What Rts Is Most Historically Accurate

Real-time strategy games, commonly called RTS games, allow the user to take control of an army or whole society, directing units and battalions as groups rather than individually. RTS games are available in a variety of settings, historical, modern, or futuristic. Several titles have made historical accuracy their main focus.

Total War Series

This series appeared in 2000, with "Total War: Shogun," a game which sought to accurately emulate the tactics and methods by which the feudal Japanese society fought its wars. The game was well received and praised for its playability and historical accuracy, driving the game to become one of the most successful franchises on the PC platform. A number of sequels have followed, taking place in a variety of settings including, the "Middle Ages," "Ancient Rome," "The Age of Enlightenment," and the "Napoleonic Wars."

Ancient Wars: Sparta

This title is based on long period of war between Persia and Sparta. The game seeks to emulate specific units and weaponry, and puts a focus on properly equipping and supplying troops. Where as most strategy games allow slain troops to evaporate into thin air, in "Sparta" their equipment and weapons remains to be picked up by your reinforcements, or, the enemy. These features are said to add a new dimension of realism, as a real commander of such a forces would have to ensure his troops are always properly equipped and supplied to keep them at their most effective; re-arming from slain warriors aids in this task.

Company Of Heroes

"Company of Heroes" is a popular RTS game set during World War II. It has a well-researched collection of units, weapons and vehicles, and its missions emulate real-life battles such as the Normandy landings. The game uses a physics engine and destructible environments to produce a battlefield that changes as the game progresses. Creating new areas to provide cover for AI troops, or destroying buildings to expose enemy positions, can turn the tide of a battle.

Commander: Europe At War

Another World War II title, "Commander: Europe At War," is similar to "Company of Heroes" in that it recreates specific battles and locations from the original conflict. An added element of realism here comes from the fact that actual historical figures feature in the game and can be appointed as squad leaders for the player's individual units, providing various leadership bonuses.

Tags: Company Heroes, Commander Europe, games allow, historical accuracy, strategy games, variety settings

About Laser Sights

Laser sights enable shooters to rapidly acquire targets with a great degree of accuracy. Laser sights are exceptionally beneficial in tactical applications. The sights can be used with rifles, shotguns or handguns. Introduced to the commercial market in the late '80s, laser sights have become both more affordable and reliable. Additionally, laser sights have a great capacity to intimidate; when the bullet's point of impact is clearly visible on an aggressor's chest, he tends to give up.

Rifle Sights

Laser sights are usually mounted on rifles, using Weaver-style scope mounts. Laser/flashlight combos are common among tactical weapons and are generally mounted on the side of the rifles.

Shotgun Sights

Shotguns equipped with laser sights often have them mounted with Weaver-style bases or attached below the barrel on the magazine tube. Laser sights are conducive with typical shotgun use; they allow the shooter to quickly aim at the center of the projected shotgun blast.

Handgun Sights

Laser sights are available in several configurations to match your specific handgun. Some models of laser sights come as replacement parts for either the grip or the pistol guide rod. Others can be mounted directly to the weapon.

Laser Training

The use of lasers in conjunction with law enforcement and military training has proven beneficial; in controlled tests, the use of lasers increased shooter accuracy by as much as 70 percent. Additionally, laser sights let shooters practice quickly acquiring targets without having to fire their weapons; this is especially helpful for handguns (which are inherently more difficult to aim than rifles or shotguns).

Available Beam Colors

While the majority of laser sights still feature red beams, green laser beam are becoming increasingly popular among shooters. The advantage of green laser beams is that they are easier to see in lighted conditions, without requiring more energy.

Tags: laser sights, Additionally laser, Additionally laser sights, green laser, Laser sights

Cheap Tomahawk Wisconsin Hotels

Tomahawk, Wisconsin is located in the northeastern part of the state near Lake Mohawksin. The area has numerous parks, fishing, hiking trails and campgrounds. Nearby is the Tomahawk Airport. The Tomahawk Historical Society runs many historical sites around Tomahawk such as the Log Cabin Museum, the First School Museum, the Nystrom Cabin, and the On Target Boat House. The area has numerous low priced hotels for travelers.

Super 8 Tomahawk

The Super 8 Tomahawk is one and a half miles from downtown Tomahawk. Nearby is the Harley-Davidson plant and the Inshalla Golf Course. Within an hour's drive is the Lake of the Torches Casino. The Super 8 has a free breakfast daily, indoor heated pool, whirlpool, and family and whirlpool suites. Pets are allowed for a fee of $10 per night, but guests must contact the hotel first as the rooms that allow pets are limited.

Best Western Tomahawk

The Best Western Tomahawk is located on Lake Nokomis and has standard rooms, three-bed rooms for up to six people, suites, and whirlpool rooms. All rooms contain a refrigerator and high-speed Internet. The Best Western has two boat docks, grills, a deck overlooking the lake and free breakfast daily. Nearby are snowmobile trails, fishing, boating, and hiking. Less than 10 miles from the hotel is The Playhouse which offers entertainment during the summer.

Four Seasons Motel

The Four Seasons Motel has an outdoor heated pool open in the summer, snowmobile trails through the Northwoods passage, and is near hiking trails and the lakes. Also nearby is paintball, golf, skiing and snowboarding. The motel has standard rooms and suites which have two rooms and a kitchen. Guests can find restaurants within walking distance from the motel.

Moose Run Motel

The Moose Run Motel has standard rooms and parking available for trailers and boats. The Moose Run Motel is near many lakes and rivers which provide plenty of fishing, boating, skiing, and water activities. There are also plenty of forests nearby for hiking and biking. The motel is less than 10 miles from trails where guests can ride their ATVs. In the winter, guests can snowboard and snowmobile. The Moose Run Motel is pet-friendly for most pets.

Tags: Moose Motel, Best Western, miles from, standard rooms, area numerous, Best Western Tomahawk

Development Of The Colt 45 Acp

The Colt automatic pistol design is still manufactured.

Automatic Colt Pistol, ACP, identifies the type of ammunition used in the Colt automatic pistol. Colt developed the Model 1911 handgun and its .45-caliber Automatic Colt Pistol ammunition at the Army's request to replace the .38-caliber pistols they were using.

ACP

Colt was developing an automatic pistol with the ACP concept in smaller calibers. They had been working on a .41-caliber pistol when the U. S. Army requested a .45-caliber pistol in 1905. Browning made the .41-caliber cartridge for the Colt-designed automatic pistol. Browning modified the .41-caliber cartridge to .45 caliber and further refined the design.

Colt Model 1911

Several companies submitted bids for the Army's new pistol. Some dropped out, while others had performance problems, which left Colt to supply the pistols. The Army requested tests to determine the bullet weight and powder load for the cartridge.

Acceptance

The Army, on March 29, 1911, accepted the Colt Model 1911 handgun with .45-caliber ACP ammunition for production. It proved a reliable and accurate side arm, and was used throughout most of the twentieth century. The U. S. military switched to the nine-millimeter Beretta 92F on January 14, 1985 in order to standardize sidearm ammunition with its NATO allies. Law enforcement, civilian shooters and other military forces still use .45-caliber ACP ammunition in a variety of handguns, including the currently-manufactured version of the Colt Model 1911.

Tags: automatic pistol, Model 1911, Colt Model, Colt Model 1911, 1911 handgun, 41-caliber cartridge

Refill Paintball Co2 Tanks

Paintball markers require CO2 or compressed air to fire paintballs.

Paintball markers require some form of propellant to fire paintballs. CO2 and compressed air are common propellants and bulk cylinders tend to be cheaper than compressed air which make them a common choice for players that wish to fill their tanks at home. Refilling a CO2 tank is a quick process that can be done in the field with just a few pieces of equipment.

Instructions

1. Verify that the bulk CO2 tank is marked "dip tube" or "siphon tube" before continuing. Paintball tanks require partial liquid fills and dip tube bulk tanks take the liquid accumulated at the bottom of the tank via the dip tube or siphon.

2. Verify that the paintball CO2 cylinder has been "hydro tested" within the last three to five years according to the service sticker located somewhere on the cylinder. Hydro testing is a professional service that tests the serviceability of the CO2 tank and helps avoid injury caused by weakened tanks rupturing under pressure.

3. Insert the O-Ring seal into the valve assembly on the CO2 refill kit that attaches to the bulk CO2 tank and screw the refill kit onto the CO2 tank. Tighten the kit with a crescent wrench to ensure a good seal.

4. Set all valves to the OFF position before proceeding. This includes the valve for the main CO2 tank, the cut-off valve and the bleed valves on the refill kit, and the valve on the nozzle attached to the fill hose.

