For a while now I have been wanting to pick up a complete waste of a gun and see if I could successfully rehab it back to a field-worthy condition. I have done upgrades in the past, even complete mechbox rebuilds, but this time I wanted a real challenge. My requirements were basic:

1) Find a gun I have never owned before.
2) It must contain a mechbox I have never worked on before which at the date of the search, were versions 5 (TM UZI),6 (P90, Thompson SMG),7 (M14).
3) It must cost less than $100.
4) It must be a Tokyo Marui.
5) It must be in relatively poor condition.

A real challenge, but not impossible. Like I said, I have a ton of projects on my bench so I wasn’t actively looking to start this one until I saw a posting on a local airsoft forum for a Tokyo Marui P90. The P90 never really appealed to me. The funky mags, the short inner barrel, limited size battery compartment, lack of accessories and the list just keeps growing. This P90 looked beat.. I mean, border line abused. Being that it fit all 5 points of my project requirements and that I can’t stand to see a Marui in this condition, I decided to pull the trigger and make this P90 my project.

When the P90 got to my door, the first thing I did was shoulder it and just get a feel for it. It’s extremely ergonomic though I can’t say I care for how close my hands are when gripping the forward area. I can deal as I’m sure it will just take time to get use to the feel. After a complete once-over, I found the following problems outside of the gearbox:

- Trigger: The trigger pull is hard, muddy and does not return to neutral once released.

- Red dot: The red dot does not turn on and is extremely loose in the receiver housing.

- Flash hider: Sporting a lovely orange painted metal birdcage M4 flash hider.

- Butt plate: The stock butt plate was replaced with an extender for larger batteries.

- Mechbox bracket: Non-existent! The mechbox was being held in by a plastic shard with a screw.

Left: What was holding the mechbox in.
Right: What SHOULD HAVE BEEN holding the mechbox in.

I have already started triaging and discovered that the missing mechbox bracket was causing the mechbox to slide back in the body when the trigger was pulled, which caused the muddy trigger issue. Once I replaced the mechbox bracket, the trigger tightened up. I still have a ways to go and until the mechbox is in working order I have no definitive way of being positive, but at this early in the project every little victory motivates me to press on.

With a list like the above, I was already starting to fear the conditions of the mechbox and internals. I was right to be worried:

- Mechbox shell: Missing a screw, other screws were loose buy 4-5 revolutions.
- Slide/Lock plate: Missing.
- Cut off lever: Broken & spring missing.
- Wiring: Half-assed wired to large Tamyia.
- Bushings: Plastic and worn.
- Bevel gear: Stripped teeth which sent metal shavings throughout the entire mechbox.
- Lube: The gears are bone dry and crusty, gear grease used in the cylinder/piston.
- Shimming: The gears move in a big way, not a single shim found.

Ugh, what a mess… PERFECT!

I have shopped what I consider the essential parts to get the AEG back to field worthy status and to my surprise it wasn’t nearly as expensive as I thought:

1 x Tokyo Marui P90 Mechbox Bracket
1 x Echo1 P90 / E90 Mech Box Lock/Slide Plate
1 x Echo1 / Matrix Factory Cut Off Lever for P90
1 x G&P Ultra Precision Gun Smith Gearbox Shim Set
1 x Echo1 P90 / E90 Mech Box Screw set
1 x Guarder / Element 6mm Steel Bushing for Ver. 6
1 x Replacement OEM P90 Stock Butt Plate

That totals to about $60 USD before shipping. I already have a stock bevel gear so no need to order another.

To Do:
- Hop-up: I tested the hop up and have visually confirmed that it is engaging. Whether or not it will hold up in the field is another can of worms that I will have to wait for field trials to confirm.

- Inner Barrel: Currently stock, but I do rock Prometheus tight bores in almost all my AEGS.

- Flash hider: I have a few options here. Standard P90 flash hider or go with a longer and run a faux suppressor or the PS90 outer barrel extension. I’m leaning more towards the flash hider and keeping the stock config.

- Mags & Pouches: No doubt I will want a grip of mid-caps as I currently only have 1 stock TM low-cap. To carry the new mags, I have been eye-balling the Bulle P90 mag pouches and am seriously considering giving them a go.

