Hellions War Story: Barrel-Tagging Tanks

A Hellions War Story submitted by Mike "Arc" Washington.  The events took place at Living Legends of Paintball IV: Escape From New York at CPX Sports in Joliet, Illinois

"The adventure started when I was patrolling to the east of the Temple, the brush in that area is thick and I knew it would be crawling with Blue players looking to capitalize on people who were unwilling to get down and dirty. I crept slowly North towards the road and the sound of the skirmish line. As I approached the tiki-head (on CPX Sports' Temple of Doom field), I ran into several other friendlies whom were proned-out in the treeline. Every few minutes one or two blues would attempt to cross the road but were eliminated by our group.

"As the battle progressed, I got a better line of sight and realized I was behind the main skirmish line of the enemy. I eliminated a player with my marker but it soon misfired and I slung it on my back. Armed only with a pistol, I began to crawl toward the road but quickly I realized I was combat ineffective. Not wanting to give up, I simply walked onto the road and back toward where our friendly players were.
The battle wasn't going well so I stood in the open and helped identify targets and direct fire. At this point in time, the Grindhouse (the Hellions' tank) came over the radio and informed the team it was traveling down the road. In preparation for our much needed armor support, we began to eliminate enemy AT (Anti-Tank) to the best of our ability. The tank soon arrived and I called out the positions that we were unable to route.

"Eventually the tank was eliminated and I walked down the center of the road to attempt to get eyes on the RPG team responsible. Trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, I walked about 20 yards down the road and stood right infront of a enemy player laying in a bush. I looked him straight in the eye and then turned to face the opposite direction. With this player not willing to notice that I didn't call my self out or barrel-sock any of my weapons, all of the blues that came by me paid no attention.

"As I was taking note of the enemies' positions, I noticed the Lapu-Lapu tank coming up the road toward my position. It was making good time and eliminating the friendly players inside of the tree line. I knew if I ran away from it, the blues would notice and if I took cover the tanks gunners would make quick work of me, so I decided to plant my feet and test their powers of observation.

"The tank came to a stop about 20 feet from me and cut its engines. The player that was laying down behind me ran up to the tank and began to engage targets. I walked over to a game referee and asked a question about the finer points of vipers rules with tanks. As I was speaking, the driver opened his door and began to shoot; my eyes lit up. I immediately asked the referee what would happen if the driver were to be eliminated but before I got an answer a round struck the driver in the chest. There were a few minutes of panic as the driver, tank ref and the player tried to figure out how they would get the tank out of danger and I knew this was my chance.

"I stepped back and watched the change of player roles. The original driver took off down the road to make the reinsertion while the other two began to kneel and switch gear. The tank ref. Was cleared to become the driver and the player volunteered to drop his weapon and become a referee. I walked up to the game referee and made sure their role reversal was official. The referee pointed and began to say 'he is now the driver', but I was already closing the distance between my self and the tank. As the new driver turned around and began to climb in, I came right up to the door, drew my pistol and said the two of my favorite words “barrel tag”. I holstered my pistol and intended to walk away but the diver began to scream and let the world know what happen. I didn't bother asking the game referee to intervene as I knew it was too late and started sprinting away. After a few steps I stopped, put my hands over my head and called my self out."

CPX Sports: Defuse Bedlam Scenario Tourney

As a bonus to everyone participating in Living Legends 4 and NPPL Chicago Open, there will be a 5-man scenario tournament centered around the Tippmann town of Bedlam at CPX Sports.  Each team will play the role of both Terrorist and Counterterrorist.  The winning team will get $750.  Entry is free to all paid participants.  Play begins on Thursday, May 19.
Click here for additional event details

Defuse Bedlam "Instructional Remix" video:






Date of Event: May 19-20, 2011
Field Location: CPX Sports, Joliet, IL
Official Web Site: CPX Sports or Hellions SFG
Game Time: TBA
Cost of Admission: Complimentary all Living Legends and NPPL paid participants.
Cost of Paint/Air: $50 Cases of Empire event paint
Side/Affiliation: Each team plays Attack and Defend

Special Notes:

Entry is complimentary all Living Legends 4 and NPPL paid participants.

Scores are combined from Attack and Defend portions for team total. 1200 points theoretical maximum.

The 4 highest scoring teams will face off in the finals bracket.
1st place: $750
2nd place: $250



GENERAL INFORMATION:

GAME - 5 minutes

PLAYERS - 5 Attackers versus 5 Defenders



ATTACK MISSION - 600 possible points (theoretical)

+ Primary mission - Defuse the bomb in the Post Office. - (300 points theoretical)

+ Secondary mission - Kill all 5 Defenders - (20 points each)

+ Tertiary mission – Save the (2) Hostages before game ends. - (100 points each)



DEFEND MISSION – 600 possible points

+ Primary mission - Set off the Bomb in the Post Office. - (300 points maximum)

+ Secondary mission - Kill all 5 Attackers. - (20 points each)

+ Tertiary mission – Hold the (2) Hostages until game ends. - (100 points each)



GENERAL RULES:

Game is five (5) minutes long.

Each side will have five (5) players.

Each team will play the role of Defender first and then will play the role of Attacker.

The next team in line will then assume the Defenders spot.

Attackers deploy from the CPX Police Van.

Defenders start in 3 adjacent buildings (A, D and E on map).

