Twice19

It's not getting lost in the woods...it's a tactical recon of all the routes to and from respawn. I've spend many games re-enacting Blair Witch, walking around "I'm so lost...I swear I've seen this tree before...I'm just walking round in circles...HIT!...where's respawn again?" All in, sounds like a good first game. Good that you found a role that you like as support/medic. Some of the most fun games I've ever had a rarely fired a shot - but getting stuck in another way (medic/ninja/POW) can always be a laugh. :-)

I normally give up using their website, but been in a few times to the actual store. Not the most friendly people I've ever met, but they seem to know what their talking about. Always found it's a good place to go to handle potential guns and get a feel for them (and then buy then cheaper online 😕...) I used to buy a lot of gear from Z1 back in the day and I never had any problems with them. I've heard some bad reviews about them recently though. Bit peeved about their extortion on P&P at the moment. They wanted £7 P&P for a mask that only cost £15! Stupidly, I still paid it rather than ebay-ing and risking getting a cheap n nasty knock-off with no protection :-/

Wolf Armouries, in Camden, is your best bet for a shop (that I know of). Generally, I get everything I need online. There's a lot of info on here about which retailers are good to deal with, who to avoid (Don't ever buy anything from any website like JustBBGuns - you'll be broke and have nothing to show for it "allegedly"). If your not sure if someone is legit/worthwhile - we've all been buying for a long time so someone will able to help. With a few exceptions (TaiwanGuns) it's a good idea to keep purchasing within the UK. Customs can be a nightmare. But, as mentioned, get yourself UKARA first so you don't have to run around with a Blue Monster 😃 Where in Kent are you? There's a few good sites down this way, so be good to get to know people who are local to you so you don't walk into a game totally alone!

The mall is a brilliant site. I played there many time when I was active. The crew who ran/run it were brilliant marshals and made the most of a unique site. As for Sandpit, it was sold to me as "the only problem with the Sandpit is that it makes every other site seem rubbish". If you get to the Sandpit I'll see you there (you won't see me though - I'm like a ninja). Burrow your mates AEG and get a few games in. Once you've found your "home site", you'll have a better idea of what sort of kit you want to get. Generally, were a nice bunch. Get chatting to the guys in the safezones, mostly were happy to show off kit. Handle a few guns (with permission, of course) and find what you like the feel of. There is no "best gun", just what you prefer. There's more to the gun than you see on the websites, so it's a good idea to handle before you buy. If you can get to Wolf Armouries in Camden, they're good for talking you through - or into - kit and guns. Disclaimer: The ninja comment is totally unjustified and a complete falsification of the fact that I am, actually, useless at sneaking anywhere

UKARA only covered the sale of a RIF, not the ownership. If you (somehow) already have a RIF that's not 2-Toned, you don't need UKARA to play. Only to buy another. To get it, you'll need to play 3 times in no more than 90days at a Site where the Owner can "sign off" your UKARA. Don't worry about playing with a RIF if your not UKARA'd. I don't actually have UKARA, as I'm playing with the kit I bought pre-VCRA/UKARA. Having got back into the sport very recently (infact I'm still getting my kit back into working order - I've not played in almost 7yrs) I haven't yet got myself UKARA'd (yet). Check out the Stickies on this forum. There's a lot of good info about UKARA, and general info, including an Airsoft Map to help you find a site 😃 Sometimes it's worthwhile doing a bit of travelling to get to a site that's worth playing at. I used to/ plan to have a local site I play at (UCAP Sandpit), but once in a while take a road trip to somewhere else (The Mall, Urban Assault etc) to mix things up a bit :-) Anyway, welcome to the last sport you'll ever play. :-)

Thanks Scarathe, I was thinking that different versions were newer/updated versions of the same AEG Gearboxes (there v1/2/3 for m4s etc). That makes life easier though. :-) I can't believe I fell for the bloody google link! Git! 😃 (I did google it, but kept getting vids of how to open up gearboxes 😟)

How do you know what Version gearbox an AEG has? I've got a JG M4 that's around 7-8yrs old (dusted off and getting working after a 6yr break from the game). It's running fine now, but it's totally stock so may need some fine tuning soon. But, I've no idea what Version it is and a lot of parts are specific to V2/V3 Gearboxes. Thanks :-)

Exactly my thoughts when I was going to swap my a Tamiya for Deans. I went down the route of "YouTube vids make it look really easy...so why not give it a go...".Fortunately I had a wave common sence before taking out the wire cutters :-/ After reading on here that only LiPo really benefit from Deans - and there's not much to gain from doing it if running NiHm - my AEG is still internally stock and still working. (For now) I know, I'm going to get lynched for staying NiHm - but I've never had a problem with them. And I don't have a small fortune lying around to buy a new LiPo Charger.

Once the mask is done, any chance of some photos? I've got an old Cactus Hobbies Mask that's boring OD at the moment - so I may be after a little custom work on it too 😃 You've got some serious talent! We'd better get in quick before you realise and hike your prices up :-)

For your first run out, "casual" gear will be fine. The only problem with jeans is that if you get wet, they'll take all day to dry - and be very uncomfortable to play in. If you've got something lightweight to stick over the top - or waterproofs to keep in your bag - it's a good idea (I never play without a set of Goretex in my boot - I don't like being soggy and miserable). Hats aren't essential, but a beanie will do fine if you need it. Gloves are a good buy. Nothing fancy - I wear cheap Mountain Biking Gloves from Halfords. But a shot to the fingertip or knuckle will sting like a f####r, so something is better than nothing. Once you've had a couple of games you'll get a feel for your play style. Get yourself a nice gun you like and a decent set of eye/face pro first. There's a huge variety of camo and kit out there - so spend some time having a look around for what you like. For the most part, camo isn't that effective at airsoft. IMHO, it's just to complete the look and feel of it. I wear the cheapest DPM I can find - quick drying, very comfortable, cheap to replace. Best bit of advice though...it's a game, enjoy it your way.

