Hatchet

What are people doing for batteries? Best fit I've found so far is this - I've rewired it to MR30 connector (badly, I am utterly shit at soldering) and it does fit. 16AWG wiring, which seems the right sort of size. Some of the others have 14AWG, but then that's just thick enough to stop everything fitting. Dimensions on this are 86Lx33Wx15H. There are probably nunchuck style ones that people are fitting in instead, but in terms of relative ease (once you get rewiring done) these should be simple enough to swap out at lunchtime. If you need the connectors you can get them here. You might be able to get everything fitting using the adaptor that's included, but I prefer to free up the space by not using it.

Got round to getting some pictures of the front handguards. First off, a comparative shot of the two different mounting mechanisms. You can see that the TM (left) mounts slightly differently and is also lower than the RS grip, to allow more battery space. Additionally a top down shot of the TM and then RS grip shows that in the area behind the attachment hook, the TM version cuts away almost immediately whereas the RS gradually tapers down - again meaning the TM has more battery room. Finally, you can see the difference in how the TM and RS grips look. There's not a huge amount in it, but note that the RS rides up a bit at the rear end (see how the rear corner almost touches the rail mount on the RS, but has a defined gap on the TM) and also you can again see that the RS grip is shorter by comparing where it sits against the magwell.

Well, this should be a bit more viable than using the one mag that came with the gun. £70 in total, shipped from Impulse101 and about a week from ordering to arrival. Not bad...

Getting a battery in seems to be the biggest pain with this, curse my fat fingers. I have ordered some new connectors (Amass MR30) so that I can at least get rid of the adapter to save some space. I'm wondering if the SD conversion has any more room @SonnyMP5 , and I'm also wondering where I can pick up a solid stock to convert. Or, I guess, I could just have a bit of patience and wait for the inevitable aftermarket support, but that seems unlikely. Ordered a couple of high-caps off Impulse101 to tide me over until the standards come back into stock anywhere. No idea when they might actually turn up though.

Mine's arrived this morning. I haven't yet sorted a battery (as I have no tamiya types), but initial fit and finish is as good as everyone says. Feels solid and well balanced. Very minor wobble with the stock extended, but that's coming from the arms, not the body and there's no way of avoiding that I don't think. Texturing on the lower receiver and fire selector is subtle but so much better than the old version. Fire selector is beautifully positive and trigger travel is fairly short and has reasonable spring resistance when pulling. The front grip is slightly rougher than a real one I have here and the seam line on the bottom is more noticable, but it doesn't feel cheap and there's not flex in it, so there's no urgent rush to replace it. Although the real grip fits, it doesn't fit in the same way and sits a little off (bit high at the rear). I'll try and get pictures later. It's still usable and I don't think it's going anywhere, but it's not quite as locked in as the Marui one. This makes sense when you look at the way they connect - the "hook" inside the foregrip is a different shape for both and it's sort of only partially hooking on with the real one. AEG stocks don't fit, the NGRS body is slightly wider than the old spec. Annoyingly my guarder MP5 suppressor also doesn't fit. I suspect there's just millimetres in it, but there we go. I shall investigate further and see if that can be sorted. The low profile rail mount I've got does seem to fit okay though, contrary to some other people's experience. Might be the mounting method, or it might be I just haven't noticed it's skewed yet...

You can always take a look at the UV-9R. Much the same but allegedly better water resistance. I don't think there's much in it in terms of price, although the connections for accessories are different - which may be relevant if you/your team already have a bunch.

Looks great. I don't have access to a lathe. Then again, I still have both arms, which I probably wouldn't if I had access to a lathe. I can't be trusted with power tools. Does it make much odds to battery space or is it much the same? Also, bold choice just jumping straight in there with the spring swap. Like it. Any word on the compatibility of existing AEG stocks? I have a B&T side folder I wouldn't mind having the option putting on.

I run a Tactical Tailor Mini Mav that I've had for a while. I think they've changed shape and buckle types over time though - the new version is a bit squarer. It will take a triple M4 pouch an 2 pistol mags, to give an idea of size. Works well for me in conjunction with a belt rig. I have a couple of HSGI tacos on the belt rig and then feed them from extra mags in the chest rig. The advantage to this of course is that you can use different chest rigs for different loadouts and the tacos will work with any of them. I've set up the harness on the belt rig with buckles so you can just swap them out (kind of like Mayflower did on their PC's).

