Issue 04 - Xmas 2011

ACT

ION

Cowboys n Indians Military hovercraft Gun maintenance Cam and con

AirsoftA

ctionX

MA

S2011

THE Airsoft Magazine

Real Steel

XMAS 2011 - 3.95

Live re on a Special Forces range in Estonia!

WINCelcius MX2 CTW

worth 650+ MORE!

02 December 2011

03www.airsoftaction.com

CONTENTSAIRSOFT ACTION - XMAS 2011

6 21 SAS RESERVES 21 SAS RESERVES IS HIRING DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

8 AIRSOFT NEWS NEW KIT, ASSOCIATION NEWS, FIRST AID AND MORE

12 RIFLE REVIEW MEET CELCIUS MX2 CTW16 FLYING LEAD, GUNMAN GADGE REPORTS ON GUNMANS WILD WEST THEMED GAME

20 GLOVES N GLASSES, PT2 DANNY P FINISHES HIS TEST OF GLOVES AND GLASSES

24 LIVE FIRE IN ESTONIA LEARNING LIVE FIRE DRILLS ON AN SF RANGE IN ESTONIA!

28 COMPETITIONS WEVE GOT SOME AWESOME COMPETITIONS FOR YOU LUCKY BLIGHTERS THIS ISSUE!

RECOGNISE THIS PATTERN? TAKE A NOTE! YOULL NEED THE PATTERNS FROM ISSUES 1 - 12 TO ENTER OUR CAMO COMPETITION!

Editor: Nigel Streeter

Assistant editor: Anthony Platt

Art director: Chris Sweeney

Ad design: Ryan Dixon, Steve Dawson

Advertising: Hannah Benson

Operations director: James Folkard

Assistant publisher: Ruth Burgess

Editorial director: James Marchington

Publisher: Wesley Stanton

Full UK 13-issue subscription rate: 59.40For overseas prices visit:www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street

Leamington Spa.Warwickshire. CV32 5SZ

Tel: 01926 339808 Fax: 01926 470400

E: [email protected]

W: www.blazepublishing.co.uk

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 re ect those of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

ACT

ION

Cowboys n Indians Military hovercraft Gun maintenance Cam and con

AirsoftA

ctionX

MA

S2011

THE Airsoft Magazine

Real Steel

XMAS 2011 - 3.95

Live re on a Special Forces range in Estonia!

WINCelcius MX2 CTW

worth 650+ MORE!

004 Xmas 2011

30 TEAM FORMATIONS DO YOU KNOW YOUR TEAM FORMATIONS?

35 BIG BOYZ TOYZ RATTY TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO MILITARY HOVERCRAFT

40 FIFE WARGAMES OUR REPORTER NORTH OF THE BORDER VISITS FIFE WARGAMES

44 XMAS GIFT SUGGESTIONS MAMMOTH GUIDE ON STUFF TO ASK SANTA FOR THIS YEAR!

52 RIFLE REVIEW RATTY CHECKS OUT REDWOLFS NEW M4

56 CAM AND CON MASTER CAMOUFLAGE AND CONCEALMENT

61 WORKSHOP GUNMUNKI TAKES US BACK TO THE BASICS OF MAINTENANCE

Welcome to the Xmas 2011 Edition of Airsoft Action, and may I be the rst to wish you a very Happy Christmas. A bit early perhaps but theres nothing like being prepared and our Xmas Gift Guide (page 44) should help (just leave it open at the appropriate page and hope someone takes the hint!).

The rst thing youll notice is weve put on a bit of weight (and we havent even started on the pud yet). Airsoft Action has got fatter by nearly 20 per cent in fact! More pages means more articles, loads more reviews and more competitions and to get the celebrations going we have got two huge EXCLUSIVE competitions for you lucky buggers including the chance to go shoot some real steel in Estonia! See page 28 for more details on those.

On a slightly different note, you might be aware of the circulation of a letter from ACPO (Association of Chief Police Of cers). This letter states ACPOs position regarding the lethality of airsoft weapons. Based on testing conducted by the Forensic Science Service it states: it will be safe to conclude that fully automatic airsoft guns operating at 1.3 joules or less and single shot (or semi automatic) airsoft guns operating at 2.5 joules or less would not engage the lethality threshold crossing over into stricter controls under the Firearms Act.

What is important to note is that the limits are expressed in joules not velocity, so to help out weve put a handy guide on page 10 which gives you fps limits based on different BB weights.

The good news is that the vast majority of players and sites already operate within these levels and, although there are one or two areas I feel need more clari cation, this is obviously a big step in the right direction.

Now wheres the mince pies and brandy?

Keep safe,

Nige.

Find us onwww.facebook.com/AirsoftAction Search Airsoft Action

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

005www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

64 ON TEST: PYROS ANT PLATT LOOKS IN DEPTH AT STUFF THAT GOES BANG

69 SITE REVIEW: MOA RON MAHONEY REPORTS FROM MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

74 RIFLE REVIEW YES, ANOTHER ONE! SCOTT ALLEN ON G&GS GR4 G26

80 COLD WAR WARRIOR GADGE LOOKS AT THE BRITISH ARMY OF THE RHINE, C.1980

85 TEAM PROFILE THE DUCHY OF GRAND FENWICK87 INSIDE: JD AIRSOFT INSIDE OF THE UKS LEADING AIRSOFT RETAILERS

90 GAME REVIEW THIS MONTH: RAGE92 YOUNG GUNS JEZZ BLUME TALKS TACTICS94 MARSHAL MATTERS NEW FACE MIKE BUTTRICK ON BEING A PLAYER MARSHAL

98 BOOKSHOP WE REVIEW ROBERT KERSHAWS TANK MEN

21 SASRESERVESHave you got the drive and determination to make it through UKSF(R) selection?

006 Xmas 2011

If you had the opportunity to join the SAS, would you do it?

I guess there are loads of you out there that would love to, but youre not in the Forces and have

no actual military experience, so you cant, right? Wrong!

Did you know that the army is currently recruiting for new UKSF Reserves and anyone can apply even those without any military experience?

I know some of you have thought about it applying and, like many before you, have asked the same questions of yourself: can I crack The Hills? Will I make the grade? Do they accept guys straight off civvy street? Have I got what it takes?

For many people those questions will remain unanswered but for a large group of others its a challenge to be overcome.

21 SAS (R) is recruiting in the South of England and all you have to do is pick up the phone, dial one of the numbers and see where it leads and that is often the hardest step.

If youre between 18-32 (or upto 34 with previous regular or reserve service), of average tness but above average drive and determination, are looking for adventure and can commit to a year-long course of alternate weekends and Wednesday nights, then you might be just what 21 SAS(R) is looking for.

Youll become a highly-skilled map reader, marksman and soldier, be a member of a small, tight brotherhood of like-minded individuals and youll be well paid for it too!

In short, if you want to join the SAS and thought youd never get the opportunity, now you have. Make the rst step and give them a call. It may well change your life and the weapon you carry at weekends!

To nd out more visit: www.uksfr.net.

21 SAS(R) Units are located throughout the United Kingdom.London and South East: 02077 562362South Wales: 01633 255277M3/M4 corridor: 01256 880113Cambridge and East Anglia: 01223 413794Exeter and South West: 01392 459814

008 Xmas 2011

AIRSOFTNEWSAIRSOFTIRAIAIRAIRAIRIRRSRSRSIRRSAAAIAIAAA FTFTFTFTFTOFTTFTTOFSO TRSOSOOFOFSOSOFTRS T

SSSSSSSSSWSWWSWWSWWSWSWSWWWWWWWWWWWWWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEEWEENENENENNNNENENENNNNN SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN WWWWWNNNNNN SSSNext June will see a small group of intrepid airsofters The 13th Regiment trek 3,200 miles across Europe to raise money for Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion. The road trip Operation: Sundin will end at the annual Berget airsoft event in Sweden.

Organiser Rob Campbell said: We are

looking for 30 players to take part and each player has to commit to raising a minimum of 1,000 in sponsorship. We have already got 10 interested players so I think we should have no trouble filling the seats. We are delighted that Airsoft Action will be sending an embedded reporter to cover the whole experience.

Driving ex-MoD Landrovers, the nine day, 3,200 mile experience is preceded by a mechanical infantry boot camp at Stirling Airsoft where players will learn the art of fighting from a light vehicle.

The Landies will be used in Europes largest airsoft event, with more than 2,000 players, as a Quick Reaction Force.

The first of the Landrovers was bought recently and others are on the way. Each will undergo an extensive overhaul and be refitted to make them ready for the trip.

If you want to get involved, contact Rob: [email protected]. You can also support the event by donating here: bit.ly/BergetX.

ASYLUM TRAVELLER THREAT: PETITIONSkirmish site The Asylum could become a travellers site if plans to repurpose the ground are not halted. An online petition objecting to the plans has been set up in response.

The Wyre Forest Planning Committee has proposed making the Lea Castle site, on which First and Only Airsofts site sits, a gypsies, travellers or travelling show peoples site. If the plans go ahead The Asylum would be forced to shut to make way for travellers.

So far the petition has gained more than 500 signatories. To add your support visit chn.ge/FirstOnly or Airsoft Action will never get a chance to play The Asylum!

