LOADOUT WEAPONRY

Right: Bulgarian Special Forces (SOBT), armed with what appears to be Polish Beryl AK74U variants. despite the rather odd name, this is an excellent example of a tactical AK in real use. Ironically, however, the Polish Special Forces seem to have adopted the MP5 for CQB operations. Photo credit: Mitch Rapp from Militaryphoto.net

Obviously, some people start with a particular primary weapon and build a loadout from there, others start with the idea for a loadout based on a real military unit and buy the AEG to fit this recreation. I am, on this occasion, of the later persuasion.

As this is a Russian loadout – and to paraphrase Mr. Ford – ‘you can have any weapon as long as it’s an AK’!

BUT WHICH AK?
The fact that this is a loadout intended solely for CQB means I need something short and maneuverable within the confines of an indoor area. Something like a Russian equivalent to the H&K MP5 would be ideal.

Sadly, while the Russian arms industry does – in fact – produce several SMG weapons specifically for Russian Special Forces, none of these weapons have been replicated in airsoft form (except for a very expensive GWS ‘Bizon’).

ENTER THE 'SPETZ’
The main recourse for Russian loadout fans who want a short CQB AEG is the TM ‘Beta’ or one of it’s ‘Spetz’ clones. The ‘Spetz’ is a ‘made up’ weapon replica, as it does not exist in real steel. It was designed by TM exactly to fill this hole in the airsoft market, and is simply a sawn off AK47 with black plastic furniture.

Clones of the TM model are abundant and available from JG, CYMA, AGP and a host of others. But one particular variant caught my eye, this is the SRC 'Krinkov'. What I liked about this is the nice touch of integrating the Russian style thumb-hole grip.

GO TACTICAL
Another avenue to explore is the ‘Tactical’ AK. There are many of these about, sporting very ‘Western’ RIS and RAS accessories, in various barrel lengths and stocked and folding stock versions.

Of these, one in particular looked to fit the criteria of a CQB friendly assault weapon; this is the new SRC ADV. Again it is a shortened AK47 (AKS47 in this case), with black plastic furniture, a rather nice folding front grip and torch attachment (rather handy).

Once again, this is – technically – a ‘made up’ gun. Although, this exact gun could be made in real steel terms (although I haven’t found one like it anywhere), it does not exist in the Russian inventory

REAL STEEL AND HYBRID
There is, however, a real steel alternative out there that fits the bill exactly. The AKS74U is a shortened 5.54mm AK that was especially designed for Russian armored troops and Special Forces units.

I happen to already possess one of these in airsoft form (the Kalash AKS74U), and it’s a lovely little baby AK74 with folding stock and short barrel. It does – however – have standard Russian wooden furniture, and that really doesn't fit in with my ideal of a all black tactical look.

Above: My current conversion project. From Kalask AKS74U 'Bitch' to tactical hybrid 'Super Bitch'. This modification includes the VFC Tactical Grip Stock, Army Code Bulgarian style Krinkov flash hider and Bulgarian 'waffle' magazine. It's a real AK, Jim - just not as we know it!

A hybrid version of this weapon, in black plastic furniture, can be made up, however. This IS cheating slightly, as the Russian Army hasn’t produced a model of the 74U in black stock – though the Polish Army has (The amusingly names 'Beryl' - information about which can be found at www.ak-74.us).

It’s a compromise, balancing a modicum of authenticity with tactical coolness.

(I will make the final choice of the primary weapon from these three contenders in the last of this series, where I pull all the parts together and show the final complete loadout.)

SECONDARY WEAPON
Again, no modern Russian pistol has been replicated in aisroft form, so once again a compromise is needed.

The Czech VZ.75 pistol is the often preferred airsroft pistol when creating a Russian loadout. Another pistol that is used to impersonate a Russian counterpart is the Walter PPK or SIG 120 – both of which have a passing resemblance to the Russian Markarov pistol.

