WWII airsofting in UK

Most of these questions can be answered best with a good read of these forums and using the search function sturm to be honest.

I know for usre there was a poll showing percentages of who played which type of nation

Looking at the claendar of events and previous booking threads will give you numbers.

My advice woudl be to spend a day or two browsing old threads after using the search for the key words you want.

Of course thats a lot of work for a non native english speaker from Finland erm I did a similar lot of questions for the German WWII airsoft forum, I'll dig the answers out later and post here if you haven't found the information you want Sturm

okay thanks mate

How many airsoft events do you usually have per year?
Comrades in Arms (i.e. the runners of this forum) have put on 4 events during the last 11 months. There are however other sites which put on WW2 events, and usually advertise on this forum.

How many "players" are there in airsof tevents?
Between 20-50 players each side, depending on the event.

How many "players" uses replica guns?
If you mean WW2 replica airsoft weapons - almost everybody

How many of you have re-production equipment?
Almost everybody.

How much you are ready to spend for gear?
It varies greatly. Some people have many uniforms and weapons.

How many of you is collecting US/GER/RUS/UK equipment? Others?
There are many people here interested in that.

Do you have vehicles is airsoft events?
Sometimes, depending on the event.

So far there have been 4 events run by the CiA ,these being 'Battle of the Bulge, Arnhem, Churchills Revenge and Wotan (all photos from these events are easily accessable via the forum index list . Usually there are between 20-30 players per side (Axis/Allied). D-Day event thats just passed was an event with the CiA team cooperating, and players were more 50 either side (allied/axis). Details of the last event are also available to read from the main index . We also have another game just before Christmas, being run by a site with a Hurtgen forest theme .

Next year I believe there will be more events, not only with CiA running events, we also have the newly formed PBI (Poor Bloody Infantry), add to that the likes of sites running their own events F & O (details can be seen from main index) as well as Gunman hopefully there will be LOTS next year .

I don't think I've seen (although I've only done 2 events and 1 training day) any non period weapons. Everyone at least uses something that looks the part. I think this has progressed since the CiA admin/moderators started the WWII games and there are less if any using say an AK or M5. Allieds have BAR, M1, Thompsons as well as pistols and the Bren at their usage. The Axis side uses primarily MP40s, K98s and pistols. Two members have MG42 (I think Kermit will correct me if I am wrong ) and there are several members with custom built K98s (ie not stock bought ones like the tanaka )

Reproduction kit levels are quite high, most people have some for of repro kit for airsofting in, uniform, webbing, footwear etc. There are also people that have original kit they use whilst airsofting. Even down to camping in June in pup tents and zelts, does occur (though modern tents are not forbidden).

Collecting kit, few of us do, some as said use that when airsofting, some collect and use it for reenactment, some just plain collect so theres a variety of levels that can be defined in "collecting", but yes would probably be the short answer to that. That would go for all nations original kit, US, German, UK and Russian (as well as some of the other nations that were involved in WWII)

How much do people spend ? how long is a piece of string I think theres very few people that haven't spent a small fortune on wwii airsofting. The weapons have increased (well certainly the HK side of things with the implemenatation of the vcr bill), even if you did the whole thing on the cheap, you'd probably soon tot up a couple of hundred pounds if not more (or a lot more if you find it compulsive and start doing new impressions and finding more kit you want to buy )

Vehicles, yes, though not as many as most of us would like there has been events with military landrover (not period mind sorry Guy), a 101 truck and am sure possibly others. Would love to own a sidecar outfit myself (not necessarily for airsofting, just because ) but hopefully there will as time moves on be more vehicles involved

Oh and I forgot to mention Oddballs moscat mini tank, you should read his threads he's made a very cool little tank that he's willing to bring to events

Be interesting to hear how it compares to Finland so if you could answer your own questions I for one would appreciate it as a comparison

Thanks

Poop pipped to the post by steiner you must have posted whilst I was editing my quote from elsewhere to suit here ho hum

Okay thanks guys.
I'll try to answer my questions soon.

As a [pointer, here's what my US paratrooper load out has cost me so far:

M42 Jump Suit £60
Jump boots £60
M1 helmet (post war) and net cover £25
Gloves £10
Webbing set £90
Holster £25
M1A1 Thompson SMG £100 (Chinese copy)
m1911 pistol £90
Thompson Mags £60 (five mid and two hi-caps)

With the exception of a few bits like a shirt, scarf, braces, jump rope this is (in my humble opinion) a very decent impression of a US soldier. For £520. Oh sh*t my wife is going to kill me if she reads this post.

Especially as there are two more load outs underway.

Surely you could try the 'it only cost £5 darling' or the 'I've had it ages, don't you remember' well it works for women not that I would know of course

'I've had it ages, don't you remember'

Hmm..... I know that one so well....

Hmm i've not looked at it liek that... what have i spent on my staffords loadout...

from the top

Helmet & net £20
Beret and badge £20
Cap comforter £5
Scarf £5
Battledress jacket and trousers £85
Insignia £20
Denison smock £165
Webbing approx £100 (ive three sets for different jobs)
Ammo Boots £30
Deac webley £135
Airsoft revolver £95
Ammo bandoliers x2 £10
WWII field dressings £5
Swagger stick £6
Mug £3
Pack contents inclduing period wash kit etc £20
No4 lee enfield £500
rain cap £5

so that works out at....

£1174 on the *one* loadout....

To reassure folk thugh a lot of this was bought when i dint know much better and *did not* get the best prices i could and i've also got lots of kit you dont need for airsoft as it was initially bought for re-enactment railway shows and the like

You can do a skirmishable staffords loadout for abut £200 excluding weapons that will look pretty much as good if you dont carry the world with you liek i do

How many airsoft events do you usually have per year?

