News:

March 28, 2001

Fans of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid can look forward to the release of his newest game tomorrow. Zone Of The Enders is a new Mech based RPG from Konami that will be available for the Playstation2 console. Early designs and reviews have been more than excellent, and this promises to be a big hit. One thing that will not hurt the success of the game will be an included one hour playable demo of his next release Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty.

Also due for immediate release is the long awaited ALIENS: Thanatos Encounter. Here is what THQ has to say about it's new release for the Gameboy Color:

A group of Marines are returning home to Earth from a training mission. Along the way they receive a distress signal from the large freighter, Thanatos. After failing to establish communications, they decide to dock and board the massive ship. Join the elite marine battalion on a mission to blast xenomorphs in the Aliens game for Game Boy Color.
Huge variety of Alien enemy types, including Facehuggers, Chestbursters, Drones and Soldiers
5 playable Marines, each with unique attributes
Over 12 different weapons and pick-ups, including Pulse Rifles, Incinerators, Grenade Launchers and Power Loaders

March 26, 2001 - Updated Twice

DEN Trinity has a ton of new info and images on the new Tokyo Marui P90. Be sure to check out the news page to get all the latest details. I don't know about the rest of you, but I want this one more every time I see it.

I don't know if it has anything to do with why the Maruzen M870 Bullpup is currently so hard to get, but DEN Trinity has informed me that Maruzen will be releasing a new version in April. This new M870 Combat Shorty will not have the folding metal stock that the current model has. This should serve as good news to those attempting an AirSoft Pulse Rifle. Since they don't need the stock anyway, this version might come in slightly cheaper for them. I will post more details as soon as I have them.

War Games premieres Wednesday March 28. Here is what TBS Superstation has to say about the show:

On Wednesday, March 28, the original television special War Games (PG-LV) will premiere on TBS Superstation. This television event will challenge each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces with realistic combat scenarios. The "games" that these soldiers will be playing are the same training exercises they use to prepare themselves for war.

To prepare you for the impact of War Games, TBS Superstation is now featuring an intense online experience called Virtual Warfare. This 3D based combat game brings on-line play to the next level.

On the same night, Boot Camp will premiere. Here is what Fox has to say about their show:

Imagine the worst day of your life. Now make your boss a growling mass of intimidation that's more pit bull than human. Heap on a three mile run, a hundred push-ups, and a free climb up a 60 foot rope. Take away a good night's sleep, a decent meal, and all your hair and replace them with mud under your finger nails, sweat on your brow, and tears of exhaustion. If you can roll all that into a 24 hour period and repeat the process for a number of grueling weeks, then you're ready.

Boot Camp invites 16 contestants to surrender every aspect of their civilian lives in order to participate in a game of elimination set against the backdrop of a military-style training program. Real Drill Instructors set the pace 24 hours a day, putting the recruits through the ringer of obstacle courses and other specialized training activities meant to build confidence and force them to face their fears. During each of the 8 episodes, the contestants will take part in a mission that tests their training and ultimately reveals the weak links in the Squad. As each episode closes, the contestants face an important evaluation by their peers. The results of this evaluation determine who goes, and who stays until the final episode, where the two remaining contestants compete for a $500,000 cash prize!

If you're building a Pulse Rifle, Deck36 is now offering genuine SPAS-12 shrouds ($66.97) and foregrips ($52.87). These are actual Franchi factory parts, and the supply is somewhat limited. They will soon be offering a cast replica of the cut down foregrip as an ongoing product. They are also offering a casting of the lower receiver for the Thompson M1A1 ($88). They will soon be offering castings of the M1A1 upper receiver, barrel, bolt, etc. as well as a complete Incinerator.

The Star Wars: The Magic of Myth exhibit is showing at the Museum of Fine Arts: Houston from now through June 24. If you've not heard of it, this is a traveling display of many of the original props, models, and pieces of artwork from the four Star Wars films. This exhibit will soon be leaving the US for a tour of Australia.

March 25, 2001

Thanks to Zero One Airsoft, I now have scans of the new Tokyo Marui catalog posted in the Downloads section.