5. Attach the paintball CO2 cylinder to the refill kit via the nozzle at the end of the fill hose.

6. Hang the CO2 cylinder from the hanging scale and open the bleed valve to purge any CO2 inside. Close the bleed valve once the cylinder is empty.

7. Change the scale's units of measure to ounces and zero out the scale once any excess CO2 has been purged and the tank is completely empty.

8. Fill the cylinder by opening the main CO2 tank valve and then the cut-off valve on the refill kit. The cylinder should fill to approximately half capacity before the equalized pressures between the main CO2 tank and the paintball cylinder detain the process.

9. Close the main CO2 tank valve and the cut-off valve, then open the bleed valve to purge the tank once again. Close the bleed valve once the cylinder has been completely purged. This will drastically reduce the temperature of the cylinder, which is necessary to achieve a full capacity fill.

10. Open the main CO2 tank and the cut-off valve to fill the paintball CO2 cylinder. Fill the cylinder to one ounce under the printed capacity of the cylinder for safety reasons. Fill a twelve ounce tank with eleven ounces of CO2 for example.

11. Close all valves and unscrew the filled CO2 cylinder from the fill hose.

Tags: main tank, bleed valve, cut-off valve, paintball cylinder, fill hose

Places To Ride Go Karts

Riding go karts is often referred to as "karting."

Riding go karts has been a favorite recreational activity since the early 1950s. Military airmen used to race custom-built riding lawn mowers around the base as a way to pass the time. But the first legitimate go kart was designed and built in 1956 by Art Ingels of California. Since then, thousands of go kart locations have opened worldwide, providing hours of enjoyment for both kids and adults.

Palace Entertainment

With over 20 karting locations in five states, Palace Entertainment is one of the largest providers of go kart racing entertainment. Boomers Parks can be found in California, New York and Florida. They feature hi-octane go karts and lengthy racetracks with straight-aways and hair-pin turns. As of 2010, visitors can either pay $7 per go kart ride, or purchase an all-day riding bracelet for $20.

In California, Georgia and Texas, Palace Entertainment features the Malibu Grand Prix go kart riding and entertainment park. As of 2010, it offers unlimited go kart racing for $21 per person. Also in Georgia and Texas are the Mountasia parks. Prices for go kart racing here are $5.50 per person, per ride, $20 for five rides or $36 for 10 rides.

The final go kart entertainment parks owned by Palace Entertainment are the Speed Zone locations in California and Texas. Speed zone features four different go kart race tracks. There is the Top Eliminator Dragster racing, which takes drivers from 0 to 70 mph in 3.5 seconds. As of 2010, visitors can ride up to three times for $15. The Slick Trax track offers 5 minutes of drift-style racing for $7. The Turbo Track go kart racing allows drivers to race against 20 competitors. The driver's cost is $7 for a 5-minute session. Lastly, there is the Grand Prix go kart racing. Tracks are modeled after Indy and Formula 1 car racing circuits. Racing on this track costs $2 per lap.

K1 Speed

As of 2010, K1 Speed has seven operational go karting locations in California, Washington and Florida. Two additional Florida locations will be opening in March 2011. K1 go kart tracks are indoors, open to the general public seven days a week unless they are reserved by a private party. All go karts at K1 are eco-friendly and run on electricity as opposed to gas, which can emit toxic fumes. Karts race at speeds of up to 40 mph, and there are several different race tracks available depending on your skill level.

Rascals Fun Zone

Located in Whiteland, Indiana, Rascals Fun Zone features a total of four go karting tracks: two indoor and two outdoor. Rascal's offers per person and group rates. As of 2010, all-day wristband prices (which means unlimited play and riding), are $22.75 per person. Group rates of 12 or more people reduce the price of an all-day wristband to $19.50 per person.

Rascals' indoor go kart racetrack is open year-round. A rookie track is available for younger kids, and the grand prix track is equipped with two-seater karts so parents can ride with children. The outdoor tracks are open from spring to fall. The family track outside travels over and under a bridge, winding around the property. The Malibu Slick Track (also outdoors) features specialized karts and course track so that drivers don't slide out of control.

Tags: kart racing, Palace Entertainment, 2010 visitors, all-day wristband, Georgia Texas, Grand Prix

Homemade Airsoft Rocket Launcher

Rocket launchers are exciting to watch, and you can make your own Airsoft homemade rocket launcher that fires off a "rocket" using a few common household items. The Airsoft rocket launcher will demonstrate how a shoulder-fired rocket launcher works in real life as it fires off with a loud bang and the "missile" takes off.

Instructions

1. Use the scissors to cut off the top of the party popper. Dispose of the bottom of the party popper in the trash.

2. Stretch out the drinking straw using your fingers. Cut off one end of the drinking straw with the scissors.

3. Roll a piece of modeling clay into a small ball. Put the ball on the end of the drinking straw where it was cut. Mold the ball of clay around the end of the drinking straw to form a cone shape.

4. Take a piece of masking tape and wrap it around the cone-shaped ball of clay at the end of the drinking straw.

5. Push the cone-shaped end of the drinking straw into the top of the party popper. Slide the drinking straw down about half way through the party popper.

6. Roll a piece of modeling clay into a sausage shape.

7. Wrap the sausage shaped piece of clay loosely around the top of the party popper where it meets the drinking straw.

8. Aim the cone shaped end of the straw at a target. Pull the party popper string to fire off the drinking straw that has been turned into a missile.

Tags: drinking straw, party popper, ball clay, clay into, modeling clay

Customize A Jersey

Customize your own jersey with fabric patches, or pay a tailor to do the job.

There are two basic ways to customize a sports jersey: buy the materials and do it yourself, or buy or send your jersey to a specialized tailoring shop for customization. This article explains both ways to get the jersey made to your specifications.

Instructions

1. Buy iron-on patches and lettering from a crafts store or fabric shop. These are inexpensive and ideally suited for a child's jersey, because the lettering is durable enough to last a season, and most children typically outgrow their jerseys year to year unless you buy a team jersey several sizes too large.

2. Align the patches and lettering on the shirt, then affix them to the fabric using a hot iron and following the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Purchase durable cotton tackle-twill lettering and patches from a fabric or crafts store. These customizable elements are long-lasting and create a professional look on the jersey, but the do-it-yourselfer needs some experience with needle and thread, or a sewing machine.

4. Double-stitch the lettering and patches to the jersey for the cleanest, most professional look. The letters will also hold up better under the rigors of the playing field if they are double-stitched to the jersey.

5. Purchase a jersey online or at a bricks-and-mortar retail store, and pay for customization. This is by far the easiest way to get a customized sports jersey, though it is also the most expensive. Most online stores will customize a jersey bought elsewhere if you do not wish to buy directly from them.

Tags: crafts store, customization This, lettering patches, patches lettering, professional look, sports jersey

2001 Mr2 Spyder Specs

The 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder is a mid-engined sporty roadster from the Japanese automaker. The MR2 Spyder is the third-generation MR2 car, having made its debut in the previous model year. The car keeps to the essential MR2 design achievements of light weight and neutral handling. While the car shares its drivetrain layout and some styling elements with the Porsche Boxster, the MR2 was available for half the price. Base MSRP for the only trim level offered came to $23,585.

Engine

The third-generation MR2's engine is efficient and peppy, if not overly powerful for a car in the sport roadster market. Unlike the first and second-generation cars' supercharged and turbocharged engines, the Spyder was only available with a naturally aspirated engine. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder has dual overhead cams, 16 valves and Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing system. Compression ratio comes in at an even 10-to-1, with bore and stroke of 3.10-by-3.60 inches. This engine is shared with the base model Toyota Celica from the same model year. Power output measures 138 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 125 foot-pounds of torque at 4,400 rpm. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Drivetrain and Chassis

With its compact engine mounted behind the driver but in front of the rear axle, the MR2's powertrain configuration is one usually reserved for exotic sports cars. The sole transmission option for 2001 was a five-speed conventional manual, though a sequential manual was added in later model years. The roadster's fully-independent suspension system uses MacPherson struts and stabilizer bars front and rear. As for braking power, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with standard anti-lock functionality bring the light car to quick stops when needed.

Exterior and Interior

With its prominent side ducts and slatted rear engine cover, the MR2 makes its performance intentions clear. Its overall footprint is more like the first-generation car from the 1980s. Exterior dimensions measure 153 inches long, 66.7 inches wide and 48.2 inches tall. The car's wheelbase stands at 96.5 inches, rather long relative to the car's short total length. Curb weight is 2195 pounds, making the car one of the lightest on the market and the lightest of all three MR2 generations. Inside is a relatively spartan interior using a monospec configuration almost devoid of dealer-installed options. The car's top must be manually raised and lowered, though this can be achieved while in the driver's seat.

