TheFull9

So been working on this bad boy. 
Still not finished. But its getting there...  
 
So it's an ares A3
Managed to fit the angry gun mlok rail to it. 
Added the C Reinforcement sections. 
Hka3 added to rear. 
LLM03 3d printed 
 
Not seen in pic is the QR codes added to both sa80 and os4. 
 
Still to do;
Laser engraved the os4
Make a pressure pad and 3d print the coupling. 
Weather it all. 

Ace Airsoft War Games is literally 5 minutes from where I am currently, but until recently I thought the site was just a place that did paintball/kids parties/axe throwing etc.  If you look at the spot on google maps with a wider perspective you'll see Warped Sports which is the aforementioned type activity centre, but if you carry on zooming the marker for Ace appears.
 
It is very much.. a woodland airsoft site.  It's fine.  I certainly wouldn't tell anyone to avoid by any means, but I don't think it needs to be on the top of any must-visit site lists.  More on account of the physical size/shape of the game areas than anything, they're all fairly long but pretty narrow, which even with only around 25 per side just made most of the games very stalemate'y.  In a way, if you just want to shoot all day it actually works out, because it's a short walk to regen then you're back at it and it wasn't massively overcrowded, there just wasn't much movement.  Nothing to be done as the borders were set as wide as they can be within the land.
 
Track from the road to the car park somewhat lengthy and a bit bumpy but they'd put a lot of work and material in to filling the holes so could've been far far worse.  Decent amount of safe zone cover and table space, not a lot of chairs but equally there wasn't too much sitting around in there either.  I didn't make use of the shop or food facilities myself, looked alright though.  Staff were pretty good overall I'd say.  Works out to about £26 for military, £24 for members or £29 for pre-booked walk-ons.  No lunch included, but that seems about a fair price for woodland in the west mids.
 
Definitely some 'chatty' characters but I guess every day has that, everyone seemed sound overall which combined with the basically perfect weather did work out nicely.  The one event that kinda pissed on my morning's play was standing up from my cover spot after the staff all shouted game over etc and catching a full auto burst all across my head and torso; couldn't spot the culprit but oh well. 🙄
 

 
2 other issues I had.  The first that really won't matter to most people is that one of the game areas is thick with some kind of plant (and I mean thick, it's a carpet of the stuff) which stinks to high heaven.  Someone near me said wild onion.  The entire area has a sort of dank smell to it an my boots stink now even after being scrubbed immaculately clean in the shower.  Maybe I've just got a sensitive little nose but it was pungent to me personally and I'm worried as to whether it'll ever come out of my boots.
 

 
Secondly, this pic was taken on the path that leads from the SZ to the afternoon game area.  There's maybe 6m between it and the M54 with absolutely no screening for a portion.  Now, I'm assuming it's been this way for years with nothing untoward happening so fair enough, but I certainly made sure my gun was held down below the waist when going by.  To me, just the lightest bit of sparse visual screening would be fine here since it's a dual carriageway with the usual 70 limit, but I was surprised by this uncovered area tbh.  I'm sure nobody would be stupid enough to ever just fire BBs at a car......

That path does seem somewhat exposed to public view, which seems rather lax.  £29 is pretty high for what sounds like a pretty average site.

As to the plant, that sounds like wild garlic, which is incredibly pungent.

A logistical dilemma caused by the convergence of the last rehearsal before our 25th Birthday gig and the London Marathon means that I am spending tonight in a Premier Inn in Woking.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, so this seemed like a good opportunity to spend the afternoon at Driver Wood, a site about which I have heard and read a lot but have never visited.

So, this morning, in addition to my video mixer, projector, video loops etc, I loaded my airsoft gear into the car, including the lad's C7, which I had done some work on last Saturday evening as it seemed to have lost power. 

Arriving at Driver Wood was a bit of a culture shock; there were paintballers, kids' parties, airsoft beginners' sessions and about 60 airsofters.  This actually seemed like a proper business!

Checking in was straightforward; I got my wristband and I was in.  I found a table, chatted to the players on the next table, one of whom admired the C7, and chrono'd the C7 (1.04J and great range).  The safezone was well organised, clean and had WiFi!  The only negative aspect was a number of signs stating that no food or drink could be brought in.

I then sorted my own stuff out, remembering to ensure that barrel socks were in use in the safezone, chrono'd my rifle and pistol, and set off for balancing of teams, distribution of us afternoon arrivals to teams and a mercifully short but complete safety and rules brief.

Immediately after this, we set out for the game zone, passing various areas full of kids having great fun shooting paint and BBs at each other.

The first game of the afternoon involved collecting a downed pilot, getting them on to a stretcher and transporting them to one of the helicopters.  Each side had a stretcher and, if the two players carrying it were killed, they had to drop it; the opposing team could then try to prevent them recovering it but could not steal it.  However, if the pilot was on it, they could transfer him to their stretcher if it could be brought alongside.