March 23, 2001

For those who may have missed it earlier, I have started a new mailing list specifically for the AirSoft AEG ALIENS Pulse Rifle Project. If you have already contacted me to express interest in becoming involved, you should have received an invitation to join it already. If you have not already received an invitation, or if you would like to join, send an e-mail to
AirSoftPulseRifle-subscribe@topica.com.

Well, it's official. According to the new Tokyo Marui catalog, they will be releasing spring versions of the STI Eagle 6.0, Model PC356 Limited, Colt M1911A1 Government, and, most importantly, the SOCOM Mk23. See the new catalog in the "Products Coming Soon" portion of Zero One Airsoft's site

From the R. Lee Ermey mailing list:

HI Everyone,
Join me, R. Lee Ermey for a LIvVE chat Sunday in the Friends & Family lobby on LIvVE, March 25th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM CST. I will be giving away all types of autographed memoribilia!
Click on this link to SIGN UP or copy and paste it to your browser:
http://secure.ibill.com/cgi-bin/ccard/rscookie.exe?RevShareID=4vv213869&returnto=http://www.4anything.com/corporate/Livve/livve
You may also access it by going to http://www.4anything.com and then sign up for a new account. When prompted for a referal code, ENTER: 4vv213869. If you have any problems signing up, please let us know.
Forward this email to a friend and invite them too!
Semper Fi,
R. Lee Ermey

There is now a review of the new Infinite Concepts Mortal Kombat 8" action figures and the Tokyo Marui Spring Franchi SPAS-12 in the Reviews section.

March 21, 2001

By popular request, I have resurrected the About AirSoft page from my earlier website. I will be updating it some in the next day or two to include links to the companies mentioned within it.

The AirSoft catalogs, currently viewable in the Media section, are now available in .zip form in the Downloads section. They will remain in both places until the end of the month when the Media and Downloads sections will be merged.

March 19, 2001

The, unfortunately, short lived Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles series has started to make it's way to DVD. The first DVD, Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Pluto Campaign (ASIN: B000056HP6), covers the first of the series' eight stroy arcs. Each arc consisted of several episodes which culminated in the eighth story that tied them all together into one big arc. The series was entirely 3D CGI animated, and was produced in LightWave3D by Foundation Imaging and Netter Digital. Since it's original run, on the Sci-Fi Channel and in syndication, it has all but disappeared. It was a good attempt to blend the movie and the book to come up with a vision truer to the book, and if you haven't seen it yet, you're really missing something.

If you haven't been there yet, check out Zero One Airsoft. They have complete scans of the new Tokyo Marui catalog. Looks like there is some good stuff coming up, including a spring-powered SOCOM and AutoMag III. Unfortunately, there is only a single photo of the new P90. Just look under "Products Coming Soon".

March 18, 2001

Fans of Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron have reason to rejoice again. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is releasing a Terminator Special Edition DVD. Foreign releases have already started, and will spread even further tomorrow, but the official site still shows no US details or release date.

March 17, 2001

If you have a DVD player, and you're at all interested in movie guns, pick up the new Criterion Collection edition of The Rock. This is a 2-Disk set that has the movie on one disk, and a lot of special features on the second. Noteworthy among these segments are a pair on the use of guns in movies. The first, called "On the range with the Navy SEALs", deals with how Harry Humphries' company Global Studies Group, comprised of current and ex-Navy SEALs, are used as technical advisors to teach actors the proper ways to use a gun, both in real life and for the movies. The second, called "Dos and Don'ts of Hollywood gunplay", deals with some of the most common bad firing techniques seen used in movies today and what the correct way would be. It is also hosted by Harry Humphries of Global Studies Group.

March 15, 2001

Voyager Toys has received in the new Blue Box Toys Elite Force 12" Rudy Boesch Navy SEAL Figure. This is a 1/6 scale figure of the man who appeared in the show Survivor, and is reported to be the Navy's most decorated SEAL. The figure features an extremely well done head sculpt of a younger Rudy, but with all modern SEAL gear. Accessories include a silenced MP5K and compass/wristwatch in addition to the full uniform, helmet, and life vest. This is a limited run of only 2000 pieces, and will go fast. Price is $44.95 plus shipping.