BERGET X CHARITY CHALLENGE


AIRSOFT NEWS

NEW LAND WARRIOR SHOPScottish readers will probably be aware that Land Warrior Airsoft has recently moved premises. The new shop can be found down the road at:44/1 Hardengreen Business Park,DalkeithEH22 3NXThe companys phone number is unchanged 0131 654 2452 as is the website at: www.landwarriorairsoft.com.

AIRSOFT FIRST AIDLincolnshire Airsoft Club (LAC) is introducing Emergency rst aid courses for application within the airsoft industry. The seven-hour course, approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), satis es the legal requirement for rst aid in low/medium risk environments.

Those who complete the course, including a practical element, receive the HSE-recognised Emergency First Aid at Work certi cate.

The practical element comprises a night game which will feature rst aid related objectives during which attendees will be assessed on their practical rst aid skills.

Ian Lawrence, owner of LAC, said: Ive been running airsoft sites for three or four years now and think its time to change things a bit. So far Ive trained all of my marshals and weve even run one course with a group of players that included two NHS nurses in its ranks.

The course has a de nite focus on paediatric rst aid. The majority of our customers are younger than 18 and its important site operators understand rst aid for adults cant necessarily be applied to children.

Topics covered include: assessment of rst aid scene, recovery position, unconsciousness,

CPR (including infant CPR), head injuries, choking, bleeding, burns, scalds and legislation.

Courses are run at LAC Site 5 and currently cost 30 per person though the course provider is exible and costs could come down if uptake is high enough.

Contact Ian: [email protected] full course details visit: bit.ly/LACFA.

The results of lethality tests performed by the Forensic Science Service were recently published by the Association of Chief Police Of cers (ACPO). The full report can be found at bit.ly/Lethality if you would like to read about it.

The power limits recommended in the report are:

Full-auto or burst- re capable: 1.3 joules (around 370fps with 0.20g bb)

Single-shot only (including semi-auto): 2.5 joules (around 520 fps with 0.20g bb)

ACPOs Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group (FELWG) has proposed that these power levels be regarded as the lethal threshold for airsoft BBs. Nothing has changed in law but most police forces have adopted this as policy, so will most likely prosecute

any skirmisher who exceeds them. In simple terms, airsoft skirmishers should now regard these gures as the maximum UK limits for possession, sale, purchase, import and use.

All types of airsoft replicas are affected by this including spring, gas and electric powered guns. There are still other areas which are unclear though, such as the status of automatic gas replicas (the muzzle energy of which can vary greatly), whether it will be deemed acceptable to downgrade a post-lethal AEG and whether a semi-auto only AEG or even a sub-lethal AEG will ever be regarded as readily convertible (and thereby Section

5). Again, we will publish any information we receive as it comes through.

Fortunately the vast majority of UK skirmishes are already playing within the recommended limits. UK airsoft is in a much better position now that results are out as we now have a much better idea of how airsoft replicas are regarded by the law, and UKAPU recommends that 1.3J/2.5J limits are adopted by all UK players with immediate effect.

For more information, or to join UKAPU, visit: www.ukapu.org.uk.

Chris Neill

United Kingdom Airsoft Players Union

MAXIMUM VELOCITY LIMITSBB weight Single / Semi-auto (2.5J) Full-auto (1.3J)0.18 grams 547 3940.20 grams 519 3740.25 grams 464 3340.30 grams 423 3050.35 grams 392 2830.40 grams 367 265Chart shows max velocity in feet per second, based on different BB weights, for both single shot/semi-auto and full-auto airsoft weapons.

NEWS

010 Xmas 2011

The Soldiers Pocket Book has had its rst major overhaul in more than 20 years. The new version costs 10 includ-ing postage and is also available for download from the Apple Store.

First published in 1989 as the Volunteers Pocket Book by John Hob-bis Harris (Major, retired), it has been brought bang up to date by his son, John H Harris.

Now completely rewritten and re-illustrated, the Soldiers Pocket Book includes chapters on subjects such as eldcraft, signals, marksmanship and map reading. The pocket-sized tome is packed full of information useful to the modern soldier whether on exercise or in con ict.

Buy it now from the Airsoft Action bookshop (see page 99 for details)!ISBN 978-1-874528-12-8. Published by Military Pocket Books Ltd: www.milpkbk.co.uk.

SOLDIERSPOCKET BOOK

REPLICA K6-3 HELMETRussian gear merchant TacGear has unveiled its newest replica: the Russian K6-3 helmet. The visor lens is made of 2mm polycarbonate so its airsoft-safe, but its a faithful reproduction besides that, featuring the same leather and straps on the inner as the original.

Its available in black or khaki and

NEW APO-LICENSED SNIPER RIFLEVegaForceCompany has announced its release of the long-awaited ASW338LM. Licensed by Ashbury Precision Ordnance (APO), the APO ASW338LM will stay faithful to the original expect it to weigh around 6kg and will be VSR-10 compatible on the inside (good news for mod junkies).

According to pre-release material the ASW338LM was designed using Ashburys 3D drawings to ensure 100 per cent accuracy in terms of parts and handling. The ri e is tted with an AEG barrel so can be easily upgraded. The upper rail is CNC steel while the receiver is diecast aluminium. An optional upgrade kit allows for the use of up to an M150 spring. The ASW338LM also comes equipped with an integral muzzle brake, sound suppression system and detachable box mag. Information is scarce at present, though the ri e will be distributed by ActionSportGames. Pricing and release dates will be published on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AirsoftAction) when available.

VegaForceCompany: www.gb-tech.tw; ActionSportGames: www.actionsportgames.com

weighs in at a hefty 2.5kg. The visor is made of 2mm steel and can be fixed up or down.

TacGear said: The K6-3 helmet is an

iconic piece of Russian military equipment, and anyone trying to perfect a Battlefield 3 support class load-out will need one!

TacGears replica retails at US$300. Visit www.tacgear.ru.

012 Xmas 2011

Youd need some serious visual impairment not to notice that the most popular style of airsoft AEG is an M16/M4 design and the most popular

of all is the M4A1 Carbine. They come in all shapes, sizes and con gurations from a host of different manufacturers, using various real steel manufacturer licenses. Perhaps because of this choice, built by so many companies, they are available to suit any budget. If youre on a tight budget you still have a large range of brands and models to choose from. But the most hotly

contended area is mid/upper cost M4s, with manufacturers like Classic Army, ICS, King Arms, G&P and G&G all making fantastic, robust and good value M4 variants.

That said, there is one area that, until now, has been dominated by one name: the Professional Training Weapon.

Developed by Systema as a real training aide, it just so happened the PTW red 6mm BBs. Systema has improved its PTW year on year and all hardcore MilSimmers I know either dream of owning one, are saving up for or indeed already have and swear by their trusty PTWs.

But what if another training weapon system was available and carried a price tag half as hefty? Could it possibly be a sensible alternative to the much-loved PTW? Well, enter Celcius Technologies M4A1 MX2 Training Weapon.

Celcius launched its initial CTW a while ago but it suffered from a few issues which re ected in poor sales. So the company returned to the drawing board and has come back with a much-improved version. The MX2 is the second generation of the CTW, so lets see if theyre now up to scratch and worth the price.

My CTW arrived in its box along with a 120-round magazine, a pistol style BB loader, a barrel cleaning rod with brush head, a small Allen key to adjust the hop, a CD with the user instruction guide and an exploded parts diagram. It also comes with a warranty card from the UK distributor, which is a very nice touch. You ll this in and send it off to validate your one-year internal parts warranty. Terms and conditions do apply, but at least you can read through it beforehand so there can be no misunderstanding. Having a warranty with a UK distributer gives some peace of mind, certainly when spending this much money.

Getting the M4A1 out of the box, initial impressions were very positive. The CTW is a real steel copy of the M4, weighing in at 3.4kg. This makes it noticeably heavier than its rival manufacturers counterparts. Both

Is the Celcius M4A1 MX2 a Systema beater at half the price? In this exclusive review, Ratty takes a close look at the updated CTW

(CTW

)CELCIUS M4A1 MX2 TRAINING WEAPON

AIRSOFT ACTION

&9$-64*7&

THE ARMOURY


upper and lower receiver and outer barrel are made of CNCed steel. The handguards and crane stock are both made of heavy duty ABS and help give it a solid, robust feel.

The Celcius logo is laser engraved on the receiver (which I know will not be to everyones taste) along with the weapons unique serial number, as well as safety selector markings. The pistol grip ts nicely in the hand because the motor is much slimmer than in a normal AEG. So the overall feel is of a very robust piece of kit you could easily be mistaken for carrying the real version.

Internally, the polished stainless steel barrel is 6.00mm dead so I would de nitely only use high quality BBs in this ri e. Its barrel length is 374mm. The CTW I had for this review came tted with a standard cylinder and spring. Like on the Systema PTW these are quick and simple to change to raise or lower the power to the right level.