Well, usually 2-5 "better" events (Maybe only re-product gear is allowed with only few other "look-likes"). Also other "ww2" airsoft events, which have a worse equipment/gun limit.

How many "players" are there in airsoft events?

20-100 each side (axis/allied) in "better" events. 100-200 each side in "worse" games.

How many "players" uses replica guns?

I must say, as many as can. Most of our WW2 events are in winter
(battle of the bulge etc.) so gas operated guns doesn't work at all.
So, AEG's are very popular,which makes a number of SMGs high.
Off course many players customize their bolt action rifles,
and put their machinery into real deactivated or replica airsoftguns stock.
I'm not sure but i think 50-70% of guns are replica-, or customized guns.
Other 30% includes other bolt-action rifles, MG's and M14 rifles too.

How many of you have re-production equipment?

Almost everyone. Off course you can't get a good gear without spending at least 500€ (I think it's much more..), so usually younger persons tries to make it easier and buys later production, which looks like a real stuff/reproduction). But there are many players who has later production replacing real (Brottbeutel,for exemple. NVA Brottbeutel is really close to a Wermacht one.)

How much you are ready to spend for gear?

I think it depends on age. Most of people (especially youngers) makes some limit. But I think it's better to collect gear in longer time without thinking price so much. Many younger persons have asked me is 300€ enought for complete wermacht pack for events, and if you say
"No,not at all" they just answers "Then I'll collect Bundeswehr etc."
And it's easy to get money if you're +15 year, so they don't whine about prices so much. Off course complete gear costs a damn much, but I think it's worth it.. I'm not sure how much people usually spends money.

How many of you is collecting US/GER/RUS/UK equipment? Others?

Well, most of Finnish players are collecting US or German gear, they're most popular. I don't know why Russian stuff ain't so popular, it's even so cheap (Finland is next to Russia). and UK.. Well,it's sad to tell you there are just a few players who have any WW2 UK stuff. Finnish gear is popular but you have to customize your airsoftgun to get more realistic weapon.. I think it's the same reason why UK and USSR are disfavoured.
US and German guns you can find from stores, and the equipment ain't very expensive to get a gear for airsoft events, so I think that's why they are most popular...

Do you have vehicles is airsoft events?

I think not. I've heard about one customized truck but I havn't seen any.

Well, I hope you could understand my text..
I have one more question for you guys: "Have you any structures in airsoft events? If yes, what and how many? (I would appreciate if u got some pictures of buildings or other structures from the field )

Good answers Sturm, nice to see there are similarities Don't think I could work out what I've personally spent on kit as I've bought stuff for Che on occasions as well as myself, probs more than I'd like to think about if I sat and totted it up but it was all bought over a few months before I did my first event so at the time it didn't feel I was spending a small fortune

Structures is a hard one, as we tend to use different sites rather than the same one (Urban and Rural) and the structures in place for the events are those of the site primarily. Old 'un did make a V1 and 88 for Churchills revenge (pictures of it can be seen in the Churchills revenge pictures via past games link above or through the forum index) past that I can't personally think of anything other than temporary CP made by a tarp cover.

Of the sites used that I can think of, F&O (Matlock) has a small bunker/trench used for the last training day, the site for Churchills revenge had I believe some disused outhouses/small buildings that were next to the Dutch resistance camp (I didn't see them though so I may be completely wrong), The Arnhem game (at the Phoenix site) has a variety of disused buildings including a large warehouse and the last CiA game, Wotan was completely a structure, that being an underground network of tunnels in Portsmouth that were actually used during WWII and lies underneath a Naval observation point.

The last game played (run by Gunman airsoft) in Wales, D-Day had some 88's built that fired, a fort that from what I can gather (I wasn't at this event ) was made from wood and towers that have been described to me as two story bird hides (sorry Josh).

So you can see, the use of already in situe structures is more common, though who knows in future games

And again a question for yourself Do you use one site ? or do you much as we do here have a selection that you can pick and choose from ? also do you use structures ?

Do you use one site ? or do you much as we do here have a selection that you can pick and choose from ? also do you use structures ?

What did you mean?

also do you use structures ?

Off course. In bigger (and better ) events there are many wooden buildings, one of the best areas has even a church made from wood ! The area also includes 2 little villages (structures made from wood), watch towers, foxholes off course and thousands of sandbags And they also have made "Belgian Gates" etc.
But in smaller airsofting areas there aren't so many buildings.

Hmmm thinking of how to rephase it

We use area's for airsofting that are in different places in the UK, not just in one town and not always the same site. There are lots (LOTS) of different places we can go and airsoft, I assume there are also at least a few areas in Finland you can airsoft ?

Hopefully the above made more sense ? ok so back to the question I originally asked about do you use one site. By this I meant, do you use the same area for each game ? Do the event organisers (presumably those that own the area to be airsofted in) arrange the structures ? Do you have a favourite area and event ?

If I was to type exactly how much £ I have spent on this I would prolly curl up into a ball and re-think my life!

Lets see now...

US Infantry, Airborne and Marines ...

Helmets, Straps and Nets - £90
M41 Jacket - £40
M1936 Pants - £50
Great Coat - £30
M42 Jumpsuit - £70
Marine HBTs - £80
Gaitors - £10
Boots (2 Pairs) - £120
Webbing (3 sets) - £400
Para Rifle Bag - £70
M1 Carbine - £200
M1928 - Thompson - £300
BAR - £190
M1919 .30 Cal Browning - £600
Colt .45 - £150

In the region of £2400 so far! ... not bad in just over a year!

Okay, well, sure we use many,many sites for airsofting. I guess nearly every town has own softers area, but they aren't used in bigger games.
And, we have also old factories etc. so it's a bit different than forests
Nice gear,Webby