1930, the British Army introduced the No. 1 Camoufl age anti-gas cape, a long smock-like garment printed in a blotchy two-color scheme that would later be employed as a type of desert camoufl age by members of the SAS and LRDG units during WW2. Germany also produced an early camoufl age design for shelter halves in 1931, the splittermuster (splinter pattern). In addition to their function as part of a


CAMOUFLAGE

Author: Eric H LarsonInternational Camoufl age Uniform Society (ICUS): www.camoufl agesociety.orgAll images are reproduced with the kind permission of ICUS/Eric H Larson

shelter or tent, these early tarpaulins also functioned as a poncho, thus providing the individual soldier with a rudimentary means of camoufl aging himself while still maintaining his mobility.

By the end of the 1930s the concept of personal camoufl age had been taken a step further by Russian and German engineers, who produced full uniforms to be worn by individual soldiers. In 1938, the Soviets introduced the fi rst mass-produced camoufl age uniform, the makirovochnyi kamufl irovannyi kostium. It was printed in a simple design with large dark amoebic shapes on a khaki background. By the end of WW2 several other Russian designs had been fi elded, including a summer camoufl age of contrasting detailed leaf and twig shapes with a light background, and the fi rst of the ‘stair step’ camoufl age patterns. The stair step pattern (known by the Russians as solnechnye zaychiki, or sunshine rays) remains in use with many former Soviet nations.

By far the most prolifi c and infl uential innovators of early camoufl age design were the German engineers of the Third Reich. Although entering this arena later than many competitors, German camoufl age designs of the WW2 era would incorporate some of the most intricate and sophisticated methods of production to date. These patterns were also among the most infl uential on contemporary camoufl age design. A detailed history and descrption of early German designs deserves its own series of articles, but it is worth noting that many contemporary camoufl age families (including rain, splinter, fl ecktarn and Swiss alpenfl age designs) can trace their origins to WW2 era German design concepts found in sumpfmuster,

splittermuster, erbsenmuster, and leibermuster.

Although by no means as innovative as German designers, British camoufl eurs can be credited with creating another hugely infl uential camoufl age design. The brushstroke concept, developed around 1940-41, is a simple enough pattern, originally produced using large rolls of heavy khaki cotton twill to which were applied circular disruptive shapes in darker green and brown dyes using large mops or brushes – hence the name. This design concept was later simplifi ed using printer-roller mass production techniques, and would continue to be used by some British units well into the 1960s. Ultimately it infl uenced the development of the British DPM pattern. The brushstroke concept also gave birth to the French tenue du leopard, or lizard pattern, as well as the full range of ‘tiger stripe’ patterns and a host of brushstroke derivatives that are still used by many armies today.

Despite their WW1 origins, American camoufl age designs are relative latecomers on the international scene. The earliest mass-produced American pattern was the M1942 spot. Designed by a civilian horticulturist it was worn primarily by US Marines and elite units operating in the Pacifi c Theater during WW2. Incorporating green and earth tone dapple-spots on a khaki background, the pattern would later reach popularity with civilian hunting enthusiasts and earn the nickname duck hunter camoufl age.

It was copied widely for both military and civilian use from the 1960s onward. Developed in 1948 by army engineers, the ERDL (Engineer Research and Development Laboratory) pattern – also called leaf pattern – did not enter widespread production for military usage until the early part of the Vietnam War. The design itself was never offi cially adopted for universal issue by the

US Armed Forces, although it has been copied internationally by dozens of nations and is considered one of the major families of camoufl age patterns. ERDL is also the predecessor of the M1981 woodland camoufl age design, which essentially uses the same drawings

enlarged by 60 per cent and incorporating a standardised series of dyes. Universally copied by many nations, woodland is probably the most common and widely encountered camoufl age design in the world.

Camoufl age uniforms remained the exclusive province of ‘elite’ units until 1970s, when it gradually became accepted that regular ground personnel should be provided with a practical means of hiding themselves under combat conditions. Today, virtually every nation that fi elds a professional army employs the camoufl age unform as part of its standard kit for ground troops. Yet, from its origins as a means of disappearing among foliage or other natural formations, camoufl age patterns have also become a means of identifying soldiers, or at least the political and historical ties that their governments may have.

