irish airsoft magazine
Tokyo Mauri M.E.U. Review The Future of the IAA Rebel Airsoft Cork
Operation Tonga
CYMA G36C Review Airsoft Comms
www.sitrepmagazine.com
Editor’s
Welcome back to SitRep Magazine Welcome to the first issue of SitRep for 2012. Once more we’ve worked our fingers to the bones to bring you a magazine packed with useful information from news and reviews to technical instructions and information on sites. This issue comes out at a very important time for Irish Airsoft as we wait for the 2012 Irish Airsoft Association AGM and the future of the IAA itself looks to be in question. Inside I give my opinion on the situation as I see it. Whichever side of the fence you find yourself on, I think this is a very important situation which deserves our attention. Disagreement on the subject is far better than complete apathy so I hope every one of you puts in the effort to at least form an educated opinion. Also in SitRep this month we bring you news and reviews on new rifles, pistols and other pieces of Airsoft kit as well as games that we have been involved in. We also have an interview with Martin Fehily from Rebel Airsoft in Cork telling us about their site and future plans. Remember, if you have some news about a site that your involved in as an owner or a player we would love to hear from you. We also have an article on comms for Airsoft which is a subject which I know a lot of players (new and old alike) spend a lot of time worrying about, especially in the run up to big Airsoft events. We try to ease some of those worries for you and explain where we see comms coming in to the game of Airsoft. As always, thanks a million for choosing to read SitRep Magazine. The SitRep Team
Fabio, Keith & Damian The SitRep Team info@sitrepmagazine.com
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CONTENTS Issue 4 Airsoft News Dog Tagged Tokyo Mauri M.E.U. Review Operation Tonga Swiss Arms Multi Charger Review Airsoft Comms STI Duty One Review Burst Wizard Mosfet Review Rebel Airsoft Cork Site Interview CYMA G36C Review Gunny’s Assult Course the M14 part 2 The furture of the IAA
EDITOR:
Fabio Venturini Fabio@sitrepmagazine.com ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER:
Keith Richardson Keith@sitrepmagaizne.com COMMERCIAL & ACCOUNTS MANAGER:
Damian Dobbyn Damian@sitrepmagazine.com
Copyright here and abroad of all material (except where otherwise stated) is held by the publishers and the original copyright holders. No reproduction is permitted without prior consent. IMPORTANT: Airsoft is a combat simulation sport and as such involves risk of injury to oneself and others. Great care must be taken carrying out any such activities. Airsoft activities should only ever be carried out under proper supervision on a properly sanctioned Airsoft site with medically trained marshals on hand. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any injury, death, loss or damage which may result from undertaking Airsoft activities described in this publication. DISCLAIMER: The publishers make no representations, endorsements, guarantees or warranties concerning the products and/or services featured within this magazine. We expressly disclaim any and all liability relating to or arising from the sale, manufacture, distribution, use or misuse of such. Photographers Cover Design K. Richardson Sharpshooter Photography Keith Richardson
For advertising enquiries or to submit photographs or articles for publication please email us at info@sitrepmagazine.com
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AIRSOFT NEWS
NEW
LCT release a new AK model, the AKMSU NV This is a new version of their previous AKMSU, but unlike the old version this one features the correct 7.62x39mm metal magazine and also the appropriate flash hider. In conjuction with it’s release LCT also announced three more AK models comming soon. These are a new version of their AK74MN, an AK104 and the TK104. We look forward to seeing them as LCT make some great looking AK’s with a high standard of wood and metal finish.
DeepFire AT4 The AT4 is available in two versions, Airsoft and Dummy. The differences between these two are mainly in the feed system while Airsoft uses a DeepFire unique launch system and a varied design for the collectors in the Dummy version. Deepfire claim it is easy to operate and has quality metal for long-term storage and most improtant it can reach long range Specifications of the AT-4: Overall length: 1020mm Weight: 6.7kg Bore diameter:84mm Cartridge:bb shower / grenade launcher Outer tube:reinforced smoothbore fiberglass Sight:range indicator iron sights Muzzle velocity: ? fps
Z-Tactical releases the IPCS Headset series: “Professional IPSC headset, basic on CAMTAC I & COMTAC II, protect your hearing from gun shooting, to move more fledible without MIC function and communication wire.” Z latest electronic talk-thru headsets combine surround sound listening electronics with slim-line profile cup designs. The headsets usually have dual ear-cup microphones to let wearers hear ambient sounds 360’ along with the capability to suppress gunshots and other high impact noises. They also usually take 1 AA battery in each cup.
WS A-TACS FG Camo
“After over a year of development and input of countless tactical professionals, we are proud to introduce A-TACS FG (Foliage/Green) Camo. Utilizing numerous shades of green sampled directly from a variety of forested and transitional terrain elements combined with various shades of earth, A-TACS FG Camo was developed to be effective in a wide range of temperate environments..”
The Sitrep team have discussed this at lenght and it has devided the camp as such, some of us get the impression that this Camo will become as popular in the Airsoft community as Multi Cam and the rest are sitting ont he fence, regardless we’ll just have to wait and see, but we all do agree that it looks the “muts nuts”.
