A bit late to post this review of the Spectre game up but I feel it should be posted, especially considering Spectre Urban maybe forced to close at a point in the future.

For those that don’t know, Spectre Wargames is a smallish site located near Hereford and Abergavenny in the Midlands. It has a woodland section and a small CQB site, both in very close proximity to each other. The site is run by a chap named Yams who is very accommodating and if you ask nicely, it is sometimes possible to stay overnight in the well equipped safe room. However this maybe a perk earnt as this isn’t the first time our group has played at this site.

The site is quite a distance from both my current location in Leeds and the overnight stay is a very helpful. The site is split into two. The woodland section and main site office is about half a mile from the urban site. This safe room is well equipped with sofa’s, portaloo and a kitchen area. Adjoining the barn is another barn with old beds and mattresses. To register for the CQB games, you must come to this section, sign the waivers and pay and then walk or drive upto the urban section. The urban section is a collection of old barns where pigs used to be kept. It’s a fairly small site and no walk on’s are allowed, you must book via the website or telephone. Games are generally restricted to single shot only and the FPS limit to the site is 300FPS due to the close nature of the games. This means close range hits don’t hurt and games don’t dissolve into people being pinned by fire all day. It also allows people to use those expensive side arms they’ve bought with less of a disadvantage.

As I mentioned, unfortunatly Spectre is under the shadow of possible closure at the minute due to a noise complaint from a neighbour. This means that all pyro’s are strictly controlled. Any bought on site are fine as they are made for Spectre and are an impressive thermobaric grenades. Blank firing grenades are also disallowed, even if they have the convertor to use .22 short blanks in. Smokes, however are allowed because they have no noise.

Practical Pistol Shooting

Arriving early on Saturday gave our group the chance to do a spot of practical pistol shooting on the course Yams had setup earlier. Practical pistol shooting is basically a course or “stage” where a shooter has to take out targets in a time limit and is rewarded for accurate shooting as well as a quick time. It’s not really related to airsoft, except in the fact airsoft pistols can quite happily be used as the weapon.

The course setup for us at Spectre consited of three stages, a walk through a barn and clear section, a stationary target shoot where the targets where place around randomly and had to be engaged numrerically wihout moving off the spot and the final stage was a hostage rescue, clearing out three terrorists from a room in as quick as possible. The targets are wooden cutouts with a metal flap in the head and chest area. Both these metal bits had to be shot for the target to be counted as clear.

For the course, I used my only pistol, a DE USP AEP. The first stage I managed to engage clear 9 out of the 14 possible targets meaning I’ve missed 5 hits. The second stage, I was given another pistol as it was assumed my AEP might struggle to pierce the cardboard boxes. That’s not something I think would happened having tried it out in the safety of my home but nevertheless I borrowed an Infinity GBB and did the section. However I performed terribley and the pistol gassed out halfway through and I was penlised even though I could not reload it or continue because it was not my pistol. What made this worse was the fact that it was the course referee’s pistol! However I manged to redeem myself in the third section, winning it by clearing the room in 3.1 seconds with two hits on each target. There was conterversy with this result though as although I hit all 6 metal parts, only 4 toppled. This was due to the low FPS of the AEP range of pistol compared to the gas ones. The referee did decide to favour me in this case and I was declared to have shot all 6 and it was just the lack of power that prevented the unargueably clean run that a higher powered pistol would have achieved.

Game Day

Game day was a full day with about 30 players in attendence. Most of the players were the regulars, with our large group of semi regulars and a team that had never played there before. Morning games passed quite quickly. A variety of different games are played, most using the entire site. There are a few games though that rely on just moving through one building. These games are usuaully very good fun, espcially if your on the defending force as in these games, defenders are outnumbered hugely (in both games we played, there was 5 defenders against the rest of the players) but when they are hit, they move back down the building by one room or 5m depending on the building they are in. It’s usually plays out like the scenes in Enemy at The Gates were the Russians charge in and get slaughtered. Espcially as there is one regular who has a large collection of moscarts and every week buys a large portion of the sites grenades. Trying to flush him of the building is a nightmare! These games I would definetly recommend a full face mask. Because the site is small, all the games are usually small quick games, maybe an hour or two at the most, but usually much less. The afternoon games were also very good. Everyone was in the swing of things and had a really good time. There were pictures taken during the afternoon and I was photographed posing in my new Russian camo and using my TM vz61 Scorpion.