Tags: front rear, model year

Remove Paint Ball Residue

Paintball paint is water soluble so it will come out of fabrics and clothing pretty easily. If you are trying to get it off of the side of a house or a car, though, it is a little trickier. But it still only involves a couple of cleaning products. When participating in paintball, do your best to not hit objects you will have to clean later.

Instructions

1. Put all clothes and fabrics into the washing machine with laundry detergent as you would usually clean. It is best if you wash them as soon as possible, as the longer the paint sets in the fabric the harder it may be to get out. Wash the clothes as usual and dry.

2. Get a scrub brush and cleaning solution if the paintball residue is on the side of your house or aluminum siding. The best concentrated solution that seems to work is called Simple Green concentrate. Pour a capful of this into a bucket, fill it almost full with some warm water and swish it around to make it sudsy.

3. Douse the area in water that has paintball residue on it, either with a sponge or a hose, to get rid of any surrounding debris or dirt.

4. Dip the scrub brush into this mixture and scrub firmly at the paintball residue in circular motions. Repeat this procedure until the paint is gone, then rinse it off with clear water from a sponge or hose.

5. Clean paintball residue from a car in the same manner, but skip the scrub brush so you do not scratch or dull the car paint. Use a rag and dip it into the cleaning mixture of Simple Green and warm sudsy water. Rub in vigorous circles at the paintball residue on the car until it is gone. This may take more time because you are just using a rag, but it is better than damaging with a scrub brush.

6. Rinse the car area where the reside was with clear water from a hose or sponge.

Tags: paintball residue, scrub brush, clear water, clear water from, Simple Green, sponge hose, water from

Paintsplatter Jeans

From paintings to fashion, paint-splatters make an expressive statement.

Deconstruction, or even destruction, has become a common part of contemporary fashion. Since the safety pin appeared as a fashion accessory in the 1970s, "distressed" clothing from ripped shirts to paint-splattered jeans have had various phases of popularity. In the rediscovery and reinvention of 1980s fashion, the skinny jean has returned in full force, along with the in-your-face paint-splattering style reminiscent of the period. You can paint-splatter your own jeans and save on expensive designer distressing.

Instructions

1. Cover your work surface with a drop cloth. Make sure you cover a bit beyond your work area, as splatters can sometimes accidentally extend beyond your planned work area.

2. Lay your jeans out flat on your work area.

3. Open your first color of fabric paint and mix the paint thoroughly with a stir stick.

4. Dip a paint brush into your first color of paint and flick the brush at your jeans. This will create a splatter effect. You may also drip or paint strokes directly onto the jeans. Close your paint and allow the jeans to dry for a few hours to prevent smearing with other colors.

5. Open your second color of fabric paint and mix the paint thoroughly with a stir stick.

6. Pour some of the paint into a paint tray.

7. Dip a small paint roller into the paint tray and roll it back and forth until the roller becomes saturated with paint.

8. Apply the roller to the jeans in small rolls at different angles. This will create large patches of color. Close your paint and allow the jeans to dry for a few hours before continuing the process.

9. Open your third color of fabric paint and mix it thoroughly with a stir stick.

10. Dip a paint sponge into the paint and blot it on the surface of the jeans. This will create softer, blotted paint marks. Close your paint and allow the jeans to dry for about two hours before wearing them.

Tags: allow jeans, Close your, Close your paint, color fabric, color fabric paint, fabric paint

Make A High Powered Spit Ball Launcher

Spitball guns are a fun way to get through a boring day at school or work, or to just tease your classmates or co-workers. For a bit of a spin on the classic spitball gun, try constructing your own high-powered spitball gun. It is extremely easy, and you can shoot spitballs three to five times further than a standard spitball gun. Use it for target practice, office games, or even have spitball gun wars with friends. It's much cheaper than a paintball gun and just as fun.

Instructions

Construction

1. Unscrew the cap from the bottom of your ballpoint pen and remove the ink stick and nib so you are left with just the empty plastic tube.

2. Remove the tiny straw from the pressurized air duster can. The air from the can passes through the straw when the aerosol button is pressed.

3. Attach the end of the pen tube to the nozzle of the pressurized air duster. This is where the tiny straw was before you removed it.

4. Tear a small piece of paper and ball it up, then moisten it with water or spit.

5. Place the spitball into the open end of the pen tube. It should be a snug fit to allow air pressure to build up behind the spitball.

6. Point, aim and shoot by pressing the aerosol button to blow the spitball out of the pen tube.

Tags: aerosol button, pressurized duster, tiny straw

Install A Tightbore Barrel On A Jg G36k

Installing a tightbore barrel on an Airsoft JG G36K Paintball Rifle will allow you to modify the gun and produce a more powerful rifle. Reducing the size of the barrel allows the paintball to be expelled at a faster rate of speed, causing it to go farther. You can install a new tightbore barrel in a few minutes with some basic tools, allowing you to modify the gun yourself.

Instructions

Disassembling the Airsoft JG G36K Rifle

1. Unfasten the magazine from the Airsoft JG G36K Paintball Rifle by loosening the screws with an Allen wrench and a micro Phillips head screwdriver. The magazine is located just in front of the trigger on the bottom of the rifle.

2. Remove the magazine from the bottom of the rifle by pushing in and down on the magazine release and setting the magazine aside. Pull the pin out of the side of the hand guard in the front of the rifle body and slide the hand guard off the front of the rifle.

3. Unfasten the three screws on the front of the rifle body with the micro Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers. Locate the connector clip underneath the rifle body that holds the barrel assembly to the rifle body and unfasten the clip by hand.

4. Slide the barrel assembly forward and remove the assembly from the front of the rifle body. Set the rifle body aside and turn the end of the barrel assembly counterclockwise 1/4 of a turn.

5. Push in on the opposite end of the barrel assembly and turn it counterclockwise to release the inner barrel from the gas tube. Set the gas tube out of the way and unfasten the clip that holds the hob bump bucket to the end of the inner barrel.

6. Remove the hob bump bucket from the hob bump unit and set the unit aside. Clean the hob bump bucket with soap and water and dry thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Assembling the Airsoft JG G36K Rifle

7. Attach the hob bump bucket to the new tightbore barrel and line the end of the hob up with the marks near the end of the new barrel. Slide the end of the new tightbore barrel with the hob bump bucket into the hop bump unit by lining it up with the marks on the bucket and sliding the barrel into the unit.

8. Fasten the clip over the hob bump unit and slide the spring back over the new barrel from the opposite end of the hob bump. Slide the new tightbore barrel into the gas tube and turn it clockwise 1/4 turn to lock it in place.

9. Slide the rifle barrel assembly with the new tightbore barrel into the rifle body and secure it with the screws. Fasten the connector underneath the rifle body and reattach the hand guard to the front of the rifle with the pin.

10. Secure the magazine to the bottom of the Airsoft JG G36K Paintball Rifle to complete the installation of the new tightbore barrel.

Tags: rifle body, Airsoft G36K, barrel assembly, bump bucket, front rifle, tightbore barrel

Dueling Pistol Information

Duels were common during the 1800's.

The dueling pistol match in early American history was derived from a custom starting in the Middle Ages in Europe. In defense of their honor, men would engage in a gentlemanly man-to-man battle using pistols to settle their dispute. The dueling pistol, or flintlock, gradually replaced the sword as a means of settling disputes. Elegant in design and profound in purpose, dueling pistols played an important role in the evolution of projectile weaponry.

History

Like many early American customs, pistol dueling was imported from European nobles who used the pistol as a means for settling disputes. During the 1770's, the matchlock was the pistol of choice. The matchlock's unreliable and often dangerous performance gave way to the flintlock design which gained immense popularity with it's more reliable performance--compared to matchlocks--and kept pace with the growing popularity of pistol duels. The 1800's and the infamy of notable duels like the Alexander Hamilton versus Aaron Burr duel, cemented the duel pistol's place in history.

Evolution

The early dueling pistol, the matchlock design, had it's drawbacks. A piece of match cord burned slowly to ignite gun powder in a flash pan, which then ignited gun powder in the pistol's barrel ejecting a lead ball. The flawed system emitted smoke revealing the shooters position and also caused accidents due to the combination of gun powder and an open spark.

Enter the flintlock, the early 1800's design that would carry dueling pistols popularity to the Civil War. A tiny piece of flint attached to a hammer with a thumb cocking mechanism came into contact with a small amount of gun powder in the flash pan. A lock protecting the powder was pulled down until the trigger was pulled. Once the trigger was pulled, the hammer was released and the lock was flipped away from the pan creating a spark. The small spark ignited the powder and the projectile was ejected. The flintlock was mass-produced and provided consistent quality for the shooter.