New M203s from ASG
ASG is now distributing two new M203s licensed by the original real steel manufacture Lewis Machine & Tool Company. The LMT M203 launchers are made with metal parts and have a metal barrel. The hand guard is made of reinforced fiber polymer and the metal trigger guard is included. They have quickdetach mounts and will fit on your normal RIS front. These M203s carry the authentic LMT markings and really do look the business. They are compatible with all 40mm Airsoft grenades.
NEWS A message from the IAA:
Irish Airsoft Association Annual General Meeting 2011
Dear Members,
The Irish Airsoft Association will hold its Annual General Meeting for 2011 on Saturday the 28th January 2012 in the Red Cow Business Centre at 2PM. This meeting is only open to Members who are fully paid up by 5pm on Friday 20th January 2012. google map location for The Red Cow Business Centre The committee will maintain a section in our forums for the AGM and the information you need to know about it. This will include Officer nominations, Motion proposals and publications. The operation of the AGM is legally bound by our Constitution and it applies strict timelines for certain aspects of the meeting. These are set out below: Motions for voting must be proposed and seconded in writing (AGM Forum, email, or letter) by 5PM on Sunday the 18th of December. After this point no further motions can be accepted. Election of officers for the 2012 committee will take place at the end of the meeting. Nominations for committee positions must be proposed and seconded in writing (AGM Forum, email, or letter) by 5PM on Sunday the 18th of Decemberber. All positions are open and we encourage as many people to stand as possible. When submitting nominations for election, motions for voting or seconding you must include your full name and IAA membership number. The meeting agenda and association financial report will be sent to all members before the 28th of December. The committee encourage all members and affiliates to attend this event. Affiliates are only allowed to vote, submit motions, nominate officers and second officers in their individual capacity as individual members. Affiliates in their own right have no standing so the owners need to be signed-up members before the cut off date. Best Regards The Committee
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even if you look rough
even if you look rough
Dog Tagged a place where you can share your best airsoft Photographs with the rest of the Irish Airsoft Community. If it’s you or your team in action, posing, funny or even chillin in the safezone send them in to us and get yourself tagged.
E S G
Except no substitutes Support your Sport Get out and game. . .
Live life on the trigger play Airsoft
Hobby Airsoft leaders in licensed airsoft
Hobby Airsoft is one of Ireland’s leading airsoft retailers, with an excellent reputation for customer service, availability of stock, as well as quality of goods. Hobby Airsoft specialise in replicas featuring complete trademarks under world-wide exclusive licensing from Cybergun, as well as an ever expanding range of high end manufacturers such as G&P, G&G, ARES, King Arms, ICS etc. Here at Hobby Airsoft we have just launched our official G&P section – in stock and available we have scores of parts, accessories and rifles, such as the Magpul MOE Carbine, Stoner MK23 LMG, Sentry, M16 and of course, the world-renowned G&P M120 motor! To view our full range of products please visit our walk-in retail outlet in Greenogue Business Park (Unit 10, Block 613), Rathcoole Co. Dublin. Our opening hours are: Mon – Sat: 10.00am – 18.00pm Sunday: 12.00pm – 17.00pm
www.HobbyAirsofter.com
Phone : +353 (0) 1257 3102 or +353 (0) 598623 889 Dublin : Unit 10, Block 613, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole Co. Dublin Kildare : Unit 2, Crookstown Business Park, Ballitore, Co. Kildare
Tokyo Marui
M.E.U.
Reviewed by Ruaidhri O’Connell
A pistol has a different meaning for different airsofters. For
some it is the aesthetic quality of the pistol. How “cool” it looks, or how close in design to the real steel version it has being manufactured. For other’s, it is how well it will perform in the field
of action for them. Some pistols fall either side of this divide, but some also manage to bridge the divide be it, they possess the “cool” factor but also possess the practical use needed when called upon in-game. One such pistol I encountered lately, which for me fulfilled these, was the Tokyo Marui M.E.U. Having not being blessed with hands the size of shovels, I have a
keen liking of the 1911 type pistols. A narrow, yet comfy, grip combined with all functions within a stumpy finger distance away suits me and it is a pistol form I feel comfortable with. This is quite an important issue for a lot of pistol owners. The build on the pistol is quite nice. Like all Marui pistols, the slide and main body is made from quality ABS plastic. Metal parts
of the pistol include the trigger, safety, inner barrel, hammer, slide release, guide rod and magazine. It comes with Novak engraved sights, which is a nice feature, but the lack of white dots can make target acquisition a bit harder in darker light. Another nice feature is the 3 hole competition style trigger. It adds a some-what more aggressive look to it. The magazine is of good build quality and can hold enough gas to empty the 28 round magazine quite easily. The FPS output was approx 300 fps when tested indoors. Now for the accuracy test, which is probably what most people are interested in. The weight of bb used was 0.23g. The target was a 20cm x 20cm section on a cardboard box. It must also be noted that the day in question was pretty cold one with a temperature of about 5-8 degree’s Celcius. The target was mounted around chest level. The distance I was aiming from was about 60 feet as this is around the range people will use their pistols when not using them as a primary or in CQB area’s. One test bb was fired beforehand to give myself an indication of trajectory. Aiming for centre of target I fired 6 bb’s with a break of about 20 seconds between each to mark and number hits on target. Bar one “flier”, all shots hit the target quite comfortably. Presuming this was a chest-sized target, I think it is
fair to say that you are not going to miss from close range. It also has an adjustable hop up, so a favoured distance can be dialled in for personal use. It must also be noted that the hop up rubber used was not brand new and would have had a couple of thousand rounds through it. So in conclusion, I would highly recommend this pistol if one was thinking of purchasing. Good looks, good build quality, a nicely weighted feel to it and consistantly good accuracy. For me it ticked all the boxes in what I require in the pistol’s I use.
