Airsoft Action - January 2023

WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
ISSUE 145 - JANUARY 2023
ISSN 2634-9515

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CONTENTS
8 ARMOURY: VFC M110K1 GBBR
With MOA now behind us we can reflect on all the new directions
that VegaForceCompany (VFC) have taken with their everexpanding
range of licenced GBB rifles and carbines, and of course
there were more new models that were launched at the show!
Whilst this was all going on, Bill has been range-testing their
M110K1 GBBR… and loves it!
WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
ISSUE 145 - JANUARY 2023
ISSN 2634-9515
18 ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS EDGE 2.0
We’ve been concentrating on the new models released by SPECNA
ARMS in collaboration with some excellent licence-holders, but
behind the scenes the team at SA have been busy rolling out their
own “skunkworx” projects that bring an upgrade to both existing
and new models internally and externally, so Bill takes a look at
what’s new and what it means for performance and in-game use!
Editorial Director: Bill Thomas
Deputy Editor (Asia): Stu Mortimer
Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing
Ad Design: Deadshot Design
Publisher: Calibre Publishing
Web: www.airsoftaction.net
©Calibre Publishing Limited 2022
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 publisher in writing. The
opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those
of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit
submissions prior to publication.
FIND US ON…
26 ARMOURY: DOUBLE EAGLE EK47 UTR
Most players out there will tell you that the AR has “the best
ergonomics” in-game, but is this just because the AR-style replica is
simply the most-used platform out there? There are always options,
and even for the dedicated OPFOR player these options continue to
grow, and they don’t all have to cost the earth as Bill shows as he
looks at Double Eagle’s take on the mighty “SR47”!
LETTER, IDEA OR
QUESTION?
Got something to say? A question for our
experts? An article or article idea?
Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the
Editorial Director: bill@airsoft-action.co.uk, or talk to
us on Twitter or Facebook.
34 ARMOURY: DOUBLE BELL TR-1 M-LOK
Last month Bill took a close look at the licenced TTI 34 from EMG
that would be the perfect GBB pistol for a “WICK-ED” loadout,
so this time he goes long with a more-budget friendly AR that
would also be great when it comes to being inspired by one of our
favourite movie anti-heros!
BACKGROUND IMAGE AND COVER PICTURE COURTESY BJORN KLOCKAR

Contents
JANUARY 2023
38 TOD: WINTER GEAR ESSENTIALS
During the past couple of months Bill
has been taking a look at kit which is
suitable for a longer duration game
in winter conditions, and now he
provides an overview of how this can
all be put together and used. With a
breakdown of how everything works
together, he now makes use of his
personal experience to show how you
can use it effectively to keep you at full
speed and “in the game”.
68 TECHNICAL: XM177 BUILD
In his Red Cell Special this month
Bill mentions the XM177, a carbine
that was a vital building block in the
development of the M4 that we all
know and love today! However, Dan
has never been totally happy with
the “XM AEGs” on offer for airsoft,
so decided to go about creating one
of his own, and now he shares the
details of a stunning build!
44 THE CAGE: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
As we get ever closer to the season of
good cheer the Christmas decorations
are going up again at AA HQ, and
we’ll be hanging up our stockings
hoping for some airsoft goodness
to arrive from “Tactical Santa! This
month in THE CAGE we thought
we’d again have a little fun, so Bill got
together with The Legion as usual to
ask them what was on their letter to
the big beardy bloke!
74 AA LEGION: TAIWAN
As always Stewbacca is a glutton for
punishment in terms of airsoft-related
endurance, so as soon as he returned
to Taiwan from Japan and the Krytac
Owner’s meeting he went out
skirmishing that weekend, and then
returned to the competition circuit
the weekend after, for the final of
three heats in the Sanchong Shooting
Centre Shooter’s Cup, SPPT’s home
stomping ground and host to most
competitions he’s been involved in!
48 RED CELL: FALKLANDS 40
To end 2022 Bill brings in a very
special edition of Red Cell as he looks
back to the Falklands War of 1982, a
year that is fixed in his memory and
will be forever more, and suggests a
selection of fabulous AEGs and GBBs
that would be perfect for both reenactment,
“Falklands Inspired” style
games, or indeed any games with a
1980’s theme!
82 AA LEGION: HONG KONG
We’re absolutely delighted that the
AA LEGION is continuing to grow,
as that means we can bring you
even MORE stories from our shared
wide-world of airsoft! Larri in Hong
Kong has become a much-valued core
member of the team, and continues
to delight us, and we hope you, with
his reports on some very unique and
exciting places to play!
64 TECH: ARES ALPHA
Miguel is back again this month to
talk about something quite unique,
tech that lets game organisers really
get a handle on achieving game
organisation that is truly “next level”.
He’s mentioned ARES ALPHA before
in his game reports, but now opens
the lid on some logistics tech that is
simply stunning!
86 AA LEGION: KRYTAC OM JAPAN
Thankfully restrictions seem to be
subsiding and becoming a thing of
the past! With much of the world
and even the most tightly secured
parts of Asia finally opening up once
more, Stewbacca made good on the
opportunity to go and find out what
all the past intrigue regarding the
LayLax/Krytac Owner’s Meeting in
Japan was all about!
96 THE LAST LAST POST
For many years now Airsoft Action
has been proud to bring you the wise
and sometimes acerbic words of a
true industry veteran in “The Last
Post”, but TAPS are now playing for
our good friend Frenchie as he steps
down, and just like the original TM
FAMAS he has so ably wielded over
the years he marches, head held high,
into the hallowed halls of airsoft
lore…

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ARMOURY
VFC M110K1 GBBR
SOCOM
MAX!
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ARMOURY
VFC M110K1 GBBR
WITH MOA NOW BEHIND US WE CAN REFLECT ON ALL THE NEW DIRECTIONS THAT
VEGAFORCECOMPANY (VFC) HAVE TAKEN WITH THEIR EVER-EXPANDING RANGE OF LICENCED GBB
RIFLES AND CARBINES, AND OF COURSE THERE WERE MORE NEW MODELS THAT WERE LAUNCHED
AT THE SHOW! WHILST THIS WAS ALL GOING ON, BILL HAS BEEN RANGE-TESTING THEIR M110K1
GBBR… AND LOVES IT!
A
couple of years ago I had the great
privilege of being among the first to get
“hands on” the then-new SR-25 ECC from
VegaForceCompany (VFC) and I have to admit that
I was very loathe to hand back the review rifle as
it was absolutely sublime! Sadly the model I had
was one of very few in Europe at the time and had
already been spoken for, and even with cash in hand
it was a story that sadly didn’t continue much to my
eternal regret…
Roll on to now and my love for the ECC has finally
been requited as some weeks ago I took delivery
of the “MIL SR-25” GBB option that VFC have
released, the M110K1, and once again I have to
admit that it was love at first sight, but thankfully
this one is a “keeper” thanks to my good friend Ray
Chang!
I find myself increasingly drawn to “large calibre”
rifles these days (okay, in our reality they are all
6mm but still!) as there’s something about the beefy
magazine and the overall feel of them that I’ve come
to love. I have also found myself embracing gas-
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ARMOURY
VFC M110K1 GBBR
driven rifles more and more too, and I put this down
to the fact that during the pandemic I spent a lot of
time on my own shooting on the range… and there’s
just something about a well-tuned and well set up
GBBR that makes me happy.
I am hoping that 2023 is the year that following
both my illness and the subsequent recovery process,
and by the game-fallow pandemic years, I can finally
get back out to some games; will I take one of my
gas models to a MilSim, you bet I will, but to a regular
skirmish day? Well, some say that a gas rifle isn’t really
a skirmish tool, and in many ways I’d have to agree
on the face of it. I’ve always said though that a really
properly set up gas platform can hold its own on a
skirmish day if your accuracy and range are nailed in,
and nowhere is this more true than when it comes to
a DMR.
I’ve always been a proponent of the “DMR Rule”,
and in fact was one of the many that championed
this “back in the day”. Our rule at the time was
that a DMR should be distinctive in both build and
performance; yes, the power level could be higher
than a regular AEG, but lower than that of a boltaction
rifle. The DMR had to be semi-auto only,
running on a mid-cap or lower, and equipped with a
suitable optic, and of course a Minimum Engagement
Distance (MED) needed to be adhered to. It was a
simple set of guidelines that allowed each squad
to have a little extra “distance”, and when well
set up and effectively used a good DM could be a
devastating “force multiplier” in game.
I’ve been playing around with DMRs ever since, and
although I love my gas SVD (I put this wholly in squad
marksman territory), I’ve always had a huge soft-spot
for the SR-25; it was really the SR-25, a rifle adopted
by USSOCOM as the Mk11 MOD 0 in May 2000, that
caused my site to create a DMR rule in the first place
although the Mk14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) AEG
was also a popular model at the time; the EBR though
was a true beast in airsoft form, heavy and unwieldy,
so when SR-25 AEGs began to appear in the early
2000’s many of us immediately grabbed one!
And yes, the SR-25 really has been around that
long! Another lovechild of that genius Eugene Stoner,
the original SR-25 was released in the early 1990s,
but it was not until 2000, and after many trials and
design-tweaks, that Knight’s Armament Company
finally got the Mod 0 into the hands of US(A) elite
operators, and the platform stayed valid (and in
6.5 Creedmoor is still valid, more on that later!) for
many years. Some 180 Mk11 MOD 1 rifles (Mk11s
equipped with the upper receiver of the M110 Semi-
Automatic Sniper System (SASS) were ordered by
the USMC during the Iraq War, (the M110 SASS was
again manufactured by Knight’s Armament Company
and developed from the SR-25) but these saw limited
action before they were phased out when the USMC
chose to purchase the Mk11 MOD 2, which was
simply the USSOCOM and US Navy designation for
the complete M110 rifle.
Around 2012 there was talk that the SSR Mk20,
the marksman variant of the FN SCAR, would replace
the SR-25 but that proved not to be the case, and
by 2017 the SASS was still rolling, albeit mostly with
Special Forces elements like the MARSOC and the
USN SEAL Teams. There was a little controversy when
the M110A1 CSASS (Compact Semi Automatic Sniper
System) or the M110A1 SDMR (Squad Designated
Marksman Rifle) was taken into service to supersede
the SASS, as basically this was, and is a re-engineered
semi-automatic precision rifle chambered in
7.62×51mm NATO and manufactured by Heckler &
Koch (H&K), effectively the G28!
AN SR-25 FOR TODAY
For many the airsoft SR-25 became “the thing” after
the release of the movie “Lone Survivor” in 2013
as of course it was perceived to be the rifle used by
Marcus Luttrell and Matthew “Axe” Axelson during
“Operation Red Wings”… before you shout out, I
KNOW that this was actually the Mk12 Mod 1 SPR,
a very different beast indeed, but many airsofters at
the time thought “SEALs... must be an SR-25…” and
ran with that. I know that the purists out there will be
silently screaming when they read this, but although
I knew the SR-25 was the wrong rifle for a “Red
Wings” loadout I did see some utterly righteous takes
on the theme with that platform!
However, as with the real world time moves on, and
although that CSASS program has rolled on the SASS
was still very much at home with SOCOM elements!
I mentioned 6.5mm Creedmoor earlier, and
“ANOTHER LOVECHILD OF THAT GENIUS EUGENE STONER, THE ORIGINAL SR-25 WAS
RELEASED IN THE EARLY 1990S, BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL 2000, AND AFTER MANY
TRIALS AND DESIGN-TWEAKS, THAT KNIGHT’S ARMAMENT COMPANY FINALLY GOT
THE MOD 0 INTO THE HANDS OF US(A) ELITE OPERATORS”
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VFC M110K1 GBBR
this is a round that will “accommodate bullets
with far superior ballistic coefficients, resulting
in flatter-shooting faster rounds. 6.5 Creedmoor
is also generally held to have less recoil despite
increased velocity” (credit to Charlie Gao on www.
realcleardefense.com for
this)
which are of importance
to any marksman. This
brings me neatly
onto the M110
K1, as the “K1”
in relation to the
SR-25 is all about
the upgrade to the
existing M110 with
the M110K1 upper
conversion kit.
Again, Charile Gau
in his excellent
article tells us
that;
shooting characteristics and reliability of the round.
But the adoption of the round didn’t come with the
adoption of a rifle to go with it.
“The M110K1 changes this. While the M110
and CSASS were both optioned as conversions to
6.5 Creedmoor when the caliber was adopted,
the M110K1 upper receiver was probably adopted
as simply replacing the upper receivers is cheaper
than developing a version of the CSASS in the 6.5
Creedmoor.”
In turn, VFC tell us that;
“While the U.S. Army
is replacing the M110 to
H&K’s M110A1,
US Special
“(USSOCOM)
adopted 6.5
Creedmoor as
a precision rifle
caliber in 2018.
During the trials that
lead to the adoption
of 6.5 Creedmoor,
versions of the M110
and FN SCAR-H
chambered in 6.5
Creedmoor were
used to evaluate the
Operations
Command
(SOCOM) is
planning to
upgrade its
M110s with
the upper
conversion
kit called
the
M110K1.
Although
within
the U.S.
Army it
is a new
project
(CSASS)
for future
warfare
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ARMOURY
VFC M110K1 GBBR
environment from 2016, the Special Forces Raiders
under the Marine Corps Special Operations Command
(MARSOC) are already using the KAC M110K1.”
And there, in a nutshell, is just why the new VFC
gasser is such a crucial part of firearms and military
history, as it provides airsofters with what is effectively
the very latest marksman rifle used by the top-tier
operators in US Special Forces, and the K1 is likely to
remain the exclusive property of “The Operators” for
the forseeable future!
BREAKING IT DOWN
When I look at the new K1 I am staggered once
again at just what an elegant rifle it has become in
its modern form! It looks like everything is where it
should be, and there’s nothing
even forgive the “7.62” on the lower, as of course
for the 6.5 it’s the upper that’s the important part!
As with the SR-25 ECC the K1 is a 100% faithful
replication of the real thing and features all the correct
markings; anywhere you see a trademark or a marking
it will have been replicated from the real deal.
VFC have especially adopted a new version of CNC
post-processed aluminium in the upper and lower
receivers that has been re-strengthened, and will be
better able to withstand the recoil from the working
parts (again, more on this to come!), and the receivers
feature ambidextrous controls with a lightweight
“dimpled” outer barrel inside a KAC SR-25 URX 3.1
13.5” handguard with KAC style folding micro sights.
All the major components are finished a matt FDE
that doesn’t need to be there! It’s
slimline and of a good length (900/980mm with the
CRANE-style stock) and weight (3090g) so it feels that
although you have an “Enhanced Combat Carbine”
it’s one that feels like it is tailor-made to thrown round
in-game!
VFC also tell me that;
“The barrel of the M110K1 is only 16 inches, but
this short-barrelled large-calibre rifle is still stronger
than the 5.56 NATO in terms of range, accuracy and
damage. And the short-barrelled rifle can also be used
for CQB environment; according to “the memory” of a
Delta team member, he used a 16-inch .308 (referring
to SR-25K) in Iraq, and fired a shot indoors… “it can
shock the enemy and make their ears bleed!””
So yes, it’s short and even with the distinctive KAC
muzzle device it’s not that much longer them your
average M4A1! Where it IS different though is in the
build-quality which is HIGH above the average airsoft
AR, and to start off with the VFC M110K1 is built
under licence from Knight’s Armament Company so
it has FULL pattern markings and trades to give it a
real high-quality “feel” from the get go. The pattern
marking and trades throughout are first rate, and I’ll
with a military-style sand coating which is absolutely
impeccable, whilst there are some standout black
parts that really make the K1 a proper “looker”.
So outside it is an absolute beauty, but inside things
just get better! VFC have REALLY continued to refine
their internal operating system to get the very best
performance currently possible from their platforms,
and the K1 benefits from their excellent GBBR fire
control system; this includes steel controls, an antidamage
hammer to enhance durability, and the
bolt also has an added-steel anti-impact Bolt Carrier
Reinforcing Block and High Ductility Plastic Nozzle
Set to increase performance and lifespan. The K1
also features the latest patented “GuideHOP” which
allows you to adjust the hop up using an Allen key
directly on the gas block!
So, in summation the M110K1 is as close to the
real deal as you’ll find anywhere, and everything
is nailed down to look and feel exactly as it would
on the real thing! Like the ECC it has a full-travel
BCG with some real “oomph”, and once again this
replicates exactly the operation of the military rifle so
your drills are 100% the same. Realistic field stripping
“SO, IN SUMMATION THE M110K1 IS AS CLOSE TO THE REAL DEAL AS YOU’LL FIND
ANYWHERE, AND EVERYTHING IS NAILED DOWN TO LOOK AND FEEL EXACTLY AS IT
WOULD ON THE REAL THING! LIKE THE ECC IT HAS A FULL-TRAVEL BCG WITH SOME
REAL “OOMPH”, AND ONCE AGAIN THIS REPLICATES EXACTLY THE OPERATION OF THE
MILITARY RIFLE SO YOUR DRILLS ARE 100% THE SAME.”
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VFC M110K1 GBBR
is a major feature of the VFC GBB series so even the
“modern re-enactors” should be happy here…
With absolutely first-rate build quality and superb
materials, the K1 is awesome in all ways! Even the
magazine (although it only holds 20 BBs again!) is
brilliant, with the fill valve is located on the upper rear
face so when the magazine is inserted you wouldn’t
know it was filled with gas and not rounds; all in all
it’s pretty much my dream rifle!
DOWNRANGE
And when it comes to shooting, the K1 is an absolute,
out and out ass-kicker! I initially took the rifle to my
usual 30m woodland range to chrono and test, and
in terms of power I got a consistent 1.86 Joule/449fps
loud enough that on the woods range I really felt like
I needed a suppressor… a real one! Okay, given the
power level there was always going to be an audible
muzzle report, but the noise of this thing is truly
staggering… add to that the sheer mass of the BCG
cycling (remember that reinforcement I mentioned?)
and shooting it is quite the experience! If you’re
thinking of using one of these to be all “sneaky
sniper” then think again… this is a direct action
animal at MEDs, and again I LOVE IT for that!
With the looks and performance available in one
GBB platform I’m kind of wondering where VFC will
go next, as they seem to have everything pretty darn
nailed right now in my opinion. The M110K1 is, again
my opinion based on my experience with many GBBR
platforms, as good as it gets when it comes to an
on .20g
VORSKs
using V6 gas,
which is even
more powerful
and efficient than
the ECC, but a bit edgy for some sites! With .30g the
accuracy was stunning at that range, and moving up
to .40g… oh my! Yup, at 30m the K1 was hopping
.40g flat and true…
The following day I popped up to a local range
to test out the K1 at greater distances and decided I
would settle on .36g for “field use”, fitting the rifle
out with some accessory parts from my NUPROL “box
o’ tricks! I added a “kill-flashed” NP OPTICS 3-9X50
IR sight on a TACTICAL SCOPE MOUNT with a 45
degree-mounted NP MICRO RDS as a back-up (FDE of
course!), a Harris-style bipod and an NPQ15 LIGHT/
LASER BOX - TAN to round out “the look”. I paced
out to 70m and then had at it prone, and after a little
minute adjustment of the GuideHOP I was happily
banging 12x12 steels time and again!
And “Oh boy (again)!” As Stu said when he
looked at the VFC LAR (FAL), the K1 is LOUD! It’s
out-of-thebox
gas DMR and I shall
be hanging it proudly next
to my VFC Mk18 CQBR when I redo my
office gun wall.
I don’t know how VegaForceCompany
do it, but they keep upping the stakes in
just how cool an airsoft replica can look,
whilst at the same time continuously pushing
performance boundaries!
Whatever you’re doing VFC, keep on doing it, as
I for one want to know just HOW far you can push
things. For now though I am looking forward to
securing myself a few more magazines for the K1 and
getting this bad-ass rifle in game!
As always my sincere thanks go to Ray and the
righteous team at www.vegaforce.com for creating
another GBB work of art… LONG MAY IT CONTINUE!
AA
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VFC M110K1 GBBR
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VFC M110K1 GBBR
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ARMOURY
SPECNA ARMS EDGE 2.0
GETTING
EDGIER
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JANUARY 2023

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SPECNA ARMS EDGE 2.0
IN THE RECENT PAST WE’VE BEEN CONCENTRATING ON THE NEW
MODELS RELEASED BY SPECNA ARMS IN COLLABORATION WITH
SOME EXCELLENT LICENCE-HOLDERS, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES
THE TEAM AT SA HAVE BEEN BUSY ROLLING OUT THEIR OWN
“SKUNKWORX” PROJECTS THAT BRING AN UPGRADE TO BOTH
EXISTING MODELS AND NEW ONES INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY,
SO BILL TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR
PERFORMANCE AND IN-GAME USE!
www.airsoftaction.net 19