Shooting a Dueling Pistol

The weapons used in duels are called smoothbore flintlock pistols. Pistols like the smoothbore flintlock were not particularly accurate and were problematic. Dueling pistols routinely misfired and even in the hands of a seasoned shooter, accuracy was arduous at best. The duel pistol was made for balance and accuracy. The 9 or 10 inch barrel was heavy, with a rounded barrel in the earlier designs, later giving way to octagonal barrels which were believed to improve accuracy. The heavier barrels also helped the shooter steady his arm and to absorb the pistol's recoil.

Features

Dueling pistols were large caliber handguns made as large as .57 caliber, a favorite of the times. Front and rear sights were also used, although not as universally as the large caliber. Triggers went through several iterations with hair triggers being quite common, until 1805 when spur trigger guards began showing up on pistols as a means of providing an extension for the middle finger to steady the shooter's grip. Ornamentation was commonly tooled onto the barrel with gold mountings on the stock. Stocks were made of fine hardwoods and the pistols possessed a number of design elements including adjustable hair triggers, rainwater drains and a safety catch.

Range

While the dueling pistol was designed as an instrument of precision, its performance left much to be desired. The effective range was 20 yards, a good cause for setting the distance for pistol duels at 10 yards. The dueling pistol was nothing more than a short range weapon with a shooting error (missing the target) that only increased with distance.

Tags: dueling pistol, large caliber, duel pistol, dueling pistol, Dueling Pistol

Private Scholarships For College Students

A scholarship is award money you don't have to pay back.

Private scholarships are granted by businesses, companies, nonprofit organizations, societies, clubs and unions. Private scholarships can often have more stringent application guidelines, but the more scholarships you qualify and apply for, the greater your chances are of receiving one.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

This program has been awarding students with great financial need since 2001. Students can use this scholarship to pay off their college tuition or to enter graduate school. The panel of judges will determine a winner based on the quality of students' personal essays. Past academic performance and financial need is not considered. This private scholarship is open to college, graduate and adult students. Eligibility requirements include being a United States citizen, being in school or planning to attend school within 12 months. Those who are interested must fill out a short application and answer a short essay question.

$1,000 Gen and Kelly Tanabe Student Scholarship

3286 Oak Court

Belmont, California 94002

650-618-2221

gkscholarship.com

Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

This scholarship awards both college undergraduates and graduate students. This contest requires an essay on "Atlas Shrugged", the novel by Ayn Rand. The first prize is $10,000, second prize is $2,000 and the third prize is $1,000. Twenty finalists will win $100 and 20 semifinalists will win $50. Judging is based on style and content. They are looking for essays that are clear, organized and well-written. Applicants must submit an essay based on one of the three topics that deal with the novel. There is no application required for this contest, but applicants must provide a cover sheet with their essays.

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

The Ayn Rand Institute

P.O. Box 57044

Irvine, California 92619-7044

949-222-6550

aynrandnovels.com

Gates Millenium Scholars Program

The United Negro Fund sponsors this scholarship program for college students. Students can use this scholarship to pursue their degree at an undergraduate or graduate college or university. Eligibility requirements include being African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian or Hispanic. Students should also have a legal permanent residence in the United States, a GPA of 3.3 or above and enrollment at a United States college or university. They should also meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria and submit three forms, which can be found on the website.

Gates Millennium Scholars

P.O. Box 10500

Fairfax, Virginia 22031-8044

877-690-4677

gmsp.org

Tags: Atlas Shrugged, this scholarship, United States, Atlas Shrugged Essay, college university

Make A Marine Sniper Ghillie Suit

Marine sniper units rely heavily on concealment techniques to keep themselves hidden while carrying out missions. In these situations, basic military-grade camouflage is not sufficient; the need to be virtually invisible is key to success. Ghillie suits fill that need, covering your entire body in natural-looking environmental elements. So popular are the suits that many paintball fans and recreational hunters choose to build their own ghillies in lieu of buying the pricey retail version.

Instructions

1. Spread the coveralls on a flat surface to rid the garment of any wrinkles that would hinder the ghillie process. Lay the large mesh sheet over the coveralls, then cut around the perimeter of the coveralls to create a coverall-shaped pattern.

2. Cut the jute into varied lengths, from a little more than a foot but no more than 2 feet. Prepare the dye according to the package directions and submerge the jute into the dye (or dyes if using more than one color).

3. Allow a few minutes for the jute to dye properly, then remove it from the bucket(s) and allow to dry. In the meantime, use the fishing line and heavy-gauge needle to sew each corner of the mesh onto the coveralls. Apply some adhesive to the sewn corners for additional strength.

4. Tie the dried jute to the middles of each square, tying at different lengths. Complete the suit by use elements of the environment, such as old leaves, twigs, grass or vines, to stuff each of the mesh pockets that were created by sewing the corners of the mesh to the coveralls. Your ghillie suit is ready for action.

Tags: more than, jute into

Make An Airsoft Gun Out Of A Nerf Gun

Little boys dream of owning a BB gun, but many parents believe they are too dangerous. Airsoft BB guns have ammunition that causes little harm, but they can be expensive. Follow the steps below to create an airsoft BB gun out of a Nerf gun to save money and keep your little man safer.

Instructions

1. Cut the tip off of a Nerf dart to form a tube. With extended use, these darts may show wear, so consider preparing more than one tube for your homemade airsoft BB gun.

2. Wrap the dart tube with enough tape that it fits snugly into the barrel of the Nerf gun.

3. Locate the air restriction mechanism in the Nerf gun and remove it if you desire longer range from your homemade airsoft BB gun.

4. Place the dart tube in the barrel of the Nerf gun. Leave approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches of the dart sticking out of the barrel of the Nerf gun.

5. Load your new airsoft BB gun by pouring some airsoft BBS down the newly formed barrel of the Nerf gun.

6. Pull back the cocking mechanism on the Nerf gun and shoot.

Tags: barrel Nerf, dart tube, homemade airsoft, mechanism Nerf, your homemade, your homemade airsoft

What Are Spiders In The Stock Market

What Are Spiders in the Stock Market?

The original Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipt, or SPDR, was an investment product launched in 1993 that tracked the S&P 500 stock index. It trades on the American Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SPY, and is frequently known as the spider, or "spyder." The stock index is just a weighted average of the individual components, not an investment vehicle itself, but the spider allowed investors to track the index with a single product, rather than buying all 500 stocks in the index or a mutual fund. The concept was so popular that State Street, the manager of the SPY, launched new funds that tracked individual sectors of the S&P 500 and rebranded some of its existing funds. Collectively, this family of funds are known as the spiders.

Features

The spiders trade like stocks, but are actually unit investment trusts whose shares trade in the public stock market. Each fund is a fixed and unmanaged basket of stocks that rise or fall in value according to the performance of their assets and investor interest in the fund itself. State Street Bank & Trust of Boston actually owns the stock that's divided into the individual shares investors trade as spiders. The bank pays the dividends to unitholders (less a management fee) based on the actual stocks represented by each fund, which is designed to track the performance of a particular niche of the market. The original spider, SPY, for example, usually trades at roughly one tenth of the S&P 500 index.

Identification

Some of the most common sector spiders (and their ticker symbols) include SPDR Consumer Staples (XLP), SPDR Technology (XLK), SPDR Homebuilders (XHB), SPDR Biotech (XBI), SPDR Metals and Mining (XME), SPDR Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (XOP), SPDR Pharmaceuticals (XPH), SPDR Retail (XRT), and SPDR Semiconductor ETF (XSD). Within each spider is a group of stocks representative of that sector. So, for example, each unit of XLK is backed by an ownership stake in Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Intel and several other technology companies.

Function

Investors use the spiders for both dividend income and capital appreciation. Because investors tend to favor entire sectors of the economy at any given time, the sector spiders make it easy to gain exposure to a sector without taking on the risks associated with buying shares of a single company. This, along with their liquidity, makes them ideally suited for speculation.

Benefits

Unlike index-tracking mutual funds, which are only priced at the end of each trading day, the spiders can be traded actively all day long while the market is open. This allows nimble traders to capitalize on market volatility and increase their profitability. Another benefit the spiders have over mutual funds, is that the selling of shares by other unitholders does not have tax consequences. Because the actual shares held in trust never change hands, only the buyers and sellers in individual transaction experience tax gains or losses. In a mutual fund, the manager might have to sell stock to raise funds if many investors redeemed their contributions, creating tax liabilities that eat into the overall fund's performance.

Considerations

One of most important considerations regarding the spiders is that they are only correlated to their intended sector, index, or other niche market by the rational participation of investors. In others, there's no explicit guarantee that a technology spider will track the actual performance of technology stocks other than the operation of buyers and sellers in the market. Though some arbitrage efforts are employed to help prevent a significant deviation, because the market value of the spiders is not firmly pegged to any other asset, their correlation tends to fluctuate.

