uk collecter

afternoon gents i have just started the process of joining airsoft team in north wales from there im starting to collect a series of replica weapons from model gun worldwide ,has anyone any advice on importation and genral tips on avoiding any bother as ide just plain like to build a nice collection without the hassles im 31 years old and was an infantry soldier for 6 years so im not the type to run around the streets double tapping the neigbours. just any advice on starting a collection would be very much apreciated, has anyone else built up a nice collection in the uk? if so what have u got ;0 all the best everyone danny

welcome to the forum mate. well you need to be VCR excemp to buy replica models including airsoft so becoming a member of an airsoft site is a good move you will need your membership number when ordering from any seller.
modelguns worldwide i think you will find is closed at this time so dont see you importing anything from Jay at the moment there are 2 other sellers in this county modeguncollector.co.uk and plugfirecapgunsuk.com both in this country so no importing problems but as i said they will check to make sure you are VCR exempt.
As to what to buy well are you a modern gun fan or ww2 or western let us know and we can tell you which are good which are bad which work well and those that dont and ones that break very easy.
Search the forum as ther is info on nearly everything to do with modelguns and links to the sellers in the UK and Japan ask any quetions even if they have been asked deveral times before we dont mind.

thanks for the reply and the information its mutch apreciated and ile be making sure i join a good team ive just been reading about alpha 55 ..8.5 miles away from my home so i think ive found the guys to join ) weapon wise my dream weapon would be the lsw weapon i used a lot when i was seving in the infantry but alas i havent seen it at all so probably unavailable to me ;( american british 1940 to present weapons im familure with and would like to collect a number , one of the first m16a1's up to cqc ar15 anything along those lines and i must say ive been very tempted with some of the stuff out there on the market so far, my wish list is already to big , i quiet fancy looking into importation (a very complicated mess of legislation) but i could sift through it and find the path as i import rc model aircraft already from around the world .. but as im a complete newbie i best take my place in the ranks and start learning the way of the airsoft warrior before i become mr lord of war mutch thanks for the reply and look forward to great future here danny

Hello Dan, welcome indeed to our forum

As Claymore's rightly said, to be able to buy any type of "Replica Imitation Firearm", be that Airsoft or Modelgun, you must be VCRA exempt. Joining a registered Airsoft skirmish Site having Public Liability Insurance is an absolute must. Similarly, joining a bona fide Re-enactment group will be as effective.

The only LSW model I've seen is the Airsoft type as seen here:

sadly, no-one's come up with a shell-ejecting, cap firing modelgun yet although one talented Japanese custom builder has built an L85 by converting an Airsoft model. Very nice it is too.

If you're wanting to build up a collection of 1:1 scale, replica modelguns that field-strip and function as the real thing, simulate firing, shell ejecting etc then we can certainly help you with advice and our own experiences.
There is a decent choice of Modelguns available, building up a collection to enjoy can be done. Some of the best models haven't been manufactured for years though so hunting down good used and s/h models is part of the "game"

Airsoft offers a mind boggling choice, the range available is enormous. You'll know that the majority of Airsoft guns very closely resemble the real thing extenally, but the internals will be totally different. Built to fire bbs, these are a different animal altogether.
For skirmishing, you'll need Airsoft guns, for collecting accurate replicas you'll go for Modelguns.

Please feel free to ask any question you like, we'll do our utmost to help you out as much as possible.

Till later then

Cerwyn wrote:

Hello Dan, welcome indeed to our forum

As Claymore's rightly said, to be able to buy any type of "Replica Imitation Firearm", be that Airsoft or Modelgun, you must be VCRA exempt. Joining a registered Airsoft skirmish Site having Public Liability Insurance is an absolute must. Similarly, joining a bona fide Re-enactment group will be as effective.

Hi and welcome Dan.. Be aware that in some cases belonging to an Airsoft Skirmish site does not always open the door to buying replica firearms. The following is from the Soldier of Fortune site:

http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/

Quote :

Replica M1 carbine. Code: PK654
£149.99

Full size M1 Carbine replica.

Metal repilca with a wood stock, with working action. You can cock the carbine and pull the trigger, the magazine is removable. Other than the trigger, magazine catch and cocking handle the rest of the switches are cast and do not move.

Includes a replica oil bottle, a very basic green sling and a magazine.

Please read the following restrictions.

Due to the current British law it is illegal to sell this reproduction firearm to anyone apart from to the following people or organisations;

Museum or gallery.
Theatrical performances.
Films and television programmes.
Historical re-enactments events.
Members of re-enactment or military vehicle groups.
Crown servants
We must obtain proof that you fall into one of these groups before we can send your order. Acceptable proof would be;

A letter from the museum or theatre company.
A letter from the commisioning film/TV company
A copy of your re-enactment/military vehicle membership card and relevant insurance certificate
Proof of Crown servant employment (Member of the Armed Forces or the Police).
You can send a copy by post, fax or e mail.

When asked about an exemption for a registered Airsoft Skirmish site member, the reply was:
It is not an Airsoft weapon

Mike

but theres still airsoft and a pair of dusty combats to keep me intrested and once ive been on the scene for a while i will begin the collection i dreamed of for to many years to count im 31 now and i must have been daydreaming about field striping and oiling up the working parts on my own rifles for 10 years... drawing one out from the armoury and then putting it back was never my idea of my own collection ..anyways i need to get fit !!! skirmishing comes to mind