OP: Shining Light @Copehill Down FIBUA Village VENUE CHANGED TO SENNYBRIDGE

[Russe11]

.... and possibly a tropentarn poncho if I can find one at a sensible price,

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TROPICAL-WATERPROOF-HOODED-RIPSTOP-COMBAT/dp/B00FARMO2U/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&qid=1391463529&sr=8-37&keywords=camo+poncho

http://www.asmc.de/en/Clothing/Men/3-Line-clothing/Ponchos/Poncho-tropentarn-p.html

[SgtTalbert]

What are people using to sleep? Tents? Going off site? Other?

I am taking a two man pop up tent

[Russe11]

I have a tiny 1 man tent. I might also get myself an army surplus basha to extend my potential dry area and keep my bike and gear dry if I arrive by bicycle.

[Ian_Gere]

Small 2 / roomy 1 man tent like this...

...but made by EuroHike/Millets instead of Vango.

Maybe they had a row over copyright or something because they're not on the webby anymore, but anyway it'll give me somewhere undercover to cook on a hexi stove if it rains. I could always put it up indoors if it's proper brass monkeys too

[Russe11]

Still trying to decide on my loadout. I have 2 main options: MP5 with coyote vest and DDPM or Sten with P37 webbing and probably by then WW2 battledress (its brown so okay). I might go somewhere between the 2 as Sten mags fit in MP5 pouches and MP5 mags will fit in Mk3 ammo pouches. I could even use the webbing with DDPM. The main issue will be whether most of the fighting will be within the buildings where I cannot use the Sten with its lack of semi auto or whether the better range accuracy and ROF of the Sten will be worth it for keeping people away from the buildings. I have a feeling I may end up bringing both loadouts with me.

[Ian_Gere]

Dunno about both loadouts, but I'd bring both AEG's and your pistol. There would probably be a gun spare that someone could lend you, but just in case you get a breakdown and there's nobody nearby to ask, it'll be good to have an option.

[Russe11]

I may have to look into a webbing holster, I think P37 webbing will be more insurgenty and seems to allow more carrying capacity. Both sets of clothing will be a good idea anyway as it will almost certainly be wet.

my tent btw is this type

Basically it's so small my gear will not be fitting inside. I shall have to get a basha or other suitable waterproof material and build another shelter using my bike for support, possibly http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DUZKV10/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A28E002M0IJFT4

[Zak Da Mack]

I was thinking of something like this http://www.military1st.co.uk/13533100-mil-tec-ak47-magazine-vietnam-bandolier-olive.html

 

I'm also trying to find some vertical type satchel to carry extra bits and bobs in

[NickM]

 

 

Basically it's so small my gear will not be fitting inside. I shall have to get a basha or other suitable waterproof material and build another shelter using my bike for support, possibly http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DUZKV10/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A28E002M0IJFT4

 

 

Watch out for some of the cheaper tarps they aren't really designed for proper use like a basha, I personally use a lightweight nylon tarp made by DD hammocks they are £30 but I cant fault it.

 

I had bought one that had said it was nylon, but it was coated in some kind of silicon/rubber stuff which tripled the weight, the first use the eyelets ripped out pretty much straight away, I really wasn't impressed.

 

You can often find DDPM bashas and poncho's cheap, the dpm ones are a little harder to get hold of but they probably would be about the same if you are on a budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Army-Desert-DPM-Basha-BIVI-DESERT-DPM-SHELTER-/301086581122

 

As for carrying stuff, I came up with using a 55pat poncho roll from a set of webbing, they are about £5 on ebay and it will hold a full set of waterproofs and you can add extra stuff like a fleece in a dry bag, or a bottle of water or extra bbs. It attaches to the bottom of my PC in the position it would have been on a proper set of the webbing, at the moment temporarily using cable ties but i'm trying to come up with something a bit more professional looking.

[Russe11]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highlander-Canvas-Rucksack-Beige/dp/B005M1IJL4/ref=sr_1_2?s=camping-hiking&ie=UTF8&qid=1391808543&sr=1-2&keywords=highlander

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highlander-Webbing-Haversack-Mens-Messenger/dp/B0054WIJ3Y/ref=pd_sim_sg_1

 

either of those would work well with that chest rig

[Zak Da Mack]

Thanks for the links Russell. That will do nicely.

 

Now, what should I wear for overalls? I don't really wanna wear Taliban stuff as I don't feel comfortable wearing it.

[SgtTalbert]

I'm wearing rebel type clothing, you could also go for a 'end of the world' type loadout (Book of Eli style) also, although a lot of people may go as 'Taliban' if you google Syrian rebel, 95% of photos are jeans and tshirt / sportswear - really simple, cheap loadout.

