AS REAL AS IT GETS...

THE NEW VFC L403A1 GBBR THAT WE FEATURED LAST MONTH APPEARS TO BE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION ONLINE, WITH MANY COMMENTS CENTRING AROUND HOW COOL MANY OF YOU AROUND THE WORLD FIND “BRIT KIT” LOADOUTS, SO WE THOUGHT THAT WE’D GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A “SPECIAL” IN OUR ARMOURY SECTION FOR THIS ISSUE AS BILL SPEAKS TO MIKE AT THE BRITISH FORCES AIRSOFT COLLECTION ABOUT ALL THINGS “ALLY”!

Last Month I had the great pleasure, along with Anny in Taiwan, to introduce the new VFC L403A1 GBBR, and Stewbacca and I shall be coming back to this new model when we’ve got some BBs down our respective barrels on the range and in-game.

The L403A1 pretty much brings my own collection of “modern” British forces RIFs right up to date as it now comprises purposes the L9A1 Browning, L2A3 Sterling, L34A1 Suppressed Sterling, L1A1 SLR, Colt Model 604 (M16), L42A1 Bolt Action, a bevy of different MP5s, and then L85A1, A2 and now A3 variants, long and shortbarelled L119A1s, and an L119A2. All are fitted with as close as I can get to correct optics and accessories, and along with their eastern bloc counterparts and a few unusual and esoteric additions to the collection, they form a display that I sometimes run alongside a friend at local shows.

Now I thought I was doing pretty well ...until Ratty gave me “the nod” and I saw THE BRITISH FORCES AIRSOFT COLLECTION (BAFC) down at the National Airsoft Festival this August!

After speaking to the owner of this fabulous collection of UKLF shooters, Mike, I realised that actually what I had was the START of a nice little display, as his replicas took things to a whole new level of accuracy in portraying the different marques and variants over the years, with reworked and re-stamped bolts, the correct armourers marks, and even replication of the bar codes on the SA80s… It is a truly stunning collection, and one that he’s been generous to share images of with me in order to share them with you too.

As much as I love a bit of living history, Mike’s collection of airsoft replicas is truly a thing of joy and wonder. If you like your RIFs to be absolutely correct, and if you get the chance to see the collection “in the flesh”, then I would urge you to take the time to do so, and also if you’re lucky spend some time talking to Mike as well, as his enthusiasm is infectious!

Sadly, not all of our readers around the world will have this opportunity and, knowing that there are many of you out there that “love a bit of Brit kit” in all its “allyness”, I asked Mike if he would be able to share a little of his story with us, and graciously he agreed to answer some questions…

AA: So, Mike, it was an absolute pleasure to speak with you down at the NAG and to get the chance to view your collection! Before we get into things proper, could you fill us in a little on your own “airsoft journey” as a player in the past?

BFAC: Hi Bill, it’s always a pleasure. Well, I’m bit of an old school airsofter; I started playing around 1997/8 and spent a few years just skirmishing with friends. Then, as more sites opened and more brands of AWEGs and GBBs, and upgrades appeared my kit improved, and I started doing some of the more serious games before they became MilSims. Here, I started taking loadouts and platform setups more seriously. Then around 2012, I was welcomed into a team called the London Ghosts, a great bunch, and playing was, and is always a laugh. I’m still playing to this day, but now I’m a lot older, so it’s more a case of the mind is willing, but the body is weak…

AA: I know your collection is specific to British Forces variants; what timeline do you cover?

BFAC: For the moment, it’s mainly post-WW2 up to roughly 2020. There’s plenty of platforms to cover without all the newer or WW2 stuff. Winning the lottery may change that…

AA: What started you on the path to creating your current collection?

BFAC: Well, it kind of started around 2005. Over the years a few British pieces had entered the overall collection such as the STAR SA80, ARES L115, Tokyo Marui SIG P226, and a few others. So I had already started collecting British platforms, but it wasn’t a real passion at the time, as I was running other loadouts. Things changed when I got to work on my L7 GPMG; I then came into contact with two great guys, who just provided me with so much info on a vast array of UK platforms, and then just spiralled from there really…

AA: What would you say is the key to getting a British (or any other) airsoft replica as accurate in replication to the “real deal” as you can?

BFAC: I would say, time, research, and plenty of reference pictures! It’s about finding the right parts/furniture, where things are placed, or where a particular platform is weathered or worn more, depending on time frame and theatre. You need to research painting and weathering processes, as not all processes work as well as others. In terms of placement of things, obviously all armourers are different, but to use an example I’ll take the SA80 A1s and early A2.

You’d typically find the armoury or “BUTT” number on the front (under the barrel) and to the side of a handguard, as well as on top of the SUSAT. Later A2’s had these placed at the rear of the platform, and the SA80 UGL would have its number on top of the heat shield, on the hatch to the gas parts. SA80 A3s now have QR codes plates; these are placed on left side, just right and above of the fire selector, with a small QR code plate on left side of the OS4 sight. It’s these little details that help a take a project a long way, even if you’re not confident, nor want to weather your RIF.

AA: So what advice would you give someone if they want to create a British Forces platform of their own?

