Tents & camping

Unfortunately my boy managed to rip the grommets out of 3 of my zelts by jumping on the tent so i am down to 1 zelt tent, however i do have a 2 man available for use..

After road-testing my basha / groundsheet combo for a night's kip in the back garden and waking up to find a fox, not just inside the the shelter but actually sitting on my legs I now have to add fox repellant to my collection of camping crap.

And for the record, my reaction was an authentic Sioux war-cry , NOT screaming like a girl, whatever my neighbors may tell you

Blimey, how exciting (and how weird). I expect the fox was wondering why YOU were sleeping on HIS bed!

After road-testing my basha / groundsheet combo for a night's kip in the back garden and waking up to find a fox, not just inside the the shelter but actually sitting on my legs I now have to add fox repellant to my collection of camping crap.

And for the record, my reaction was an authentic Sioux war-cry , NOT screaming like a girl, whatever my neighbors may tell you

Jesus! Really!? That's amazing!

Mind you, when I was wild camping in the Forest of Dean a few years ago a herd of wild boar came snorting past in the middle of the night. my friend kept very still! I slept through it!

there was a lad in my old TA unit that when on exercise at STANTA woke up in his shell scrape found himself face to face with a sheep that wanted to get out of the rain, it had snuggled up next to him for the night, man that guy screamed like a girl

What's more weird is the fox's reaction after I screamed...I mean shouted.... he backed off no more than 10 feet and just looked at me, even as I was getting out of the sleeping bag. It was only when I picked up a bit of bamboo cane to throw at him that he sauntered off. I swear that he rolled his eyes and made a "wanker" sign with his paw as he went. Foxes just aren't scared of humans apparently, or bamboo cane.

It's like those kiddies that were bitten in their own beds, Urban Foxes just are not scared of humans anymore. So many do gooders feeding them at the end of the garden means they have become used to us and are no longer afraid. People forget that these mange ridden scroungers are classed as Vermin for a very good reason.

So many do gooders feeding them at the end of the garden means they have become used to us and are no longer afraid. People forget that these mange ridden scroungers are classed as Vermin for a very good reason.

Sounds like my kids

Sounds like my kids

I had a rude awakening camping on Lundy when a sheep must have decided to shelter against my tent but actually sat on my head, they are bloody heavy !!

Today as I put up two of those damned £15 wire cot beds and braced myself for poked eyes, broken fingers and foul cursing I thought there has to be a correct way of doing it and so I developed Chomley's Foolproof Method of Cot Erection. No patents pending 'cos its probably blindingly obvious (maybe even in the instruction sheet, if there ever was one) but I have struggled so many times before, and seen others do so too, so I will relate it step by step:

Tools required: one long stout screwdriver or similar stout 9" or so metal rod.

A. Assemble a three rod section. Between the two end pieces (with bungs in the ends so you can't get that wrong) there is a middle section that can be fitted two ways. Lay the assembled rod on the canvas to check the holes match with the canvas cutouts - get the middle one the wrong way and you won't be able to fit a leg.

B. Slide the assembled rod into the long pocket, bent piece last. Do NOT try to fit it into place, leave the end out.

C. Starting at the foot end insert a leg in the hole, rotating the pole to locate. Work your way with the other three legs to the head end.

D. Repeat A and B (rod assembly and rod insertion) on the other side.

E. At the foot end, kneeling at one side of the canvas with the fixed leg between your knees, grasp the unfixed end of the leg with both hands and pull back to tension and locate into opposite hole. Make sure the other pole is rotated correctly and that the the leg slots home. Repeat with other three legs.

F. At the head end slip your screwdriver into the black loop and with both hands grasp the handle and the end of the screwdriver. This is going to give you safe purchase on the loop and apply much more force than a finger can provide. Sit on the floor with your foot braced on the nearest leg and pull on that screwdriver slowly and firmly until the canvas is stretched sufficiently for the pole end to slip into the pocket.

G. Repeat F on other looped tab.

H. Gloat at how you safely and easily assembled your bed without assistance or injury or naughty words, and in three minutes too!

Well me an Lip joined impromptu Jed training by sleeping under single shelter-halfs - not in the proper way like they did, but as simple half tents as there was no wind.

However for Jedburgh I will be in a comfy little US pup tent, with a lovely camp bed and sleeping bag, even if I won't get the charming Disney moment of a lonely fox friend.

If the weather is good I'm planning on the zelt and blanket wrap method of shelter. If it rains cats and dogs I shall wuss out and find some proper cover and maybe even a sleeping bag. I am getting old it transpires, this has been a very disapointing discovery I can assure you.

Dont worry fella you're amongs comrades here. A lot of us WW2 airsofters start feeling our age when trying to keep up with the youngsters!
Excellent guide CW Thanks. The stout screwdriver seems to be the key piece of equipment there, currently searching fleabay for a suitable period piece! (joking)

You've missed a trick. SAS have a fixed base with a variety of mod cons, so no tent-humping required.

At least that's how I understand it.

So, reading between the lines of all the threads, also please bear in mind that i'm posting after midnight. The difference between Jeds and SAS is that we(SAS) also get to hump tents around ready for pitching before bed?
Have I missed a trick or is this as plain as it is appearing? Surely we are better off just packing lightweight bags and IPK/poncho/basha materials the same as the Jeds?

No need to read between the lines - it should be crystal clear!

http://www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/php/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=136&t=10370&p=164975#p164975
http://www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/php/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=136&t=9407&p=157676

Jeds do not have a fixed base and have to carry all possessions on their backs - clearly tents are out of the question.
SAS do have a fixed base and can erect tents. However, SAS are behind the German front lines and therefore must take care not to draw attention to their encampment whether by making use of natural features, physical concealment or erecting after dark (as your commander dictates). No need to carry kit at all, cache the stash.
Germans will be creating a small village complete with corner shop, cinema and pub church.

i shall be sleeping on the floor in a bag.

I shall be sleeping with the fishes

I mean the foxes.

Poncho and Helmet

2 Zelts and a sidearm, anything or body gets too close I cap it