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SPECNA ARMS EDGE 2.0
SPECNA ARMS (SA) apparently seem to be going
through some changes right now, and very
exciting they are too! At MOA we saw their
first big broadside into the Asian market, and reports
are that this was very well received, and from what I
see and hear this is only the first salvo in a very
business-like approach to airsoft!
What? Wait? “Businesslike”?
Yup, I know,
right, there’s a word that
we hear all too little in
relation to airsoft, but
like it or loathe it, airsoft
is BIG business these days with hundreds of
thousands if not millions of players all around the
globe… and all those players want GUNS! Whether
you believe that airsoft should remain in the hands of
enthusiasts, or that the players should always drive
what the manufacturers produce, that’s not in reality
how things work…
Manufacturers are businesses at the end of the
day, and some even have shareholders that they need
to report and show profit to. They are producing
thousands of pieces of a single unit (in our case an
AEG or GBB) and their sourcing of raw materials,
production capability, and indeed quality control
programs all need to work seamlessly together.
Once created they need to market and sell these
products, convincing “we the players” that what
they have on offer is the thing that we really, really
want and need, and then they need to ensure that
stock is available, at the same time, with a logical
price structure, in every country in which they do
business… so now we’re into shipping and logistics,
and although things ARE getting better, this side of
things is still fraught with difficulties large and small…
Are you getting the picture yet? Airsoft has, and
will continue to change, and I for one believe it’s high
time that everyone in the industry stopped fannying
around and did things in a business-like fashion,
from OEM to manufacturer to distributor and even
including retailers! Let’s stop making drama and
slagging everyone off and just get on with having an
airsoft industry, start to finish, that’s PROFESSIONAL!
Okay, no apology, but rant over! Why do I say this
here in relation to SPECNA ARMS? Well, along a few
other brands that I am pleased to have a
relationship with SA are showing a new
way forward, a way that encompasses a
global vision for airsoft that will
ensure that
we as players have what
we want, when we need it,
at a sensible and affordable
price; having a proper
“business-like approach”
will let this happen, and
I commend them for their
approach.
FOCUSED DESIGN
But having a good business model doesn’t always
mean that what said business creates is always
very good; all too often we’ve seen brands become
heavily commercialised and go from inspirational to
simply boring! Brands that we once held up as being
“cutting edge” have taken our buck and ended up
bland, simply rolling out a succession of the same
old thing time and again, or in some cases relying
on essentially a single product to see them through,
keeping their shareholders happy whilst players begin
to look elsewhere for their inspiration… and end up
somehow surprised that their market share has fallen
away…
Not so SPECNA ARMS!
Through a constant, ongoing and focused design
and development program, along with some clever
industry collaborations, SA have continued to bring
something new to the party on a regular basis!
Although we have indeed homed in on some of their
excellent “collaboration models” more recently as
they’ve brought different and exiting things to the
“AT MOA WE SAW THEIR FIRST BIG BROADSIDE INTO THE ASIAN MARKET, AND
REPORTS ARE THAT THIS WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED, AND FROM WHAT I SEE AND
HEAR THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST SALVO IN A VERY BUSINESS-LIKE APPROACH TO
AIRSOFT!”
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JANUARY 2023

ARMOURY
SPECNA ARMS EDGE 2.0
market, (just look at their relationship with Daniel
Defense as an
example!) they’ve
quietly been
beavering away
to move their
own products
forward.
We’ve just seen the launch of
their new “X SERIES” SMG models
which look exciting, and of course
we’ll report on these in depth as
soon as we can, but they’ve also
looked both to their own external accessory
program as well as new internal tech that’s become
available and they’ve made steps forward in both
areas!
I was sent two models to look at, models that
I’ve been range-testing for a little while now, the
SA-E09-RH EDGE 2.0 and the SA-E13-RH EDGE 2.0
Carbines; both are available in Black, and Black/FDE
combinations, and both now sport SA’s own Heavy
Ops Stock; the E13 comes in at 825-907mm, 2825g
whilst the E09 is 825-910mm, 2770g so there’s little
between the two here. This is the first time though
that I’ve seen the Heavy Ops Stock as other than a
3D printed prototype, and it’s excellent in its final
production form, a slim, lo-profile polymer design
that’s akin to a pared-back CRANE but still offers great
battery storage space; it also gives easy access to
the buffer tube for battery changes in-game without
having to remove the entire stock, and with an
oversized paddle it’s a breeze to adjust on the fly.
Now the E09 is a design that I’ve seen before in
that it’s a classic, no-nonsense mil-style AR platform
with a nice KeyMod rail
that’s been in the SA line
for a while… the EDGE
2.0 though is NOT the
model we’ve seen before
though as it shares many
new features with the
SA-E13-RH EDGE 2.0.
The E13 is… well, different
externally; yes, it shares
commonality with the E09
is some areas, including the
excellent Heavy Ops Stock that
I’ve already mentioned, but at the front-end it has a
striking skeletonised rail that puts me very much in
mind of a FORTIS aftermarket accessory. I believe that
this will be a “love/hate” kind of deal, but for those
that like something unique and modern that doesn’t
immediately scream “MIL!” then it could be a real
winner!
But what else makes these two carbines “new and
edgier”? As SA tells us in their spiel;
“The EDGE is a series of Specna Arms replicas
that combines a wide range of innovative solutions
that are difficult to find in other replicas currently
available the market. The series focuses on a very
good external build, solutions increasing the replica’s
versatility, longevity, facilitating failure diagnostics,
and susceptibility to power tuning. Straight out of the
box you will get a replica in which you won’t have to
make any kind of modifications, unless you want to,
which will be remarkably simple.”
ADVANCES ACHIEVED
So, have they achieved this, and how? Let’s start by
coming back to the “commonality” I mentioned, as
both models now sport a receiver pairing that is an
original SA design; the new receivers certainly have
a very distinct and unique appearance that I have to
“AT THE FRONT-END IT HAS A STRIKING SKELETONISED RAIL THAT PUTS ME VERY
MUCH IN MIND OF A FORTIS AFTERMARKET ACCESSORY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL
BE A “LOVE/HATE” KIND OF DEAL, BUT FOR THOSE THAT LIKE SOMETHING UNIQUE
AND MODERN THAT DOESN’T IMMEDIATELY SCREAM “MIL!” THEN IT COULD BE A REAL
WINNER!”
www.airsoftaction.net 21

ARMOURY
SPECNA ARMS EDGE 2.0
say will be unmistakeably “Specna” with some solid
raised fencing on the magwell, and I have to say it
appeals to me greatly; it’s thoroughly modern with
a blocky, almost “billet” feel with some solid raised
fencing on the magwell, and I have to say it’s a cool,
up-to-the-minute look.
Although it feels 100% solid the receiver set still
feels slimline, and although I’m personally not a fan of
the “magwell grip” there are further design features
in place there if that’s your bag! Controls are ARclassic
in terms of positioning, but are now 100%
ambi, with new, easier-to-use designs for the selector
and magazine release, and the trigger on both models
is the now-popular flat-face “race” style. At the rear
of the lower is a single-point sling plate pre-fitted, and
the usual (again excellent) SA polymer flip-up sights
are “as standard” too. The receivers benefit from SA’s
Nano Coating to keep them looking good over time,
and all in all everything is tight, and the new receiver
design looks a million dollars!
Internally straight away you can see that there’s a
lot of work gone into keeping things as slick as the
externals; this kicks off with an again as-standard
6.03 mm internal precision barrel paired up with
a new design Rotary Hop that is made to be fully
and optimally compatible with the precision barrel.
In another move forward SA fit a Helium Flat Hop
bucking too to aid in improving consistent accuracy.
Both carbines also feature the now-established, and
fully field-tested ESA2 quick spring change system
that I’ve tested and written about before; why change
something that works, and works well?
Given of the current disparity globally on legal
power limits, this system guarantees the player an
AEG that can be simply adjusted. The ESA2 system
allows you to take minimal time to change the main
spring, so you can set your power level in such a
way as to guarantee an ideal compromise between
territorial legality, effectiveness of fire, and safety for
the user and other players; I’ve said this before, but as
someone who has played, and hopes to play again,
in different countries with different laws I like this, I
REALLY do!
Driving everything along is the awesome ORION
gearbox; this has a reinforced chassis, and features a
main spring release function. Now I’ve come to expect
everything inside a SA AEG to be workmanlike, tidy,
and of serviceable quality, and both the new models
tested hold true to this formula; inside you get a steelreinforced
polymer piston, a polymer, double-sealed
piston head with bearings, an sealed alloy nozzle,
alloy double-sealed cylinder head, spring guide with
bearings, a set of steel gears, and 8mm bearings. The
motor here is SA’s own powerful High Torque motor
that has a 22TPA (Turn-Per-Arm) winding so that it can
comfortably drive along heavier springs if required!
You also get on both models the ASTER control
system; now I’ve already had a bit of experience with
the ASTER system and have found that it offers:
• safeguard from reverse polarization of a battery
• innovative optical sensors
• 250 trigger sensitivity settings
• ability to configure with the use of the replica’s
trigger or GATE Control Station application
• integrated RGB LED diode simplifying the
programming of the system
Of this control system SA again tell me that;
“The ASTER system is the little brother of the
well-known TITAN unit. This fourth generation
of AEG control systems has been designed for the
majority of electric replicas equipped with the V2
gearbox, including those that are heavily tuned.
ASTER will allow you to achieve maximum reliability
at an affordable price. This system is characterized by
an extremely favorable price-performance ratio.”
Thanks to the ASTER system you can set up your
AEG just as you like it, replacing the contacts with
an advanced controller equipped with innovative
optical sensors and which does honestly provide up
to 250 trigger sensitivity settings! A smart electric
fuse protects the battery, motor and controller, even
if there is (lawd forbid!) a reverse battery connection!
The EDGE 2.0 AEGs also come with a dedicated
trigger, called the SOLAR Trigger that works perfectly
with the sensors of the ASTER system, offering
unprecedented sensitivity and precision; the new
SA Arms trigger is licensed from the Gate Quantum
Trigger. Do be aware that as before some functions of
the ASTER system are only available via the GCS (Gate
Control Station) app which requires a USB-Link.
“THANKS TO THE ASTER SYSTEM YOU CAN SET UP YOUR AEG JUST AS YOU LIKE
IT, REPLACING THE CONTACTS WITH AN ADVANCED CONTROLLER EQUIPPED WITH
INNOVATIVE OPTICAL SENSORS AND WHICH DOES HONESTLY PROVIDE UP TO 250
TRIGGER SENSITIVITY SETTINGS! ”
22
JANUARY 2023

ARMOURY
SPECNA ARMS EDGE 2.0
DOWNRANGE
In operation the EDGE 2.0 models provided for
evaluation (with the springs set to UK-legal limits
prior to shipping by the lovely guys over at www.
gunfire.com) were a delight to shoot! I initially tested
the carbines on my 10m short range, to chrono and
evaluate, and in terms of power I got a consistent
0.99Joule/328fps on a .20g RZR BB using a buffertube
900mAh 11.1V LPo through both models. With
.28g RZR BBs the accuracy was excellent at that range,
so both these carbines are ideal for a CQB application.
Moving up to the woods range I ran my usual
drills using the provided S-MAGs; the new EDGE 2.0
AEGs come with a pair of SA’s own-design S-MAG
mid-cap magazines which offers a capacity of 125
BB’s; these magazines have now been tried, tested
and thoroughly abused by a number of the AA crew
and I can tell you that to date we’re yet to have any
failure from the ones we have used over an extended
period! Not only has this proved to be a reliable midcap
magazine design, but the styling is pretty cool
too. That said, both carbines fed perfectly from other
STANAG and polymer magazines too!
I set up both carbines exactly the same with T1-
style optics and taclights. Both models came with SA’s
stubby slant foregrip too, a design I personally like; I
had hoped that this would be an opportunity to try
out their new angled foregrip that was in the same
development program as the Heavy Ops Stock, but
it seems I’ll have to wait for the X SERIES for that.
However, once I had the hops set I was able to ring
the steels consistently at 30m with dead-flat .28g
BB flight to target; these carbines put BBs where
you want them to go, so if you’re going to use it for
woodland games then consistent accuracy at midrange
is not going to be a problem once you have it
set up right!
My final take is that the EDGE 2.0 models are
great AEGs and show some real steps forward in SA’s
development program. If I look at the price of the
E09 the new version IS more expensive than the old
one, but you are definitely getting what you pay for,
and as I’ve said before I believe that prices for AEGs
well inevitably go up anyway in 2023 given the global
economic situation.
Both AEGs perform in a very similar fashion to one
another when it comes to shooting them, and there
is a commonality of some parts (which honestly is no
bad thing!) of course, but each model had its own
distinct character and I believe that the overall design
aesthetics will appeal to different types of player. It
looks like that within the Specna Arms range there
will still be something for everybody,
whatever “YOUR style of airsoft”!
I absolutely love the new receiver
styling, and in practical terms the
ambi control interfaces and the new
Heavy Ops Stock are very much to
my personal taste, and when it comes
to internal parts and fire-control
systems SA have retained their
passion for quality, performance
and versatility. In relation to their
“business-like approach” if they
continue to move forward in this
fashion, and continue
to create solid,
performance-oriented
AEGs then I for one
am very much in favour
of it!
My thanks again go to
Pawel and the team at www.
gunfire.com supplying the
AEGs for review, and I’ll be
issuing these out within
the Red Cell team for
ongoing evaluation;
watch this space for
a RELOADED review
next year! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 23

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ARMOURY
DE EK47 UTR
OPFOR
DELIGHT
26
JANUARY 2023

ARMOURY
DE EK47 UTR
MOST PLAYERS OUT THERE WILL TELL YOU THAT THE AR HAS “THE BEST
ERGONOMICS” WHEN IT COMES TO IN-GAME USE, BUT IS THIS JUST BECAUSE
THE AR-STYLE REPLICA IS SIMPLY THE MOST-USED PLATFORM OUT THERE?
THERE ARE ALWAYS OPTIONS, AND EVEN FOR THE DEDICATED OPFOR PLAYER
THESE OPTIONS CONTINUE TO GROW, AND THEY DON’T ALL HAVE TO COST
THE EARTH AS BILL SHOWS AS HE LOOKS AT DOUBLE EAGLE’S TAKE ON THE
MIGHTY “SR47”!
www.airsoftaction.net 27

ARMOURY
DE EK47 UTR
As I said way back in June 2020 (Oh how long
ago that seems!) when I looked at the thennew
Double Eagle (DE) M904A “if you’d said
to me that I’d be looking at a neat little AR AEG with
a host of up-to-the-minute features from Chinese
manufacturer Double Eagle even a couple of years
back I’d have probably nodded sagely and said “Oh
yes, I’m sure it will be fine…””, but the fact is that it’s
turned out to be way more than just “fine”, and the
Double Eagle Falcon Fire Control System (FFCS) has
turned out to be a bit of a gem, offering a multitude
of features at a price affordable by all players.
Yup, our choices are wider than ever, and to be
honest there are some awesome AEGS and even
GBBRs appearing at prices that once I would have
thought utterly unachievable, but recent events have
thrown this up in the air again! Prices for some truly
excellent entry-level AEGS are heading upwards, and
in my opinion the “price-point” for some of them
has been kept artificially low as airsoft brands vie for
increased market share.
Since the C-VIRUS kicked in we’ve seen all manner
of changes, and whilst this doesn’t per se affect
airsoft as a game, it DOES affect airsoft directly when
it comes to pricing, and again my opinion, but I do
believe we will be seeing the price of our “good to
go guns” changing in 2023. Okay, I’m told by many
manufacturers and distributors that freight costs (and
times) are getting better again which is a bonus,
but I’m also being told by many OEMs that “raw
material” costs are spiralling… think about an AEG
for a moment and we all know that they are
the combination these days of some pretty
good alloys and a collection of high-end
electrical parts… the cost of which are
ALL going up and up, WHEN they
are available in the first place!
I’m not being
all “doomy”
here, but I
believe we
have to
“YUP, OUR CHOICES ARE WIDER THAN EVER, AND TO BE HONEST THERE ARE SOME
AWESOME AEGS AND EVEN GBBRS APPEARING AT PRICES THAT ONCE I WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT UTTERLY UNACHIEVABLE, BUT RECENT EVENTS HAVE THROWN THIS UP IN
THE AIR AGAIN!”
28
JANUARY 2023

ARMOURY
DE EK47 UTR
understand that price-structures are changing; when I
looked at the DE M904A just two years ago the retail
price for it was iro UK£150, but for the model I’m
looking at here, the EK47 UTR, I’m seeing at prices iro
UK£200 for what under the skin is largely the same
thing in different, albeit very cool, party clothes… this
is NOT manufacturers trying to get more money out
of us, or distributors upping their “margin take”, it’s
simply how the global economic situation is hitting
the airsoft market, and it is what it is.
Sorry, I needed to get that out of my system as all
too often at the moment I’m seeing negative social
media crap about increased prices and “players
getting ripped off”, but the simple truth is that the
world has changed… and continues to change, and
whilst it may seem that the situation is negative, I
can only be positive about the majority of new AEGs
and GBBs that I’m seeing right now, and the DE EK47
UTR is a great example of how you can still buy an
excellent little AEG, something a bit different too, and
still get exceptional value and performance!
THE OPFOR AR!
Now I make no bones that a) I like a bit of OPFOR
sneaky-beaky, and b) I do love an AK! However, again
due to real-world events a lot of us are somewhat
reticent to field our “Russian Rifles” right now and
rightly so; you know where Airsoft Action stands on
events in Ukraine!
So what to do when it comes to having something
a bit different for OPFOR work, but something that
handles just as well as the BLUFOR ARs? I’ve said it
before, and I will no doubt say it many more times
when I see a new take on it, just BUY AN SR47!
The SR47 was designed to be the perfect platform
for the airsoft OPFOR player; born from the idea IRL
of a soldier being able to resupply behind enemy lines
and operators being able to leave a smaller footprint
to conceal their presence, the original Knight’s
Armament SR47 combined the familiar AR ergonomics
with the legendary 7.62x39mm cartridge used by the
AK-47/AKM. The SR-47 was specifically designed to
allow operators to utilise munitions acquired from
the enemy in situations where resupply was not an
option. Additionally the SR47 had the added benefit
of sounding like a typical AK and not an AR which
helped mask an operator’s presence as well as being
able stay covert by not leaving any evidence such as
casings from a NATO weapon.
Having spent some quality time now with my
fabulous BOLT SR47 I have to say that the familiar
feel of the AR design and control interface but with
AK magazines and loading/unloading drills has really
endeared it to me. Although, in my opinion, the BOLT
is a super AEG, the fact is that you’re going to need
to drop iro UK£400-plus for the URX 3.1 version and I
have found that it’s a little picky on what magazines it
likes to devour too.
CYMA do a passable SR47 replica at a more
palatable price, the 093, but my favourite is still the
the CM096, and this is because it replicates another
AR/AK hybrid, namely the CMMG Mk47 “Mutant”!
When you first look at the “Mutant”, or Mk47, you
might be rightly mistaken that it’s just another AR;
everything screams out “.308 AR”, but the lower and
especially the flattened-out “industrial style” magwell
with a paddle magazine release begins to tell quite
another story; of course, when you see that big old
AK “banana mag” in the magwell all becomes clear!
Again, I love this rifle, and with a price of just over
UK£200 at the time I bought it a couple of years back,
as far as AR/AK hybrids go was a real bargain… but
guess what? Yup, you’ll now pay iro UK£270 for the
exact same AEG!
Now I know that price isn’t everything (to some!),
and that you get what you pay for, but the DE EK47
is out there iro UK£190, and you get an awful lot of
modern “SR” for a little-ish price!
NUTS AND BOLTS
First up, let’s look at the styling of the EK47, and oh
boy, does it look “bang on trend”! You get a very
unique, almost “billet-like” receiver pairing that’s
beautifully finished and well put together; the lower
also has a slightly over-sized trigger guard that’s ideal
for use with even bulkier gloves protecting a flatface
trigger. The upper melds neatly and solidly into
an excellent ¾ length contiguous top rail (licensed
by Aeroknox LLC Firearms to DE, just so you know!),
while at 3,6, and 9 0’clock you have full-length
“SO WHAT TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT FOR
OPFOR WORK, BUT SOMETHING THAT HANDLES JUST AS WELL AS THE BLUFOR ARS?
I’VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I WILL NO DOUBT SAY IT MANY MORE TIMES WHEN I SEE A
NEW TAKE ON IT, JUST BUY AN SR47!”
www.airsoftaction.net 29

ARMOURY
DE EK47 UTR
M-LOK compatibility meaning you can set it up
with your favoured optics and go-faster accessories.
Rounding out the externals you have an ergonomic
pistol grip and sliding stock that are very “MP”, and
a unique muzzle brake on a 14mm CCW thread…
the EX to me really needs a “soviet-style” suppressor
though!
Overall it’s very cool throughout, lightweight at
2280g and very sturdy. Control-wise you have a really
well set-up ambidextrous selector lever and charging
handle, along with an extended magazine release
making everything slick when it comes to drills and
manipulation. To top things off, quite literally, there
are polymer flop-up sights front and rear; it’s a neat
and solid package.
Of course internally is where things get interesting
due to the Falcon Fire Control System (FFCS) that
I talked about back in 2022, but this time the V2.
This is DE’s own “in house” design and it’s proved to
be effective in their standard ARs, and a number of
techs that I know give it “the nod” as being a great
example of a programmeable system… and program
it you can for:
• 1-5 BB burst mode
• trigger sensitivity adjustment
• binary trigger mode
• voltage detection
• motor and gearbox protection
• battery protection
• safety function
The gearbox also offers a quick spring change
system (more on this later!), and 8mm steel
bearings, and wiring ids of good quality, leading
to a DEANS connection in the buffer tube. With a
6.06mm internal barrel and a rotary hop adjuster,
the EK is pretty much good to go as soon as you’ve
programmed it to your preferred setting, and this is
simple and well-explained.
change this out, resulting in a power level through the
chrono of 1.09 Joule/343fps on a .20g BB, bang-on
for most sites! Now, most good retailers will change
the spring to comply with local site restrictions, but
make sure it’s been done before you take it home if
you’re in the UK as the original power will put you
into dodgy legal territory!
Once the new spring was in though, the power
level remained pretty constant through the chrono.
As I’m a midcap player I was delighted with the 200
BB polymer “waffle-style” model as standard, and
this fed flawlessly throughout testing, although I
did test with a variety of different AK mags and had
sporadic results; you do need it seems to pick your
mags carefully, but I especially liked the look of my
AK12 mags in the EK as these make it look properly
“of the moment” and fed just fine! In terms of hitting
the target at 30m this was not a problem, and once
the hop settled in a little on a cold day POA/POI were
pretty darn spot on at the furthest extent of the
woods range; like my other SR47s I’m certain this will
improve further once the EK has had time to fully bed
in fully.
So, does the DE EK live up to my expectations for
a decent little OPFOR-esque blaster? Yes it does, and
the shorter length compared to my other SR47s (735-
815mm) and its modern styling makes it unique in a
good way! With a price of just under UK£200 at the
time of writing this, as far as AR/AK hybrids go this
is a great little AEG and one that deserves a rightful
place in my OPFOR armoury! So, if you do fancy
something different from the average AR, something
truly a bit “Red Cell” in the very best way, then the
Double Eagle EK47 UTR could be the very thing
you’ve been searching for, and you can check it out by
visiting www.iwholesales.co.uk AA
BANG ON!
As the EK47 had come to me straight from the
shipping container, it was HOT when it arrived, but
thankfully Tim at iWholesales gave me the heads up
on this, along with a new spring; this is where the
quick change function helped as it was a simple job to
“SO DOES THE DE EK LIVE UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS FOR A DECENT LITTLE OPFOR-
ESQUE BLASTER? YES IT DOES, AND THE SHORTER LENGTH COMPARED TO MY OTHER
SR47S (735-815MM) AND ITS MODERN STYLING MAKES IT UNIQUE IN A GOOD WAY!”
30
JANUARY 2023

