Airsoft can make GOOD FRIENDS! – THUMPY AND RANGEMASTER LARRY!

Yea, this just happened!

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From Left: Mrs. Rangemaster, the one and only RANGEMASTER LARRY, THUMPY, and Mrs. Thumpy! Oh, and last but not least, back there in Row Two…SPARKY the WONDER JEEP!

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There IS a life outside Airsoft and MilSim, but, hey…this crazy ‘biz sometimes makes strange bedfellows.  Take this as Exhibit One, your honor; RANGEMASTER LARRY’s uncommon ability to be everybody’s best sidekick.  He’s actually the frontman for the AIRSOFT MEDICINE podcast and YouTube channel…don’t believe all that “its-all-about DOCTOR AIRSOFT” hype…and recently Larry and his lovely wife “Mrs. Larry” (name withheld to protect the PerSec of the whole Larry crew, for no particularly necessary military or strategic reason…it just sounds cooler!) made a run from the “land of gun persecution” to the rough general neighborhood of the 3-D House of Airsoft.  The reason for the visit was a Mother’s Day trip to see their real-deal, no-lie Marine Corps hero kid of the Larry Clan…who just happens to live ‘cross the creek and down the road from Thumpy and my clan.

But there was a semi-devious double-blind undercover mission behind this cross-country trip; to get together away from the only place we ever get to see each other…the once-a-year madness that is the Airsoft Media Frenzy of the SHOT Show in Las Vegas.  And, we had a BLAST!  First night, we visited one of the most-amazing local attractions here in the greater Marine-town area…the private club/bar/museum that is Sywanyks’ Scarlet And Gold Traditions : LINK HERE  and LOTS OF PHOTOS: LINK HERE!  After a fun evening of meeting the good SGT Major Sywanyk and other Friends of Thumpy’s who add a ton of color to the already-colorful place…we pulled the top of SPARKY THE WONDER JEEP and took the good Rangemaster and Missus down to the beach for a sand ride, a visit to our local SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL…and a ton of laughs!

While we were out…and here’s the semi-devious part…their son was whipping up a special Mother’s Day dinner!  What a kid!  We are already planning on keeping an eye on this man-kid…as he lives in the same neighborhood as our buddy LIL EVIL, who’s also a Marine/MilSim GOD with the RAPTOR 1 MilSim team.   Apparently they are friends, too!  So, there could be another generation of MilSim Rangemasters just over the horizon!

And, as we said over and over, its funny how small this community of great guys is…and THE RANGEMASTER is the best of the best.  Even a better sidekick than Ed McMahon or Andy Richter.  You need to pay him more, Doc….more than he makes at the Banana Stand…or I’m likely to steal him, and move him to the East Coast!

THANKS LARRY and Ms. “J”…we can’t wait to get together again soon!

THUMPY and MRS. THUMPY…oh, …and SPARKY, too!

Thumpy gets a handle on HIGH NOON TARGETS

OHHH…look what the THUMPSTER has his grubby paws on!  A nice little CARE PACKAGE from the gang at HIGH NOON TARGETS!

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We will be shaking this bad boy out soon, but think BB trap you can mount indoors or outside…and it comes with a pretty radical close-range paper target, too.  Lots of thought in a very nifty design.  We’ll let you know what happens when the BB’s FLY!  THANKS HIGH NOON…visit their WEBSITE HERE!

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KWA Vs. KRISS….What we know….so far…..

 

 

Guys, there is WAY MORE behind the KRISS vs. KWA situation than even those of us in the MilSim media world know for sure. Both sides have been very, very quiet on this…and today’s announcement sheds the first official light on the issues since SHOT Show and IWA in Germany.

We WILL pass along what information we get from ON-THE-RECORD sources, but what we do know and CAN say is that most of the social media speculation is pointing fingers…with virtually NO SUBSTANTIATED FACTS to back up comments. Please tread carefully. That’s all we have so far….

THUMPY…OVER!

