..: The Early Days
“Lord of the rags, King of the thieves. I got Ruby’s ‘n Treasures like you’d never believe. I’d do things you never would. An I ain’t got no gypsy blood” Tyla, 1990
I discovered Airsoft in 1996 before taking a somewhat longer than expected break around the time of the VCRA bill. During that time you might have bumped into me running and playing at KGB Airsoft in Cornwall. The site was situated in 200 acres of mature oak woodland, gorse, scrub, bogs, pools & a Vietnam styled firebase. It came about as a result of quickly realising over a few beers with like-minded individuals that if we wanted somewhere to skirmish, well, then it was up to us to provide it.
It was here I forged the style of gameplay that I still adore today. No swamp too deep, no gorse too thick, no mud too disgusting. Good fieldcraft & a willingness to use all of the available terrain are just as important a weapon as decent kit in my book. There is so much more to being an effective airsoft scout or sniper than merely owning a bolt action rifle & a ghillie suit – a combination that to this day I still have never furnished myself with.
This led to me embracing a somewhat schizophrenic dichotomy. In the woods I preferred to surprise the opposition from either afar or by stealth, emerging from whatever pit of dispair I’d crawled through in order to dispatch them with style. As soon as I neared a building I exhibited a tendency to dump everything but sidearms, explosives & a near suicidal disregard for personal safety. This somewhat cavalier attitude to personal well being in order to achieve my objectives continues to this day. It has led to some of my proudest achievements, namely hanging upside down from a rotten tree secured by brambles, unintended swimming & achieving a suspected cauda equina sliding into cover.
In those days of the sport good sites were few and far between but some did tempt me over the Tamar. As a result I could occasionally be found staffing or playing at Stirling airsoft, cable tieing opponents at Sopley or engaging in some CQB shenanigans involving other people’s (in game) property in the region of London’s Old Street.
The Present
“Fraggle appearing in a bush? He is the bush!” Mike, 2024
Since returning to the fold at the start of this year I’m happy to say that the hardware has improved markedly although getting hold of accurate information about kit still proves a bit of a minefield.
My first love will always be woodland, with a preference for scenarios which throw multiple objectives in which require a little bit of brain as well as brawn. Throw in something that needs stealing or blowing up and you have a very happy Fraggle. Along the way I will merrily wade, swim, crawl & occasionally fall off or into just about anything in my quest to get where I’m least expected.
I now live in the North West of England where there is a smorgasbord of sites and retailers. The number & quality of both has improved beyond all recognition over the interceding years, providing me with ample opportunities that my younger self would have responded to with joy. Most likely there would have been a high degree of crippling procrastination as a result as well. There are two that stand out in particular where you will more than likely bump into me with that rarest of beasts – an airsofting wife.
S.W.A.T. Parkgate – fast, furious, muddy & loud. Its run by a lovely extended family (I still haven’t worked out exactly how everyone is related – probably best not to ask). Its small but perfectly formed, a real triumph of quality over quantity & I’ve never had a bad day there.
The Ex Site, Mold. One of the deciding factors in me taking such a long break has been a pining for my site of old. The thick brambles, the gorse, the cover. The ancient gnarled trees, getting lost in the green peace & quiet… interrupted by intense firefights. I’ve been lucky enough to discover such a place on my doorstep. Lethal hills aside, it holds the dubious accolade of being my site of choice.
Did I mention kit earlier? I’m sure I did.
The subject that any airsofter worth his or her salt will pontificate on at length given the flimsiest of excuses. I promise to keep this fairly brief – in summary, its function over form. Utility over impression. Everything has its purpose, nothing is superfluous – no fake plates nor headsets here. A practical mix of what I consider to the best of breed instead. For anyone interested I ramble on at (great) length in my own loadout section. You’ll find a growing list of reviews of what I’ve used, broken, rejected and adopted on this very website. If you’re stupid and have the misfortune to employ anything I have, there is also a section of guides to help you get the most out of it, free of the misinformation and youtube “AM BESTEST GUN EVAR” nonsense.
If you’ve made it this far then you have my deepest sympathy. Hope to you see you out there.
Mark “Fraggle” Ormerod 🐾