Popular Airsoft

Any serious airsoft player who doesn't know about Flanker Tanker better click the "Back" button quick! (I'm just kidding). But seriously, all airsoft players who I know personally know about Flanker Tanker, not necessarily knowing him personally, but knowing him because of his airsoft videos on Youtube.com. Yes, all 112 videos of them, and counting. I'm a fan of his and eagerly await his next video (which he says at his website will be released anytime this September).

What makes Flanker Tanker's videos different from other posted airsoft videos on Youtube, is that they are so much informative and who knows how many airsoft players all over the world have benefited from his instructional videos.

The quality of the videos are so much better, content and execution-wise. I especially did like the Howto/DIY video on Mag Pulls and I'm proud to announce that Flanker Tanker is very happy and willing to provide us the embed code of his airsoft videos at PopularAirsoft.com. So besides visiting his Youtube.com area, you can also view his videos here. Please don't forget to leave him a message or two to keep those videos coming.

If you want to know more about Flanker T, you can visit his own personal website at http://www.freewebs.com/flankerairsoft/ .

So here we go, a question and answer portion with Martyn Lea, aka Flanker T. Where's the clapper board? Is my makeup all done properly? All right, take one!"

Popular Airsoft: Flanker T, it's really such an honour to give us the opportunity to interview you. Can you tell us more about yourself, apart from being such an avid airsofter?

Flanker T: No - Only Kidding - Not sure what you want to know, Name, Rank and Serial Number ? How about - - My real name is Martyn Lea, I'm British, live in the UK,  I have a  wonderful family, a lovely (French) wife,  two boys  (one teenager and one young adult), fish and a Dog called  (MAX)..OH an I ride around on an Imported American Vstar Silverado (motorbike) at the Weekends.

Popular Airsoft: How long have you been playing airsoft and where can you usually be found skirmishing?

Flanker T: On and Off for about five years, but the last two have been, well almost full time doing Airsoft. One Skirmish day a week.

I tend to stick to the same two sites: a 75 Acre Woodland site called FREE FIRE ZONE and it's about a 45 Minute drive from my house and an Urban site called URBAN ASSAULT which is only a 15 min drive away. Both sites are run by  Fire Support here in the UK.

Popular Airsoft: What made you start making airsoft videos? Any inspiration or reason since these take some serious preparations on your part?

Flanker T: The Videos? oh yes they are just one of those things that snowballed on me.

I had  found it hard to find  information on Airsoft replicas that I wanted to purchase, so I had the idea to write a blog or something in order to help other people who must be having the same problems as I was. You know --- the sort of thing - telling it from an user's view point? It was my sons' idea to make a video and post it on Youtube.

Anyway, one day I was off work, just getting over the flu when I decided to make the first video. It's the review of my JLS SCAR, you can tell I'm not very well when I made it, and that it was my first ever video ? It`s not that good, I might re-make it one of these days.

But it still got a good response from viewers - so I made another, and so on until here we are today...

Popular Airsoft: Are the AEGs that you use in making the videos your personal purchases or are vendors sending you these to give these a "no-holds barred" review?

Flanker T: Oh? I so wish that Vendors would send me the AEGs to review, that would be nice, especially if I could keep them after. But it`s not going to happen is it -  the answer to your questions is:  Every  review video I have made is of an AEG that I have purchased, own and used and is part of my private collection, my Original idea (that I have stuck with) was that I would only make video reviews of AEGs that I own and use. (So I can be 100% honest  or no holds barred as you have put it as I'm not trying to sell anything to anyone)

Popular Airsoft: In one of the videos regarding making a weapon ID, we learned that the XM8 is your 11th AEG in your personal armoury? Is that correct? And are there more?

Flanker T: Yes, that is correct. The XM8 is the 11th AEG in my collection, at this point in time my total collection is made up of:

22 AEGs  - I still have 5 to review

2 Shotguns - I still have 1 to review

6 Pistols (5 Gas Blow Back) , (1 Non Gas Blowback) I still have 3 to review

3 Madbull Launchers - I still have 2 to review

In order to beat the VCR bill [I ordered] some items in from Japan/China. I have another  6 in the Postal system (all should arrive before the 1st October 2007 when the Bill comes into force in the UK).

Popular Airsoft: Do you accept video reviews or howtos requests from your viewers?

Flanker T: Yes I do. But only if I have the necessary items to make the video being requested. But  requested videos do not go onto my  priority list that's reserved for Reviews -  so it can take a few months to get one made after the request. I often have to turn the request down as I don't have or own the AEG that I am being asked to review. I keep a list of requests that I can do and work through them one at a time.

Popular Airsoft: Your videos at Youtube do not have the embed code available "by request". What's your reason for this?

Flanker T: Glad you pointed this out to me. It's not done for any reason, so as you know I`ve now changed them.

Popular Airsoft: How do you prepare these videos and who often helps you out making these?

Flanker T: - drink lots of beer  - only kidding. I keep a record of what's been done and what has not. I will then select an AEG. For example, my next video will be about my TM FAMAS-A1. I will make sure I use it in a Skirmish just before I make the Video to refresh my views on it. I  don't do any Prep work as far as  what I am going to say  for the video it all comes straight from my head  (so I get a lot of Out takes). I just remember what I think is good and what is bad about the AEG I have on the table, and talk about it from Stock Butt to Flash Hider. I also talk about any items I have added like scopes, rails, etc.

As for help, I get none at all for the Review Videos. They are all my own work from making the recording to the Editing and Posting on Youtube. Two lads (Stickymonk & Embrionicboy) give me a hand from time to time with the Chrono Videos. We skirmish for the morning and then make the Chrono videos in the afternoon.

Popular Airsoft: With the VCRA sections on the realistic imitation firearms taking effect on 1 October, do you think these sections are helpful for the UK airsoft community? Or rather counter productive?

Flanker T:  Politics? I don't do Politics. I'm not a very PC person. I'm Old School, or is that just old!!! But seeing as you have asked, it's not perfect or exactly what was wanted for airsofters, but all-in-all, airsoft has come out of it fairly well. We could very easily have come off a lot worse. The VCR Act should be viewed as a good thing, not a bad thing.

Popular Airsoft: Before we end this interview, we're curious about something.... why Flanker Tanker?

Flanker T: Each part of my Alias has come from two sources...

The Origin of Flanker:

When I was younger I played rugby for the university I went to and I played as a "FLANKER". Also, I make and fly Radio Control Aircraft and my favourite is my Russian SU27. It's NATO designation is FLANKER.

The Origin of Tanker:

Again back in my University days. After a good rugby match we would hit the Bar and I could sink quite a few pints of beer. So I got the nick name TANKER as in OLD TANKER  - that can hold a lot of liquid - I guess. Also one of my hobbies was to make and detail 1/6th scale Radio Control Tanks (world War II German Tiger & King Tiger Tanks), hence the name TANKER.

Well you did ask -  But most people that get to know me from Airsoft  just end up calling  me "FT".

Popular Airsoft: Thank you very much!

Flanker T: You`re most welcome. Now can I offer you a beer?