MP5k technical manual: The Tokyo Marui MP5 technical manual has been posted on the Airsoft Players site. Useful if you intend to take your MP5 to bits anytime soon. I've added the link to the MP5k review page.

"W.A.S.P.S Nest" update: Our much loved local skirmish-site's team website, the WASP's Nest has been updated. It happened a good few weeks ago, but it's worth a mention, as their new website design is so impressive (Oh and James mailed me to remind me =). You'll need a new browser though, as it makes heavy use of things like Macromedia Flash, and JavaScript.

Website updates: *Yawn*, it's 6am... the coffee's brewing, and it's time for a few site updates: I've put in a new Guestbook, the old one wasn't exactly what I wanted, so I've replaced it with a much more professional version. The old book's still linked, but when I get time I'll transfer all the old entries over to the new version. What are you waiting for? - Go and sign it. =)

Online poll: I'm thinking of putting a online poll up on the website, which I'll change every week or so. I'm open to sensible suggestions for questions that the poll should ask. If you've got an idea for it, either put it in the forums or email me.

Right.. now that I've done the news update for the day, I can go back to watching "Sesame Street" on Channel 4

New guns: The transaction for the new Maruzen M870 shotgun, has gone through. It should be winging it's way to the UK (from DenTrinity) by Friday. I just hope it gets here for the weekend! =)

New forums: I've added a few more categories to the website forum page. Please use them folks. - Feedback is good, and ultimately makes the site better for you. If you think there's a link to another website I should add somewhere, or a project I should look into, or anything else, please post it there. - I personally keep an eye on the forums, and the guestbook.

New articles/reviews around the world: There's been a few new things appearing on airsoft websites around the world. Over a Blackrain7, you can find 3 reviews from ScorpioVI, they were written some time ago, but they are good quality reviews. Over at Ilendil's Airsoft Page some new articles have been added to his technical page.

Custom 1911: I spotted, on my travels some info over at BillyBob's Airsoft Jamboree about a custom 1911 based on the famed WA valve system. Here's a snipet:

Site work: I'm updating the photo section, so I've taken it down for refurbishment, I'd expect it to be down for a week or two while I do this.

New guns #2: Mike was kind enough to let me have a play with the new PDI Socom M24 this evening- It rocks! From my backdoor to the back of the garden is about 30 feet. At that range you can hit the steel washing line post (about 2 inches across) 100% of the time, with no effort. At 60 feet, it could happily hit something the size of a small shoebox. You can image how easy it'll be to hit someone the size of a man at up to 150 feet away.

The M24 hasn't been chrono'd yet, but at a guess I'd think it was as near to the quoted limit of 500fps as you can get it. - I'm going to print off some targets, and I'll test the M24's grouping; I'll post scanned images of the results as soon as I can after that.

RedWolf update: It seems they finally have the lovely WesternArms Wilson Combat CQB, here's an extract from their website:

Also, all orders bought from RedWolf through Tradenable (used to be I-Escrow) are now free. This may provoke DenTrinity to change transaction details with them. Originally the fee was split 50-50, meaning a 2% charge on any transaction payed through them.

Website updates from around the world: The Blackrain7 website has been updated, and re-designed. They have also taken in a new member - "ScorpioVI", (who's personal website makes good reading), this should mean that the Blackrain7 website, should be updated with new content and reviews from him and/or his website.

New guns : Well one of my emails must have got through to Den, because as of 12am today, they've checked my order and processed it. - I'm just faxing the documents to IEscrow now.

New guns: I have ordered a new M870, with 20 shells, and a shell-catcher/shell holder from Dentrinity - I'd have to say that at this moment in time, I'm slightly less than impressed with DenTrinity's over-seas sales service.

I set up the IEscrow (now known as Tradenable ) transaction on Wednesday at 12pm GMT. I followed their instructions to the letter, and nothing ... All they have to do is check the transaction, adjust it for discount, I then pay IEscrow by VISA, at which point DenTrinity will ship the gun.

It may just be an honest mistake on their part.. but I've sent them 2 emails about the delay (one yesterday, and another today), still no reply.

