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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reviews
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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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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
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
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
“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.
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
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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
This could be the break that MilSim and Airsoft players have been waiting for. The first official adoption of 6MM ammunition as a dedicated training device by an official military organization, in Mongolia. And a major order for PolarStar’s revolutionary system in ASIA…the birthplace of Airsoft!
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Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft monitors all news sources for airsoft-related headlines and details, and many of those sources also include real-steel and military media via Thumpy’s new SCOOP.IT channel. It was via a SCOOP that we started to put the pieces together, and were able to confirm with public information sources the who, what and why of P*’s big coup!
It begins with a joint US-Mongolian training exercise, “Khan Quest 2011,” held last July in Mongolia, which involved military members from the US Marine Corps and more than a dozen other international militaries around the globe.
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http://mongolia.usembassy.gov/pr_072911.html
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One of the reasons this came to Thumpy’s attention was that a friend from Thumpy’s “prior life” as a real-mil/ miltary beat reporter, US Marine Corps Lt. General Kenneth Glueck, attended the exercises as the senior US Military representative, and that US Marine connection–along with South Korean and Japanese troops at the event, AND A FORTUNATE ENCOUNTER WITH A MONGOLIAN MILITARY MEDAL, is how Airsoft…and particularly the PolarStar system…will soon be making its way to Mongolia.
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USMC LtGen Kenneth Glueck speaks at "Khan Quest 2011" in Mongolia.
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As reported by DoD Public Affairs sources, several civil-disturbance exercises were part of the overall “Khan Quest” scenario. During one of these ops, a Marine gunnery sergeant in charge of prepping the site suggested that the Mongolian military should try to integrate its non-lethal training systems into the plans for the scenario. But, one problem….Mongolia, being a former Communist regime trapped between the former Soviet republics and China has NO non-lethal training equipment. Its sole experiences with civil control are, how would you say, “real-world experiencial” only! I.E., training in crowd control was simply done by controlling out-of-control riots as-they-happened. Kind of a “on-the-job/riot” education!
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Maj. Myagmaraj Dorj, operations officer with Unit 311, Peace Support Operations Training Center, Mongolian Armed Forces, describes the AK-47 automatic rifle to a multinational audience during the live fire portion of the field training exercise at Exercise Khaan Quest 2011 at Five Hills Training Area near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 1. (Cpl. Tyler Main/USMC)
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One of the III MEF Marines said, “Gee, I which we had our airsoft guns we left back in Okinawa. They’d be perfect for this scenario.” And, both Japanese and South Korean advisors also chimed in at that point, with their rich tradition of bringing Airsoft to life, and as major exporters of airsoft guns. All agreed that the Mongolian military should invest in airsoft as an affordable training system for future events, and utilize the same transport system involved in just-in-time delivery of the real-world supplies for the exercise, to ensure that they received a cross-section of airsoft rifles and pistols for test purposes.
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AK-based weapons systems are used by Mongolia, making PolarStar's just released Version 3 Fusion Engine a perfect fit in the real-world scenarios practiced at "Khan Quest"
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LINK : http://www.moveoneinc.com/blog/moveone-news/move-one-delivers-training-material-to-ongoing-us-mongolia-joint-operation/.
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In the subsequent time since “Khan Quest,” all three nations have coordinated via their embassies to provide test Airsoft equipment to the Mongolian army, and one of those systems that most-impressed the test engineers was the PolarStar “fusion” engine. Since it uses compressed air as a power source, and can be dialed up and down in power, it can go from high-rate of fire training system to a real-use riot control device with a few tweaks of the FCU module.
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And, more impressive, the PolarStar system’s use of HPA will also allow the AK’s to be used in cold weather conditions for training or even prison riot control, as the airsoft “MK 4 Strafer” is, from our buddies Sam at XCaliber Tactical and Tim “No Airsoft for Old Men” Ellwood, at events like West Virginia’s Annual Mock Prison Riot.
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But the Mongolian’s real purchase of PolarStar is because of one of a strange coincidence : the highest civilian honor bestowed by Mongolia to a foreign citizen is called the Order of the Polar Star.
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Order of the Polar Star medal
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And, the chance encounter between military professionals, and the naming of a country’s highest honor for the POLAR STAR will soon mean a boost in international trade, stronger military cooperation, and a chance to further Airsoft as a serious training tool around the globe. Expect to hear big things from PolarStar (and the MARINES/Airsofters) who will soon be back in Mongolia for this year’s “Khan Quest 2012″ exercises, armed with P* Airsoft products!
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Oh, BTW
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APRIL FOOLS!
Via Scoop.it – Thumpy’s 3D House of Airsoft @ Scoop.it
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Our buddy BOOLIGAN from Airsoft Retreat is one of, if not THE finest reviewer of airsoft and misim products anywhere. His common sence, well-researched and knowlegable insights are widely-red and respected…as are his extensive PHOTOS that document every ASR review. This year, the B-MAN turned his sights on SHOT Show 2012 products that we truly hope manufacturers and distributors will place in his hands for a thorough shakedown SOON! If you’d like to follow his reviews, CLICK ON THIS LINK (http://www.airsoftretreat.com/reviews/) to go to Airsoft Retreat’s Review pages!
