SHOT Show 2012
Just got this in over at the SCOOP.IT site’s SUPER-SCOOPER…and thought we needed to add a lot more to the back story, for all of you to enjoy!
-
http://blog.predatorbdu.com/2012/03/soldier-of-fortune-mag-now-on-kindle.html
-
OK, so for the record, I have not always been a blogger…heck, we didn’t even have “A/Uh” computer at my school…even for the front office folks…until the year AFTER I graduated; when my now-computer-savvy Army Civilian support little brother and his friends started to learn BASIC programming on a TRS-80. Yea, I am THAT old. Not as old as dirt, but old enough to know that “exciting electrons” only happened once-upon-a-time in an analog world, and “blogging” was done with a pencil and paper, or a typewriter you could not plug into a wall socket.
-
This was EXACTLY like my first typewriter at the radio station where I learned my trade. I still type with 2 fingers and my thumb on my right hand…so I can throw the carriage!
-
But, one thing that fueled my teenage imagination…along with my monthly copy of “DIRT BIKE” magazine…and that was riding my bicycle down to the local bookstore to pick up an ANALOG copy of SOLDIER OF FORTUNE Magazine! Ah yes, the fuel of many-a backyard war with plastic army men and home-made guns….long before there was AIRSOFT or even the “P-WORD” in the USA…SOF and hard-chargin’ editor/publisher Robert K. Brown were “spanning the globe, bringing us the constant variety of war.”
-
I gravitated to the Radioman…and it is NOT the WORST ARMYMAN of ALL TIME! (Click PICTURE for LINK)
-
It didn’t hurt my desire to gobble up “all things SOF Magazine”, that Brown was a “prior acquaintance” of a good friend of mine who ran our best local hobby shop, fueling another love…building plastic armor and figure models and wargaming…and the stories of a “mercenary” lifestyle were the stuff of pirate legends to seaport boys of the 18th and 19th centuries. In every issue of SOF, you were there, with RKB and “his boys” ADVENTURE JOURNALISTS, on ambush in Rhodesia, re-fighting the fights over Vietnam and “our” POW/MIA’s…and long before the right-wing mainstream “Conservative Movement, ” there was Bob Brown, schooling a lot of willing ears…and some tender, teen ears, too…to the looming threat of communism, cronyism, capitulation, corruption and criminal acts that needed someone to step into their path and ‘call a spade a spade.’
-
-
I am sure reading those pages (and I still have MOST of my original copies in storage) somehow fueled my passion to become a journalist. And, through a round-about way and tons of luck, I became a Radio and TV reporter who tended to gravitate to stories on the military. ’Hard to toot my own horn…and I won’t right now…but apparently I was good enough to make a living doing that for over 20 years. And, in my travels, I’d occasionally meet and interview folks who’d crossed paths with the mythical “RKB;” another great friend and “source” who was, like Brown, a Vietnam vet Green Beret and passionate activist about the POW/MIA issue; others who might have a colorful tale from times gone by, even a state-side leader of the “Contra” effort in Nicaragua…which also was on RKB’s “radar”…but I never met “the man.“
Until January, 2012. Dateline: Las Vegas
Sitting in the working media room at the SHOT Show 2012 with one of the worst colds/viruses of my entire life, imagine THUMPY’s surprise to look up from my lap-top and see ROBERT K. BROWN in the chair RIGHT NEXT TO ME! It’s probably divine intervention…’has to be…at least as far as me not squealing like a high-school cheerleader, but I managed to gather myself in a split-second and said, “How ya’ doin, Colonel?”
An inspirational and very-wide ranging conversation of some-animation took place over the next half hour, in which we swapped stories about:
-being in Saudi Arabia for “DESERT STORM” at the same time, in mostly the same places (short of Kuwait City, for a little local-TV reporter hangin’ with Camp Lejeune’s finest, that didn’t happen…while “Lion-of-Arabia Brown” was ‘flipping the bird’ to the enforced media pools and flat-hatting across the desert wasteland into enemy-occupied Kuwait with Arab troops…what a story!!)
