Hello

Hello & welcome Ian,

Looks like you've already got straight on to the right track with starting into the world of WW2 airsofting, by studying the kit guides and planning/researching what would be idea kit/weapons. If you and/or your son need coaxing anymore, people are usually willing to lend kit on a "you bend it, you mend it" basis to allow you to try out the weapons available and the game-play of the different factions you can basemail your impression on and choose to play as (and also help reduce the amount of new kit you'll have to smuggle past SWMBO before a game!).
Hope to see you all at a game in the future!

Rob

Tbh. At 11, you son may be a little small to cope with anything too heavy or long. There may be a case for getting him an MP5 or M4 with an adjustable stock. For most games you could just cover it in hessian scrim. Some of the sub machineguns may be the best way to start, have you shown Ben a Sten gun? I fail to see how anyone could not find them cool For short arms, an M3 grease gun may be a good option.
Mp40's and Thompsons would be the other SMG's.

You could book on for one of the games we have coming up and ask about borrowing some gear. That way you get a chance to look at some guns in the flesh and see what suits. In the mean time, get a DVD of 'A Bridge too far' and start the indoctrination process

welcome , often kit can be loaned when you start if you want to try it , you just need to check age levels for example the game we run are 16+ , but pretty sure some are not so strict on age

Hello & welcome Ian. All good advice above, I would add go for a generic infantry impression rather than buying 'unique' unit kit that you won't get much use out of!

Allo allo

Hi Ian,
I started "normal" airsofting at the request of my son when he was about 13 and we slowly migrated to WW2, I think it was his way of getting me more interested We slowly picked up kit, him Russian and me German as we went along and attended open games wearing it, which was cool. As Chris has mentioned a lot of the WW2 games are 16+ and we eventually had to wait a year after getting all the kit before he was old enough to attend a game, which was a shame, but when we did, we both thoroughly enjoyed it. That was a few years ago now and my son has moved on and only attends the occasional game, but I got bitten by the bug and attend games whenever I can .
With regard to obtaining kit, the guys on here will give you good advice (so if not sure ask), read the kit guides, go for the basic look, and watch the for sale section (second hand is cheaper). The only other advice I would give from experience, is don't go for inferior look-a-like kit because its cheaper, you'll only want to replace it with the real deal later and it will cost you more in the long run.
So start building up your kit, use it at open days, and watch the forum for up and coming games with lower age limits then enjoy . You could always come along to a game yourself and tell your son you're seeing if it's suitable for him .
Cheers
Russell

Hello and welcome
Lots of good advice above , virtually nobody get's to their first game in full perfect kit ,make use of the loan kit and get stuck in asap !
Dadio

Hello and welcome,

loads of good advice above, so just a couple of things to add/echo;

1. whatever side you go for to start with, go with a basic infantry impression at first. You'll get more use out of it and it'll maximise your chance of a game.

2. the M14 is actually quite a good choice for a general purpose rifle, it can be used for moderns and as a looks like WW2 rifle or bodged up into a G43/SVT40 (like mine:). The only thing is they are quite heavy, even now I get 'M14 arm' carrying one around all day, and for a young person an SMG is probably a better choice. As Russ says, the Sten or MP40 are impossibly cool, and also light and handy.

Finally, loan/rental kit is available at many games, so no excuse not to get stuck in. The game in April isn't too far from you, so might be a possibility? Hope to see you at an event soon.

Cheers
Martin

Thanks for the welcome chaps!

I had been wondering about the cheap end kits - as it seems you can get tunic & trousers for around the same cost as a decent tunic but as you say, you get what you pay for. I would definitely be going for a basic early war heer setup - using my current boots (with gaiters of course). Keeping an eye on the for sale section here and on the WW2 reenactors FB page - any other pages to make a note of ?

If an M14 will pass muster - then that's what I'd probably get initially - our local site/shop (The Grange) has a lovely looking AGM, and a bakelite MP40, sten, m1 garand....all get longing looks/pets each time we go in - though Ben also gets a cuff round the ear when he says the sten looks funny Spose it's only to be expected with a young'un - he's been brought up on COD/BF series, so cool to him means rails galore and everything but the kitchen sink hanging off em, plate carriers, helmets with gizmos sticking out left right n centre. I'm slowly turning him away from the darkside though - Victory Show and War in the Vale are becoming regular events in our calendar. I initially suggested to Ben we do something a la Cross of Iron but he doesn't like the look of Russian kit (yet!)

For Christmas he gave me an IOU for a small piece of militaria - has breadbag written all over it - will be at Stoneleigh in a couple of weeks and see what I can see.

A slightly touchy subject maybe - facemasks. Every open day I've attended so far has involved me taking at least one shot to the face. Are masks heavily frowned upon at the moment ? I have bolle tracker goggles currently (not tried in anger yet) and will be needing prescription lenses in, so would look to get a half mesh mask - have few enough teef left so want to protect what I do have.