One Defender begins in Building E with the Bomb.

One Defender begins in Building D with a Hostage.

Remainder of Defenders begin in Building A with a Hostage.

Bomb is placed in Building E and is armed at the start.

Defenders collect 1 point for every second the bomb remains armed. Points accumulation will end if the bomb is defused or if all Attackers are eliminated.

Attackers collect 1 point for every second after the bomb is defused. Points accumulation will continue until game time ends or all Defenders are eliminated.

Bomb cannot be re-armed once it has been defused.

Hostages may be used as shields, however any hostage killed will result in a 100-point penalty to BOTH teams.

Hostages may only be relocated by the Attacking team once freed, and they must be with an active player in order to be moved.

$50 per case of Empire event paint.

All modes of fire are permitted

No limit to paint or air carried

280 FPS maximum


Defuse Teaser - Tourney Style:



Defuse Teaser - Mil-Sim Style:

Tippmann Announces Major Global Sponsorship Program for X7 Phenom

Tippmann Announces Major Global Sponsorship Program for X7 Phenom

Tippmann is pleased to announce that the X7 Phenom, the world’s most popular scenario marker is now the official marker of Oklahoma D-Day, the world’s largest paintball event and over 30 other global scenario games including the Great American Paintball Tour, all MPP and Viper Scenario Games, Big Games around the world including Veckring, North vs. South and the Wasaga Beach Big Game.

Tippmann we’ll be promoting these events across the web and on our industry-leading Facebook network, which now has more than 130,000 fans. Our continued involvement with these events is all part of our ongoing mission to support the industry and encourage more play at these events. More details for these events that Tippmann supports can be found at http://bit.ly/PaintballEvents.

We are also excited about the X7 Phenom sponsorship for the new Great American Paintball Tour, which includes Living Legends IV at CPX Sports, Oklahoma D-Day at D-Day Adventure Park, Invasion of Normandy at Skirmish, Monster Game at Hell Survivors and Decay of Nations at SC Village Paintball Park which are all accepting early registration but Living Legends IV and Oklahoma D-Day early registration ends in the next two weeks. To get more details on this excitng new series go to http://bit.ly/GreatAmericanPBTour.

Warzone Podcast Episode 14 Now Available

Warzone Podcast episode 14 special guest Jim Lively

Hellions SFG presents Warzone Podcast episode 14. Debut of "Viper's Venom" where scenario producer Kerry "Viper" Rosenberry will briefly discuss Living Legends of Paintball 4: Escape From New York. The Main Event interview is Legend Jim Lively. Also, Sarah "Phoenix" Meehan makes her debut as co-host on the Warzone Podcast.


2011 Season of the Warzone Podcast

Hellions SGF Sponsored by Ranger Up

4/8/2011

News Release
Panzer Attack at Bailey's Battlefield in Niagnua, MO

Hellions SFG Sponsored by Ranger Up

The strategies and tactics of the Hellions as well as the style of their equipment are meant to be a tribute to real world fighting forces that have more determination, strength, heart, and will power than any other warrior on the planet. They reflect this every time they step on the field with the members who are current, former, and prospective soldiers. What makes the baddest of the bad stand out the most? The fact that they are completely, 100% ..Unapologetically American.

At this year's Panzer Attack, the Hellions made official their new sponsorship with Ranger Up. Ranger Up is a military inspired MMA fightware company, with a roster of fighters that are both current and former military personnel. The company generously outfitted the team with product from the full line of both MMA fitted and casual t-shirts of popular designs. Several members of the team had made purchases from the company in the past, and saw the natural fit between the goals and philosophy of both organizations.

“Ranger Up is an awesome company, hands down, both in product and in customer service. The founders have a quality standard with the creativity of the designs and the final printing. Their real world experience means each design has substance and means something.” Said Kevin “Kevlar” Quinn, Hellions PR Officer and Warzone Podcast Editor. “We strive to maintain our patriotic presence and will also help Ranger Up to cater to the paintball community in the future. It's an honor to bring a non-industry company to the dance with us.” He added.

Ranger Up Founder and Co-owner Nick Palmisciano stated, “We are beyond impressed with the Hellions organization, on field performance, and how much they support the armed forces. When we heard of their performance at Panzer Attack, we were speechless, very happy, and a little terrified. We look forward to working together with the Hellions to bring something to the paintball community and beyond.”

Hellions SFG will be the exclusive paintball team of Ranger Up and invite everyone to check out their online store and use “hellions20” to receive 20% off your purchase. www.Rangerup.com.

Review of Tippmann Woodsball Gear

Reviewer: Kevin “Kevlar” Quinn, Hellions SFG, ODA 133. Warzone Podcast Editor-in-Chief.

Manufacturer: Tippmann Sports, LLC., 2955 Adams Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46803.

Description: Digital Camouflage Patterned Pants, Jersey, and Harness.

Period of Product Use: Couple of indoor practices, big game.

Paintball Experience: 12 years

Similar Products Used:

Pants: JT cotton/poly blend, Invert tourny pants, Full Clip Multicam.
Jersey: JT, various custom by Animal, Raza.
Harness:Various harnesses, Empire harness, Full Clip Combo Rig.

