Category: Airsoft Media (Mooks, Magazines, DVDs, etc.)

First Factory – First Impact Catalog and Second DVD of First

I'm very fortuante to have some good friends in the airsoft community. One of my pals just got back form a Japan trip, where they vistied the legendary First Factory and brought me back copies of the First Factory, "First Impact Catalog" and the First Factory, "Second DVD on First", DVD.

First Factory, First Impact Catalog

This is First Factory's printed product catalog, and done in typical high end, Japanese style design and printing. It's 146 pages of full color goodness. Not only does it list the products, upgrades and services First Factory provides, but contains articles such as:

• Info for begginer airsofters. Suggested loadouts, how to play, etc.
• Info for experts . Suggested new high end gear.
• Info on real tactical gear (i.e. Tactical Lights, Optics, Vests, BDU's, etc)
• Diagrams on how airsoft guns work.
• History of First Factory.
• Explanation of First Factory internal upgrades.
• "Combat School" Pistol Techniques.
• Gallery of Anime gun mods.
• Various First Factory marketing articles.

It's as if this was an ARMs magazine with more ads and less articles. But first class layout and design.

Second DVD on First

Second DVD on First – Front and Back cover

Just like the high quality First Impact catalog, the Second DVD on First DVD is a high production quality DVD. The content is basically a 45 minute airsoft infomercial, but it also includes reviews, howto's and real gun shooting.  It's a good view into the Japanese airsoft market.

They show one of their highly upgraded M16's (188m/s, 617f/s) shooting through the metal of a car door.

DVD contents include:

• First's Complete Custom Gun Series
• Comparison of upgrade work between First Factory and a Competitor
• Handgun faceoff
• Tactical gear review
• Real gun shooting in Guam (RC car assassination)
• And some bizarre other things lol.

Hope to have video samples of the DVD posted soon.

Gunner, The Military DVD Magazine

Here's a neat, airsoft magazine produced DVD, of real steel and real gun manufacturers.  I figured there would be some interest on this site since we have fans of both.

The Gunner DVD Magazine series is being produced by ARMs Magazine (Very popular Japanese airsoft magazine) and HobbyJapan. This is pretty much the only airsoft tie-in other then the WA and Marui ads in the small MOOK included.  Even though an airsoft magazine is producing the DVD, this is a 100% Real Steel pr0n DVD!

Vol 1-  Language: Japanese/English

Box – Front Cover

Magazine – Front Cover

Box set includes:

• Box with integrated Magazine
• 8pcs Business card sized photo cars/calendars
• 4:3 NTSC DVD

Business card sized calendars

Contents include:

• Strategos International (M4, P90, G36, MP5A3)
• Heckler & Koch Defense (HK416, XM320GLM, P2000's, USP's, water Suppressor)
• Remington Military Products Division (M24A2SWS, M870MCS, XM110)
• Iron Brigade Armory (Armory, Sniper Training)
• Robert Silvers Collection (M14 Crazy Horse, M14A1, M4, AKS74U, MP5A3, AUG)
• Cobra Gold 05 (Mk19Mod3, M2)
• And More… (JGSDF Tsuchiura Weapons School, and other bits)

DVD Jacket Insert

This is a much better DVD then the 12/2004 Arms Magazine, Real Steel trip to the Philippines. Much more technical info and direct from manufacturers.  But no semi hot girls shooting guns.

The visit to HK-USA was AWESOME! Showing a real 416 in action and under the imfamous HK/XM8 dirt/water test. A nice "off the hip" shot of a XM320, through a tire 100yards downrange.   The Remington  870 MCS, Modular Combat System, has QD stocks and barrels And a Remington  SR-25 which they jsut teased you with.. This one guys collection, Robert Silvers, is insane and so large its held in a "bunker".

This DVD is some great eye candy regardless of language.  Most interviews are done in English though.

Volume 2 – Kalishnokov

Volume 2 Kalashnikov!!!

This version is a Japanese version, so all Magazine text is in Japanese and no subtitles.  But as the previous DVD, most interviews are in English… even in Russia.

Contents include:

• ROST 2005 Russian Military Show.
• Spetsnaz Training
• Dinner with Kalishikov
• Tour Sig Sauer Factory
• Tour Barret Factory
• Low Light technique
• Systema (Nothing to do with Systema Japan)
• HK Defense
• SOF Week 2005

The Included MOOK in in Japanese text only, and has ads from WA and Marui.

This Volume spends a majority of time in Russia, but luckily the people they deal with in Russia  speak english.