From experience of NAE...spot on. I wouldn't say the games are particularly bad...just their not particularly good either. I've played a couple of times and found the games are just a standard skirmish, except with more hunting around to find people. The site is so big that even with 2000 players, your more likely to run into little groups for quick firefights that anything big and impressive. The social aspect is pretty good - but i prefer a smaller Sunday skirmish at a local site. If you do go to NAE, I'd recommend going with a team. If your on your own, you'll find yourself stranded in the woods on your own. Infact, a couple of times this was me - getting lost trying to find my team after a respawn :-/ It was many years ago I last player NAE, so in recent years they may have improved. But it never wow'ed me enough to go back. The second (and last) time I went was only because I won 2 Tickets :-)

^^ what he said. It's been a long time since I used Hi-Caps, but from what I remember it take a lot to "overwind" them to an extent of damage. The sound will change from "bzzzz-bzzzz", to ""bzzz-click-bzzz-click" when you wind. Once it's clicking, your done. I seem to remember the mechanism gets pretty stiff it's it's overwound, so if your putting extra pressure on it to turn it - stop.

Has anyone got a practical review of the Hong Kong Police Vest? I've always loved the look of it, but can't find any reviews of whether it's actually any good to use. (Using m4 variant in FIBUA/CQB) Currently I've for the LA Vest which is good for what I need - but I fancy an upgrade.

HubicPair, Don't bother with spending out to upgrade the internals. Put in a high speed motor and the biggest (voltage) LiPo you can find. It will only fire once, but when it does it will probably be fun. Then explode. Seriously though, I've never had the need for uber-high ROF. I'm a pretty poor shot at the best it times so I need to save my ammo!

Maybe there is, but we just can't see them in *their* camo! Seriously though, go with what you like the look of. I use DPM & Black Vest. But that's mainly because DPM is cheap. Fleck and Black does look pretty good though. I tend to use Flecktarn.co.uk for a lot of my gear. Never had any issues with them.

You need to wait until you have UKARA; because you will be manufacturing a RIF. If you were to use some Scrim Netting to camo it up, that is fine as long as you only do it when your on site (camo it when you get there, take it off before you leave). Once you have UKARA; spray away :-)

Yes, it was an ebay thing. For a silly moment; I was thinking M-Series was along the same lines as version 1/2/3 gearboxes etc. :-/

My usual tactic for grenades is not to retreat from them; but instead charge the room they were thrown from. It's usually the last thing people expect, if you have several team-mates doing it with you 😃 Worst case, your heading to respawn - which you would anyway with the 'nade. So take some people out with you!

D-Boys crane stock. It's just occurred to me that M-Series must mean M4's/M16's etc etc. Idiot moments :-/

What is an "M-Series" AEG? And how would I know if my age is an M-Series? Looking to get a new stock but the one I'm after is for M-Series! Help! Thanks :-)

I was watching some gameplay vids from The Mall (teasing myself for a game up there in the summer). In the particular video there was an instance where; Player *A* puts a Dynatec into a room, follows it in and gets shot by Player *B* When he comments that *B* should have taken the hit, *B* argues that the throw was over the knee and therefore an illegal throw - so he wasn't going to accept it. I know that The Mall have specific rules on BFG use, but it got me thinking; Where do you stand on taking "illegal" hits. For example, BFG's that were thrown 'over the knee'; cardboard pyro that fizzles out and doesn't actually go off, etc? Personally I would take the hit regardless, but speak to the guy/a marshal about the throw after the game. Or just laugh and take it anyway in the "fizzle out" of cardboard. Thoughts? (Deliberately leaving out the name of The Players, the people aren't the point of this, just the situation).

Looking into VCRA, it identifies Air Weapons and Imitation Firearms as two different things to be controlled - which is probably why you can buy an air rifle with no problems. I admit it's a flawed system. I'm not sure on the technical, or legal, side of as to why. Both are, admirably, RIF's. But the people who write these laws have probably never even heard of Airsoft prior to the VCRA being introduced. I was always under the impeasion that the limitations in RIF's wasn't due to kids owning - but people buying RIFs and *apparently* using them in robberies etc (whether this ever actually happened - I don't know). I'll admit I may be wrong - this is from memory of something which was introduced around 10yrs ago.

I do have a very shiny view of the world. Maybe I should have said "I'd like to think that 99% of players..."

Definately better than the alternative, which was an all-out ban on RIFs etc. I've been playing since before VCRA & UKARA when we could pick up an AEG from anywhere - no questions asked. The VCRA is hastily prepares and poorly written - but that's politics. And yes, UKARA, does have some loopholes that can be exploited if your that way inclined - but airsoft is a sport reliant on honesty, so 99% of players don't/won't exploit the loophole(s) just to get a new gun a little early. But the original proposal was a full ban which would have killed off Airsoft or anything remotely like it. Personally, I think it's better to have a system that isn't perfect - but we can work with; than no system and no sport at all.

Spaz, was your dog ok? I'm one of "them guys"; don't really care much about people - we can look after ourselves. Hurt a (mine or someone else's) dog...a side of me comes out that not even I like to see! Anyway....headshots...I try not to go for people's head. If it's the only part I can see then I'll do a single shot. But for the most part I try to avoid it. If playing woodland and it's a long shot, I'll feel a little less bad about it. CQB I try to avoid if I can. I'm just too much of a nice guy :-)