Thanks to Billi for providing some translations for the information posted on BB Gun Land:

About the Tokyo Marui Project 90:
The P90 uses the type 6 gear box, which is the same as that used in the M1A1. It uses a mini type battery. There will also be a hi-cap mag(420bbs) magazine made available at the same time the P90 goes on sale, which should be/maybe the first of April.

About the Western Arms M9000S:
Western Arms is still working on the M9000S. The date is still unknown(far away~). BB Gun Land has gotten a special story on the WA M9000S. Check the site in a few days for more updates.

Believe it or not, the AirSoft AEG ALIENS Pulse Rifle Project is not dead, it's just been in a coma for a while. There were several events that transpired over the last five months that have forced me to put it on hold. However, they are finally starting to resolve themselves, and progress should begin anew very soon.

I will be starting a new mailing list specifically for this one project. If you have already contacted me to express interest in becoming involved, you should have received an invitation to join it already. If you have not already received an invitation, or if you would like to join, send an e-mail to
AirSoftPulseRifle-subscribe@topica.com.

Dean Overaker, maker of the M40 pulse rifle grenades (red caps) featured in the Projects section, has produced another version. His new M51A grenades (blue caps) are based on a design featured in Derrick Baena's must-have Pulse Rifle Manual. They feature the same turned aluminum construction, with a working pushbutton and colored plastic cap, as the original M40s.

Also on the Pulse Rifle front, Jim Shima of Hyperdyne Labs has updated his Pulse Rifle Counter. The new counter works on a single 9V battery instead of the previous dual AA batteries (3V). It is also available in deluxe models which have either red or white LEDs to simulate the muzzle flash. He has also started to produce a new sound board for the Pulse Rifle. This board wires into the counter unit, and plays random combinations of Pulse Rifle sound clips whenever the counter is activated. When the counter reaches 0, the sound board plays a looping clip of the gun dry firing. It runs off of the same 9V battery as the counter.

March 11, 2001

On March 01, 2001 I told you about TrenchCo, where you can get trenchcoats modeled on ones featured in movies. Now I've found a site where you can add sunglasses to your collection. Imposter Wear has replicas of sunglasses seen in The Matrix, Shaft, Mission Impossible, and Charlie's Angels. They are currently taking preorders for the Morpheus Simulator, based on those Lawrence Fishburne III wore in The Matrix at a price of $59.99 each or $99.99 for two pair.

DEN Trinity has a new metal silencer kit from First Factory that will let you build your own customized AUG. You can build it out in either Phantom (long) or Shadow (short) versions, and swap between them. It also includes rails for RIS attachments. The vertical grip is not part of the kit. Price is $180 USD.

Ever wanted an AirSoft Broomhandle Mauser? How about an AirSoft version of Han Solo's blaster. According to Billy Bob's AirSoft Jamboree, Marushin may make that possible. There is some info about this new release on his site.

March 08, 2001

BB Gun Land has an image of the new Western Arms M9000S. If anyone can translate the info about it, let me know, and I'll be happy to post it and give you credit.

The official Tokyo Marui site has some info posted about the eagerly anticipated new AEG P90, now dubbed "Project 90". Among other great features, it appears that Tokyo Marui has gone to great lengths to replicate one of the P90s most famous features, the clip. The replica version appears to be clear with dummy rounds inside, so you get the correct look of the real steel. If anyone can translate the rest of the info about it, let me know, and I'll be happy to post it and give you credit.

Billy Bob's AirSoft Jamboree has some great info and images of some upcoming AirSoft releases including the Maruzen Type U GBB, the Tokyo Marui Samurai Edge 3 Berry Burton Model, and the Tokyo Marui P90.

March 07, 2001 - Updated Twice

Voyager Toys has received in the new InToyz Gatling Gun Weapon Set, first mentioned in the January 10, 2001 news article on this site. This is a 1/6 scale replica of the weapon used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgement Day and by Jesse Ventura in Predator. The replica features an ammo belt, ammo box, rotatable barrels, and a clickable trigger. It has two loops for a shoulder/neck strap, but does not include the strap itself. However, this is easily rectified with a little kitbashing. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first and only replica of this weapon in this scale. Price is $19.95 plus shipping.