Via s411.photobucket.com
A look back at LAST year’s SHOT Show..for you guys who don’t know what its all about…lots of THUMPY’s videos from 2011 in VEGAS! This should get you SHOT Noobs ready for the FLOOD of goodness headed your way all next week!
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For an HISTORICAL perspective, who better to go to than Thumpy’s Go-To running partner at SHOT Show, Tim Ellwood of the “No Airsoft for Old Men” blog, getting ready for his 26th SHOT Show…from last year’s show on the rise of Airsoft at THE SHOT Show:
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Next up, some of the folks Thumpy covered LAST YEAR, and we’ll be seeing again in 2012!
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AND, One MYSTERY we’ll be following up on at THIS YEAR’S SHOT Show….where is REAL SWORD this year? And, will Thumpy get to interview the mysterious Helen Li in 2012?
IT IS OFFICIAL!
Thumpy will be going to SHOT Show 2012 in LAS VEGAS, Baby, and our 2nd trip covering Airsoft, Tactical Gear and Guns, and the MilSim business world with the 3D HOUSE OF AIRSOFT will be Bad to the Bone!
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Final confirmations were not received until Tuesday from the NSSA for our Media Pass, and as Thumpy is one to let his WORK speak for him, we intentionally held off on the news until we were certain we had a bang-up, world-class INNOVATIVE program to bring to you from this year’s SHOT Show.
AND, We do!
Thursday: A list of the amazing lineup of Airsoft, Real-Gun and Gear we’ve been invited to see, from all the INNOVATORS on the SHOT Show floor…PLUS, a ton of Airsoft and MilSim Celebrities will be on hand, at special events and taking in all VEGAS has to offer!
Friday: A look back at LAST year’s SHOT Show..for you guys who don’t know what its all about…lots of videos from 2011 in VEGAS!
Weekend Coverage: The Trip Out West and setting up shop for the week
And then MONDAY-FRIDAY and BEYOND….the Inside SCOOP on everything you guys want to see, touch, smell and LOVE from the SHOT Show, as only THUMPY can tell the story!
OK, he might be getting himself out of the doghouse with KWA and the rest of us….as EVIKE TV’s host MATT gets some direct answers from KWA uber-tech MIKE on the KWA HK45…but the REAL SCOOP is at the end, when KWA lets some of the details out of the bag on the long-awaited KRISS Vector project:
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SO, SHOT Show again promises to be big for KWA…and a prototype that can be handled, but not fired. Hmmm…wish the KWA’s would have invested in a shoot-room, a-la CyberG/Palco….you CAN get a spot to do this, but not where KWA’s PRO TRAINING PRODUCTS booth is located…that’s a shame, SHOT Show!!!….Maybe SHOT needs to take some lessons from North Carolina’s own North Atlantic Airsoft Expo!!!!
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Heres’ the link to Thumpy’s prior KRISS COVERAGE from SHOT Show 2011:
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AND, the STORY THAT STARTED IT ALL, from July 2010, when the KRISS was announced right here at the 3-D House of Airsoft! LINK RIGHT HERE
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And, just for giggles, here’s MATT’s SPOOF VIDEO (yea, NOW they call it a PARODY!) of the iPad enabled KRISS…tons of yucks; hey, why didn’t you ask Mike if he prototype had an iCable attachment, hmmmm??????
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This is incredibly good news for every airsofter! One of the most INNOVATIVE and informative web-locales in the history of the game has a reboot on the way in January 2012…Mechbox.com is where most budding ‘airsmiths and gun gurus…Thumpy included…went to first learn how to ‘wrench and screw-gun our way inside and outside of most of the popular airsoft versions.
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After a LONG LONG absence, the MECHBOX team has been acquired by AirsoftFix.com…and will be producing new content to go along with all the version-by-version assembly and disassembly love you already have come to respect! Here’s a teaser of what’s on the way next month!
LINK TO AIRSOFTFIX.COM
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Check out ALL of the Mechbox goodness at their WEBSITE HERE, “LIKE” their FACEBOOK page (LINK) , and at their NEW and soon-to-be-growing YouTube Channel, RIGHT HERE
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Official news release from Kyle and the gang, too!
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Airsoft Repair Info Site Mechbox.com to be Re-launched in January 2012
www.mechbox.com - December 16, 2011 - One of the most popular Airsoft repair tutorial sites, Mechbox.com, is being re-launched with all-new content in January 2012. The new site will still feature video tutorials explaining how to dis-assemble and repair specific Airsoft gun models, as well as several new video programs, including gear guides, complete repair courses, and tech challenges.
All of the previously-released Mechbox.com videos are viewable on the Mechbox.com YouTube channel, located at http://www.youtube.com/user/Mechbox6mm.
For more information on the upcoming new content, readers may visit www.mechbox.com.
In 2011, Mechbox.com was acquired by US-based Airsoft retailer AirsoftFix, LLC. As a subsidiary of AirsoftFix, Mechbox.com will have unprecedented access to a variety of Airsoft guns, parts, and accessories to create new video content with. Although directly affiliated with a retailer, Mechbox.com will remain an unbiased source for Airsoft repair information and product reviews.