Marker Setup: N/A (Requires tank mounted on marker)

Recommended Upgrades: 140-count pods not included

Strengths:
Jersey: Extremely lightweight, reinforced padded areas in the arms are a great improvement. Could be used with or without arm padding underneath. Arm Velcro for unit team patches is very handy. Shoulder padding areas noted for adding protection in areas that most commonly hit with behind bunkers and in prone positions.

Pants:
Stretched fabric in groin area, rather than additional polyester padding is GREAT. Loops to keep leg rig straps in place is good idea, very resourceful. ID card, map holder, etc. on right leg is handy. Extra room on bottom of pants cuffs and stretch material on back of knees, excellent for ventilation.

Harness:
Extremely well built. Heavy-duty construction without adding additional weight to lug for player. The material in the back kept the harness in place for the entire time during play, and fit the reviewer's waist perfectly.




Weaknesses:
Jersey:
Minor discoloration and small holes along neck/collarbone padding.

Pants:
Holes for buttons at the groin are tearing on one set. Reinforcing them with rubber or metal gromits.
While the loop for rig straps around the leg is good, the straps will be over the larger storage and utility pockets. Can be an inconvenience if planning to carry tools, squeegees, or microfiber clothes in the deeper pockets.
More velcro would be great along the adjustable waist (unless I had a Small rather than a Medium).

Harness:
No notable weaknesses.

Review Details:

Being a Tippmann fan, I wasn't sure what to expect out of a Tippmann harness. The sturdy construction and sharpness of the graphics and camo pattern did not disappoint me. It's much larger than my Empire harness, which I appreciate and the volume of paint it can carry is excellent.
For the pants, polyester pants are always a concern to me based on their breathability. The football style mesh on the interior helped with this issue, and the stretched materials was a SUPERB idea. Behind the knees, but more importantly, at the groin was a great decision. Pants can be durable, but without reinforced groins, the service time of them can be (and has been) greatly decreased. To do away with there being material in these areas is an excellent investment. Pocket depth is good, and it is reassuring to have the added protection of the zippers.
The jersey was simple and straightforward. The football mesh may still be in issue with catching on vegetation, but in reality, I have yet to have any of my jerseys with similar designs catch on anything. There could be more areas of velcro for nametapes, etc. Not a major priority, however. The addition of foam padding at the collarbone is greatly appreciated. I love the thumb area around the cuffs of the jersey. The material used is soft enough to the skin and absorbent enough for moisture-wicking. The discoloration and holes at the top are very noticeable, and it all appeared after only 2 or 3 uses. If a player chooses to use arm/hand pads underneath, the existing padding may cause discomfort.


Ratings:

Harness: 5/5
Jersey: 3/5
Pants: 4/5



The Hellions SFG is proud to state that it is officially sponsored by Tippmann Sports. Tippmann gives team members the opportunity to test out new and upcoming markers and other paintball-related gear for a no-nonsense review.

Hellions Warzone Podcast Expands

In an effort to develop long-term programming for the show, Warzone Podcast has recently made additions to the show with the philosophy of "A National Reach with a Local Appeal".  The first is a scenario-themed segment featuring Kerry "Viper" Rosenberry of Viper Scenario Productions.  The monthly segment will provide summaries of recent and upcoming events at venues throughout the country.  Coverage will be provided on event story lines as well as a who's who of commanders and other creative talent.

"I'm very excited to be having an opportunity to work with Viper," said Editor-in-Chief Kevin "Kevlar" Quinn.  "For all of the scenario personalities I've had on the show, hosting a game producer just makes sense. Kerry has clearly set a standard and continues to raise it after events like Living Legends at CPX.  Warzone Podcast will serve as another medium for Viper to present information on his games to the paintball community."

Kerry responded by saying, "I'm always eager to work with motivated individuals in an effort to help players get the best and most current info on our events, and scenario paintball in general. The Warzone Podcast is a great source of useful info and paintball entertainment, and we're pleased to be working with them."

Additionally, the show has partnered with Rennick Miller of Bad Boyz Toyz Pro Shops.

Kevin explained, "I've worked with Rennick Miller over the past few years, and I'm excited to be working with him again.  Being a local, paintball franchise, Rennick will be helping me to get quality gear reviews done for the show.  Playing local and buying local is paramount in a tight economy, and hopefully this will help us both to continue achieving our goals.  Working with Aftershock guys like Nick Slowiak and Chad "YaYa" Bouchez will be a blast."

Finally, the show is happy to be bringing in the "One Woman Army", Sarah "Phoenix" Meehan, as a broadcast partner.  "Phoenix has an undeniable passion for paintball and can bring the on-air personality to match," said Kevin.  "I'm incredibly excited to work with her and to bring some more variety to the microphone for the audience's enjoyment."  The updates will be gradually implemented to the show, which is delivered on a monthly basis

Thank you to our sponsors: CPX Sports, Tippmann Sports, Full Clip USA, Hammerhead Paintball, Metadyne Industries, and VFW Post 6863.

Hellions Earn MoFo at Viper's Flashpoint: Korea

Hellions crew of the Gremlin at Viper's Flashpoint: Korea

The Southwest Detachment of the Hellions SFG (ODA 163) received the Most Formidable (MoFo) Opponent award on Sunday, February 20, at Viper's "Flashpoint: Korea" 2-day event hosted by Cousin's Paintball in Forney, Texas.  Team members Randy "Flight" Farris and Gary Payne as well as Andrew "Pyro" Jewet and Chuck "Arid" Isom all served as crew for the Hellions' LSV-3 paintball tank.  LSV-3 stands for "Light Strike Vehicle-3" but is better known as "The Gremlin".  The Gremlin and its crew were part of the North Korean side and helped take and hold many objectives on the field, despite poor terrain during the two days of paintball.