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Here is the official link to KRISS Media Release:  LINK HERE

 

SHOT Show 2013 – MEDIA DAY AT THE RANGE!

Momday, January 14 marked the start of SHOT Show 2013 for the 3-D House of Airsoft and hundreds of media attendees, as the busses rolled out of the Las Vegas Strip and out to the Boulder City’s Pistol and Rifle Range for MEDIA DAY AT THE RANGE!

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This year’s event was a first for THUMPY, as we’ve attended 2 prior SHOT Show’s, but never been able to hit the range for a day of product demonstrations, hands on shooting with everything from airsoft guns from KWA to .50 caliber rifles, and everything in between.  The only drawback?  It was COLD with a capital BRRRRRR, with a brisk wind and below-freezing temps out in the beautiful desert terrain only slightly dampening spirits.  Hey, we could have been working…but the range at home doesn’t hand out loaded magazines and free ammo and say…GOING HOT…for free!

Here’s a brief look at the excitement from MEDIA DAY…more coming here at the 3-D House of Airsoft on WordPress as SHOT Show gets underway on Tuesday and runs all week long!

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Windy and COLD Day on the Boulder City desert ranges!

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Long Range Rifle Firing Line! Shots out to 1000 Yards!

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Trackingpoint Rifle System…you WILL be hearing much more about this one! Amazing INNOVATIVE technology.

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Thumpy gets the steel swingin’ with a Trijicon topped 5.56…hits out to 1000 yards in a stiff crosswind…better at 600 and in…my old eyes!

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KWA’s Allen Lau greets MilSim Junkie.com’s Arwin S. and Crew behind the berms! One Nice Rig showed off KWA’s finest training guns right on the firing line with the real-steel boys1

 

 

PTS RELEASES at the 2013 HK Toys and Games Fair – EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS #3 !

Now, our Secret Agent come into the MOTHER LODE of goodies on the floor in Hong Kong on Monday, as he scans the PTS BOOTH!  DROOL factor on overload here, as PTS is showing off some oldies but goodies, like their cutting edge FOLDING POCKET GUN (FPG)….and….what else?….A LARGE FRAME DMR Platform, some M4′s…and MORE!

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PUBLIC ENEMY on the floor – HK Toys and Games Fair 2013 – EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS #2!

Our brothers from different mothers over at PUBLIC ENEMY Blog in Hong Kong are hitting the floor of their World-Fameous TOYS AND GAMES FAIR, and our deep undercover agent got some shots of the guys visiting one of the airsoft vendor displays on Monday!

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We can hardly WAIT to see what PUBLIC ENEMY Scoops up that we will also be passing along over at the 3-D SCOOP.IT News site!

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EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM THE HONG KONG TOYS AND GAMES FAIR 2013! Part 1

THUMPY’S 3-D House of Airsoft has a deep deep deep undercovers agent working the floor of the HONG KONG TOYS AND GAMES FAIR….and will be pushing out some EXCLUSIVE PHOTS of airsoft goodies!

PART ONE….a look at some of the hot stuff from the APS BOOTH, including some new bullpups and a HOT looking sniper rifle!

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MATTHEWS TACTICAL: One INNOVATOR to FOLLOW, Gearheads!

For some time now we’ve been DIGGING on a CAROLINA GUY with an EYE FOR INNOVATIVE GEAR AND GADGETS…so, after a quick Q-&-A Session back-channel over on the NCAirsoft.Org website, where he’s often dispensing PRICELESS GEAR ADVICE and selling his expert services and products, too…we’ve got an IN DEPTH interview with MATTAC head-honcho, MATTHEWS himself!

We’re going to put the HOT LINK for Matthews Tactical at the top and bottom of this one: MatTac’s FACEBOOK PAGE: Get over there and LIKE ‘em and be sure to hover and bookmark his updates in your feed, too! : LINK HERE

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Here’s our Questions and Answers session with THE MAN behind MATTAC!

THUMPY: WHO are you? Name, little background on you personally…only as much as you want to have out-in-public.