Operatio A World War 2 Themed Objective Game hosted and run by Red Barn Airsoft
on Tonga This was Red Barns First World War 2 themed game. It took place on October 22nd . The game was loosely based on real world events set in and around 5/6 June 1945. To set the scene for the day; the Germans had been occupying France and well dug in. British and US forces were air dropped in and had a bit of a hike to get to their first objective, which was locating their ammo and medic supplies. These had been lost during the air drop. The Allied force soon found their supplies nestled under parachutes in the woods. They quickly consulted their map and planned an attack. On their to do list was to: Neutralise the 88’s that had a key location overlooking the beaches used for the D-Day landings. Attack and destroy the Hitler Youth 12th
Panzer Divisions’ garrison and to Blow up five of the seven main river bridges, while ensuring they held two of them for allied forces advancing through France. Their communication was limited to a pair of backpack walkie talkies. They had to decide on the best tactics to use in relation
to blowing the bridges. The Allied engineer had to plant the TNT and connect cable and run it back to a safe distance before connecting it to his detonator box and then blowing the bridge. The Allies moved around the site very stealthily and played a blinder. They had an uphill struggle against a numerically greater force of Axis troops. The Germans had control of their Divisional Head Quarters and numerous key strategic sites. With so many key objectives to defend the Germans did not have it easy. Their only form of communication was a pair of authentic Field Phones and 300 metres of cable. The German engineer had his day full continually trying to repair the lines of communication , which kept getting cut by either the Allies or the French Resistance.
It was really enjoyable to watch as the German commander had to keep sending runners out for intel and orders. Even more fun was seeing the German commander while on the field phones being cut off mid conversation, due to the lines being cut somewhere. The Panzer crew did a fantastic job both defending the Panzer and also getting quite a few kills with the tank: 17 to be precise. There was also a handful of French Resistance fighters. These guys played extremely well and generally messed with both sides and had some small objectives of their own to carry out. They brought a different dynamic to the game and really brought it to life with their character role playing and actions. The day went very well from all involved and resulted in the Allies completing nearly all of their missions. The Germans gave almighty resistance and wholeheartedly defended 100%. The game had quite a few specific props made especially for the day, such as two framed oil paintings with hidden maps under the canvas, back pack radios and
field telephones, TNT and detonator box and a Panzer IV tank to mention a few. But really it was the players on the day that should get the mention due to the fantastic effort put in by all with regard their load-outs and camo. Without their effort the game would not have felt near as good as it did. There will be a second WW2 game held, early in the new year, for those who would like to give it a try. WWW.REDBARNAIRSOFT.COM Email: bbs@redbarnairsoft.com
Swiss Arms Multi Charger This charger is quite simply one of the best chargers we have used. It is a multi battery type charger which means it will charge, NIMH, NiCad, Lipo and Pb(lead acid batteries. It comes with all the various leads you would need to connect your battery to the charger. It has Small Tamiya (Most common AEG connection) , it also has
the large Tamiya connector. It has a deans, for those of you who have this type and finally it has some good old fashioned crocodile clips.
tions and we suggest you read the manual thoroughly, but once you have mastered and programmed it to your required settings, the rest is very straight forward.
It comes with a two pin plug which you may choose to change to a three pin plug or just use an adapter. It plugs straight in to the socket and there is no need for any transformers.
It has very little operating noise unlike some intelligent chargers, (no loud cooling fan) and has noticeable beeps etc. when selecting though the menu. It is quite compact in size and has a bright blue display screen.
Initially it takes a bit of time to familiarize yourself with its func-
We have charged and
discharged both NIMH and NiCad batteries and it works very well. We have also used Lipo batteries and balanced then without any issues. One nice feature is that before charging or balancing a battery , the unit performs a battery check to make
sure all the cells are intact and not damaged. The display screen shows various information during any cycle , including duration of charge, voltage and milliamps. All in all, this is one cracking little charger and with all the connector leads included
in the package, at â‚Ź70 , it is extremely good value in our eyes. We cannot recommend this charger highly enough for what ever level of Airsoft you find yourself in weather it be a player or site owner.
