[Sticky] Your questions answered

This looks good to me and permission has been obtained to come.

What time do you want us on site on Saturday, and what time are you thinking of finishing on Saturday and starting on Sunday?

As it is only Kettering, I'm pondering the practicality of going home to sleep..... although I expect I'll end up camping.

Cheers
Martin

Excellent. As there is no great rush to get battle ready - all attendees need to do is turn up in a timely manner (come dressed in working clothes to save time). We have a lot to squeeze in so if we can kick off as close to noon as possible that would be fab. Sunset is around 17.45 to the evening exercise will straddle that. I'd strongly recommend stopping overnight rather than trekking back and forth up the M1 - part of the fun is the social - and we will try for an early start on Sunday morning. It definitely won't be a 10.30am+ start (as games often end up - at the last game I couldn't wait four hours for everyone to get their arses out of bed so I went home ) as this will be an awful waste of time.

Fine, starting early on Sunday sounds good to me. Dawn is at 0608 in Kettering on the 3rd March!

And we can really come wearing anything? You don't want 'sides'? The prospect of choice is rather alarming

Cheers
Martin

Isn't sunrise around 6.45am? And there will be no sides as such. Teams certainly, as well as OpFor, as these will be 'live fire' exercises not airsoft shooty blats.

I believe first light, dawn and sunrise are different things.

Thanks anyway and see you in March once I've paid.

Cheers
Martin

Good point! I had a quick look for a website for first light times - the US website ( http://www.weatherimages.org/latlonsun.html ) calculates 'civil twilight' of 06:10 and 'sunrise' 06:44

Good point! I had a quick look for a website for first light times - the US website ( http://www.weatherimages.org/latlonsun.html ) calculates 'civil twilight' of 06:10 and 'sunrise' 06:44

This also assumes a clear sky! Clouds make a massive difference.

That said, a dawn start sounds like a plan.

We have tried to anticipate queiries and questions you may have - if we have missed anything then do ask! Check this first post for a summary.

What tents are we allowed to bring?
Period tentage is preferred (zelts, pups or post-WW2 canvas type) but, tarps, bashas and nylon tents are allowed - one of the advantages of these events is to try something new and have a bit of a personal experiment.

What are the uniform requirements?
Any WW2 forces uniform or even period/civilian/partisan. Again, your chance to experiment, try out new kit, wear something you rarely get a chance to wear or simply wear your fave clobber. Remember, this is a working environment and there will be exercises so keep it practical - your First Sea Lord uniform might be best kept for the social!

What weapon do I need?
Again, your choice. Time to experiment & test. Pistols might be handy (often a useless accessory at games!)

What time is the event?
Noon Saturday 2nd to noon Sunday 3rd March.
As there is no need to get massively 'bombed up' prior to the start the simplest way is to turn up no more than an hour before, togged up in your work wear to minimise faffing. We will be trying for an early start on Sunday morning to get the most out of the hours we have - not a great deal of point in paying cash to stop in bed on Sunday morning!

Where is the site?
viewtopic.php?f=230&t=16330&p=228709

How much is the event and how do I book?
viewtopic.php?f=230&t=16331&p=228732

I'm new to WW2 airsoft - will I be welcome and will I like it?
Most certainly on both counts, it will be great to get to know you.

I'm 16 - can I attend?
Very sorry, but for many reasons CiA events are for over 18's only. On the plus side pensioners are more than welcome.

I've been to training days before - what's different?
The CiA team have both run and attended many training days in the past too. We are building on past experiences by bringing in new elements and keeping it relevant to practical games rather than theoretical army manual training. Quite apart from the social aspect it is important for 'old hands' to get to know and involve 'new blood' - WW2 airsoft is a shared experience.

What facilities are there?
This is a rural wood. There are no toilets and no running water - please bring sufficient water (a basic 99p 5 litre bottle of water will be fine) along with shovel, toilet paper and wet wipes/antiseptic hand wash/gel if you think you will get desperate for a no 2. Or you could benefit from Pete's army training and follow his course module 'How to shit in a plastic bag and shove it in your backpack'. Or just go to the local pub. And shit in a plastic bag there.

Are we allowed to have fire-pits, or is it 'small cookers/fires off the ground?

also, are you wanting the 'camping kit to be carried', or is the camp just being set up 'straight from the cars'?

(ps I know I haven't actually booked on yet, I am just waiting for Dean to confirm his definite availability to, well, you know, drive me )

Camping is for convenience so will be as close to cars as we can. We will be making arrangements for that as part of our recce coming up soon, so as to be organised and prepared.

We have established with Close Action 'no open fires' so gas cookers and the like are fine - I'll have my 'field kitchen' set up if chaps want to make an easy brew or heat stuff up. As for fire pits, we between ourselves considered this not to be 'open fire' but we will have to check this. Safe fire building will be part of the course (I just made that up but a words and demonstration would constitute instruction in my book) so I hope we can demonstrate we are sensible people who will take care of the site that is being loaned to us.

Camping is for convenience so will be as close to cars as we can. We will be making arrangements for that as part of our recce coming up soon, so as to be organised and prepared.

We have established with Close Action 'no open fires' so gas cookers and the like are fine - I'll have my 'field kitchen' set up if chaps want to make an easy brew or heat stuff up. As for fire pits, we between ourselves considered this not to be 'open fire' but we will have to check this. Safe fire building will be part of the course (I just made that up but a words and demonstration would constitute instruction in my book) so I hope we can demonstrate we are sensible people who will take care of the site that is being loaned to us.

I have the 'frontier Stove', I am sure we can bring that.

More questions:

Are modern tents ok?

Yep. This is a relaxed affair. In fact, some of the organisers are considering modern tents for ease and practicality in the potentially cold weather.

Who the hell is Sgt Heide and what makes him so qualified to train me?

Sgt Heide is a trained former military sniper in the British Army with years of experience in fieldcraft and military environments. He has been in the airsoft scene for over 15 years and has run numerous airsoft training days around the country. Heide also has a lot of bushcraft experience and knows how to survive in the forest comfortably for a number of weeks.

What's the point though!?

By attending the training day you will learn plenty of useful skills that will be directly valuable on the airsoft battlefield, both for you as an individual and within a team. The weekend will be very enjoyable, relaxed, and a good excuse to spend some time with like-minded folk in a open and friendly learning environment.

There will also be a opportunity to unwind and have a few beers at the Saturday evening social. In short, you'd be a fool to miss it!

Are there trees in the camping area?

My questions are not totally random, I am thinking of tying up the apex of the tent - thus removing the pole from inside (ha, pun not intended but 'ha') - but obviously this will only work if there are trees. so, thus, I ask.

There's a clearing that is literally surrounded by trees. You may need to camp slightly away from other people, but I think you'll be fine.

Oh have plans B and C too - plenty of plans.