As soon as you mentioned old DV I was going to say it's one of the more hilariously dangerous places I've played because of the ability to do things like run straight into an empty swimming pool. Or how you weren't allowed to move the furniture because it had all been strategically placed to cover holes in the floor and other hazards. And then I read the bit where you injured yourself. Figures... I think I may have been at that WASP outing. I definitely recall running around with a comedically large moustache and possibly a beret.

I thought it was a reasonable solution, but I say that from the slightly smug position of someone who still owns one of the Guarder MP5 QD suppressors. (I'm only smug until I find out it doesn't fit or something equally hilarious).

I don't have Faceache, but the picture above is interesting. The picture from earlier in the other thread seemed to indicate they wouldn't (the locking tab looked a different size and shape). Any indication if they can fit a battery too, because the Marui handguard looks bigger and that's apparently a tight fit? The Surefire grip is such a classic look, although it does mean you can't run a suppressor at the same time. I am in two minds about running out to get a B&T one, or just doing the sensible thing of waiting for the inevitable aftermarket parts (or using a railed foregrip and just mounting a regular torch)...

Anyone know what the rear stock compatibility is like? Can you use existing ones? I didn't get round to pre-ordering any spare mags. So I'm going to have to get really really fast with a speedloader...

That looks like a useful resource, but I am not filled with enthusiasm about ever having to work on one. If you're using Chrome, Google does a good job on the auto-translation which helps a lot more with making sense of it.

It's inconceivable that TM won't do an SD version at some point. Whether or not you'll be able to get a kit before then depends on how modular the front end is I suppose. As yet I haven't seen any videos indicating if existing (or real steel) stocks will fit, which would also be handy to know.

I have no idea what MachSakai is saying, but he has the expression of someone who is thoroughly loving magdumping that MP5. Which bodes well. You're right about the other guy though. Having watched some more videos, including this one, it looks like the handguard attachment method is different, which is a shame. I guess they've done it to make sure there's enough battery space. Maybe you could get creative with the cutting, but it's a shame that it's proprietary. If you've got a flashlight or railed handguard already it won't fit, regardless of if it's an old MP5 version or a real steel. Expect more accessories further down the line...

No, that's when you use a knife. Everyone knows you run faster with a knife...

No, it's a weird one. Generally I only run Geoff's, but I have occasionally picked up a bottle of some generic Blasters or similar if I've run out on the day. Honestly no idea how long that's been in there. Although now I look at it I'm wondering if the bb at the bottom of the loader is a bit oversized too... I guess the answer to this is to shoot more ammo so it's not sitting around as long? Airsoft solutions to Airsoft problems.

Yes, I have no idea how, or how long it's been in there. Reasons not to use Bios I guess...

I learnt why my speed loader stopped working...

I'm assuming it'll be possible to get alternate stocks/foregrips as well. Possibly even real steel versions, which opens up a lot of possibilities.

Well, these look interesting. They've been on the cards a while, but looks like they're finally coming out. Both the A2 (solid stock) and A3 (sliding stock) will be out and I think they're doing a standard and an EBB version. I've always had a soft spot for the HK53, so hopefully these will be as well built as their G3/HK33, but without quite as much weight up front. No idea on prices, but my guess would be £400 to £500 depending on version. No word on the MP5 yet, sadly, but they might have missed the bidding on that anyway now that Marui's recoil version is due out.

Have you looked at the Silverback Tac 41? Might tick a lot of your boxes and cheaper than the SRS. Ambi convertible as standard I believe.

Definite questions on it being worth it, given that you'll probably want to try and source a metal body, etc. but given that you do, PDI do a internal barrel reinforcement that helps reduce the flex up front a lot.

Cobham, not Chobham. Other than that, yeah. I've played there but it was a Saturday so hard to judge numbers and got the impression they'd just taken over so I cut some slack in terms of small paintball playing arenas. Feedback seemed well received, but not sure if this has been acted on based on subsequent reports.

Auto-translate now available on this, so I watched it again although it was a lot harder to follow this time. As best I can tell - Handguard mounts the same way as the real one. Will work with standard nimh batteries (looks like 8.4v mini). Marui are releasing their own Lipo, which will work with this but won't be available for another 6 months or so. There's some sort of proprietary connector in place that the lipo will plug into (but the MP5 comes with a converter as standard so you can use NIMH now and then the lipo later). Looks like the idea of the proprietary connector is safety so presumably it'll be directly monitoring cell voltage or something through the connector. The price we already knew - 59,800, which is exactly the same as the SCAR L (which seem to be around £430 - £460 over here depending on model/colour)