The trip to watch the Sptenaz training was interesting, especailly the fact they do CQB training with live rounds as other team members holding targets on sticks that pop out behind doors…  I'd hate to be the FNG in Spetznaz training.  The Kalishnikov dinner was interesting, although it seems Kalishnikov has given the same speech many times now.  And the trips/tours to the Sig and Barrett factories were awesome.

Now available in the US at AEX.

Gunner DVD Vol1
http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2438

Gunner DVD Vol2
http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2439

Gunner DVD Vol3
http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=267&products_id=2497

Preview vidz are here:

Gunner01 Preview

Gunner02 Preview

Gunner03 Preview

Up to Gunner 6 now.  Preview vids are here.

Guns Digest 2004
Language: Japanese
Print Frequency: Annually

Guns Digest 2004

Guns Digest 2004 is the annual "Bible" of all things airsoft in Japan. It lists all Airsoft, Model/Replica, Blank Firing, Guns, Accessories and Upgrades. It also shows a few "How To's" but the bulk of the book is dedicated to listing of products and their specifications.

It's a great reference guide to what has been produced and even lists guns that have yet to be released but are due this year and prototypes have been sent to GUN Magazine. (i.e. for the last 2 years the specs on the TOP MP40 have been listed with release dates… haha).

So for the airsoft fanatic this is a gret book to score if you can.

Toy Gun Tune Up File
Language: Japanese
Print Frequency: Annually

TGTUF (Toy Gun Tune Up File) is published by the same people who publish Arms and Hobby Japan Magazine, so the focus is on the "Hobby" of airsoft. The issue I currently have is 2003 and am keeping my eyes open for the 2004 version.

This book or MOOK (Half Magazine Half Book) as the Japanese call it, is full of "How To"s, pic by pic instructions and listings of most Japanese upgrade parts. It has step by step, pic by pic instructions of how to disassmeble all major AEG's, GBB's, NBB's and Springers. It's very informative and a great reference book for anyone who will be doing some major upgrades to their guns.

Even though the book is in Japanese, the pictures used are a great reference for most internal upgrade projects.

I hope to have the time to Highlight translate and post different issues and article I run across.

Arms Magazine
Language: Japanese
Print Frequency: Monthly
Avg. Page Count: 250 – 300 pages

Arms Magazine (Missing Issues have all been "Borrowed" and never returned )

Japan has some of the strictest gun control laws going back to the US occupation of Japan after WWII. This did not take into account model or replica guns nor the Japanese appetite for weapons technologies and thus the Airsoft industry was developed, grew, shrank and grown again thanks to the globalization of the Internet. There are still Japanese laws that prohibit the export of replica weaponry directly to the US (Watch out for Websites that claim to sell direct from Japan), so large Airsoft companies like Tokyo Marui, KSC, etc. are very Japanese centric in their marketing. Thus the reason there a few monthly Airsoft related magazines, each publishing over 200 pages a piece per month.

Arms Magazine is one of 2 most distributed Japanese airsoft magazines. Arms is published by Hobby Japan, famous for magazines devoted to things like Gundam Models. Arms focuses on Airsoft as a Hobby, Skirmishes, Anime, etc. This magazine is famous for it's cover girls/airsoft guns and have done some pretty weird things with this combination Most issues have Centerfolds/Posters of the girls with some sort of gun in some sort of costume and a section of pictorials. Some of their main articles have included:

• Game and Anime Toy Gun Guide
• War in Iraq
• Real Gun Shooting in Guam (Guns shot by a cute girl, DVD included)
• Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex Weapons
• CQS Close Quarters Sniping

Arms is devoted to people who play airsoft and reenact movies/tv/historical battles. The gun reviews are the same caliber as COMBAT magazine, but it's a much more light hearted view of Airsoft.

There are reviews of skirmish areas and specific tactics to use. There's even an on-going section of places to skirmish with a guy wearing a Luche Libre mask and goggles and his crew of misfits, going around and challenging the local at each skirmish site. Hella funny!

There are also reviews of Airsoft Shops, Airsoft Recycle Shops (Used Airsoft) and trick 3rd party upgrade houses like Fortress (Fortress was the first shop to jam an AK gearbox into the M249). Tons of "How To's" to modify your gun's appearance and performance and very interesting articles on the Garage Shops (Resin Kit and Metal shops) that make a stock AEG into a Sci Fi classic.

Of course to fill the 200+ pages are hundreds of pages of ads by Airsoft Manufacturers, Retailers, ,Airsoft Garage Shops, Military Surplus and Uniform Reproduction Dealers. Typically a full color ad from a large Airsoft manufacturer will indicate when a new gun will be released. As you know the detail Japanese Airsoft goes into, combat gear and uniform reproduction are just as accurately detailed (I purchased USMC Jungle Marpat almost 2 years ago, before it was available to our Marines, and an M44 WW2 Field Jacket Repro).

