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."

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 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.

Hellion Lonnie "Grendel" Colson Appears on Blast Radius Woodsball Podcast

BOULDER, CO. - October 27, 2009 – Wayne Montle, host of the Blast Radius Woodsball Podcast, interviewed the Hellions' Company Commander, Lonnie "Grendel" Colson, to find out more information about the soon-to-be-released Tippmann X7 Phenom.

Announcements of the interview were posted in advance on the BRWP web site, Facebook and Twitter. Grendel's interview was broadcast online as part of a "huge real-time blow out of BRWP! Four hours of non-stop LIVE video featuring interviews, conversations, marker reviews and behind the scenes action."

Team members and other regular listeners were able to watch Wayne in the studio as he interviewed Grendel over the phone. He asked about the Hellions and how the team got its start in 2006. Wayne wanted to know how the Hellions had established a strong enough relationship with Tippmann that they would trust the team to the point of sending them 10 pre-production markers. Grendel told the story of how the team was introduced to Tippmann through its home field of CPX Sports and had tested a number of products over the past few seasons, including the TPX pistol and HammerHead Straightline barrel. Wayne went on to ask about all of the major features of the X7 Phenom and when he could expect to get to shoot it. Grendel offered him a chance if he would meet him at CPX Sports.

Look for BRWP episode 26 to be released later this week to listen to the entire interview. The show will feature special gues: Brian "MOAT"I Russell from Extreme StitchWorks / SpecialOps Paintball. There will aslo be a discussion of .50-caliber paintball with a segment where listeners were able to dial in and voice their opinions. You can also view a recording of the live video feed of the studio available through USTREAM. An embedded player is provided below.

Update October 29, 2009 - Blast Radius Woodsball Podcast episode 126 is now available for download from the BRWP site. To listen to the episode without leaving the Hellions site, simply click on the image below.

USTREAM Video of "BRWP126 X7 Phenom with Grendel":  WATCH


Read Grendel's Reviewof the X7 Phenom in the Warzone: Armoury

Hellions "Grendel" Reviews Tippmann X7 Phenom

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 X7 Phenom with FlexValve Technology is the first electro-pneumatic paintball marker to offer the combination of improved air efficiency, superior accuracy, manual or electronic mode firing, and the flexibility of CO2 or compressed air usage. The new FlexValve operates below 300 PSI for improved air efficiency allowing you to get over 1,400 shots from a 68 cubic inch 4500 psi tank. Also, due to its Spool Valve design, recoil is virtually eliminated for improved accuracy."

Period of Product Use: Approximately one month

Paintball Experience: Almost 20 years (1990)

Similar Products Used: Tippmann X7 with E-Grip

Marker Setup: Stock X7 Phenom (pre-production model, serial no. v31)

Recommended Upgrades: HammerHead barrel; Air-Through Stock

Strengths: Electro-pneumatic grip means no more leaving the field due to dead batteries; Cyclone has been improved to include softer paddles (see images 3, 8 and 15, below); internal gas line eliminates the heavy, rubberized line running from the magazine to the bottom of the grip in the standard X7; external velocity adjustment is the most player friendly feature on any marker (see image 20, below); light weight but durable design makes it the least bulky, non-pistol, mil-sim marker on the market. Another strength that is often overlooked is that it is made in the United States of America. That means something to me.

Weaknesses: Still looking for one. If I have to list one it would be that the stock 9.5-inch barrel is, well, a stock barrel.

Review: Right out of the box you could tell it was smaller and lighter than the X7 (see images 2 and 3, below). The first things you see are the external velocity adjustment wheel on the back and the lack of a big black gas line running from the magazine to the grip. Ours were missing the X7 Phenom name plates to preserve the secrecy, but they were noticed by quite a few players at the Viper's Deadlands event at Sherwood Forest where we first tested them.

It was easy to add a single point sling on the back. I wanted to test the stock version, so I avoided changing the barrel or adding on any of my X7 mods. At the chronograph station, the external velocity adjustment came in very handy. No matter how many times I chrono, my old age will kick and and I can never remember for certain whether I need to turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise. The X7 Phenom has a + and - sign next to the dial. Even I can't screw this one up.

The first shot was a surprise. Rather than the gruff sound that I was accustomed to from firing previous Tippmanns such as the A-5 and X7, the X7 Phenom was radically quieter and had almost zero recoil. It had more of a "punch-punch-punch" sound on semi-auto. Every shot went right where I aimed it--right on top of each other. When I flipped the selector switch up to auto, I could see the green light begin to blink in the front hole of the grip. I opened up and emptied a hopper. Firing at the four-inch plates on the range, almost to a paintball every shot landed on target (about 25 feet away). If I had to give it a name based on that brief test fire, I would have named it the "Nail Driver".

