Tactical Pith Helmet

Filmsim at Tuddenham today. Pretty simple domination and timer based games today. TBH, it felt more like a standard skirmish than the usual filmsim, but fun nonetheless. Attended with the lad, his mate and an old friend that has not played for over a year due to covid restrictions etc. In the morning we had a standard but very clear safety brief. As a rule, these are of a rare kind. What they say they do usually actually happens. Chrono well before kick-off, so any issues with fps can be dealt with, and spare rifs can be fetched. Nice clear game brief delivered with a bit of humour, simple rules and a flashy magnetic backed map of the area/overhead photo thing. Whatever it is, it made knowing what do where easy. Game stared almost on time, which is nice. The armband team attacked a pair of positions with the aim of setting off a timer. I managed to run to one timer fairly early and pressed the wrong button, because despite the clear game brief, I have a crap memory. Once the timer had been correctly started, we moved to the next objective. With the first completed, I managed to work my way to the second timer. About twelve far pluckier previous attempts had failed, but these had led to the opposition giving away their positions. This was only possible due to some good teamwork and pretty clear communication, which is impressive for a random group of strangers I think. Whatever, the case, I was hit about five feet from the timer with the marshal counting down from ten. At the count of eight someone threw themselves through the hail of BBs and started to medic me, until the penny dropped... he realised that I was shouting to ignoe me and get the timer, which he dived at just in time for the countdown to end, and we lost. Seriously, it was hysterical. His seriously nice gesture used up too much precious time, the game had been great fun and no one seemed to mind taking the L. The next game turned around and was even more fun than the last. Having sussed the best spots that had blatted us previously, we swiftly set up position in them. An inability to stop talking by a couple of the players meant that we were swiftly discovered. I retook the position despite heavy fire from the lad whose mouth had lost it, as we had split up after respawning, and he had forgotten what I was wearing I think. The opposition soon played a really simple but clever series of flanking moves which almost surrounded us as we defended the timer. The amount of plastic flung was prodigious, we stuck out until the end. I think the morning was a draw overall? We may have lost, I don't really remember, if I knew at all. Lunch was too long, as it always is. Half an hour would be ample, but that may not allow enough time to drive to the nearest Mackie D's for ultra shit food. Being a cut above such behaviour, we had broccoli frittata, pork pies (with jelly), cold sausage and green tea, as per Healthy Airsofter's thread. Loads of protein and no carbs (OK apart from the crisps). If this carries on I may end up shopping in Waitrose or something. The afternoon was played in the village. This was a really great scrap over a chess timer type deal. At the close of play the timer in the shipping containers had about two minutes difference, which showed what a good scrap had developed around it. The second timer in the buildings was 100% held by the other side. Fuck knows what happened there. The turn around was well played and the fight over the containers even better. I was getting a bit knackered by now. Lack of sleep made me sluggish, but a new rif performed well, despite the inevitable hop setting palaver as it settled in. A new toy always makes a game good I reckon, especially when it turns out to be a snappily sharp little number. The loaned out and ever reliable G&G CM had a minor fit, it failed to fire as if the battery was totally flat, until I reminded the lad to select auto, as the 'fet is set to one shot burst. In semi it just sulks. Some really good gameplay saw the buildings well contested, with the front of the village lost and retaken by each side numerous times. A plethora of bangs were thrown. Smokes were slung. The teams ended up well mixed up as players went forward and showed some really spirited gameplay. Some moaning about none hit taking as ever, but TBH I think that such stuff usually gets raised when players get hacked off at losing each or nearly each game, which I think the banded team did. It seems odd to me to value winning over decent gameplay but there we go. Thoughts at days end. With wet foliage all damp deep green, russet and hues of autumn gold, DPM is still ten times better for Northern Europe than MTP. There are too few women involved in the sport, in winter when the girlfriends stay at home and only us fools still play in all weathers, it really stands out. There were far less kids too. The games themselves could have been less skirmishy and more complicated (says he who forgot which button to press). The marshals did an excellent job. Airsoft is an excellent way to catch up with old friends. The boy's friend borrowed a sniper and used one for the first time; he loved it. It's an idea to change what we do to sometimes perhaps, to learn how to enjoy the sport in new ways. Due to laziness, I used my old webbing comprising a large ammo pouch for spare BBs, speedloader and a mag, one fastmag, one holster and a water bottle, all in various camos. Radio on the webbing and what else do you need? Sorry for the ramble, just sharing a few thoughts arrived at after a post game Bloody Mary or two, sore back banished, cares forgotten for a while, laughs laughed and muscles aching slightly. Hope you enjoyed your airsoft as much today. It certainly beats a run around the local park for exercise.