Tags: buyers sellers, funds that, mutual fund, mutual funds, niche market, sector spiders

Convert A Co2 Pistol To Green Gas

Environmentally sound with green gas

Target pistols that are able to fire as fast as the trigger is pulled use CO2 gas cartridges to "power" the weapon. You can replace the CO2 gas cartridge with a more environmentally friendly "green gas" cartridge, providing that the target pistol's design includes using "green gas" as an alternative to CO2. Converting a CO2 target pistol to use green gas only requires the purchase of green gas cartridges and a green gas magazine that will replace the CO2 magazine the target pistol is currently using. Adult supervision is required should the person converting the target pistol to green gas be a minor.

Instructions

1. Press down on the magazine release latch on the gun stock on one side of the target pistol with your thumb. Pull out the CO2 magazine from the bottom of the target pistol's handle with the other hand.

2. Put the bath towel down on a table. Eject the projectiles from out of the top of the CO2 magazine onto the bath towel using your fingers.

3. Pull the CO2 cartridge out from the bottom of the magazine using your fingers. Discard the CO2 cartridge properly. Put the CO2 magazine away for safekeeping.

4. Cock the firing mechanism of the target pistol. Aim the target pistol into the open bowl of a toilet. Press the trigger to ensure that there is no projectile inside of the gun that could be fired.

5. Place the target pistol down on its side on the bath towel.

6. Insert the projectiles that are on the bath towel into the top of the green gas magazine using your fingers.

7. Insert the green gas cartridge into the bottom of the green gas magazine with your fingers. Push the green gas cartridge up into the magazine until it clicks into position.

8. Insert the green gas magazine into the bottom of the target pistol's handle. Push the green magazine up into the bottom of the target pistol's handle until it clicks into position.

9. Go into your backyard. Cock the firing mechanism of your target pistol that will now be using green gas instead of CO2.

10. Aim the target pistol at a tree or rock that is free of any person or object that could be damaged if the projectile misses the target. Squeeze the trigger to fire the projectile. Wait as the target pistol is reloaded using green gas.

Tags: target pistol, green magazine, bath towel, your fingers, bottom target, bottom target pistol

Ideas For A Bachelor Party In Oregon

Show your groom a good time with a bachelor party tailored to his taste.

Be creative in planning a bachelor party. Think of what would be a fun celebration for the groom. Take into account his interests or introduce him to something you know he'll love. Try to schedule the party several weeks before the wedding. The groom will enjoy it more because he won't be in the final pre-wedding countdown with activities, responsibilities and out of town guests all vying for his attention. Does this Spark an idea?

Downtown Portland

The indie music scene in Portland is a great backdrop for a 24-hour-long bachelor party. Reserve rooms at the Ace Hotel, a unique music-themed hotel in the heart of the downtown historic district with turntables in each room. Start with appetizers and a drink in the hotel bar, Clyde Common. Dine at a local restaurant and spend the evening visiting neighborhood bars, pubs and music venues. Purchase some vinyl at a resale shop to play in your room, or bring your own. In the morning, borrow the hotel's free rental bikes for a ride and stop for brunch. Check out at noon and head to Willamette Jetboat Excursions for a two-hour boat tour of the Portland waterfront including the falls.

Ace Hotel Portland

1022 Southwest Stark St.

Portland, OR 97205

503-228-2277

acehotel.com

Willamette Jetboat Excursions

1945 SE Water Avenue

Portland, OR 97214-3354

503-231-1532

willamettejet.com

Beach Cookout

Plan a beach cookout bachelor party in Rockaway Beach. Start in the afternoon with swimming, surfing, fishing or hanging out on the undeveloped, natural beach setting of Rockaway. Pack coolers with cold drinks, steaks, salad. Bake the potatoes ahead of time, wrap them in foil and reheat on the coals. Bring wood for a campfire or a grill for a cookout. Sit around the fire and tell stories about the groom. Have someone bring a guitar so you can listen or sing along. Bring gag gifts for the groom to take on the honeymoon. Have a few non-drinking designated drivers to ensure everyone gets home safely. In mid May, join the fun of the Kite Festival at this small beach-side town.

Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce

103 First St.

Rockaway Beach, OR 97136

503-355-8108

rockawaybeach.net

Crater Lake National Park

Plan a weekend-long bachelor party at one of the most beautiful natural settings on the West Coast, Crater Lake National Park. If the groom is an outdoorsman, this is the perfect spot for his party. Book rooms at the historic Crater Lake Lodge perched on the edge of the caldera overlooking Crater Lake, or rent a cabin or campsite. If fishing, take the boat to Wizard Island for the best fishing adventure or fish from the shoreline. Use artificial bait. Pack lunches and hike some of the 90 miles of trails. Dine at the lodge or cook your own catch on a grill.

Crater Lake National Park

P.O. Box 7

Crater Lake, OR 97604

541-594-3000

nps.gov/crla/index.htm

Crater Lake Lodge

Crater Lake, OR 97604

541-830-8700

craterlakelodges.com

Tags: Crater Lake, bachelor party, Crater Lake National, Lake National, Lake National Park

Airsoft Regulations

Airsoft guns are weapons that shoot small plastic BBs through the use of air pressure. Airsoft guns are often used in competitions much like paintball guns. Competitors divide up into teams in a designated playing area--such as a large enclosed room or a field that is marked off--and have battles. There are many regulations involving the use of airsoft guns and airsoft gun competitions. Most of the regulations for airsoft guns and competitions are left up to states or smaller communities or even local airsoft clubs. Although none are exactly the same, most follow the same general guidelines.

U.S. Regulations

The only federal regulations in the United States for airsoft require that states cannot make airsoft guns illegal, other than for minors, and that each gun have a bright orange tip on the barrel. These guns are made to be as realistic as possible, so the bright orange tips make sure they are not confused with real guns.

General Play

During a competition, players are always required to wear eye protection. When a player is hit with a BB, even one from their own teammate, they are considered "out" or "dead" and can't continue playing. They are usually required to act out a dramatic death or yell out that they have been hit and then mark themselves as dead somehow, usually with a brightly colored cloth. They usually are required to move to a safe zone and they aren't allowed to shoot their guns or assist their teammates in any way. They may be allowed to return after a designated waiting period.

Weapon Regulations

The weapons at an airsoft competition usually are checked to make sure they don't shoot harder than what is allowed. There usually are designated areas where the guns can be tested safely. There also can be regulations stipulating how far a person can be from the shooter before the shooter can shoot them.

Officials

Most competitions have officials or referees to make sure everyone is being safe and that they are abiding by the regulations. If a non-player enters the playing area, the players are required to acknowledge this with a yell and place their weapons on the ground. When play has stopped, an official usually is required to approach the non-player in a friendly manner and explain what is going on and ask them to leave the playing area in a timely manner for their own safety. Officials usually will have whistles or other ways to signal the players when to pause, resume or stop play all together.

Honor

Honor plays an important role in airsoft competitions and the regulations usually reflect that. Since the BBs don't leave easily visible marks like paintball pellets, the player has to be "on his honor" and admit to being hit. Players must acknowledge hits and cannot pretend to be dead when they have not been hit or they usually will be asked to leave the competition. Players also are asked to honor the safe shooting distance. If they are too close to someone, they are supposed to ask their opponent to surrender instead of shoot them. Players can also tag their opponent instead of shoot them. Many governing bodies will ask the players to respect the playing area and leave it in as good or better condition than when they got there.

Tags: make sure, playing area, shoot them, usually required, airsoft competitions, airsoft guns

Make An Airsoft Field

An airsoft field is an ideal location for airsoft games. This strategic shooting game can be challenging but is fun to play. For a field to be equipped for the game, it needs to have plenty of locations to hide behind and in. The better the layout of the field, the better the game will be.

Instructions

1. Choose the proper indoor and outdoor location. A large area is always better. Having the space you need to run and move is essential. While a field is generally outdoors, some airsoft fields also have indoor areas such as warehouses, old buildings and even shops, all of which you can duck inside of.

2. Layout your design on paper. Some things to include in the field include open areas, a wooded area with plenty of locations for fortified positions and fortified structures, and trenches. Include various structures and a number of designs to give you the best overall design.

3. Get necessary permits. Depending on where you are building, you may need to secure extra permits from government agencies. Stay within the rules so your airsoft field isn't shut down. You also need proper insurance.

4. Construct the buildings, and dig the trenches. The more items you add to the field the better, but don't overcrowd the area. You need to be able to run between and around items and keep distance between players.

5. Go over the top. Design an entire ghost town filled with old buildings. Use an empty factory building as part of the field design. Add a pro shop on the grounds to charge players for necessary items they need to play including guns and consumables.

Tags: field better, plenty locations

Change The Frame Rate On A Helmet Cam

Adjust the frame rate on a helmet cam.