- to talking about some of those guys I knew that Brown recalled from earlier exploits…
-to talking AIRSOFT and MilSim, which the Colonel was well-versed in and supportive of as a Real-Steel training and tactics tool…(SWEET!)…
-to meeting his very nice”lady friend,” and showing off the technological wonder that is a MacBook equipped one-man-SHOT Show covering machine…
-
“So, what kind of gear is THIS?” Apparently RKB’s “lady” gave his MacBook away…he kept breaking it! Steve Job’s finest apparently met its match in a hard-typing journo-’merc and conservative SHOOTER!
-
After our “photo op,” I got an offer to contact RKB after the SHOT Show for a possible real shot at doing a story or two for SOF..still workin’ on that, so no details yet, but STAY TUNED…and, got his contact info on an NRA Board of Director’s Business Card (‘gonna be bronzed some day, to go in the THUMPY Museum of Military History) and we shook hands and parted company.
SO, it came as a shock a couple of weeks later, as we built the SCOOP.IT Channels, that SOF High Tech news started to fly in over the transom here at the 3-D House of Scoopage…
First, we got a FB scoop from 2011 Heroes of Thumpy @ SHOT Show 2011, “Jager” and Brandy from OPSGEAR.COM, that they were long-time associates and getting RKB’s online sites into a higher-state of tech awareness…
http://www.scoop.it/t/thumpy-s-3d-house-of-airsoft-scoop-it/p/1054261678/opsgear-on-soldier-of-fortune-magazine
https://www.facebook.com/OPSGEAR/posts/282470131807293
Now comes word that Soldier of Fortune will be DOWNLOADABLE on NOOK and KINDLE, Visible on their own SOF website and FB pages, AND…in all likelihood, spreading the death-defying and dealing stories of RKB’s memoires…now being written, we are told…onto that most-leftwing of tech devices…the iPAD!
As they say on TV….”STAY TUNED.” We’ll be hearing a lot more from Soldier of Fortune Magazine and the intrepid and gracious (he’ll hate me for that one; I’ve probably just blown the ‘gig!) Robert K. Brown!
-
SOF’s Website link HERE: http://www.sofmag.com/
“SOLDIER OF FORTUNE focuses on news and adventure based on firsthand reports from all over the world. Our commitment to presenting the facts in their entirety sets us apart from mainstream news sources. Our editorial policy is pro-military, pro-strong U.S. defense, pro-police, and pro-veteran. We strongly support the right of the individual to keep and bear arms. By opposing tyranny of all kinds, we support the basic freedom of mankind.”
-
Amazon.com Kindle Link HERE : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006BDWP58
-
NOOK Link RIGHT HERE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/soldier-of-fortune%2c-inc
-
And, ‘hell…”LIKE” RKB and the SOF gang on FACEBOOK, RIGHT HERE….https://www.facebook.com/SOFMAG
One interesting quote from Chris Dolnack…”Besides for suitcasing, illegal activities reported at the show included trademark infringement —”
Uh, Chris, it was an ALLEGATION of trademark infringement that you cracked down on…NOT A FINDING OR CONVICTION….and not allowing the Airsoft media to openly report this AS IT WAS HAPPENING, but waiting until your press release 3 weeks after the fact probably had very little “deterrent” value during SHOT Show.
“Innocent until PROVEN guilty” should go right up there with the 2nd Amendment we’re also upholding at SHOT Show.
Perhaps we could work on this with you prior to next year’s show, and let nearly 25 years of journalism experience shine into the dark corners.
Always open, always reachable for Q&A…Thumpy!
THUMPY’s CYBER-G Watch has breaking news on the continuing legal fight between Cybergun and JAG Precision…
-
A source pushed the following along to us this morning….and predicts that yet ANOTHER gun…JAG’s versions of the M249 SAW, also licensed by FN Herstal to CyberG will be next on the “hit list.”