On the bright side though Wargamer's Shop have supplied me with a quote of $290 for a pre-upgraded gas Mossy M500. I think I'll be taking that offer if I get no reply from Den.. bit of a shame really.

Site update: The first few images of the new Socom M24 sniper rifle are up - I'll get a first impressions review, and a proper full-length review up ASAP.

New at Wargamer's Shop: There's a few new things over at WarGamer's Shop, they now also sell the M4A1 NSN 4 X32 Combat Gunsight replica, that Dentrinity are selling. They've also got:

• DTP Motor Driven C-Magazine for M16 USD195
• Western Arms Wilson Combat Service Grade CQB USD175
• New Systema SR16 Metal Body USD200
• Marui G26 Metal Slide by PGC Sliver / Black USD85 - They are accepting preorders now

Oh, and congrats go out to AirsoftZone - they finally posted some "news" . Nice to see I'm a complete day ahead of them =)

New at RedWolf: -I spotted this review over on their site, of the Maruzen KG9 (no longer produce this model)- it's a lovely piece, but it ejects actual shells when you fire each shot. - Tasty, and very realistic, but essentially useless as an airsoft skirmish weapon; kinda nice though, if you're a collector.

Review Updates: I've got a new review up for the HK51 Carbine online now, our official first review submission!

I'd just like to point out, why (compared to other sites) we have only a limited quantity of reviews online. - This is because I only have reviews of site member's equipment- and we can't afford to buy that many airsoft rifles or pistols. Also, I will only put online good quality reviews (I hope you can see this from reading the ones that are online now).

The good news, is that I am well into writing some new reviews to put online. I've got the AK74, M1A1 carbine, and the PDI M24 sniper-rifle, they should be online by the end of the week.

New Shotgun: I ordered my new Remington M870 from Dentrinity today, I'm now counting down the days till it's delivery (6 working days).

New bit's of kit in: The PDI M24 arrived with Sykobika today, and a rather nice MP5k shoulder holster, I'll add some images of them when I get a sec.

Updates at Dentrinity: They have a rather nice new M4A1 NSN 4 X32 Combat Gunsight replica. It costs 1/4 of the real thing, and looks just the same, take a look over at the Den site.

New guns: It looks like I'll have to put my Mossy M500 purchase on hold, as getting the valve kit and the rifle at the same time from the same supplier, is almost impossible. The only supplier I can find, who can get both in the UK is Airsoft Dynamics. I've decided to get a Remington M870 (it's cheap and effective), to quell my shotgun fetish, and then buy the M500 in the coming holidays, when I'll be working and have much more spare cash.

Pain from afar: The new Dentrinity CL Custom PDI Socom M24 sniper rifle arrived by courier today. I should have photos and a review online by the end of the week.... I'll just have to thieve it off Sykobika for an evening. - I'll have to distract him, with a decent doner or a curry. On a different note, I'm currently torn between buying a custom upgraded gas M500 (2-3 weeks waiting time), or a wood stocked M870 with accessories from Den (3-5 days waiting time).

Site updates: I've been tweaking stuff again.. - You can now find a decent currency converter in the 'About this site' page. - I couldn't think of anywhere else to put it. I think I'll have a little site redesign when I get a spare moment. Oh, and I added by request some more links to the sci-fi page, I've got loads more to do on that page though... Hopefully I can lay my hands on an M41a resin kit - I'll be getting a resin kit for "Deckard's blaster" (BladeRunner) soon.

New rifles from Maruzen: Over at the TokyoModel company I notice that there's a couple of new rifles coming out soon, specifically a couple of new APS2 based rifles, they sport a new aesthetic moulded stock design, that is available in either black or green.

If you read that page I linked above , and spot the WesternArms shot-gun, don't worry - it's a typo, the shotgun is actually made by Marushin. It's unlikely that WA will make anything other than pistols - ever.