I teamed up with a few players who decided to try to work around into the enemy's left flank and rear; this went rather well until we encountered an enemy force who had decided to try to work around into our right flank and rear.  This resulted in some great fights; I found a spot in a ditch under a bush from where I could control the convergence of two paths that the enemy were using; it was what WW2 U-Boat crews called a Happy Time; a target rich environment and a hidden Colin with a very accurate rifle.

Ultimately, as for the U-Boat crews, the Happy Time ended and I was sunk.  Regenning, I encountered the two chaps from the table next to mine and we fought our own little war against a group of enemy who were continuing to try to push into our team's tactical rear, holding them off until the end of the game, which our side won, getting the stretcher and pilot into the helicopter after a stand off.  Hurrah!

After a short break, we started the second game of the afternoon; a three point domination.  The targets were the green tent, the six wheeler and one of the helicopters; whoever controlled each of them at every 10 minute interval got a point .  I have no idea what happened at the six wheeler or the helicopter, as I was solely involved around the green tent, which the enemy grabbed at the start of the game.  This was a really good action, with people flanking all over the place, hiding in bushes, and generally popping up where they were least expected.  Despite us pushing hard, the enemy held the green tent for most of the game, with us only capturing it for the very last point.

My first impressions of Driver Wood are positive, despite the signs about not bringing your own food and drink.  The playing area reminded me somewhat of Battle Lakes, albeit without that site's bottlenecks and choke points.

I will definitely be going back.

After the game, I stopped off at Surplus Store UK in Crawley, with the possible intention of buying a JG T3 SAS.  However, the size, or rather the lack of size, of its battery compartment, put me off.

Armband watch: Bright green (I thought they were yellow!) and purple.

Weapons used:

SRC T-91
ASG Commander XP18 (CO2)

Okay, but *apart* from the recoil shocks, magnetic fire control in the MP5, MWS system, gas AK's, gas semi auto saiga, new pistols, electric shotguns, recoil MK46, sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
 
Yes, this isn't a new gun. It's a refresh. Plenty of other threads people say "JG/CYMA have mosfets and Marui don't". Marui refresh to bring them in and then "They're not innovating"? Combined with "I'll wait for the clone to come out" seems hard for them to win.

Looks like Marui are giving the minor update treatment to the G36c now. Mosfet, different sights and allegedly better finish (although I suspect it'll be the same as the recoil ones, but I could be wrong).
 
https://www.tokyo-marui.co.jp/products/electric/standard/512
 

It tickles me greatly to see "outperform. Dominate. AEG Perfection" on a box that also says "Nuprol".

So, I haven't shared this yet despite having it sat around for a few months. For context this was a boneyard A&K Masada/ACR. When I got it, the exterior of the rifle was scuffed, chipped and dented beyond belief and the previous owner had even super glued rails to the handguard. Instead of fixing the ambi fire selector properly, they had also super glued the fire selector on which I've since fixed. Since it was already destroyed externally I decided to go the absolute opposite way of what I normally go for, so I went with the brightest colours I could think of.


 

 
Is it cursed? I think I actually prefer it to the standard look of most of my RIFs.

The final kicker is that it's the same price as it ever was but the site is smaller. Fewer accessible buildings too.

That place had been on my list for a good few years.. but yeah, past tense for now lol.  Cheers for the warning though, very valuable.

Back on Arnies there were a few people who were legitimately militant about AK purity so I got a King Arms 74 and AR-15 adapters for both the front and rear ends specifically to offend them.  There were a couple of iterations of this but this one is the most heinous.
 
 
Was also loaned this long ago by a shop to publicise; WE GBB AK in an SRU 3D printed bullpup kit.
 
 

I only know slightly more than zero and mostly only about the replicas that PTS have done, which luckily includes this one.  Like I've probably watched dozens of videos about cans on GunTube over the past decade, but end of the day the majority of them are just another black tube (at a glance) and they don't even vary greatly in size or shape and rarely have truly distinguishing features externally.  You've got to deliberately go out of your way to get info and differentiate most of them, doubly so since some airsoft models aren't based on anything real but even the ones that are don't generally use the real name.  There's a few standouts like the old KAC NT4 or the Osprey or some of the Q models but.. well I think this page makes my point fairly well - https://www.silencershop.com/silencers/5-56mm-rifle.html

Awesome, thank you! I know 0 about suppressor makes so I had no clue 😂

These results will cover you off hopefully.
 
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=0bc39af9d1d15b37&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB1083GB1083&sxsrf=ACQVn0-3-M9uH3Ah8lxM0i75F7IzKRiPtA:1713120313677&q=aac+suppressor+with+breaker&uds=AMwkrPsg_JvUfmGZWVnIanpSJbfwnKbExZIbfOINTnU_2hv3LDGIbh6nq50jlYfKh8HcnlDp8QSmCjLoN4FsgbQiExLs3qOc3Kp_ZDW3LHZUXzgA2qrO6hoBII6IWGnJjZiHe_bS1U1WBzMil8Byv7_F0YnM8hf_K5nXmaxgBfsp9Of3Wbp01dANgSHPHwTfY7yj1XAc9CN-ybLIHBgA8XNOzElz5bin0n4n3o_KSY3yLYQTIoRi5suk_KqCkxR6QkKpM3yIYQoNMV6FTlSHCqlDSNlGvPd9qUZ_X-Z1IrqIpRPq6jmizWo&udm=2&prmd=ivnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjw74O-rsKFAxUSZUEAHWXDAxQQtKgLegQICxAB&biw=1745&bih=828&dpr=2.2#vhid=OUQTLWDHPfV2WM&vssid=mosaic

Which country are you in?  This is primarily a UK forum and perhaps the most well known airsoft techy type guy here states on his site that he only takes UK customers (one example).