SG R556
TGR-SGR-556-BNB-NCM
120
Made in Taiwan
Power-cut off when
chamber is empty
Pre-cocking feature
1
After magazine reload,
press bolt release button
to resume fire
2
2
Quick change
Spring guide
1
2
3
Split gearbox design
1
Lock-in
Hop-up chamber
2
1
Replaceable
motor-angle plate
Modular electronic board
for easy replacement
Optical burst control module

ARMOURY
DOUBLE BELL TR-1 M-LOK
BE WICK-ED!
CHAPTER 2
34
january 2023

ARMOURY
DOUBLE BELL TR-1 M-LOK
LAST MONTH BILL TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE LICENCED TTI 34 FROM EMG THAT WOULD BE THE
PERFECT GBB PISTOL FOR A “WICK-ED” LOADOUT, SO THIS TIME HE GOES LONG WITH A MORE-
BUDGET FRIENDLY AR THAT WOULD ALSO BE GREAT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING INSPIRED BY ONE
OF OUR FAVOURITE MOVIE ANTI-HEROS!
The legend of John Wick continues! Or so it
would seem that “JW4” appears set to hit the
big screen come March 2023! This has created
a lot of excitement online, and certainly within the
group of airsoft friends I have locally… and yes, I’m
pretty darn excited by the news too as “Parabellum”
left us with a huge pile of unanswered questions…
If you’ve not seen “Parabellum” (if not, WHY
NOT???) then watch out, as there may be a SPOILER
or two coming up… did Winston really mean to kill
Wick off when he shot him, or was its staged to
mess with The High Table? Will The Bowery King
get his revenge? And, if what we see in the trailer
is right, what is Wick going to get up to in Japan?
Of course though, the BIG question for all of us in
airsoft-land is what gucci firearms will he be using
THIS TIME?
Fact is we’ll have to wait and see, but if one thing
is certain his choice of firearms will be dissected
minutely, and I’m certain that the manufacturers
will be vying hard to get the latest handgun models
replicated in 6mm first… honestly, there’s a lot
to look forward to when a new “Wick” hits the
screens, and I’m also certain that a lot the new GBBs
will be licenced to the hilt and rightly so as that way
we get the exact thing that we want.
www.airsoftaction.net 35

ARMOURY
DOUBLE BELL TR-1 M-LOK
But what about the “longs”? What about the
rifles and carbines that our beloved Mr W uses so
righteously? As much as there are many choices
when it comes to the handguns, it does seem that
a lot of the longer models have been left a little out
in the cold, and I can’t understand quite why as
some of them are amongst the most popular airsoft
variants out there right now! Back in the original
movie he makes good use of the HK416 (actually a
Coharie Arms CA-415 clone in the movie, yes even
the real firearm world has clones!) along with a Kel-
Tec KSG. In “Parabellum” it’s the TTI SIG-Sauer MPX
Carbine (he actually takes and uses a SIG-Sauer MPX
Copperhead at one point too!) and a TTI Benelli M2
Super 90, and of course in “Chapter 2” it’s the TTI
Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun and a rifle that many
have tried to build in airsoft-custom-form, the TTI TR-1
Ultralight!
With most of these models already available in
airsoft form I’m genuinely amazed that someone
like EMG hasn’t created the “full package” yet, but
perhaps it’s an ask too far when it comes to licencing.
The “HK” was pretty bog-standard in honesty, and to
create the MPX models that would mean not only the
TTI licence, but also one with SIG… and as SIG have
their own airsoft program now perhaps they’re not
interested in third-party arrangements… who knows,
perhaps we’re in for a treat one day…
CUSTOM OR NOT?
When it comes to the TTI TR-1 Ultralight though I
know a fair few people that have tried to replicate
this in airsoft form, and some of the custom “takes”
have been downright drool-worthy! However, creating
something like the TR-1 has involved donor AEGs and
GBBRs, expensive real-steel parts, and in some cases
some judicious 3D printing! As with any custombuild
you’ve got to be in it for the long-haul, and be
prepared to drop some cash on something that will
indeed be unique, but also expensive.
However, completely out of left field comes
Double Bell (DB) with their TR-1 M-LOK AEG! In
Issue 133 Jimmy took a close look at the Double Bell
“416-alike” and he wound up his review by saying
“My conclusion is that Double Bell have produced
something rather good which doesn’t cost an awful
lot; you certainly will stand out if you’re carrying one,
and it’s perfect for a beginner, especially the price!”
So, to put out my stall for the Double BellB TR-1
I’ll go back to that statement, the one that concludes
that the manufacturer formerly-known as D-Boys is
actually putting out some decent base-level AEGs
these days!
But what do we want from a “Wick TR-1”?
Looking at the rifle used in the movie it was tricked
out of course with the TTI upgrade package; this
included a BCM Gunfighter Mod 0 collapsible stock,
BCM KMR Alpha 13” rail, BCM pistol grip and vertical
foregrip, PRI Compensator, 1-6x24 Trijicon Accupoint
scope with an RMR on a canted rail, and Magpul
PMAGs with TTI “bumper” extensions. That’s quite
the shopping list right there!
DB have really pulled a flanker here in my opinion
as they’ve created an AEG that LOOKS like the “Wick
Rifle”, and comes fully-formed from the box ready
to roll with in your catacombs of choice! Now I have
seen that in the UK market the rifle in question comes
WITHOUT any trademarks, and in my personal opinion
this is right and proper, but in other markets I have
seen images of it WITH trades… your call, but again
personally I’m quite happy with the un-traded version,
but then regular readers will know my opinion of
this…
That out of the way, in all other ways what you get
from Double Bell looks great, and for the most part
you get a very, very passable “TR-1” for around the
UK£300 mark, and the package includes both flip-up
iron sights and a pretty reasonable 1-4x20 throw-lever
optic! The rifle itself is actually very well put together
indeed, with a close-fitting alloy MUR-style receiver
set (the lower featuring an oversized trigger guard)
with standard non-ambi controls, and one feature I
like is the “chrome” mock-bolt, although being a little
purist this should be bronzed rather than chromed.
The other major changeout is that the DB features an
rather nice M-LOK rail rather than the KeyMod of the
movie gun, but again this brings it up to date in my
eyes and adds rather than detracts from the whole.
Furniture is also very well done with a nice nod
to replicating the look of the BCM parts, and the
muzzle device replicates the PRI comp nicely too; this
is on a 14mm CCW thread, so if you fancy a tracer or
“DB HAVE REALLY PULLED A FLANKER HERE IN MY OPINION AS THEY’VE CREATED AN
AEG THAT LOOKS LIKE THE “WICK RIFLE”, AND COMES FULLY-FORMED FROM THE BOX
READY TO ROLL WITH IN YOUR CATACOMBS OF CHOICE!”
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ARMOURY
DOUBLE BELL TR-1 M-LOK
suppressor you’re all set. Internally there’s nothing to
shout about to be honest, it’s just a very workmanlike
AR-AEG with a V2 gearbox, quick-change spring,
standard wiring to a mini tamiya in the buffer tube,
and a rotary hop setup, but as Jimmy said of the
Double Bell he tested “this would also be a great
base to throw some money at internally and make it
something special”!
DOWNRANGE
So, did shooting it make me feel just a little bit
“Wick”? Actually it did; with airsoft it’s sometimes
a little bit “pantomime” isn’t it, and the right tools
just help in that “suspension of disbelief”! It’s no
performance rifle like the real deal (although I believe
it could be) But it‘s great fun to shoot!
With the optic fitted and levelled I loaded up
the “sidewinder” 300 BB Hi Cap with .20g and
got to work on the range. Although the TR-1 has a
singlepoint sling plate fitted as standard I ended up
using a black VIPER two-point as that style suits me
best these days, and this made it easier to transition
from pistol to rifle and back in drills; the rifle is only
850mm at full extension and weighs 2860g so it’s
easy to manipulate and move around with. Working
through the range I found the trigger is a little
unresponsive; not overly so, but it does take a positive
pull to send BBs downrange happily. On semi you
really can still get shots away rapidly if your trigger
discipline is good, but on auto it’s pretty cool, and the
TR-1 really does grunt when you put down a solid
burst!
The flip-up sights that come fitted as standard
are more than adequate, and indeed are sturdily
made of alloy, but with the included optic the TR-1
really is ready to roll straight from the box just by
adding a battery and some BBs! Once the optic was
zeroed, at 30m unsupported in was easy to get hits
on a sandbag target with each BB flying straight and
true. I also took the TR-1 down to the 10m indoor
range (which is a bit catacombs-like to be honest!),
and the rifle performed well, banging the steels
hard at 5-10m, and putting a power level of 1.06
Joule/339fps on a .20g through the chrono, although
the hop arrangement seemed to really like .28g best.
I have to say that the DB TR-1 really did make me
feel pretty on-point, especially with the TTI 34 in my
holster as a backup! How would I run this setup in
game? Well, with the number of indoor CQB sites
these days I do think I’d be brave enough to run this
setup suited and booted so to say, but probably with a
beanie on my head, a black roll-neck under some LEstyle
body armour, and a really lo-profile belt setup for
extra AR and pistol mags like the one that JW used in
The Continental in “Parabellum”; in fact I think I may
have to speak nicely to Taig at Kydex Customs and see
what he might be able to create!
With an iro£300 price-tag here in the UK the TR-1
really gives a massive amount of giggle-factor for the
money, and when you add that it most certainly looks
the part, feels great, and shoots very adequately as
standard so as far as I can see Double Bell have got
this right. As Jimmy said, the Double Bell AEGs are
easily upgradeable with COTS “Marui compatible”
internal parts, so this strikes me as a fabulous solution
for anyone that wants to create a “Wick-inspired”
loadout for CQB games on a budget but with the
scope to upgrade it to something a bit more special as
their funds allow…we’re certainly not talking “custom
gun” money here, or anywhere near the US$4000 a
real TTI would cost you!
So, are we ready for “JW4”? I know I am, and in
the meantime I’ll just keep in dreaming dreams of
those catacombs…
My thanks go to www.iwholesales.co.uk for
supplying the test sample, and you’ll find the Double
Bell models on their regularly updated website. The
TR-1 AEGs are available in two different lengths, and
internationally I’ve seen them in two different colours,
Black and a rather nice Tan/Bronze combo, so I hope
these will be here soon too! AA
IMAGE FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCE
www.airsoftaction.net 37

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
WINTER GEAR
ESSENTIALS...
USE THEM RIGHT!
DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BILL HAS BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT KIT WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR A
LONGER DURATION GAME IN WINTER CONDITIONS, AND NOW HE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THIS
CAN ALL BE PUT TOGETHER AND USED. WITH A BREAKDOWN OF HOW EVERYTHING WORKS TOGETHER,
HE NOW MAKES USE OF HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO SHOW HOW YOU CAN USE IT EFFECTIVELY TO
KEEP YOU AT FULL SPEED AND “IN THE GAME”.
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JANUARY 2023

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
As a keen bushcrafter, mountaineer, and
part-time adventurer I’ve been lucky enough
to experience the “big outdoors” in many
of its myriad forms around this wonderful world
of ours, and to this day nothing gives me greater
pleasure than simply “being out there” with a pack
on my back and a big open horizon in front of me.
I’ve been lucky enough to work in the backwoods
and mountains, to run leadership courses in rain
forests, and to spend an entire month in British
Columbia, Canada in the winter just doing my own
thing, and all of these experiences (and more!) have
instilled the personal mantra of “any fool can be
uncomfortable”.
Without going into the specifics of full-on outdoor
living skills (OLS) as they’re not applicable to this
particular article I will return to that mantra again
and again, as being “comfortable”, a relative term I
grant you, is all important when it comes to enjoying
an airsoft event or game of a longer duration, and
of course what I want to do is illustrate how some
of those skills can be pertinent to your enjoyment of
a longer duration game in more challenging winter
conditions!
When I’ve travelled overseas for airsoft events over
the years, I’ve played on some pretty awesome urban
sites, usually former military training areas, but on
many occasions I’ve been lucky enough to play in
www.airsoftaction.net 39

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
mountains, forests and valleys that are very different
to my home environment, enjoying both the game
itself and the spectacular surroundings.
Life was relatively simple as we travelled to the AO
by vehicle and worked out of a fixed position; this
usually meant fixed tents, cots, and basic amenities,
so essentially all I had to do was throw down my
sleeping bag and gear… good to go.
What I did have to contend with on my different
airsoft adventures though, was different climatic
conditions that have ranged from beltingly hot
days in Florida to sub-zero nights in the Alps! I
always research the climatic and weather conditions
before I travel though, and try to be prepared for all
eventualities.
And this, in a nutshell, is what being able to fully
and effectively participate in a longer duration airsoft
game is all about, and it’s an absolute joy to me that
all those skills amassed in a “previous life” can now
come to the fore as part of my “airsoft toolbox”. I
actually relish the thought of being out for longer, all
year round, and the combination of those outdoor
living skills, thorough preparedness, and the thrill of
dodging BBs all comes together in one big, happy
package for me!
I believe that we’ve all heard the phrase “all the
gear, no idea” and this is really, really true when
it comes to “overnighters” when playing airsoft,
and most especially during the winter! Yes, you can
look at the list of “equipment ingredients” that are
often provided in articles such as ours in this regular
“Tactical Outdoor Development” column, but
you also need to know how to use everything, and
most importantly when. In many cases for longer
(and here I mean multi-day) games you’ll be part of
a larger unit, with unit command and (hopefully)
unit cohesiveness. You’ll have at the very least a
Squad or Team Leader (TL), who in turn will have
a higher echelon to report to and take orders from,
and a good TL will take much of the stress out of the
situation, letting you get on with “business”.
SCENARIO TIME!
The easiest way for me to explain kit usage is to
return to a format I’ve used before, and put it into a
scenario. Let’s imagine you are part of a “BLUFOR”
team that’s been inserted into an AO during the
winter with the task of fixing and engaging with an
enemy force, effectively a “Search, Fix, and Destroy”
mission. The scenario calls for you to be in the field
for two full days with one “operational” night in the
field. You are part of a light infantry unit that’s tailor
made to cover ground fast and take the fight to the
enemy.
First up you’re going to need that “gear hauler”, a
pack that’s big enough to carry everything you need
for the entire game; for me the Tasmanian Tiger
RAID pack. You’ve established with “higher higher”
that you will get a water replen during the course of
the game, but other than that you’re on your own,
so your pack needs to accommodate:
• Tent/Bivvy
• Kip Mat
• Sleeping Bag
• Stove (…and don’t forget the gas/fuel!)
• Utensils/Mug/Mess Tins
• Water bottle
• Food
• More food; you need to bomb up on calories
in the cold!
• Map and Compass
• Sunscreen (believe me, this is still important in
the winter!)
• Multi-tool/Penknife
• Head Torch
• First-Aid kit
• Main Compartment and Accessories Dry Bag
• Fleece/Midlayer Shirt or Jacket
• Waterproof Jacket and Trousers
• Insulated Jacket
• Gloves, Watch Cap/Beanie, and Thermal
Gloves
• Spare Combat Trousers
• Spare Baselayers and Socks
• Wash Kit
Now some of the kit like a multi-tool and map/
compass may well be carried on your person or in
your fighting order, but the fact is it all needs to be
neatly stowed and logically accessible when you
need it. With all of this on board we’ll get back to
our scenario…
You’ve successfully infil’d to your AO and now you
have the long patrol to your overnight “laager”, or
“Laying Up Position” (LUP). This patrol will be tactical
so you can’t be hauling carrier bags full of pot
noodles and mars bars or bin liners containing your
fleece-lined two person sleeping bag! Everything
needs to be in your pack or bergen, keeping your
hands free for the all-important task of actually
carrying your rifle or carbine. If you come into
contact whilst patrolling in you’ll need to swiftly
respond and return fire before you think of ditching
any gear!
Once you’ve made it most of the way to your
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JANUARY 2023

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
overnight LUP it’s likely that your TL will get you
into some form of all-round defence whilst they go
to recce the site itself. Done well your TL will then
lead you tactically into that position indicating your
defensive points and arcs of fire to be covered, all of
this in total silence. Once the entire patrol is inside
the LUP area a good TL will have everyone take up
a defensive perimeter for a while before you start to
get your shelters up and food on the go.
SETTING UP
You’re effectively behind enemy lines, in the winter!
Night, and therefore the temperature, will be falling
in a couple of hours, and of course everyone needs
to be “stood to” for dusk, a favourite attack time
for any enemy forces as the light starts to fade and
“grey out”. Everything is quiet though so it’s time to
get set up for the night ahead.
The fact is after being “stood to” to ensure
the perimeter and surrounding area is safe and
(relatively) quiet, your core temperature will have
fallen considerably, and now is a prime example of
where the “buddy system” comes into play; whilst
your “buddy” is providing cover you can get to
work! First up is getting a brew on both for you and
your mate to get some much needed warmth into
you both; you know how each other pack so you
know where to find his mug. Get that brew on to
provide a hot drink or better still a mug of soup for
the both of you.
Whilst that water is boiling you can start to get
your basha/tent up; half the basha/tent kit will
be amongst your mate’s gear, so it really is vitally
important that you pack your gear together. If
you decide on a tent rather than a simple basha
(recommended in the winter!) look for a model like
the Snugpak Scorpion 3 I mentioned I’ve mentioned
before that you can pitch single-handed. Once the
tent is up, quickly get into your warmer, insulated
gear and of course if you have wet garments or
socks change those for dry ones!
Once the tent is up and you’ve sorted yourself out
the water should be boiling, so take your mucker a
brew. Relieve them from the defensive perimeter role
and take over while they go and sort out their own
clothing/gear, and warm up. They can then lay out
kip mats and sleeping bags and get some hot food
on the go while you keep watch.
Basically from this point on you’re good to go for
the night, and once again your TL should be advising
you as to the perimeter defence rotation throughout
the hours of darkness until at dawn everyone stands
to again; in larger units the likelihood is that both
you and your mate can get some shuteye, but in
smaller units it’s worth considering carrying “group
gear” even in winter to alleviate overall loading of
your packs. Breaking down your LUP is simply the
reverse of the night before, with everything back in
your packs neatly in readiness to move out at the
time your TL indicates, and of course after a good
hot breakfast!
A couple of tips:
• Always keep your rifle/carbine with easy reach;
never be more than an arms-length from it
• If you ditch your fighting order whilst putting
up your tent the same applies
• Only ever unpack what you need at that
moment, and once used return it to its rightful
place
• Always keep your pack/bergen ready to go in
case you get “bumped” and have to retreat
from your LUP; you can always return to get
any kit later when the area is secure
This is by no means a “bible” to follow blindly,
just a few suggestions that should make you more
effective in the field and allow you to fully enjoy the
game or event based on my own experiences! It’s
a system that’s worked for me all over the world in
outdoor adventures, and one that I’ve transferred to
airsoft by adding in some basic tactical doctrine.
At the end of the day though practising this
outside an airsoft game can be huge fun, a chance
to be with your mates in perhaps a stunning
environment that also lets you learn the skills you
need in a quieter way, and lets you get your kit and
admin nailed before you need it when the BBs could
be flying!
My thanks go to Bjorn and the crew for the
images used here… one day I WILL get to go and
play alongside him in the snow! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 41

