21st Century Airsoft have added some more technical articles to their website, including the TM AK47 and 47s manual, an article covering the TM M203 shotgun shell type launcher a TM SR15 help section, manuals for the TM M16A2 and the TM M4A1. The pages currently report that “you can’t access this page” if you’re not logged in, which means that you’ll need to be a registered member of their forums to read those areas. All’s not lost though as registration only takes a few seconds.
UN Company have posted their own pictures from BlackHole 2005 on their website today (just dropped over an email to let us know). There’s a couple of things there that haven’t been seen before in any shots online yet such as shots of the new Glock Advance lower frames and multi coloured velocity reduction adapters.
The guys at ModelGuns.co.uk (PFC replica stockist) have updated their website with some more new stock. On their site now are the following bits of kit: Clint Eastwood .44 Automag, M3A1 Grease Gun and the COLT XM177E2 Commando. The ‘Clint’ Automag (Clint1 Auto Mag 44AMP 280 model) from Marushin is very rare, it’s especially unusual to find one listed as being unused and unfired.
Listed as “coming soon” on their site are the following bits of kit:
MGC MP40, M1 Garand, M1A Carbine (paratrooper), M1 Carbine, AR-7 (U.S.A.F. Survival Rifle), Sten MKIII, Sterling, Tactical M4A1 Carbine, Tactical XM177E2 Commando, Sniper M16A1, M76 SMG, Scorpion Vz61, AK47 (wood stock), M31 Shotgun (folding metal stock), Double Barrel Shotgun, .44 Metal Marushin Automag, Desert Eagles 50AE (matt chrome + black), Desert Eagle .44, Glock 17, Luger P-08, Shoei MP44 (to order), Shoei FG42 (to order), Beretta M96FS (Inox), M1911A1, Blank Fire Grenades and much more. (ModelGuns.co.uk)
Bill dropped over a line from 21st Century Airsoft to let everyone know that they’ve got some new articles online. First up the Classic Army CA36C manual is online, secondly there’s a handy guide for working on the Classic Army M24 Socom Sniper – you’ll also find the manual for the M24 online on the same page.
There’s a new handy feature in the forums now that allows you to place a pin in the map as to where you are in the world. Only people that have chosen to place their pin are shown on the map and you can always clear your details if you wish. The idea is that the map doesn’t show an exact GPS co-ordinate or anything so accurate (that’d have certain problems) rather it’s just an idea of where you are on the globe. Comments can be added to this forum thread.
Not only does it give a casual reader an idea of where people are in the world, but it also allows someone to click on your forum profile and find out roughly where you are. The map is only available to registered members so you’ll have to register or login to see it. The code for the map works now, but there’s a few more additions that will be added later on to tidy things up a bit more. If you do choose to add your location to the map, please make it roughly correct – users found swimming in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific will be politely asked to adjust their account 
Eddie over at AirsoftShop has updated his stock lists with some new gear including the new G&P grips and M870 metal bodies. Click on any of the following links to be taken to the relevant product pages:
- Samurai Elcan Style 3.4x Optical Sight
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G&P SPR Type Grip (Black)
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G&P SPR Type Grip (Tan)
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Hero Arms Dual Drum Magazine For M16 Series (Electric Power, Automatic Loading System Build In)
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G&P M870 Shotgun Metal Body Masterkey Version for Maruzen M870 Series
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G&P M870 Shotgun Metal Body for Maruzen M870 Series
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Craft Apple Works (CAW) have updated their rifle pages with details of a wood stocked air cocking M700 release (RRP 33,432Yen). There’s some more pictures of the workings found in both the SWS and Wood version on their M24 page.
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There’s also some information on two new ‘Bird Head’ SAA models (7mm PFC model) that they’ve added to their PFC SAA lineup. The models are called the Civilian and the Sheriffs with the main difference simply being barrel length. Each bird head model retails for around 24,500Yen.