I hate knee pads. They are hot, uncomfortable, and slide off the knee at the first hint of movement. While I do see the value and safety offered by knee pads in airsoft, I still hate them with the fire of 10,000 suns… which accounts for my many knee injuries while playing airsoft. To combat these injuries, I decided to bite the bullet and suck up the fact that knee pads are essential safety gear, second only to the eye-pro. I dusted off my old Blackhawk kneepads put them on, and shed a tear, remembering what a hassle/PITA they are. I told this tale of woe to a pal in SoCal and he sung the praises of the XTAK line from Hatch, suggesting I give it a go.

Hatch describes the XTAK as follows:

Extremely light and flexible, yet this all-new design provides superior protection and shock absorption with the flexibility to move the way your body moves. XTAK is the lightest, strongest product of its kind ever created.

• Unique X-shaped thermal plastic urethane (TPU) shell
• EVA high-density foam for superior shock absorption
• Lightweight TPU and Cordura® nylon construction
• Forceful spring-back action that gives you the protection you need
• Cool Max™ inner surface for wicking moisture away
• Anti-skid inner surface to keep pad secured
• Spandex adjustable straps with Hatch Rapid Deployment Clips and hook & loop closure for secure fit
• Available in black, desert tan, digitized camo and OD

 


I picked up my pair from a random Amazon vendor for $16 and two days later they were on my door step. My first impression was the XTAK were much smaller than my old Blackhawk pair but once I didn’t really care. Inside the pad, there is an anti-skid layer of what feels like neoprene that offers extra impact cushioning and keeps the pad from traveling.

Natually, the classic and beloved QD buckle system keeps the pad tight against the knee. I did a few jumping jacks, ran a few times up and down my 120′ driveway and to my surprise, the pads actually stayed in place! Also inside the pad is a Cool Max layer that is designed to wisk away moisture that I have yet to try out.

The front of the kneed pad is made of Cordura nylon wth a “Unique X-shaped thermal plastic urethane (TPU) shell” attached. When I took a knee, I was a little unstable at first but now I can definitely see the increase in mobility and movement the TPU shell gives the pad. The TPU shell is riveted onto the pad itself which gives me a sense of durability and longevity.

In conclusion, the Hatch XTAK might be the knee pad that wins me over. With its rugged design, comfortable padding and innovative TPU shell, this pad far exceeds any expectation I had when ordering. The only real con I can speak of is when standing and locking my knees, I feel like I’m going to teeter forward. This might just be me and without a significant field trial to really put the XTAK though the ringer, I’ll chalk this con up to being a concern more than a negative. I’ll update this review again once they have had some field time so I can answer a few of the lingering questions and concerns.

Sigh… I’m almost ashamed to even be posting this review, but alas, here I am. The Marushin Derringer came into my possession the same time the X Factor V2 Metal Mesh Mask did but I have been sitting on the review as I have very mixed feelings towards the little derringer. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate it but I’m far from in love with it. It’s not the gun, it’s me. I wanted so bad the derringer to be a backup for my backup’s backup, but I’m afraid it will forever be relegated as a sneaky/scenario role… which… is exactly what it’s billed as.

The Marushin Derringer has been around for ages but not stocked state-side in any real quantity. When I saw its resurgence on the AEX online store, I made the bold move to pick it up as I had visions of NPC kills and bragging about how I zapped some player with it (like bragging about how you got a knife kill or a took out a squad using a FAMAS). I had seen a team mate outfit his girlfriend with one during a hostage situation and used it with great success. Seeing as I will volunteer for almost any NPC role, I thought it was perfect. I forked over my $50 and in the post it went.

When it arrived, I was surprised at how small it actually was (insert ‘wang’ joke here). Fitting in the palm of my hand, it was perfect for concealed use. The gas reservoir is located in the grip and you only need the smallest of amount of gas to get quite a few shots out of it. To load it, flip the lever on the side of the frame 180 degrees then flip the barrels up. Once up, you simply place one BB into the breech of each barrel, lock the barrels back into place and you’re ready to fire. Accuracy counts as you only have a 2-shot capacity!