On the field, it was noticeably lighter (with no mods) and easier to wield one-handed than any marker I have ever used apart from the TPX. I was able to move around freely in the bunkered areas and make shots that I probably wouldn't have made with my primary X7 (MP5SD mod). At medium range, it was very accurate. At longer ranges with the stock barrel it seemed to drop off quickly.

Night play with the new electro-pneumatic grip was great. As it was single-fire only after dark, I didn't have to worry about a blinking light giving me away or a dead battery sending me back to the truck early (see image 19, below). Whenever it is on semi-auto mode (marked "F"), it is entirely mechanical and the internal board turns itself off and the little green light in the grip stops blinking. If I were to switch it back to the auto mode (marked "FA"), the green light starts blinking again and your firing rate is increased electronically depending on the programmed setting (20 BPS factory). The picatinny rails on the front grip allowed for the addition of tactical gear. One teammate utilized an infra-red tactical laser to give him deadly accuracy with his night optic device (NODs), better known to many as night vision goggles. Those without NODs were able to mount flash lights or vertical hand grips.

It was easy to add on current X7 mods such as collapsible stocks and barrels such as the HammerHead Straightline. For barrel upgrades, a plastic collar has to be removed from the inside of the front shroud (see image 14, below). That is in contrast to the one that often falls out of the current X7 shrouds because it is simply slipped onfrom the front. Additional images of the rest of the team can be viewed in the Deadlands photo gallery to see some of the X7 mods used on the X7 Phenom.

Over the course of the weekend event, I only broke a couple of paintballs in the barrel. I consider that remarkable as the temperatures were in the 30's and 40's most of the time. An X7 would need after-market soft paddles in its Cyclone to avoid chopping paint in that environment. The X7 Phenom has much softer paddles than past evolutions of the Cyclone, which made it much gentler on paint in cold temperatures.

Conclusion: The X7 Phenom is the hands down best marker that Tippmann has ever produced. It's low velocity gives me significantly more shots per tank and the new electro-pneumatic grip and searless technology eliminate the battery issues that used to send me to the car at the most inconvenient times. It will now become my primary marker.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

For More Information: Tippmann Sports X7 Phenom

Photos: Images of the pre-production model of the X7 Phenom used to conduct this review.

Tippmann Launches Electro Pneumatic Marker--The X7 Phenom

HELLIONS FIELD TESTED THE NEW TIPPMANN OVER PAST SEASON--NOW IT HITS THE SHELVES AS THE X7 PHENOM.


TIPPMANN: "New FlexValve Technology provides greater air efficiency, more accuracy and ability to go from electronic to manual operation with the simple flick of a switch."


BUFFALO GROVE, IL. - October 21, 2009 – Tippmann is very proud to introduce the X7 Phenom, a next-generation .68 caliber paintball marker that’s truly in a class of its own. The unmatched benefits of this new electro pneumatic marker include improved air efficiency, superior accuracy, manual or electronic firing and the flexibility to use either CO2 or compressed air. The heart of the Phenom is Tippmann’s patented FlexValve™ Technology, a brand new technology that is not available on any other paintball marker. The FlexValve operates below 300 PSI for improved air efficiency, giving players more than 1,400 shots from a single 68 cubic-inch, 4500 PSI tank. Also, with its Spool Valve Design, recoil is virtually eliminated for significantly-enhanced accuracy. The searless design of the Phenom also incorporates fewer wear parts, making maintenance easier than ever. And, even though the Phenom is three inches shorter than the standard X7, it will still accept more than 20 current X7 mods and upgrades, including the popular Flatline barrel.

“We’re extremely excited about the groundbreaking technology behind the new Phenom,” said Denny Tippmann, Jr., senior VP of research and product development for Tippmann Sports. “FlexValve Technology truly represents a significant leap forward in marker design that delivers an all-new level of performance for those players who demand nothing but the best.”