Although technology now allows camoufl age designers to envision and produce some truly sophisticated patterns, one wonders if the concept of national identifi cation may eventually overtake the practical features of camoufl age, leading us back to the 18th century when armed forces entered the fi eld of battle wearing uniforms that would instantly identify their political ties.

78 October 2011


COMPETITIONWIN...WIN...WIN...AIRSOFT ACTION’SCAMOUFLAGE COMPETITION

Welcome to the fi rst part of our Camoufl age Competition.

Yes, that does say ‘fi rst part’, because this competition is going to be a long one – a whole year to be precise - and you’re going to have to buy, beg, or borrow a copy of the next 12 issues if you want to enter.

So, how does it work and just what do you get for all that effort (assuming you win, of course)?

It works like this:On the Contents page you will fi nd

a box containing a camoufl age pattern. Each of the fi rst 12 issues will have a

different pattern and this is what you have to identify. Each pattern is real and has been verifi ed by the International Camoufl age Uniform Society.

In issue 13 we will print an Entry Form, for you to return with a list of what you think the 12 different patterns are.

Some of the patterns will be fairly straightforward to identify but some will be a little tricky – after all, we don’t want to make it too easy!

And this is what you’ll win:Because this is a tough competition

it is only fair that the prize matches the challenge and so, in this issue

we are starting a ‘Prize Pot’. In each subsequent issue we will add another prize to the pot and by the end of the competition there will be at least 12 prizes that will go to the Winner. There will also be prizes for the second and third place entries, and I am sure we’ll manage to come up with a Special Offer for everyone who enters.

To get the ball rolling the fi rst item into the Prize Pot is a set of A-TACS, kindly donated by Gunman Airsoft Midlands.

Keep an eye out for next month’s pattern – and more importantly what’s going into the pot!

Everyone wears it and every player probably knows at least half a dozen patterns, but just how good is your knowledge of camoufl age? If it is good enough you can win a HUGE prize!

80 October 2011

See your ad hereCall Hannah on

01926 339808

Countryside Matchesfor those who love to share the rural life

www.countrysidematches.com


FEATURE

So you’re doing a re-enactment and need a few hundred WWII uniforms? There’s only one place to go: Angels the Costumiers

YOU’VE GOT THE LOOKANGELS THE COSTUMIERS

Ever been into your local fancy dress shop and marvelled at the amount of stuff they seem to have?

Well double it, then double it again, and perhaps a few more times just for good measure, and you might just be getting halfway towards the number of outfi ts that Angels has on its eight miles of hanging rails!

Angels has been in business for nearly 170 years and owns the

largest collection of costumes and accessories anywhere in the world but, unfortunately, it doesn’t sell to individual members of the public, it rents to the fi lm and theatre industries.

Its list of credits reads like a Who’s Who of fi lm and TV – Defi ance, Foyles War, Iron Man, Shutter Island, The Kings Speech, Bram Stoker’s Dracula – and the company has 26 Oscars for Best Achievement in Costume Design going back to 1948.

I came across Angels while looking for a very specifi c military costume and, while its only connection to airsoft might be re-enactment groups, I was so blown away by what I saw I thought I’d share it with you.

Angels is not open to the public but does run tours of its collection.

If you’d like more information, contact Angels via the website: www.angels.uk.com or, to arrange a tour, call Mark on 020 8202 2244.

082 October 2011

Title Code Price

Elite:160 World War II Infantry Assault Tactics 1011-001 £10.00

Elite:168 World War II Street Fighting Tactics 1011-002 £10.00

Raid:11 Pegasus Bridge – Benouville D-Day 1011-003 £10.00

Weapon:7 The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger 1011-004 £8.50

Soldier I – The Story of an SAS Hero 1011-005 £7.50

Elite:163 Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan 1011-006 £8.50

Elite:170 Special Operations Forces in Iraq 1011-009 £8.50

Weapon:2 The Rocket Propelled Grenade 1011-010 £8.50

Weapon:7 The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger 1011-011 £8.50

Total + £4 P&P (free on orders over £30) £

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

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Your credit card statement will read Blaze Publishing Ltd.