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MATTHEWS: My name is Andrew Matthews, originally from the South Charlotte, NC area currently at school in Columbia, SC for Mechanical Engineering. Currently empolyed as a military gear salesman here at US Patriot Tactical (Ft. Jackson), and take a real interest in helping warfighters find better solutions to combat gear. Unable to serve in the military myself due to medical reasons, I consider it the least I can do to contribute to soldiers and milsim enthusiasts alike with new gear ideas and my own technical experience.

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THUMPY: How long have you been making/modifying your gear? How long playing?

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MATTHEWS: I’ve been playing airsoft/milsim for about seven years now since I started college at Clemson University in 2005. Unlike a lot of hobbies, it really stuck and I just started hording as much gear as I could get my hands on. The more gear I aquired the more I felt like I could improve what was out there and let’s face it, sometimes it’s more fun to do it yourself.
I have been sewing and customizing old surplus gear for about a year or so now and just recently decided to try my hand at custom Kydex gear. I usually see something I want on the real steel market, that isn’t offered at an airsoft price or isn’t currently available, so I just try to replicate it from pictures. (FAST helmet, MOLLE gear, Vest Components, Custom Pouches, etc.)
I take a lot of inspiration from the SFLCS, AI/EI, and LBT lines of gear but always try to tweak the design to my personal needs. They say “Necessity is the mother of all invention” and I have personally found that to be the case in my military simulation experience.

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THUMPY: What’s your “philosophy” on building a good rig? How do you treat your customers?

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MATTHEWS: My personal philisophy in creating a new piece of gear is to start with something familiar or currently available and modify it to an individual need. I like it to look like a high end piece of equipment available to the SOF community, while serving a specific requirement for milsim such as hiding an HPA regulator, carrying my Polarstar Tank, or making it easier to don and doff my rig in a hurry. I am a huge fan of gear modularity, where all pieces of equipment exist and function individual of the other gear, and try to integrate that concept into most of my gear.
I am a fan of finding cheaper, more readily available solutions to most problems I run into on the field. With the radio pouch I came up with, I wanted a pouch that would fit my Wouxun Dual-Band radio, that allowed me to easily see and manipulate the screen, while still being attached to my MOLLE system.

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As for my customers, I don’t really do the work to turn a profit but a lot of my custom gear is the result of a request for a gear solution that isn’t currently available or may be too expensive. I am always happy to provide my technical experience and I consider it a challenge to try and find a custom solution for an individual whether he be heading downrange to Afghanistan or just upstate to Fulda Gap.

My customers include milsim friends and teammates, local LE/SWAT officers, and even members of the SOF community currently deployed in Afghanistan. Even though most ideas originate from an personal need, I have had the opportunity to contribute to those who serve and ultimately look forward to benefiting the military community.

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THUMPY: What rigs are your favorites? Why?

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MATTHEWS: My favorite rigs are generally the more simple time-tested designs such as the RRV and other chest rigs. I like plate carrier vests that are designed for mobility and ease of movement instead of the larger releasable designs like the CIRAS and RBAV carriers. I like to focus on lighter, smaller, faster by trying to integrate as much as possible into the design while providing modularity where I can for optional add-on requirements. I loved the RRV + Integrated MAP design but I never felt like it fit the way I wanted it to and I didn’t like how it lacked the rigidity of a plate carrier, even with a plate installed.

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Right now I use an LBT 6094 for it’s size and SAPI cut design which maximizes operator mobility. I found that the included MOLLE cummerbund was a great solution for most setups but doesn’t quite satisfy every requirement. For a higher mobility Direct Action kit where less MOLLE real estate is needed, I made a 4″ elastic cummerbund to free up my sides and added extra pouches to my belt.
In order to carry more magazines with faster access, I decided to build a MOLLE Quick Release Panel to store four extra 5.56mm mags, a Polarstar regulator, and a suppressor right off the front of my rig.
I also like the rigidity and authenticity of soft armor inserts but, like anyone, didn’t care for the added weight. My solution was a set of cordura laminated dense foam inserts replicating soft armor as well as rigid SAPI plates made from everyday packing fabric and foam board.