THE CAGE
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
THE CAGE:
SO HERE IT IS,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
AS WE GET EVER CLOSER TO THE SEASON OF GOOD CHEER THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
ARE GOING UP AGAIN AT AA HQ, AND WE’LL BE HANGING UP OUR STOCKINGS HOPING FOR
SOME AIRSOFT GOODNESS TO ARRIVE FROM “TACTICAL SANTA! THIS MONTH IN THE CAGE WE
THOUGHT WE’D AGAIN HAVE A LITTLE FUN, SO BILL GOT TOGETHER WITH THE LEGION AS USUAL
TO ASK THEM WHAT WAS ON THEIR LETTER TO THE BIG BEARDY BLOKE!
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THE CAGE
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
2022 has been the start of things for all of us
again, hasn’t it? We’ve at last come through
the pandemic that dimmed our ability to play
airsoft, although perhaps not our enthusiasm for
our beloved game; there are still restrictions in place
around the globe, but games of all shapes and
sizes are most well and truly back as a fixture on all
our calendars, and for that we should all be truly
grateful!
Due to me taking over fully at the “editorial helm”
of Airsoft Action, 2022 has been a bit of a “head
down” year, and sadly that has meant I haven’t got
out to all the games and events as much as I would
truly wish to. It’s vitally important to me that all of
us at Airsoft Action are active players, so I am really
looking forward to getting to some games both
at home and abroad in 2023! As I’ve said many
times before I am lucky in that I have some private
woodland where I test new AEGs and GBBs each
and every month, and there that I can sling BBs to
my heart’s content, but ultimately there is nothing
like getting out with my friends and getting in some
proper skirmishing, is there?
But things have moved on, and Airsoft Action has
moved on too, and will continue to do so! The team
as a whole has put in a massive amount of effort to
improve what we do every single month, and with
new members of The Legion coming on board our
global coverage will continue to grow. Our daily
online news presence also continues to enlarge in
scope, and there are plans for the coming year to
increase the tempo of our coverage into some new
formats… just like in-game, if you stay still, you’re
dead, so we keep forging forwards! We hope to
further extend our regular online coverage, but
again, that’s a story for another time… suffice to say
that I want to cement Airsoft Action at the top of the
heap in the New Year.
www.airsoftaction.net 45

THE CAGE
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Everyone in the airsoft industry and player
community worldwide has been massively supportive,
and once again I hope that the work we’ve done in
2022 has proved that Airsoft Action is now set to
push on even further in 2023! With MOA, SHOT, and
IWA all ahead of us (at the time I write this) there will
again be new AEGs and GBBs to be shot, old ones to
reflect back on, new tech to be evaluated, gear to be
tested, events to attend, games to be played, and we
will be reporting on as much of it as we possibly can!
My thanks go out to every single one of the tens
of thousands of you that read Airsoft Action every
month, and follow us online… without you we
wouldn’t be pushing on again, and we hope that
without us you’d be missing a very valuable airsoft
resource that’s insightful, entertaining and above all,
honest.
But let’s get to it! What do the members of the AA
Legion really, really want for Christmas apart from
surviving WHAMAGEDDON? I know there’s a couple
of bits I would dearly love to see wrapped under the
tree, but after many moons playing and building my
airsoft armoury my needs are few! For me the best
pressie has already arrived in the shape of something
new from VORSK which I already love to bits and will
be talking about in January, along with the VFC M110
which is utterly wonderful! I’m STILL hoping for a nice
wood kit to really finish off my A&K PKM (still!), and
some more VORSK gas would be nice as I seem to be
spending more and more time using gas platforms!
Ultimately though I am looking forward to seeing as
many of The Legion and Red Cell as possible in person
this year as we can gather freely again, catching up
with old friends, and spending some real quality time
with my wife and dog… no doubt I will be putting in
my usual, and now traditional, Boxing Day session at
“the range in the woods”, and I will most certainly be
looking forward to all the airsoft adventures that 2023
holds…
and the Elves have to prevent the toys getting to the
sleighs!
Stewbacca: New boots, probably the top of my
list! My venerable Lowas have become vulnerable
Lowas given the lack of tread left on large swathes
of their soles, now worn to a polished flat by their
constant use. Trying to find footwear in UK13 sizes
was difficult enough in the UK. Taiwan? Not. Likely.
Everything has to be care-packaged over. Or carried
during emigration or visits.
Ben: I’d probably like £50 worth of BB’s as the
minigun likes to spit them out and I’d put any other
monies towards a bigger airtank haha!
Björn: A shortdot scope would be nice. But not
sure if the “Christmas Budget” covers the range of
scopes I’m looking at…
Miguel: Nothing fancy, but a tactical wallet would
be good! Since mine is old and coming apart now!
Bill W-R: All I want for Christmas this year is for
all the needed paperwork to be signed so I can reveal
what is happening!
Dan: Under a $150... hmm, I don’t think that will
quite afford me an HPA fill station lol! I really am
just looking forward to having a laid back Christmas
spending it with the wife and kids. It will be my
youngest son’s first Christmas, so he’s going to be
losing his ever-loving mind at all the presents he’s
about to destroy!
Jimmy: This year I am looking forward to Christmas
in my own home as last Christmas we didn’t have
one. There are lots of airsoft related items that I desire
but I shall just be happy to spend Christmas day with
my lovely wife as this year she doesn’t have to work…
certain things money can’t buy.
So, in closing, from all of us at Airsoft Action to all
of you out there we wish you a Happy and Peaceful
Christmas, and we look forward to meeting even
more of you in 2023! AA
FESTIVE TEAM TALK!
So, at this happiest time of the year I gathered a
festive table of good cheer from The members of
The Legion, and asked them “What would you like
to find Santa has left you for airsoft underneath your
Christmas Tree? Is it a new AEG or GBB, some gucci
tacticool gear, or simply a bag of BBs? Or are we all
just wishing for World Peace like Gracie? Max $150
bucks…”
Boycie: I’d really like a ticket to a game day (where
my mates are also attending) where it’s Santa’s v Elves
game and strict costume rules apply. The Santa’s have
to breach the North Pole toy store to fill their sleighs
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RED CELL
FALKLANDS 40
RED CELL
FALKLANDS 40
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RED CELL
FALKLANDS 40
TO END 2022 BILL BRINGS IN A VERY SPECIAL EDITION OF RED CELL AS HE LOOKS BACK TO THE
FALKLANDS WAR OF 1982, A YEAR THAT IS FIXED IN HIS MEMORY AND WILL BE FOREVER MORE,
AND SUGGESTS A SELECTION OF FABULOUS AEGS AND GBBS THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR BOTH
RE-ENACTMENT, “FALKLANDS INSPIRED” STYLE GAMES, OR INDEED ANY GAMES WITH A 1980’S
THEME!
SOME IMAGES USED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE TAKEN FROM VARIOUS PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCES
www.airsoftaction.net 49

RED CELL
FALKLANDS 40
I
thought it would be remiss of Airsoft Action not to
bring in a “special” as 2022 is the 40th Anniversary
of the Falklands War, a conflict that pitched
thoroughly modern forces against one another in a
barren and windswept AO far from home for both!
The operations during this short but bitter war have
of course become legend; the skirmish at Top Malo
House, South Georgia, the Pebble Island Raid, the
tragedies of Bluff Cove and Goose Green, and of
course the battles for Wireless Ridge, Longdon and
Tumbledown.
As always I will avoid the politics of the conflict,
but let us remember that the war itself involved
young men not much older than many of you reading
this, and it most certainly crystallised public opinion
in both countries! The pictures of the Agrupación
de Comandos Anfibios (Argentinian commandos)
with their blackened faces, FAL PARAs, suppressed
Sterlings (and possibly even the odd Uzi!) organising
the surrender of Naval Party 8901 at Government
House caused abject horror and disgust in the UK as
the Argentinian flag was hoisted in place of the Union
Jack.
That image has stuck with me to this day, as of
course the Sterling SMG was a British Army weapon
and the FAL was basically the SLR, models that I knew
intimately from cadet range days, and it somehow
added insult to injury that the Argentinian forces were
using the self-same things to herd British sailors and
Marines into captivity. As I found out in later years the
Sterling was just one of the weapon systems that the
opposing forces shared, and much has been written
about a war where opponents faced each other with
exactly the same platforms, albeit the full-auto FAL for
the Argentinians and the semi-auto SLR for the Brits.
Of course time moves on, and even though there
is still bitterness amongst some of the former soldiers
who fought in 1982 which I totally understand, a
good few years back in 2007 a good friend of mine
arranged a private “Falklands Game” for select invited
players to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the
fighting (where have the years gone?). Amongst those
invited were a number of Falklands veterans who
were all too keen to get stuck in again with their fairly
new STAR L1A1 SLRs, but somehow it devolved to me
to provide the OPFOR (strange that…) and I started
collecting airsoft versions of all the weapons used in
the conflict from both sides!
BATTLE RIFLES
The L1A1 SLR was a British variant of the Belgian FN
FAL battle rifle, produced under licence. The L1A1 can
trace its lineage back to the Allied Rifle Committee of
the 1950s, whose intention was to introduce a single
rifle and cartridge that would serve as standard issue
for all NATO countries. The UK thought that if they
adopted the Belgian FAL and the American 7.62 NATO
cartridge that the United States would do the same,
and adopted the L1A1 as a standard issue rifle in
1954. Of course, we know that the Americans went
their own sweet way with the M14…
The L1A1 SLR incorporated
modifications developed by the
Allied Rifle Committee, and the
weapons were manufactured
by the Royal Small Arms Factory
Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms,
Royal Ordnance Factory and ROF
Fazakerley; after the production run
ceased, replacement components
were made by Parker Hale Limited.
The SLR was designed using Imperial
measurements and included several
changes from the standard FN FAL. A
significant change from the original
FAL was that the L1A1 operated in
“I WILL AVOID THE POLITICS OF THE CONFLICT, BUT LET US REMEMBER THAT THE
WAR ITSELF INVOLVED YOUNG MEN NOT MUCH OLDER THAN MANY OF YOU READING
THIS, AND IT MOST CERTAINLY CRYSTALLISED PUBLIC OPINION IN BOTH COUNTRIES!”
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RED CELL
FALKLANDS 40
semi-automatic mode only, the MOD stating that
every British rifleman was a trained marksman and
would only take single, well aimed shots, and that
support weapons such as the L4A1 LMG and L7A1
GPMG would provide significant fully automatic fire as
needed.
The first run of the rifles were fitted with walnut
furniture, consisting of the pistol grip, forward
handguard, carrying handle and butt. The wood was
treated with oil to protect it from moisture, but not
varnished or polished. Later production weapons were
produced with synthetic Maranyl furniture, a
nylon and fiberglass composite. The Maranyl
parts were “stippled” with an anti-slip texture.
In addition to four lengths of butt, sized to
suit individual users, there was also a special
short butt designed for use with Arctic clothing
or flak jackets such as those regularly seen in
Northern Ireland. After the introduction of the
Maranyl furniture, as extra supplies became
available it was retrofitted to older rifles as they
underwent armourers maintenance, and this
resulted in a mixture of wooden and Maranyl
furniture within units and often on the same
rifle. Wooden furniture was still in use in some
reserve units until 1989.
My current airsoft L1A1 is an ARES, and
these thankfully are commonly available, but
this is not the first time that a replica of the
SLR has been seen in airsoft form as some
years ago both King Arms and the STAR
Airsoft company issued a classic,
semi-auto only version of it with
synthetic furniture; in fact if you visit
the STAR website you’ll still find a
picture of the original model there! I
was lucky enough to buy one of the
originals and even then it felt as if I
were returning to a younger life; my
original is still with me to this day,
although currently inoperable. A word
of warning; the airsoft SLR does not
open as the real thing does around
the central pin behind the magazine
well, and if you try to do this you’ll
shatter the nozzle and damage the
hop-up unit! Note to self; do not let
non-airsoft savvy squaddie mates get their hands on
your SLR as parts are still hard to come by!
STAR however, fragmented, and the SLR models
became increasingly rare; many were tucked away
in private collections not to see any airsoft action
whatsoever. However in 2010 ARES Airsoft came into
being (the AR in ARES is actually the same as in STAR
just so you know…) and in December 2016 I finally
got my hands on one of their “new” SLRs, and oh
boy, it was an early Xmas for me! Some comment has
“THE MARANYL PARTS WERE “STIPPLED” WITH AN ANTI-SLIP TEXTURE. IN ADDITION
TO FOUR LENGTHS OF BUTT, SIZED TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL USERS, THERE WAS ALSO A
SPECIAL SHORT BUTT DESIGNED FOR USE WITH ARCTIC CLOTHING OR FLAK JACKETS
SUCH AS THOSE REGULARLY SEEN IN NORTHERN IRELAND.”
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FALKLANDS 40
been made that the ARES SLR is slightly under-length;
the real rifle came in at 1143mm/45inches and the
replica is 1140mm/44.5inches so you’re going to have
to be a total “stitch-bitch” to hold this against the
ARES!
Other than this the replica SLR is EXACTLY as I
remember it from my youth. A real SLR weighs in at
4.33kg/9.56lbs empty and the ARES at 3.790g/8.35lbs
unloaded, so that again is not far off either. Externally
the SLR is stunningly finished, and everything that
should be metal is; the top cover is steel whilst the
remainder is a high-quality zinc alloy. The “Maranyl”
furniture is faithfully reproduced and feels great in the
hand, and given the fact that the SLR is unconcerned
with rail systems or add-ons it’s beautifully minimalist
and slimline. Internally you have a reinforced metal
gearbox, full steel gear set and a high torque flat
motor so nothing there is going to let you down
either!
In terms of performance I the 120 BB midcap
magazine that comes with the rifle is
perfect for its intended use, and the
battery compartment in the butt holds
even the largest of power packs, and is
easily and swiftly accessed. Running on
.20g RZR BBs I get a healthy average of
1.24Joule/366fps, a little lower than I’d
hoped for, but respectable nonetheless.
The rotary hop-up adjuster underneath
the faux-bolt is extremely easy to set,
and happily stays that way; I am very,
very pleased to report that the accuracy
and performance is absolutely first rate;
this thing shoots like a laser!
Although I own a number of RIFs that
are completely correct for the 1980’s
the FAL has never been a rifle in airsoft
form that I’ve liked to date. King Arms
did a wonderful job of recreating the
classic battle rifle as an AEG in terms of
appearance (in fact they made a family
of different FAL variants, and thankfully
do so again), but I always found them
to be fragile things. Of course I own
one of them, a PARA model, but thanks
to my good friend Ray at VFC I’m now
the proud owner of their wonderful GBBR version so
ably reviewed by Stewbacca and that is as solid as an
airsoft rifle can be! If you want the lowdown on the
VFC FAL then I will direct you to Issue 143 which is
available in our Back Issues section on the website.
In terms of the real rifle though, online sources tell
me:
“The FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger), is a battle
rifle designed by Dieudonné Saive and Ernest Vervier
and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal (FN
Herstal). During the Cold War it was adopted by many
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries,
with the notable exception of the United States. It is
one of the most widely used rifles in history, having
been used by more than 90 countries.”
My initial search for an airsoft variant coincided
with the sadly now-defunct Southern Airsoft Boot
Fair where I laid my hands on an old King Arms FAL
with a battery and four Mid-Cap magazines for £100
...bargain! The FAL, though perfectly functional, had
“THE REPLICA SLR IS EXACTLY AS I REMEMBER IT FROM MY YOUTH. A REAL
SLR WEIGHS IN AT 4.33KG/9.56LBS EMPTY AND THE ARES AT 3.790G/8.35LBS
UNLOADED, SO THAT AGAIN IS NOT FAR OFF EITHER. EXTERNALLY THE SLR IS
STUNNINGLY FINISHED, AND EVERYTHING THAT SHOULD BE METAL IS; THE TOP COVER
IS STEEL WHILST THE REMAINDER IS A HIGH-QUALITY ZINC ALLOY.”
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FALKLANDS 40
obviously seen a long and hard “service life”; a “Para
Carbine” version with the side-folding metal stock, it
had definitely seen a few airsoft battles! Thankfully
the internals proved to be in fine form; although the
FAL looked a bit rough externally what the gearbox
told me was that it hadn’t actually been used that
much; my chance purchase actually began to look like
even more of a bargain. After a complete strip-down
and rebuild where I tightened everything up both
internally and strengthened a few parts externally,
thanks to some “horse trading” and a little forward
thinking this entire project has cost me no more than
UK£250 including some additional mid-cap magazines
(I’m still searching for the elusive hi-cap!), and I’ve
ended up with a very solid, and in my mind, highly
attractive, Falklands-era correct carbine that performs
very nicely.
As far as Argentine rifles go, the different models of
the FAL are basically it, but from a “Brit” perspective
you have a little more choice as the M16 was
used extensively by The Royal Marines and more
specialised units. There really is a LOT of history
behind the M16 which I won’t go into here again,
but for any airsofter having an early model in the
collection really does encompass many eras and
conflicts. Yes, of course it can be used for Vietnam
themed games, but it also would be pretty correct
for Cold War and Falkland War scenarios too.
I’ve seen many manufacturers have a crack at an
early “M16” only to be let down by silly things like
using the wrong pistol grip or handguard slip ring;
although such things will only be noticed by a true
“stitch bitch” once you see, you just can’t un-see!
The CYMA CM.009C rather pleasingly follows an
original-ish feature set down to the smallest detail; it
truly is a work of art and no little research has gone
into getting things right, and at a great price too!
The CM.009C is fully made of good quality alloy,
with only the pistol grip, butt, and handguard being
made of a very nice matt black plastic. The metal
parts, rather than just being a shoddily painted black
are a deep black and grey mix. There are absolutely
no trademarks so it’s a blank canvas for the reenactor.
Internally things are no less impressive. The hopup
adjustment is exactly where you would expect
it to be, behind the fake bolt which is accessed by
pulling back the charging handle; this benefits from
the now-common “hold back” function that means
the cover stays to the rear until you hit the bolt
release which can be fun in game! The hop is a solid
metal unit, and once set stays steadfastly in place.
The rifle also benefits from CYMA’s new E-EDITION
configuration that can handle higher-strength springs,
and also ensures a super-snappy trigger response; this
has been achieved thanks to the new, more durable
gearbox parts such as a V2 gearbox with quick spring
change system, a steel gear set with 8mm steel
bushings and bearing spring guide, married up neatly
to a high torque neodymium motor and processor
unit with built-in MOSFET system. This really is an
impressive rifle, not just for the money as it’s a steal
in my opinion and even on a 7.4V though it really
does crack away; bear in mind that most periodthemed
airsoft games will have strict ammo limits and
you’re going to want to stick on semi-auto anyway.
“I’VE SEEN MANY MANUFACTURERS HAVE A CRACK AT AN EARLY “M16” ONLY TO BE
LET DOWN BY SILLY THINGS LIKE USING THE WRONG PISTOL GRIP OR HANDGUARD
SLIP RING; ALTHOUGH SUCH THINGS WILL ONLY BE NOTICED BY A TRUE “STITCH
BITCH” ONCE YOU SEE, YOU JUST CAN’T UN-SEE!”
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FALKLANDS 40
ARES L1A1 SLR
Price: iro UK£470.00 (£560.00 Wood Version)
Age: Three Years
Weight: 3900g
Length: 1160mm
Magazine Capacity: 120, Hi-cap available
Cold Chrono: 1.24Joule/366fps
Hot Chrono: 1.31Joule/377fps
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW (but a bayonet is
better!)
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk
ARES L42A1
Price: iro UK£650.00 (with No32 Optic Replica)
Age: New
Weight: 4385g
Length: 1140mm
Magazine Capacity: 35
Cold Chrono: 1.65 Joule/422fps
Hot Chrono: 1.65 Joule/422fps
Suppressor Compatibility: No
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk
CYMA CM.009C MOSFET EDITION (M16)
Price: iro UK£280.00
Age: One Year
Weight: 2640g
Length: 998mm
Magazine Capacity: 160, will accept all STANAG/AR
Cold Chrono: 109 Joule/344fps
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
CYMA CM.009D MOSFET EDITION
Price: iro UK£190.00
Age: One Year
Weight: 2520g
Length: 770mm
Magazine Capacity: 320, will accept all STANAG/AR
Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
S&T STERLING L2
Price: iro UK£320.00
Age: Four Years
Weight: 2850g
Length: 490 - 680mm
Magazine Capacity: 110 and that’s your lot!
Cold Chrono: 1.06Joule/339fps
Hot Chrono: 1.06Joule/339fps
Suppressor Compatibility: Nil!
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk
S&T STERLING L34
Price: iro UK£400.00
Age: Four Years
Weight: 3280g
Length: 675mm/875mm
Magazine Capacity: 110, still 110!
Cold Chrono: 1.06Joule/339fps
Hot Chrono: 1.06Joule/339fps
Taclite Compatibility: Nope!
Suppressor Compatibility: Integrated Suppressor
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk
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FALKLANDS 40
VFC LAR GBBR (FAL)
Price: iro UK£650.00
Age: New
Weight: 3950g
Length: 1095mm
Magazine Capacity: 20
Cold Chrono: 1.49 Joule/401fps (semi only)
Hot Chrono: 1.64 Joule/421fps (semi only)
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.vegaforce.com
KING ARMS FN FAL
Price: iro UK£300.00
Age: Old!
Weight: 3300g
Length: 970mm (“Para” variant)
Magazine Capacity: 90, Hi-cap available
Cold Chrono: 1.0 Joule/328fps
Hot Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps
Taclite Compatibility: Nope.
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
TOKYO MARUI UZI
Price: iro UK£200.00 (original price!)
Age: VERY OLD!
Weight: 1800g
Length: 470/655 mm
Magazine Capacity: 40 (220 Hi-caps were available)
Cold Chrono: 0.63 Joule/262fps
Hot Chrono: 0.64 Joule/264fps
Taclite Compatibility: Hmmmm, possibly not.
Suppressor Compatibility: VERY dedicated!!!
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
ICS M3 (P.A.M.)
Price: iro UK£320.00
Age: Four Years
Weight: 2370g
Length: 587-763mm
Magazine Capacity: 430
Cold Chrono: 0.89 Joule/311fps
Hot Chrono: 0.89 Joule/311fps
Suppressor Compatibility: Nada!
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
WE AIRSOFT BROWNING HI POWER
Price: iro £140.00
Age: New
Weight: 580g
Length: 200mm
Magazine Capacity: 20+1
Cold Chrono: 0.73 Joule/281fps
Hot Chrono: 0.74 Joule/283fps
Holster Compatibility: Good (1958 Pattern Style)
Suppressor Compatibility: No
Available From: www.nuprol.com
WE AIRSOFT 1911A1
Price: iro £90.00
Age: 10 years!
Weight: 1200g
Length: 218mm
Magazine Capacity: 15+1
Cold Chrono: 0.71 Joule/278fps
Hot Chrono: 0.71 Joule/278fps
Holster Compatibility: Good (US Style)
Suppressor Compatibility: No
Available From: www.nuprol.com
www.airsoftaction.net 55