On the first day, the Gremlin crew did not face any OPFOR (Opposing Force) AT (Anti-Tank) players for the first half of the day and were able to help push the OPFOR all the way back to their field hospital. Because the game became so lop-sided for a time, the Gremlin crew gave a wide berth to the OPFOR players so they could get a little room to breath and make the game a challenge. Even after the break, the OPFOR was not able to make effective use of AT, and so the Gremlin and her crew continued to harass and help retake objectives for the rest of the day.

On day two, the South Korean side employed a heavier AT presence and focused on trying to take out the Gremlin and its crew. The OPFOR successfully eliminated the Gremlin four times throughout the day. A few times throughout the day, the Gremlin seemed to serve as an APC (Assault Personal Carrier) with its crew playing the role of infantry support.  Crew members dismounted, chased down and bunkered OPFOR players at critical objectives and actively worked to eliminate AT players that threatened the Gremlin.

Although often outnumbered and surrounded by a larger infantry force, the Gremlin and her crew were able to serve as an effective fighting force and a thorn in the side of the OPFOR.  That is what ultimately earned them the MoFo award.  The OPFOR general generally gives the award to a team or individual that has worked the hardest to disrupt and ruin his or her plans.

[Article provide by Gary Payne, Assistant Weapons Sergeant for the Hellions ODA 163.]

SPECIFICATIONS :

VEHICLE NAME: LSV-3 "Gremlin"

TURRET MARKERS: (2) Tippmann 98 Customs with E-grip and Cyclone feeders.

PASSENGER MARKER: (1) Invert Mini

CHASSIS: 1988 Ford Bronco II

Hellions SFG 2011 Season Calendar

The Hellions have finalized their 2011 Season Calendar for their teams in the Chicago region.  They are available through the Hellions SFG Events Page or their forums, the Warzone.  Some event data is not currently available.  The Southwest Detachment of the Hellions will post a finalized 2011 schedule soon.   The Hellions will be commanding the Red Team at the Risk VII event in a rematch of last year's 3 generals.  The Hellions will also serve as Warhammer's XO at the Living Legends of Paintball 4, produced by Viper and hosted by CPX Sports.

29 JAN 11 -- Team Practice - O'Hare Paintball

12 FEB 11 --  Team Practice - O'Hare Paintball

12 MAR 11 -- Risk VII - Sherwood Forest

09-10 APR -- Panzer Attack - Bailey's Battlefield

30-01 APR -- Axis vs. Allies - Sherwood Forest

21-22 MAY -- LIVING LEGENDS 4 - CPX SPORTS

18-19 JUN -- Team Building/Apocalypse - WI Dells

16-17 JUL -- Pirates vs. Ninjas - Sherwood Forest

13 AUG 11 -- UWL Practice - CPX Sports

03 SEP 11 -- Friends & Family Day 4 - CPX Sports

10-11 SEP -- Freedom Fighters - Ft. Knox Paintball

01-02 OCT -- UWL Finals - Badlandz Paintball

04-06 NOV -- Fulda Gap - Command Decisions

17 DEC 11 -- Team Christmas Party - TBD

See the full calendar thread in the Warzone > Events.  

Subscribe to the team's Google Calendar or iCal Calendar.

Hellions Alternate Uniform Jersey

The Hellions SFG previously announced that it had tentatively committed its "Delta Squad" to compete in the 2011 season of the Ultimate Woodsball League.  The Hellions are first and foremost a military-simulation (mil-sim) scenario team and use the MultiCam-patterned ACUs for its uniform.  As the team experiments in non-scenario competitive events and recreational air field practices, its members felt the need to create an alternate uniform.

For all mil-sim and scenario events, the Hellions will continue to wear their MultiCam uniforms and Full Clip USA kits.  For the UWL events, the Hellions will sport new team jerseys designed by Don "D-Mac" McClelland of Don McClelland Designs of Chicago and produced by Raza Life out of California.  The Hellions jersey is also approved for recreational play and team practices.  Below are two photos of team member Chad "Adder" Kurtz at the team's February practice at O'Hare Paintball.

 

Warzone Podcast Episode 12 Released

Season 2 Episode 2 of Warzone Podcast features Dan "Barney" Alamo of Blue's Crew providing his insight for the "Field 411" segment. The Chicago Heretics' own Todd "Spartan" Berens sheds light on his experiences in team building and bringing UWL gold to the Windy City.

LISTEN

SUBSCRIBE

Special thanks to our sponsors:
CPX Sports: http://www.cpxsports.com
Tippmann Sports: http://www.tippmann.com
Full Clip USA: http://www.fullclipusa.com
HammerHead: http://www.hammerheadpaintball.com
Metadyne Industries: http://www.metadyneindustries.com

Recorded February 2011.
Podcast album cover design by JOWAR Graphic Design.
Contact the host: kevlar@hellions.net

Hellions New Site Goes Live

The Hellions have given the site a whole new look with the launch of Version 5.0 of Hellions.net.  The site incorporates social networking widgets, Bing search and a lot more bells and whistles.  While some pages may not yet be fully functional during the transition, there is already a lot of new material to feast your eyes on.  Check it out and let us know what you think: Hellions Web Site.