Arms is a magazine for the Airsoft Player and Collector. A very fun look at the world of airsoft.

I hope to have the time to Highlight translate and post different issues and articles I run across. Maybe I'll just post the Airsoft girlies pics…

COMBAT Magazine
Language: Japanese
Print Frequency: Monthly
Avg. Page Count: 200 – 260 pages

COMBAT Magazine

Japan has some of the strictest gun control laws going back to the US occupation of Japan after WWII. This did not take into account model or replica guns nor the Japanese appetite for weapons technologies and thus the Airsoft industry was developed, grown, shrank and grown again thanks to the globalization of the Internet. There are still Japanese laws that prohibit the export of replica weaponry directly to the US (Watch out for Websites that claim to sell direct from Japan), so large Airsoft companies like Tokyo Marui, KSC, etc. are very Japanese centric in their marketing. Thus the reason there a few monthly Airsoft related magazines, each publishing over 200 pages a piece per month.

COMBAT Magazine is one of 2 most distributed Japanese airsoft magazines. COMBAT focuses on "REAL STEEL" weapons in relation to the Airsoft counterparts. Typically each issue will start out with a multipage review of a "Real Steel" or Military weapon or technology. Some Real Steel/Military reviews have included:

• AMP DSR-1 Modular Sniper Rifle System .338 Lapua Magnum
• JGSDF (Japanese Ground Self Defense Force) CQB Training
• Barreta CX-4 Storm (Pistol based Carbine rifle)
• M4 Sniper
• SIG P226/Rail
• Small Arms of the U.S. Marine Corps
• Aimpoint Lasers and LAM
• US Shot Show Review (About 50 pages of pics)
• STI Super Comp
• "Future Warrior" A look into the next gen of weapons and gear

Usually there's always a few pages devoted to the JGSDF (Japanese Army) excercises and tactics. Then it will go into the new Airsoft developments and in alot of cases relate that directly with a Real Steel counterpart. There are also articels on mil/sim video games and always a section devoted to action movies (that use alot of guns).

There are of course Airsoft and Model gun reviews. In most cases guns are reviewed in this magazine 1-2 months before they go retail. (hehe this isn't the case of the TOP Mp40, which has had a few reviews and still isn't available for retail).

There are also reviews of Airsoft Shops, Airsoft Recycle Shops (Used Airsoft) and trick 3rd party upgrade houses like Fortress (Fortress was the first shop to jam an AK gearbox into the M249).

Of course to fill the 200+ pages are hundreds of pages of ads by Airsoft Manufacturers, Retailers, ,Airsoft Garage Shops, Military Surplus and Uniform Reproduction Dealers. Typically a full color ad from a large Airsoft manufacturer will indicate when a new gun will be released. As you know the detail Japanese Airsoft goes into, combat gear and uniform reproduction are just as accurately detailed (I purchased USMC Jungle Marpat almost 2 years ago, before it was available to our Marines, and an M44 WW2 Field Jacket Repro).

COMBAT is a magazine for the true Gun Freak, be it Airsoft or Real Steel. It's very "No Nonsense" in it's approach and reviews are based on fact.

I hope to have the time to Highlight translate and post different issues and articles I run across.

This calendar was included in the Feb 2005 issue of Arms magazine. This was a 4 fold inside the magazine so I stitched it back together as best I could. If you want a cleaner version of this Calendar, please buy yourself a copy of Feb 2005 ARMS Magazine.

This is Marui's Marketing Departments commitment to what can be delivered by Marui this year, 2005 (AEG, Gas, Boys, Spring Rifle and Shotgun).

Missing in the lineup for 2005:

• CAR15
• XM177E2
• SIG 550
• SIG 551
• Military AUG
• G3A3
• G3A4
• SPAS12 Full Stock

All guns on the 2005 Calendar will probably be manufactured this year or at least delivered in 2005. (Meaning as far as Marui's Marketing Department goes, the P90 is still a viable product. This should help dispell or confirm rumors of what will be mfg'd or not).

This calendar does not show any new guns that will be released later this year like the Type 89 or M14. It only shows previously released guns.

BIG Props to Gordak of classicairsoft.net! For the orignal video rip and hosting of the video.  I resized the video up and posted to youtube.com.

"See Electric AEG man rid the world of evil apples, reduce cigarette smoking, and mercilessly rake gas gun owners with gazillions of BBs."

Originally aired 1991 on Japanese TV.  We've come a long way!