Some manufacturer details: Integrated Lithium Battery Balancer Microprocessor Controlled Data Storage (up to 5x batteries) Delta Peak Sensitivity 12 / 220 V Charges all NiMh, NiCd, LiPo, LiFe, LiIon etc Fast Charge, Balance Charge and Discharge functions Comes with both Tamiya & Deans Connecters Comes with mains plug (two-pin) Attachment to charge large and small type batteries included
Available from Hobby Airsoft @ http://www.hobbyairsofter.com/ Airsoft-Accessories/Batteriesand-Chargers/Multi-BatteryCharger-Lipo-Nimh
Airsoft Comms On almost every “newbie airsofter” thread that I see online, one of the pieces of gear which people consistently insist is essential to have is a walkie-talkie. Comms and Airsoft go hand in hand, this is obvious. Anyone who has played a game of Airsoft, be it a skirmish or full on MilSim, where comms have been used properly will tell you that they can be a complete game changer. The operative word here though is “properly”, because used incorrectly they can spoil things for everyone listening in on the channel and will most likely lead to people just turning their comms off for the duration of the game. So, who really does need to invest in a comms rig? What is the right way to use it in game, and more importantly, what is the wrong way to use it? In my opinion comms are of limited use during a skirmish. Unless you play with a team or regularly play your skirmishes with a team like structure of like minded individuals who are not in to simply running around like mad men gunning down everything that comes in to their crosshairs. Before I go on though – let me assure you that there is absolutely nothing wrong with running around like a mad man gunning down everything that comes in
to your crosshairs. It’s not something I would recommend in your day to day life but this is essentially why we are all playing Airsoft. The use of comms lends itself more to a structured game, and ideally to players who choose to play as part of a team with a definite hierarchy or command structure. So unless that is you, I wouldn’t recommend investing in comms just yet. A good radio set up is not cheap. For something effective you will most likely want to choose a PMR446 set (PMR446 (Private Mobile Radio, 446 MHz) is a part of the UHF radio frequency range that is open without licensing for personal usage in most countries of the European Union.), and you will want something with decent range – say around 5KM. Now, you are unlikely to every be using your radio at that distance but a set with that sort of range will have a powerful enough signal to get
through the barriers that you are likely to encounter on your average Airsoft site such as hills, heavy tree lines, buildings, walls etc. For something with these specs you are most likely talking about spending between €50 and €150 depending on the radio model and the kind of deals that you can find – I personally bought my Motorola XTNiD off eBay second hand for €75, but when pricing it up I found it being sold new for anywhere from €100 to over €170. Once you have the radio the cost doesn’t end there. You’ll also want a headset. You can pick these up cheap from Chinese websites. The standard price will probably be around €15 to €20 once you factor in the shipping cost but the thing is, you’re generally getting what you pay for and €15 isn’t a whole lot to pay for a good radio headset. I’ve gone through about four of these cheap
headsets in the last two years. When you consider the total I would have been better off buying something more expensive which would have lasted me longer – but you work with the budget that you have. One of those fancy headsets would have cost me about €80 – so the price of my radio again. Now you can see the price starts to add up. This is why my personal recommendation would be that if you think you are going to want to get in to MilSim or more realistic, themed games, you should probably spend some of this cash of some midcap magazines first of all. Midcaps are an essential for anyone who wants to play MilSim games and they are much more important for a new player than a fancy comms rig. Once you have played a few MilSim or themed games you’ll know
if this is the style of play for you and at this point you should start looking for your radio gear. There’s a lot to choose from. My advice is to do some thorough research. Ask other players who you see with radio gear. Look in to online reviews. As mentioned above you will want something that works on PMR446, but you will also want a set with programmable sub channels. Most games with designated radio channels will be using sub channels so without having this option your radio will more often than not be sort of useless. Proper Usage So, you’ve gone ahead and blown a big wad of cash on the coolest walkie-talkie and headset that you could find and now you’re eager to get it in to a game. What next? Well the first thing is that you
need to read those instructions. These things can be tricky to set up on the right channel and the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around with your radio when you should be taking cover. When you get the radio home for the first time have a sit down with it and read through the instructions carefully – make sure you know what you are doing. On your first game using comms my advice would be to keep your mouth shut. Don’t even try to use them the first time out – listen to how the more experienced players use their comms. Also listen to how the less experienced players (who haven’t read this article) use their comms and note the difference. You’re going to notice a difference in style between the two – the more effective communications come from the guys who use their radios sparingly. Their transmissions are clear, concise and to the point and they only make them when necessary. The guys who don’t know what they are doing are probably on their constantly. Talking about things that are either totally irrelevant or which cannot be of assistance to anyone else. You will soon tire of listening to these people and you might even feel compelled to turn the damn thing off. The great thing about Airsoft is we get to dress up in camo gear and use cool looking replica guns. Another great thing about Airsoft is you get to shoot at people without actually being in the army. And because you are not in the army, you don’t need to use army jargon or remember complex protocols. But you know what? The military use this stuff because it works so there is something to learn from this without letting it go to your head. The most useful guide I have seen to using my radio has been the TV show Generation Kill. I’ve watched the entire series at least six times at this point. The attention to detail on the show was really top class and that attention extended to the radio
chatter – in fact a few of the episodes end with some extended radio chatter playing over the credits. What I noticed was how effective radio messages were calm, clear and unambiguous. When sending a message, be calm. Press the transmit button, pause so that the channel is open, and then deliver your message. If you don’t do this the first part of your message is most likely not going to be transmitted and no one will have a clue what you are talking about. Next, remember that there are a lot of people listening in on the channel, most of whom are busy doing something and may not immediately be paying attention. Start off by addressing who it is you want to send a message too and telling them who you are. If they are your squad leader or team commander this step will draw their full attention to your message so that it doesn’t have to be repeated. By knowing who you are they will also have an idea of your position in the game and what this message might relate to so they can already be thinking about what is about to come next in the right context. You should next indicate what type of message this is. Is it a situation report? Is it a report on enemy movement? Is it a question about what to do next? Let them know this. Then, deliver the details, and finally let them know that your message has ended. That’s it. The next part of the equation is up to them. Easy, isn’t it? So, that’s about it. Listen and learn. Firstly, about the type of gear you should buy. Secondly, listen and learn about how to use your comms. And finally, listen and learn from what you are hearing over your radio. If the person on the other end is doing things right, you’re about to hear something important that could be about to win that game for you.