Living Legends 4 Promo

The Hellions shot a promotional video for Living Legends 2011: Escape from New York. The Hellions will be on the side of Warhammer, played by Jared "Bad Karma 6" Bronson. The Hellions' own Lani "Sky" Fox will serve as his Executive Officer. Join us May 21-22, 2011 at CPX Sports in Joliet, Illinois.

Hellion XO at Living Legends 4

Salt Lake City, Utah - January 12, 2011 - Bad Karma, a scenario, big game and CQB team from Salt Lake City, Utah, today announce that team Commander Jared Bronson has been tapped to act as a commander for Living Legends IV at CPX Sports in Joliet, Illinois. Lani "Sky" Fox of the Hellions will be his X.O. for an event that is sure to knock the doors off!

COMMANDERS SET FOR CPX SPORTS LIVING LEGENDS IV PRODUCED BY VIPER

Announcing your commanders for LL4: Escape from New York

Our story will be a unique adaptation of the original 1981 classic. Of course, the President's plane has gone down inside the massive prison once known as Manhattan Island, NY. Inside there are a number of savage gangs, each controlling their own "turf." All of the gangs are loyal to one of two rival leaders; and each of these leaders is working on a way to bust out of the prison the members of the gangs loyal to them.

Our first commander is a man familiar to most any paintballers with an Internet connection. He has played paintball for over twenty years, and his event and gear reviews on his You Tube channel have earned him over 10,000 subscribers and a half-million views.

Portraying the role of the infamous "Duke of New York" (A number one) will be Andre "Wolf" Critchlow of "The Wolf's Den."

His opponent has also been paintballing for over twenty years. After his early years in paintball he went on to become a US Army Ranger and Scout Sniper. After the Army he and his friends formed their own paintball team in 2007. His background and skill have resulted in him being tapped to command many scenario events in the western US. He has also been a field commander for two Living Legends events. His approach to generaling, win or lose, is to give players the best experience possible and to unite players to accomplish memorable goals.

The role of "Warhammer" will be played by Jared "Bad Karma Six" Bronson of Bad Karma Paintball Team.

As an added bonus, the role of the infamous S.D. "Snake" Plisken will be the one and only "Weltman" of Damage Inc. He is loyal to neither side as he will have his own agenda and will be focused on it. However, those who sent him in have also hidden supplies that he may need. Helping him without getting in his way may yield its own rewards in the form of extra goodies that may help each commander accomplish their own goals.

The annual "CPX Sports Living Legends produced by Viper" is in its fourth year at world-famous CPX Sports in Joliet, Illinois. More info about this event can be found on the Internet at www.livinglegendsofpaintball.com.

About CPX Sports

CPX Sports is a 200 acre paintball facility in Joliet, Illinois that offers some of the most unique concept fields in the country including a Mayan temple, a full-scale city field, and post-apocalyptic battleground. More info can be found on the Internet at www.cpxsports.com.

About Viper Paintball

Viper Paintball is a professional paintball event production company that has operated since 1996 and offers events from coast to coast across the United States. More info can be found on the Internet at www.viperpaintball.com.

About Bad Karma

Bad Karma is a scenario, big game and CQB paintball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The team competes in events throughout the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. The team members are some of the most competitive and passionate in the region. As a result, Bad Karma has won numerous awards on a team and individual level. Team sponsors include Tippmann, Full Clip, Guerrilla Air, Pinokio Hoppers, Furious Paintball, Special Ops Paintball, Medusa Paintball, TechT Paintball, Real Action Paintball, A Pirate's Paradise, The Utah National Guard and TreeHouse Interactive, Inc. Visit www.teambadkarma.com for more information on the team.

This press release was issued by Bad Karma Paintball based on a press release by Viper Paintball. Read more about the scenario and current announcements at Living Legends of Paintball.

ODA 163 Receives MVT Award at Call For Duty

Hellions.net - September 30, 2010 – Hellions Southwest Detachment ODA 163 recently attended the Call For Duty 2-day scenario event produced by Viper and hosted by Cousins Field in Forney, Texas. Hellions in attendance were: BioAndrews, Custar, Drunkenmaster, Flight, Payne, Spartacus, and Swampthing. Flight and Payne fielded ODA 163's tank, "The Gremiln".

The event went very well for the Hellions. The format was a common formula for a Viper scenario with game segments beginning at 1200 on Saturday and adjourning Saturday evening and then restarting at 0900 on Sunday with a final battle just after lunch. Flight and Payne did an outstanding job using the Gremlin to keep the Roughnecks' tank at bay and providing support to the infantry. The rest of the Hellions were spread out over the field acting in various leadership roles, keeping allied players moving in the right direction. By the end of the day Saturday, the OPFOR was run down so badly they only had a handful willing to play the night game.

Sunday was a similar affair. The Hellions used movement and radio communicaitons to reach objectives and complete missions quicker and more efficiently, which wore down the other side. By the end of the on-field game, most of the OPFOR was too exhausted or too dejected to remain on the field. Several of the final missions were virtually uncontetsted.