-
February 10, 2012
Dear JAG Precision Dealer,
The lawsuit that had been filed previously against JAG Precision has been
amended to include the Echo1 E-90 (JP-32) JAG Precision is requesting that if
you have any inventory new in the box, purchased from JAG Precision, that you
cease all sales on these items and return them to us. Please let us know the
quantity of items that you will be returning and we will be issuing credit to
your account, once the items are received at our facility.
If and when more information about this case may be disclosed, we will
release the information to you.
If you need any further information or have any questions, please contact
your sales representative at JAG Precision.
Again we thank you for your cooperation and continuous support.
Sincerely,
Maria Aguilar
General Manager
-
Link to Thumpy’s previous post, from the SHOT Show 2012 SHOOTDOWN of JAG/Echo 1 USA in VEGAS : LINK HERE
-
Here was Peter Ho from Spartan Imports, with the definitive information from the CYBER-G camp on what was behind the SHOT Show Restraining Order…from Vegas just hours after the events there in January:
-
-
THIS STORY (LINK HERE) from the 3-D House of Airsoft WORDPRESS channel shows the JAG /ECHO 1 USA booth in the process of being shut down and escorted from the SHOT Show floor…VIDEO COMING SOON:
-
AND, LINK HERE, to the first dealer letter from JAG over takedowns involving the FN SCAR Series licensed guns
YOU’LL NEED TO READ THE FOLLOWING LINK WITH A TRANSLATOR, LIKE GOOGLE TRANSLATE, VIA GOOGLE CHROME…AND READ BETWEEN THE LINES….
-
LINK HERE: http://www.zonebourse.com/CYBERGUN-5100/actualite/Jerome-Marsac-PDG-de-Cybergun-13974329/
-
-
The way THUMPY’s 3D is reading the translation, part of CYBER-G’s “SYNERGY” in the U.S. market involves some type of franchise opportunity, to create AIRSOFT FIELDS, or to convert PAINTBALL venues with some of the atmospherics of Cybergun’s lines of video games…i.e., to give players an immersive environment “ripped” directly from the graphics of a player map from WAR, Inc, or the BLACKWATER games….and that would feature guns from the Cyber-G Licensed stable of airsoft arms.
-
I’d like to tell you that I learned this directly from Cybergun at their MASSIVE display again this year at SHOT Show 2012, but lets just paraphrase our TWO encounters with people there as “uncooperative.” I opened correspondence with Cyber-G again this year prior to the show, asking for permission to set up an appointment to interview at SHOT Show, and was assured that if I went by, they would do so.
-
However, reality bites. On Thursday afternoon, just an hour after Cybergun’s successful “shoot down” of the JAG Precision/Echo 1 USA booth in an adjoining show floor area, and just minutes after an on-camera interview of Airsoft Mega-Promoter John “Lion Claws” Lu and “Angel 1″ Ksenia right in front of the CYBER-G Display…
-
-
…I approached several CyberG corporate representatives, who referred me to a man we’ll simply call “The Gatekeeper.” ”The Gatekeeper” took a long look at my name and read “Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft” on the official BROADCAST MEDIA pass from the NSSA; accreditation to allow me to do interviews, before he simply shook his head back and forth “NO” several times…and declined ANY further conversation.
I’ll leave it to your own interpretation as to the reasons WHY they might not want to do an interview with the only journalistic Airsoft media representative who’s regularly covering their corporate operations…
-
Curtains drawn around JAG Precision/Echo1USA Display (background) after CyberG's restraining order "nuke strike" at SHOT Show 2012. NSSA security would not allow interviews or video of the JAG pack-out.
-
But our encounter happened just minutes after Cybergun had dropped a nuke on JAG Precision and Echo1USA’s booth, having the NSSA throw them off the show floor with a Temporary Restraining Order, alleging Trademark Infringement. And, Thumpy BROKE the STORY…then went to the source to find out what went down.
DENIED. Hmmm…?