STI Duty One
Reviewed by Fabio Venturini The STI Duty One is manufactured by KWA and distributed by ASG so straight away you know you are getting a well made piece of kit which has undergone some rigorous quality assurance, and as such you can be reasonably confident that you are going to happy with your purchase. The pistol is of mostly metal con-
struction but with the desert model which we received for review, this isn’t immediately obvious and that’s not because the looks aren’t spot on, it’s simply because at first it does feel very light when compared to other large pistols of this type. The magazine changes that impression somewhat but more on that in a moment. The externals on this pistol are very nice although the trades might not be to everyone’s taste. The various buttons and catches are easy to operate and reach and the safety is ambidextrous, meaning this is suitable for south paws too. There is a small rail area towards the front so you can attach a tactical light or laser and the hand grip is solid with good traction meaning the pistol is unlikely to slip from your hand when things get a little sweaty in CQB games. The pistol is quite large though meaning it’s probably not going to be suited for those with smaller hands. It’s also something that you are going to have to
make considerable space for on your webbing or tac-vest with the addition of a suitable holster. The sights are well marked, making aiming very easy and as I said, the weight of the pistol is not so much that you are going to find aiming down it for long periods to be a pain in the wrist. Now to the magazine: as you’d expect from KWA, the green gas magazine is very solidly built – I can’t see this getting easily damaged by falls during a skirmish, but it does add a fair amount to the overall weight of the pistol. It is also very easy to fill without blasting your gas all over the place as the nozzle is well placed and protected. There are problems though. The magazine is of a very narrow design. Now on the plus side, this means that if you choose to carry a few mags you will most likely be able to fit two or three in to a mag pouch in which you might only normally expect to fit a single magazine. The downside of this is that the mag doesn’t hold a hell of a lot of BBs. I was able to load 13 before things started to
get bunged up. Depending on your style of play, this might be a problem or something that will never bother you but it is something you will need to consider. The guys in Main Irish Airsoft, who gave us a loan of this pistol for review, warned me that the slide needs to be cocked back slightly when loading the magazine in order to avoid snapping a small bar inside the magwell. I really don’t know why the pistol would be designed in this way but this isn’t the first such story I have heard about a KWA so it’s something to be aware of. I have to admit though that when I took the pistol out for a test fire I totally forgot about this and slammed the magazine home with some force. Nothing untoward happened though and the pistol fired beautifully so perhaps you have to be a bit unlucky for this problem to affect you. The
blow back and grouping were impressive when firing the pistol and although I personally prefer to skirmish with something more compact like a Glock 26, I have to say that although I wasn’t totally enamoured by this pistol to begin with, it did grow on me and I’m thinking that if this is your type of pistol most buyers would be happy with their purchase. The STI Duty One also comes with a small tool for adjusting your hop up which you’ll want to keep tucked away in a safe place so you don’t lose it, but from the box I saw no need for any adjustments to be made to the hop up straight off.
Burst Wizard Mosfet This little gizmo enables you to set burst rounds to your gun without the need for any modification. Well how does it work? Simple; just plug it in line between your battery and your gun. It has tamiya connectors so it is very straight forward. By turning a little screw on the unit it will adjust your rate of fire from single shot to about 8/9 shots per trigger pull. It does not however give you active braking in the conventional sense, due to the fact it does not replace your trigger contacts neither is it hard wired and soldered in. It is a handy little device for quickly converting your gun to fire on burst or semi. For the price of these plug in burst wizards, personally, I would prefer a hard wired mosfet, but these allow you to put them in to any of your guns without any hassle.
Rebel
Airsoft Cork
SitRep recently had the opportunity to put some questions to Martin Fehily of Rebel Airsoft in Cork about the site and its players. SitRep: When did you first get introduced to Airsoft and how long was it before you decided to establish Rebel Airsoft?
clay pigeon shooting for team building and stag /hen parties at our Bandon site and were approached by some Airsoft players, who asked us if we would be interested in running a trial Airsoft game as there was no outdoor site in Cork City area.