The magazine is basically a direct copy of the Systema PTW magazine. Both are the same size and weight (if loaded with 30 rounds of 5.56mm) as the real version. It says 120-BB capacity but once I got to about 100-odd it got hard to load up any more. Then again, that is pretty much the same on all mid-cap mags, no matter what make. I used both Celcius own magazines as well as couple of Systema mags I had borrowed. Both tted ne and neither had any feed issues to report. On test I also used a Vanaras Polymer magazine, which tted in and fed smoothly (not quite as smooth

as either the Celcius or Systema versions admittedly, but I doubt that will put many people off using them considering theyre much cheaper and lighter).

The CTW is set up to run on 11.1v Lipo batteries. I received two for testing, both Celcius branded. The rst one, an 11.1v 1200mAh 20C, is for use with the standard cylinder/spring set up. The other was a much

larger 11.1v 2400mAh 20C battery for use with the upgrade M130 spring set up.

Fitting the battery couldnt have been simpler: just pop the two clips on the butt plate of the crane stock to expose the large Tamiya connector. Slide a battery into the stock, hook up the connectors and replace the stock. Ready to rock and roll!

Something else I really like is the little blue LED inside the receiver that appears when switching the safety selector from safe to either semi- or full-auto. This is on constantly while your battery has enough charge to power the weapon. When your battery starts to run low the light starts to ash so you can stop ring and complete a quick battery change, thus preventing any possible damage to the gun or battery. It will also ash, when attaching the battery, if it is low on power.

Ive bored you enough with the overview, so whats it like to use? First things rst: I thought I had better chrono it, just to make sure that it was within the site limit. Out of the box, using Madbull Precision Grade 0.2g BBs, this MX2 was

SPECIALIST TACTICAL TRAINING SOLUTIONSSTTS is the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor and importer of Celcius products. STTS assures me that it is keeping a good stock of spares and accessories, in terms of both range and quantity. The boss even told me that Systema owners are already asking for Celcius replacement motors, as well as Celcius 120-BB Hi Speed magazines.

The company is offering the Celcius cylinder/springs upgrade as a set, which will contain another cylinder and an M110 and M130 spring, allowing you to t whatever you require. These, I think, will be very popular and will retail for around 139.99. The range of Vanaras upgrade products are also available, including polymer magazines in black, dark earth and O/D, 6.03mm tight bore barrels and upgrade springs to name a few.

There is also an M4 CQB with a shorter barrel arriving soon and two special editions in the pipeline. More on them when they arrive!

At the moment STTS has selected two retailers to sell the Celcius range: JD Airsoft in Cannock (www.jdairsoft.net) and BadgerTac near Aylesbury (www.badgertac.co.uk).

Inside the lower receiver, showing exposed part of the gearbox and ECU

014 Xmas 2011

SPECIFICATIONSWeight: 3,400gBuild: CNC steel upper and lower receiver and outer barrel, military/law enforcement grade ABS handguard and crane stockInner barrel length: 374mm (6.00mm sniper grade polished stainless steel inner barrel)Internals: Advcned ECU-2011, with thicker wiring, faster trigger response, faster rate of re, low battery indicator, dimmable LED lightGearbox: CTW Planetary Type (semi- and full-auto)Motor: Celcius 495 MotorMagazine: 120-round steel cased high speed magBattery: 11.1v LipoVelocity: 317-325fpsPrice: around 649.99

achieving 317-325fps through a Madbull Version 2 chronograph. The hop is easy enough to adjust with the Allen key supplied. If I had one of these myself I would de nitely run it on high-quality 0.25g ammunition.

So whats it like to re? Well, somewhat like Systemas PTW to be frank. The selector is precise and clicks into the required setting nicely; it has excellent trigger response so using it on semi and double-tapping people (sorry, I meant targets) would not be an issue. A quick ick to full-auto and letting loose a burst shows the gearbox feels smooth and delivers enough BBs to esnure no one could deny being hit! I was hitting a man-sized target accurately at just over 100ft.

The distributor advised me that nothing more than a three-second burst should be used, but given the rate of re, combined with the weapons accuracy and the fact the mags only hold around 100 rounds, any longer on the trigger would be considered overkill. When the magazine ran out of rounds the MX2 stopped ring.

I lent it to a Systema owner, who was mightily impressed with the performance and his rst question was How much are these again? There was another MX2 CTW owner there this day. He had been looking at Systema PTWs for some time and had used one just two weeks previously. This was his rst outing with his new CTW and, after a couple of games and a load of kills,

his verdict was: Yeah, its better than the Systema and exceeded my expectations!

VerdictI suppose I, like most of you MilSim players, had always wanted a PTW. The main thing stopping me from getting one was the cost: cost of ri e, cost of upgrades to make it work better and even the cost of accessories. So does the Celcius M4A1 MX2 compare favourably against such an airsoft icon?

The answer is a de nite yes. Its not just that the M4A1 retails for around 649.99, less than half the cost of a PTW it performs just as well too, so whats the point in shelling out the extra cash? I am sure die-hard Systema fans will dismiss this revelation, but Celcius newest offering really is as good.

When you tot up all the things you need to get you going gun, couple of batteries, eight mags (for the sake of argument), upgrade spring and cylinder it still comes to less than a PTW on its own.

There are still things that can be done to make it better (waterproo ng the ECU and such) but with that initial saving, these things arent quite so nancially daunting.

Look out Systema: there is a new kid on the block, and with performance like this your dominance is under severe threat!

Now to work out how to get away with not sending the test model back

WIN! WIN!AIRSOFT ACTION HAS ONE CELCIUS MX2 CTW TO GIVE AWAY IN THIS ISSUE! FLICK TO PAGE 28 FOR DETAILS!

Charge options: Celcius CTW showing battery options

016 Xmas 2011

Wild West airsoft is more than a little out of the ordinary, and something we at Airsoft Action just had to nd out more about. We caught up with Gareth

Harvey and Rich Vaughn to nd out exactly what its about

RICH (COWBOYS): As a long time fan of westerns, when I heard about Gunman Airsofts Flying Lead Western games I knew I had to be there. So I raided local charity shops for suitable attire, bought myself a six shooter (as a birthday present to myself) and booked in.

GARETH (INJUNS): When my long-suffering airsoft buddy Evo suggested we take part in Gunmans new Wild West game Flying Lead I was somewhat dubious and when he told me wed be going as Injuns I had serious reservations.

Lets get something straight: while on the one hand this was more playing Cowboys

and Indians then any Wild West living history event, on the other hand it

wasnt just any normal airsoft event. As Gunmans head honcho Josh

Smith explained, this was more a live role-playing event that used

airsoft weapons for its combat than an out-and-out shooting spree. I was somewhat relieved to hear this, as our Indian Tribe (the Blackfoots) had one ri e and one pistol between the four of us, although we had plenty of airsoft-safe bows, arrows and tomahawks to ambush the unwary paleface!

Now at this point I have to profess ignorance to a lot of the plotting and shenanigans taking part on the other side of the site, so its probably best to hand you over to Rich who, in the guise of an Irish rogue, took part in the side of the story unseen by Injun eyes.

COWBOYS: The frontiersmen were fully briefed on the rules and the aim of the game. The aim could not have been simpler: get rich or die trying! Our target, to escape the discomfort of the frontier and live a life of luxury in the big city, was $10,000. We each chose a character class that suited our style,

each with their own individual advantages. I chose a sharpshooter, giving me $100 in cash to start with and the option of using a ri e without needing to buy a license.

Four friends and I formed the Jameson & Jameson Mining Company and headed out to nd our fortune. We quickly found our plot of land and set to work building our mine, as the sooner it was up and running the sooner we would be earning money. Not a lot of money though: only $100 an hour, and once our backers had taken their cut we were left with a mere $10 a piece. Clearly we were not going to get rich quick that way.

Our main concern, though, was crossing the railroad line (the track not yet laid) to exchange our gold for cash back in town, as this was patrolled by the crooked lawmen-for-hire of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The road blocked our route and the Pinkertons were asking a dollar a crossing and, with small enough earnings as it was, we werent about to start lining their pockets. This toll

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GAME REVIEWvisitors (unbeknown to us, one of the major plot devices of the weekend was to secure the rights to mine upon the Indian Territory).

Soon we encountered a posse of gunmen encroaching upon our lands and found ourselves on the receiving end of some well-placed ri e re. With a whoop and a yell we drew tomahawks and charged in Ill let you guess the outcome of the battle but suf ce to say it stung a bit, and its the last time Ill take a knife to a gun ght!

Vengeance was now required and knowing we were outgunned we decided to take up the offer of the Westerners law. Beating the war drums we threw down a challenge. Claiming we had been attacked on our own ground we demanded the scalping miscreant brought to us in chains within an hour or war would erupt between our tribe and the settlers.

COWBOYS: Things started to liven up for us. Wed heard about a band of wanted outlaws and, upon hearing a re ght nearby, we rushed to investigate. Seeing a group of bandits being pursued by angry savages we set off after them, intent on picking up the bounty for any bandits killed.

But fate was not on our side: the Injuns were gunned down and the bandits made good their escape. Wed been told of a golden idol hidden in the native camp that a certain gentleman would pay handsomely to acquire, so we hatched a plan to keep watch on the savages and when their camp

was avoided by skirting their patrols through the woods until a deal was struck: in return for $20 we would have free passage for three hours, and some dynamite the Pinkertons had acquired (which would vastly increase our earnings from the mine).

