Be sure to pop on over to Renegade Recon for shots of the latest releases announced by Tokyo Marui at the recent trade show in Japan. The news is certainly to be of interest to everyone, with some highly unexpected releases announced.
Wayland has been kind enough to send in a few minor corrections to the news from ARMS magazine, and some details about the MaxPedition/MagForce duality. Be sure to check the now new and improved updated articles (thanks Wayland). 
Just time for a quick news snippet about the Systema M16 that was launched last week. Wallace has had to break himself away from his new toy to write me an email with the latest details (cheers Wallace):
Systema has released their M16A2 last week and I received my unit today.
The first impression is… their 3-shot burst feature is well worth the
wait! In burst mode, once you pulled the trigger it will initiate and
complete the entire burst-firing sequence even if you release the
trigger before all 3 rounds leave the barrel. i.e. you can just
slightly tap the trigger and it will always send out 3 BBs.In
addition, they’ve also fixed the “sloppy” selector that I’ve complained
about from the pre-production model review. Once I am able to perform
more indepth testing I will report back with the results. Wallace Lau
There are always replicas and copies of other folks equipment products appearing out there on the ‘net. I think we’re all so used to it we tend to miss the fact sometimes. Browsing across some lines available in Japan I spotted what I thought were MaxPedition products.. but rereading I spotted something. Those labels say “MagForce” not “MaxPedition”.
MagForce International are a company based in Taiwan, formed in 1988 with around a hundred employees. MaxPedition are based in California over in the US. On the left is the MagForce, on the right MaxPedition. Confused yet? This is just one example, but the entire range can be found in Japan under the MagForce name. What we’re looking at is either an unauthorised copy or sales of the same products just under a different label, most likely meaning that MaxPedition is actually made in Taiwan. Answers on a postcard to this one.
Update: I’ve had an email from AlexC to say that MagForce and MaxPedition are one and the same company. However I’ve also been told that MaxPedition and MagForce are not the same company, but come from the same factory. In the same communication I’ve been given the following quote from MilitaryMorons, but for the life of me I can’t find the original source page. I’ve emailed MaxPedition to get a definitive answer (I’m just curious). Here’s the quote I’ve been given:
MagForce is an asian brand/company, and MaxPedition (a US based
company) has their products made in the magforce factory in Taiwan,
with their own quality control and specifications for the US market.
MagForce products are marketed and made for taiwan, while MaxPedition
is based here in the states, and sells in North America and Europe.
Most of the design and product innovation is done by MaxPedition and
trickles down to MagForce products. There are differences in features
(some more subtle than others). For example, some MaxPedition products
were redesigned to be mostly malice compatible (I’m partially
responsible for that switch) for the US market, whereas MagForce still
uses a different attachment method. MilitaryMorons
 Laylax have announced their new Nitro V-900, which is basically a copy of the SureFire M900 weapon lamp (although most likely much cheaper).
The lamp functions much like the Surefire model (and sure look like one), although there are some notable changes. I’d expect there are two illumination modes, the main beam and the less bright LED side lamps. The main feature of interest to my mind is the unique two way power system. You can basically plug in an 8.4v battery pack (any standard AEG pack) into the back of the lamp to cdrive it rather than running it off the relatively expensive and disposable CR123a cells. |
The unit features the usual 20mm quick release clamp that you’d expect, that allows one touch fitment and removal. The mini battery pack can also be daisy chained into driving an AEG with the lead supplied. Useful for short M4 combinations.
The complete kit comprises of the 8.4v nicad battery, battery lead and V-900 light itself. Price is 24,800 Yen. Whilst I’m on the subject of Laylax, they’ve also released a “Shift Mount Ring” and several upgrade parts in the past 24hours including a hammer upgrade srping for the HiCap 5.1.