Please call +44 1926 339 808 for international postage costs.

Now fax or post this form to: Blaze Publishing Limited,

Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5SZ England

T: 01926 339808 F: 01926 470400 E: [email protected]

Elite:160 World War II Infantry Assault Tactics AA Price £10

Elite:163 Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan AA Price £8.50

Raid:11 Pegasus Bridge – Benouville D-Day 1944 AA Price £10

Weapon:2 The Rocket Propelled Grenade AA Price £8.50

Elite:168 World War II Street Fighting Tactics AA Price £10

Elite:170 Special Operations Forces in Iraq AA Price £8.50

Soldier I – The Story of an SAS Hero AA Price £7.50

Weapon:7 The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger AA Price £8.50


COMPETITIONWIN...WIN...WIN...

Post your entry to: G1098 Competition, Airsoft Action, Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5SZ. Or, email your entries to [email protected], quoting ‘Airsoft Action G1098 Competition’ in the headline – please make sure to include your full name and address. Photocopied entry forms will be accepted. The fi rst name we pull out of the editor’s hat will win; entries received after 28 September will not be valid.

One entry per household only. Prize must be collected from G1098 Supplies, Kent, and must consist of G1098 kit ONLY.

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

Name

Address

Postcode

Country

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Email

£500 WORTH OF G1098 KIT

G1098 Tactical manufactures high-quality tactical equipment, including MOLLE vests, pouches and rigs.

If you fancy walking away with £500 of G1098 kit of your choosing, just answer the following question correctly:

“In British Military terms, what is a G1098?”

Answer:

Hint: It is not a watch!

084 October 2011

At Airsoft Action we like to do things for real, so we asked one of our contributors to take along Lowa’s Zephyr and Alt-Berg’s Desert Microlite boots and check them out while he was exercising in the Arizona desert. Here are his thoughts

DESERT BOOTSALT-BERG & LOWA

Alt-Berg Desert Microlite MkIII have worn many pairs of desert boots in my time. When I was asked to test out the Alt-Berg desert boots I was very happy to take on the task. I have been aware of Alt-Berg for many years and have owned several pairs but, for those that haven’t, the boot manufacturer is based in the North of England and all of its boots are handmade in the factory right here in the UK.

For me to test these boots thoroughly I took them on a recent trip to Arizona, where the temperatures reached 49°C. I have to say, the boots were extremely comfortable and the ventilation system worked very well, keeping my feet cool and dry. Another feature of the boot that I liked was the speed lacing system, which allowed me to take the boots off in a hurry, yet also felt secure and tight when laced. I was also pleased that the tongue was stitched into the side of the boot, which means sand and other foreign objects would be kept out of the boot.

As always, Alt-Berg has produced a great boot that is tough enough to withstand anything the world has to throw at it – whether it be in the deserts of Afghanistan on operations, or on a hiking trip in the USA.


KIT REVIEW

The Alt-Berg boots were kindly supplied direct from Alt-Berg, in North Yorkshire, and the Lowa boots by Aaron Distribution.We thank both companies for their generosity in supplying the boots.For more information and prices, Alt-Berg can be contacted via the website:www.altberg.co.uk

Aaron Distribution can be found at: www.aarondistribution.co.uk

Lowa Zephyr Mid TF ‘Desert’On fi rst impressions these boots have a very modern look about them, and look like they could come from the high street. Don’t be fooled however, they were designed with service personnel in mind.

Having worn these boots for a few days I was surprised at how cool they kept my feet, which I would attribute to the amount of ventilation panels. These boots are also very lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear.

As a boot for everyday general wear, be it around camp or around town, the Lowa boots are great. In Lowa’s own words, though, they have primarily been designed for drivers, aircrew and general cutting around camp, and are not recommended to be used as a combat boot in any way, shape or form – though don’t let that put you off for airsoft use!