Back on Arnies there were a few people who were legitimately militant about AK purity so I got a King Arms 74 and AR-15 adapters for both the front and rear ends specifically to offend them.  There were a couple of iterations of this but this one is the most heinous.
 
 
Was also loaned this long ago by a shop to publicise; WE GBB AK in an SRU 3D printed bullpup kit.
 
 

Back on Arnies there were a few people who were legitimately militant about AK purity so I got a King Arms 74 and AR-15 adapters for both the front and rear ends specifically to offend them.  There were a couple of iterations of this but this one is the most heinous.
 
 
Was also loaned this long ago by a shop to publicise; WE GBB AK in an SRU 3D printed bullpup kit.
 
 

A long soak in Isopropyl Alcohol should help get rid of a lot of the paint. Shouldn't harm the plastic. My son's ebay-bought used Warhammer models have been left to soak for days with no ill effects.
 
Back in the day - Fairy Power spray was awesome for removing krylon. Then they changed the recipe...😒
 
But that MP5 looks cool painted as-is. Black guns are boring anyway....

Today South Herts Airsoft had their first midweek game and unlike many other sites where they're only in the evening this was a full day. Numbers were very low with only 6 a side but as the site is relatively small this wasn't a problem and the low numbers meant games were more tactical rather than the meat grinder which can happen with greater numbers. Hit taking was excellent and I heard no grumbles or complaints. In fact the only negative part of the day was self inflicted as I sent myself arse over tit running for cover and it was only when the adrenaline wore off I realised I'd landed in a load of stinging nettles 
 
All in all I hope this will be the first of many midweek games as I can't always get to games on sundays and I wholeheartedly recommend anyone in the Hertfordshire area give them a try

Excuse the picture angles. 
my attempt at an impression based on 
2nd Infantry Division 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Iraq 2003-2004. 
All genuine kit besides the PRC-148 radio as the genuine ones are encrypted and restricted. 
The M4 is still a work in progress as I’d like to add some more genuine parts to it. I’ll then post that on the gun pic thread.  
The base uniform is the CCU Close Combat Uniform in 3 colour desert. These were trialed between 2003-04 by the 2nd ID and 25th ID SBCT in Iraq along with some 173rd AB.

I swear I started a similar thread a while ago with the intent to post all maps I find.....
 
But yeah, it doesn't need to be a work of art or even anything beyond simple line drawing with basic features and names. 
First time (awhile ago now) at a new site (ambush Botley) and they start talking about locations "yeah, but where is it?" - oh just follow someone....
 
By lunch we had a conversation with owner about it, we had done a very rough sketch of the rest of the afternoon by the end of the day, someone had found a dnd map maker and boom, a usable map was born.
 
The Gaol do theirs very well, with the "long game" locations, timings and scoring options all listed. Shout out to Justin as it hits 10Years in May.
 
CS used to hand a copy to all site first timers. 
Many smaller sites might not need to bother, Red1 chiselhurst for example is compact enough to have have its areas clear and easy to navigate. 
 
As is mentioned already,  it doesn't need much. 
For me, the effort of getting a map either on website or handed on game day speaks volumes about the sites level of welcome to new to site visitors. Excluding of course the smaller sites that don't need to...
 

"So yeah.. red team will start by the zombie infection site zero laboratory.. yellow team up in the North East by the Wehrmacht bunker complex.  After proceeding through the graveyard that's underneath the medieval fort, the attackers' spawn will then move along to the missile launcher trench complex.  Once they've taken the CQB windmill they can then plant their bombs in the Vietnam ambush valley, but watch out for reinforcements from death ridge!  Oh and naturally when crossing the Bridge by the fuel depot you can snipe down from the bus as long as the fence line that borders the farmer's field is free of cows and sheep today.  Never forgetting the SUPER VISIBLE fishing line boundary marking that runs from grid square echo charlie and through the woods over to firebase Potato".
 
...
 
Personally I can barely remember the last time I played the same site twice on the bounce.  I'm also pretty sure that almost every single game ever played on a commercial site has always had at least a portion of first timers and/or pretty new players.
 
I don't know, maybe my navigation and layout memorisation abilities are rubbish, but I wish game briefs didn't always sound like this.

For those who want to EDIT an advert or DELETE old ones so you don't get further enquiries
Click on 'Advert Actions'
'Hide' will remove the advert from everyone including yourself so essentially deleting it.
 

Seem to remember either imperium or invicta battlefield, both in Kent, have a rule that limits the number of gillies per side AND can only be used in conjunction with a basr. 
 
https://imperiumairsoft.com/airsoft-rules/