Generally speaking, much of the morning passed without incident other than the odd visit from fellow prospectors seeking trade, and a nervous but friendly rst encounter with a pair of half-dressed savages.

INJUNS: The stillness of the Indian village was interrupted by small bands of Western folk. Some of them came bearing trade goods and some of them came offering the protection of the Westerners law. While we met all with hospitality and a wary eye, it seemed a tad suspicious to receive so many

our Indian Tribe (the Blackfoots) had one ri e and one pistol between the four

of us, although we had plenty of airsoft-safe bows, arrows

and tomahawks to ambush the unwary paleface!

018 Xmas 2011018 Xmas 2011

was empty we would sneak in and steal the idol. Luck was against us too, it seemed, as they stayed in camp, frustrating our efforts. Fortunately lady luck began to smile on the Jameson boys.

We had considered leaving Jameson and Jameson and setting up our own company so we could take all the pro ts. I spoke to the landowner, Mr Paris, and the Banker to discuss the cost of setting up a new mine.

groups and give us a chance to nd the idol, as well as sabotaging our competitors plans. Understandably the Indians were angered by the news, particularly as they had already clashed with Peabody and Smythe.

INJUNS: Back at the Reservation we expected either no response or a mighty gun ght, and were pleasantly surprised to nd the lawmen bring us a suspect a mere ve minutes before the deadline ran out. Disappointingly they had brought us

While there I overheard several members of our rivals, the Peabody and Smythe Mining Company, discussing similar plans to set up on new land. This land was owned by the natives and we gured they would be none too pleased at their land being sold without their consent. With this to our advantage we opted to tell the Injuns in the hope that it would help build relations between our two

At least one of the Pinkertons turned on his

own men and the yellow Peabody scum played

dastardly tricks, like playing dead and pretending

to surrender


GAME REVIEWthe wrong man but by sheer chance the real villain was in the party and, incredibly, they agreed to hand him over when he was identi ed. This neer-do-well was not going down without a ght and as he was delivered to us he broke free and stabbed one of our braves, only to be shot down by the lawman.

Honour was now satis ed but realising that time was against us, the tribe put our heads together and decided an alliance with one group of settlers (who had not so far attacked or harassed us) was in order. We arranged this by the quickest, most logical means possible kidnapping one of their group! Luckily he took this in good spirits and the rst day of the event ended with the Blackfoot Tribe in rm alliance with the Jamesons mining concern. Not a moment too soon either our camp was attacked by the dastardly Pinkertons. With Injun braves ghting side-by-side with the gunslingers, the Pinkertons were repulsed as the sun set on the wooded trail.

COWBOYS: The next day dawned with good news for the Jameson boys. Pleased with our previous days work Mr Jameson had decided to reward us by sending the money needed to purchase the new land, along with a $500 bonus (which we split equally between us). Now we owned two plots of land we were forced to split our men into two groups to keep mining one while building the other. In order to do this we had to hire two additional men to protect our interests. Our miners objected to being paid less than the new hired help and striked, brie y stopping production.

An agreement was soon reached and work resumed, but not for long.

INJUNS: All in all our morning was fairly uneventful until some strange travellers entered our camp, wishing to trade with us. While we couldnt part with our tribal relics we did trade some minor food and goods for some lovely, comfy-looking blankets. As the white men departed we unwrapped our new throws only to discover, to our horror, a note exclaiming that the blankets were infected with smallpox and that all but one of the tribe was now dying! Cursing their treachery we drew lots to see which one of us would

survive the gods of the forest obviously favoured us as it was our medicine man. Not only was he the only one of us with a ri e but he was also the most able of us to run to our new allies for help.

COWBOYS: One of the fellows from our new mine came running up all excited and calling for help. Our new mine was under attack and the natives had been stuck down with smallpox, leaving it undefended. As soon as we got there we found our rivals and the

cause of the trouble, Peabody and Smythe, and a brief gun ght exploded. In the ensuing melee our deed to the Injun land was snatched and our enemies made good their escape. This meant war!

We gathered our men and even paid off the Pinkertons to join us in attacking the enemy camp, intent on wiping the dogs out. The re ght that followed was intense and confusing, as when the now recovered Injuns entered the fray it became unclear who was

ghting who. At least one of the Pinkertons turned on his own men and the yellow Peabody scum played dastardly tricks, like playing dead and pretending to surrender. The end result was the same though: the swine were slaughtered and our thirst for vengeance quenched. But in the confusion a dreadful mistake was made: our deed was forgotten and not recovered, left in the hands of our enemy.

A task for next time!

The game was quite unlike any I have attended before, with far more roleplaying and uniquely intense re ghts. Its surprising how you learn to save your shots when you only have six rounds in your gun and very little range!

Im not usually a roleplayer so I was nervous of this at rst, but once I got used to it I found it a lot of fun and the roleplay elements added a great deal to the overall experience. This was not Cowboys and Indians airsoft, this was life on the Western

Frontier with airsoft guns and I can quite easily say that it is one of the best airsoft weekends I have ever experienced.

Gunman Airsoft07854 277264, www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk Gunman runs a range of FilmSim and MilSim events, including Cold War, WW2 and Western

020 Xmas 2011

Danny Ps nished playing with four pairs of glasses and ve pairs of gloves in part two he delivers the verdict on the last bits of kit to go under the microscope

GLASSES AND GLOVES

Viper Tactical glassesVipers Tactical glasses come in a hard case, which includes the frame, four ballistic lenses and a prescription lens holder.

There is an assortment of lens colours: two dark tinted ones, a yellow lens and a clear lens. All pretty standard stuff, though there is an issue with the clear lens: it has a coloured nish to it which looks like oil on a puddle. When used in an urban, low-light environment, it tends to re ect and also darkens the wearers vision as theyre not actually clear.

I used these glasses on a weekend event. Although they were comfy they did suffer from a lot of fogging up, which as we all know can be a real pain. But the lenses were easy to change according to the type of gameplay (or if weather and time of day dictated) and only took a couple of seconds in the safe zone.

These glasses give all round good protection to the eyes, but like all others on test thats all they protect. But saying that, you certainly get a lot for your money and these would do just ne as a starter pair of glasses.

EXPECT TO PAY AROUND: 39.95SUPPLIED BY: BadgerTac, 01296 658600, www.badgertac.com

ESS CrossbowThese glasses are supplied in an easy-carry hard case and come with three different lenses: dark tinted, yellow and clear. The lenses are loose in the case (which can be a bit of a pain) but thats only a minor issue, and probably more of a personal issue than real criticism.

I found the ESS Crossbows extremely comfy to wear you almost forget youve got them on as they are that lightweight and close tting.

I used these glasses when I was following a weekend skirmish and was able to use my camera without any issues, so using them with a sight shouldnt throw up any problems. The lenses were a bit tricky to change to start with, but it did become easier as the day wore on. They only fogged up a little too, and it didnt really restrict my vision.

As before these are great eye protection, but dont protect anything else from those 6mm rounds prepare to take a few shots in the cheek, forehead and other painful places. You get what you pay for, as they say, and while these are at the top end price-wise its about personal preference and, of course, budget.

EXPECT TO PAY AROUND: 98SUPPLIED BY: Edgar Brothers, 01625 613177, www.edgarbrothers.com


Line of Fire Pointman gloves Line of Fire is a new brand to me, and these gloves are something I have never seen before. They come with a system called TEGS (Technology Enhanced Grip System), designed to increase grip by up to 240 per cent when used with the supplied TEGS Tape.

I applied the tape to my pistols grips and the mags of my ri e and it really does what it says on the tin! It gave me a greater grip on my weapon systems and the mags, making grabbing mags from my pouches for mag changes much easier. I had someone try and pull my pistol from my grip while I was using this system and it did seem to increase my hold on the weapon.

The gloves themselves are very comfy and have a hard knuckle protector and leather on the ngers and palms to help protect your hands and hopefully reduce the pain of BB strikes.

These are the most expensive of the gloves we tested, and although they are something of a specialist glove and probably not of use to everyone the TEGS system is unique and de nitely has practical uses.


5.11 Tactical Series Taclite 25.11 is a very well-known company; the quality of its kit is renowned, and its range of tactical gloves is no exception.

The Taclite 2 is a light use glove. Theyre made with a sheepskin

leather palm with four-way stretch material on the upper parts. They are designed to offer protection to the wearer but, importantly, not hinder touch and feel.

I was told these were designed for use by police patrol of cers and personnel in search and surveillance roles. I wore them when using a camera and, true to the brief, they didnt prevent me using it at all. They really are like a second skin, and very comfy to wear even for long periods. However I can assure you they dont offer much protection from BB strikes (toting a camera doesnt stop you getting hit!) bear in mind these are a specialist use glove for a special role.

One of the cheapest we tested, the Taclite 2 gloves were ne for a day on the eld with a camera and would probably perform best in a CQB environment but personally Id prefer something a little tougher, especially for any MilSim event.

EXPECT TO PAY AROUND: 35SUPPLIED BY: Level Peaks, 01432 341686, www.levelpeaks.com

HWI Gear Hard Knuckle Tactical gloveThis was my rst experience with HWI products too, though I was aware that the company has a background in both the police and military markets.