Custom FULLY WORKING Airsoft M41a Pulse Rifle! - Feeling like getting a second mortgage? - Monsters in Motion have recently released a full working airsoft replica of the infamous M41a Pulse Rifle. - It's made from (as you would expect) a TM Thompson, and a Maruzen M870 shotgun. The cost? - a mere $3000! Personally, I think it's a bit of a rip-off (I reckon I could make it, with the right parts for about £700), but then again it is hand crafted. Anyway, if I had that much money spare, I'd buy that Land Rover Defender I've been hankering after for ages..

Working "Blade M11" replica: Well I've had it listed on my Sci-Fi page for a bit, and I finally found someone who's done it. Over at "HollyWood Hardware" you'll find the complete details of how to make your own replica of the weapon from the film 'Blade'.

I've had a look over at Dentrinity - there's some lovely new rifles in, I'm afraid that they are only for people with plenty of cash to chuck around, there's a lovely Custom Sunproject M40A1 (costs $1049), that I would kill for. Here's what's new at Den:

Browsing a few websites, I came across this report by Sniper, about 'The Black Hole Airsoft Expo 2001', which is apparently the first airsoft show of the year, you can find the article here, at DropZone, here's an extract:

On a different note I went to see the film 'Hannibal' today, I highly recommend it. Just 2 points to note though. Firstly watch 'The Silence of the Lambs' before you go. Secondly don't go to see it if you are of a sensitive disposition, or have eaten just beforehand, it is without doubt the most shocking film I have seen in a long time - and I have seen a lot of films. Forget the 'Scream' series, 'Hellraiser', and 'Nightmare on Elmstreet', this is much more shocking. It's directed by Ridley Scott, so combine the terror found in 'Alien', with a thrilling, unpredictable plot, and you've got a real winner. - Go and see it now. Oh, and in the US, they've given it an 'R' rating, so don't say I didn't warn you.

I've now added a Java chatroom, that links to #airsoft at irc.airsoft.org . It's taken quite a bit of tweaking to get it running, but everything should be fine now. Give it a go - you may find me in there occasionally.

In the 'About this site' section, you can now find a UK weather map, that is sourced (directly) from the MET Office - useful if you want to know what the weather will be like before a skirmish. The weather map is updated daily, 3-day weather outlooks are available for all areas of the UK, just click on the appropriate section of the map.

I've finally finished the MP5k review - you can find it in the reviews section. - It's only just finished and has been proof-read once (by me), so as usual there may be errors and typos; I'll iron them out in time =) .

I'm now going to move onto the AK74 review and the M1A review, which I have to do before the PDI M24 gets here... looks like it'll be a long weekend.

I'm working on the MP5k review as I type this, it should be up by tomorrow morning (fingers crossed). I've added to the review some rather nice images from "The Matrix" DVD... - it just had to be done.

For anyone interested in ISP's and the like, a new one has started today, which goes under the rather cryptic name JellyPeople.com . It's not really airsoft news but, I understand, it is founded by Alex Goodey, who is the MD of Airsoft.org, so it earns its place here. =)

As Father Jack would say - "Arse!"... it seems that Marushin has temporarily discontinued the M500, which makes finding it difficult. I'm after the TacticalCruser (black ABS, with stock) . I've emailed AirsoftWorld and AirsoftDynamics (and a few others) for quotes, as it seems RedWolf don't have it in, and won't for ages. Hopefully I can have it by this time next week.... I'll just see what they can come up with. I really want to have it ready for the CombatSouth skirmish next week.

Oh, I've changed the counter. It seems that "FastCounter" provided by Microsoft, really couldn't hack it, and for the past week hasn't loaded properly, so I have changed it to one from SiteMeter.com. Lets hope this one works better.

I've added a new page for my next purchase, the M500 SSB shotgun in the reviews section - hopefully I'll have the rifle by the end of next week. I've also added places for the AK74, and the M1A1 Carbine. I'll take the photos of the other 2 rifles ASAP, then I'll get the respective reviews written and online shortly afterwards.

Oh, and good news - there's a custom PDI Socom M24 winging its way towards a mate of mine (literally - it's on a airplane around about now), I might just be able to grab it off him long enough to get some photos and a review done. =)