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Special Feature: IWA Outdoor Classics 2017 Day 3 Report

OptimusPrime

We greeted the morning of the third day of the IWA Outdoor Classics 2017 much more refreshed than the previous day for having decided not to party hard that night. We had to make sure of that since the third day is always the best day for the airsoft industry at this event as most of us get to meet and greet each other in one room since it is also the Airsoft Meetup.

Arriving at the Nuremberg Messe and dropping off our stuff at the press centre, we went to our appointments. We visited the SKW Airsoft’s booth to check on the latest stuff they had on display. One are the Secutor airsoft guns with their Rudis and Gladius blowback pistols, and their Velites airsoft shotgun series. Many airsoft players and game organises would surely be interested with the Duel Code Bomb Simulators and their airsoft grenades which Ruben happily demonstrated how they work to us.

Following SKW Airsoft, we went to Star Rainbow Company (SRC) to see what they have on offer. On display were some airsoft carbines with the Wirecutter/LVOA-type rail and their tried and tested Gen III gearboxes as seen  in their SR4 AEG series.  They are also the manufacturer of the Battle Machines for Valken Tactical.

If you have not heard about ViperTech, then now you get to learn more about them as they produce high quality AR-type airsoft gas blowback rifles. It was our first time to see them at the IWA Outdoor Classics 2017 and seeing these up close, we do recommend that you consider them when on the market for a new airsoft gas blowback market.

By 1100H, we had to go back to the press room to file the Day 2 report as well as prepare for the Airsoft Meetup. With more photos to upload and which we hope you enjoyed seeing them on the Popular Airsoft Facebook account, I was lucky that I was able to upload the Day 2 photos with just a minute to spare before the Airsoft Meetup started.

The Airsoft Meetup for this year was a more straightforward affair. Slickaxe of NLAirsoft opened the Meetup with the introducing Airsoft.nu,one of the partners for this gathering, to introduce the latest in their Airsoftdb project. Airsotftdb allows you to search for airsoft products in your area and worldwide making it more convenient website for airsoft players. They announce the ability for airsoft websites to get a widget for them to embed Airsoftdb at their own websites and that means Airsoftdb will always be at the click of the mouse button at participating airsoft website, be they airsoft blogs, community forums, and airsoft news and information websites.

Gunfire came up the stage with a more quicker presentation this time, starting with their GF Point event, a unique airsoft event which mainly involves orienteering as they go about achieving their objectives. The GF Point also requires physical and mental stamina as it happens in the dead of winter in Poland. They also explained their own airsoft products such as their GF Custom Guns, Primal Gear, and more. Apart from that, they are one of the bigger retailers that carry more airsoft brands such as Specna Arms, G&G Armament, LCT Airsoft, and E&L Airsoft.

Paul Chu of RedWolf Airsoft did the introductions for this company with Rob Manore of RedWolf Airsoft USA taking over to announce significant things for the RWA brand. They will be making Battle Arms Development airsoft rifles, produce Fortis parts, and that they are now carry NPO-AEG, the Russian airsoft company that produces the airsoft guns based on Soviet and Russian weapons design, including the new AK-12 rifle that is now being tested by the Russian Armed Forces if it will become the standard-issue rifle for the 21st Century Russian warfighter.

He also mentioned about the upcoming RWA Lee Enfield No. 4 Rifle which is getting collectors of period airsoft rifles even more excited with this. Another is the Airsoft Surgeon collection that is comprised of custom airsoft guns designed for practical shooting such as Action Air and 3Gun. We really dig the custom Sport Rifles with receivers that he actually machined himself rather than using the CNC process which many use nowadays.

Carlton Chong of Airsoft Innovations came up the stage for a quick presentation of the new XL Burst Airsoft Grenade. This is the first sound grenade for the company as before they produce mainly BB grenades. It’s a loud simulation of a flash bang grenade and with the demo, it is indeed emit a loud bang, and for airsoft players in a smaller rooms during CQB games, it will be more defeaning, as this emits noise at 125dBA.

Masterchief took over the stage from Slickaxe as it was time for the awarding ceremony of the 7th Airsoft Players’ Choice Awards. Half of those who won an award were present this year, but the awarding was made more special as the community honoured the late Mark Rasmussen, the founder and CEO of Airsoft Denmark who passed away last year in the UK. ASG received the award on behalf of his mother, with Paul Wignell reading the message she prepared, unable to hold back the tears. It was an emotional moment, with the everyone rising up for a standing ovation for Mark for what he had done for airsoft, his mother for the message of appreciation for the airsoft community, and for Paul and others who have worked hard for Mark to receive this award.

Mark Rasmussen’s photo was projected on the screen as the award was being read. Big thanks to Matt Furey-King of UKAPU for the image and who also worked hard to get that recognition for him.

Also honoured were three of the four latest inductees into the Airsoft Players’ Choice Wars for having on five times in their categories --- WMASG for the Best Non-English Language Airsoft News Website, Border War Milsim for the Best Airsoft Event, and Airsoft Innovations for the being the Best Airsoft Kaboom Maker. Not present was Evike, the Best Airsoft Retailer for North America.

DM Diffusion made the final company presentation for the Airsoft Meetup. A family-run company based in France, they mainly carry Classic Army products. But they also carry Umarex, Tanio Koba, WE Airsoft, and KWC.

With that, Slickaxe, concluded the Airsoft Meetup with more time to spare. It was the shortest of the Airsoft Meetup series but we do want a longer meetup for next year’s IWA.

After saying our congratulations to all those who presented and received awards, we dropped off our bags at the press room and went to the RedWolf Airsoft booth where we found some of the people that we had been meaning to talk to. Rich of Wolverine Airsoft talked about the HPA product range and also about the Quake Recoil Stock. Also there were Jim and Stephen from The Grange where they talked about the new CQB game site, called The Grange Live Gaming situated in the heart of Birmingham. This is a 6-storey 72,000 square metre game site and they accept bookings for airsoft games 7 days a week.

It was already 20 minutes before 1800H when we decided to call it day. Picking up our bags at press room, we went back to the hotel for a quick rest. Dinner came soon and we joined other airsoft exhibitors who have turned Finnegan’s Irish Pub into the official watering hole for the airsoft community during the IWA Outdoor Classics. By 0300H the next day, I decided to call it day (or a night if you want to call it that way) and went back to the hotel to get some much needed sleep.

Photos of the IWA Outdoor Classics 2017 Day 3 can be found on the Popular Airsoft Facebook Page.

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