One final possibility is the Czech VZ.61 Skorpion machine pistol (pictured above). Tokyo Mauri have recently released a very nice AEP of this gun, and it makes a wonderful back-up weapon for snipers and RPK support troops. It is also a nice secondary weapon choice for CQB, and although not Russian there is a very (supiciously) similar looking machine pistol in the Russian inventory called the OTs-02 'Kiparis' (pictured to the right).

None of the above are ideal, and it will be a while longer before I can decide just which will fit the purpose the most - though the sheer cuteness of the Skorpion, and it's inherant suitability for CQB airsoft, makes it a front runner.

But I do have a line which I don't like to cross. For example, I generally don't like so-called 'Tactical' AKs, unless they are done properly as a replica of the US Special Forces SOPMOD - as at least that is portraying an authentic field weapon. I also don't particularly like 'made up' AKs, like the 'Beta' or 'Spetz' AK...

Laylax have managed to add another AK I dislike to this very short list (well done!). They have produced an accessory which shortens the barrel of TM's new AK74M, to make it more convenient for urban/close quarters presumably. 

Credit: This picture and the source comes from Airsoft-News.EU

The Laylax mod creates a sort of sawn off AK74, taking the flash hider right down to the gas port. Now, what I object to is that there is already a real AK (AK105/105D) that is designed to do just what Laylax are trying to do, but the 105 does it oh so much more elegantly.

In fact, the only reason I can think of that you would want to ruin your TM AK74M by doing this ridiculous mod (you only save 5.5cm btw) is that TM don't produce a AK105 replica themselves at the moment (Classic Army, Guay Guay, Unicorn and CYMA do though).

The TM AK74M is a beautiful looking replica, and is not cheap, so why would you want to deface it? If you want an short version of the '74, go buy yourself an AK105 (I am)! 

Above: The CYMA CM031D, a far more elegant and authentic solution. This is the folding stock version of the Russian AK105, currently in service with Russian Special Forces units. Photo credit: RSOV.com

The real Russian tactical BDUs are, of course, the BEKAS two piece set or the one piece equivalent - both available from Redsoldier.com in the USA. The Bekas set will set you back $99, including shipping, this breaks down to about £50 - so can I do any better than this, but still retain some semblance of an authentic look?

Left:  No - not me in a catalogue pose! This is the Dickies boilersuit, available at pratically all work wear stores at around just £15. It's a pretty utilitarian piece of clothing that looks exactly like those one piece suits used by tactical units the world over. (Photo: Dickiesstore.co.uk)

My first idea was to buy a plain one-piece 'boiler suit' in black. That's a fairly generic tactical uniform look, and is something that is easy to get hold of. Sure enough I found what potentially was a real bargain at UKprotective.com - a black XL boiler suit at only £9.99! Sadly, on delivery, I found the one real disadvantage of a one-piece suit - if you are above average height (I am 6' 5") the 'average' body height in the suit tends to cut you in half! (Or at least it did for me, but the purchase wasn't wasted as I passed the item along to a team-mate who it fitted perfectly!) 

Left: The Dickies Redhawk Warehouse work suit. My bad flash photography makes this suit look shinny. but it isn't. Click on image for larger version.

So, next I looked around for a two piece work suit and was duly rewarded with a nice find at Dickiesstore.co.uk. The Dickies Redhawk warehouse jacket is almost an exact match for the Russian Bekas style BDU jacket. Not only that, but at just £11.20 (ex. VAT) it was half the price of the real Russian jacket. So I ordered the jacket, but bought the matching Redhawk Action Trousers, which have the added benefit of being able to take a set of Dickies safety knee pads in integral pockets, from a local work wear store.

Left: The Dickies Redhawk trousers come with built in pockets which take their knee pad inserts (£5.40). This is a nice idea, as some people don't like the military style knee pads, which constantly slip down (photo: Dickiesstore.co.uk)

The whole outfit cost me about £30, compared to the £50 for the real Bekas. 

Finally, I added the team badges which really set the outfit off nicely. I saved a bit more cash here by daring to sew on the badges myself (the local seamstress was going to charge £20 to do the job). So overall, I saved myself £40 at this stage, not bad and enough to put towards some of the load carrying kit I want next...