-
But the following day, FRIDAY, many of the same media members who were granted access at Cybergun last year were invited back to cover on a small portion of the 2012 Cybergun display…and most of that coverage focused on CyberG’s VIDEO GAME wares, not on anything directly related to new or improved products they intent to market this coming year. ONE MAJOR EXCEPTION was the coverage by our friends Mark “Dr. Airsoft” Vaughan and “Rangemaster” Larry you can see below…although ostensibly with PALCO’s, they are part of the Cybergun Family:
-
-
And from our buddies at Airsoft Pacific, too:
-
We have the latest paperwork, courtesy JUSTIA.COM ‘s excellent on-line legal filings capture service:
-
-
FULL LINK TO ORIGINAL TRO HERE: CyberGV.JAG_TRO_120129
-
-
Thumpy’s 3D House is also receiving information that ANOTHER SEPARATE ACTION may be underway involving certain retailers, receiving Cease and Desist letters over totally separate merchandise….INFORMATION COMING SOON!
THUMPY’s 3D House of Airsoft received several “tips” from airsoft retailers that JAG Precision had e-mailed a letter to customers regarding the “dramatic” SHOT Show shutdown of their display by CYBERGUN and FN Herstal…the details of that letter are posted on JAG’s corporate homepage…LINK HERE…
And, the text from that letter is also below in a screen-grab from the site on Wednesday night at 11:00 PM Eastern Time:
-
Via Scoop.it – Thumpy’s 3D House of Airsoft @ Scoop.it
-
UMAREX USA is well known as an airgun and real-steel firearms manufacturer. And in 2012, you’ll be able to add SERIOUS Airsoft company to the list, with improvements and additions to their ELITE FORCE line. National Sales Manager Cliff Eisenbarger shows Thumpy around the SHOT Show 2012 displays, and talks about their philosophy of serving the USA’s needs in airsoft.
Follow all the action by SEARCHING “THUMPY AIRSOFT” in you favorite browser, or check Thumpy’s Web of Airsoft Sites: WordPress.com: http://Thumpmaster6.wordpress.com
Twitter: Thumpy3D
Facebook: Thumpy Covey AND OUR NEW SCOOP.IT Curation Channel, to see EVERYTHING that’s happening at SHOT Show 2012 : Thumpy’s 3D House of Airsoft @ Scoop.it
Via www.youtube.com
Via Scoop.it – Thumpy’s 3D House of Airsoft @ Scoop.it
-
-
The Knight’s Armament family is ALL IN FOR AIRSOFT at SHOT Show 2012 in Las Vegas. YOU WILL SEE THE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO ONLY AT THUMPY’S 3-D HOUSE OF AIRSOFT….COMING SOON!
Via www.facebook.com
We broke out a NEW CHANNEL for the Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft network on the ‘Web. Just before SHOT Show 2012, we took a big dive into SCOOP.IT, a new “curation” engine that just came out of Beta testing at the end of 2011.
Well, You be the judge…as many of you have already…and click on the big picture to go over to Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft @ SCOOP.IT, where we’ve had more than 3 THOUSAND visitors during the SHOT Show! And, we’re now COMMITTED to making the SCOOP.IT site our MAIN PORTAL for all of the airsoft news from the USA and the WORLD, updating news 24/7 every day of the year!
BOOKMARK our new SCOOP.IT to stay current on ALL THE NEWS IN AIRSOFT!
-
Via Scoop.it – Thumpy’s 3D House of Airsoft @ Scoop.it
-
Dr. Airsoft and Rangemaster Larry take an IN DEPTH LOOK at what a lot of SHOT Show airsoft media folks believe WILL BE the start of a new trend: REAL GUN CROSSOVER, using airsoft and MilSim concepts to further not just real-steel training, but real-steel weapons design and innovation. This is the extended version of the Shot Show 2012 interview by Dr. Airsoft and Rangemaster Larry of Airsoft Medicine with Alex of Magpul PTS about the Personal Defense Rifle.
Via www.youtube.com
Via Scoop.it – Thumpy’s 3D House of Airsoft @ Scoop.it
-