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FALKLANDS 40
The trigger is crisp and responsive. The metal 160 BB
magazine is the short type first issued and feeds well.
There’s a very famous artists impression of a
“Pebble Island Raid” SAS Trooper using an XM177E2,
but to me at least it is still unclear if that particular
weapon was in fact ever really used in the Falklands;
one thing that I have learned from the Living History
community though, is “never say never”, so if you
already have an XM then go for it! But thankfully
there IS a model, again in the CYMA “period
range” that I find REALLY interesting, and that’s the
CM.009D. This is an unusual carbine in that it looks
nothing more than an XM with a longer barrel, but
if you’re a gun bunny like me then it’s going to jump
out as the Model 653/4! This was the final “all A1
Component” model in the Colt 600 Series, and the
second carbine model created with the now almoststandard
14.5 inch barrel. This model was almost
exclusively used by USSF, the Rangers and USN SEALs
although there are couple of instances where it can be
seen in use by UK Forces too!
Shown in various uniform reference books for
the Falklands War, there’s a picture of a splendid
chap called Hugh McManners, author of the book
“Falklands Commando” and who was among the first
of the British
Special Forces
to land on
the Falkland
Islands… and
he’s carrying
what is usually
referred to
as a “Colt
Commando”
but is to the
best of my
knowledge a
Model 653/4.
The British
Forces, such
as the Royal
Marines liked
the “M16”
series (in
reality more
likely to be Colt export models such as the 711 and
715), as did the SAS from their time in the jungles
of Borneo, so it would make sense that McManners
as a member of 148 (Meiktila) Commando
Forward Observation Battery and who I believe was
predominantly a forward controller for both the SAS
and SBS in the Falklands, would have carried a ligther
carbine version from the same family… so, well done
CYMA!
SMG
Going back to earlier “Falkland-inspired” games,
whilst it was relatively easy for the “Brits” to throw
on some DPM, a set of ’58, and grab their SLR things
were a bit different for the “OPFOR”, but we settled
in the main for plain green trousers, black hi-leg
boots, Israeli parkas, and M1 helmets with a mishmash
of largely US webbing thrown in, as even then
the TEMPEX gear was hard to find! The obvious rifle
choice for us was the King Arms FAL PARA, but as
I also wanted to bring in some “commandos” and
the Sterling was not easy to get hold of at the time, I
looked around for another SMG that had been used
and in found many references to the “P.A.M. 2”. To
cut a long story short, the “P.A.M. 2” basically started
life in 1954 as a variant of the U.S. M3A1 submachine
gun. It was “redesigned” at the Argentine FMAP
(Fábrica Militar de Armas Portátiles) factory and put
into production the following year as the P.A.M. 1
(Pistola Ametrelladora Modelo 1).
Made of thinner-gauge steel than the “Grease
Gun”, the P.A.M. 1 was rather bizarrely a 7/8 scale
replica (see, it’s not just airsoft companies that do
this!) of the U.S. weapon in 9mm Parabellum calibre
but of course was lighter and had a higher rate of fire.
In service, the P.A.M. 1’s thinner sheet steel receiver
tended to overheat with extended firing, while the
gun itself proved more difficult to control in automatic
fire despite the smaller calibre. Problems with
accidental discharges and accuracy with the P.A.M. 1
led to an improved selective-fire version with a grip
safety on the magazine housing known as the P.A.M.
2, first introduced in 1963. Known by the troops as
“La Engrasadora” or “the Greaser”, 47,688 P.A.M.
1 and P.A.M. 2 submachine guns were produced
“THERE’S A VERY FAMOUS ARTISTS IMPRESSION OF A “PEBBLE ISLAND RAID” SAS
TROOPER USING AN XM177E2, BUT TO ME AT LEAST IT IS STILL UNCLEAR IF THAT
PARTICULAR WEAPON WAS IN FACT EVER REALLY USED IN THE FALKLANDS; ONE
THING THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM THE LIVING HISTORY COMMUNITY THOUGH IS
“NEVER SAY NEVER”, SO IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN XM THEN GO FOR IT! ”
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FALKLANDS 40
between 1955 and 1972. A number of P.A.M. 1
and P.A.M. 2 submachine guns were used by the
Argentine Army during the Falkland Islands War, and
captured examples were tested by British forces; some
of these now reside as part of the permanent display
in the Imperial War Museum in London.
For many reasons, as well as remembering that
the “P.A.M. 2” had been used by the Argentinian
Forces in 1982, when ICS released their “Grease
Gun” it was immediately on my “must have” list. The
ICS M3 submachine gun is a great addition to their
WW2 family of airsoft guns, and of course stands in
brilliantly for an Argentinian P.A.M. 2! The M3 was
designed by ICS from scratch with careful
attention to detail and quality, and their M3
features a steel strip adjustable stock that
has two settings and the magazine catch
and simple sights are manufactured from
metal stamping. The finish on the majority
of the alloy-bodied replica is a matt black
paint, which is totally in keeping with the
‘cheapness’ of the real thing!
The build quality is actually excellent, and
everything is metal that would be on the
original, barring the ‘bolt cover’. The body is
aluminium rather than steel which is actually
a plus for weight and rusting issues as mine
is mostly held “on display”. Compared to
what we’re used to with modern models, the
controls are minimalist; there’s the magazine
release which is very positive, and the
cocking lever on the right side of the action
functions to open the fake bolt and allow
access to the M4 style HOP, decompress the
spring and act as the safety. It’s full auto only
(unlike the P.A.M. 2 ), so it’s the ideal tool for
sweeping and clearing. However, sites that
operate a single shot only rule in very close
contact will mean you need to swap out to a
sidearm in that type of situation. It chrono’s
at 0.89 Joule/311fps on a .20g BB and offers
great range, and despite the short barrel
it’s more than a match for most guns in the
woods and definitely good for CQB where
full-auto is allowed.
One model of SMG I have never managed
to find in airsoft form is the PA-3 DM, but
to give another period-correct airsoft option with a
albeit a somewhat tenuous link I picked up a an S&T
Beretta M12; this was somewhat shunned by the
Italian military, but it did however find favour amongst
buyers across Latin America who lined up to get their
hands on the sleek Italian SMG! S&T did a REALLY
bang-on job in replicating this iconic little SMG, and
although they’re now quite hard to find once you
have one in your hands you can immediately feel
just why it was so sought after! The design, with the
forward pistol grip feels most distinctly “modern”,
and if you’re used to using a CQB-length AR it will
“ONE MODEL OF SMG I HAVE NEVER MANAGED TO FIND IN AIRSOFT FORM IS THE
PA-3 DM, BUT TO GIVE ANOTHER PERIOD-CORRECT AIRSOFT OPTION WITH A ALBEIT
A SOMEWHAT TENUOUS LINK I PICKED UP A AN S&T BERETTA M12; THIS WAS
SOMEWHAT SHUNNED BY THE ITALIAN MILITARY, BUT IT DID HOWEVER FIND FAVOUR
AMONGST BUYERS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA”
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FALKLANDS 40
feel very, very natural. The fire-selector on the right
of the receiver and directly above the trigger is also
familiar in this respect, although the angles for “Safe,
semi, and Auto” are slightly different.
All parts that should be metal are metal apart from
the pistol grip group and this gives the S&T M12 a
real “heft”, weighing in as it does at 2.2670kg; to
give an indication the real M12 weighs 3.0kg so this is
pretty good in replica terms. The airsoft version comes
in at 411mm (stock folded)/660mm (stock open)
as opposed to 418mm/645mm so once again it’s a
pretty good representation. S&T use their own “M12S
gearbox” which I’m told can be a little tricky to work
on (just like their Sterling!) but a simple short axle
motor. The hop-up is of the rotary type and located
under the cover of the ejection port which is accessed
by pulling back the cocking handle as normal. The
M12 is designed for use with a 7.4V LiPo which is
tucked away neatly in the forward pistol grip and
accessed by sliding a catch on the base forward.
When all is said and done the S&T M12 is a right
little lovely, fits in with my “OPFOR theme”, and I have
to say that I was really pleased to finally got my hands
on one. A big bonus is that it shares magazines, a 50
BB model as standard, with both the MP40 and STEN
so if you already have either of those you can share
mags between models; that also means of course that
there’s a 300 BB model available for just over a tenner
if you search round!
I mentioned it in passing earlier, and the Uzi for me
is one of the “must have” airsoft replicas out there
as it genuinely is such an iconic firearm; the very first
Uzi submachine gun was designed by Major Uziel Gal
in the late 1940s, and the prototype was finished in
1950. First introduced to IDF Special Forces in 1954,
the weapon was placed into general issue two years
later. Now there are some very hazy images of what
appears to be the Uzi in the hands of the specialist
Argentinian Buzo Tactico (literal translation “Tactical
Divers”) in the Falklands, but of course that could
have been the PA-3 DM… but hey, it’s airsoft, and I
love the TM Uzi!
Introduced at the back end of 1998, the TM Uzi
was a long-awaited replica that proved an immediate
hit with airsofters around the globe. With an
EG1000R motor, and a completely unique V5 gearbox
and piston design, the Uzi also offered a small amount
of recoil/blowback vibration for added realism which
TM christened “the recoil shock system. Metal parts
include the upper receiver, muzzle, trigger, magazine
release, cocking lever, and folding stock; the stock
itself is an absolute work of art, functioning exactly
like the real thing, and is surprisingly solid if not
exactly comfortable once it’s deployed. The plastic
parts are made up of what back in
1998 was the revolutionary “PCV
Engineer Plastic” which is highly
durable; in fact if I look at my Uzi
today the plastic parts have actually
aged better than the metal!
So, is the old TM Uzi still any
good as a skirmisher I hear you ask?
Well, as a CQB tool it’s absolutely
ideal as just like the real thing it
comes with semi and full auto
functionality; it also has a working
grip safety which means even if you
have it off safe it still won’t fire until
you depress this. It’s relatively lowpowered
at just 0.55 Joule/245fps
on a .20g BB, so again just perfect
for CQB as it’s also super-accurate.
With a relatively low power output
“THE UZI FOR ME IS ONE OF THE “MUST HAVE” AIRSOFT REPLICAS OUT THERE AS
IT GENUINELY IS SUCH AN ICONIC FIREARM; THE VERY FIRST UZI SUBMACHINE GUN
WAS DESIGNED BY MAJOR UZIEL GAL IN THE LATE 1940S, AND THE PROTOTYPE WAS
FINISHED IN 1950.”
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FALKLANDS 40
and a short
244mm
inner barrel
you’d
probably
be thinking
that when
it comes
to outdoor
games
things
would go a
little south,
but I can
absolutely
assure you
that this is
by no means
the case!
Admitted,
you’re not
ever going
to get the range of even a half-way decent modern
M4 but I’ve taken scalps out to 30 meters plus with
it, so it’s no lightweight; in the close confines of the
fern-beds we often encountered in- game it was
absolutely, 100% the right tool for the job.
The Sterling of course is rather better known to
most of us! Based on the Patchett machine carbine
first produced in the 1940s, the Sterling
L2A1/C1 first entered service with the
British and Canadian forces in 1953,
and was produced in the UK by the
Dagenham based Sterling Armament
Company. The Royal Ordnance
Factories also manufactured the
Sterling purely for the British Forces,
and over 400,000 were produced.
Going through minor modifications
the L2A2, and finally L2A3 had a long
and distinguished service career until it
was finally phased out in 1994 when
the L85A1 was fully introduced. There
was also a suppressed version of the
Sterling, the L34A1, which was used to
some effect by the ASASR and NZSAS
during the Vietnam War, and in this context, by the
Argentinians!
The S&T Sterlings (both standard and suppressed)
are very true to the original and this has been
cleverly achieved. S&T Airsoft make use of many high
quality parts in putting the Sterling together, and
internally the cylinder looks very familiar although
discreet changes have obviously been made. The
battery is housed in the rear of the Sterling and the
compartment is easily accessed by simply popping
off the rear end-cap with the stock folded; it’s a small
space and I can see why this will have been a problem
before LiPo batteries; the battery compartment
accommodates up to an 80mm long and 30mm wide
battery so something like the NP Power 1200mah 7.4v
30c LiPo PEQ15 Micro Type is a perfect match.
Once everything is set up correctly the standard
L2 Sterling is a great to shoot, sending BBs out with
a nice, flat trajectory, which I hadn’t expected from
such a short inner barrel, and the suppressed L34 is
even better! The accuracy of both overall is excellent,
with nice tight groupings achieved out to 25 and
30m on the open sights. The Sterling’s both chrono
at 1.06Joule/339fps now that they’ve settled in which
is perfectly respectable and pretty much site-friendly
everywhere. The standard L2 Sterling is absolutely
perfect as a CQB tool given its short length and the
fact that unlike the older Action Airsoft model it does
have safe and semi settings as well as full auto!
“ONCE EVERYTHING IS SET UP CORRECTLY THE STANDARD L2 STERLING IS A GREAT
TO SHOOT, SENDING BBS OUT WITH A NICE, FLAT TRAJECTORY, WHICH I HADN’T
EXPECTED FROM SUCH A SHORT INNER BARREL, AND THE SUPPRESSED L34 IS EVEN
BETTER!”
www.airsoftaction.net 59

RED CELL
FALKLANDS 40
PISTOLS
Enter one of the
most amazing
gunsmiths to
have lived, John
Moses Browning!
Browning was
an American
firearms designer who developed many varieties
of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and
mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the
world to this day (the M1911 pistol, the water-cooled
M1917, the air-cooled M1919, and M2 machine gun,
the Browning Automatic Rifle, and the Browning
Auto-5 to name just a selection of the best known).
He is rightly regarded as one of the most successful
firearm designers of the 19th and 20th centuries, and
pioneered the development of modern automatic and
semi-automatic firearms.
After testing that started as far back as 1907, the
legendary Colt M1911 was adopted and went on to
serve as the standard-issue sidearm for the United
States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1986. It was
widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean
War, and the Vietnam War, and as the Ballester–
Molina it was carried by the Argentine forces in
the Falklands! Designed and built by the Argentine
company Hispano Argentina Fábrica de Automóviles
SA (HAFDASA), the Ballester–Molina was basically
a cheaper alternative to the “Sistema Colt Modelo
1927”, itself a licensed copy of the Colt M1911A1,
built under the supervision of Colt engineers!
Of course when it comes to period-1911 GBB
pistols then you can take your pick, but mine will
always be the WE “A1”… this fine airsoft pistol
has been with me well over 10 years now and with
some very basic maintenance and a couple of new
magazines shoots just as well (if not better!) than
it did as new. Okay, the slide is a little “loose” and
rattley now, but it shoots well, and has NEVER let me
down. It is not an expensive replica, and mine still
chrono’s at 0.71 Joule/278fps on a .20g, and at up
to 10m it’s accurate as hell… what more could you
want?
And to conclude we come back to John Browning
for UK forces, as following the success of the M1911
Fabrique
Nationale
commissioned him to
design a new military
handgun model. As
he had previously sold
the rights to his M1911
design to Colt’s Patent
Firearms, he was forced
to create another entirely
unique pistol! Browning built two different
prototypes for the project and filed the patent for this
pistol in the United States on 28 June 1923, granted
on 22 February 1927, although sadly he never lived
to see this as he passed away in 1926. By 1934 after
some further tinkering by designer Dieudonné Saive,
the Hi-Power was complete and ready to be produced
in 9mm with the famous 13 round magazine.
The pistol is often referred to as an HP (for “Hi-
Power” or “High-Power”), GP (for the French term,
“Grande Puissance”), BAP (Browning Automatic
Pistol), or BHP (Browning High-Power). The terms P-35
and HP-35 are also used, based on the introduction
of the pistol in 1935; most often though it is simply
known as the “Hi-Power”. It was adopted post-WWII
as the standard service pistol by over 50 armies in 93
countries, and at one time most NATO nations used
it, and it was standard issue to forces throughout the
British Commonwealth, including the British forces
during the Falklands War as the L9.
As I said, In terms of manufacturers you can
really take your pick when it comes to the 1911,
as just like in the “real world” the design is a total
favourite amongst airsofters. Sadly the Hi-Power is
“WHEN IT COMES TO PERIOD-1911 GBB PISTOLS THEN YOU CAN TAKE YOUR PICK, BUT
MINE WILL ALWAYS BE THE WE “A1”… THIS FINE AIRSOFT PISTOL HAS BEEN WITH
ME WELL OVER 10 YEARS NOW AND WITH SOME VERY BASIC MAINTENANCE AND A
COUPLE OF NEW MAGAZINES SHOOTS JUST AS WELL (IF NOT BETTER!) THAN IT DID
AS NEW.”
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JANUARY 2023

RED CELL
FALKLANDS 40
a different story. For one of the most
widely issued and long-serving pistols
ever it’s a tough one to get hold of in
airsoft form! I do own a pair of old
Tanaka “Heavyweight” Hi-Powers, but
sadly these plastic models, although
lovely, have been gifted to Jimmy for
“project work”. WE again produce a
functional Browning but this is of the
“Inglis” Canadian style with the raised
adjustable rear sight; don’t get me
wrong, this is a passable airsoft pistol
but unfortunately for we Brits it’s not an
“L9”.
WE had been teasing us with a model
that was more akin to the “GP-35/
L9” but although this has now become
a reality, it is still not a valid airsoft
skirmish pistol due to ongoing internal
issues (mine is currently languishing
with Jimmy awaiting a rebuild…). I do
find this strange given just how good
their classic 1911 is, and I hope in time
that we can rectify the fundamental
failings of their GBB Browning although
I’m not holding my breath. Luckily
some time back I was able to have my
original WE “Inglis” reworked by Matt
at Skunk Airsoft Works, and this was
also retrofitted with some MOD grips so
it works for my 80’s loadouts, and has
proved to be a workmanlike GBB!
I do hope that someone out there
will make a properly good Browning
L9 Hi Power, and it’s high time that a
manufacturer created another cracking
little Uzi AEG, although props to North
East Airsoft for their GBB version!
The FN MAG/GPMG is doable for the
“support gun lovers” amongst you,
but I have to say I would truly love to see a good
L4A1 LMG as I carried one myself all through my
cadet years! Of course there is now another fabulous
“Falklands Correct” rifle choice for the snipers out
there with the introduction by ARES of their L42A1
that I swooned over in Issue 142 (again available in
Back Issues on the website), and one of these will
most definitely go into my collection in due course!
Bottom line is that 40 years on there are now
far more AEGs and GBBs suitable for a “Falklands
inspired” loadout than ever before… and as VFC have
just dropped their M3 “Charlie G” it looks like there
are thankfully more yet to come! AA
Red Cell is supported by:
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TECHNICAL
ARES ALPHA
INTEGRATED
AIRSOFT
MIGUEL IS BACK AGAIN THIS MONTH TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING QUITE UNIQUE, TECH THAT LETS GAME
ORGANISERS REALLY GET A HANDLE ON ACHIEVING GAME ORGANISATION THAT IS TRULY “NEXT LEVEL”.
HE’S MENTIONED ARES ALPHA BEFORE IN HIS GAME REPORTS, BUT NOW OPENS THE LID ON SOME
LOGISTICS TECH THAT IS SIMPLY STUNNING!
Sometimes a great tool comes along to help
those who organise or command factions in
events. I’ve been in both situations and I know
that any help is welcome, so when Ares Alpha started
appearing in games that I attend I noticed how
useful it was, and so far I’ve seen it being used in
many games that the GHOST’s attend, from smaller
skirmishes to larger, full-on MilSim games.
Having seen this excellent logistics tech in action I
spoke to the people behind Ares Alpha to learn a bit
more about the App and maybe even get a peek into
its future; I ended up speaking with Gabriel and Alex
and they were both enthusiastic to talk about and
very helpful indeed. This is what they had to tell me so
that I could share with you!
AA: For those who don’t know, what is Ares
Alpha?
“Ares Alpha it’s an integrated airsoft platform
which covers both players and event organiser needs.
We have an Android/iOS application, a website and
several electronic props. It brings real-time position
of the players, a hierarchical chain of command,
mission updates from the game organiser, as well as
transmission of information to the team leaders on
the battlefield. The props are fully integrated in Ares
Alpha platform and also can be tracked in real time by
game players.”
AA: What is the main goal of the App?
“Our main goal it’s to bring airsoft games to the
next level of interactivity for the players. As for the
“IT BRINGS REAL-TIME POSITION OF THE PLAYERS, A HIERARCHICAL CHAIN
OF COMMAND, MISSION UPDATES FROM THE GAME ORGANISER, AS WELL AS
TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION TO THE TEAM LEADERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.”
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JANUARY 2023