A helmet cam is a small electronic camera embedded in or mounted on your headgear. It is useful for documenting your adventures, such as when you go bike riding or skydiving. Shooting at a faster frame rate means you can play your footage back later in slow motion to highlight exciting moments. If you aren't satisfied with the number of frames shot per second, you might be able to change the frame rate on your helmet cam, depending on the model and manufacturer.

Instructions

1. Press the "Power" button or switch to turn on the helmet cam.

2. Look for an LCD display panel on the unit, which should activate when you turn on the helmet cam. The current frame rate setting may be displayed in the main menu.

3. Find the button that brings up the menu for setting the camera's options, and press it.

4. Navigate the menu to the frame rate setting option. Press an up or down button, or type in a number on a keypad if available, to adjust the frame rate to go faster or slower, depending on your needs. A faster frame rate will give you smoother video, but it also takes up more memory to record. If you have plenty of memory to record your videos, you might want to use the fastest available frame rate, to capture more details. If you don't have very much memory and recording time, you might want to record at a slower rate, so you can capture video for a longer period.

Tags: frame rate, faster frame, faster frame rate, frame rate setting, memory record, might want

Make An 18shot Clip For The Nerf Longshot

Nerf modifications can help put more darts on target.

The Nerf Longshot is a well-known dart gun on the market for both children and adults. It is easily modified, making it a cheap alternative to Airsoft and paintball guns. Unfortunately, the stock magazine holds only six darts, which can be gone in under 10 seconds. To maximize the use of your Nerf gun, magazines can be extended to hold more darts, between 12 and 18.

Instructions

1. Remove the screws from the exterior of all the magazines.

2. Remove the springs from all the magazines.

3. Straight cuts are neccesary to allow the magazines to line up properly.

Cut the magazine that will be the top portion to a height of 4 1/4 inches, measured from the top. The cut should be straight across the clip, directly above the interlocking cog pattern at the bottom of the clip. Use the miter box or table saw to ensure a straight cut; an unbraced hand saw will not cut as neatly across as is needed for this modification to work.

4. Cut the magazine that will be on the bottom to a height of 4 inches, measured from the bottom. The cut should be straight across the clip, directly above the top of the feed window, and remove the portions that lock into the Longshot.

5. Cut a third magazine to serve as the middle of the extended magazine. It needs to be cut twice, at the positions indicated in steps 3 and 4. This section is only needed if making an 18-shot clip.

6. Use a rotary tool or hobby knife to debur the interior edges of all the cut magazines. The edges need to be as smooth as possible to prevent darts from snagging on the inside of the magazine.

7. Glue the magazines together, top to bottom, using superglue or solvent adhesive. Use the plastic molding on the outside as a rough guide. The interior edges of the magazines need to be lined up as smoothly as possible. The finished product should look like a single magazine, but taller.

8. Insert a 10-32 screw into the twist of wire at the end of two magazine springs, making sure the springs remain in a zigzag pattern.

9. Place a washer on the 10-32 screw, and fasten a self-locking hex bolt onto the screw.

10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 for an 18-shot magazine.

11. Insert the spring into the magazine.

12. Refasten the screws on the outside of the magazine.

Tags: 10-32 screw, across clip, across clip directly, clip directly, clip directly above, directly above

The Top Stag Party Ideas In New Zealand

Stag parties celebrate being single and getting married.

New Zealand boasts scenic countryside and magnificent coastlines which can help to make a stag party memorable for the whole group. Bars and nightclubs can be found in any big town, so choosing a stag activity out in the fresh air will help work up a thirst.

Paintballing

Channel your inner warrior with paintballing.

An aggressively fun activity for a bunch of lads, paintballing offers the opportunity to shoot the groom-to-be many times as a gesture of affection. On the South Island, McLeans Island outside Christchurch has a World War II theme with eight outdoor arenas. Beach Assaults, Fortress Assaults and Commando Missions should keep a group of men entertained for hours. 200 paintballs are $50 with $15 per additional 100 paintballs.

International Paintballing Group

Level 27

188 Quay Street,

Auckland,

New Zealand

011-64-0800-667-118.

ipgnz.co.nz

Clay Bird Shooting

Clay shooting ear protection should be supplied.

Adventures, Inc. is a company located on the North Island which offers clay pigeon shooting to stag parties. With mobile traps and a shooting host included, the company has four locations along the Ngaruroro River where the stag group can set up for a picnic and swim in the river when not shooting. The company will refuse shooting privileges to group members with too much to drink, but are happy for participants to have a glass of wine or a bottle of beer during shooting.

Adventures, Inc.

0800-SHOTGUN

adventuresinc.co.nz

Fishing Charters

Full day fishing charters will work up a thirst for the stag night.

Auckland is a popular port for fishing charters. Sandspit Charters offer four-hour snapper fishing runs from $99 per person and full day charters for seven anglers at $1600. Kawau Island, Flat Rock, Little Barrier, Great Barrier, Hen at Chicks and the Mokes are covered, and if the group wants to hook specific species such as shark or marlin, the skipper will tailor the fishing grounds accordingly. Rods and bait can be supplied if necessary. Bookings can be made online

.

Sandspit Fishing Charters

Sandspit Wharf

1440 Sandspit Road

Sandspit 0982

011-64-09-410-7981

sandspitfishingcharters.co.nz

Tags: fishing charters, Fishing Charters, work thirst

Sports Trade Associations

Sports trade associations promote ways to market the sport.

Businesses operating in specific sports create and fund sports trade associations. These organizations participate in public relation activities on behalf of the activity they represents. The main focus of these associations has always been standardization, according to the Paintball Sports Trade Association. Most also host conferences and networking events. Directed by elected officers and governed by bylaws, several are non-profit organizations.

FSTA

The Fantasy Sports Trade Association, founded in 1999, promotes interaction between companies in the fantasy sports industry. Members of the FSTA enjoy benefits such as access to exclusive fantasy sports research data and an industry newsletter. The organization holds a biannual conference providing members with the opportunity to meet leaders in the industry and it's business conference gives members the opportunity to network with peers.

The Fantasy Sports Trade Association

c/o Intelimax Media, Inc.

2320-555 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada V6B 4N4

312-771-7019

fsta.org

PSTA

The Paintball Sports Trade Association exists to help the paintball industry by supplying education and information to members. People in the paintball business communicate and share ideas through the association. PSTA members enjoy several benefits such as a free subscription to exclusive forums and a web directory that directs players to the member's business. The organization also hosts trade shows and special events such as the Young Guns and Industry Target Shoot tournaments.

PSTA

501 Trophy Lake Drive

Suite 314

Trophy Club, TX 76262

817-491-8611

Paintball.org

TAPS

The Trade Association of Paddlesports supports the paddling industry in North America. Members of this organization dedicate themselves to providing peddlers with the best equipment and services. TAPS represents outfitters and retailers, as well as manufacturers and publications. It also has associate members which consist of businesses that support the paddle sport industry though services such as legal and financial.

TAPS

11781 A Watertank Rd.

Burlington, WA 98233

559-340-8277

gopaddle.org

ATA

The Angling Trade Association, formed in 1977, represents angling wholesalers and retailers as well as publishers, manufacturers and distributors. The ATA has always been the only trade organization representing the angling industry.

It strives to promote and protect, as well as represent the angling trade across all disciplines. This sports trade association aims to obtain long-term stability, growth and development for the sport.

Angling Trades Association

Federation House

Stoneleigh Park

Warwickshire CV8 2RF

England

024 7641 4999 ext 204

anglingtradesassociation.com

GCA

The Golf Consultants Association was created to promote consultatory skills of association members and provide a centralized location where potential customers can easily locate members. Founded in 1999, the GCA has a good record in providing help in several different services. Members specialize in different golf operations such as golf market information and designing golf courses.

The Golf Consultants Association

Federation House

Stoneleigh Park

Warwickshire CV8 2RF

England

+44 (0) 247 641 4999 ext 210

profitfromgolf.com

Tags: Trade Association, Sports Trade, always been, Association Federation, Association Federation House

Buy A Military Tank

Buy a Military Tank

Buying a tank is not as difficult as you might think. Whether it is an English collector of military memorabilia, or a Czech with a connection to the Russian Ministry of Defense, someone out there has the tank you want. However, transporting it internationally can be challenging.

Where to Look

The former Soviet Eastern Bloc has many large-scale distributors of military hardware eager to sell you a tank. The difficulty lies in contacting them, as well as bringing your tank home. Collectors of military vehicles also buy and sell in England, Western Europe, and the United States, but have less selection.

