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Post by brownien on Feb 3, 2014 21:52:57 GMT -5
I know with the low numbers at events, having a "tank" would surely lopside the odds. But with large enough numbers, a scout car/personnel carrier would give some added depth to an event, and make events on much larger areas possible. This would require the fields to have roads wide enough for vehicles to travel easily, so the field would be ideal to have both wooded areas and open fields to advance through.
The logistical problem would be getting vehicles to events, so either driving them or hauling would get expensive, especially with gas guzzlers or tracked vehicles that need to be hauled. That would leave vehicles to be owned and operated by individuals who own fields large enough to use them on. I then pondered whether a pickup truck with body modifications could be made into a decent replica.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Feb 3, 2014 22:14:39 GMT -5
There are a lot of mocked vehicles used at Paintball events. some quite well done and many of them quite dreadful looking. Google paintball tanks and you'll see lots of examples. i have always thought a Ford ecooline could be cut down at the window line and with an added outside shell could be the base for an excellent Sherman tank. Over hangs along the sides could facilitate fake tracks which in fact could be positioned about six inches off the ground and far enough out from the front wheels to allow those actual wheels to turn. In grass the tracks up off the ground really wouldn't show. For german tankd this would be even easier to discquise with the bazooka shields they frequently employed. The cardboard Sdzkfwgn in the Japanese event is pretty inspiring.
There is no doubt well done vehicles would add a lot. The Wisconsin groups actual replica vehicles are of course the ideal. With armored vehicles there are lots of issues, logistical , safety, expense and frankly playability. A single armored vehicle is actually pretty ineffective and full scale vehicles frequently suffer from the fact that airsoft range limitations added to the actual deadspace near a tank actually render them very hindered against hidden infantry. Though visually less attactive half scale vehicles for airsoft are actually more lethal.
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Post by brownien on Feb 4, 2014 20:31:03 GMT -5
I would imagine the deadspace around a tank would make it very vulnerable if not supportd effectively by infantry. Plus, with the enclosed nature of tanks, visibility makes them hazardous without a spotter (albiet visually detracting). I was thinking along the lines of an open topped scout car. A jeep would be great, but the lack of any protecion to the driver and passengers makes them useful for transportation purposes only, especially when they cannot utilize their speed to avoid incoming fire. An M3 or a Skdz personnel carrier would offer the protection for the crew from direct fire from small arms, and the open top could make them easier to knock out with say, a grenade, mortar round or bazooka. The deadspace would be a bit more allieviated by the crew's ability to see 360* and a pintle mounted MG could keep attackers at bay, as long as the troops that just jumped out of the back dont run off! It could offer the ability to transport and pick up troops on the front, provide cover for said troops from direct fire and it would still be quite vulnerable to indirect fire weapons; so it won't be very overpowered to the other team, as long as they have the means to take it out. It would also be able to dish out firepower, but unlike a tank, the crew would be partially exposed, and would be subjected to suppressive fire. I feel it would bring many advanteges, in terms of tactical and logistical (on the field, as far as moving troops around), but also bring challenges in employing them on the field. best of all, if it is made from a pickup, and made to be roadworthy, transport to and from games would be much easier.
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Feb 5, 2014 1:11:21 GMT -5
I agree that an open topped vehicle is probably best for our purposes. A scout car, half track or Tank Destroyer type vehicle. Vehicles add a great deal of excitement to events. We have had armored vehicles at local WW2 events but it has been several years. The hassle and effort on getting to the sites is a real challenge and expense and often the locations are not well set up to facilitate them. Adequate road net etc. Tanks are by their nature very dangerous. Tankers refer to Infantry as "Crunchies" for good reason and frequently the younger player we sometimes have at airsoft events do not fully appreciate the hazards armored vehicles present. We shot a promotional video for a local event The long Winter Battlesim (Youtube to see the video) In the video you can see a "Tank" we used inspite of directions not to do so at one point the German troops ran along side of it and even out in front. The driver/owner was furious and almost abandoned the event following this dangerous action by some of the younger enthusiastic players. Thankfully I talked him into to staying but truthfully I understood fully his concern.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Feb 5, 2014 12:25:00 GMT -5
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shiftysgarand
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Post by shiftysgarand on Feb 5, 2014 16:54:19 GMT -5
That is indeed very cool. I think that was about a perfect size for an airsoft tank. Yet I think sdkfz 222 s and M3 greyhounds would be the best options.
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Post by newcomer on Feb 5, 2014 21:09:07 GMT -5
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ersatzjack2
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Post by ersatzjack2 on Feb 8, 2014 1:27:38 GMT -5
Any vehicle at an event enhances the experience. We have had our cycle at them and our Kubelwagen and our trucks and they can be very useful for supply scenarios as well as places to congregate around during the action. They also ferry people like they were meant to and when you're dead tired, they come in handy.
Of course, armored vehicles can directly impact a skirmish and are a lot of fun. A tank wouldn't be very good as 2nd Bat pointed out and open top scout vehicles are preferred. Mock up vehicles that don't look the part wouldn't be something I would like to see as the whole point is immersion. We're fussy about the appearance of our impressions and I wouldn't want to fight the very odd looking paintball type tanks. It should be a reenactor grade vehicle for the immersion aspects of our hobby.
Finally, using armor is best if you balance the opposing side's ability to knock it out. Too much anti-armor capabilities and the vehicles become pretty ineffective. They should scare you when you see them coming. We use a variety of things to take out the armor but try not to make it impossible for the vehicle owners to have some fun.
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Post by drunkalbertan on Feb 9, 2014 15:20:49 GMT -5
This was a little Bren Carrier that has come to a few events. Works great for ferrying around troops and came in quite handy to provide cover for me as you can see. As for hauling it around, well it's not light. Takes a Dodge 3500 and a substantial trailer to move around. I'm just glad the owner is as generous as he is when he brings it out.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Feb 9, 2014 15:39:52 GMT -5
A bren gun carrier or Hetzer are excellent scaled vehicles for airsoft. Big enough to be intimidating and sound cool rattling their way through the battle area, provide cover while small enough to be transported and navigate small trails.
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