Next time I will be looking at the load bearing kit; the assault vest, holster, pouches and belt.

< Click here to go back to Part Two 

 
Click on image for enlarged version

I am hoping that, like the RIS, Classic Army will release the folding stock as a separate item, so I can upgrade my carbine. Additionally, it will be nice to have the long mag - just to make the package look even more meaner! 

The differences between my SA58 Carbine and this model it that the OSW comes as standard with the DSA front RIS and the FN style folding stock, just like the real steel DSA Tactical models. The CA CArbine SA58 has plastic furniture and a fixed stock.

Here's a link to the DSA Inc. website so you can feast your eyes on the real thing(s): DSA Inc. SA58 Tactical Series 

I intend to use my CYMA AK74 (CM0.31A) as part of an 'Assault' role loadout, and this would be the ideal accessory. It will give me a chance to add on one of those Russian rubber recoil pads too. I should think the cheapsoft GP-30 will be available from RSOV or UNCompany of Hong Kong soon.

Photo credit: www.rsov.com

Additionally, like fellow 'cheapsoft' Chinese manufacturer Kalash (Boyi), they are upping the antsy by manufacturing in steel now! Classic Army, TM and VFC must be quaking in their collective boots! 

I am already interested in buying one of the CYMA  AK-105s (CM0.31D, folding stock model), and now really fancy an AKM to finish off my AK collection!

Another unrelated item that caught my eye, this time from Mad Bull Airsoft, is a rather nice FN style flash hider. I have the Classic Army SA58 ('Baby FAL'), and have always hankered for a proper FN style flash hider for it to replace the hideous American M4 birdcage type it comes with. So this is now also on my shopping list.

Photo credit: Mad Bull AIrsoft

My only concern is how I am going to be able to afford all this new stuff! 

As with the wet weather items, I didn't want to go overboard and buy something that was designed to full military specifications. The reason why this is is that a soldier's gear is designed to be worn for relatively long periods of sustained action. Luckily, we airsofters have plenty of breaks between action - so can change in and out of clothing more conveniently. So, I concluded, that uniform gear designed to be worn for extended periods were not necessary.

I also relied on the fact that the exertions of airsoft would keep me warm enough until the game ended, and I could then change into something warmer and dryer if needs be (there is nothing worse than sweat cooling down on your skin during the journey home).

Finally, there is the fact that - unlike real soldiers - if the weather gets too bad, we could just simply retire to a nice warm car or hut. So putting up with being cold or wet for a little while isn't too much of a hardship. You know you will eventually get warm and dry.

Because of this I went with a simple commercial DPM body warmer, gloves and woolen watch cap. The body warmer has a multitude of capacious pockets, so also doubles as a load carrying vest, negating the need for webbing. It may not be exactly 'authentic', but it's practical and looks pretty nice (resembling, as it does, a military flak jacket).

About half way through my first 'season', my friends and I started to formulate our idea that we would like to be a Russian Army themed team. Obviously, this meant that it would be nice to have the appropriate wet and cold weather items for any loadout we bought for this.

However, getting authentic uniform gear - at that time - was still a bit of a problem for us (having not figured out exactly what period we were interested in, or what camo we liked or, indeed, what was the best supplier), so we initially 'cheated'. Our local Army & Navy surplus store  just happened to get in a load of ex-Czech Army surplus stock, including some very nice cold weather parkas with Russian looking fur collars.

This 'faux' Russian cold weather outfit - of OD parka, OD trousers, Telnyashka T-shirts and either woolen caps or fur hats - gave the sort of impression that we were after, and we were pleased when other players got the gist and recognized us as 'Russians'.

Lately, though, I have found several authentic items or Russian origin that are exactly what I want, and although the winter season is nearly over I will be buying these in anticipation of next winter.

The one thing I have concluded so far about playing airsoft in wet or cold weather situations, is that it is far better to wear a few lighter, thinner layers that to wrap yourself up like an Eskimo!