[Ian_Gere]

From personal experience those canvas packs are a real ball ache when they get wet. The straps swell and it makes it difficult to operate the buckles. Plus they're noticeably heavier when wet. I dunno if they made PLCE Respirator bags in DDPM, but if so that would be my guess for the best satchel stylee thing available without busting your wallet.

 

I've got an auscam nylon tarp that's siliconised (or whatever they call it lol) and it's great. You can stretch it so tight that rain just bounces off it, nevermind rolls. I could bring it, Russ? It is just single basher sized mind, like 1.8x2.4m iirc. You will be able to put stuff inside a building though. The main reason I'm planning to take my tent is for that porch bit, for cooking, but that's just because my usual camping experience involves using a hexi cooker to keep the weight down. Thinking about it, if I don't take the tent, carrying a gas stove will be fine, doh!

[Zak Da Mack]

Right, Im thinking of making a small map with road routes and buildings marked on it. The site itself seems really small

[Russe11]

Or just a printout from Google maps?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/preview/@52.0342279,-3.6111179,442m/data=!3m1!1e3

[Zak Da Mack]

Personally, I think it's better being as plain as possible. You can then use it to draft plans on, which I think is easier to see than just a plain printout

[Zak Da Mack]

Ok, Ive done most of the map, but I may add in some extra details like treelines etc.

 

(EDIT: Woops, sorry about the size. I made it A4 so it prints out nicely)

 

[jcheeseright]

I'm pretty sure that brit-tac will be issuing maps.

[Ian_Gere]

Some pastel colours may help for different types of road/track and hedges/trees etc. A compass rose would help too. Laminated it would be good for drawing on with whiteboard markers for planning. I doubt Brit Tac will laminate theirs. I think I'll still want an aerial photo to compare it to (because no matter how well I can get myself, I will need some pain killers on board so i will be at least a bit stupid ) to help me translate the map into my mental image of the real place by jogging my pedestrian memory.

[SgtTalbert]

Is there charging facilities do we know or power outlets should we bring our own chargers?

I am currently bringing battery wise

 

3 x 1600 9.6v NIMH crane batteries (for my M4 - Only to be used if AK breaks down)

2 x 3300 9.6v NIMH battery pack (full stock for my AK)

Hopefully should be enough, I don't tend to spam the trigger and the crane batteries will easily fit in the full stock of the AK

[Ian_Gere]

I dunno about power or charging. Best to ask in the fb group.

 

Not sure yet what batteries I'll take but approx 4Amps/hr's worth will do it for me with spare capacity I reckon. My charger can run off a car battery though and it's light so I'll bring it JIC.

[Russe11]

hmm, wonder if I can convert it for memory map and then use it in my GPS?

 

I would imagine some sort of provision must have been made for charging stuff, I plan to bring 2 batteries for my MP5 and 2 for the sten just in case though. Worst case we go to a pub and ask them to charge batteries for us on Saturday night

 

I have incidentally bought a DPM basha but thanks for the offer of a tarp Ian. British army surplus so should be up to the job.

[Ian_Gere]

I spent half of today with YouTube playing vids from Syria. If I hear one more "Allahu akbar!" I may hurt somebody, but that's not the point of this post. I'm starting to think I may not go with a proper mujahadeen look - i mean, yeah, it'd be a good loadout for further use at sites with a predominance of M4's and MTP/MC, but there's hardly any of 'em in Syria and it seems the majority of the rebels would as cheerfully shoot islamists as Assad's loyalists.

 

I'm thinking of going half and half: a beige or grey kurta pyjama top and, because black is only banned for clothing not gear, my black WAS RICAS, Viper Patrol belt, big drop leg holster for Skorpion, big drop leg dump pouch, black pads, night urban or night splinter pattern kecks, shemagh on head.

[SgtTalbert]

I am using this guys loadout as a basis for mine - it fits the 'colour' rules we have been set, its not very terrorist looking but fits the rebel / freedom fighter look nicely without going tooooo far into the Taliban look

 

I am going to be using a Czech satchel bag for 'misc' items I want to carry during the day

 

The lid is a grey woollen pokol.
The jacket is an Austrian Bundesheer field jacket from the 90's.
Trousers are coyote brown Helikon CPUs.
Boots are issued desert Magnums. (I will wear my brown leather hiking boots)

Vest is the Flyye Industries AK chest rig

 

 

[Russe11]

I have a cunning plan! I am going to Spartan Airsoft on Sunday and Bristol Recon play there. They have a group going to Sennybridge (also Hasmat), maybe they will have a spare seat in a car?