Overall, Spectre is a great site and with luck, it’ll get over it’s noise troubles. As usual, the games went without any hitches, thanks to the fantastic marshalls and the players. One person did have to sit out a game though after repeated warnings about lifting up goggles whilst in the play area. Just don’t do it as a stray shot could take an eye out! It should be noted, that Spectre has one of the highest proportion of female players than I’ve seen at any other site, bar the odd occasion at MIA in Cornwall. This maybe down to the fairly good facilities in the safe room at the urban site (no portaloo’s up at this safe room!), the friendly, welcoming atmosphere or maybe some other reason. Anyhow, there were 4 or 5 female players in attendence and most of these appeared to be regulars.

I think from my results on the practical pistol side of things, I feel  should purchase a gas powered pistol. I’ve been put off by gas pistol as when I first started airsoft about 5 years ago at college, I had a gas powered NBB USP that was very unreliable and generally not very good. I then sold that and got myself an Infinity which I found to require far to much maintance (oiling the entire pistol after about 3 mags of BB’s) to really be used as a skirmish weapon, and again the mags leaked. Both purchases were second hand. It put me off pistols until the electric AEP range came out. Since then, I’ve bought a few but sold them on when needed. However, I now feel that a GBB pistol would be a worthy investment as I am considering joining a local gun club to take up target shooting with air guns. They are also setting up a practical pistol section for use with airsoft and air pistols. I am currently tossing up between a full size USP (the same as the AEP) or a P226. If I can, I will be buying Tokyo Mauri as they are a make I trust fully, having had my TM AK47 for so long. And being put off by unreliable pistols in the past, it makes sense to go for an option that I know will work. People have told me KJW is cheaper and a better option but I have heard contradictory remarks about them, whereas the only bad points against the TM pistols is the price compared to the cheaper alternatives. However, in my case, the reliabilty more than makes up for the extra cost in my eyes.

Because it was the first time I’d got to use my new camo properly, along with the new assualt vest, I’ll be adding a review to the site very soon.

Thought I’d add this post here for anyone that stumbles upon this blog. It’s an article on how to paint your fake wood furniture on AK’s (and other inferior weapon systems like M14’s )

The article was written by a comrade over on the Red Alliance forums and it works a treat. I’ve had it done to my AK47 for the last two years and in my opinion, looks fantastic. Cant remember how many times I’ve had people ask me what wood kit my AK is using.

Here’s the article.

Well final review!

Took it out to Cerberus Airsoft on Sunday for it’s first test fire in anger. Earlier in the week I sorted out a hop problem but I lost the hop bucking. My team mate fixed that with a bit from a biro. Cant really adjust it now but luckily the hop was set pretty perfect!

Dboys 1000 Round AK74 Style Mags Review
Feeding wise, the gun performed admirably. The only let down were the Dboys large mags. I’m not sure as to wether it was the BB’s I was using (ICS white from Zero One) but the mags seemed to be jammed. The BB’s seemed to stick to come almost to the top of the magazine but would not have enough pressure behind them to come out from the mag. Also they were to large to carry about. My M23 Pioneer chest rig is fantastic and that carried them but I have a couple of other russian vests/webbing that they would not fit into thanks to the sheer width of them.

I believe they need further testing to see if it is the BB’s I used or the mags themselves.

The gun managed quite a few kills in the morning and it was easily out ranging the hire guns on the site, which was good because they were mainly on our side and I was glad to provide support. The longer barrel seemed to come in useful, making the gun more accurate.

Unfortunatly, various parts managed to come loose and fall off or nearly fall off. I lost the rear sight. I knew this was a bit riskiy leaving it on but it fell off well before I expected it to.