You'll likely upgrade the hop rubber on most guns that you buy. I expect that many players buy a few rubbers and nubs at a time and swap them in as a matter of course.

In my humble opinion, the CYMA M14 is a fantastic rif, albeit a bit cumbersome. Decent hop unit out of the box etc. They always seem to shoot exceedingly well, and improve with modest fettling. I enjoy lobbing .30s through mine, with a scope fitted it performs very well. Bit heavy and long for throwing around in CQB, although it's all relative. Our grandfathers did room clearance with an SMLE and a foot and half of bayonet attached.

I have the dreaded tinnitus too, usually quite mild, sometimes bloody awful. I played a game a couple of years ago where we used Mk9s. One was thrown straight at me and landed about three feet away. I was entangled in some shrubbery being sneaky and pretty hobbled. I put my hands over my ears and opened my mouth but the mesh over said lugs stopped my hands from doing much. As I decided to pick the thing up and throw it, it went off. It was not pleasant for many hours... At another game, my inner ear bud for my radio was hit. It doubled me up in agony. The effect of a BB on hollow plastic was like the sound of the world ending. The pain inside my head was tremendous. My tinnitus played up for days. I got some over ear active cans after that. They are a not perfect as the radio makes them buzz, but I prefer them to plugs. Also, in ear plugs do not save your ears from the pressure of loud noise that passes through the skull. Like you, it's bikes what did it. Straight thru shotguns and open face lid at leisure, despatch rider at work in the same shitty design lid for 50+ hours a week. None of this has stopped me de-baffling my current bikes. The sound of a big twin is still music to the ears.

Wikal

Actually thinking about it... Venom blueprinted and tuned Weihrauch rifles and Rigby did the same with Mausers, and both still do. WTF this has to do with the topic I'm not sure. Your comment just sent me off down memory lane.

No jesting, if you bought a Dnieper for chugging to work and back you rebuilt the bastard before running it on the standard parts damaged something. You probably went to the International or Lyons Corner Tea House rather than Tesco mind.

Pop's Yoshimura did this for a living and was a legend. He would take new Suzuki engines to bits and reassemble them 100% correctly as the designers blueprint. Without swapping a single component he would get IIRC, about 8% extra power. They were also more reliable for endurance racing. In the '70s thru to the 90's, if you bought a Ural or Enfield, you trailered it home and swapped the pistons, valves, carbs, big ends and gearbox bushes! Those days are gone thank fuck.

A metal turner could get that concentric again. Depending on tolerance, I've known panel beaters who could use a dolly and hammer to get it visually 'good enough.' Steal is a lot ore fluid than people imagine.

I've a Delta Mike. I found it too tight for comfort if done up enough not to drop down. Heroshark is the true path here though. Octagonal mesh literally lets you see the light.

They are great. They also weigh about 6lb. I am tempted simply for the post apocalypse vibe of the things though.

My old Italian army poncho is starting to age badly. I'm looking to buy a decent lightweight OD green one to be able to wear it with several loadouts. MFH ponchos seem to be well rated by walking magazines. Anyone know if they stand up to legging it through undergrowth etc? If not, I'll maybe get a lightweight one for walking and an old canvas job for airsoft.