Martin: l first got involved in Airsoft about two and a half years ago. We had been running as Rebel Adventures for about five We already had a years doing do laser game area so we combat, archery and were the likely op-
tion for them. They liked the site and it went from there. We run skirmish games every two weeks and try do a MilSim type game every 3rd week. Before that, I personally had never heard of Airsoft, but now I am well hooked and my only complaint is that as site organiser I don’t get to play enough
SitRep: Can you give our readers a brief history of the Club and an introduction to the people involved? Martin: We are running now for two and a half years at our woodland site and at the moment are looking into opening an indoor CQB site. The club is based around roughly 40 regular players with some long time players who have played at different site in Ireland and the UK, and a few guys who are only playing since we started skirmishes. We generally have a few new faces ever week. Player ages vary from 14 to 50, with a few different nationalities. We play every two weeks and play from 10am till 4.30pm. The games include everything from capture the flag to bomb the base, hostage rescue, and protect the VIP. We try to make sure the players are getting value for money and if everybody leaves happy then we are happy. Games are run by myself, Joe O’Connell and Sean Deveraux (owner of Rebel Adventures) so when players come to us, they know they will have a full days playing and not get asked to marshal.
SitRep: What in your opinion are the highlights of the past year for Rebel Airsoft ? Martin: The highlights from the last year was our 24 hour game. It was held last July and we had 80 players. We ran it as a MilSim, with both teams camping in their team bases for the full 24hours. It was a great event with everything from full on frontal assaults, prisoner capture, traitors and team swapping and even a roadblock where cars and civilians (played by Rebel Adventures staff) were stopped and searched. The night assault on the village was the best battle I have ever seen. It was a great day out and we already have planned another one for next July (see our event page on
ent areas at every skirmish, just so it not the same game over and over again. SitRep: What are your personal favorite areas of the site to play ?
Rebel Airsoft’s Facebook page for details). Also our charity game last month in which 72 players took part and raised over €2000 for Irish cancer Society and Alzheimer’s Association was another highlight of the year. SitRep: We see that your Site is one of the largest in Ireland what is the largest capacity you think it could hold in one game? Martin: Well the site is 110 acres of woodland with three different play areas, so we can cater for any amount of players. The main area would be ‘the village’, which has the watch-tower, a command tent and four bunkers. Most of our games are set around that, but we do play at least two differ-
Martin: My personal favorite is the area we call the ‘heavy woods’. It’s a area we haven’t touched; no bases, trenches, nothing - just natural forest. We usually do a raise the flag game in there, where a team must control all three flags for 20mins to win the game, but you can’t see one flag from the other so things are always changing. Parts of the wood are so thick that the enemy could be a few feet from you and not be seen, so you need to be always on guard. I love that kind of game.
SitRep: What do your local members prefer: Milsim scenarios or Skirmishing ? Martin: A bit of both. Some guys love the MilSim scenarios, others just skirmishing. I think that goes on all sites. It’s down to the players. Personally I love the MilSim games. We try to use the whole site for these games, so you could have three or four firefights going on at the same time. We run a different scenario every time and players never know what to expect when they arrive on site. I write the Mil-
Sim scenarios myself and have had no complaints so far. SitRep: What does 2012 hold for Rebel Airsoft with regards to site development and Games ? Martin: We see the sport growing with new players trying Airsoft every week. As I mentioned, we are hoping to open an indoor CQB site in near future and have plans to do a lot more work on the site very soon, including building up the village area and building a second village in another part of the site. We have a great bunch
of guys on site, who help out with the work and are always coming up with game ideas. With new players coming to every event, we are hoping for bigger and better events next year. We also want to do a few trips to other sites around the country and even the UK.
CYMA G36c
CYMA G36c Review Okay, full disclosure here – I do not like G36 AEGs. Right from the first time I used one in my very first game of Airsoft they just seemed a bit crappy to me. The shape doesn’t do it for me, and the fact that most of the G36s that you are going to see out there have been battered by a long trail of first time players really doesn’t help their case. However, you cannot deny that they generally do make the perfect first AEG purchase. They are dependable and they can take
a beating. They are also a type of AEG that many of the older Airsofters still have lying around and have generally modified up the wazoo to make them in to something really quite special. What I’m getting at here is that I’m beginning to think that my first impression was a bit wide of the mark on these AEGs. The new G36c from CYMA has sort of blown that first impression out of the water for me. Okay, I still think it’s sort of ugly – but then the German’s (who build the real steel version) aren’t exactly known for beautiful design aesthetics – they build things that are functional and made to last. In the true spirit of the RS version, this new G36 from Chinese manufacturer CYMA is well and truly built like a brick. Made entirely from a re-informed polymer
rather than the usual ABS which the standard G36 will usually be made from, this AEG has a nice, dull finish which doesn’t give off any shine at all. There are no trades on the body of the rifle, the only graphics that appear are those on the fire selector and they are printed on nice and clearly. The build quality on this AEG really is top class. While it may not win any prizes for looks it is probably the most sturdily built AEG I have ever picked up. Even in comparison to top end AEGs, the solid build is remarkable. I have no doubt that this AEG really would last a lifetime, making it an ideal choice for new players, those who want a reliable backup and especially for sites looking to buy some dependable rental gear.
