As 2016 begins to reach its end, in December we see the
release of one of the most anticipated Airsoft products of 2016! We have seen
the sneak peeks on social media from across the pond in the US but now the UK
is finally able to get its hands on the exclusive Enola Gaye black smoke!
Firstly, let’s chat a little bit about Enola Gaye and who
they are. Enola Gaye are a worldwide leading pyrotechnics company and Europe’s
longest serving Pyrotechnics company that manufactures products for both the
Airsoft and Paintball industries. Enola Gaye was founded in 1996 with the idea
of manufacturing a paintball grenade that looked similar to real steel grenades
and was biodegradable so it could be used at outdoor paintball fields. Over the
course of the last 20 years we have seen their name become an ‘Airsoft
Household name’ and their product lines expand from the humble paintball
grenade to Thunderflashes, MK 5s, flash grenades and of course smoke grenades
in their 7 colours.
Now they add another colour to their portfolio and a range
of new products to go with it, in October 2016 I travelled to Reading to spend
a day at Enola Gaye HQ to test the new black smoke and to see what new products
will be making their way to UK Airsofters over the next 12 months!
So the first products that we take a look at are the
products that will now be available in black:
·
The WP40
A 90 second, steady outburst, wire pull smoke grenade that is available in
all 7 colours that fits into standard 40mm pouches.
·
The EG18
The EG18 is a 90 second, high output, thick
density wire pull smoke grenade. Designed as a crossover between
Airsoft/Paintball pyrotechnics and Military specification pyro.
·
The EG18X
The EG18X is designed to create a massive smoke cloud in the shortest
time possible to give a thick cover smoke when it’s needed the most. A 45
second, steady output, thick density wire pull smoke grenade.
·
The Wire
Pull Burst
My personal favourite, designed for the more aggressive Airsofter - the 25
second, high output, wire pull smoke grenade that releases the product from
both sides.
Now here’s a preview of the
products we can expect to be dropping in 2017!
The SD75 or the Smoke Device 75 is similar to the new Cloud Maker wire
pull smoke grenade that EG will be releasing in early 2017, it is a 3 minute -
yep you read that correctly – a 3 minute, high coverage wire pull smoke
grenade. This will be the longest lasting smoke grenade designed specifically
for Airsoft and Paintball use. Although this particular smoke will be more
suited to big scenarios rather than being carried in a pouch due to its weight
and size, it is sure to be a hit.
The Wire pull flash grenade 3.0 is the next generation of the friction
flash grenade 1.0
that is currently on the market, easier ignition but the same
low level bang and a white light that is designed to confuse opponent so you
can get in those rooms and clear your opponents out. These are best for low
light, urban and CQB game play to get the most out of the effects! I use a lot
of the current flash grenades and find them really useful when a solid state
grenade won’t reach the end of a corridor/room before deploying its munitions
and a light, timed pyro is needed. Unlike the M5s the munitions are deployed
from the bottom of the tube so the tube is not destroyed – this makes them
easier to clear away after use (good news for site owners and marshals!)
The new MK 7 is a louder, harder hitting bang than the MK 5 that we can
expect to see in early 2017, and it will work in a similar way to the current
MK 5 – via a friction ignition and upon detonation its shell is completely
destroyed.
This
is the product I am probably most excited about – lightweight and no bigger
than a pritt stick but packs an epic 25 second burst of thick smoke perfect for
if you need a short burst of cover to gain access to a room quickly. The Micro
Smoke will be available in all 8 colours including black. The reason I am so
excited about the EG25 is because of how cute it looks – how can a smoke
grenade be cute right? But just like mini toothpastes and shampoos these are
functional and space saving meaning you can carry more smoke onto the field and
take up less space in your tactical kit.
Enola Gaye are consistently creating new and innovative
products to push the Airsofters and Paintballers experiences of the game
further and I can’t wait to see and use these products in game! Although my
favourite colours of their ranges are orange, blue and purple, when Enola Gaye
say their new black smoke is ‘probably the best colour of smoke grenade we have
made’ I don’t think they’re wrong.
Hardwick, K. (2016). Black Smoke Hype. Airsoft Action. 69 (Xmas), p24-25.
Black smoke images credited to James Murray.