The pistol is single action so you will need to cock the hammer for each shot. As an interesting footnote, the bottom barrel fires first, then the top. I tested with 0.34g 8mm Marushin BBs at a range of about 20 feet. All my shots easily hit a man-size target with quiet a resounding slap. Unfortunately my chrono was down so I don’t have an FPS report, but it was hard enough where if you were on the receiving end, you would feel the BB hit. The sights are fixed, the trigger is lack luster.. its just a very simple design that does exactly the job it was designed to do: take down players at close range.

In conclusion, the gun performs exactly as it should. The accuracy needed to reload makes the process time consuming. Add in only having two shots, short range and mediocre accuracy, the Marushin Derringer falls into a very narrow category of skirmishability: NPC, VIP, Civilian, etc rolls that don’t require the user to be combat effective. So, if you are looking for a concealable scenario piece, a wall hanger, or just a fun plinker, the Derringer is right up your alley.

Wait, I almost forgot! During Op: Lightning Strike II at Fort Drum NY, I loaned the Derringer to a fellow staffer to play the night game. When he returned it after the game, he proudly walked up and claimed 2 Derringer kills! The look on his face was enough proof that even with it’s short comings, the Derringer can hold it’s own during a pistol game… in the dark… in the right hands.

In case you haven’t read any of my previous articles, I’m a die-hard Tactical Tailor fan-boy. I don’t have any connection or affiliation to the company, I just really dig the quality products they put out. During my “Pilgrimage to Tactical Tailor“, I picked up a 40mm Belt 12rd in coyote brown to haul my plethora of Madbull and Mosquito Molds gas grenades. I had seen one in use a few years ago at Op: Irene 3 and was determined to get my hands on one eventually but, over time, it had fallen off my radar. When I was in Seattle visiting family, I made it a point to head down to the factory store and finally snag one.

The build quality is amazing. The belt is adjustable and will fit almost every body type out there, be it around the waist or slung bandoleer style over the body. I prefer the ladder for easy accessibility. The rounds are held in place by a loop of elastic and secured by a hook and loop velcro flap. At first I wasn’t sure how secure this would be or if I even trusted my $50+ rounds to make it through a day of play, but all doubts were set aside after a few hours. I ran, dove, crawled and jumped throughout the day with not a single round becoming dislodged.

Overall, I can’t say enough positive things about this belt. While I still will use my HSGI 40mm pouches when less firepower is needed, the 40mm Belt 12rd scratches a very specific itch when quantity is required.. say when you are running the RPG and need to have a grip of 40mm rounds available, or running a revolver launcher like the ICS GLM. If you have the means and are a 40mm hoarder like me, you can pick up a Tactical Tailor 40mm Belt 12rd on the TT website or at a store where quality gear is sold.

The year was 2004 and my team (KDO241) was in the trial phases of getting invited to the very exclusive, very fight club-esq private games scene. Operation Showboat was taking place on November 6th and being hosted by AXF / TAG at a private field in El Cajon, CA. KDO was assigned play members of a drug cartel and we were to bring some sort of drug props to be used as objectives in the game. We ended up making 20 – 1 kilogram bags of compressed bricked flour to simulate the needed narcotics.

On game day, we woke at 0330 to prep for the long haul to El Cajon, about 3-4 hours depending on Los Angeles traffic. We loaded the truck and ate a healthy breakfast (pop-tarts!)… on the road we go. About 20 miles down the highway, a slur of expletives stream from my mouth as I realize the props are still at home. Back we go. On our second departure all went well. The drive down is uneventful and my navigator (Lice) did afine job. We pass San Diego, El Cajon, Alpine and a few other small towns until we see no further sign of life. With no cell reception and low on gas, we get a broken call from our teammate Fisch that he found the exit. Now with clear instructions, we flipped around and headed back.

Little did we realize that on Interstate 8 West, there is a Border Patrol check point. The second we saw it panic set in. Nervous butterflies, tightening of chests and beads of sweat. “Lets pull over..” Lice says. “And do what, stash the gear?!” I reply in an frustrated, pissy tone. As the line progresses, my mind races as I think of the 20kg of fake narcotics, 3 AK-47s and 1 G3A3 I have in my truck bed. Granted we have nothing illegal in our possession but our panic is in full swing. Lice starts to chuckle uncontrollably and I keep telling him be cool.