Eastern Europe

There are several Czech military distributors with extensive inventories. The STV Group, with service in English, has four dozen T-72s available, among many other pieces. Excalibur Army, based outside of Prague, has a very extensive selection of military hardware, but their service in anything but Czech is limited. According to "Automobile Magazine," Excalibur Army will prepare the export license and secure the shipping for you as well. This means that you will only be responsible for the import license.

England

A number of larger English dealers, such as RP Armour, Khaki Corps Imports, and Ex-Military.com, have tanks available, and the connections through which to procure others. Smaller collectors or individuals who buy, sell, repair, and rent military vehicles, include A+S Armsoft of Norwich, and Dinscott Military Services of Bude, Cornwall. In addition to what collectors own themselves, most also store and transport military vehicles, and are willing to help you find the piece you want.

United States

The American trade in military vehicles is smaller than the English or Eastern European one, but for Americans is worth investigating, in order to avoid customs difficulties. Based in Ohio, ArmyJeeps.net is one of the largest brokers of military vehicles in the country, and has listings for a wide variety of vehicles for sale by private collectors. And based in New Jersey, Usmilitaryvehicles.com specializes in jeeps, but is worth an inquiry.

Importing Your Tank

The rules for importing motor vehicles vary widely from country to country, and regulations on military vehicles only more so. For the United States, customs regulations for importing vehicles, as well as the exceptions made for display vehicles, are provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (see References for link). Consider the customs regulations of both the importing and exporting countries, as well as any nations through which the vehicle will be traveling. It is a must to consult someone with experience in the private transport of military vehicles.

Tags: military vehicles, United States, customs regulations, Excalibur Army, military hardware

Make Guns Out Of Balloons

Balloon

Making balloon animals is a fun way to entertain kids at a child's birthday party. But if you have lots of little boys around, they may prefer a toy balloon gun to a cute balloon puppy dog. A toy balloon gun is easy to make and will provide the little ones with hours of entertainment and play.

Instructions

1. Inflate one balloon by pinching the end of the balloon and blowing through it. Leave 1 to 2 inches at the end of the balloon to allow room for air to flow while you are twisting it. If you don't leave any extra space, the balloon is likely to pop. Tie off the balloon.

2. Fold the balloon near the nozzle end and twist it 2 to 3 times. This creates a lock twist. This section close to the nozzle will be the handle of the gun.

3. Gently pinch the balloon about 5 inches from the handle. Twist the balloon once, and fold one end over the other. You should now have a downward-facing loop.

4. Pinch and twist the balloon again about 4 inches from the first loop. This will make another small loop. Straighten out the balloon so that both loops are facing the ground. When the handles, or loops, are in line, your balloon gun is complete.

Tags: about inches, about inches from, inches from

Use A Red Dot Gun Scope

Purchasing a red dot scope can be the perfect remedy for a hunter who has trouble using his rifle's standard iron sights. A red dot site is used by aligning a small red dot, located inside the scope, over the desired target. Before your red dot can be used effectively, you must first zero it. This will ensure that, in the field, you can use your red dot gun scope to take down your target and take home your meat.

Instructions

1. Adjust the rheostat knob--the large knob on the top of the scope--to adjust the brightness of the red dot to a setting you are most comfortable with. The higher the number selected, the brighter the dot.

2. Remove the caps which cover the windage and elevation screws on your scope. These are the screws which, when turned, alter the left-right, or up-down alignment of your scope.

3. Rest the gun on a steady object for support when firing. The more consistent you can make the firing process, the more accurately you can calibrate your scope.

4. Select a target 50 to 100 yards away, in a location that is safe to fire your gun.

5. Look down the sight with your eye at least three inches away from the scope. This distance is required to accurately use your scope to hit your mark.

6. Fire three shots at your target.

7. Adjust the windage and elevation screws so that the red dot is now over the center point of the three shots.

8. Continue firing three shots and adjusting until your shots are consistently hitting your red dotted target.

9. Replace the caps on your windage and elevation screws.

10. Aim down your scope in the wild, being sure to maintain the required three inches of space between your eye and the scope.

Tags: your scope, elevation screws, three shots, windage elevation, windage elevation screws, down your

Fill A Hpa Paintball Tank At Home

A HPA Paintball tank provides compressed air to fire paintball rounds from a gas-powered paintball gun or rifle. You can fill an HPA tank at home, providing you've a source of gas to fill it with, for example, a scuba tank. You also will need a HPA valve adaptor, but no special mechanical or electronic skills. Filling a HPA paintball tank at home rather than at a HPA fill station at a hobby shop or gun store will save you money and time that could be better spent in playing paintball.

Instructions

1. Stand the scuba tank next to a floor lamp. Turn on the floor lamp. Place the open mouth of the HPA valve adaptor against the nozzle at the top of the scuba tank.

2. Wrap duct tape around the HPA valve adaptor where it meets the sides of the nozzle.

3. Slowly turn the valve on the top of the scuba tank. Listen for the hissing sound of escaping gas. Wrap additional duct tape around the sides of the nozzle, if necessary, until no hissing can be heard. Turn the valve on the top of the scuba tank in the opposite direction to shut off the gas.

4. Place the nozzle of the HPA paintball tank onto the nipple of the HPA valve adaptor. Turn the valve on the top of the scuba tank to turn on the gas.

5. Push the nozzle of the HPA paintball tank against the nipple of the HPA valve adaptor. Hold the nozzle against the nipple until the sound of gas filling up the HPA paintball tank ceases. Turn off the valve of the scuba tank.

6. Slowly pull the nozzle of the HPA paintball tank off of the nipple of the HPA valve adaptor. The HPA paintball tank is now filled and can be reattached to the paintball gun or rifle that it is designed to power.

Tags: scuba tank, valve adaptor, paintball tank, valve scuba, valve scuba tank, nipple valve

Make A Ghillie Suit For Camouflage

Many paintball aficionados and recreational game hunters wear ghillie suits to conceal themselves while out in the field. Long used by covert military sniper and reconnaissance teams, the suits' mix of natural foliage and man-made components help camouflage a person's body outline, helping them blend seamlessly into their environment. Making a homemade ghillie suit is a way to avoid paying the high asking price for many retail ghillie suits.

Instructions

1. Place the jacket and pants set on a flat work surface like a table or the floor. Smooth out any wrinkles on the garments with your hands. Lay the mesh across both the jacket and pants. Cut the mesh with a knife or scissors along the outlines of the clothes to make two separate mesh patterns.

2. Thread the fishing line through the eye of the needle and sew each sheet of mesh onto the jacket and pants. Skip every two to three squares as you sew to create "pockets" for stuffing purposes. Add a few drops of the adhesive gel to each sewed corner to add more strength. Allow the gel to dry.

3. Cut varying lengths of jute while the gel dries. Cut each jute piece no shorter than 18 inches and no longer than 24 inches. If using, prepare the dye according to the directions on the package. Soak each jute piece in the dye and allow ample time to dry, at least a full hour.

4. Tie each length of dyed jute to each square on the mesh, alternating long pieces with short ones in a random pattern. Pack bunches of leaves and twigs in the mesh "pockets" on the jacket and pants, between the jute lengths, to finish the project.

Tags: jacket pants, each jute, each jute piece, ghillie suits, jute piece

Places To Get Nitrogen Tire Refills

Nitrogen for refilling tires is becoming more available.

According to Get Nitrogen Institute, tires filled with nitrogen instead of regular air reportedly increase gas mileage, wear longer, experience less corrosion and maintain more consistent air pressure. Places that use nitrogen to fill and refill tires have become numerous, as more and more people are requesting nitrogen for their tires.

Tire Centers

Tire centers nationwide use nitrogen to fill tires. They can sell a new tire and fill it or top off a tire brought in to them. Tire centers may charge a significant fee to fill a tire with nitrogen.

Car Dealerships

New cars are available with nitrogen-filled tires. When you purchase the tires with the car, you can usually fill them at the dealer free of charge. The dealership may also fill any new tires purchased there with nitrogen. Used-car dealers may also have the capacity to fill tires with nitrogen, and they may or may not charge a fee to do so.

Discount Superstores

Some discount superstores with automotive centers have nitrogen for tires. Again, they may sell the tires and fill and refill with nitrogen for free, or they may fill a used tire for a fee.

Tags: with nitrogen, fill tires, fill refill, fill tire, nitrogen fill, tires with

Know If A Cure Bolt Is Worn Out

The bolt is often critical to keeping your shots accurate.

Paintball guns fire small, soft projectiles that are gel pellets filled with paint. The bolt is the mechanism that allows a new paintball to drop into the breech to be fired--sort of like the slide-and-spring feed mechanism on a real firearm. If you have a Cure bolt, look for signs of wear.