In the Final Battle, the BLUFOR scored all available points after an aggressive first move and employment of a well-coordinated defense of the ground taken. In the end, the Hellions were awareded the Most Valuable Team award.

Hellions Appear on New Tippmann Trailer

FT. Wayne, Indiana- May 12, 2010 – Last year, representatives from Tippmann Sports snapped some photographs of the Hellions during a test fire at their home field of CPX Sports in Joliet, Illinois. Several months later, some of the shots began to appear in magazine ad spots for the TPX Pistol and Internet web flyers on the Tippmann Sports Official Site and Facebook page.

Last month, the Hellions got a message from Tippmann requesting to take some higher-resolution images for a top secret project. On May 11, Tippmann unveiled the design of their new trailer on their Facebook page. The Hellions were pleasantly surprised to see one of their own featured prominently on the center of the trailer. The Hellions team patches are visible just above the Tippmann name. Below is the press release that appeared on the Tippmann Facebook page:

Tippmann Sports The new Tippmann Trailer is on its way to the Long Island Big Game this weekend. At this game and in our trailer area, Greg Hastings will be showcasing his new video game that is launching this fall. Stop by and check out all the great Tippmann products in the game plus some unlockable items you do not want to miss. The Long Island Big Game on May 15th and 16th is in Coram, NY where up to 2,000 players are expected. There is still time to get in the action so check out http://bit.ly/NYBigGame.

The trailer will be at the Living Legends of Paintball III event by Viper Productions and hosted by CPX Sports in Joleit, Illinois over the Memorial Day weekend, May 29-30, 2010.

Hellion Lani "SKY" Fox Interviewed by PBWoman

PBWoman.com - May 12, 2010 – In a recent interview posted on PBWoman.com by Pam "Cookie" Robertson entitled "The Commander's Wife", Hellion Lani "Sky" Fox is asked by to tell what it's like to be the wife of a big game general:

Lani “Sky” Fox is an unusually interesting person when it comes to paintball. She runs double duty. being both wife and teammate to one of the most challenging commander positions of the year. Her husband and teammate, DJ "Honu" Fox will be commanding "The Man" side against the infamous and most adored Barney of Blue’s Crew at CPX Sports Living Legends of Paintball III produced By Viper. One thing I have personally noticed about Sky is that she is always up for the challenge when it comes to a hard job. I found her answers to be very interesting and supportive.

1. How do you feel about Honu commanding at LL3? I think this is a great opportunity for him and I'm very proud of him for taking on the task because as we've found out it's not an easy one.

2. Does it effect your relationship at home? Not at all. If anything it brings us closer together because we have a common interest and now everything he's told me over the years isn't over my head because I understand it now.

3. Do you get treated any different on the field or at a game than other teammates? I don't see any different treatment other than maybe not quite soooo much ribbing from the guys. I certainly do not expect any special treatment. I chose to get into this sport which is predominantly male and was aware of what may come from that. I believe our teammates have been very good at accepting me and really once you're around me you realize I can give as good as I get, so no need to curb your instincts around me.

4. Do you feel like you are under more pressure has a wife or a team mate to be supportive and take home a win? As a wife we are teammates so in either sense "we're in it together". The win really isn't important, yeah it's nice, but paintball is about having fun and getting together with your extended family. In all of our time together we've always been an "us against them" kind of couple and not in a bad way, just in a "we know we can always go to each other for support" kind of way.

5. What are some of the things you do has a wife to support his role has a commander? I've been active in trying to pinpoint some of the problems I've seen in the past in the base and trying to remedy them before they even start at LL3. In the time I've spent in different bases in the past couple of years I also see what works so we have been bouncing ideas off each other since he agreed to take on this role. The biggest change since he's agreed to do this is that he's on the phone a lot sometimes with some of the teams we are playing with and I get dizzy watching him pace the floor and doing laps around the living room.

6. Does the fact that you and Honu play on the same team make it easier or harder for you to play at games? I think it makes it easier because as I said we can bounce ideas off each other on the way to the game and on the way home we talk about what worked or what didn't so we know for next time. We also know each other very well so many times we don't even have to talk on the field. I'll see him doing something and I know instinctively what I should do. It's kind of cool because I've done things without thinking and he gets so proud. Almost like a proud dad.

7. Any comments to others who may have a spouse wanting to play? One of the many reasons I started playing was because our boys were getting older and they want to play so I started playing primarily because when they are ready it'll be great family time. Now that I've played I really enjoy it and it's a good time. Remember, there are all kinds of jobs that need to be done (front lines or near the base). You don't have to be physically gifted or a crack shot, the goal is to have a good time, getting exercise in the meantime and telling stories around the campfire after.

PBWoman is advertised as "The 1st Official Home for Female Paintballers on the Web -- All Tuff. No Fluff." For more information on PBWoman, contact Bambi. J. Bullard, PBWoman Writer and Media Contac, or write to PBWoman at P.O. Box 90, Winnsboro, Texas 75494.

Hellions Review the Tippmann Tru-Feed 7-Ball Magazine

Reviewer: Lonnie "Grendel" Colson, Hellions SFG Company Commander and Team Captain.
Manufacturer: Tippmann Sports, LLC., 2955 Adams Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46803.