When we get to the booth, we see two patrolmen to our left, one checking vehicles and the other with an M16 varient. On the far right at secondary inspection, we see 2 salty looking patrolmen with shotguns. “I am going to die sitting in my truck” I think to myself. 3 cars to go…. they are inspecting each car, going through trunks and back seats… 2 cars to go…. 1 car… our turn. The patrolman briefly looks in the cab, glances in the bed… and waves us though with a “Have a nice day”. Sigh… we are in absolute disbelief. The other cars got the full search and inspection… but us… waved right though. Not that I’m complaining but I was shocked to say the least. If I didn’t know better, I would guess that two early-mid 20′s white males dressed in khaki pants and Hawaiian shirts (remember, we were dressed for our drug cartel role) didn’t look very threatening or worth their time. We pulled into a gas station in Alpine and got out of the truck. Sweating and shaken, we collect ourselves, use the head and find our way to the game. For the rest of the day we speculate what would have happened if they did search our vehicle… how we would have been detained until they tested every gram of the prop narcotics and how we would have been all over the local news. This encounter didn’t ruin our day, we had a great time but left the props for the field owner to keep/destroy/use whatever… for obvious reasons.

I have never been one for face protection outside of the CQB environment. Paintball masks make me feel very claustrophobic and fogging was always an issue due to my heavy breathing being recycled into the poorly ventilated lower part of the mask. Eventually I gave up and started wrapping a shemagh around my head and biting the knot when I knew contact was eminent. Not really 100% safe by any stretch of the imagination. Fast forward to July 2011 when AEX had their big 4th of July sale going on and I found the X Factor V2 Metal Mesh Half Mask while surfing their online store for random items (which I do more often than I’d like to admit).

I instantly fell in love with the soft, cordura covered foam lower half of the mask which greatly adds to the comfort during movement. The ear protection does limit and event restricts which radio headset I can use, one of the major con’s of the mask. The cut of the mask can rub on the bridge of your nose if your straps are not secured correctly, a mistake I did that literally rubbed me raw during field tests.

I field tested on two games, one being in a high-humidity environment, the other in a very normal, 80F day. During the high-humidity game, I noticed a considerable amount of either sweat or condensation (couldn’t really tell) forming on the wire mesh portion of the mask. This really didn’t hinder the masks operation, just seemed a little odd. No rusting or staining occurred from sweating through the cordura. At 98% humidity, the masked performed great. During the 2nd field trial nothing really exceptional happened. The mask performed as designed and I actually got zapped in the lower face at approximately 25 feet. The mask rang with every BB strike, letting me know there was no doubt that I was hit. I had no problem sighting in on my AEG using iron sights and red dots respectively.

In conclusion, for $20 you can’t get better face protection. Comfortable, light and durable, the X Factor V2 Metal Mesh Half Mask is the protection you need at a price point that won’t break the bank. After all, a trip to the dentist to replace that chipped/broken tooth is going to cost a hell of a lot more than $20 no matter how good of insurance you have!

My lust for a functional airsoft grenade goes back to my very early days of airsoft. Way back then, we used tennis balls with a streamer attached. Ghetto-milsim, but it was better than nothing. Gradually, we moved up to cast-rubber grenades with streamers attached. Not too shabby, low tech and cheap, but calling hits was always and issue. Then came my beloved Escort M26 gas grenades which had a finicky and difficult timer system and only blew gas out of the bottom . At this point, I swore off grenades forever, convinced I would never find a truly functional milsim airsoft grenade. Then came the Hakkotsu Thunder B. I first experienced the Thunder B at a now-closed CQB field in SoCal when one rolled in the room I was bunker’d in. When it went off, my ears rang and I leaped out of my skin… I must have it.

I received the Thunder B Beginners Package from Airsoft Extreme in the mail a few months later and ripped into the package accordingly. The operation of the Thunder B is amazingly simple in it’s complexity. A 12g CO2 cartridge is fed into an aluminum tube where once the spoon is released, a sharp plunger is thrust into the narrow end of the CO2 cartridge. The gas expands and bursts the plastic shell, letting out a horrific 130db boom. Very satisfying to say the least and the loudest non-pyro grenade I have heard.

