EVENT
WESTERN AIRSOFT
GUNFIGHT AT
THE FIREBALL
CORRAL
YEEHAW PARDNERS! ITS TIME TO SADDLE UP AND HEAD OUT TO THE WILD WEST, AS CHRIS WRAY, AKA “CAPTAIN
PRINGLE”, REPORTS FROM HIS LATEST FORAY INTO THE WORLD OF SIX-SHOOTERS, CHAPS AND COFFEE!
PHOTOS BY PETER BATES FROM THE AIRSOFT PROJECT
It was a good job I was not driving as we drove
through the NPF (National Paintball Fields
Birmingham), as I would have taken the left turn
and carried on through to Fireball Squadron Airsoft
Club as normal - but not today! Today we take a
right and head into the Wild West village of NPF,
which we were playing with special permission. As
I started to unload my kit there were a few more
folks already doing the same, all dressed up in their
Wild West Kit. Wild West airsoft has been around
for a while but as the main games have swapped to
blank fire and full-on LARP, folks around these parts
have been crying out for an airsoft-based game
again. This one was meant to give them that, with
an amount of roleplay/larp and airsoft action as
well.
I’M NOT GOING! …OK, I AM!
When I was told about this game eight weeks
before, I was adamant that I was not going to do it
- no more new load outs.
Six weeks before I caved and said I would borrow
some kit just to go and support it.
Four weeks before and I totally caved and
decided that I wanted to do US Cavalry with a
team-mate!
Luckily for me I contacted civilwarsutler.co.uk
and after many questions, a lovely lady called Lisa
managed to sort me a load out which was pretty
close to what I wanted in a very short time. Then, as
if by fate, the Winchester carbines came into stock
at Airsoft World! I’m not going to lie, it was bit of a
childhood dream to dress as US Cavalry when I was
a small child playing “cowboys and Indians” with
my “Britains” figures, I always liked the Union and
US Cavalry figures the best.
So, having moved my kit to the good guy’s
starting location and got myself prepared, it was
time for a brief from the main game organiser,
Martin Ryley. After a thorough brief of the
gameplay and game rules, it was explained that
the day would start with just a friendly walk about
town with no loaded weapons at all, while we had
some photos taken by Peter Bates from the Airsoft
Project. This was nice and relaxed and I got to chat
and get to meet folks whom I had not met before.
Next, it was eye pro on and guns were allowed to
be loaded as the Mayor called an amnesty for the
duration of the town fair. This allowed all to come
into the town and join in the fun of the games and
competitions that the town had laid on, with no
fear of retribution …as long as everyone behaved!
The town was soon full and as I sauntered
through, the classic film quote came to mind …
“You will never find a more wretched hive of scum
and villainy. We must be cautious!” and later on
this proved to be correct! Luckily though, for now
everyone had been paid, so we all had some cash
to enter the various competitions and stands that
were around town.
20
OCTOBER 2020