Left: The key to any good Winter/Autumn loadout, a good quality base layer. This is the Webtex thermal layer, excellent protection against the cold and BBs too! Thinner layers are then applied to this to build up a system of clothing which can be added to or detracted from to control the temperature of the body.

Bear in mind that you might start out being cold and miserable, but as you get more and more active you really begin to warm up naturally - regretting that you put on two jumpers and a parker!

Go for types of cold/wet clothing that you can easily take off and pack away during play.

But most of all, it's better to bring a change of dry warm clothing, and change into them at the lunch break than to try and go all day with military spec cold/wet weather clothing on. So, you get a bit cold or wet - so what? It's a small hardship to endure until the next break, and simply means you probably aren't running about as much as you should!

I have been in the situation where I have been so warm that a nice rain shower was very welcome. Having said that, don't be one of those 'macho' nutters that defies the elements and runs about all day in a thin t-shirt, revelling in how soaking he gets...

Having to take a few days off work because you caught a cold or flu doesn't impress the boss.

This is a bit of a strange one - and weirdly co-incidental*. Airsoftnews.eu carry the report of a 'new' Kalash, but - inexplicably - it's actually a re-make of their very popular 'full metal' (monkey metal) AK74U RK.01...But, this time in 'full steel'!

(Click on the above picture to see very larged and detailed version.)

Now, this news will have a lot of people shaking their heads and saying 'but why?'

Their AK74U (Mk. I) was what it was, a budget metal AEG that neatly filled a hole in the market. So surely remixing this model in steel is kinda supperflous? For one thing unless they are going 'up market' then they will be using cheap steel, and if they are using cheap steel then what was wrong with the 'monkey metal' version?

(The answer to this may be in part answered by my previous post on my having to repair my 'monkey metal' Kalash!) 

Additionally, steel means more expensive - and more heavy - so will this really have any more pull over their first model? I mean to say, if you want good quality steel you'll go for the VFC AK74U on which Kalash based it's clone in the first place - right?

And here is where we perhaps find the clue to why Kalash are doing this. You see, Kalash's first AK74U broke a lot of new boundaries, here was a so-called 'cheapsoft' AEG that was reliable, cheap, accurate and looked good - real good. I know - I had the opportunity of directly comparing my Kalash with a VFC AK74U at my local site, and let me tell you, the owner was none too impressed that - for the price - the 'cheapsoft' AK74U was not as far away in quality and was far better value for money than his expensive version...

So, now it seems Kalash are on a mission. They are pushing the boundaries even more. Now the VFC owner can't even say 'yes, but MINE is made out of STEEL!'

It's a bit of a gamble, as the price will not have to be that much more than the original 'pot metal' model to grab people away from buying the VFC. Quality control will also have to be improved (there were several loose items on the MK. I), and the quality of the finish will also have to be improved.

But if Kalash get all these things right there will be a lot of people still shaking their heads - only this time it will be because they will be wondering why they should pay all that extra money for a VFC when Kalash has an AEG that is the dog's danglies!

We shall see! 

* I say co-incidental because I have just wrote a piece - 'AK74U repair - monkey magic!' - on how I had to repair my 'monkey metal' Kalash AK74U - and how this brittle metal and lack of spares was one of the main disadvantages of this AEG!  So perhaps moving to steel is in part to remedy this flaw.

Monkey metal (or pot metal) is the low grade metal that the Chinese use to make their metal cheapsoft AEGs. Unfortunately it is very brittle, actually more brittle and prone to cracking than good quality Western ABS I believe (ironically). And once it cracks, there is very little that can be done if - like my component - it is a part which is under stress or a moving part.

My first attempt to repair...

Tools: My trusty Dremel Multitool, with all it's nifty cutting, grinding and sanding attachments, plus some Araldite Precision two part metal glue, and finally some Araldite metal bonding putty.

First of all I thought I might simply get away with gluing and filling the crack, and then by adding some better bolts secure the sight more firmly.