Pisses me off to have to lend spares to others, especially when loaned equipment is not cared for either.

I use Ant Supplies all the time. They are so cheap that I actually have a stock of bits to stick on future rifs.

Good on you. Glad you had a good time.

You're too old when they nail the lid down. One chap won gold for his shooting at the 1908 Olympics, aged well over 70.

Indeed a highpoint that we have never again reached. Since the Esbjerg ferry is freight only post-Brexit, perhaps this provides inspiration for your route Jacob? Don't worry about all the pettifogging detail with papers etc. Just flash 'em your Union Jack Y-fronts and land where you damn well please.

Obviously if armed with the correct grade Coleman moustache, one could indeed go all Bulldog Drummond and simply thrash some respect for the Queens subjects into the blighters.

So... This is (I think) the form that you have to complete and submit to the local authority of the area of Germany that you enter the country through. This means points of entry both in and out. https://www.bva.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Buerger/Ausweis-Dokumente-Recht/Waffenrecht/Einzelerlaubnisse/antrag_mitnahmeerlaubnis.pdf;jsessionid=D8B3B602DD4F0D6F5D756BF54DA7466C.internet281?__blob=publicationFile&v=2 The areas are listed here: https://www.zoll.de/SharedDocs/Boxen/EN/Fragen/0049_waffenrechtlich_zustaendige_verwaltungsbehoerden.html?nn=202352&faqCalledDoc=202362 You will need flight numbers, travel times and your passport info. Looking at other peoples experiences of attending, you can expect to get pulled up to 130km of the border by the border police. I expect the lurid headlines make airsofters an attractive arrest. Slinging rifs in the boot and hoping is an unwise move. Apologies if these end up being wrong, my German is poor schoolboy standard. One could replace the spring and get power down to sub .5J but if they find the replacement spring and it is changeable 'within three operations' then you are screwed. Avoiding Germany by land adds 600 miles and about 12 hours travel time.

Do the paperwork and the road trip still looks possible. https://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Travel/Entering-Germany/Restrictions/Weapons-and-ammunition/weapons-and-ammunition_node.html?fbclid=IwAR2k5h7Ydw9g4oqExMq4az8z97pppM1DWSVUyfFk592uuXATfHDKoM4qybE Softair waffen need an F-mark. https://www.tag24.de/nachrichten/regionales/nachrichten-bayern/waidhaus-neun-franzosen-muessen-softair-waffen-der-polizei-uebergeben-bayern-a6-kontrolle-1646840?fbclid=IwAR1gIG6jZ4AkWMdTiUtzgPbmY-yCFZMfJfUmc6rZpdrkdizVFS5R2tuY-0A

You're right mate. Its NVG only. TBH, much as I love thermal, I have more experience with NVG.

Googling theT10 and 12 I came across this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/10043027458?iid=184934494754 Seems to have limited range, but then so do we.

We had to rearrange a trip to Poland a few years back as we were travelling with 12ft-lb airguns for a competition (6ft-lb limit in Germany). The German plod had warned us that they were fully aware of the world championships being held in Poland and that they would be looking to stop coachloads of competitors. The coach firm developed cold feet about the whole deal too. No-one fancied being nicked for a firearms offence understandably. If you look at it from Herr Constable's point of view, having 40-50 people per coach casually carrying unlicensed rifles through his patch is a bit of a piss take. Having said that... I expect that UK orders from Poland often arrive via road. Belgian police certainly have a reputation for stopping 4x4s in shooting season and having a look at your paperwork. Although if you're dressed for a day in the field and have your gundog with you I suppose you stand out fairly easy.

https://shop.nvuk.co.uk/nightvision-spotter NVUK are legends in their own minor way. Their kit is cheap and sturdy. You can build an NV kit for abut £80 if you have a parallax adjustable scope. Using the illuminator is not always necessary depending on light conditions. In any event, I wouldn't think to much about running.