The magazine is of a similar quality – it’s a slightly see through plastic but is heavy and robust and slaps in to the magwell in a very satisfying manner. The CYMA G36c comes with a battery charger and a nun-chuck style battery which fits in to the front of the rifle’s body. It comes with plenty of rail area on the carry handle meaning you can take your pick of optics from a red dot up to a full length sniper scope – so the option for upgrading this AEG for CQB or long range purposes is definitely there. There is also a smaller rail on the
bottom of the barrel allowing for the placement of a light, laser or a fore grip, although you would struggle to fit anything larger than that in this position. The stock folds to the right and snaps in to position nicely, meaning you won’t be worried about it flapping around if you choose to play with the stock folded. The iron sights which come with the rifle are also well fitted and are very easy to use.
This AEG fires as you might expect. It’s not exactly breath taking but the version 3 gearbox means that it is dependable. The range and accuracy are very respectable and the rate of fire with the stock battery is quite good. All of these things can of course be improved on greatly with a little time and effort put in to upgrading if you so wish. But from the box this is a very solid skirmisher and spending money on upgrades kind of defeats the purpose of having a solid budget AEG which is good to go straight out of the box. At the very least though you will probably want to get a second battery to make sure you can make it through a full day of gaming. The CYMA G36c is available from Main Irish Airsoft.
WARNING Restricted Area Authorised personnel ONLY
Please be aware no liability will be accepted for any damage done to AEG’s or injury caused to life or limb. The information that follows is offered as a guide to maintain your AEG. Remember, if in doubt always seek out some help! Don’t be afraid to ask, if there’s one thing about the airsoft community (family), airsofters will always recommend someone they trust to help with your beloved AEG. Now, that said,
FOLLOW ME!
G E A s ’ y n n u G o t e m o c l e W e s r u o c t l u a s as Where we will teach you skills and knowledge to help you overcome the assault course “that is AEG repairs”.
Cyber Gun M14 (Part 2) On this month’s assault course we have the second paart to the Cyber Gun M14 - cyma m14- note these models are not the same as the Classic Army or G&G M14. We will assault those variants another day. As always safety comes first so take your AEG to a safe place with the magazine removed and fire two or three shots on single fire to clear the barrel. This also puts the piston in the most forward position making it easier to take down the mech box. Okay guys, this is a serious take down and is not for the faint hearted so study these images well before you decide whether to attempt this assault course.
Locate and remove this small trigger spring, also remove small black screw from the white plastic arm that operates the trigger select, turn the box over.
Good luck.
Remove these four Philip screws from the trigger housing. Carefully remove the 2 small springs.
Now very carefully, lift the trigger housing cover. Pay attention to the small parts inside, try to leave them in position as you lift the cover, making note of their position.
Alternatively, you can cheat by loosening all four screws but only remove the bottom 2 and very carefully remove the trigger.
Now locate 5 mec box screws
Now remove these 5 mec box screws.
Now insert fine screw driver through rear of the mec box, pressing down to hold spring guide and spring in place and lift the lid off the mec box.
At this stage, it is a good idea to remove mec box parts in order to clean away horrible grease, pay attention to the shims on either side of your gears, to remove each gear carefully. Making sure there are no shims stuck to the grease .
Pay close attention to the position to the auntie reverse latch located in the lower left hand of the mec box.
With mec box cleaned, refit the gears, a small amount of grease on the shaft of each gear as you put it back in place is required. Don’t worry about your tappet plate spring (long spring in image) can be fitted later.
Now, re-insert spring as in image and use fine screw driver to help hold the spring and spring guide in place.
Make sure your piston is in the right position, teeth facing down towards the gears. Tracks lined up.
Now replace cover, you may need with a pointy screwdriver, to help the gears line up with the bearings.
Replace motor and all screws.
Now for the fun bit, carefully insert the trigger under the guard, as I have said already this is a little cheat and may not work. You may have to remove the cover.
Now replace the tappet place spring as in image.
It is tricky to push in, you may need to use a screw driver.
Now replace silver trigger cover.
Now fit the mag well
And replace the Philips screw and silver body pin, as in top right hand corner of mec box
Now fit upper receiver.
Now carefully, re-insert the barrel, note this goes in at a slight angel before you straighten it.
Now refit the bolt breach cover.
Now fit the dumee gas cylinder piston.
Now fit the barrel lock, check out the pin on the outer barrel and the hole in the barrel lock before assembling so you understand how these two go together.
Now carefully lower the upper receiver into the wooden stock, making sure your loom does not get fouled up. Also, watch out for the fire select plastic arm at the rear of the receiver as this can easily be broken. Once in place, lock home with the trigger guard. Happy shooting.