Instructions

1. Put on your safety glasses and fill the feed with paintballs. Check that the gun's parts are tight and ready to work.

2. Fire several paintballs at a target. Shoot one at a time, aiming carefully. The first sign of a bolt problem is that your accuracy is off. The bolt allows the balls to be fired with as little deformation as possible under ideal circumstances. If it's wearing out, your accuracy will be one of the first casualties.

3. Shine your flashlight down the barrel of the paintball gun and examine the interior. Any burst paintballs may indicate pinching from a worn-out bolt. Alternatively, if the bolt isn't closing completely, you could lose pressure in your shots or have several paintballs in the barrel at once. If your distance is also down, and you find evidence of exploded paintballs in your barrel, your bolt may be the culprit.

Tags: several paintballs, your accuracy, your shots

Build A Dual Barrel Paintball Gun

The purpose of any paintball gun is to fire a paintball capsule upon command. A dual barrel "shotgun" type paintball gun can be built using a few supplies commonly found around the home and some parts from a hardware store or barbecue supply shop. Adult supervision is needed in making and using your dual barrel paintball gun because it will use a household propellant to fire the paintball capsules.

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of newspaper on a table to protect the surface. Stand two paper towel tubes on the newspaper side by side. Tape the sides of the two paper towel tubes together with strips of duct tape.

2. Cover the open ends of the two paper towel tubes with strips of duct tape. Make a slit through the duct tape in the center of each of the holes in the top of the two paper towel tubes with the blade of the utility knife.

3. Insert the tip of one of the two barbecue lighters into the slit cut into the duct tape covering one of the two holes in the paper towel tubes. Tape the sides of the barbecue lighter to the paper towel tube with strips of duct tape. Repeat this procedure with the other barbecue lighter and paper towel tube.

4. Go outside in your backyard. Hold the dual barrel paintball gun you have made so that the open ends of the two tubes are facing up. Shake the hair spray can. Place the nozzle into one of the two open ends. Spray hair spray for five seconds. Repeat this with the other paper towel tube.

5. Drop a paintball capsule into each of the two open ends. Aim your dual barrel paintball gun at a tree or the side of the building. Click the trigger on one of the two barbecue lighters to fire the paintball capsule at the tree or side of the building. Click the trigger on the other barbecue lighter to fire the second paintball capsule at the tree or side of the building.

Tags: paper towel, duct tape, paper towel tubes, towel tubes, open ends, paintball capsule

Set Up Multiple Sights On A Black Gun

The black gun is a versatile model.

AR-15 pattern rifles, otherwise known as black guns, have become popular lately due to their adaptability. They are available in calibers large enough to take down large animals or small enough for everyday plinking. There are a wide variety of accessories that can be attached to your black gun to suit it to your particular needs. Options include long range scopes for varmint hunting, red dot sights and old-fashioned iron sights. You can set up multiple sights on your black gun.

Instructions

Steps

1. Verify the gun is unloaded. To do this, remove the magazine, open the chamber, and ensure there are no bullets inside.

2. Place your black gun on a workbench or table horizontally, with the magazine well pointing toward you.

3. Decide where you want each sight to go. This is to ensure that they do not interfere with one another.

4. Attach the laser dot sight to the rail next to the ejection port by placing the laser's attachment point on the rail and tightening the screws.

5. Pick the black gun up with the barrel facing away from you. Place the iron sights on the most rear as well as the most forward edges of the top picatinny rail. Screw it into place.

6. Hold the gun's butt to your shoulder and place the reflex sight as close to you as comfortable on the gun's top picatinny rail without interfering with the iron sights. Screw it into place.

Tags: iron sights, your black, into place, picatinny rail, Screw into, Screw into place

Get Rust Out Of A Gun Barrel

Proper maintenance for the barrel interior is critical for a smooth and accurate shot.

All weapons require periodic maintenance to ensure optimal operation. This maintenance routine includes removing powder residue from the action and barrel. A weapon can become corroded with rust because of exposure to water; fluctuations of heat and cold may also cause condensation in the barrel. A rusty gun barrel can ruin the performance of the weapon and render it unsafe to fire.

Instructions

1. Unload the weapon completely. Visually inspect the weapon to ensure no ammunition is present.

2. Inspect the barrel. Look for any rust pits on the outside or inside of the barrel. Note the areas to target for scrubbing.

3. Place a few drops of gun cleaner/rust remover onto the nylon-bristle brush. Scrub the rusted area of the outer barrel vigorously until the rust starts to break up. Reapply gun cleaner/rust remover as needed until the rust is gone.

4. Attach a metal mesh-tip to your cleaning rod. Place a few drops of gun cleaner/rust remover onto the tip. Insert the cleaning rod into the barrel and move it in and out vigorously. Inspect the barrel after every 20 strokes to ensure that the rust is coming off.

5. Attach a cleaning patch to your cleaning rod. Wet the patch with gun cleaner/rust remover. Repeat the plunging action to the barrel with the cleaning rod. Replace cleaning patches as needed until the patch is no longer dirty after plunging the barrel. Wipe all cleaning-solution residue free from the weapon with a soft cloth.

Tags: cleaner rust, cleaner rust remover, rust remover, action barrel, cleaning patch, drops cleaner, drops cleaner rust

Lower The Speed On An Invert Mini

Reducing the velocity of the Invert Mini will result in paintballs traveling at lower speeds.

The Invert Mini, like many other types of paintball guns, has a fully adjustable speed. The speed, or velocity, of the paintball gun refers to the speed that a paintball is fired. Typically, paintball guns shoot at about 280 to 300 feet per second. It is important to be able to adjust the velocity of the Invert Mini when necessary because the feet per second of a paintball gun can fluctuate with temperature and the fill level of the air tank. Adjusting the velocity of the Invert Mini is a simple task and will take less than five minutes.

Instructions

1. Turn the Invert Mini on by pressing the power switch for one second. The power switch is located on the back of of the fore-grip, which extends downward from the middle of the Invert Mini.

2. Attach a compressed air tank to the air source adapter of the Invert Mini paintball gun by screwing it in. The air source adapter is located beneath the trigger frame.

3. Turn the velocity screw, which is located at the rear of the paintball gun's body, clockwise to decrease the speed of the Invert Mini. The velocity screw is designed to be adjusted with a 1/4-inch Allen wrench. Be sure to adjust the speed in small 1/4-turn increments.

Tags: Invert Mini, velocity Invert, velocity Invert Mini, feet second, paintball guns, power switch

Lower A Mini Truck

The mini truck is a popular vehicle to modify for many different reasons. For one, they're cheap to purchase. They're also easy to find parts for them. But the best reason is that they're easy to work on. Lowering a mini truck when done correctly, can be done in a day. In this case, the vehicle is a 1994 Toyota, but the process is similar for other mini trucks as well.

Instructions

Front Suspension

1. Measure the distance from the top of the front fenders to the ground, and note down that number using the pad and pencil. This will be used as a reference point later, once the vehicle is on the ground.

2. Lift up the truck using the jack, and place it on jack stands, all along the frame, and underneath the rear axle. You want the vehicle to be secure on the stands before you crawl underneath it.

3. Use the tire iron to remove the tires from the vehicle, and place them to the side. Make sure they're out of the way for this project.

4. Crawl underneath the front of the car, and locate the torsion bars. They run the length of the truck, and are connected to the lower control arms.

5. Loosen the torsion bar adjusting bolts using the 1/2-inch ratchet and sockets. Make sure you loosen both sides the same amount, because this is how the front of the truck is going to come down.

Rear Suspension

6. Move to the rear of the vehicle and unbolt the u-bolts that secure the leaf springs to the axle.

7. Lift the axle off of the jack stands using the jack, and lift it up so that you have about 3-5 inches of space between the axle pad and the leaf spring.

8. Slide the lowering block between the leaf spring, and the axle. There is a pin on the leaf spring, and a hole on the axle pad. The leaf spring block will have these same mounts, so make sure that it's lined up with both the pin and the hole so everything aligns correctly.

9. Place the longer u-bolts over the axle just like the stock u-bolts were mounted, and loosely tighten down the nuts on the u-bolts.

10. Tighten the u-bolt nuts down once the axle is properly aligned and everything fits in place using the 1/2-inch ratchet and sockets.

Final Measurements

11. Lift up the vehicle off of the jack stands using the jack and place it on the ground.

12. Measure the distance between the top of the front fenders and the ground using the tape measure. Reference this number against the number you wrote down before.

13. If you need to raise the front of the vehicle up, then lift the vehicle back onto the jack and jack stands, then tighten up the torsion bar nuts, one turn at a time using the 1/2-inch ratchet, then drop the vehicle down and remeasure. Repeat this process until the numbers are where you want them to be.

Tags: jack stands, leaf spring, 2-inch ratchet, using 2-inch, using 2-inch ratchet, using jack, 2-inch ratchet sockets