Purely on the random side of things (if you’re in Japan), CAW are holding their monthly Survival Game on the 20th of February. For anyone interested in Japanese game limits/rules their FPS limits are 0.2g at 100m/s and 0.25g at 89m/s (1 Joule across the board) with only 6mm biodegradable (below 0.35g) and Marushin 8mm 0.34g biodegradable BBs allowed on site.
Smokies Gun Factory
has updated their website with details of their gas M1 Garand release. Which is now set for a Spring 2005 release according to their paperwork – like any release date that’s quoted though this can always slip. From their release news it’s a pretty safe bet that their patent/licensing issues have no been cleared up. It’s always fun to watch Airsoft releases.. they are like buses, you wait years and years and then four come along at once – it’s almost guaranteed that by the end of the year M1 and M14s will be found all across Airsoft sites around the world.
The product is listed with a magazine capacity of 12 a weight of 3kg and is 1110m long it’s also made from real wood and metal parts. The gas M1 Garand will no doubt prove to be popular when it’s released.
Woah just when you think you’ve added all the news for the day, a new addition pops up. Guarder/IntruderShop have added the AKS-74 All Steel Kits (Wood handguard/Folding Stock) to their product pages now so these kits will be hitting shops like WGC very shortly. You can see the quality and number of parts that come in the kit in the inset photos below:
The new kit is a limited run, weighs in at 2.3Kg and costs 900USD (I think that’s the most expensive Guarder/IntruderShop product yet.. but certainly very nice to look at).
In my own opinion the PFC (Plug Fire Cartridge) systems don’t get enough airtime on the web, and are (in most parts) a lesser known product concept than Airsoft itself. True they don’t project 6/8mm BBs but they are made by the same companies that manufacture Airsoft products. Sitting somewhere between a cap gun and a blank firer they have the advantages of blowback and noise, but none of the possible legal and safety problems inherent with certain blank firer designs. Handy if you just want a prop gun, or something that looks the part as a desk toy or otherwise. If you’re feeling really adventurous, parts from suitable PFCs could be modified to be installed around an Airsoft mechanism to make your own custom build.
Over at ModelGuns.co.uk there’s a huge stock of gear in with classics from manufacturers like MGC/Kokusai that date back over 20 years in some cases, through to the more modern Hudson builds.
Added to their site today is a Colt SAA .45 PFC made by Kokusai. It’s rare, it’s metal and comes with real wood grips:
The main disadvantage of the stock over at ModelGuns is that there is normally only one of each item, so you’ll have to move quick if you want one – I doubt that the SAA will be around for long myself. It’s worth remembering that the classic PFC items whilst being in full working order shouldn’t be considered to be able to withstand the same use as modern builds simply because they are effectively antiques – this goes double for the older blowback and full auto firing models. If you’re not sure what PFC gear looks like, or what it sounds like when it’s being used, there’s a heap of videos on their website showing how they empty shells. Any budding SledgeHammer wannabes out there (at current count that’s about 7,500 of you lot) who’ve just picked up their new sports jacket will be very interested in the metal revolver section, specifically the two Magnum .44s that are left.
Edit: While this news has been typed up and added a new S&W .357 Magnum , "Dirty Harry" .44 Magnum and Hit XM177E2 Commando have also been added to their pages. I doubt that these will hang around for long either so best get in fast.
The lads at RedWolf Airsoft have posted their own shots and information from The Black Hole Show 2005. Nice to see that the new TM parts were indeed there and that at least one TOP MP40 exists. Checkout their website for the full news.
We ring in the near year with a visit to Japan for the latest installment of the Blackhole Show. Designed for airsoft enthusiasts, the Blackhole show is a showcase for airsoft gun and accessory manufacturers alike, although recent years has seen the show change more into a military surplus and trading fair rather than a true expo. However, a few anchor tenants were thankfully on hand to offer some new information in the airsoft world!