COLLECTION IS TRULY A THING OF JOY AND WONDER IF YOU LIKE YOUR RIFS TO BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, AND IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO SEE THE COLLECTION “IN THE FLESH” THEN I WOULD URGE YOU TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO SO, AND ALSO IF YOU’RE LUCKY SPEND SOME TIME TALKING TO MIKE AS WELL”

BFAC: Blimey…. so many factors here! It all depends on the individual’s finances, time and how accurate they would like to go! I’d start by thinking about what you want to achieve; are you just after a generic, cheap, skirmishable look? Or are you after a specific platform/loadout/ regiment or just after a specific time frame, like the Falklands or Afghan? What role would you like to do? Sniper? Support gunner? Once you’ve made a choice then go from there.

AA: Do you have any favourites in the collection, and if so, why?

BFAC: I do indeed, and it has to be my GPMG! That beauty has been a labour of love from the beginning, and has her own story to tell! There is also a very funny story from Longmoor; I was at an old Airborne MilSim event and we got in a firefight at the FOB from the second row of houses. Most “rounds” were falling short, so the OPFOR started taunting our side, “you can’t hit us”...their catcalls came from the upstairs windows. I plonked the GPMG down on a concrete up-stand of sorts, and as its full steel, the loud clonk was enough to draw attention to me. Hand gestures came from the OPFOR windows, thinking they were safe, so I flicked the safety catch… next thing you could hear was my BBs bouncing off the metal window shutters… they weren’t so cocky then!

AA: Conversely, is there any model that has eluded you to date, and why is that?

BFAC: Oooooh, there’s actually a few, mainly the really obscure pistols that have been in use. The airsoft counterparts were once made by companies now long gone; for example, I have been searching for a Walther P5…. the only model was a NBB pistol from 2001/2. Same with some parts too; some parts are no longer available, long discontinued, or as above, companies long gone. But finances have played a huge role too here, as a few rare pieces have slipped through my grasp. They always seem to appear at the wrong times, or at ridiculous prices!.

Now I wouldn’t say eluded, as it wasn’t produced, but apart from the GPMG, the only other RIF I’ve always been looking for is a BREN!. And lo and behold, Viva Arms are releasing one! However, right on cue, funds aren’t what they once were… so I think I can live without a kidney, right? (Yeah, you can ...and I speak from experience! Bill)

AA: Are you able to advise other interested players on their own builds, or do you create custom builds for others? How can players get hold of you?

BFAC: Oh absolutely. I’m more than willing to share any info or knowledge to help others with their builds. Unfortunately, I don’t create builds for others, but I have met up with folk, or had bits sent to work on in the past. Unfortunately work hours have seen to that… but I will still help where I can.

I’m usually reachable on whatsapp, where I have an actual British Forces Weapons Group with a nice bunch of lads, with real world experience of the platforms, and other, wider ranges of knowledge. Other places are Instagram or the AFUK forum as Darkmikey22… of you can always find me via any member of the London Ghosts who will point you my way.

AA: To me your collection appears to be pretty darn comprehensive; what are your plans for future builds, and where do you see it heading in the future?

BFAC: Thank you. The collection is never short of builds; I’ve had two here for nearly three years waiting on those ultra-rare parts to appear. And there are certainly still more replica platforms on the list to obtain. As for the future, I would certainly like the collection to be more accessible, or at least the information. I was asked some time ago to perhaps create a portal/ website for people to access reference pictures, and a list of parts… but IT is NOT my forte! I’m still finger painting on the wall of my cave, haha…

AA: As a final question, where can players find you and your collection to view other than at The NAF?

BFAC: At the moment it’s just The NAF; this was the first year it was set up nicely. Last year’s weather (you were there so you know!) tore the hell out the gazebo so I didn’t display all weekend. I would certainly like to venture out to more events; I have been nudged by a few people to attend “Shift Your Rift” and the like, as they feel the collection would get a better following… so watch this space!

Mike, thanks so much for talking to me and answering my questions, and it really has been a delight to find someone that truly shares my passion for British platforms… and I have to say more accurately than me! I sincerely hope that the collection goes from strength to strength, and I look forward to seeing it again soon.

If you’d like to check out Mike’s collection for yourself, and as I said I would urge you to do so if you have any interest whatsoever in accurately replicating “Brit Kit”, then you can catch up with him at UK events, more in the future I hope… make the effort to seek him out… you’ll be glad that you did!

To find out more right now you can go to BFAC on Instagram - darkmikey_22 or find him on the the AFUK Forum - Darkmikey22 AA

WHERE THINGS ARE PLACED, OR WHERE A PARTICULAR PLATFORM IS WEATHERED OR WORN MORE, DEPENDING ON TIME FRAME AND THEATRE. YOU NEED TO RESEARCH PAINTING AND WEATHERING PROCESSES, AS NOT ALL PROCESSES WORK AS WELL AS OTHERS”

“I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE THE COLLECTION TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE, OR AT LEAST THE INFORMATION. I WAS ASKED SOME TIME AGO TO PERHAPS CREATE A PORTAL/ WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS REFERENCE PICTURES, AND A LIST OF PARTS… BUT IT IS NOT MY FORTE! I’M STILL FINGER PAINTING ON THE WALL OF MY CAVE”