The bipod screws onto the barrel and I nearly lost the screw to this. I had stuck a piece of electrical tape over it and this kept the screw in place so I managed to resuce that. Also the selector plate rattled loose towards the end of the game and I stuck that in place using tape. I’ve ordered some loctite from eBay so that’ll be sorted out soon and that should also fix the bipod problem.

The battery lasted for the mornings game and began to give out towards the end of that. I used about 4000 rounds in that game so I think that’s a decent enough battery life. My home site in Cornwall, MIA, run a different CQB games in barns in the afternoon so this would be fine for there but up north in Leeds, I play at sites that have woodland  games all day so I might need another battery for it.

I’ve noticed now after leaving the gun for a few days, that some rust patches have appeared on the barrel. I’ve ordered some oil to take care of this.

Overall I’m impressed with it and the problems can easily be sorted out with a bit of effort.

I’ve been reading this free online magazine for a while now.

U.S.A.S.O.C. Magazine

It’s worth checking out, even if it does focus on American airsoft much more than British airsoft. It’s also free which is nice to see! I recommend at least giving it a once over.

I believe they are also trying to come up with a European version of the magazine as well, which is something to look forward to.

Finally finished! Well as a project gun, I reckon it’ll never be finished…there will always something that will need doing to it, but as a skirmish able weapon, it’s now finished!

As you can see, it’s missing a furniture retaining part but I have that on it’s way to me now. it’ll be field tested at Cerberus Airsoft near Leeds this Sunday.

I’m also missing an RPK flash hider but I’ve been unable to find one. I’ve found real steel ones but only in America and they wont ship to the UK so I’m on the lookout for someone to act as third party if I decide to purchase one. For some reason, my standard Mauri flash hider wont fit. I will give that another go.

As my first airsoft conversion, it’s been a learning experience. It’s been good and bad and at times stressful. As a first attempt, I also believe I’ve done a good job. The gun could never be 100% accurate to the original RPK74 due to the body not being available so I took it upon myself to keep bits I prefer, such as the top cover. (An RPK74 has a smooth one, similar to the AK47 but I’m using the AK74 one because I think it looks meaner and meatier!)

It’s not put me off conversions, but has given me an insight into what I should have done first, such as more research into the parts I needed to start with. This would have saved some hassle and if I’d have know it would have been trouble to get some parts etc, I would have used an AK as the base of the conversion. I do now have a collection of parts that I can possibly put together at a later stage to form a small CQB AK similar to a folding stock Beta Spetz. Though I may just purchase a Kalash AK74SU for that. Even though my Scorpion is great for CQB.

I’ve stayed clear of the side of conversion I don’t want to touch quite yet and that’s gearbox upgrades. I’ll leave that for the time being.

In total (so far!), my RPK has cost me £232. And I’m still thinking of re staining the wood. No doubt it’ll make an appearance later in my blog as well. I’ll field test it on Sunday, so it should be mentioned then as well.

The rear end is done!

I re wired the AK today when my wire arrived and it now fits the 9.6v PEQ box battery in the stock with no trouble what so ever. It’s a bit of bodge job inside with the wire so I didn’t get any pictures. It’s the first time I think I’ve played with wire since secondary school! Which is a good 6 or 7 years ago!!

It all works (I tried it before reassembling!) which is good. To complete the front, I’m having to wait until the weekend where I’ll meet a team mate and he’ll hopefully have the parts I need to finish the conversion off by adding the front furniture.

I need to add some weight under the top receiver I think. Add a little more heft to the gun. The AK74 metal body is ok but I have to drill some holes in the front to allow the metal body to screw into the barrel assembly. The screw holes in the mag well are fine and allow the rear part of the body to attach to the body fine. I also need to re drill some holes in the barrel. Either the barrel I bought off the Red Alliance is to short or my bipod is to long, which to be honest, I’d say the bipod is to long as I know the chap on the RA forum made it upto exact RPK specifications. That also explains why I had to file it down a bit at the front so I can affix the foresight and the bipod.