Description: "The new Tru-Feed 7-Ball Magazine will now come standard with every TPX Pistol. It uses a straight feed, low tension spring system that allows players to use a wider variety of paint, and is less affected by hot or humid conditions." (From Tippmann Sports' Facebook press release)

Period of Product Use: Approximately one month

Paintball Experience: Almost 20 years (1990)

Similar Products Used: Tippmann 8-Ball Staggered Magazine

Marker Setup: Stock TPX (serial no. 0014572)

Recommended Upgrades: HammerHead barrel

Strengths: Straight feed is quicker to load as you do not have to worry about a paintball sometimes stacking out of sequence creating dimples when filled to capacity. The lower tension spring reduces the effect of hot and humid weather on paintballs stacked in the magazine. It also allows the TPX to fire a wider variety of paintballs, even the relatively brittle-shelled premium paints.

Weaknesses: Loss of one shot per magazine. I consider it a very minor one that is overpowerd by the gain in reliability, but there are some that may consider that a weakness.

Review: Anyone who has every taken the field at D-Day with a TPX Pistol (or similar paintball marker-pistol) as a sidearm has likely experienced the frustration of having a misfeed. Worse is the jumble of paintballs resembling melted gumballs in their magazines. Tippmann has come up with an ingeneous way to virtually get rid of the problem caused by having paintballs mashed together in hot and humid weather. After extensive testing, they got rid of the staggered feed and went with a lower tension spring. The result is magazine that is 'gentler' on a wider variety of paint, including the relatively more brittle-shelled premium grade paintballs.

The first thing I did was compare the new Tru-Feed 7-ball magazine with the standard 8-ball magazine that came with the TPX Pistol. At first glance, the only thing that really looks different is that there are 3 screws on the Tru-Feed. The dimensions are almost indistinguishable one from another. Once you load them with paintballs, the differences start to stand out. The tops(magazine feeds) are noticeably different. The standard magazine has a curved finger-like feeder lift on the carrier (see photo, second from left), while the Tru-Feed has a dimpled semi-circular feeder that is spring actuated. The newer version is easier to depress and is therefore easier on paintballs.

Loading the Tru-Feed seems faster. I sometimes would get a paintball that did not want to stagger correctly on the old stock version. If I was in a rush and did not fix it, I would often end up dimpling one or more paintballs from the extra pressure being exerted. The straight feed just loads straight. Load fast or load slow, they all load in a straight line. Both magazines' carriers lock down in a similar fashion prior to loading. Paintballs did not jump out of the magazine when dropped into a pouch.

During the test fire, I would alternate between the Tru-Feed and the standard 8-ball magazines to keep a one for one comparison going. During the course of fire, I could not tell the difference in the magazines by way of weight, feel or handling. If I went through speed drills, I occasionally forgot which one I was using until the last shot. As a result of that, I would recommend that guys who count their shots to either make a point of checking to see which magazine they are loading (tough in a game), or store them separately, or just not bring both versions on the field.

The tests used to write this review were conducted over a two-day period using a new model TPX Pistol. Temperatures were very mild for the Chicago area. Paints used were: RPS Marballizers, DraXxus Heat and Empire Blizzard. Neither magazine experienced a break with any of the three brands of paint.

Conclusion: The improvements of the Tru-Feed Magazine are enough to cause Tippmann to make it standard with all future TPX Pistol sales. Experiences with "gumballs" in the old 8-ball staggered feed magazines during those hot D-Day summers makes the switch to the new Tru-Feed a no-brainer. I was never a fan of the staggered feed to begin with. The loss of one paintball per magazine is not even a consideration in my mind. In fact, during those cold Chicago winters, I usually could not get through 3 of the 8-ball magazines on a single CO2 cartridge. During tests of the pre-production models of the Tru-Feed, I was always able to get through 3 of the 7-ball magazines. I like consistency. Knowing that you are finished with your 3rd straight feed magazine means you need a CO2 change as well is much better than wondering which shot is going to roll out the barrel on the 3rd staggered feed magazine.

Anyone who does not see an improvement (reduction) in their rate of breaks should contact the Tippmann Techincal Support Team at (800) 533-4831, especially if they are using one of the original models. Tippmann has come out with several updates/upgrades and their techs will repair or exchange parts free of charge. Visit them at any one of the many major big game events literally around the world.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

For More Information: Tippmann Sports TPX Pistol

Photos: Images of the Tru-Feed 7-ball magazine and standard 8-shot magazine with the TPX used to conduct this review.

Lani "SKY" Fox Interviewed by Catshack Reports

The Catshack - April 19, 2010 – In a recent interview posted in the Tomcat's Corner of The Catshack Reports by Paul Forcier, Hellion Lani "Sky" Fox is asked about what it is like to be a woman in a predominantly male sport like paintball:

In an effort to show the world that paintball is not just a male dominated sport I have taken the initiative to interview some ladies who love and play the sport right along side of us men. These ladies are a force on and off the field but when you see their markers pointed at you prepare, they will not hold back and their mind is set on sending you to the dead box. Today we have a visit from Lani Fox a member of the well known Hellions based out of Chicago.

Name: Lani “Sky” Fox (my first name is pronounced like Loni)

Age: 35

Occupation: Legal secretary/paralegal

Marker: Phenom

Home Field: CPX

Team: Hellions

How did you get involved in paintball? My husband has been trying to get me to play for years and I finally gave in and went to an open game and loved it, so I continued to go to games and improve my skills.