Voyager Toys has received in the new 1/6 scale weapons sets from Blue Box Toys. One thing that sets these apart from their competitors is that they are metal castings rather than plastic or resin. Set A (left) is composed of a riot gun, a P226, a G17, a P7, a MP5K-PDW, four MP5 magazines, four M7A3 CS grenades, a M1 Super 90 shotgun, thirteen shotgun shells, and a ballistic shield with a light. Set B (right) is composed of a MP5A3, a P226, SOCOM US Pistol Mk23, a P7, a M4, a MP5A3 Navy, four MP5 magazines, four M4 magazines, and 2 M7A3 CS grenades. Price is $13.95 each plus shipping.

March 05, 2001

BB Gun Land has some info about the eagerly anticipated new Tokyo Marui P90. Unfortunately, it is not in English, but there are some good images and measurements. There is also a beautiful downloadable wallpaper of the real thing in action. If anyone can translate the info, please let me know, and I will be glad to post it. You will also find some info and images on the new Samurai Edge replica based on the weapon featured in Biohazard.

Third Planet has received in the new Infinite Concepts Mortal Kombat action figures. Series 1 is comprised of Liu Kang, Mileena, Scorpion, Shang Tsung, Sonya Blade, and SubZero. The thing that is said to make these figures special, other than some superb sculpting and detailing, is Infinite Concepts' C.O.G.J.I.T. system (patent pending). This stands for Center Of Gravity Joint Integrity Technology, and is suppose to make the figure's joints look more realistic no matter how they are posed, and give the figure better balance in a wider variety of poses.

March 01, 2001 - Updated Twice

Normally, I don't plug overseas companies, mostly because I've heard a lot of the same horror stories that I'm sure most of you have heard about Customs seizures, destroyed packaging, etc. However, when I heard about these items, I couldn't resist. Hourstor is now taking preorders for three really interesting 12" figures from Hot Toys, and one long awaited 12" figure from Master Ozawa.

The first figure is Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible: 2. Price is $69 including standard shipping. The next is Keanu Reeves in his LAPD SWAT gear from Speed. Price is $80 including standard shipping. Next up is the Bill Gates of Sci-Fi, George Lucas (the R2-D2 is not included). Price is $69 including standard shipping. Finally, is Harrison Ford as Deckard from Blade Runner. Price is $300, and it is part of an extremely limited edition run.

If you're not familiar with Hot Toys, it's not surprising. They're hard to come by in the US, and they run quite a bit more than Dragon Models and 21st Century Toys figures, but from what I've seen they're worth it. I got to see their WWII RAF and Modern US Navy (Tom Cruise from Top Gun with an amazing head sculpt) pilots at Voyager Toys. Even at the higher price, they went fast. They are well detailed and come with plenty of accessories. I am trying to find a web site for the company itself, but so far no luck.

You can go to a lot of sites now and find replicas of movie props. You can get everything from Pulse Rifles to Communicators, but there aren't many places you can find replicas of movie clothing. However, there is one place where you can start. TrenchCo is a Canadian company that makes replicas of movie trenchcoats. For the men, their current line includes trenchcoats worn by Blade, Deckard from Blade Runner, Eric Draven from The Crow, and Neo and Morpheus from The Matrix. For the women, they also make Trinity's PVC top from The Matrix All items are made to your measurements, and can stand up to regular wear. They will even make custom orders of other movie trenchcoats or your own original design by request. They are not cheap, but they are impressive.

It looks like this will be a banner year for action movie enthusiasts. Check out the official sites for some of the biggest:

A.I. Along Came A Spider American Outlaws Atlantis Driven Enemy At The Gates Exit Wounds Fast And The Furious 15 Minutes Hannibal

Lord of the Rings Mummy Returns Pearl Harbor Planet Of The Apes Rollerball Shrek Swordfish 3000 Miles To Graceland Tomb Raider

As mentioned in previous months, the VirtuArms.com URL is no longer functional. Sci-Firearms is the name of the site, and now http://www.sci-firearms.com is the only correct URL. I made an effort to contact everyone I knew had a site link to VirtuArms, so they could update it. If you know of any site that still has a link to the old URL, please let me know and I will contact them ASAP.

To see news from previous months, please visit the Archives.