I was impressed by these boots and I believe they meet their intended purpose very well. Lowa boots are a very popular choice with service personnel and I don’t think the Zephyr would disappoint.

086 October 2011

1HQRochester, ME1 1HQ01634 829063www.platoonstores.co.uk

ATROOP AIRSOFTClocaenog Forest, LL16 4SP07967 394976www.atroop.co.uk

ABSOLUTE AIRSOFTMaidenhead, SL6 3SS07871 314951www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMESStoke on Trent, ST1 2JS07786 192832www.aceairsoft.co.uk

ACE COMBATKent, TN12 7DG01303 814803www.acecombat.co.uk

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUBDownpatrick, Co. Down, BT3007718 [email protected]

AIRSOFT ASYLUMNorth Lanarksire, ML7 [email protected]

AIRSOFT COMMANDOSSutton, near Ferrybridge07723 [email protected]

AIRSOFT KGBPorkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 [email protected].

AIRSOFT SKIRMISHStoulton, WR7 4QW07764 587410www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

Find somewhere to be this weekend…SITE DIRECTORY

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB STUDLEYStudley, B80 7LY07764 587410www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

AIRSOFT XCALIBREMacclesfi eld, SK10 4SZ07921 837658www.airsoft-xcalibre.co.uk

ALL ARMS AIRSOFTNear Trawden, BB8 8SN07957 888392www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk

ALPHA 5-5 HALKYN WOODFlintshire, CH8 8DF0845 257 6937www.alpha55.co.uk

ALPHA 5-5 TONG WOODNear Shifnal, TF11 8PN0845 257 6937www.alpha55.co.uk

ALPHA ELITE GAMINGLe Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 501534 733697www.aegairsoft.je

AMAZON EVENTSHellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL0844 2570433www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAMChobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL01252 315225www.ambushadventures.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – SOUTHAMPTONNew Forest National Park, SP5 2DW01252 315225www.ambushadventures.co.uk

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFTSittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP07872 348 576www.apocalypseairsoft.com

ARENA AIRSOFTGrimsby, DN31 3JD07752 404060www.arenaairsoft.com

AWA HERTSSawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ07732 184957www.awaherts.com

BARNSLEY AIRSOFTShafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE07771 332930www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk

BATTLEFIELD SPORTS NIBelfast, BT16 1XT028 9048 5462www.battlefi eldsportsni.com

BATTLETEC AIRSOFTLa Couture, Guernsey, GY1 207781 104068www.battletec.co.uk

BETTER BATTLESCarlton, Nottingham, NG4 3BJ07967 940043www.better-battles.co.uk

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT – SOUTHPORTLeisure Lakes, Mere Brow, PR46JX07790 715059www.bravo22airsoft.com

BRISTOL AIRSOFTBristol, BS1 2HQ07776 288826www.bristolairsoft.com

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFTSheffi eld, S2 5TR07795 631331www.brittacairsoft.com

BUNKER 51Charlton, SE7 8NJ0870 7549653www.wolfarmouries.co.uk


AIRSOFT SITESC3 TACTICALLonghope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH07597 938011www.c3tactical.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFTSheffi eld, S6 6JE07891 469492www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFTCorby, NN17 3BB07740 165787www.close-action.co.uk

COMBAT ACTION GAMESMaryland, Norfolk, NR10 401328 711867www.combatactiongames.co.uk

COMBAT NORTH AIRSOFTHalkirk, KW1401847 [email protected]

COMBAT SOUTH URBANPortsmouth, PO6 3LS02392 655636www.combatsouth.co.uk

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLANDFareham, PO17 5ND02392 655636www.combatsouth.co.uk

CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOLKelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 501438 368177www.thefi ghtschool.demon.co.uk

COOL UNDER FIREDoddington, Kent, ME9 0JS07960 532613www.coolunderfi re.co.uk

CORNWALL AIRSOFT ASSAULTTruro, Cornwall, TR207837 475012www.cornwallairsoftassault.co.uk