We’ve got some more information from the latest issue of ARMS with thanks to Twitch. There’s a heap of interesting odds and ends in the new issue, and something for everyone. We have some new
Desert Eagle grips from Freedom Arts, a shot of the new
4 inch Craft Apple Works Navy revolver,
First Factory’s ‘CRGE Eater’ (most likley meant to read OGRE Eater) for 17,800Yen,
and Carom Shot have (among other things) a blued metal slide for the Hicap at an RRP of 38,850Yen:
5.1 hicap conversions are all the rage at the moment. Laylax have a new “Strike-Custom” on the way based on the 5.1 featuring the CQB front end. There’s also shots of the “Duostok“, a specialised and popular CQB buttstock for the M4 series. This stock is a real item imported into Japan by Access Overseas.
There’s a shot of a custom stock that’s been made for the M700. Looking at the shot available it looks like a some form of stained hardwood. This model is made by
‘Fuji Company’ (6×40 scope extra), cost 58,000Yen. Next in is a custom shortened 5.1 from Echigoya Japan.
Here’s some shots of the 5.1 from the Echigoya‘s own website. Also on there they have a nice photo of the other Elcan replica that’s about to be released. The new Trigger Happy “ELANE-M1A5” is a 3x magnification sight that can be switched from red to green illumination; price is set to 26,597Yen.
Thanks to Twitch, there’s some news of a M11 conversion kit (simply called " 9mm
submachine gun") that’s come out designed to fit the KSC M11 made by Elfin Knights Project. The kit makes the M11 look like the Minebea-made submachine gun that the
Japanese Self-Defense Forces use (see picture here).
The left hand shot is a scan from ARMS magazine. The kit retails at 36,000Yen although I don’t know any mainstream retailer stocking the kit at the moment.
The AHG guys (makes of the simulation Airsoft Hand Grenades) have updated their sales list. You can now find on their site a complete list of people who stock the AG-01. Have a look as there’s most likely a retailer near you listed on there.
Before I hit the sack, or keep going on another caffiene driven day, First Factory have updated with website with the latest releases. The new Terminator2 inspired Winchester M1887 8mm from Marushin (fires 1 or 3 shot) is now available for pre-order priced at 22,900Yen. WA Beretta M84FS silenced model will be out with them on the 15th of the month MSRP is 18,900 Yen although First sell it cheaper. ;) The new WA SCW GBB is also up on pre-order for 20,400Yen although a sale date isn’t listed.
The new TM Glock18c is listed there, again no release date set, although once items appear on First’s pages they don’t take too long to surface. According to what I see there the new EBB 18c uses 7.2v packs and is a huge improvement upon the previous EBB models. I suppose we’ll see when they come out in the flesh.
The chaps at Airball Supplies submitted their link to our weblinks area, and when checking out their site before validating the link was impressed with not only the site but the range of gear that they currently stocked and offered for sale.
There’s an excellent range of combat boots, and several products I don’t remember seeing anywhere else (such as protective caps with impact resistant inserts, UVEX Genesis specs, Wiley-X glasses, and clothing such as the MA-1 vest. Checkout their website for more information.
WoodlandOrganics have added a new line of Luminox watches to their website. These new models are very similar in looks to the Traser H3 range (reviewed on site), but there are visible differences (the second had is illuminated and the date feature is standard) and I’m told that they are better products, although have yet to see one myself.
The models range from the basic Seals version at £149.95, up to the ranther spiffy USAF F-16 models at £559.95. The Seal Dive Series II and Carbon-Fibre look to represent good value for money. Check out their website for more details.
I’ve just added a wallpaper that has been donated to the website from the folks at IntruderShop. The wallpaper has been created for them by a famous artist in Taiwan by the name of Joe Tseng (he works in their retail department now).
It’s an classic ‘ye olde’ arcade game, and one I remember fondly. Now you too can play it reborn. Martin Rebas has written this new version of the game that although improved is still true to the original software. Now don’t blame me if you end up wondering where the previous two hours went. Ladies and gents, I give you “ai pengo“.
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