Thanks again for the welcome and advice!

face masks tend to vary by game - some wont allow I don't think, some don't care and some will allow but prefer not, but you will find in the ww2 games you don't get hosed as much, it tends to be more controlled fire, I tend to use a neck gaiter which I just pull up a bit when going into combat , but I do see some face masks out there , but you just need to make sure its as plain as can be, I don't think any game would let you use a skull one for example - though I think 16 and under you have to wear full face all the time.

if you wanted a cheap smg - firesupport have the ics grease gun going cheap at the mo , and rifle wise the ics garand cheap

its been said but stick to plain infantry uniforms , don't get caught up trying to be a officer or something obscure

all the best and if you have any questions - just ask

Facemasks are a touchy subject on the forum and has produced hot debate

Some game organisers do not allow them, some insist on them for under 18's because of insurance. Generally speaking I think they spoil the look but Cheeky Chappy on the forum has produced some very good looking flesh coloured ones that are very discreet.

Most people who come to WW2 events wearing facemasks, when they realise that the games are not as shooty as an open day dispense with them.

A lot of players wear a scarf or torque that be pulled up around the lower face if things are getting a bit hairy.

So mostly its personal choice but if you feel you have too discreet please

...I had been wondering about the cheap end kits - as it seems you can get tunic & trousers for around the same cost as a decent tunic...

Some cheap kit is okay, for example I got one of these...
http://militaria-net.co.uk/german-unifo ... p-896.html
...and its really good value, not the classic wool look but at least you won't boil in the summer ! just stay clear of for example cheap DDR kit that looks a bit like WW2 at 100 yards, although some stuff like boot gaiters are very similar , if in doubt ask

A slightly touchy subject maybe - facemasks. Every open day I've attended so far has involved me taking at least one shot to the face. Are masks heavily frowned upon at the moment ? I have bolle tracker goggles currently (not tried in anger yet) and will be needing prescription lenses in, so would look to get a half mesh mask - have few enough teef left so want to protect what I do have.

Like Tim and Chris have said; it tends to vary from organiser to organiser. I'd recommend a gum shield at the very least; a thick scarf is a decent investment as well.

It does depend a lot on the site fps limits; if there are plenty of 500 fps sniper rifles I wouldn't blame you if you went with a face mask.

As regards kit; always check on here before you buy if you're not sure. Otherwise you'll spend money on cheap kit that'll either be unsuitable or just downright shite, then have to buy it again down the line.

Buy once. Buy right.

A slightly touchy subject maybe - facemasks. Every open day I've attended so far has involved me taking at least one shot to the face. Are masks heavily frowned upon at the moment ? I have bolle tracker goggles currently (not tried in anger yet) and will be needing prescription lenses in, so would look to get a half mesh mask - have few enough teef left so want to protect what I do have.

As no one can force you to not using one; you can look into something that is not just a 'stupid' mask and ruining your impression.

Have a look at my post in the following topic (although it's locked), dedicated to the usage (or not) of face masks; viewtopic.php?p=219676#p219676

willkommen

What does your lad want as a load out Brit or German?

Might be able to help out with German field greys my son started at 12 now been to more than 10 WW2 events. I converted a Swedish Tunic hand tailored for his petite size, now grown out of it.

I'd recommend a gum shield at the very least; a thick scarf is a decent investment as well.It does depend a lot on the site fps limits; if there are plenty of 500 fps sniper rifles I wouldn't blame you if you went with a face mask.

Yes, it just depends. Most events aren't very shooty but it is a good idea to have some sort of teeth/face protection available if necessary. I usually just have a gumshield stuck in a pocket if needed, but for anything particularly dangerous looking (like full auto CQB type stuff) then I wear a facemask. I've got one of cheeky chappies flesh masks, but I've only ever worn it a couple of times.

Cheers
Martin

willkommen

What does your lad want as a load out Brit or German?

Might be able to help out with German field greys my son started at 12 now been to more than 10 WW2 events. I converted a Swedish Tunic hand tailored for his petite size, now grown out of it.

Danke schön - unfortunately he's still in denial and wants to sort a modern loadout first.....but once he's seen the light I'll come a calling

Yes, it just depends. Most events aren't very shooty but it is a good idea to have some sort of teeth/face protection available if necessary. I usually just have a gumshield stuck in a pocket if needed, but for anything particularly dangerous looking (like full auto CQB type stuff) then I wear a facemask. I've got one of cheeky chappies flesh masks, but I've only ever worn it a couple of times.

Cheers
Martin

Being new to airsoft in general, I hadn't really thought that the days I've attended were particularly shooty, well not from me anyway - think I've been around 500 rounds last two open days. Usually having the Ak on semi rather than full.
I think some people - like me - have faces that just attract BBs

I like the look of cheeky chappies masks and have something similar on the go at the mo.....I say on the go, it's a plastic face mask, that I've started to chop down but haven't got anywhere near to fleshing up yet, too many jobs around the house to bodge up at the mo'

500 rounds at an open day doesn't sound like much, I used to get through a few thousand I knew a guy with an M249 you used to get through several thousand in each _game_.

WW2 games are rarely that shooty, I think the least rounds fired all day was around 40, rifles only games I do about 100-140 and more regular games a few hundred at most.

Cheers
Martin