For all of those new people who ask does it hurt, what would you say? I would say yes it does, but no more than getting hit with a rubberband. It stings for a second and then it goes away. Besides, you’re having too much fun to notice anyway.

Out of all of the sports available why did you choose paintball? I’ve competing in different sports throughout the years. The only one I could still actively play at this point is softball because there are summer leagues. So, when I decided to give paintball a try, I was hooked. Now, I play more paintball than softball and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

To date, what has been your favorite playing experience? One was when my husband and I were holding off 15 guys coming up a trail and they had no idea where we were and you could hear them all yelling “where the heck are they?” It was early in my career and it was a very memorable experience.

What tips, that you have learned, would you give to fellow players? Don’t be scared or intimidated, you have the same gear as everyone else and are just as capable of shooting them.

Other than paintball, what do you do for fun? Softball and recently started taking karate classes.

When you are outnumbered on the field what is it that you do to stay in the game? With my team we coordinate through radios and hand signals that even if we are outnumbered we don’t feel like we’re out of the fight. Better to go out fighting than just walking away.

Who do you look up too in the sport and why? I don’t really have anyone I look up to. I got into the sport as a way to spend time with the family and found out I loved playing too. I’ve met a lot of great people who have taught me a lot and contiue to learn, but I can’t really pinpoint any one person. As I’m meeting more of the well known people and getting to know them I can appreciate their contributions and all the hard work they’ve put into to get the sport known around the world.

What has been the funniest off field antics you or someone else has done that you were a part of? I have to say off field is full of fun stories and great comraderie. One of the best is watching people try to work the Indo Board (which is a surfing balance trainer – think large rolling pin with a cutting board on top of it) after playing all day.

How can the industry attract more women to get involved in paintball? Acceptance. I think we’re trying to do that with pbwoman.com and just getting women more visible on the field is helping I think. There are certainly stereotypes to overcome and that’s what we hope to do with the website and as players on the field. I think a lot of girls see their boyfriends, husbands, etc. paintball magazines with a bikini clad woman showing off a marker and that may turn them off. I would like to see more women players being showcased. I look at those pictures and say “I don’t think she can play in that.”

We welcome stories from all of you women players. In an effort to get more of the ladies involved we want to hear from you. Send us your story at cryptic@catshackreports.com

Paul Forcier

Read the full interview and accompanying photos at The Catshack Reports.

Grindhouse to be Featured in Episode of "MEGADRIVE" on MTV

MTV Greenlights new series about extreme vehicles
and invites the Grindhouse to strut its stuff on air.

JOLIET, IL. - January 17, 2010 – The Hellions met for a full day of fliming by Lion TV, a professional video production company developing a program called "MegaDrive" set to air on MTV sometime late this spring. MegaDrive is hosted by stand-up comic Johnny Pemberton who gets "the keys to some of the most extreme vehicles on the planet." The Hellions' tank, the Grindhouse, will be the focus of one of the upcoming episodes. LionTV chose the team's home field, CPX Sports, as the backdrop of the show. CPX Sports rolled out the red carpet and allowed the crew onto the Town of Bedlam even though the field is normally closed during the winter.

Despite temperaturs in the lower 30's and light snowfall, the Hellions were out in force to demonstrate the awesome power of the Grindhouse. Filming lasted from 0800 until well after sunset.

The team is obviously sworn to secrecy and cannot give away all of the details of the show. Suffice to say, like any paintball event the show will culminate in a final battle. Stay tuned to MTV to see what Johnny and his crew bring to the field to square off against the Grindhouse and the Hellions.



NEW YORK, NY. - August 11, 2009 – MTV President of Programming Tony DiSanto today announced a greenlight slate filled with assorted projects which include ... Megadrive. “Our viewers expect reinvention and creative diversity from MTV, and this greenlight slate gives them a peek at the broad spectrum of new ideas, tones and formats we are focusing on to break beyond just reality TV,” said Tony DiSanto, President of Programming for MTV. “Our commitment to the scripted genre has never been stronger. And with the greenlight of ‘Hard Times,’ along with the many scripted projects in the development pipeline, we have focused in on the right concepts coupled with the right execution and talent to define our brand in this arena.”

“All of these projects have one thing in common–they serve up laughter to our viewers. They also tap into a new generation of talent both in front of and behind the camera,” said Liz Gateley, Senior Vice President, Series Development. “In ‘Hard Times,’ we’ve discovered two young creators in David and Seth along with a tremendous new star, Paul Iacono.”

Broadening MTV’s slate, this latest wave of projects includes ... Megadrive is an adrenaline-pumping reality comedy that follows thrill-seeking host Johnny Pemberton across the country as he tries to master the most extreme rides on land, sea and air.

NEW GREENLIGHTS
MEGADRIVE: “Megadrive” features audacious host Johnny Pemberton as he attempts to master the most extreme vehicles ‘off the road’ often ending in mayhem and destruction. Although he has failed his drivers license test several times and has no business behind the wheel of anything that moves, Pemeberton will push these vehicles to their limits as he embarks on a hilarious adventure across America, where he challenges power, speed and gravity. Tony Tackaberry and Allison Corn of Lion Television are executive producers.

Read more: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/08/11

Photos: A selection of photos from the event is available for viewing in the Hellions Team Gallery.