Other features of the X7 Phenom include:

• New compact and lightweight aluminum body 

• Streamlined design with internal gasline and no cocking handle

• Pushpin construction for easy field stripping

• All-metal trigger for enhanced stability 

• Magnetically activated hall effect electronics 

• Redesigned Cyclone Feed System paddles that feed up to 20 balls-per-second without batteries 

• Picatinny top rail to easily add new sights and handles 

• Air-thru stock compatibility 

• Internal regulator with new external velocity adjustment 

• 9.5” high performance stone-honed barrel 

• Removable rear and front sights

“In developing this new marker, we initially considered designing a totally new platform, but the opportunity to make the ‘ultimate woodsball marker’ even better was too great to pass up,” said Patrick Ehren, vice president of sales and marketing for Tippmann Sports. “Combining the FlexValve Technology with the existing X7 platform makes it easier for our loyal players to make the transition. Plus, we don’t have to ask our dealers to stock another complete set of mods. Of course, the existing X7 will continue to be available. But, the Phenom now becomes the pinnacle of woodsball markers.”

The new X7 Phenom, which is expected to arrive in stores in late November/early December, was designed in part based on the feedback and suggestions provided by players. In fact, several respected teams such as Team Tippmann Scotland, the Hellions, the Great Lakes Rangers, the Tippinators, Madball Legionaires and T.S.S.O.C. (Tri-State Special Ops Command) all provided helpful input and will now be playing the X7 Phenom.

For more details about the X7 Phenom, players are encouraged to visit tippmann.com. While online, those interested can watch an informational video, find a nearby dealer, review marker specifications or sign up for the Tippmann Forum, where valuable, unbiased feedback on the new marker will be provided. Of course, anyone looking to connect with other paintball players should also consider becoming a fan of Tippmann on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

For more than 20 years, Tippmann Sports has been dedicated to quality manufacturing and the pursuit of cutting-edge technology and design. The company serves the paintball industry from its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Tippmann Sports’ complete line of paintball markers and related accessories can be found at paintball stores and fields as well as mass retail and sporting goods outlets throughout the world.

Photos: Hellions field testing the as-then-unamed Tippmann X7 Phenom at Viper's Deadlands: Exodus at Sherwood Forest on October 10-11.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Caliber: .68 Caliber

Action: Open Bolt Blow Forward Spool Valve System

Power: Electro Pneumatic

Hopper Capacity: 200 Balls

Feed rate: 20 BPS

Firing rate: 20 BPS

Trigger: Mechanical and Electronic

Barrel length: 9.5"

Length: 19.75"

Weight: 3.92 lbs

Effective Range: 150 ft.

Other important features:

• New compact and lightweight aluminum body
• Pushpin construction for easy field stripping
• All-metal trigger for enhanced stability
• Three position selector switch – with third position having five firing modes
• Magnetically activated hall effect electronics
• Quick release magazine with built-in tool storage
• The internal gasline and lack of cocking handle offer a more realistic look
• Redesigned Cyclone Feed System paddles feed up to 20 balls-per-second without batteries
• Piccatinny top rail to easily add new sights or handles
• Compatible with air-thru stocks
• Removable front and rear sights
• Low profile, offset hopper for clear line of sight
• Modular foregrip with two rails to add sights and scopes
• Internal regulator with new external velocity adjustment (tool required)
• 9.5” high performance, stone-honed barrel
• Includes maintenance pack, barrel blocking device, and marker lubricant
• Two year marker warranty
• Made in the USA

Read Grendel's Reviewof the X7 Phenom in the Warzone: Armoury

Hellions International Superstars on British Television Segment

HELLIONS APPEARING IN A SHORT SEGMENT ON BRITISH TELEVISION.


JOLIET, IL - October 12, 2009 -The Paul O'Grady Show, which airs daily on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, picks seemingly normal people and sends them on fabulous trips around the world. They then report back on camera about their experiences, and the whole adventure gets played out as part of the live studio show. These video segments cover all sorts of sports, travel, extreme adventures, etc.

A 3-man video production team stopped at CPX Sports in Joliet, Illinois. A football (i.e. soccer for those in the States) punter named Dean was selected to be the player and the Hellions were asked to show him the ropes on the field. The plan was to have Dean experience the various aspects of the sport of paintball. CPX Sports outfitted him with the best speedball gear. The Hellions had the easy job of chasing Dean around the field while trying to look good in the process.

The Hellions rolled out the red carpet for Dean and the crew from the Paul O'Grady Show (Olga TV). The team chased him around the fields of Wastelands and Bedlam, but were asked not to paint him up too much. For a while it seemed like they were going to come off looking like poor shots during the staged movement segments. Fortunately for them--and unfortunately for Dean--those were just the filler spots. Eventually, the time came to open up on him with markers a'blazing. In the end, it was all in good fun. The Hellions had a great time and got to send the Brits back home with several new bruises.