CUMBRIA AIRSOFTDumfries, [email protected]

DOGS OF WARHouston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP07853 195290www.dow-airsoft.co.uk

DRAGON’S LAIRBrentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA07889 571553www.dragonslair-paintball.com

EAST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT – SABRE FORCEEarlswood, B94 6SF0844 870 9785www.sabreforce.co.uk

ELITE ACTION GAMES – DORKINGDorking, Surrey, RH5 5AB01784 433023www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – EPSOMEpsom, Surrey, KT1801784 433023www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHINGWorthing, BN1301784 433023www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE BATTLEZONEBexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX07968 448475www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFTSwindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN01380 728982www.experienceairsoft.co.uk

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONSLewisham, SE13 5SU07973 240177www.fi refi ght.co.uk

FIFE WARGAMESSt Andrews, KY10 3XLinfo@fi fewargames.co.ukwww.fi fewargames.com

FINMERE AIRSOFTBuckingham, MK18 4JT07976 184897www.fi nmereairsoft.com

FIREBALL SQUADRONSutton Coldfi eld, B75 5SA07582 684533www.fi reballsquadron.com

FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMPLeek, ST13 807862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – BATTLE LAKESRoyal Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9AP07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – BUNKER WOODKidderminster, Worcestershire DY11 5SA07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – KHE SANH WOODSOtley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – MANCHESTER WOODLANDBolton, BL7 9TS07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – THE ASYLUMKidderminster, DY10 3PT07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – THE EMBASSYLeicester, LE2 6EA07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – THE MALLReading, RG1 1NR07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST AND ONLY – HUDDERSFIELD WOODLANDHolmfi rth, West Yorkshire, HD9 6QR07862 288359www.fi rstandonlyairsoft.com

FOXTROT 58 AIRSOFTIsland Magee, Larne, BT40 307951 858650www.foxtrot58airsoft.com

FREE FIRE ZONEFarcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH01733 247171www.freefi rezone.co.uk

FRV AIRSOFTAnnacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ07730 586926www.frvairsoft.com

088 October 2011

GASS AIRSOFT – PENNPenn Bottom, Buckinghamshire, HP1007907 788970www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTONPiddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 107907 788970www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFTLeicester, LE9 [email protected]

GREENZONE COMBATHamiltonsbawn, Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE07772 919974www.greenzonecombat.com

GROUND ZERO AIRSOFT – WOODLANDRingwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF01329 849818www.groundzerowoodland.com

GROUND ZERO AIRSOFT – URBANBransgore, Dorset, BH23 8AU01329 849818www.groundzerourban.com

GUN HO AIRSOFTGuisborough, TS7 0PG07525 435696www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGEBury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6SE07854 277264www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICHNorwich, Norfolk, NR1007854 277264www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDSBalsall Common, West Mids, CV7 7FP01676 532384www.suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS RAF HONILEYKenilworth, CV8 1NR01676 532384www.suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

HILTON PARK AIRSOFTWolverhampton, WV10 7HU08000 354490www.paintballuk.com

INVICTA AIRSOFT – RAINDEN WOODSFolkestone, Kent, CT18 7AY01227 763335www.invictaairsoft.co.uk

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBATNear Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO3007964 751047www.islandrecon.co.uk

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFTGorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG0131 654 2452www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

LINCOLNSHIRE AIRSOFT CLUBSaxillby, LN1 2JW07775 877057www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LINDSEY AIRSOFTManby, Lincolnshire, LN11 807895 011206www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMESMatlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW07974 507166www.matlockcombatgames.com

MAWMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3RS07562 [email protected]

MIACornwall, EX23 9JL01288 331748www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURESWrightington, WN6 9PL01942 514724www.militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk

MILSIM UKCheckley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS07523 916607www.milsimuk.co.uk

NCIS AIRSOFTEdinburgh, EH14 [email protected]

NOMAD AIRSOFTFenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY07904 998250www.nomadairsoft.com

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFTThirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ01845 565465www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk

