Enter the "Clones"

[idrivetractors]

No this isn't the sequel to the Chinese transgender film "Enter the Clowns" but more a look at the popularity of certain Loadouts.

At the moment the PMC loadout seems to be the big pull with many players and i was trying to work out why?

Is it because its such an Individual look?

I wear RetroSoft 90's US gear, i started my playing days in full Bulle Molle and Multicam and slowing drifted into what i prefer, what i want to wear.

So why do we each wear what we do, I want to know why you chose that look?

Was it money?
Did it just look cool?
Was it to copy a Nation's Armed Forces?
Or have you seen it on TV copied it?

What was your inspiration?

We're all clones in some respect, i just wanted to get behind the Physcology of it.

I'll be honest....Im a clone, i got my loadout because i saw it on Black Hawk Down/Jarhead/Gen Kill thats why.

Cheers
Ben

[insanity prawn boy]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

PMC/merc loadouts are probably popular because it's really rather difficult to do it wrong. The only real thing that can make you look particularly out of place as a modern PMC is a total lack of armour of any kind and that the use of certain weapons is now prohibited. Even then, you can claim to be an illegal merc or whatever. You have pretty much free reign to do what you like.

[Stargazer]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

I wear good old 95 pat DPM cos the team that I got asked to join all wear it, making us more distinguishable as a cohesive unit. Also cos it just works so well in the British woodland surprisingly enough

[Blackjack13]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

My loadout is designed to emulate a Mercenary. Not PMC (I didn't even know that was popular) but a Merc like those in Mercanries and Soldier of Fortune, with a touch of some of the CoD characters, particularly Soap (as they do look bad ass). It just a style I'm into. Being military proper does not interest me, too many rules and veiws that conflict with mine, so if I could I always kinda wanted to be a Merc (inner geek alert - what?! I was raised on Warhammer and war films) and airsoft is the way for me to live out the childhood dream (of killing people for money... right...).

As regards to equipment it's a compromise between practicality and trying to look good with the mercenry 'image' in mind. So it's a light weight (as that's what my role requires) with woodland suitible camo, tho not akin to any miltary organisation with regards to colours/uniform, and with enough personalisation to be 'me'. Money wasn't a huge deal (Thank you student loan!!) - I wanted quality that would last.

So in short: Mercenary - because it looks cool.

[Nun-Chuck]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

I personally dont believe in effective camouflage at the ranges played by airsofters unless sniping and therefore I believe plain colours to be a more effective use of my time and money. Airsoft is all about looks and I like the OD/Tan Mish mash I have going down and ultimately the purest in me bought 5.11 and TAG gear so I have comfy, durable high quality stuff!

[crotmate]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

Chose US woodland because I like the pattern and it fits with my US ranger loadout, and with this loadout i can also wear multicam, and it isnt DPM.
I also like just about all US kit where as I dont really rate Brit kit

[Hypnose]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

I think the main reason PMC is the flavor is the fact its as expensive as you want it, its comfortable, effective, and as said above there is no set style.

hence why im a "PMC"

[daimaesteg]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

i have danish miltary camo, us woodland and soon, very soon will be experimenting with overdyeing desert kit with dylon olive green to see what happens.

not really interested in total loadouts as i just dont feel comfortable mentally in them, thats to say i feel a bit of a fake.

personal view, nothing wrong with anyone wearing what they want, thats a large part of the fun.

i chose dancam because it looked to be quite effective, although pricey new.
us woodland because it looks cool in the films lol. and comeback flogged me an awesome set for pennies!! cheers mate

but from now on i think im gonna mix it up and just go for a militia look, something similar but not a direct clone of US militia units because they intrigue me lol.

also got a redneck loadout too, just need a cheap shotgun when action hobbies get the one i want back in. lol.


i toyed with the idea of auscam thinking it was quite unique, not because i like aussies, quite the opposite! only joking.
but the costs are very expensive for a quality set up, and results are minimal in my own opinion.


so to recap, i will be dying a british 90s era desert shirt and a german tropentarn one also. and wearing them bad boys from now on.


also should add the fake comment was not meant to offend, i spent a few years in the TA (insert laughs from readers) while i was in college and have a few mates still in both TA and regs, so kinda goes without saying my reasons for not going for the full military or specific military at least, look.

happy hunting!

[Ghost MacRoth]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

In Modern terms, I don't really make much effort. DPM and whatever is neede to carry my kit.

What I do put effort into is my WW2 loadouts. I've always had an interest in it due to the many films I watched as a kid, and the origional action man toys which where more or less very much WW2 themed. As I got older, read more on it, learned more about the people who participated, I admired what they had done, and even envied it a little as an experience. Modern warfare will never be like it was then, with all the advances in technology and weaponry, it was a simpler time then, and a more straightforward war. It is unlikely we will ever see a war on that scale again, therefore it is in my mind a very special period of history.

[idrivetractors]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

Good solid post guys, very interesting stuff. I enjoyed the read.

I'd be intrigued to see the ratio of experinced Airsofters who still play for the same reasons as when they started. Do you still play "because it's a cool hobby" or has it developed into something more..."nostalgic".

I started playing cos it was cool, we played night games at a golf course but when we moved to playing sites i started to take on roles, and when deciding on loadouts was influenced by film more so than actual military history.

Any others?

[daimaesteg]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

in the words of kent brockman ive had my ten cents.

but.........

i do believe most people are interested by popular media, being film, tv, commics, books.

rather than historical or current affairs.

such as the massive cod loadouts out there.

i think ww2 airsoft is awesome, the effort you guys put in is phenominal and vietnam airsoft.

keep it up guys, id join you if i had the cash, but i would go for a french resistance loadout.

not to exspensive.

dai cap or similar
white grandpa shirt
brown/kahki tanktop
pair of black cords
brown leather belt
brown leather boots or shoes
home made french flag on the arm
repro bandolier
pistol holster

and either a kar 98 or sten.

and saftey goggles!


i reckon you could do that for £250 for everything if you hunted round in charity shops for clothes and bought a chinese gas kar 98. and a cheap second hand 1911.



damn you ghost mcgrath, think i got a new project lol.

[Ghost MacRoth]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

Lovely!! I do like to see the birth of new WW2 'softers! :D

[The Eternal Child]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

Brit 95 just as theres enought bits and bobs out there to allow me to redujst kit load out for minimal costs and relative ease.

[Fizzy]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

USMC loadout - Well, it started with wanting some digital woodland camo as I was bored with DPM so bought some MARPAT. I then found myself buying a CB IBA and various pouches.

Russian loadout - Seemed to be less common (as MARPAT became very popular) and it was fairly easy to get kit from the in-laws and missus's friends.

PMC loadout - Got the horn for a KAC PDW and thought a PMC loadout would suit a hi-speed loadout. Plus I really like the TAG Stealth Hoodies.

[The Laughing Man]

Re: Enter the "Clones"

well clearly people go for a pmc look either by mistake, or because it's easier, simpler, and more functional.

my old kit - the one with the skull/spartan mask and m203 grenade bandolier - wasn't exactly pmc. i think i actually put it together after watching punisher 2. i wanted something different, functional, and sort of scary. it worked.

i think multicam is catching on these days actually, and what with the brits moving on to MTC, it will become more popular. i got it, and i love it. in hong kong it works well in the scrub and jungle environment. i didn't want DPM, and with all the players that emulate US forces over here, i wanted something that i could stick my british flag on. i'll admit i got my inspiration from captain soap mactavish, and will shortly be getting a scar. sorry..