Overall there’s a few gaps between furniture etc but for my first conversion and first time doing any kind of work on an airsoft gun, I feel I’ve done quite well and I’m quite happy with the results at the minute. Yes, at some point I’ll re stain the wood as I think it’s a terrible colour but that can wait for now.

Well a load of stuff arrived today for me to get on with my conversion.

That’s the Dboys large mags (and they ARE large), AK74 metal body with extra bits, the brown pistol grip, an RPK barrel and cleaning rod (and an AK47 metal body for a team mate)

Now to get to down to seriously converting! Or so I thought!

The barrel fitted fine. Except that the inner carrel rattled around inside so I took the plastic tube out of the SVD barrel and no it’s nice and snug. Unfortunately, the RPK barrel is shorter than my long inner barrel but with luck with the fore sight on and a flash hider, it should be OK but we’ll see later. Also the JG bipod is to small to fit onto the barrel but that can be sorted. The gas assembly blocks fits where it’s supposed to but the hole to screw it in isn’t in the right place. On the plus side, I can sort these problem out a lot easier than using the JG barrel.

The body required some filing down to get the gearbox to fit. The hole for the fire select is slightly out of place so you have to file that down a bit. The rear stock mount was quite tight on the mount so that got filed down as well. The pistol grip required cutting down of some nobbles on the top to allow it to sit flush against the body. Once I did that, that fitted fine and it allowed the trigger guard to be seated properly as well.

When I came to try and re wire it, I found my wire was far to thick! I had 4mm silicone wire and that just couldn’t fit anywhere, especially in to the batter connectors. I’ve ordered myself some 1.5mm wire to see if that works instead but I’m a bit worried with the current it will carry and if it’ll be fine. I’m assuming it will be because the current wiring in the gun is quite thin and has worked so far.

So at the minute I have a half assembled RPK but at least it’s some progress! Even if I wont be able to use it this Sunday! There are still a few parts I need like the furniture retainers for the foregrips but hopefully I’ll get a spare from my team mate this weekend.

Well the conversion isn’t going well. The gas assembly wont fit over the rear of the barrel as I mentioned in post 2. My original plan was to cut down the barrel to the width of the gas assembly unit. As it turned out the outer barrel is metal and it would have taken ages with the tools at my disposable. With a lathe, it would have been simple.

Plan 2 was to then file down the inside of the gas assembly chamber. This I did. I’ve taken it down as far as possible before I think it’s got to thin. And that’s still to small to fit on the barrel. At this stage I was willing to give up until I could find someone with a lathe that could have cut the barrel down for me which is a shame because I now have most of the parts.

Luckily, I was helped out on the Red Alliance forums by a member who was selling various RPK bits and one of these was a full length barrel which I promptly bought. This barrel also has the benefits of having the cleaning rod and the retaining caps for the furniture and cleaning rod on so it’ll look better. All I have to do now is wait for that to arrive from the US.

As I mentioned, most of the parts are now ordered and arrived. I have the wire to rewire the Dragunov to have the battery in the stock. I ordered on Monday from Overlander and I got the wire the next day! Top service chaps!

As for the battery, I bought a second hand, barely used, 9.6v battery from Warrior on ASCUK. Again, I bought that on Sunday evening and it arrived on Tuesday. In the RPK, it has to have a custom battery to fit it. A standard large battery like that which an AK uses wont fit. It’s just to long. Even an 8.4v wont fit. A small battery can fit but you wont have the capacity. Luckily after some measuring by me and Warrior, we found that the PEQ box battery I bought can just fit in. Like it was especially for it. PEQ boxes are those horrible thing on the front of Armalites that look terrible but at least the batteries can fit the RPK stock! So now I have a 1700mA 9.6v battery that fits.

I placed my order with RSOV on Monday as well. RSOV is quite busy and they’re only processing my order today according to there website. I believe it’s run by one chap and maybe a couple of workers but I’ve heard good things so I’m not to worried.

