TECH: AIRSOFT PROPS

SETTING THE SCENE: SETS AND PROPS

WITH THE FIRST “OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT” OF HIS MISSILE LAUNCH SYSTEM NOW WELL AND TRULY UNDER HIS BELT, JAMES TURNS TO THE MORE GENERALISED USE OF “SET AND PROPS”. THIS IS WHERE IMAGINATION MEETS REALITY, AS HE EMBARKS ON A NEW SERIES OF ARTICLES INVESTIGATING HOW THE CORRECT USE OF “SCENE SETTING” CAN TURN A GOOD AIRSOFT GAME INTO AN AWESOME ONE!

Themed games have been around for a long while in airsoft and add an extra layer of immersion and excitement to the player experience. Whether it be WWII, Cold War, or even scenarios based on video games such as Tom Clancy’s “The Division”, finding the right loadout look beforehand is all part and parcel of the “fun” when attending these events.

Whilst the players are busying themselves getting their loadouts perfectly in theme though, what of the game play environment? This is where the use of props and even sets comes in to get the event location looking as good as the player’s loadouts and, when done right, can make for a truly memorable event for all!

All that said, it doesn’t have to come at massive cost to event organisers and simple ideas are often best. Smaller props can be made for specific objectives within the event; for example, for a Task Force sent to recover items from an aircraft, one item hot on list would be a Flight Data Recorder. The one pictured was easily repurposed from an old avionics module, purchased from eBay second hand for £10. A quick spray orange, some hazard tape and a couple of custom ordered “Flight Data Recorder” vinyl decals and good to go for under £20.

The second example pictured shows the original unit displayed in a museum; the red “Self Destruct” unit is an original from the WWII and was used in the “Chain” home radar stations around the coasts of the UK. In the event of a German invasion, the operators could destroy sensitive equipment to save it falling into enemy hands. The second picture is the home-made version (awaiting lettering at time of publication), has been made from an empty aluminium junction box, some metal “sauce dip” pots

“OTHER SMALL DETAILS ALL ADD TO THE EFFECT, WITH OLD BROKEN LIGHT FITTINGS AND BENT MESH AND, AS MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE OLD SCRAP, THIS KIND OF SET PIECE CAN BE MADE FROM OLD BITS YOU HAVE LAYING AROUND, KEEPING THE COSTS DOWN.”

and push buttons found online. This unit will fit in perfectly at a FOB or command post and can be wired to electronic Mk5 maroons for in game purposes.

When it comes to larger set pieces, the first example is a “CERA Medical Post” as featured in “The Division”. This entire set piece came in at less than £100; the principle material is blue tarps to make the rear walls, the decontamination tunnel is made from PVC pipe and clear plastic dust sheets, with a UV strip light sourced online. The camping put-up bed and some home-made missing posters and biohazard signs all add to the immersion. Biohazard waste bags are available from pharmacies and online and a building site flood tower gives the impression of a city without power running on backup. This area could be used in game as a capture objective or make a very cool respawn point.

Sticking with the video game theme this month, the second example is a “Rustion Coffee” shop, as featured in “The Last of Us”. This area was used just as background for some of our AA pictures a while back and is made from a 2.5 x 1.5in CLS frame and MDF boarding as the walls. A mix of artificial and real plants give the “abandoned” vibe along with spray paint, broken conduit, plastics and paint effects. Other small details all add to the effect, with old broken light fittings and bent mesh and, as most of the items are old scrap, this kind of set piece can be made from old bits you have laying around, keeping the costs down.

What I’ll be aiming to do in the coming months is to show you how easily an objective, room, or even area can be created quite cheaply and easily to really add “gravitas” to any scenario. It may be something small and simple like the Flight Data Recorder, or something on a larger scale altogether, but by adding props - and even entire sets - to your game scenarios, you’re going to give everyone a far more “immersive” experience and a game that will be remembered and talked about for years to come! Watch this space! AA