The Thunder B amp’s up MilSim events like I always dreamed they could be. Loud booms all over the field really sets the immersion level bar higher than your average airsoft game. I do find that when fields allow these sound grenades in as area weapons, we ran into the same problem of folks not calling hits simply because they can’t identify if they are in range. No fault to those players, 130db is disorientating and quite frankly hard to range in the open field. I see the Thunder B much more of an asset to the CQB arena but still has it’s place in the large overall field games.

While I do love the Thunder B, it’s not without it’s draw backs. For example, firing core head is made of plastic and gives it a very “toy” feel. I have heard reports of this plastic breaking for some users on the first throw and while this is not the case with my unit, it is something to be wary about when lobbing this towards your foe. Another negative is the arming procedure. I found it a little cumbersome and difficult to cock the firing hammer, set the spoon, set the pin, put in the CO2 cartridge, screw on the cap and screw on the shell. Seems a bit much in my opinion, but for a functional airsoft grenade, I can cope. Lastly, I don’t care for hauling out the spent grenade shells. I wouldn’t dream of littering, dropping them in the field, but hauling garbage out is not fun and with the Thunder B, it’s a must.

In conclusion, the Thunder B adds a rich dynamic to airsoft events that you need to experience to believe. I love the Thunder B so much that I have 20+ extra shells on hand and keep them permanently in my airsoft go-bag “just in case”. The immersion factor alone makes these grenades a must for any serious MilSim player and all negatives stated above are out-weighed by the bowel-shaking 130db assault your opponents feel when one lands at their feet. You can pick a beginner pack up from Airsoft Extreme for $22.99 USD.

Much like with the M4, the airsoft market has been flooded in recent years with forgettable AK variants en mass. I planted my AK flag in Classic Army’s yard when they first debuted their AK line and never really looked back. That is until a friend turned me on to a relative new-comer to the AEG game, Javelin Airsoft Works. I knew Javelin made BBs as far back as 2009, but I thought that was it. Turns out they have been producing AEGs as far back as early 2010! Seeing as I was pretty much on airsoft-hiatus during 2010, no wonder I didn’t recognize the name.

Regardless, I was looking for another AK to beef up my armory and decided to give the Javelin AK74 EBB a shot. Retailing for $230 USD from Airsoft Extreme, the box came packed with a 500rd Hi-Cap, manual and to my surprise, two Javelin patches (I’m kind of a patch nerd).

The AK74 is full metal and wood construction with very few but appropriate plastic pieces. The pistol grip is made from a high grade polymer which is textured on the sides. My stock was loose and had quite a bit of play right out of the box. I went over the entire gun and torqued down the random loose screws, a few more than I would expect on a factory-fresh AEG.

I ordered an 8.4v 1400 stick batter but sadly it just wasn’t enough to cycle the gun. Replacing it with a 9.6v battery was the trick, bringing the ’74 to vicious life. Semi-auto was crisp and responsive. Full-auto is where the EBB really came into it’s own. Everyone I handed the AK74 to was impressed with it’s weight and construction. They became sold when they flipped the safety to full-auto and rattled off a few rounds down-range. The EBB gives and ever-so-slight kick and mechanical noise that you just don’t find in standard AEGs. EBB makes the rifle feel more ‘wild’ and ‘dangerous’ for no other reason than the clacking sounds three inches from your face.

My AK74 averaged 415fps with G&G Bio 0.2g weight BBs, placing it in that sweet spot of not needed to upgrade to make it field ready. The hop-up is average, holding the settings placed and making long shots a breeze. The battery needed a little ‘encouragement’ to fit, but nothing too scarey in the process.

Unlike most of my new guns, I wasn’t too ginger with the AK74 EBB. After all, it’s built like a tank and bench testing had shown that this AEG needed a bigger venue than just a local pick-up game to prove it’s salt. I rocked the ’74 as my primary weapon at OLCMSS’s 3-day airsoft event Op: Lightning Strike II at Ft. Drum on August 3rd 2011. As you may or may not know, airsoft Op’s eat AEGs alive so I figured what better trial scenario. Over the weekend, I shot nearly 8,000 rounds which sounds a bit excessive… but at 200 players vs 12 of us staff, seems a bit more reasonable. Not once the AK74 fail me. Not a single jam, misfire or hiccup to mention. Simply awesome.