TECHNICAL
ARES ALPHA
event organisers, we believe Ares Alpha gives the
opportunity to organise events with tons of new
features. Also, large scale events require a very good
management of players and game itself, so Ares
Alpha also covers this part.”
AA: How did Ares Alpha came to be?
“The Ares Alpha story begins in 2019. As airsoft
players and organisers, we tried to bring something
real new to airsoft games. Since we didn’t find any
app or airsoft props to cover our needs, we decided
to give it a try. It started as a small app for our club,
and since the feedback was excellent, we started to
focus on the development. It took us almost a year
to publish it on Android and Apple platforms, but by
the end of 2019 we had an up-and-running airsoft
platform. In 2020 we will also start building electronic
props, fully integrated with the app. Players all over
the world helped us with feedback to improve Ares
Alpha with every upgrade.”
AA: The next question is a 3-staged one. What
can we expect and benefit from Ares Alpha,
first as a player, second as a
faction commander, and lastly
as an organization?
“As a player you can use the
Ares Alpha application to track
your teammates in real time,
objectives and game score. Also,
you can see all battlefield POIs
marked by faction commanders
or game masters, call for medics,
check team points in real time, or
use in-game perks. We are aware
that nobody wants to check
his phone every minute on the
battlefield, so Ares Alpha uses
real time notifications, even for
connected smart bands.
“Team management is a
decisive factor for winning
an airsoft game, especially
in large airsoft events. For
faction commanders, the real
time position of the players is
invaluable information. Ares
Alpha gives the possibility
to organise the teams on
hierarchical levels from General (faction commander),
Company leader, Platoon leader, Squad leader to
simple Soldier. On events with hundreds of players,
generals can filter the Ares Alpha map by ranks, or
search for specific players. Generals can add POI’s
directly on the map to mark zones for attack or
defence; all players from his team will receive real time
notifications with the new orders. Combining this
feature with radio communication gives the general
the upper hand on the battlefield.
“The Event/Game organiser will use the Ares Alpha
platform to create his event in advance. He can create
a custom map for his event, build the teams, add
useful PDF documents for the players or add in-game
perks.
“Perks are very powerful features, and it deserves
a separate article! You can use UAVs, EMPs, points,
cyber thefts, etc. For example, you can add UAVs in
the game to give the possibility for one team to track
enemy positions in real time, or use in-game points to
create a ranking system for the teams and players. The
“AS A PLAYER YOU CAN USE THE ARES ALPHA APPLICATION TO TRACK YOUR
TEAMMATES IN REAL TIME, OBJECTIVES AND GAME SCORE. ALSO, YOU CAN SEE ALL
BATTLEFIELD POIS MARKED BY FACTION COMMANDERS OR GAME MASTERS, CALL
FOR MEDICS, CHECK TEAM POINTS IN REAL TIME, OR USE IN-GAME PERKS.”
www.airsoftaction.net 65

TECHNICAL
ARES ALPHA
organiser can also add or hide new objectives on the
map in real time, to keep the dynamic of the game on
a high level.
“Ares Alpha platform has a module for club
management and players profiles. Clubs can manage
their members, expenses and revenues, or send
invitations to other players. All Ares Alpha users have
their own profile page, where they can add their
replicas, equipment, and general information.
“We are aware that all these features can be
overwhelming in the beginning! This is why we are
working closely with new event organisers on the
first big events. Ares Alpha was used on well-known
events as Bellum or Berget, and the feedback was
really great. We hope that in 2023 we will see Ares
Alpha at as many events as possible!”
AA: How do you plan to develop the system in
other countries?
“Ares Alpha it’s available in all countries for
download, but the available language is only English.
We had a lot of requests to localise it for other
languages and for the future we are taking this into
consideration.”
AA: We have seen some gadgets that work
together with Ares Alpha, tell us about them.
“We have two main electronic props, each with
some variations: ATB (Ares Tactical Box) and ATS (Ares
Target System)
“ATB is a tactical box which can be used as a
stand-alone device, or be fully integrated on the Ares
Alpha app. It comes in two versions, Mini and Pro, the
last one can be used by four teams simultaneously. It
has different game modes: domination mode, bomb
mode or mobile respawn mode. All these game
modes are integrated with Ares Alpha, so players
can check on real time when the bomb was armed,
or a region on the map it’s dominated by a team or
another. Also, each ATB brings points for the teams,
so can be used as a rank system device.
“ATS is an advanced electronic target, which
records all BB’s hits. Like ATB, it has several game
modes, shield mode for a vehicle, domination mode
for a fixed POI, flip mode for fast games, etc. All these
features are reflected on the Ares Alpha app to add
more game interactivity for players. It has magnetic
feet that allow it to be attached to vehicles or other
metallic surfaces.
“All our electronic props come with unique and
helpful features, GPS for tracking on the map, 4G
modem to connect it in real time to the Ares Alpha
platform, and firmware update to add new game
modes, or fix any software bugs. Management of the
props is made directly from the phone.”
AA: What can we expect from you in the near
future?
“On the Ares Alpha application we have a long
backlog for requested features such as waypoints,
maps, chat/text commands from Generals, MGRS
maps, language packs, new perks, and a lot more.
As the 2022 season closes, we will try this winter to
implement as many features as possible.
“As for the electronic props, our lips are sealed,
all we can say it’s that we have been working on
something new for the past few months! Stay tuned,
we promise you will be surprised!”
AA: Thanks so much for talking to us and we
look forward to reporting on developments as
they happen in a future report!
For anyone interested in ARES ALPHA, check out
www.ares-alpha.com! AA
66
JANUARY 2023

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TECHNICAL
XM177 BUILD
OLD SKOOL
COOL...
NEW SKOOL
TRICKS!
IN HIS RED CELL SPECIAL THIS MONTH BILL MENTIONS THE XM177, A CARBINE THAT WAS A VITAL BUILDING
BLOCK IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE M4 THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE TODAY! HOWEVER, DAN HAS
NEVER BEEN TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THE “XM AEGS” ON OFFER FOR AIRSOFT, SO DECIDED TO GO ABOUT
CREATING ONE OF HIS OWN, AND NOW HE SHARES THE DETAILS OF A STUNNING BUILD!
Being a steadfast fan of KWA and their excellent
AEG 2.5 / 3.0 system, one of the things I have
always wished for was a proper fixed carry
handle upper to create some ‘old school’ builds
with the last round cutoff function and recoil. To my
knowledge, this is something KWA has never offered,
even amongst their original G2X series of AEG’s.
While they have had a few carry handle models in
inventory, they are of the more modern detachable
variety, so are therefore unsuitable for replicating older
designs such as the M16A1, A2 and XM177 series -
not to forget other notables like the GAU-5, CAR-15
and Colt 733.
The modding community has come up with some
creative solutions in the past to create fixed carry
handle uppers for the KWA platform. The traditional
method has been to purchase a G&P upper receiver
and cut off the handle flush with the top of the
receiver. The KWA receiver itself is still retained, but
here one will have to remove most of the picatinny
rail, then through a combination of drilling, tapping,
affixing screws and epoxy, mate the G&P carry handle
and KWA upper together. After which, an extensive
amount of sanding is necessary to seamlessly blend
the two components together, finally followed by a
complete refinish of the upper. No small amount of
work, to say the least of it!
I stumbled upon an alternative method completely
by happenstance: one of my customers was
attempting to slide a CYMA XM177E2 upper onto his
KWA VM4A1 lower, which I had previously built in a
“Dissipator” style build for him. Unfortunately he had
firmly gotten it stuck halfway on there and requested
my assistance in removing it and modding it to fit, if
possible. If not, we’d just revert the gun back to the
Dissipator build and call it a day. Once I had the rifle
on my bench, I managed to tap it apart with some
careful prodding with a nylon hammer.
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JANUARY 2023

TECHNICAL
XM177 BUILD
The mock bolt cover was naturally destroyed in
the process, but upon closer look, the CYMA upper
was remarkably close to fitting the KWA lower. There
were just some minor variances to overcome. After
a couple of hours of work, I had managed to mate
the upper and lower together, and even replaced the
mock bolt and had it operating wonderfully. After
this successful venture, the bug was firmly planted
and I was determined to build a complete XM177E2,
a model that I have always been a fan of as an early
version of the now ubiquitous M4.
selected this particular model because it has the
single-side traditional metal selector and standard
charging handle assembly in lieu of the ambidextrous
components found on the newer KWA platforms.
A CYMA XM177E2 was purchased so I could
pull the upper receiver off for the build. It’s a bit
unfortunate that I have to buy a complete rifle to do
this modification, but as a second-hand “boneyard”
donor the CYMA’s are quite affordable and selling the
rest of the unused components off easily recoups the
initial investment made.
On my second iteration, I realized I had made a
little more work for myself than was necessary
when it came to modifying the CYMA upper
to fit. After refining my technique a bit, the
amount of modification required is divided
approximately 50/50 between the upper
and lower receivers, with just a tiny
A TALE OF
TWO AEGS
For the subsequent
build, I selected the
KWA RM4A1 ERG to
use as the base to work
off of. This version uses
the AEG 3.0 gearbox
with the last round cutoff
function and features KWA’s
robust recoil system. I also
bit of material having
to be removed from the top of
the gearbox where the charging
handle spring attaches. Much like
the original KWA upper, the CYMA
receiver has a pair of tabs on the
back that index into the lower
to prevent the assembly from
being able to swing off. In
unmodified form, these tabs
were hitting the back of
the KWA receiver and
preventing things from
fully sliding together.
The easy option would be to thin
down those tabs, but I believe it would
create a weakness and thin tabs would be more
prone to snapping off if the gun was ever dropped or
bumped hard against something, which would result
in having to bin the receiver. Since the lower receiver
“THE MOCK BOLT COVER WAS NATURALLY DESTROYED IN THE PROCESS, BUT UPON
CLOSER LOOK, THE CYMA UPPER WAS REMARKABLY CLOSE TO FITTING THE KWA
LOWER. THERE WERE JUST SOME MINOR VARIANCES TO OVERCOME.”
www.airsoftaction.net 69

TECHNICAL
XM177 BUILD
has a lot of material around the buffer tube area, it
makes more sense to modify this area for clearance
and retain the full strength of the tabs. 30 minutes of
some careful Dremel work and a milling bit whipped it
out and it’s solid as can be!
There is also some extra material inside the upper
that needs to be thinned down so
it will slide over the thicker gearbox
casing the KWA uses; in this case, the
reinforcements on the front of the
gearbox are the main things that need
clearance. As previously mentioned,
there is also a small little tab on the
very tip of the charging handle spring
retainer that needs to be filed off too.
Otherwise this will drag on the inside
of the receiver and make it difficult
to slide the assemblies together. One
thing to note is the KWA charging
handle assembly and mock bolt are
retained, so the CYMA parts will need
to be removed from the upper before
attempting installation.
The only other item that needs
to be addressed is the difference
in thickness of the front lug that the pushpin slides
through. KWA’s lug is a fair bit thicker, so a pair of
shims needs to be epoxied to the lower to fill in the
gap to either side. This will prevent the upper from
being able to be pushed side-to-side otherwise, which
would result in the hop up chamber
getting misaligned. After that, it’s
pretty much ready to have a gearbox
and barrel installed. Overall, the scope
of modifications is significantly easier
and far less time consuming than the
old method.
During the course of modifications,
I elected to change out a few items
from the CYMA upper for some better
components. Namely the delta ring
was swapped to a KWA delta ring.
These are the best looking and best
fitting ones on the market, in my
humble opinion. Oddly, the CYMA
comes fitted with the more modern
larger diameter handguards, such as
would be found on the M4 carbine.
I procured a set of correct real steel
slim-style handguards with heat shields
to replace these. I also switched out
the front handguard retainer with a KWA version,
“ONE THING TO NOTE IS THE KWA CHARGING HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND MOCK BOLT
ARE RETAINED, SO THE CYMA PARTS WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE UPPER
BEFORE ATTEMPTING INSTALLATION.”
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JANUARY 2023

TECHNICAL
XM177 BUILD
though I plan to see about modifying a real version to
fit in its place at some point. These changes all made
for a much more rigid front end and eliminated the
previous handguard wobble that was there with the
CYMA components.
Moving to the back of the gun, a real steel replica
CAR-15 fiber stock from B5 Systems
replaced the CYMA version. I was
hoping to find an original Colt
aluminum stock, but the rarity of this
item and the skyrocketing price on
the secondhand market makes it bit
of a hard pill to swallow. I did retain
the smooth A1 style grip from the
CYMA, which does the job well. I’m
not especially a fan of the A2 grip,
with it’s annoying finger ridge and
sharper angle, but the A1 sits neatly
between reasonably comfortable and
distinctively retro.
There are, of course, some minor
aesthetic discrepancies to be taken
care of still. The buffer tube and the
castle nut would be one of those.
These are a proprietary size unique
to KWA, so the correct type would have to be
manufactured entirely from scratch… which would be
no small expense! Despite a dearth of laser shops here
in the US, I have so far been unable to find a company
willing to take on the task of deep engraving the
lower with proper Colt trades and
markings. KWA’s factory markings
are very minimalistic on this lower, at
least, and it fortunately doesn’t have
the ugly “B.A.M.F.” markings and
skull logo that the CYMA came with.
PERFORMANCE, FIRST AND
ALWAYS!
So with the external side largely
completed, I popped open the
hood of our XM and installed some
performance upgrades next! One of
the things the aftermarket has sadly
neglected to provide for this series
of AEG’s is a proper MOSFET trigger,
or even an ETU. We don’t even have
the luxury of a drop-in Electronic
Trigger Unit from Gate, despite the
ERG system outnumbering Tokyo
Marui’s NGRS by an easy 10:1 in the
US! Typically, an inline-style MOSFET
“I WAS HOPING TO FIND AN ORIGINAL COLT ALUMINUM STOCK, BUT THE RARITY OF
THIS ITEM AND THE SKYROCKETING PRICE ON THE SECONDHAND MARKET MAKES IT
BIT OF A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.”
www.airsoftaction.net 71