1. I used the Araldite glue to bond the two halves of the crack, clamping the component together to force the tow halves of the crack to join firmly.

I left this the full recommended 24 hours, to set rock hard before loosening the clamps and going on to the filling stage... 

2. I then used the 'Plumbers Putty' to fill and smooth the line of the crack. I also hoped that by adding this layer of putty that it would help to reinforce the component when I inserted the new retaining bolts I had bought...

 
3. Unfortunately, as the above diagram shows, the filled crack (Pic 2) was not a strong enough bond to resist the strain placed upon it by screwing the bolts into it (Pic 3). The stress on the part when affixing the sling to the integral sling loop just reopened the crack, and moreover caused a second crack which resulted in the complete breaking off of the lower section of the part (Pic 4). Drat!

Second repair attempt - back to the drawing board!

Hhhhmmmm, ok. That didn't work, mainly because the 'pot metal' having lost it's coherence was now overly sensitive to any stresses or strains placed upon it. So something a little more drastic, and reliable would have to be thought of. And here is what I came up with...

1. First of all I completely removed any of the remaining jagged remnants of the old retaining block, so that there was a nice smooth gap between the the bottom parts of the sight (Pic 1).

2. Next I placed the sight back on the outer barrel of the AEG (Pic 2 - gray circle) and carefully drilled two opposing holes through the sight into the outer barrel. CARE MUST BE EXERCISED NOT TO DRILL ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE OUTER BARREL AND INTO THE INNER BRASS BARREL. If your drill or screw into the inner barrel, chances are you will deform it. Then I screwed in specially shortened bolts, attaching the sight to the outer barrel (Pic 2 - red bolts).

3. Finally, with the sight component firmly fixed to the barrel I filled in the underneath of the sight collar with the metal bonding putty. After this dried, I sanded it and applied the coats of paint. 

Here's the resultant repair job...

I'm fairly pleased with this repair, to the casual eye the mend seems to be invisible, plus the sight is more firmly fixed in place now and should even be up to my reattaching the sling. 

Above: The newly announce RMW conversion kit - this is the completed kit obviously!

This seems to be set to change as there are now several means to get your hands on this iconic Soviet LMG.

When I started out in airsoft - only a short 8 or 9 months ago - the only way to get yourself an RPK was by purchasing the very beautiful, but also very expensive, Guarder conversion kit for a TM AK 47. This was way beyond my means, at £609.99 from Wolf Armouries and probably explains why they guns are so rare on the field!

Left: The amazing Guarder all metal RPK kit. Still available from Wolf Armouries, but at £600+ it's a connoisseurs piece.

However, about 5 months ago a company called SRC brought out a 'budget' RPK  at the astonishingly low price of £259.99. This included a metal, electrically driven, drum mag and did well in the reviews I have read about it. Again, this is available here in the UK from Wolf Armouries.
 

Over the past couple of months news leaked out that Classic Army were to throw their hat in the ring with their Proline replica of the RPK. And this seemed to gain a lot of interest (as it seems, despite the positive reviews, quite a few people seemed to be warey of SRC which is a bit of a new name on the market here).

Above: The much heralded Classic Army SA RPK-7, no announcements of price or release in the UK yet

Finally, just this morning in fact, Russian Mania Workshop - the maker of fine conversion kits - has announced it's RPK kit at $490 USD. This seems very good value - if you don't mind buying the additional bits and doing the work of putting the thing together - as the metalwork and wood is stunning, and very much looks to be on a par with the legendary Guarder kit.

So there you have it, there seems to be something there for everyone - except the most  penny-pinching airsofter, as the likes of CYMA haven't taken up the challenge to produce a 'cheapsoft' RPK (yet). But there again, it's kinda nice that this particular gun is a bit of a rarity on the field.

Related links:

> Guarder all steel  RPK conversion kit at Wolf Armouries - £609.99 (UKARA required)
> Russian Mania Workshop (Hong Kong) RPK conversion kit - $ 490 USD
> SRC All metal RPK AEG at Wolf Armouries - £259.99 (UKARA required)