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THUMPY: Know you are a PolarStar guy…so, is there enough custom gear to help P* owners build a reliable and comfortable set of gear…or do you have to modify to get it right?

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MATTHEWS: The best thing about military simulation is the ability to adapt real military gear to fit a specific need or hide a non-military piece of equipment. Since no warfighter would be carrying an HPA tank on his back to run his Polarstar weapon, I had to figure out a way to hide the tank and air system in currently available gear or if need be customize a new piece of equipment for that purpose.

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The AI/EI – style MAP Backpack fits the largest tank on the market and is a current component of the real SFLCS kit. The LBT 6094 includes velcro radio cable administrators to run my air hose though. The only thing I had to fabricate specifically for my Polarstar system was the secondary regulator pouch, which houses my FPS regulator so I can see the PSI gauge and adjustment knob without removing it from the MOLLE system. In everything I design or customize, the main focus is ease of use, convenience, and expedience all while being hidden or disguised as military kit.

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THUMPY: Anything else you think folks would find interesting…torture test your gear? Worst Fail/Best WIN from using your -gear….

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MATTHEWS: As with any design process, some of my ideas haven’t worked out so well in the field and ultimately, all gear is a constant evolution integrating new ideas and materials to produce a better solution in the field. I don’t torture test my gear but the stuff I’ve made is still in great condition after three Fulda Gaps, four Lion Claws events, and countless skirmishes. I use only 1000D Eagle Cordura and I am getting better at stitching/bar-tacking everyday. I have actually had personal custom gear hold up better than its Chinese Voodoo Tactical and Condor counterparts, so that is something I am proud of.

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All in all it is a great hobby and continual learning experience. It is personally fulfilling to contribute new designs and ideas to the military and airsoft communities alike. It is always a pleasure to make it easier on those who serve while doing what I love.

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You do great work and folks need to know!

THUMPY….OVER!

Thanks Alan! I am excited to see so much interest in my craft.
Please use any pictures you’d like and let me know if you have any other questions. I hope the info and answers provided are helpful, and once again, thank you for featuring my stuff.

Take care Alan,
Matthews

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AGAIN:

MatTac’s FACEBOOK PAGE: Get over there and LIKE ‘em and be sure to hover and bookmark his updates in your feed, too! : LINK HERE

Help those hurt by SANDY with Airsoft- NYC’s Airsoft C.A.R.E.S. and the Red Cross – NOVEMBER 17 & 18

 

 

C.A.R.E.S stands for CQB for Aid REcovery from SANDY…November 17-18, 2012 all around the NYC Airsoft Community!

And this effort, put together by NYC Airsoft, Moondog, Angel and the gang is going to be a multi-site event, with FIVE LOCATIONS all working together to help!  Best place for the latest info is on the NYC Airsoft forums, or at the link here to their new landing page…

We LOVE the idea of pooling the cash and trying to get MATCHING DONATIONS from businesses….if you know any corporations…inside or outside Airsoft who will help, let the guys know!

AND, Stay tuned to many of your favorite AIRSOFT YOUTUBE CHANNELS, for an upcoming Public Service Announcement campaign to support Airsoft C.A.R.E.S. and the American Red Cross effort to help the thousands devastated by Superstorm SANDY!

DATE: November 17-18, 2012

“(C)QB (A)ID (RE)COVER for (S)ANDY
NYCAirsoft along with CQB fields across the Tri-State are organizing a day of airsoft to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy. These fields will be donating a portion of their field fees to the Red Cross, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation and other local charities. Register and find out more on the forum….

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DONATE ONLINE
If you’d like to support the Airsoft CARES effort but can not attend a game, make a direct donation to the RED CROSS and let us know. Got to: https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10002

• Choose “In Honor Of” and fill in “Airsoft CARES”
• Choose the option to SEND an e-card
• Send to: CARES@nycairsoft.com

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Here are the locations participating in the event.  Just click on the picture to go directly to the NYC Airsoft Forum topic for that event, or CALL AHEAD before your go, to confirm the details for you and your team!