Video Segment of the Paul O'Grady Show:















More Info: Details from the video shoot may be seen in the 2009 Events section. Photos from the day's events are in the 2009 Team Photo Gallery.


Disclaimer: The video has been provided by the producers of the showas a courtesy to the Hellions. Please do not duplicate or post in another location without the expressed consent of the Paul O'Grady Show or its associates.

Hellions Too Disturbing for Paintball?

ANONYMOUS BLOGGER ON OOBJECT.COM CALLS THE HELLIONS THE MOST DISTURBING PAINTBALL TEAM 


ANONYMOUS - August 20 , 2009 - Some people take paintball very seriously, and the boundary between harmless fun, unintentional irony and plain creepy is blurred. Here are paintball teams that look like outright militia, and some are. They include a church team in full combat gear a German group that re-enacts LAPD swat team offensives, and three very disturbing teams: a Japanese paintball re-enactment of the Yugoslav civil war complete with Serbian militia uniforms; an US vs Iraq shoot em up in Jordan and a sinister third Reich Team with Eagle T-shirts. Vote them down.

Of course, all of the content on the Oobject site is pirated from other sites. The image of the Hellions was taken off of the site of one of its members, Gary "Sandman" Urbhan who has a side business called "Crucible Leadership Training". Crucible teaches leadership skills to youths through paintball. The image is a group photograph taken at the National Police Paintball Organization's "Operation: Knightfall" scenario in February 2008 where the Hellions volunteered to be the Oppositional Forces (OPFOR).

While it's self-described "passionate enthusiasts" obviously intended it to be a negative dig against the teams pictured on their site, dozens of members of the scenario paintball world rallied to poke fun at the liberal bias of the anonymous author. The Hellions still hold the top position of the '12 very disturbing paintball teams' list by a +47 rating.

Below are a few screenshots of the site and posted comments the first few days that it ran. Since then more players have come out and posted supportive and somewhat colorful comments; some we know, some we love, and some we don't. Here is one of the team's personal favorites, which was posted by Bond Chick of the Valkyries:

Such a handsome group of well-muscled, well armed men! Don’t let the Hellions fool you. They are polite, kind, considerate and very charming gentlemen. They play with honor, dignity and respect. They go to church every Sunday and are notorious for helping little old blue-haired ladies across the street. A sweeter more genteel group of men can’t be found. 

Never talking with their mouth full, their elbows are never on the table. Doors for the ladies are always opened and they all have “I love mom” tattoos on their bulging biceps. 

It’s also been said that they’re all hung like elephants. At least that’s what WK2 tells me.

Disclaimer: The above excerpts were taken from an anonymous article, which appeared in August 2009 on a blog of some obscure site called OObject.com and is reprinted in part here without permission. Oobject describes itself as ..."part of Curations. A group of sites, updated daily with hand edited picks by passionate enthusiasts." For more information about the actual article or its other ridiculous posts by its passioned enthusiasts, visit the original site: www.oobject.com.

WQLZ 92.7 Z-Rock Station Interviews Hellion "Kevlar"

WQLZ 97.7 - January 31, 2009 - Kevin "Kevlar" Quinn was interviewed live on the air by D.J. "Bishop" of Springfield's KQLZ 92.7 Z-Rock radio station. Kevlar dropped the Hellions' name while promoting the upcoming "Living Legends II" event at CPX Sports in May. Kevlar also answered questions about military-simulation and scenario paintball events such as Oklahoma D-Day.

"I would like to thank WQLZ for allowing me the time to use their studio and I look forward to working with the staff again in the near future. Rock on, Bishop!" -- Kevin "Kevlar" Quinn

Hear the Complete Interview.

Tippmann Announces Hellions Sponsorship

Originally printed in JUNGLE MAGAZINE No. 17 – September 2008


JUNGLE MAGAZINE - August 7, 2008 - A photo of Hellions conducting training on the field of Bedlam at CPX Sports is shown on page 8 for a little eye candy to go along with the text of the story.

In another unrelated article on Oklahoma D-Day 2008, the team received a little more exposure. There was a mention of a player or two as well as a photo of Dan "Spartacus" Pianfetti's planning map. Spartacus served as the Axis Chief of Staff and was a vital component of the German victory.

Disclaimer: The above excerpts were taken from an article, which appeared in the September 2007 issue of Jungle Magazine and is reprinted in part here without permission. For more information about their magazine or their authors, visit their official web site at: WWW.JUNGLEMAGAZINE.COM.