NORTHFLEET CQBNorthfl eet, Kent, DA11 9AA07968 448475www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

NSC AIRSOFTHetton, Sunderland, DH5 007983 333521www.nscairsoft.co.uk

NTACDurham, DL4 2ER01642 281220www.ntac.co.uk

OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLLArgyll and Bute, PA37 107967 710185www.argyllsurplus.com

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPSTean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT07964 990831www.op-tac.co.uk

PHOENIX AIRSOFTBudby, Nottinghamshire, NG22 9FG01623 812483www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

PLATOON 1HQRochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ01634 829063www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

PLAYERS OF WARHigh Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD07767 203979www.playersofwar.co.uk

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMESBallynahinch, BT24 8NF028 4377 0566www.predatorcombat.com

RAVEN’S NESTSuffolk, IP8 401473 831563www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIAWigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ01900 85645www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk


AIRSOFT SITESSWAT AIRSOFTNeston, Merseyside, CH64 3TB07703 177756www.swatairsoft.eu

SWAT AIRSOFT – URBANChester, CH3 5UE07703 177756www.swaturban.com

SECTION 8 AIRSOFTShotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB07974 026517www.s8airsoft.com

SG1 COMBAT GAMESCo. Londonderry, BT45 8NA07713 273102www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

SHADOWOPZDover, Kent CT17 9PS07707 632855www.shadowopzairsoft.co.uk

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAYBillericay, Essex, CM11 2TX01277 657777www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETERExeter, Devon, EX4 501548 580025www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

SOUTH WEST WAR GAMES – SCRAESDON FORTAntony, Cornwall, PL11 3AB08456 345011www.swwargames.co.uk

SOUTH WEST WAR GAMES – TREGANTLE FORTAntony, Cornwall, PL11 3AZ08456 345011www.swwargames.co.uk

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFTPetworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR07766 770830www.southdownairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTHWareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU07984 656947www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – THE ROCKPortland, Dorset, DT5 2EG07984 656947www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

STEALTH TACTICAL AIRSOFTLutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4HP07863 745191www.stealthtacticalairsoft.co.uk

STIRLING AIRSOFTCoventry, CV3 6NX07831 429407www.stirlingairsoft.com

STORMFORCE AIRSOFTRugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD07515 937633www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

SUSSEX AIRSOFTSlinfold, RH12020 8150 9284www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

TA EVENTSHemel Hemstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7QB07894 059794www.ta-events.co.uk

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFTWarlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL020 8665 1299www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

TASK FORCE SKIRMISHCowbridge, South Glamorgan, CF71 7RQ02920 593900www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

TECH BRIGADEHertford, SG13 8NH01438 235249www.techbrigade.org

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFTRedford, DD1107751 878175www.thedeserters.co.uk

THE EX SITEMold, CH7 407840 001975www.theexsitewales.co.uk

THE WARGAMES CENTREStevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN08456 434326www.scottishadventurecentre.co.uk

UCAP AIRSOFTPortsmouth, Hampshire, PO17 6AR07590 818881web.mac.com/crackingday

UCAP GREEN OPSLinch, West Sussex, GU30 707590 818881web.mac.com/crackingday

UCAP VIRUSMidhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0BL07590 818881web.mac.com/crackingdayUCAP SANDPITBean, Kent, DA2 807590 818881web.mac.com/crackingday

ULTIMATE AIRSOFTTortworth, GL12 801179 353388www.ultimateairsoft.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAMFawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY01268 796130www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELDOxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH01268 796130www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

URBAN ASSAULTRamsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 101733 247171www.urbanassault.org.uk

URBAN6AIRSOFTStone, Staffordshire, ST15 0QN07432 291729www.urban6airsoft.com

VIKING AIRSOFTWelwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 [email protected]

WARMINSTER AIRSOFTWarminster, BA12 7RZ01985 211774www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

XSITEHigh Wycombe, HP14 3NP01494 881430www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

Email [email protected] to add or change a site listing

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92 October 2011

Issue 01 - Oct 2011

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