TECHNICAL
XM177 BUILD
is your only real option for these, and they have to
be installed in an area that can properly house the
dimensions of the unit. Since the buffer tube on this
gun is entirely consumed by the recoil piston assembly,
and the stock doesn’t have provisions for housing a
battery, this AEG would have to be front-wired. The
slim style hand guards are also limited on battery
space, so this precludes using some of the larger
MOSFET’s such as the Gate WARFET.
Following up on a hunch I’ve had for some years
now, I decided to see about modifying an Acetech
AceMOS MOSFET to fit. This is a simple and reliable
unit that comes pre-installed to a standard Ver. 2
trigger switch. Users familiar with VFC’s Avalon
MOSFET trigger will certainly note the uncanny
resemblance… which perhaps begs the question: who
is supplying who?
In any case, after some careful eyeballing I
determined it could be made to fit the AEG 3.0
gearbox. The KWA trigger switch itself would have to
be retained, as that is proprietary, so I carefully desoldered
the wires from the AceMOS and removed the
PCB board from the Ver. 2 switch. A couple of minor
modifications were necessary to make the board fit
within the space constraints of the shell next, after
which it was glued to the KWA switch housing. I
fashioned a pair of custom trigger contacts so they
could be soldered to the correction locations on the
board. Fortunately the AEG 3.0 gearbox already has
a pass-through hole for front wiring (a carryover from
the old PTS RM4 days) so no shell modifications were
required here. Up where the Tamiya plug end would
sit is a bit of a bulky PCB board that acts as a fuse
holder. This was removed and redone with a Deans
plug and a condensed 30A fuse assembly. There is just
enough room to install an 11.1v 1200mah tri-panel
LiPo in this area still.
Owing to the smaller battery capacity we are
left dealing with, it makes perfect sense to install a
Warhead brushless motor to help this build reduce
amp draw significantly. This will allow it to run cooler
and more efficiently, without stressing the smaller
batteries by exceeding their maximum safe amperage
draw. With the Warhead motor, I was able to reduce
amperage draw to an operating level of just 9.5 amps.
The rest of the gearbox was outfitted with an Angel
Custom Kratos piston, Lonex POM piston head, 70D
AirPad, Lonex cylinder head, Retro Arms CNC air
nozzle and SHS 18.65:1 gears. The proverbial ‘icing
on the cake’ was the addition of a Ulysses recoil kit.
This is a CNC’d steel recoil weight that also features
an adjustable spring guide for fine tuning FPS, very
similar in concept to the VPS system that KWA uses.
This is designed to improve the felt recoil impulse
over the stock assembly; and I will say it does exactly
that! I’ve fitted it with an Eagle6 NGRS M110 spring
to bring the FPS up to nominal US field velocity of just
under 400 FPS.
Since I wanted to be able to use KWA magazines
with the last round cutoff feature, I opted to retain
the stock hop up chamber. This was outfitted with a
Lambda 6.05 stainless steel barrel and R-Hop. While I
would absolutely love to have some actual 20 round
style aluminum midcaps with cutoff capability, no such
options exist. I will have to content myself with the
small handful of KWA ST60’s for now. Unfortunately
these have been long discontinued, so they are pretty
much veritable unicorns now.
While I am not particularly into “NamSoft” and
opportunities to partake of such events are few to
almost non-existent (to the extent that I no longer
own any Vietnam themed kit), this was approached
more as something fun to build and one of those
items I’ve always wanted to scratch off my personal
checklist. This rifle came out phenomenally solid,
and even weighs within a few ounces of the real
XM177E2. It kicks hard, shoots far, and feels positively
lithe in the hands. I’m more than pleased with the
performance and aesthetic outcome of this build and
will certainly enjoy using it at future skirmishes! AA
BUILD SPECS:
• KWA RM4A1 Modified w/CYMA XM177E2
Upper
• Real Steel slim style handguard set
• B5 Systems CAR-15 replica stock
• CYMA A1 style motor grip
• Lambda 6.05 SUS304 stainless steel barrel
• R-Hopped
• Retro Arms CNC air nozzle
• Lonex double O-ring aluminum cylinder head
• Angel Custom stainless steel cylinder
• 70D AirPad
• Lonex POM piston head
• Angel Custom KRATOS piston
• SHS 18.65:1 gears
• Modified Acetech AceMOS MOSFET
• Warhead 30K brushless motor
• Ulysses ERG recoil kit
• Eagle6 M110 NGRS spring
• FPS: 398 w/.20g
• Weight (w/no magazine): 6.2 lbs / 2.73 kg
72
JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
TAIWAN
BACK
IN THE
GROOVE!
AS ALWAYS STEWBACCA IS A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT IN TERMS OF AIRSOFT-RELATED ENDURANCE,
SO AS SOON AS HE RETURNED TO TAIWAN FROM JAPAN AND THE KRYTAC OWNER’S MEETING HE WENT
OUT SKIRMISHING THAT WEEKEND, AND THEN RETURNED TO THE COMPETITION CIRCUIT THE WEEKEND
AFTER, FOR THE FINAL OF THREE HEATS IN THE SANCHONG SHOOTING CENTRE SHOOTER’S CUP, SPPT’S
HOME STOMPING GROUND AND HOST TO MOST COMPETITIONS HE’S BEEN INVOLVED IN!
74
JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
TAIWAN
As 2022 draws to a close and with my
escapades in Japan having been concluded,
MOA on the horizon (it will have already
happened by the time you read this!), and further
pistol and rifle Level 3 competition in Kaohsiung and
then the IDPA nationals to cover on Christmas Day
once again… the magic never ends towards the end
of this year! To be fair I’m not a particular fan of
Xmas so I’d rather be doing shooting-related anyway.
Having lost out on attending second
Action Air competition heat around
July earlier this year due to the ankle
embuggerance I suffered up in the hills
of Xindian in the south of Taipei (while
putting together my LCT LK53 EBB
AEG review!) my hopes of running
around merrily on shooting stages
were dashed!
I was therefore glad to be back to
competing, and also finally had my
KJ Works CZ75 Shadow 2 back to
excellent working order thanks to the
support of Clarence Lai and all his
upgrade components (as covered in
September issue No. 141). Having had
a little time to practise with it and zero
in the sights, my marksmanship scores
were at least redeemed somewhat.
So, backpack in tow I arrived
early doors on Sunday the 20th of November at
the Shooting Centre not far from my place and
my favourite gun shop, and began preparing my
equipment and registering for the ensuing Level
1 third heat; another five stages of
mischief split over the course of two
short stages in the morning, a medium
length stage before lunch, and a
further medium then long stage to
finish off after returning from lunch.
This time the number of
competitors in total was 26 according
to the books, with 11 shooters
competing for production division, 6
in standard, and 9 in open; evidently
the weighting is leaning towards duty
guns without all the bells and whistles
more recently, which increased the
competition stacked against me (lots
of familiar faces as always, and a
few new ones!) all of them excellent
company and fine shooters. The
banter and jovial but supportive
atmosphere was in usual full-swing after we all
arrived and reconnected, some of us having not seen
each other since the start of the year in some cases.
STAGE 1: PLEASE TO BE SEATED!
The first stage was a simple short affair of 4 papers,
3 poppers, 1 no shoot and the ending plate, 11+1
rounds and 55 possible points; the shooter had to
deposit all their magazines on the desk in front of
them and then their pistol in Condition 3, then take
a seat and prepare to shoot the whole stage from
that position.
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AA LEGION
TAIWAN
With the dreaded vertical railings obstruction
between the shooter and the rest of the stage, as
well as obstructions to the flanks that forced you to
shift position left and right to reach the symmetrical
low obscured popper, high paper target and twin
targets at the front with a no shoot sandwiched
between them and a single popper in front of them
with the stop plate behind and above them… as
always, it sounds simple enough… unfortunately
I managed to have a horrible stoppage on my run
after the first couple of BBs and had a double feed
that I tried to remedy and induced a triple feed,
which I then dumped out the ejection port, before
carrying on and then needing to reload with having
lost so many BBs in the stoppage.
In retrospect I should have dropped the mag
and reloaded immediately and ditched the loose
BBs and solved the situation, but, fluster@^# and
whatnot. Not a great start, 18.99 seconds, 8 alphas,
2 charlies and a miss on the rear right paper after the
malfunction… that put me dead last of the pack for
that stage.
STAGE 2: TIP OF THE SPEAR
This was another short and fairly simple symmetrical
stage; the shooter starting at the tip of an arrowhead
shape with the legs extending forward to the left
and right, with obstructions along both legs forcing
you to run far left and right in turn to access the
target arrays on both sides, consisting of a popper,
low paper and then high paper across the diagonal
on each side, and a lone popper in the centre
flanked by the stop plate at the far centre rear. 4
papers, 3 poppers, 1 ending - again, 11+1 shots, 55
points, with a condition 2 start.
This I fared much better in, slap bang in the
middle of the pack, with 49 points - 12.48 seconds,
8 alphas and 3 charlies. I was much happier with
that at least, although perhaps I need to be moving
faster and transitioning targets more rapidly; I guess
I’m pretty rusty this year due to work and other
commitments getting in the way of Tuesday drill
sessions.
STAGE 5: PICK A LANE!
This was actually shot third… I know… Just prior to
lunch we broke down the first and second adjacent
stages and quickly assembled the third stage to be
shot before we headed off for fodder fun-times!
Stage number 5 was a shooting gallery style affair
with three separate lanes divided by obstruction
walls along their lengths with tables in each on
which to deposit your magazines. The shooter had
to move between each lane and engage the targets
with a forced reload between each
one, with a penalty awarded per each
shot for those who failed to do so.
The majority of shooters did a basic
left to right shuffle, with the left lane
comprising a high right paper close
in, high centre paper at the rear and
twin poppers at its base, the centre
lane having twin poppers in the centre
flanked by a lateral wall hiding a noshoot
obstructed paper behind and
above, flanked by two open papers
(one each side), and the stop plate
above and slightly to the right. This
was visible from the right bay at least,
and the right bay being the mirror of
the left with a high close left paper, far
centre high paper and twin poppers
at its base. 7 papers, 6 poppers, 1 no
“IN RETROSPECT I SHOULD HAVE DROPPED THE MAG AND RELOADED IMMEDIATELY AND
DITCHED THE LOOSE BBS AND SOLVED THE SITUATION, BUT, FLUSTER@^# AND WHATNOT.
NOT A GREAT START, 18.99 SECONDS, 8 ALPHAS, 2 CHARLIES AND A MISS ON THE REAR
RIGHT PAPER AFTER THE MALFUNCTION…”
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JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
TAIWAN
shoot and the ending plate, 100 points available and
a Condition 3 start. 19.69 seconds, 14 alphas and
6 charlies; I was pretty happy with that, and it put
me dead centre of the pack again with 88 points
- my accuracy managed to put me ahead of the
next competitor who was faster but
sloppier, at least.
space with a lot of shooters in it too.
Nevertheless, as half one rolled around we found
our way back to the centre and re-donned our gun
belts and reloaded our magazines ready for the
afternoon’s stages.
PASTA LA VISTA BABY
Lunchtime arrived and we escaped a
little early once the SPPT squad had
finished shooting prior to the other
remaining shooters finishing, giving
us a little more time for a leisurely
lunch. We ventured across the road
to the local pasta place and had a
decent chow-down before retiring to
the upper floor of the 7-11 nearby to
engulf some ice creams; yes, it is still
in the mid to high twenties in Taiwan,
despite allegedly being heading into
winter, and it’s always hot work
running around in the relatively small
“WE VENTURED ACROSS THE ROAD TO THE LOCAL PASTA PLACE AND HAD A DECENT CHOW-
DOWN BEFORE RETIRING TO THE UPPER FLOOR OF THE 7-11 NEARBY TO ENGULF SOME ICE
CREAMS; YES, IT IS STILL IN THE MID TO HIGH TWENTIES IN TAIWAN, DESPITE ALLEGEDLY
BEING HEADING INTO WINTER”
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AA LEGION
TAIWAN
STAGE 4: RABBIT WARREN
The fourth stage was a little more involved; 13 paper
targets (two of which were obstructed behind cover
and on swinging arms tripped by poppers), 6 poppers
in total, 2 no shoots and the ending plate…32+1
shots, condition 1 start, 160 points total.
A few different approaches were taken by shooters
as the layout was two bays to the left, one behind
the other, the front one having a high right paper,
lone central popper and a further popper to the left
tripping and exposing a swinging paper… with a
side-wall opening further along to allow access into
the rear left bay, which had a similar arrangement to
the bay in front but the high target was obstructed
behind prison bars, with a corridor next to these that
you started halfway down with a large front central
bay split into two rear angled smaller bays accessible
from the left and right openings with two high papers
each, and a front section that required left-centreright
stances to access the angled no shoot obstructed
papers within its corners and lone central popper!
With a further corridor to the right, both corridors
opened out into the space leading to the far rear bay
that also had obstructions forcing the shooter to use
at least two different positions to reach the targets
presented; a lone central popper, a high paper left and
right, and a low paper behind the barricade flanking
the popper and the stop plate being to its right and
visible from the front central bay too.
I worked left to right, shooting the first two
targets in the angled central rear bay to the right
of my starting point, then retreating to take on the
front left bay, before moving right to do the centre
front, swinging round the right corridor and shooting
the two papers in the right rear of the front bay,
and moving across its rear to the rear left bay, then
heading along the front of the back bay engaging the
targets there and finishing after 26.72 seconds, with
26 alphas and 6 charlies; 148 points, pretty happy
with that all told, especially given some of the target
distances and presentations, and once again dead
middle of the pack in 6th place.
STAGE 3: TO THE WINDOW, TO THE
WALL
And yes, Stage 3 was shot…shot fifth… This was the
finale and the longest and most awkward stage for
“I WORKED LEFT TO RIGHT, SHOOTING THE FIRST TWO TARGETS IN THE ANGLED CENTRAL
REAR BAY TO THE RIGHT OF MY STARTING POINT, THEN RETREATING TO TAKE ON THE FRONT
LEFT BAY, BEFORE MOVING RIGHT TO DO THE CENTRE FRONT, SWINGING ROUND THE RIGHT
CORRIDOR AND SHOOTING THE TWO PAPERS IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE FRONT BAY”
78
JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
TAIWAN
me, 10 papers, 2 steels, 2 no shoots, and the ending
plate; 110 points and a Condition 1 start, all of which
was hidden along the length of the most of the room
with us moving left and right along its long axis as
opposed to all the other stages.
There was also a near-full-width barricade
concealing the entire stage from the fault line
area except for an opening at each end and a few
windows along the middle, one of which was covered
by twin doors that needed punching open!
Starting at the middle of the barricades with a
window either side of you and the door closed on to
your upper right at a slight angle, there was a low
paper visible through the left window, and a low
no shoot obstructed paper visible through the one
around to the right of you, as well as further paper
A costly 2 misses, once again scuppering myself on
the final stage like previous such endeavours in earlier
competitions. 23.12 seconds, 17 alphas, 3 charlies…
and those 2 misses… it was all going so well, until it
wasn’t!
I take solace in the fact I still managed to finish
8th with 74 points thanks to being faster than the
following shooters, so I guess my marksmanship
capabilities are strong, it’s the stage planning and
not forgetting those damned well-hidden targets
that needs work. No deltas, no no-shoots all day, just
alphas and charlies, and 3 misses and a stoppage. I
can’t really complain all that much given that I haven’t
had as much chance to train, have only recently
regained my primary race gun, and have barely used
my TMC STAGE electronic training targets since my
targets and a popper at the rear wall visible through
the window behind the doors, and two papers visible
at the two open ends of the barricade. This also
allowed access to the ending plate at the rear.
And then there was the far right hidden paper only
visible from the far left window, which of course I
forgot to engage after noticing it in my stage plan.
earlier review of them in Issue No. 131 Nov 2021!
At least when I remember to shoot the targets I’m
drilling the centre zones even at reasonable distances,
I just need to get running and target transitioning
faster but maintain that accuracy!
With all the competitors finished and the final
stage broken down we chilled out as the results were
“STARTING AT THE MIDDLE OF THE BARRICADES WITH A WINDOW EITHER SIDE OF YOU AND
THE DOOR CLOSED ON TO YOUR UPPER RIGHT AT A SLIGHT ANGLE, THERE WAS A LOW PAPER
VISIBLE THROUGH THE LEFT WINDOW, AND A LOW NO SHOOT OBSTRUCTED PAPER VISIBLE
THROUGH THE ONE AROUND TO THE RIGHT OF YOU, AS WELL AS FURTHER PAPER TARGETS
AND A POPPER AT THE REAR WALL VISIBLE THROUGH THE WINDOW BEHIND THE DOORS”
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AA LEGION
TAIWAN
tabulated; in the end I took 8th place out of 11 overall
in Production division, not a complete loss given the
horrendous stoppage and missed target of the first
and last stages dragging my scores down significantly.
For the most part I was middle of the pack
throughout, Team Spring Rain’s Zheng JiaHua took
first place, with Liu SiXi taking second and Team
Yamars’ Zhou TingYu taking third place.
Standard division saw Tema Yamars’ Cai YuQi
taking first place, Team Spring Rain’s leader Zhan
DengXiong taking second, and our own SPPT’s latest
addition Ou JiaCheng ‘TacticalCat’ storming into third
place, hot on the heels of qualifying in TPSA Action
Air, and not long after qualifying expert in carry optics
in the USA using real steel pistols for the first time
under the tutelage of Frank ‘the tank’ Xu, a US based
Taiwanese real steel master; excellent work!
Finally the open division was once again taken by
team Yamar’s Hou BoXian in first, Shi JiaHao taking
second place, and Liu JiaYu taking third place. With all
that dealt with we took the obligatory team and RO
photos, said our goodbyes and dissolved into the now
darkened skies outside after a full day of shooting fun.
Many thanks as always to Chris and James of the
Shooting Centre for organising the day, as well as the
TPSA RO staff for running the stages. AA
“THE OPEN DIVISION WAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN BY TEAM YAMAR’S HOU BOXIAN IN FIRST,
SHI JIAHAO TAKING SECOND PLACE, AND LIU JIAYU TAKING THIRD PLACE. WITH ALL THAT
DEALT WITH WE TOOK THE OBLIGATORY TEAM AND RO PHOTOS, SAID OUR GOODBYES AND
DISSOLVED INTO THE NOW DARKENED SKIES OUTSIDE AFTER A FULL DAY OF SHOOTING
FUN.”
80
JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
HONG KONG
A BATTLESHIP
WITHOUT
A TIDE!
WE’RE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED THAT THE AA LEGION IS CONTINUING TO GROW, AS THAT MEANS WE CAN
BRING YOU EVEN MORE STORIES FROM OUR SHARED WIDE-WORLD OF AIRSOFT! LARRI IN HONG KONG
HAS BECOME A MUCH-VALUED CORE MEMBER OF THE TEAM, AND CONTINUES TO DELIGHT US, AND WE
HOPE YOU, WITH HIS REPORTS ON SOME VERY UNIQUE AND EXCITING PLACES TO PLAY!
82
JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
HONG KONG
Talking about our shared love of the airsoft
experience, I’m sure that we have all tried
the “kill house” style, warehouse theme,
or country-based theme site. This time, I would
love to introduce a very brand new theme I
have never seen on an airsoft site… until now!
What I have to share with you this month is
a battleship-themed site that makes you feel
like you are inside the depths of a warship
for your CQB action, no matter if it’s a
team death match or a mission game like
rescuing hostages it brings you an ultra-realistic CQB
experience!
The venue is in Quarry Bay, which is the first time
I’ve seen an airsoft venue on Hong Kong Island since
I focus on CQB airsoft; usually, I need thirty minutes’
drive to an airsoft venue and now it only takes me
FIVE minutes to get there. It is very convenient for
Hong Kong Island residents or anyone who has
booked accommodation around the area.
To bring players an ultra-realistic experience, the
decoration and scene-setting is always a huge part
of the site as a whole. Tact Zone, who is also the
owner of War Zone that I have covered before, is
dedicated to surprising the players with great props
and decoration, and all the major decorations here
are not paintings or stickers, they are real ship parts!
LAYOUT
This site has one game zone only which is based on
the battleship layout, and once we entered the game
zone, we saw immediately lots of ship lights, buoys,
and lifesaving vests on the wall, and for the gamestart
announcement, the guys even got a Ship’s Bell!
This is very different from other game sites using
a whistle or alarm, and really suits the theme. For
the major decorations, the engine room has
several real engines, and
also the
control
room contains
a real ship control panel.
All buttons and levers can be pressed,
which gives the players the real feeling of having a
battleship mission. With such great decorations, the
venue has a game mode called “The Bridge”, which
is a mission game that requires players to reach
the control room and push a specific lever as the
objective.
The layout inside offers two major routes; one side
is a large canteen with benches, tables, and food
trays. If you are a speedy player, it is a great place
to challenge your maximum speed to put pressure
on your enemies. The other section is a combination
of rooms, with the section of the middle room,
containing a kitchen with stove, refrigerators, and
“galley equipment”. The briefing room has benches,
and a presentation desk which is not easy to bypass
as an obstacle, and the medic room has two medic
beds which makes a narrow path; however, right
after that, there is a shower room which is great for
defending… although I don’t think anyone will bring
their shampoo there!
The other linked room has been combined with
a bedroom that has several bunk beds; it is
a very tricky location, as your enemy can
stay hidden there, and make good use of
the dark corners, so all searching has to
be more thorough in any game mode.
Finally, there is a storage room, which is
completely dark, with several locations to
provide cover fire from a shelf, and in my
opinion, breaking through that room is
the most challenging in the venue.
There are lockable doors in each
room, and this is a very smart move
for venue design. As each adjustment
comes, each time with a different door
locked it creates another experience.
On our second visit to the venue, the
www.airsoftaction.net 83

AA LEGION
HONG KONG
medic room was
locked, which
makes the
whole assault
planning
from three
major routes
become a
long tunnel
for the
search
mission.
We believe
that some
more
new
covers
and obstacles are
added time by time to enhance the
theme, this is impressive as a customer.
BEHIND THE SCENES
We were very happy that we had invited to
try the site by the operation Manager, Gabriel
Leung. He has eighteen years of experience in
airsoft, including his IPSC journey, which makes
him understand how customers behave in a CQB
environment; his target shooting, and also his
video filming skill are also excellent!
We wondered why he had such a brand new
idea for the theme, as he also manages War Zone
and provides his knowledge of venue themes. He
told us that the location-based scenery is already
done at War Zone, and this time is about building
an airsoft venue like a structure based on the
theme since the site is located near the seaside.
This strengthened his resolve to propose the
“warship” idea, and with the strategic partnership
of Landing Zone (Another Airsoft Venue in Hong
Kong) detail-setting was based on player feedback
to build a great, totally unique venue.
While building this place, the toughest part
would be decoration sourcing, as they are so keen
to build it with real parts; parts like the engine and
control panel were not just built by a contractor,
they have been sourced one by one for sale at the
docks, and hopefully players will enjoy all these
details and the effort they spent to create this
ultra-realistic airsoft experience.
Finally, in his opinion the airsoft industry, it is a
very strong community hobby, even though we
have had a pandemic situation, the market itself
has grown with a lot of new players willing to
experience airsoft, especially school, corporate
team building events, and so on. With such a
“baby boom” in the market, he strongly believes
that it is possible to grow this to become an even
more popular sport in Hong Kong, and the owner
shares the same vision; there will be another airsoft
venue opening in Hong Kong, which is located
inside a shopping mall at the end of 2022!
In my opinion, a place with good air conditioners
is always a great place, since Hong Kong is always
hot and humid. For a memorable CQB experience,
where section of the rooms are constantly
challenging your skills and guts, it is more
important to clear the room with your teammate
instead of the lone wolf play style.
Thanks to my good friend Indigo for taking
the pictures shown here, and for those who are
interested in UBCA action in Tact Zone, please feel
free to check our first Tact Zone video at https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah5rgdtEKzI AA
84
JANUARY 2023

TOKYO MARUI
L119A2 CUSTOM BUILD
NEXT GEN RECOIL SHOCK CONTACT US FOR DETAILS
THE L119A2 IS JUST ONE POPULAR
EXAMPLE OF OUR CURRENT RECOIL
MODELS, BASED ON TOKYO MARUI’S
FANTASTIC SYSTEM - FITTED WITH
THE ANGRY GUN RAIL SYSTEM AND
REAL STEEL MAGPUL FURNITURE

AA LEGION
KRYTAC OWNERS MEETING - JAPAN
OUR LAMENTATIONS ABOUT CONTINUED CANCELLATIONS AND DISRUPTIONS AS A RESULT OF THE
PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN AS STORIED AND TYPICAL AS THOSE OF EVERYONE ELSE, BUT THANKFULLY
RESTRICTIONS SEEM TO BE SUBSIDING AND BECOMING A THING OF THE PAST! WITH MUCH OF THE
WORLD AND EVEN THE MOST TIGHTLY SECURED PARTS OF ASIA FINALLY OPENING UP ONCE MORE,
STEWBACCA MADE GOOD ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND FIND OUT WHAT ALL THE PAST INTRIGUE
REGARDING THE LAYLAX/KRYTAC OWNER’S MEETING IN JAPAN WAS ALL ABOUT!
86
JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
KRYTAC OWNERS MEETING - JAPAN
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AA LEGION
KRYTAC OWNERS MEETING - JAPAN
I’ve been threatening to visit Japan for longer than
I care to remember, at least since I took an interest
in the language, largely as a result of airsoft and
my pressing need to better understand Tokyo Marui’s
cryptic manuals! Taking night classes in my final
year of university and the year following graduation,
as well as working during my summers away from
university studies in a Japanese-owned aerospace
bearing factory in my hometown to fund my ever
worsening airsoft habit, I slowly built my knowledge
and skills in manufacturing, along with a flegling
understanding of the language.
I guess things finally came full circle for me and
with the further easing of quarantine and travel
restrictions, and I felt extremely lucky in getting a
spot at the LayLax/Krytac Owner’s meeting as well
as booking my flights the morning before Taiwan
and Japan announced their final full reopening and
visa free unrestricted access quarantine less travel
opportunities… I just booked my flights before the
rush and the price spike, it seems!
Having had such a long term yearning to see
the Land of the Rising Sun, but always having had
mainland China-related trips get in the way for
various reasons in the past, I was beyond excited
to finally have a plan in place to make landfall on
the spiritual and technical home of all things airsoft
related. My hosts were the crew
from LayLax, an
increasingly
well-known and respected
brand with an ever growing team of people who are
not only expert in what they do, but dedicated to
innovation and bringing the end user components
and products that fulfil their needs and turn already
good base products and airsoft guns from OEM
companies into powerhouses on the skirmish field,
with their Prometheus range of barrels and HOP
buckings being a typical first port of call or trusted
go-to for many an airsoft tech the world over. But
there’s also an ever-growing line of soft goods,
tactical gear solutions and niche products that really
solve some of those tiresome issues airsofters face
on a continuing basis.
Co-hosts of course were Krytac, the in house
airsoft sub-brand of Kriss USA, the people who
brought us the real steel VECTOR recoil-mitigating
submachine gun and aside from the airsoft AEG
variant of their well known and loved PDW/
SMG leviathan, Krytac as a sub-brand have
also brought to market licensed FN P90 AEG
PDWs with collaborations with other industry
names such as Evike Manufacturing Group
and Cybergun, as well as their more recently
announced SilencerCo Maxim 9 replica shock
entry into the GBB pistol arena… which I’ll be
getting more hands on with in the longer term,
and which I’m personally extremely excited
“HAVING HAD SUCH A LONG TERM YEARNING TO SEE THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN, BUT
ALWAYS HAVING HAD MAINLAND CHINA-RELATED TRIPS GET IN THE WAY FOR VARIOUS
REASONS IN THE PAST, I WAS BEYOND EXCITED TO FINALLY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE
LANDFALL ON THE SPIRITUAL AND TECHNICAL HOME OF ALL THINGS AIRSOFT RELATED.”
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JANUARY 2023