I bought an AK74 metal body for the gun. I’ll just whip off the current plastic TM AK47 body I put on to test if I could do it and it all fit and whack on the AK74 metal body. I also ordered a AK74 plastic pistol grip. This will make the RPK look more like an RPK74 than if I was to use the wooden grip that the RPK kit came with. And because I felt like trying something else, I bought some cheap Dboys hi cap mags. These are double stack type mags and can carry a hefty 1000 rounds each! For £9 for 2, I thought they were worth trying out, even if they turn out to be terrible. I’ll do a review on just them when I get them.

My list of stuff so far I’ve bought is:-

I was eagerly awaiting the release of this when I first heard about it. It seemed fantastic! A game set in the Ukraine with Russian weaponry and atmospheric.

After waiting years for it to come out, I bought the special edition and installed and started. Great fun. Until I found I could only run it on the lowest graphics settings on my AMD 3500+ and nVidia 6200 based machine. The game quickly lost my interest when I found out that the torch beam does not show up on the minimum settings, thus making the game pretty unplayable!! I sold the game and thought nothing more of it.

Anyhow, I bought a new machine for my final year of university that was powerful enough for me to run computational fire models for my degree. Because the easiest (and almost the cheapest) option was a Dell machine, it also had a fairly decent graphics card, a nVidia 8800GT. Now I’d given up on PC gaming but this breathed some life back into my gaming and when I saw STALKER was cheap on Steam, I bought it. For just over £10, I thought it’ll definitely run on my new Intel Quad core and 8800GT combo.

Installed again and was very happy I can play with pretty much everything at max and quite happily play on my wide screen with 1440×900.
All I can see the game is very atmospheric. From having friendly stalkers sat around a camp fire, playing a guitar and singing along in Russian to investigating abandoned dark buildings, the game always makes you think your actually there.

The weapons in the game are very good as well. For someone interested in military gear it’s quite a nice game. At the start of it, the guns predominantly Russian as you fight the military a lot. AK74 feature heavily and the guns are well modelled with slight differences to the real ones, specifically to make it better for the game. IE, the AK74 has the cocking handle on the left of the gun as you hold it in your right hand. It’s a bit more obvious then that you cock it each time you reload. Later on, you get other weapons. The first time I used an SA80 (with a different name in game, possibly due to trademarks), I almost had to stop dancing around the place as it also contained a SUSAT and I was then quite happily picking off zombies and mutants from 4x away! Though this did have the downside of seeing some rather nasty mutants well before I fought any…

Also the jam function is quite a nice touch (but not whilst your under attack!). Basically the more you use a weapon, the more it deteriorates and thus the more likely it is to jam.

Overall the game is very tense and fighting through some of the areas populated by just mutants is quite nasty. Once or twice I’ve physically jumped back from the PC in fear. Luckily though in this game, flash lights never run out and unlike Doom 3, you can use both a gun and the light as the light is should mounted (if your the same as every other person in the game). The quest are fairly good as well. A mixture of this and that, never being to much of pick this up, shoot these people etc. it’s a very immersive game. The game storyline is great for drawing you in.

Downside is the long walks between some places. A few places in the game require some long walking between the two which isn’t good. Also, at times I can be quite hard. All I can see about it being hard is explore more. It can become much easier if you do that side quest you turned down etc. It’s worth asking people about anything and everything and looking around.

Just out of interest, I managed to stumble upon a Half Life reference in the game.

Well it seems the RPK is a big gun in the UK at the minute. With very little in the way of ready made ones, after market kits and conversions are the way to get these in the UK.

Clone Ranger over at Milgeek has a nice article on RPK’s in the UK here.

It’s a nice article and I must admit, I estimate the amount of RPK’s will increase in Britain with the release of an affordable RPK. Kind of annoyed I missed out on the SRC RPK’s at Red Wolf Armouries as that is actually a good price but on the other hand, my RPK will be “my” RPK as I’ll have built it from a Dragunov. Mine will also be an RPK74, not an RPK47.
It’s also a nice feeling to be able to actually open up the gun itself and mess with the internals.

Anyhow, read Clone Ranger’s post. Tis a good one.