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UPDATE FOR THUMPY’S LINKS

Been awhile since we updated the links to the THUMPY’s NEWS Section of the NCAO Forums, so, please check us out in all our various forms….and subscribe here, too…scroll all the way to the bottom to find THUMPY’S NEWS

WELCOME TO THE INNOVATION REVOLUTION!

If you are a FREE member of the NCAO Forums (and ANYONE can be, its FREE, for crying out loud!), you can now join Thumpy’s News…this “Specialized Access” portion of the NCAO ‘site, which will receive DIRECT RSS feeds from each of Thumpy’s News Posts, IMMEDIATELY as I hit the POST IT button at the THUMPY’S 3-D HOUSE OF AIRSOFT NEWS link from SCOOP.IT

WHO IS “THUMPY?”

“Thumpy” is a screen nickname for ThumpMaster6, a well-known member of the US and World airsoft community; through his many writings, ramblings and musings on various airsoft forums, in his reporting and photography in 4 major airsoft publications (TAKE AIM Airsoft Magazine, Airsoft International, & Recon-Rag and USASOC Airsoft Magazines on the web), and now, on this new web-hub for airsoft innovation.

He brings a 29+ year background in print, radio, broadcast and cable TV and video to this enterprise, with emphasis in real-world military reporting, as well as a deep respect for the men and women who protect our freedoms around the world.

What is this all about?

You can stay up-to-date on the latest happenings, leave comments at the NCAO site in one of the most INNOVATIVE Airsoft Communities in the USA and the WORLD, or share your thoughts right here in our COMMENTS section at the bottom of each Page and Post,

Or perhaps YOU can post up a HOT NEWS TIP that will scramble the “Rovin’ Thumpy” to find that NEXT INNOVATION in the Airsoft World!

Welcome Into the HOUSE…and you can always read more HERE:

Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft NEWS on SCOOP.IT

Thumpy’s 3-D EVENTS and SITES NEWS on SCOOP.IT

Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft on FACEBOOK - Like Us to get the news!

Thumpy Covey PERSONAL AIRSOFT PAGE on FACEBOOK - Friend us to see what we like!

Thumpy’s YOUTUBE Video Channel

Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft at WORDPRESS.COM!

Thumpy’s 3D on TWITTER….link to our news on your Mobile!

Thumpy’s News on TUMBLR! Yea, we Tumbl, too!

The THUMPMASTER6 Daily on Paper.ly – AIRSOFT# News Links!

AND, if you need to contact us via e-mail…back channel news tips are ALWAYS WELCOME…then hit USE THIS ADDRESS for our G-MAIL InBox: Thumpy3D@gmail.com

COMING SOON: Thumpy Reviews THE AIRSOFT BIBLE Books of Tactics and COMMS!

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THUMPY is very excited to be doing a THOROUGH REVIEW of the first two books of The Airsoft Bible, by US Marine, former Paintballer and current Airsofter/Author/Carolinian William S. Frisbee, Jr.   These are two HEFTY little field guides, the first two parts of what Frisbee hopes will be a series of “books” that are also available in e-book form…helping players from beginners to seasoned ‘vets understand and enjoy AIRSOFT!

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We’ll be diving into these two books…especially as they are THUMPY’s TWO FAVORITE TOPICS…and are looking forward to the “BOOK OF COMMS” most of all!  We love COMMS…and we’ll let you know what’s what with some serious discussion via the SCOOP.IT and 3-D House of Airsoft on WordPress.com!

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http://www.scoop.it/t/thumpy-s-3d-house-of-airsoft-scoop-it/p/2722852824/coming-soon-thumpy-reviews-the-airsoft-bible-books-of-tactics-and-comms

More Thumpy Video….Knight’s Armament gets its first Airsoft Gun at SHOT SHOW 2012