In conclusion, I have to say I’m in awe of the Javelin AK74 EBB. In all honesty, I didn’t have much faith in it when I first opened the box and still brought my venerable CA SLR-105 as a back-up for when (not if) the Javelin failed. The Javelin made a believer out of me, putting to rest my belief that quality guns have to cost over $400 USD. While there are a few random con’s (loose screws, plastic flash suppressor, 9.6v battery requirement) that are easily overcome, this AEG definitely has a permanent home in my arsenal.

AI: GasCan

I have never have been much for gas guns, mostly because of the weight of the mags or portability of green gas containers. In fact, it would be safe to say that outside of 40mm grenades… I hated gas devices. When Orca approached me, touting that the new AI GasCan will make me fall in love with gas guns all over again, I literally laughed in his face. There is no way this little accessory will convert me, I thought. I stand before you today a changed man.

GasCan + accessories in the package

The AI GasCan is basically a reusable aluminum gas storage tank for Green, Duster and Propane gas. It is slightly larger than a 40mm 168rd shower shell and weighs next to nothing with a retail price tag of approximately $40 USD. Two can fit in a double M4 mag pouch and with that kind of portability, what’s not to like?

Operation of the GasCan is pretty simple and AI does an amazing job (as in all their manuals) on how to use it. So much so that instead of having me butcher the instructions, I’ll just post that portion of the instruction manual. It’s not that I’m THAT lazy, but why mess with what honestly works?

GasCan user manual

My favorite feature of the GasCan is the hassle-free oiling of my magazines/grenades. Basically all you have to do is add GBB oil or Tornado oil into the GasCan and gas up accordingly. No more adding oil between the propane adapter and propane bottle! I’ll be honest.. I have terrible aim and constantly lubed the outside of my propane bottle on almost every refill. AI went one step further and actually had the foresight to put checkboxes on the side of the GasCan, allowing the user to mark what this particular can is used for, preventing any possible cross contamination. I think I will still used colored tape for fast recognition, but still, very thoughtful on their part.

On a side note, when my GasCan arrived via USPS the fill nozzle would vent any gas put in immediately. I went to Airsoft Innovations’ website and submitted a tech request. They had a new cap out to me with nothing out of pocket. Amazing customer service. Here’s how the replacement cap packaged arrived from USPS. Amazingly no damage was done and my GasCan is back to 100% operational status.

The AI GasCan is beautiful in it’s sheer simplicity and honestly is one of the most useful airsoft accessories on the market today. From the range of devices it can be used with, any role in airsoft will benefit from this accessory. I love the GasCan so much, I bought a second one. Seriously.

Being a long time KWA fan and owning a number of their GBB pistols, I knew the KMP9 would be amazing… I just didn’t know it would be this amazing.

I received the KMP9 from my good friends over at Airsoft Extreme, courtesy of SoCal Airsoft League. Out of the box, the ergonomics when holding the KMP9 with the stock folded is what stood out most. Very natural and very comfortable. Racking the charging handle gave a very satisfying clack and firing from the closed bolt position gave me hope that foreign object obstruction would die with the venerable MAC11A1 series.

Performance is where the KMP comes into it’s own. While designed to be a CQB monster, the KMP9′s high velocity and outstanding hop up make this little SMG a field worthy weapon. My tests did not fare well with .20g bbs as the flight pattern appeared to be all over the place. When I stepped it up to a .25g bb, the KMP9 began to shine. I was hitting a man-sized object at 100ft with minimal hop up with absolutely no problem. With the FPS being so high on propane (average 387 w/0.20g bbs) you may run into problems when deploying in a CQB environment, but for field play, it’s a blessing. KWA does offer a Low Power Bolt for the KMP9 which will reduce the velocity by 50-70fps, making the KMP9 much more CQB friendly. Also be aware that the noise made when firing will turn heads on the field, and brown the shorts of the opposing team!

KWA hit a home run with this little monster SMG! So much so that I acquired 3 more magazines and run it as my secondary whenever possible. Definitely recommended for all those looking to get into the GBB SMG scene.