These gloves are made from Kevlar and leather and feature a hard knuckle piece. They are pretty tight tting but still exible, allowing ease of movement when using a ri e or, in particular, trying to get mags out of pouches.

I tested these during a skirmish and the hard knuckle protected my hands from a few strikes so I didnt have to go home with badly hurt hands we all know how much it hurts to get shot on the hand (especially when its cold!).

This might be an obvious point but the hard knuckle is particularly, erm, hard. It does put a bit of pressure across the top of your knuckles but theyre still comfy to wear but do expect to take a little time to break them in.


022 December 2011

024 Xmas 2011

A few weeks ago I was asked by the editor of Airsoft Action if I would like to go to Estonia on a fact- nding mission with a couple of guys from a

company called War ghters. I knew what Id be doing there so there was no way I was going to refuse but more about that later.

War ghters is based in the Warwickshire countryside and is run by Dave Thatcher (one of the fellas on the trip). Over the last six years War ghters has built its reputation offering laser simulation, paintball and now airsoft games at its sites. Some of you might

have seen them at the opening premiers of recent rst person shooter games when they were launched. I cant go into too much detail about the other guy; suf ce to say he is one of the Instructors on the courses that War ghters will be running and has served in the British Army for around 25 years (over half this time with UK Special Forces).

But War ghters will soon be offering something totally different and unique It will be running a number

of live re (thats with real weapons and ammunition) courses in Estonia, on a facility used by Estonian Special Forces (and a

number of SF teams from other countries). War ghters has secured an exclusive

deal to use the facility and some top notch Estonian SF personnel who

will also instruct on the courses.Now you know why it took me

less than half a second to say Yes!

I met the guys at 05.30 at Standsted airport for our 07.30 ight to the Estonian capital of

Fancy a trip out to Estonia to shoot real steel weapons with Estonian Special Forces? Danny P did just that and you can too!

LIVE FIRINGIN ESTONIA


REAL STEEL

Tallinn. Once there we met our Estonian host and made plans for the following day, which was to be spent at the range checking out the facilities and all it had to offer. As the rest of the afternoon was ours we explored the Old Town and discovered what a great (and very friendly) place Tallinn is. There is plenty to do in the Old Town, especially if youre into your history, and a wide range of bars and restaurants cater for every taste from medieval cuisine (OK, I know youre probably not that old) right up to the ever-present Irish bar.

Next morning we made our way to the

There is something incredibly satisfying about the thump to your shoulder as a 7.62mm round spits out the end of a barrel!

range. After a short drive down a country track and through some beautiful woodland we arrived at the main building (which doubles as the bunk house when courses are being run). Inside we were introduced to the owner and operator of the facility, a gentleman named Peter, who showed us the site and some pictures of units that had

previously used the facility for training. They included snaps of US Army Green Berets and Chinese Special Forces, plus many others from around the world.

026 Xmas 2011

From the main building its a short walk to the live re ranges that War ghters will be using on its courses. We also noticed an assault course and abseiling tower, which are used for adventure training at the facility. Once at the range it was time to get the weapons out of their cases. To say we had a mixed bag was a bit of an understatement!

We had a H&K G3 7.62mm assault ri e, an AK74 in 5.56mm, a 9mm Makarov pistol and a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun but my personal favourite was the .300 Magnum Sako ri e.

It was hammered home to me that this was not going to be a shoot loads of rounds down the range jolly. The courses aim to teach people that have perhaps never red live rearms how to conduct all weapon-handling drills safely. We covered the lot from loading magazines with ammunition and the make safe drill to the handing-over of the weapon, and every drill in between.

Despite having spent many years in the forces I dont know everything and still made mistakes (albeit minor ones, not dangerous or unsafe) and these where corrected by the


REAL STEEL

eagle-eyed staff who were at my shoulder all the way down the course.

I was handed the G3 and asked to make ready. I inserted the mag into the weapon and made sure everyone was ready before cocking it. I placed the butt in my shoulder, closed one eye, aimed at the target and squeezed the trigger. There is something incredibly satisfying about the thump to your shoulder as a 7.62mm round spits out the end of a barrel!

I did this 19 more times, all the while re and manoeuvring down the range with the instructor right behind me; when I got to the end of the mag I was grinning from ear to ear. There is nothing quite like the feeling of ring a live round and scoring a hit, no matter how many times you do it.

We went on ring the rest of the weapons throughout the day, on a number of different ranges including CQB for the pistol and shotgun and ring the sniper ri e from an elevated hide at a target some distance away. I walked away not only with a smile, but with a fair bit more knowledge under my belt thanks to the very helpful instructors.The courses are set to start in May 2012 and last four days, including travel. You'll be on the ranges for around two and a half days and the course will end with a well-deserved meal (and possibly the odd drink or two) in Tallinn.

I cant wait to get back out there!

FAQWould I do the course myself?Without a doubt I have never met such a friendly, unassuming bunch of people in all my life, with a wealth of knowledge that is second to none.

Will I come back with a new found respect for weapons and the dangers they hold?Absolutely. Even those who have served in the military or police can get rusty and this is a great way to brush up on those skills.

Will I enjoy myself?The course deals with a serious matter (lets not forget these weapons are killing machines) but anyone that does it will come away enlightened and, like me, will be talking about it for a long time afterwards.

There is nothing like this available in the UK (or anywhere else in Europe for that matter). From Basic Beginner through to Basic Plus there are a number of courses available, and there is plenty to learn and take in over a short period of time.

Dave Thatcher and his team are offering the chance to get hands-on experience with live rearms, on a range used by Special Forces units from around the world, in a country just two hours ight from the UK, with some of the UKs and Estonias most experienced real-world military operators. Nuff said!

CONTACTWar ghters: 01327 323042

WIN! WIN!LIKE TO TRY THE COURSE YOURSELF? WE'VE GOT ONE PLACE ON A LIVE FIRE TRAINING COURSE UP F0R GRABS! FLICK TO PAGE 29 FOR DETAILS!

028 Xmas 2011

WIN...WIN...WIN...

Post your entry to: Celcius Competition, Airsoft Action, Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5SZ. Or, email your entries to [email protected], quoting Celcius Competition in the headline please make sure to include your full name and address. Photocopied entry forms will be accepted. The rst name we pull out of the editors hat will win; entries received after 20 December will not be valid.

One entry per household only. Prize must be collected from Blaze Publishing of ce.

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

Answer

Name

Address

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CELCIUS M4A1 MX2 CTWAS REVIEWED IN THIS ISSUE OF AIRSOFT ACTION!

HUGE THANKS TO STTS FOR PROVIDING THIS FANTASTIC PRIZE:

Youve read the review (starting on p12) now own this awesome weapon!To be in with a chance of winning a brand-spanking-new CTW, tick the box beside the answer you think is right, ll out the form and send it off to us.

When was the M16 Armalite rst introduced into service with the US Special Forces (NOT when it was an issued weapon)?

Was it1961 1963 1965 1967

AIRSOFT ACTION&9$-64*7&COMPETITION

WORTHMORE THAN

600


COMPETITION

WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING COMPETITION

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If you enjoyed Danny Ps article (starting on p24) youll love the real thing! Warfighters UK has offered one place on its live-fire Special Forces training course in Estonia, exclusively to you lucky Airsoft Action readers!

The first course is scheduled for May 2012. Prize winner will be put on the first course available.

To be in with a chance, take a look at the two pictures below. There are five differences between the two pictures spot them all and send the form off to us (or email us, if you like)! Couldn't be easier.

Remember, competition open to UK residents aged 18+ only!

SPECIAL FORCES TRAININGAS SEEN IN AIRSOFT ACTION!

Competition open to UK residents (British passport required) aged 18+ ONLY. Prize includes ights, accomodation, course and range fees.

Post your entry to: Estonia Training Competition, Airsoft Action, Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5SZ. Or, email your entries to [email protected], quoting Estonia Training Competition in the headline. Entries received after 20 December will not be valid. One entry per household. Winner will be rst correct entry pulled from the editor's hat.

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

030 Xmas 2011

After the last three issues youll all know everything you need to know about communicating with your team, right? Good now

were moving onto the tactics that will help you get from A to B without one of those frustrating trips back to regen.

Gone are the days when the might of the British armed forces would stand shoulder to shoulder, chests puffed out in bright red tunics, advancing to take on the enemy with shot and bayonet and standing rm despite an imminent incoming volley. Undoubtedly the soldiers were brave to stand and face such con ict, but the tactics themselves were severely awed and resulted in a huge amount of unnecessary casualties. Other tactics were called for to prevent such devastating losses.

Formations are typically used when a section or patrol needs to move across different types of ground or cover, to

either approach an objective or get to an RV (rendezvous) point. It is important that the Team Leader can communicate with members of the team but equally important that the team is spread out to prevent opposition players easily wiping the entire squad out. The team must be alert and prepared for an enemy attack from any direction at all times, and this means different formations are required for different environments to give the best control and protection.

Operationally, the spacing between each patrol member should be at least ve metres, though visibility and terrain can reduce or expand this spacing. This is just as relevant to airsoft, although the calibre of weapons used in games is signi cantly less powerful than those deployed in real con ict so you could consider reducing that spacing a little. Always remember that a well-placed pyro will still take out everyone within a ve-metre radius though

bunching up will make you an easy target, and the game will be over a little prematurely!