Irish Airsoft
IAA & e h t f o e r u t u F e h t d n a & written by Fabio
It’s been almost a year now since the launch of SitRep Magazine, and what a year it has been. 2011 was a pretty exciting year for the SitRep team, we managed to get the magazine going and it received way more recognition than we could ever have hoped for. Enough about us though, what else was going on in Irish Airsoft in 2011? Irish Airsoft started off on some shaky ground in 2011 with some serious controversy surrounding the Irish Airsoft Association. Without going in to too much detail (all of which you can find online in the IAA forums at www.irishairsoft.ie), irregularities in the cases of some memberships were discovered and an investigation was launched by the new incoming committee. Unfortunately, as so often happens with the Airsoft community in Ireland, a lot of online rumour and back biting seemed to start off almost immediately when perhaps the best thing to do would have been to wait for the investigation to be carried out before people started getting too upset. The incoming committee had a rough start to their term in office and the IAA got a bit of a black eye in the view of many members and prospective members alike. While any scandal is of course bad news for an association like the IAA, perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of this whole malarkey was the poor light which it painted the IAA in for many people who were unaware of the good work it had been doing for a long time for Irish Airsoft. It’s no exaggeration to say that Irish Airsoft would certainly not be where it is today, and in all likelihood may not even exist anymore, if it wasn’t for
the tireless work carried out by the IAA and the people who worked as committee members and in supporting roles over the last few years. From liaising with the Department of Justice, to advising new site owners and dealing with any bad press which the sport has gotten, the IAA has always been on the ball when it comes to protecting our sport. From the outside though, 2011 has looked a lot different. For many members and non-members alike, the scandal at the start of the year was pretty much all that they heard of the IAA in 2011. We’ve all been waiting for a year now to hear the findings of the investigation which are due to be presented at the next AGM. To me seems like far too long a time for paid up members to find out what has been going on with an association which is so important to their favourite hobby. Obviously the general business of the IAA has been going on all year, but very few people have heard anything about it, and so as we approach the next AGM at the end of January we find ourselves in the position of having no nominations for the 2012 committee and a scramble going on to find people willing to take up the necessary roles. We are definitely looking at the need for an Emergency General Meeting to be called in order to address this matter now so it looks like the IAA will be having just as dra-
matic a start to 2012 as it did to 2011. Drama is not something that you generally want from something like the IAA though. The future of the IAA is on very shaky ground indeed. In the last couple of weeks a proposal has surfaced online concerning what might be done to save the IAA. Past, but no longer serving, committee member Richard Smith has brought a proposal to the membership from a number of retailers and site owners from around the country suggesting that commercial members, or affiliates, be given permission to run for committee posts. This would require a change to the IAA’s constitution as with rules as they currently stand, people with a commercial interest in the sport are not allowed to work on the committee or have a vote in IAA decisions. The new proposal, should it be brought up and approved for a vote at the AGM, could be voted in at the EGM when it is held. For the first time this would allow commercially interested parties, such as the owners of Airsoft shops and sites, to do their part in the running and maintaining of the IAA’s work. To many, including myself, it appears that relying purely on the work of players to take care of the association is not working right now. While this had worked for the first few years of the IAA – and the workload taken on and what was achieved by those players who chose to come forward and work for Airsoft has been truly remarkable – it now seems to be failing. A mixture of apathy and disdain about the IAA has clearly had an effect on the number of players willing to take part – as demonstrated by the lack of nominations for the 2012 committee. Whether it is because they see our sport as no longer needing the IAA, an active distrust of the IAA following the 2011 scandal or any number of other reasons which one hears about, the will of the players to come forward and take on the responsibility of the IAA seems to have disappeared. This new proposal, should it be passed, would mean that people who have an actual financial stake in Airsoft will give their time to making the IAA work. To me, this makes sense. These people all
depend on the future development of Airsoft in Ireland for their livelihoods so it only seems right that they should have a say in how the governing body for Airsoft decides that development should progress. They are also the ones who need to keep their businesses in line with how the law relates to Airsoft and so their involvement in the IAA and its relationship with the Department of Justice also seems to make a lot of sense. Of course there are problems with having commercial entities involved in what was set up as a players association. UK Airsoft has seen the problems that this can bring up (have a look online for the problems with the UKARA if you’re not already familiar with the situation) so the founders of the IAA were right in their wish to keep retailers out of the association. The time for us to worry about such things is passed though. Irish Airsoft is on steady enough legal ground right now thanks to the work of the IAA. Involving commercial parties in the IAA at this point will most likely just mean that instead of having to give time up from their jobs and obligations to run the IAA, some committee members will now actually see the running of the IAA as an important part of keeping their businesses safe. By the looks of the discussion raging online right now it would appear that many people who have either been long time players, or have previously worked with the IAA agree with the proposal. Many others do not though. To me, it looks like it is the way to go if we are to continue having an IAA. A mixed committee of players and commercial parties would seem like the best compromise in the face of the current crisis. The IAA needs to hear from players like you though. Get on to www.irishairsoft.ie and let them know what you think. If you are a paid up member, go to the AGM and cast your vote. While Irish Airsoft may be doing okay right now, we don’t know when its future may depend on the IAA again. Full disclosure: Both Keith Richardson and Damian Dobbyn of the SitRep team are owners of Irish Airsoft sites and their names appear on the proposal letter concerning the IAA constitution change. This article is the opinion of the editor only, as a player and a paid up member of the IAA with no financial interest in the Airsoft industry (editing SitRep is an extension of my Airsoft hobby and not something for which I get paid).
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