As usual, we quickly walked over to the well-lit Marui booth to see what this airsoft giant had in store for this year. Marui had set up a huge netted area where several people were demonstrating the new G18C AEP – nailing consequetive metal targets in full-auto mode. But the most exciting part was the display cabinet that housed several molds of up-and-coming AEP models, which includes the 93R, 92F and USP! On display were also quite a few accessories that will soon be available for the G18C AEP, including a long magazine and also a flashlight system that ressembles that of an M3 lighting module. BH2005 report (RedWolf Airsoft)
Oh, it’s also worth mentioning that RedWolf have added a new PSS10 trigger unit for the VSR10, Nine Ball Mk23 scope mount, Prometheus air seal chamber, ANGS silencer adapter (for the CA870), and various ANGS barrels to their stock lists today too.
On the subject of Hudson and their own releases they have announced yet more alterations to their M3A1 grease gun GBB replica (BLK 2210HW) specification.
They say that they have improved the exteriour finish with a sand blasted matt look, and the build material is all now "heavy weight" ABS. They have also replaced several parts where reliability was an issue (they don’t specifiy which).
The blowback force/recoil is less in the new model which increases the overall durability of the model simply because the stress levels have been lowered (not exactly an improvement though), and the "buffer part" is now made from a zinc alloy to decrease wear and tear. Not quite sure what they mean by "buffer part", but 10:1 it is something in the recoil mechanism that kept snapping.
Classic Army today updated their site with leaflets and posters of their new products – I think we’ve seen some of these before but with so much information being added to the news page it’s hard to keep track of it all. Rather than add all the pages here, here’s the relative links and some of the new images:
- New catalog of parts
- Leaflet for new tactical flashlight
- Leaflets for new desert colour products for the M15 series
- Leaflets for new type springs
- Leaflets for new crane stock battery
- Instruction manual for fitting of metal AK47 frame
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The manual showing how to replace the AK metal body alone is great reference for anyone looking to do any similar work to their own AEG.
NodaYa have added news to their site of Hudson’s M14 dummy/PFC model, and their M1 Garand dummy/PFC model (PFC – Plug Fire Cartridge). NodaYa‘s comments about the Hudson models are basically that whilst TM still dithers about on their electric version that may well never appear, Hudson are now releasing a 6mm gas blowback M21 and a new plug fire cap version of the M14. They also comment on the quantity of metal parts and the wood stock in both of these new models. RRP for the M14 PFC and the M1 Garand PFC is set to 94,500Yen, with NodaYa selling it at an offer price of 85,800Yen – both will be out at the end of January.
Now for anyone that is up with current news and is confused at this point.. you’re not alone. To get things straight – Hudson M14 is PFC, the Hudson M21 is GBB, the Hudson M1 is PFC, the Smokies M1 is GBB and the TM M14 is.. buried in a closet somewhere.
There is also news of the Tanaka S&W M10 revolver (4 inch) which is also a PFC model, which retails at 14,931Yen.
John at Elite Airsoft has sent over the latest news with some interesting news regarding WA and the Colt trademark:
A few weeks back we told you 2005 was going to be exciting, so here goes with the first major announcement. Western Arms are now ‘offically’ making available COLT products to the UK market through Elite AirSoft. Prior to this point, COLT products could only find their way to the UK via Hong Kong dealers.
The first three models are already en route and should be available from Elite AirSoft and approved Western Arms dealers by the end of next week.
The three models are :-
WA-GMH S.C.W. Colt Gov’t series 70,
WA-GMO S.C.W. Colt Delta Elite all black and WA-GMJ S.C.W. Colt Combat Commander.
As Western Arms launched over 10 new Colt models last year alone, this is a very exciting addition to the UK range, which already boasts the widest range of airsoft pistols, including Beretta, Para Ordnance, Strayer Voight and Wilson Combat.
Demand is likely to be very high for these items, so make contact with your usual suppliers as soon as possible John, (EliteAirsoft)