While moving in formation you should avoid deliberate, even spacing as this is also obvious to the human eye. Irregular distances between team members can confuse the eye, especially in low light conditions where an evenly-spaced squad of marching troops is glaringly obvious.

The Team Leader or Section Commander should decide what formation the team will travel in depending upon the following factors:

Ground Visibility Direction from which enemy re is expected The need for control by the Section Commander The need for producing the maximum re with the minimum delay.

AIRSOFTFORMATIONS

Using formations is another simple way to stay ahead of the game. Airsoft Actions newest models took to the studio to demonstrate

Here are the ve most commonly used formations and some pros and cons of each.

SINGLE FILE Useful for linear features such as hedges, ditches and walls, which give cover from view or re. Single le can also be effective in close woods and very dark night patrols. It offers good protection from re from a ank.

One of the main drawbacks to this formation is that the patrol is very vulnerable to attacks to the front and rear as, initially, the team can only respond with one gun until the team is redeployed into a different formation. Moving in this formation can also make for poor ank observation as players tend to lose focus and let their eyes rest on the person in front or the terrain ahead.

Also, as the Team Leader should ideally be positioned near to the front (shown second from front in our example), passage of commands

and information to those at the rear can be frustratingly slow. The signal for the team to adopt single le is simply for the team leader to raise the hand not holding a weapon high in the air away

from his body to aid visibility in low light conditions. Each member of the team may repeat the signal to ensure the rest of the team knows what is required.


This formation can be used on a path or track, or either side of a small bank or hedgerow wide enough for the team to move on opposite sides of it. This gives good protection to the anks although, again, limited protection to the front and rear when under re. A team patrolling in le should alternate or stagger their position in the patrol, so viewed from above it would look like a zig zag of troops (see our example Team Leader is to the right of and behind the leading scout).

This formation is easy to control and highly useful for moving at night. But as the formation is so much closer together it presents a more concentrated target and is thus susceptible to area effect weapons (such as pyros in airsoft). File is often used while patrolling in an urban environment as you can use walls and building lines at both sides of a

street as cover and provide cover to the other line of the patrol if an enemy in a building engages you.

The signal for the team to move into

FILE (SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS STAGGERED FILE)

this formation is for the team leader to raise both arms above the head, shoulder width apart.

ARROWHEADThe arrowhead formation is essential for moving across open countryside. It offers good protection to both anks as well as to the front and rear of the patrol. It is probably the best way to move on a broad front in open country. If the patrol has only one support weapon it is best

positioned on the ank most likely to be attacked.

But while this formation allows for good all-round observation, if it gets too concentrated it presents a vulnerable target.

The signal for the team to move into arrowhead is for the Team Leader to

push both arms backwards behind him forming a V wedge, parallel to the ground. If a support weapon is required on a particular ank this can be indicated by holding the weapon in the relevant hand (which can mean a short sprint for the gunner carrying his heavy kit).

SKILLS ROOM

032 Xmas 2011

EXTENDED LINEThe most aggressively-used formation is extended line. It is most often used on approach to a suspected enemy location, advance to contact or as an assault formation. It offers poor protection to the anks but excellent

protection to the front and rear of the patrol, as repower can be quickly maximised to threats on these sides of the team.

One of the main problems with this formation is that its dif cult to control this is where team sub leaders come into their own while the Team Leader co-ordinates each re team into position.

This is a formation an airsoft team can adopt quickly once they come under contact (while patrolling in le, for instance).

If he wants his team in extended line formation the Team Leader holds both arms outstretched to the sides, parallel with the ground. As before the side his weapon is held in can be used to dictate which ank any support weapons carried are required to position themselves

USING FORMATIONSIf the terrain and tactical situation dictates then the Team Leader could arrange a baseline from which the teams forward advance can be planned.

An ef cient way to get the team into position quickly while under re is to shout Baseline! With a little practice, the team should be aware of the leaders location and would then form a baseline along the direction indicated by the Team Leader. This allows for

DIAMONDThis formation is best used when the team is crossing open countryside at night, for example during a weekender MilSim event or in extremely bad visibility. Each player must be able to see the next and ensure all arcs of re are covered. The Team Leader may control from the front or middle of the formation.

Diamond formation gives good all-round defence and provides for good observation and ef cient communications. This would also be the perfect formation to use in a scenario where you need to protect a VIP, or where your team is making off with the hard-won ammo crate objective marker. The main drawback is that it presents a vulnerable target after dark when illuminated if the team is not quick taking cover.

The signal for the team to adopt a diamond formation is for the leader to simply position his arms above his head (as if representing a roof over his head or, thinking more laterally, a diamond). If the leader wishes to be positioned in the middle they will drop back into the centre of the formation and another team member, usually the Scout, will take their position.

rapid deployment of any formation necessary.

Once in the baseline, the team members should return the shout to indicate they are in position and ready return re. Once the baseline is con rmed then clear, loud target indication can be given and accurate re returned, allowing the assaulters to move forward and clear the enemy position.

By linking different formations together like this, you and your team

can respond to changing terrain, visibility and developments in individual battles during games.

Basic tactics like these can really give you the edge over an untrained or unprepared team, regardless whether its Captain Killer and his team of spray-and-pray merchants or Team support weapons R us! By using these methods you can make your gameplay more quiet, ef cient and tactical after all if they didnt work, the military would be doing it differently. n

034 December 2011


BIG BOYZ TOYZ

This issue Ill break away from land based hardware well, the sort with wheels at least. As a kid I was fascinated with machinery of all shapes and

sizes, mainly military stuff, though there was another new form of transport which grabbed my attention. It was the hovercraft. At that time crossing the channel on a hovercraft was the nautical equivalent of ying in Concorde,or driving a Lamborghini Countach. Hey, it was the 70s after all!

A hovercraft is basically a craft supported by a cushion of slow-moving, high pressure air which is forced against the surface and contained within a skirt. This makes the hovercraft unique as a form of ground transport as it is able to travel equally well over land, ice and water. Small hovercraft have found a niche in the recreational/sports market while large hovercraft are used in both civilian and military applications. Giant hovercraft have been used with success for years as cross channel ferries and in military roles as landing craft, able to transport large equipment such as tanks, trucks and troops across all types of hostile environments and terrain. They are also used as emergency response vehicles in affected areas after

Some of the largest hovercraft in the world are used by the military. Ratty looks back at their history and asks that all important question: can I buy one?

MILITARYHOVERCRAFT

natural disasters but, although supported by air, a hovercraft is not an aircraft.

Brief historyThe rst air cushioned vehicle (ACV) was built by an Austrian, Dagobert Muller. The original design would not be recognisable as

a modern hovercraft. It was propelled by four aero engines driving two submerged marine propellers and had a fth engine blowing air under the front of the craft (to increase the air pressure underneath it). The hull resembled a large aerofoil and it was designed as a fast torpedo boat, but never saw actual combat.

After the First World War, Konstantin Eduardo Tsiolkovsky developed the theory of moving an object on a cushion of air. In 1931 the rst true hovercraft was designed by Finnish aero engineer Toivo Kaario. This design featured a lift engine, blowing air into a exible envelope for lift. Surface Soarer was the rst prototype built in 1937. A Russian, Vladimir Levkov, closely followed Kaarios work but his designs were based more along Mullers original aerofoil design.

The disaster craft Meulaboh brings supplies to devastated communities in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami

036 Xmas 2011

Lekov designed and built a small number of craft during the 1930s, including the L-5 fast attack boat that reached 130kmh in testing. Levkovs work can still be seen today, classed as ground effect vehicles.

Once WWII was over, development of air cushioned vehicles was undertaken by several groups around the world. The Soviets especially saw the potential and set up the Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau, but persisted with Levkovs ground effect design. Over the next 30 years the Bureau produced a number of craft but none ever entered production. The most famous of these designs was the Caspian Sea Monster, as it was nicknamed, which was a massive missile- ring boat powered by eight jet engines.

Meanwhile in Canada John Carver Frost, who worked at Avro Canada, had started experimenting with another system. His work led to the development of the Avrocar, which used a lift engine to blow air directly down like modern hovercraft. But as it was

being developed for the aero industry results were not what they were expecting, and the project was abandoned in 1961.

It was Sir Christopher Cockerell who really developed what we now recognise as a hovercraft. He named the key concept in his design the momentum curtain, which could be used to trap high pressure air inside the curtain to provide the lift required based on pressure, not on air ow. Cockerell built several models of his designs in the early 1950s, featuring an engine mounted to blow air from the front of the craft into a cavity below, thus combining both lift and propulsion. He demonstrated this model at Whitehall and his design was put on a secret list. Unfortunately, not one service was interested and he received no funding to carry on his work. The idea was declassi ed and Cockerell convinced the National Research Development Corporation to fund development of a full scale model. In

1958 a contract was placed with Saunders Roe, based on the Isle of Wight, for the development of what became known as SR.N1. Saunders Roe Nautical 1 (SR.N1) made its rst hover on 11 June 1959, followed by its famous crossing of the English Channel on 25 July 1959.