AA LEGION
KRYTAC OWNERS MEETING - JAPAN
about.
So, what do two such industry leaders do to
capitalise on such strong brands and near cult-level
followings within the Japanese domestic and wider
international markets? Throw an epic party… with
airsoft guns, skirmishing, competitions, giveaways,
an on-site marketplace, and an excuse for players to
engage in their favourite cosplay shenanigans and
show off their custom Krytac gun builds! Akin to the
National Airsoft Festival held in the UK every August
Bank Holiday, the LayLax/Krytac Owner’s Meeting
(KOM) is one of the highlights of Asia’s airsoft (or
‘survival games’ as they are known out here in
various languages) scene.
With around 200 players from Japan attending as
well as a handful of industry insiders, internationally
renowned influencers and yours truly tagging along
to see what was going down, the KOM is definitely
worth more than a cursory report, especially given
that 2022’s ‘volume 5’ was the first returning event
following ‘rona restrictions ruining everyone’s fun.
SHOOTERS ASSEMBLE!
I travelled out a few days prior to the main event,
held at Tokyo ‘sa-ba-ge’
park (Japanese short form
for ‘survival games’) in
Chiba to the east of Tokyo
central, with Jonothan of
Airsoftology fame flying
out from Taiwan on the
same day but a different
flight, as well as Scott
and Alan of Landwarrior
Airsoft representing the
Scottish/UK contingent and
obviously their business
interests as one of the UK’s
trusted key distributors of
all things airsoft related.
Prior to our arrival Norah and Romain
(Nonocat AND Thunderspear),the duo behind
New Zealand’s ASGC retail and social media
representation, had already arrived and settled into
their own sightseeing schedule, along with Kevin
(RandomGuyKev), and Scott and his cameraman
Iosephus (the guys behind USAirsoft) from the states
who had also been in country a few days covering
local airsoft shops and the scene before we landed.
Alongside these well-known figures in the industry
and especially the social media side of things, Evike
representatives Matt, George, Maria, Danny and
Wilson, as well as Krytac’s team of (uncle) Allen,
Mytch and Randall were all attending as more
behind the scenes types to take part in not only the
festivities themselves, but obviously the all-important
organisation, media coverage and underlying
business that supports the whole endeavour as well
as ultimately putting the quality goods in the hands
of the enthusiastic end users.
We were all greeted and taken very good care
of thanks to the LayLax international team in the
form of Masaki, Ryan and Marck who are all no
doubt well known to those of you in the community,
and along with their wider support teams had the
unenviable task of organising the event itself as well
as the arrangements for everyone travelling in and
staying for the week or two in country to support
their individual media efforts and reporting! A typical
Sunday skirmish is often likened to ‘herding cats’ so
god knows what these guys and the wider LayLax
team have to endure to pull off
an awesome
event of such
domestic
proportions,
let alone keep
all the other
international
elements and
components
in motion!
Suffice to say,
they acquitted
themselves
excellently and
delivered a great
experience
for everyone
involved, especially us first timers.
GETTING OUR GAME ON!
What of the event itself then? In the early hours of
“SO, WHAT DO TWO SUCH INDUSTRY LEADERS DO TO CAPITALISE ON SUCH STRONG
BRANDS AND NEAR CULT-LEVEL FOLLOWINGS WITHIN THE JAPANESE DOMESTIC AND WIDER
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS? THROW AN EPIC PARTY… WITH AIRSOFT GUNS, SKIRMISHING,
COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS, AN ON-SITE MARKETPLACE, AND AN EXCUSE FOR PLAYERS TO
ENGAGE IN THEIR FAVOURITE COSPLAY SHENANIGANS”
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Saturday 5th of November the international media
and business teams began amassing in our hotel lobby
ready to ship out in salvos carried to the Tokyo Sa-bage
park by van along with all our supporting camera,
protective and tactical gear - many of us would indeed
be taking an active role in the shooting festivities, and
eagerly so, myself included!
Arriving on site we began setting up our personal
equipment and allocating borrowed airsoft guns from
the LayLax pool available; getting our own guns into
Japan is just a nightmare nobody wants to deal with,
after all, and of course we wanted to keep things
on brand in terms of the selection of guns and gear
used! I ended up with the EMG Cybergun Krytac FN
P90 AEG, a call-back to my very first game of airsoft
all those years ago, and a long overdue return to the
familiar form factor and handling of one of my alltime
favourite guns; love it or hate it, FN nailed the
ergonomics and anthropometrics with their bullpup
PDW platform.
The game site itself is fairly expansive, with a main
arena off to one end that is bisected by an overhead
catwalk ideal for marshals and photographers or
videographers to oversee the action ongoing below.
With the field itself comprising of one side with CQB
style distributed shipping containers with window
cutouts, barricade arrangements, abandoned vehicles
and even tower structures to hide amongst, while
the other half of the arena is a more ‘sandbox’-esque
array of overgrown Hesco sangars filled with rubble
around which to fire and manoeuvre on the enemy
lines. Both sections are accessible by limited corridor
chokepoints linking the two halves of the arena under
the aforementioned catwalk, all of which makes for
a fairly complex floor plan and plenty of angles to
consider both when attacking and defending.
As the sun began moving higher in the sky more
and more enthusiastic participants were arriving
on site, parking their vehicles and setting up their
gear or wandering around the marketplace section
between the Safezone and main playing area; this
was populated by myriad local shops or custom gun
workshops displaying their wares from guns, gear,
patches, memorabilia and everything else in between
an airsofter could find to spend their money on! I
managed to meet a few faces I’ve known for a while
through social media including Mayo (gotohmayo)
who has her own design house and shop for patches,
street wear and various airsoft accessories and is
known for her gameplay at Japan’s BLK FOX SpeedQB
style arena among other exploits.
Also attending was Japan’s poster girl for Krytac,
the petite but boundlessly energetic and pleasant
Saoreane (saoreana_airsoft) who’s not only an avid
VECTOR lover and airsofter with her own branded
accessories and kit shop, but also a fellow teacher
moonlighting as a shooter, and a great friend of
the Krytac team. The very well known and loved,
both in Japan and the wider airsoft community, Lilly
(lillianemoo) also rocked up in her epic flatbed backed
JEEP with her cute Beagle in tow and began blogging
her experience on site before prepping with the rest
of us ready to get stuck into the action. I was also
very happy to bump into Itsuya (Itsuya_miridoru) who
I hadn’t seen for years since her last trip to Taiwan
when we saw her at the Combat King Monthly Hooha
show in Kaohsiung prior to the COVID dark times and
her starting a family.
Mason (Maydaysann) had also joined the group the
night before at our hotel and was helpfully lending
out some of his gear to our international team as well
as engaging in his trademark high energy and humour
escapades, which of course we all ended up getting
involved in later on as well.
MAKING THEIR MILLION (YEN)!
With all of the domestic participants cycling through
the chrono station and sighting in their guns on
the multi-lane range provided, we began a bit of a
familiarisation exercise, walking the site and checking
out the small team competition assault course that
groups of five players could enter in the hope of
taking away the coveted million Yen prize money for
fastest completion time; this involved the whole five
man squad starting in a Polaris all terrain buggy and
the driver flooring it along one side of the course
before turning right into a demarcated parking spot,
and the team swiftly debussing.
All competitors then had to run the gauntlet of
‘crocodile teeth’ style staggered opposing 45-degree
angled jumping pad stages to make it to the platform
on the other side where one elected player would
then moonwalk a rolling stack of drums filled with
“THE GAME SITE ITSELF IS FAIRLY EXPANSIVE, WITH A MAIN ARENA OFF TO ONE END THAT
IS BISECTED BY AN OVERHEAD CATWALK IDEAL FOR MARSHALS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS OR
VIDEOGRAPHERS TO OVERSEE THE ACTION ONGOING BELOW.”
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ballast
sand along wooden
rails between platforms without slipping
off before the next two elected players could perform
tandem beam walking while engaging small circular
targets on posts to their sides as they progressed.
Next all competitors had to make it through a wide
low-slung camo net obstacle before the final elected
contestant clambered up the stairs to the platform
overlooking the whole arena and
engaged an
array of targets with
a scoped AEG to stop the timer… all of
which had to be completed as quickly as possible and
had to be under two minutes to even be in the final
running!
Throughout the day we also availed ourselves
of ample refreshments thanks to the on-site diner
caravan as well as the police SWAT van that turned
up in the early morning and turned out to actually
be a cunningly disguised chow wagon distributing
complimentary burgers,
hotdogs and even parfait
treats to the clamouring
hungry queues; damned
good food, and much
appreciated by all it
seemed… not all heroes
wear capes!
With all the
preparations made
we all gathered at
the entrance of the
main game area for the festivities to be
officially opened, with LayLax’s COO Nomura-sama
(no.63landshark) and the site operator kicking off
proceedings by emerging from a container to great
fanfare sporting hilariously oversized Kriss VECTORs
with ultra-long rails, all finished in gold colour overall!
The welcomes were made, site and competition rules
covered and the Masaki introduced the international
team while
everyone took photos and
videos and we had some
nice group shots taken
thanks to the official
photographer teams.
With that the games
began! Our international
squad would be filtering
in to one of the themed
game modes to cause
as much trouble for the
opposing team as we
could muster; the ‘gold
rush’ game sees players
not only trying to survive
the onslaught of flying plastic dealt out by
their opponents, but also collect as many ‘nuggets’
of gold from the ground as possible in the form of
the plastic spherical casings common to many coin
operated toy vending machines. Those of us playing
donned our gear and guns and got ready for a forty
minute long infinite-regen deathmatch which saw us
stretching our teamwork abilities and using fire and
manoeuvre across both halves of the arena as best we
could.
We were playing into the setting sun which made
seeing red dots and the opposing players a bit harder,
“ALL COMPETITORS THEN HAD TO RUN THE GAUNTLET OF ‘CROCODILE TEETH’ STYLE
STAGGERED OPPOSING 45-DEGREE ANGLED JUMPING PAD STAGES TO MAKE IT TO THE
PLATFORM ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE ONE ELECTED PLAYER WOULD THEN MOONWALK A
ROLLING STACK OF DRUMS FILLED WITH BALLAST SAND ALONG WOODEN RAILS BETWEEN
PLATFORMS WITHOUT SLIPPING OFF”
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as well as ‘foggles’ becoming an even harder issue
to overcome, but nonetheless we went to work with
gusto and there were plenty of photos and video
snapshots of us usual suspects rolling around corners,
through vehicles, containers and ducking behind
Hescos as you would expect when you throw overexcited
foreigners into the mix of local players
and the cacophony of gunfire;
we were
having
a whale of a time,
and seeing plenty of enthusiastic
and honourable play from both sides, just
the way it should be.
RUNNING AND GUNNING
Running the EMG Cybergun Krytac FN
P90 with a trio of magazines wedged in
to my own JPC style rig with thanks to
LayLax’s SMG and AR ‘Bite Mag’ hard
shell pouches, I was throwing down
firepower gleefully to a pretty decent
range, but still managed to expend a
few full reloads during the long game;
this required me to duck out to our
team re-arming station just outside
the gamezone entrance while the action
continued in earnest. All in all it was great fun not
only trying different guns and gear than I’m used to,
but also getting thrown in the deep end of another
country’s gaming style, and playing alongside some
great names and faces I’d only just met in person
despite knowing each other for longer online.
The game wore on and we began to wear out;
despite being noticeably cooler than Taiwan’s usual
temperature and humidity range I was nonetheless
dripping wet in my typical fashion, and we were
making sure to stay hydrated throughout as well as
taking every opportunity outside the wire to clear our
lenses and make sure the GoPros or other
devices were all keeping track of our action
for the inevitable videos to follow later.
As the main game came to a close we
felt like we’d acquitted ourselves fairly
well; I came out with a good few welts
from the able marksmanship of the local
players, and despite the lower power
levels of Japan’s airsoft legal limits, the
rapid strings of fire found their mark,
evidently I’m a big walking target
wherever I go!
Following this a few rounds
of smaller team deathmatches
were arranged just for us in the
CQB half of the arena after all
the other players had retired to
finish competing in the time
trial challenge, duelling contest
or just avail themselves of the
refreshment and shopping
opportunities. The duelling
followed on from
the final
assault course run and
saw pairs of players facing off against each
other, with two pairs of plate targets attached to twin
Texas stars on a connecting beam being prepared for
each player who then started back to back. On the
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AA LEGION
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a great time making use of that half of the site with
much less traffic so to speak and really got to try out
the different angles and play off against each other
well.
GO signal both
players had to clear the four targets off
their plate arrangements as fast as they could before
turning and shooting their opponent in the back
before they had a chance to finish their own plates
off.
With our smaller mini-tournament I teamed up with
Scott, Alan, Mason, and Norah and we ran a good
squad offence but neglected to protect our team’s
‘flag’ button at our spawn the first round; Mason and
I got some great CQB clearing teamwork under our
belts at least, and made it all the way to the other
team’s base just as they hit ours for the flag. Lesson
learnt, Scott hung back the next round to run defence
while Mason and I ran off and Norah stalked around
in her silent fashion and ran interference, dropping
more than a few of the OpFor from cover. We had
INTO THE SETTING SUN
As the sun finally drifted behind the distant Hescos
and treeline we called it a day and headed back to the
staging area to safe our guns and strip off our gear,
especially with mine being typically dank following
my exertion, before reassembling at the small stage
in front of the gamezone entrance for the closing
remarks, announcement of the competition winners,
and the customary raffling off of numerous shiny
toys and accessories. Many happy faces went home
heavier an AEG or GBB among other treats that
day!
Following the closing of festivities we began
packing everything up and chatting while
awaiting the van to return us to the hotel in the
same salvo system as before; I went in the last lot
and had a good chance to continue chatting to
people before they left, and hung out with the
Krytac crowd to talk about their business and
products; I’m looking forward to having more
to share regarding all that in the longer term!
With everyone shuttled back to the hotel we
all showered and tidied ourselves up ready
for the team dinner at one of the nearby
restaurants, complete with surprise birthday cake and
toasting for Alan!
So, that was my first experience of the LayLax/
Krytac Owner’s Meeting coming to a close; an
excellent and well organised event that for the most
part ran smoothly despite the sheer numbers of
players and things in motion, and a great opportunity
to meet and greet the local player base and
personalities I hadn’t had chance to see in person
beforehand. But that’s just the beginning of our
escapades in Japan over the course of our stay, so I’ll
have more to touch on in a follow-up report!
Many thanks as always to the organisers and
particularly the LayLax team for the obvious amount
of effort, patience and resources they must have to
invest to accomplish something of such scale and
success; it was much appreciated by everyone! AA
“MASON AND I GOT SOME GREAT CQB CLEARING TEAMWORK UNDER OUR BELTS AT LEAST,
AND MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER TEAM’S BASE JUST AS THEY HIT OURS FOR
THE FLAG. LESSON LEARNT, SCOTT HUNG BACK THE NEXT ROUND TO RUN DEFENCE WHILE
MASON AND I RAN OFF AND NORAH STALKED AROUND IN HER SILENT FASHION AND RAN
INTERFERENCE, DROPPING MORE THAN A FEW OF THE OPFOR FROM COVER.”
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THE LAST last post
PLAYING TAPS
PLAYING
TAPS
FOR MANY YEARS NOW AIRSOFT ACTION HAS BEEN PROUD TO BRING YOU THE WISE AND SOMETIMES
ACERBIC WORDS OF A TRUE INDUSTRY VETERAN IN “THE LAST POST”, BUT TAPS ARE NOW PLAYING FOR
OUR GOOD FRIEND FRENCHIE AS HE STEPS DOWN, AND JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL TM FAMAS HE HAS SO
ABLY WIELDED OVER THE YEARS, HE MARCHES, HEAD HELD HIGH, INTO THE HALLOWED HALLS OF AIRSOFT
LORE…
It was always going to happen. My direct association
with airsoft has been becoming more distant
for some time as life has taken me in different
directions. So, after a lot of thought and some
considerable reflection, it’s time to say a formal
goodbye, and to reflect, for the last time in print (well,
virtual print) on all
that has gone before.
The best of
times? Where to
start? I’ve always
been interested in
firearms and nearly
two decades ago
when I discovered
that there was
actually a pastime
which allowed me
to run around and
actually shoot likeminded
loons, I
was in like Flynn.
That generation of
players, the ones who
understood what was
meant when you mentioned ‘LS model kits’ is, I guess,
long gone from airsoft now. One of those I know is
just long gone sadly; thank you for the butteries Iain.
It’s been a long and winding road. Modding Marui
springers to try and squeeze maximum range from
minimum spend, getting involved in setting up a new
retailer and site and teaching myself how to work on
all manner of airsoft guns.
Finding myself
chairing UKARA
as we sought to
overcome, or at least
mitigate the effects
of the Violent Crime
Reduction Bill (now
Act). Sean and Tim
probably did more
to persuade the
government, I had
my hands full trying
to keep a bunch of
competing retailers
focussed on achieving
a workable outcome,
and persuading them
to pay for it all. Who
else was willing to
put money into the fight? In fairness, they also had
the most to lose.
“I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN FIREARMS AND NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO WHEN I DISCOVERED
THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PASTIME WHICH ALLOWED ME TO RUN AROUND AND ACTUALLY
SHOOT LIKE-MINDED LOONS, I WAS IN LIKE FLYNN.”
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PLAYING TAPS
It felt like an existential struggle at the time, but
looking back I’m no longer certain that airsoft would
have died had we been forced to use two-tone guns.
It would just have looked really crap, and whether you
care to admit it or not, how airsoft looks to the people
involved is really important.
I learned loads about HMRC over the years, a
fair bit about business, a good chunk about retail, a
certain amount regarding planning procedures and
a lot about organising and running regular events. I
watched first-hand the rise of UK-based YouTubers
(that was the way to make money out of airsoft, or
so they thought!). I saw ambition over-reach itself in
many different ways.
I learned that screaming at young players was never
a good look, no matter how f***ing stupid they’d
been and I was eternally grateful to the payer who
filmed that incident, let me see it and never posted it
anywhere. It changed my approach not just to games
but to many things and he’ll probably never know
how much of a debt I owe him.
I learned that some players cheat a lot, and most
players cheat a bit, sometimes in the most minor of
ways. Anyone who tells you they have never failed
to call a hit which no one saw and even the shooter
may have been unaware of because they weren’t sure
there was a target, is being economical with the truth.
When that period came to an end, I found out that
although I was still attending games to do tech work, I
became jealous of my weekends. It’s one thing to give
up your Sundays to something you really want to do,
it’s quite another to have no real choice in the matter.
And through nearly all of that, I wrote. Firstly tech
pieces, then reviews, then opinion pieces. First for
“others”, latterly for AA, I have been writing about
airsoft and all that surrounds it for some twenty years
now. This, along with the people I’ve met along the
way was its greatest reward, and although I won’t be
writing about airsoft any longer, I continue to write
every day to earn a crust.
The people. Airsoft is all about people. Without
them there is no game; trust me I have been involved
in a ‘game’ where there were three participants!
Fun, but not really an airsoft game! Despite seeing
them referred to recently as ‘those airsoft weirdos’
on Reddit, airsofters are no more weird than the
population from which they’re drawn. You get all
sorts; the gamers, the space cadets, the chairborne
warriors, the ex-squaddies who can’t let go, the
ex-squaddies who never were. The smart arses, the
‘I know better’, the ‘don’t do it that way’. I’ve had
cynical site owners who were full of their own s***
until the law caught up with them, and all points in
between.
But mostly what I encountered were a really decent
bunch of guys, and a few girls, who just wanted
to play the game. To that end they were helpful,
supportive, willing to pitch in and help whenever
you asked. Mostly they were funny; perhaps they
understood that ultimately we were just all playing
at being soldiers and were totally cool with that.
Whatever the reason, I was very lucky to spend many
days, good and bad, with a great bunch of players
and I’m really grateful for that.
The best coffees I’ve drunk were courtesy of fellow
players, at early o’clock on a cold site on Day Two of a
THE PEOPLE. AIRSOFT IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE. WITHOUT THEM THERE IS NO GAME; TRUST ME I HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED IN A ‘GAME’ WHERE THERE WERE THREE PARTICIPANTS! FUN, BUT NOT REALLY AN
AIRSOFT GAME! ”
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PLAYING TAPS
weekend game. The best Haribo always comes from
airsofters, period. I could count on them to do the
stupidest things, often for the best reasons, and if
they didn’t actually break themselves in the process,
we’d all have a good laugh and I’d wonder how they
had managed to live as long as they had!
Fleeting memories of a very drunk colleague
sleeping in a container with me who couldn’t cope
with the one degree slope up to the door. Of LJ,
turning up with enough kit to fill a house for one
night outside. “Any idiot can get cold and wet” he’d
say, and he was right, we did and he didn’t. Sucking
a lodged BB out of someone’s ear with a Biro (hot
tip, it works!). Working out that I have over the
years seen about 7 ½ teeth either broken or shot
out, fortunately none of them mine. Getting really
angry at arseholes, because there is almost never any
excuse for them to act as they do. Loving the gear,
loving the random way a noob in wellies with a twotone
MP5 can still take out a player with all the best
gear, because while skill matters, luck matters just
as much. Having my wife threaten my family jewels
with a PO8 from two feet away, not sure who stood
to lose most there!
So, to all of you beautiful bastards, thank you. You
made it worthwhile.
And that’s it really. There’s much more; stress, fun,
miles travelled, disappointments, fools and fantasy,
but that’s life Jim. So, Frenchie the airsofter bids you
all farewell, especially any of you who have been
here long enough to remember those days. And to
those of you who don’t, keep playing the game!
Frenchie has been a part of my airsoft world for
as long as I can remember; I’ve stood beside him
running games in all conditions, we’ve dealt with the
same money-grabbing idiots, and he’s even worked
on my AEGs when they’ve spat the dummy midevent
to keep me in the game!
His wry wit, sense of honour, and his sometimes
acid sense of humour have endeared him to me in so
many ways as a friend, and his time working with me
as we’ve taken Airsoft Action into a new, digital era
has shown me another wonderfully creative side of
him yet again.
He truly is “a man of all seasons”, a resolute and
trusted friend, and I can only thank him for the many
kindnesses, both small and large, he has shown me
over the many years our orbits have collided!
Thank you Frenchie, for all you have done both for
me personally, and for Airsoft Action… the world of
airsoft will truly be a lesser place without you in it -
Bill. AA
Adieu.
“THE BEST HARIBO ALWAYS COMES FROM AIRSOFTERS, PERIOD. I COULD COUNT ON THEM TO DO
THE STUPIDEST THINGS, OFTEN FOR THE BEST REASONS, AND IF THEY DIDN’T ACTUALLY BREAK
THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS, WE’D ALL HAVE A GOOD LAUGH AND I’D WONDER HOW THEY HAD
MANAGED TO LIVE AS LONG AS THEY HAD!”
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