American inventor Norma B McCreary is credited with inventing and patenting the Doubled Walled Flexible Skirt, also known as the Bag Skirt. It in ated around the edge of the hovercraft and was a major development, allowing the craft to move more easily over waves and uneven or rough terrain. The craft could be raised and lowered off the surface by in ating or de ating the skirt. To compensate, and reduce wear and drag, Fingers were added later. In 1960, after this concept was made public, all hovercraft began to utilise the Doubled Wall Flexible Skirt design.

Military hovercraftIn the UK the Inter-Service Hovercraft Trials Unit (IHTU) was set up to test the suitability of hovercraft for military applications. Based at Lee-on-the-Solent (now the site of the Hovercraft Museum), trials were carried out on SR.N1s as well as testing the SR.N2, SR.N3, SR.N5 and SR.N6 craft. Currently, the Royal Marines use the Griffon 2000 TDX Class ACV operationally, which saw deployment in Iraq.

During the 1960s in the US, Bell, under licence, sold the SR.N5 as the Bell SK-5. The US Navy deployed a number of these to the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. They were known as PACV patrol craft and their speed and mobility were used to good effect. Some were modi ed with a new deck con guration featuring a gun turret and grenade launchers. These were designated 9255 PACV. The US Army also experimented

The Soviet Ekranoplan, better known as the Caspian Sea Monster

Both the US and Japanese Navy use the LCAC hovercraft


CONTACTSGriffon Hoverwork: 02380 686666, www.griffonhoverwork.comHovercraft Cruising Club UK: www.hoverclub.org.ukHovercraft Club UK: www.hovercraft.org.uk

with the SR.N5 hovercraft. These hovercraft were deployed to Dong Tam in the Mekong Delta and then up to Ben Luc. Unfortunately one was destroyed in early 1970 and a second in August, causing the unit to be disbanded. The last remaining US Army SR.N5 hovercraft can be found on display at the Army Transport Museum in Virginia.

Development continued though and the Bell SK-10 was put into production. This model now forms the basis for the Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) class that is now in use with the US and Japanese Navy, as well as the US Marine Corps. They have been designed to carry a mixture of vehicles, troops and supplies to shore from Wasp class Assault Ships.

These huge hovercraft can achieve speeds of up to 40 knots (46mph) and are armed with just two machine gun emplacements, although feature additional weapon

mounting stations. According to the USMC, the LCAC can cross 70 per cent of the worlds coastline (as opposed to just 15 per cent for normal landing craft). The rst LCAC was delivered to the Navy in 1984.

Manufactured by Textron Marine and Land Systems of New Orleans, 91 LCACs have been built, the last delivered in 2001. A Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) is currently on-going, making sure that these craft will see service beyond 2015. However, a number of new LCACs are currently under development.

But it was the Soviet Union that became the largest developer of military hovercraft. They had a range of ACVs from the Czilm class (similar to an SR.N6) all the way up to the monstrous Zubr Class LCAC, which is the largest hovercraft in the world.

The Zubr Class is 57.6 meters long and has a maximum displacement of 535 tons. It can carry three T-80 Main Battle Tanks,

140 fully-equipped troops or up to 130 tons of cargo. Four of these have been sold to the Greek Navy, so keep your cheque books close by they could be up for sale soon!

After the fall of the Soviet Union most Soviet military hovercraft fell into a state of disrepair or were sold off. The Russian Navy only recently began building new classes of military hovercraft.

One hovercraft, slightly usedBut on to that most important of questions: can I buy one? Indeed you can! Griffon Hoverwork has three ex-Royal Marine hovercraft for sale. How much? You had better contact them direct, but be warned an Excelsior class hovercraft (similar in size to a Zubr) came up for sale in 2009. The pricetag? A tri ing US$69 million.

Alternatively, you could make your own small fast attack hovercraft, adapting one of the smaller racing or recreational hovercraft.

Imagine that at somewhere like Battle Lakes mount a couple of M249s and hey presto!

You would need insurance and some form of transportation to and from site, and it would do no harm to learn what your hovercraft is capable of. The Hovercraft Cruising Club UK promotes safe usage of hovercraft and runs courses for just that, as well as club meets and race days. There is also the Hovercraft Club UK, formed in 1966, which runs events all around the UK.

You may not be able to trundle up the M1 on your hovercraft, but imagine the looks on the faces of the other team as you pitch up at the car park!

BIG BOYZ TOYZ

The Zubr Class can carry three T-80 Tanks, 140 troops or up to 130 tons of cargo. Four have been sold to the Greek Navy, so keep

your cheque books close by they could be up for sale soon!

The monstrous Soviet Zubr Class (aka Pomornik Class), capable of carrying three T-80 battle tanks, 140 fully-equipped troops or up to 130 tons of cargo

038 December 2011

Oli Walker, Sam Baynes and the Fife Wargames team have just opened what may be one of the best sites in the UK. Thats not the most subtle of opening

lines, but at least you know whats coming!Former Royal Naval Air Station HMS

Jackdaw was built at the end of the Great War in 1918 and had seen service in various formats over a 50 year period. Most recently it was a disused part of a farm now its one of the hottest airsoft FIBUA (FIghting In Built Up Areas) sites in the UK.

Scott Allen reports from Fife Wargames, one of the hottest new airsoft sites in the UK

THE KINGDOMS OWNFIBUA VILLAGE

040 Xmas 2011

Olis airsoft career began with playing at Airsoft Edinburgh. Right from the beginning he said: We need a good site in Fife, and I hope to be the guy who has it. It took a fair bit of time but Oli, true to his word, does indeed have a site and its an absolute cracker!

As with everything in life it wasnt as simple as opening a site. Literally tons of debris and general mess have been cleaned out of the buildings to make them airsofter-friendly. The Fife Wargames team has put a great deal of time, care and thought into the site. An airsoft site should always prioritise safety over immersive experience and the team has de nitely got the balance right. Dont get me wrong though the place has an impressive, intense atmosphere like some kind of post-nuclear airbase. You almost expect to see mothballed MIG 21s,

and James Bond driving around in a DB9 being chased by some Soviet General (well, maybe I just have a very active imagination).

Located on the East of Fife near Anstruther, Fife Wargames is a fair journey from our base south of Edinburgh. Travelling in convoy and meeting at our usual haunt (McDonalds, Forth Road Bridge) we came across Dog Team from Glasgow who were also heading up, guys I hadnt seen in a long time so it was good to know they were going. The closer we got the smaller the roads became and the more cars we saw full of guys in camo.

There was a bit of confusion with parking on our arrival not a good sign, I thought, until I realised the problem was unusual numbers: nearly three times as many people as Oli was expecting had shown up. Teams from all over Scotland had heard

Photos courtesy of Oli Walker for FifeW

argames

SITE REVIEW


around buildings much more effectively. In all honesty I think this is due to the fact the majority of sites in Scotland are woodland players just arent used to moving through buildings every game day. I suspect this mindset and style of play will change very quickly now Fife Wargames is on the scene.

My personal favourite game of the day was Last Stand. Our team was holed up in one of the larger buildings, with dozens of access points, corridors, windows and rooms with old animal pens to hide in and ght through.

The Last Stand was where we nally did some good damage to the attacking team. Smoke- lled corridors made it easy

about this wndersite that was just a few weeks old, and they all wanted a slice of the action. We saw faces, old and new, from NCIS Airsoft, Section 8, The Fort, The Deserters Club and more. All in all nearly 100 players took part a big turnout for a Scottish site.

We get signed in, took a quick look around and immediately realised this site is something special. Little did we know we had only seen a small part of it and in total its around four times bigger than we thought the place is a warren of buildings, corridors, bunkers and the occasional herd of sheep. This site is nothing short of an airsofters dream!

The rst game was a nice and simple prevent your VIP from being killed scenario. We failed miserably and, oddly enough, except the outer walls we didnt use a single building. Once we got more to grips with the site a variety of WMD seek and deliver, Fallback and Land Grab type games saw the ghting moving in and

Smoke- lled corridors made it easy to stay in the shadows, pop off a couple of silenced P99 shots and watch the ensuing confusion

as Yellow Team thought they had engaged their own team in

friendly re!

FIFE WARGAMESCrail Air eld, KY10 3XLSite type: Includes both outdoors/woodland and FIBUA/CQB areasOpened: 2011Green fee: 20Ri e hire: 15Contact: www. fewargames.com, www.facebook.com/ fewargames

the conclusion that not only was it a good day, but Fife Wargames has near-limitless potential for the future, and well be back soon to nd out whats changed.

play throughout the day was excellent a sure hats off to the Fife Wargames team. In a short space of time Oli and his team have delivered an awesome product that will undoubtedly mature and improve with time, and I cannot wait to see what next year will bring.

One of the things I love about away games with my airsoft buddies is the road-trip experience. At the end of the day, a day off from the of ce and down-time with friends is important too. So on the way back we stopped at the world famous, award-winning Anstruther Fish Bar, to re ect on the points of the day and we came to

to stay in the shadows, pop off a couple of silenced P99 shots and watch the ensuing confusion as Yellow Team thought they had engaged their own team in friendly re! This worked for a good 15 minutes as two teammates and I alternated engagements to in ict maximum casualties on the other team. In the end it didnt really matter; we all got shot and headed to the dead zone laughing.

When the end of the day rolled around I was shattered. We had run all over the site, ghting around corners, through corridors and across open scrubland. The site offers good variety of games and the quality of

042 Xmas 2011

044 Xmas 2011

PATCHESOk, weve all seen them Velcro-backed patches for giving your load-out that personal touch. With squillions of designs available theres bound to one to suit you.Price: 5Soldier of Fortune: 01490 412225, www.sofmilitary.co.uk

ABBEY BRUT SNIPER GASAbbey Supply Company is well-known for its range of gases, greases and oils. The Brut Sniper Gas is Abbey's newest gas and gives better performance in gas guns when compared to green gas, with less risk to the gun due to reduced silicon content. Price: 9.99Abbey Supply Company: 01202 603067, www.abbeysupply.com

ZOOSICK HAND GRENADE COFFEE MUGThese awesome grenade mugs are standard issue coffee equipment for the British SAS. Ok, we made that up but if they did choose their mug, the Zoosick Hand Grenade Mug

would surely be rst choice.Price: 8

Zero One: 01202 769614, www.zerooneairsoft.com

NITE GLOWRINGThis crafty bit of kit will glow in the dark for up to 10 years and it doesnt need batteries or sunlight to charge it. The Glowring is a self-powered GTLS light source, ideal for use as a keyring, marker or zip tag. A cheap but useful gadget, perfect to chuck in a stocking.Price: 9.99Nite Watches: 01202 487757, www.nitewatches.com

BOLLE SLAM PROTECTION GLASSESThe Boll Slam glasses are perfect entry-level eye protection. They feature a black frame and smoke lens, and at this price how can Santa refuse? Zero One stocks over 25 different styles of Boll eyewear at prices from 6-18.Price: 9.95Zero One: 01202 769614, www.zerooneairsoft.com

PERFECT PRESENTSPressie list got you stumped? Leave it to us weve got a mammoth selection of airsoft stuff to ask Santa for

UNDER A TENNER

SHOOTING TARGETSRim re Shooting Targets range of quality targets make a great stocking ller no need to wait to test that new ri e! Printed on good quality card, these 45x64cm shooting targets are available in a host of designs, from standard targets through zombie apocalypses.Price: 1.50Rim re Shooting Targets: www.rim reshootingtargets.com


XMAS GIFTS 11-50

THE PARA FITNESS FLICK BOOKThis nifty pocket book, written by the youngest British soldier since WWII to achieve the rank of Major, can teach any civvie how to become as t as the Paras. Comprising 150 workout moves. ISBN: 978-1-78096-002-9.Price: 6.00Osprey Publishing: 01206 256002, www.ospreypublishing.com

THUNDERFLASH MK5TLSFX's Mk5 Thunder ash is an awesome bit of airsoft equipment. Pull the cap off, strike the fuse and throw toward enemy the Thundie explodes with a good bang and ash sure to keep your enemies on their toes. A nice size for strapping to your belt too!Price: 2.20TLSFx: 01673 863294 www.tlsfx.co.uk

WEAPON 006: SNIPER RIFLESA technical outline of the history of the sniper ri e, from its introduction during the Napoleonic wars to today. Details development of ammunition and different weapon types, and discusses current advances in technology such as laser range nders and night vision devices. Published by Osprey Publishing. Parperback, 80 pages. ISBN: 9781849083980.Price: 12.99Osprey Publishing: 01206 256002, www.ospreypublishing.com

MECHANIX M-PACT GLOVEFeaturing double stitching and dual panels in critical wear areas, Trek Dry spandex top, and a hook and loop wrist closure for a secure t, the all new M-Pact Glove is a lesson in durability,

functionality and protection. Available in covert black, tan and woodland.

Price: 29.99JD Airsoft: 01543 466356, www.jdairsoft.net

HELIKON PATRIOT FLEECEThis excellent jacket features double super ne eece, a high collar integrated with the hood, full-front zipper, reinforced Cordura material on backs of the sleeves, six zip pockets, Velcro plates on each arm, armpit ventilation, adjustable wrist cuffs and drawstring waistband with cord lock. Available in four colours (shown here: coyote), ideal for all outdoor activities.Price: 47.99Military 1st: www.military1st.co.uk

AIRSOFT INNOVATIONS GASCANThe nifty Airsoft Innovations GasCan Compact Filling Device helps keep you in the game. Safely store a days gas on your rig. SUPER XMAS OFFER: All orders in December shipped with free GunGas Propane Adaptor worth 16!Price: 30Airsoft Innovations: www.airsoft-innovations.com

LEATHERMAN WINGMANSup bros and lady bros Im the Wingman. Here to help you out with any trouble that comes knocking. Car troubles, bathroom troubles, lady troubles. No troublemo. Covered by the Leatherman 25-year warranty, unless used for opening peach wine coolers.Price: 39.95Eton Guns: 01753 800009, www.etonguns.co.uk

046 Xmas 2011

11-50 A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 WEAPONSChris McNab tells the story of the world through the medium of, er, weapons. This highly-illustrated book details 100 important weapons by age, including: Roman gladius, Japanese katana, English longbow and the AK-47. A fascinating read for anyone interested in historical and modern weapons and warfare. Published by Osprey Publishing. Hardback, 384 pages. ISBN: 9781849085205.Price: 25Osprey Publishing: 01206 256002, www.ospreypublishing.com

BLACK BEAR MESH FACE MASKIt might look like a fencing mask, but Black Bears full face mesh mask is perfect for the airsofter that values vision. Mesh construction means it has no issues with fogging, and plenty of room inside

the mask means its ideal for wearers of prescription glasses. Available in black, olive

and sand.Price: 35

Surplus Stores: www.surplusstore.co.uk

AFG2Magpuls AFG2 (Angled Fore Grip) takes natural body mechanics into account and provides a comfortable and stable system that allows for more precise weapon control. By positioning the shooters hand high on the centerline of the bore, the AFG2 helps mitigate recoil and control the weapon, meaning faster and more accurate follow-up shots.Price: 29.99Edgar Brothers: 01625 660670, www.edgarbrothers.com

5.11 TAC NFO2The 5.11 Tac NFO2 tactical gloves feature

innovations you wont nd elsewhere. Tac NFO2 gloves are made with the patented TacticalTouch construction system for maximum dexterity and longer service

life. There is no seam at the ngertip, so nothing to add bulk, wear out or irritate you.Price: 29.99

Zero One: 01202 769614, www.zerooneairsoft.com

SOLARFORCE PTS-3 PRESSURE PAD TAILCAPWith the usual high Solarforce build quality and a unique removable tape switch, this remote pressure pad really stands out. Ideal for anyone with a weapon light use as a pressure pad or unscrew for a regular tail switch, Fits Sure re 6P 9P type and most of Solarforce's L range.Price: 25.99Flashlight Heaven: www. ashlight-heaven.co.uk

VENTILATOR GLOVESThis highly breathable glove is designed for operations in hot environments. They are padded on the ngers, knuckles and the

inside of the palm, and leather reinforcement on high stress areas.

Available in ngerless or full nger design.Price: ngerless 14.99; full nger 19.99Soldier of Fortune: 01490 412225, www.sofmilitary.co.uk

LONEX MAGS: AK47, M4The unique pullcord design of the Lonex mags (available for M4 and AK47) makes speed loading even speedier just two or three pulls on the cord is plenty to feed all 500 rounds through these high cap mags. Full metal construction.Price: AK47 32.95; M4 29.95SUPER XMAS OFFER: 10 per cent off all Lonex mags from Firestorm! Quote discount code AA2Firestorm: 01262 469904, www.lonexuk.com

COLDGEAR TAC CREWThe crewneck design of ColdGears tactical base layer ensures a stealthy t beneath your uniform or outerwear. Double-sided brushed fabrication means you stay warmer and dryer, and the durable nylon outer is wind resistant.Price: 38Top of the Range: 01937 830500, www.top-of-the-range.co.uk

MX-80 DIVERSIONARY DEVICEThe new MX-80 diversionary device was designed purely for airsoft use. A quick-reloadable unit that delivers an 80dB soundwave that is not only safe to the user but safe to other skirmishers. Lightweight and durable, the MX-80 looks as good as it feels. The internal part has been designed to resist carbon build up for longer.Price: 69.99JD Airsoft: 01543 466356, www.jdairsoft.net


XMAS GIFTSMASADA PTS AAC SILENCER KITThe Advanced Armament Corp Silencer Kit includes both AAC Flash Hider and Silencer simply screw the silencer onto the ash hider and it locks in place to give that tactical look so many people crave. And itll make a tiny difference to your weapons report, too. Will work with any AEG with standard 14mm clockwise threading. Price: 74.99Edgar Brothers: 01625 660670, www.edgarbrothers.com

ACM CA870 SHOTGUNThis heavy mag-fed shotgun, available in both fullsize and sawn off con gurations, is heavier than most and feels like a real shotgun in your hands. This straight-shooting shottie res one round at a time.Price: Full size 90; sawn off 85Combat Action Games: www.combatactiongames.com

SOLO ENHANCED COMBAT PANTS Produced for UKSF and police r

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Issue 04 - Xmas 2011