I decided to start an airsoft business on the tiny island of Utila, Honduras - this is the ongoing saga........

Real time update 04MAR23
In a pure surprise, there are quite a few Islanders interested in this! I was assuming we would be catering to mostly tourists, but come to find out 7 or 8 years ago, there was paintball here and it was wildly popular. Of course, they ran into the problems you might expect in a high humidity, remote island setting - not only was it super expensive getting the paintballs shipped here, but the humidity bulged them out, so barrel breaks were the norm. Being the inventive islanders these folks were, they figured putting them in the freezer would keep that from happening. We all know how THAT goes. It lasted for a few months I guess before people grew tired of .68 caliber holes in their skin from frozen paintballs. Anyway, turns out the group of people that were so hooked on playing that, are now hearing about Utila Airsoft and saying that they can't wait to play! Good for us!
I got the Facebook page started today, here is a link if you want to see it - Utila Airsoft - Jungle Warfare
The "lawyer thing" continues to grate my nerves as now, instead of the stated 2 days to make it happen, it seems it will be 3 weeks. More cussing under the keyboard......... It is what it is, there isn't much we can do about it if we want the business license. My partner and I seriously discussed just doing this without one, but we both think this is really going to take off and don't want any reason anyone can throw us under the bus for not having it done right. We just need to grin and let it happen.
I have a dive cart that I tow behind my quad here to get equipment and tanks etc to the dive sites. I talked to my resident "fix all guy" this morning and we came up with a plan to make easily removable additions to it so we can use it for all of our airsoft equipment and needs to and from the sessions. Looking forward to getting that going next week. Just one of the small things we need to get done prior to our opening.
Speaking of opening, we are changing our kickoff date from March 27th, to at least April 8th. Many factors came into this decision, but the biggest one is that we have paying dive guests here with us up to that point, and of course, I want to be there for the opening sessions, so we just moved it back a little bit.
Next week I need to get all the platforms out, adjust the hop ups, adjust the sights etc. Should be fun. Also need to start on some videos.
We got the CO2 cartridges from the mainland in, so now we can start playing with the pistols we brought in for the police training. Another "should be fun' thing.
I believe that is all for today. Things are moving slowly but steadily forward!
Sarge out

Pistons
Shims
Pinion Gears
Pinion Tool
Springs
Bushings
Gear Sets
Motors
Hop-Up packings
Hop-Up unit
Motors
Motor Grips

Real Time update 06MAR23
Not a whole lot to report, but a couple of things.
First off, we are going to order 2 more platforms probably this coming Friday. The talk around the island and the excitement of the locals caught us off guard. Turns out there are many here drooling to play and pay to do so. In light of that, we will bring in two more, giving us a total of 10 rifles for customers to use, along with 4 pistols. The SSX-23 is all for my partner and I........
We still plan on bringing in the Novritsch SSG 10A2 along with all the things we want to go with it, and also an SSP2 for testing. Novritsch has been out of stock on the variation of the A2 that I want, and also the suppressor for it. They tell me one to 3 months to be back in stock on those things. This is after they have been out of stock for 3 months already. Not the end of the world.
Obviously, as things take off and demand increases (hopefully), we will be bringing in more and varying platforms to use. We think 10 is a good number for the start.
Today, I dropped off my little dive trailer to my wizard mechanic / Fabricator of the bizarre. We designed something that will easily let it transform from effective dive trailer, to triple decker airsoft transport with ease. He thinks he will have it completed by the end of the week, so pics of before and after when that is done.
Still talking to folks about land. Lot's of talk, but very little follow up on the part of the locals in this - no surprise at all.
It will happen though. I am not worried as we have two places to fall back on worst case scenario.
I find myself lacking motivation for some reason in making the review video(s) for what we have, especially the SSX-23. I do not know why....... Maybe tomorrow, or as they say on island "Manana Maybe". If I keep putting it off, it will make itself right?
That's it for now, we will see what happens tomorrow.......
Sarge out

Shady,
I am not sure of the best way to explain this, but I will try. To start, you have to take yourself out of the mindset of someone who lives in America or Canada or similar. Here in Honduras, in many ways it is more free, as in less governmental control and involvement in your everyday life. While at the same time, the things they do control, they CONTROL. There is no 2nd Amendment here. Since I have my residency for Honduras, I CAN own two firearms. That's the law. Now, actually acquiring those two firearms means THOUSANDS of dollars and probably a year of waiting on the government to approve of it. Even then, getting ammo for those firearms is unbelievably difficult here.
Once you have the mind clear on that point, then let's move on. These are toys. Realistic looking, yes, but just toys. It has taken us literally MONTHS of work, questioning, tracking etc, and a lot of money for lawyers to clarify the laws with customs, just to say we can bring these in. Then after that, coordinating with customs to actually get it done was a nightmare. We were told they are illegal, even though they are not. We were told it is impossible to do, even though we did it. We now have a "network" set up to accomplish in the future in a much easier manner, but again, it was paid for in money and time. To sell platforms here would be to slit our own throat in our business. Let's be outrageous and say we can make a $200 profit on a platform that we bring in and sell (everyone knows that is way out of line). We sell that platform to someone who now shows up and expects to play for free because he has his owns stuff. We lose continuing revenue doing that and it will amount to much more than we would ever make on platform sales. Certainly more than the $200 we made up front. Also, we would be giving away for free those months of effort and the money spent developing our existing network. No one else will go through what we did to get this accomplished. It is not worth their time for a platform, or for a couple of platforms. Because of that we have a lock on all things airsoft here. It's like a professional _ (insert an occupation here), you are not just paying for their time spent on you, you are paying for the years of experience to get to the point they are at now, as well as the funding to get to that point. No, being an airsoft retailer makes ZERO sense in our location. They simply can't get this anywhere else here. Period. There are a couple of teams on the mainland, but they struggle with this also and are tight lipped about getting equipment. They are in the same boat.
The money to be made is simply because we are in control of the commodity, in this case airsoft platforms, supplies etc. The only reason we went through all of this is to start an enduring business that will bring in money long term. That is what made it worth doing. If this was just about us getting a little game going there is no way we would have done it. I hope that makes sense?

Real Time update 11MAR23

Met again with the lawyer over what we have named the "****** tax paperwork", and of course, more time and money needed. Par for the course down here. We also needed a bank check for 5,000 lps ($200) to show the government that it was a business. Bear in mind this means we needed to show the government it was a business BEFORE it is a business. Understand this and you can start to understand how things run down here. Anyway, in another moment to show you how things (don't) work down here - the bank took 35 minutes to decide if they even COULD make out a bank check, only after discussion with my partner and the lawyer about getting it done. Every time you do something here, it is like the first time in history that it has been done. Here is another kicker - we need a BUSINESS account to have a business. No big deal, except that neither of the two banks here on the island have the means to open a business account. Yup, a bank that can't perform banking tasks or functions, that's the way it goes here. Long story short, we have to go to mainland to open a business account, then we can do the banking back on island through the business account. Makes perfect sense right? There is no way in hell we are putting ANY money into the account past the minimum required to open it. Honduran banks as a whole are totally different than in the US. Here, they control your money, and let you know it every step of the way. They make big shows out of having to consider whther or not you should be allowed to withdraw and use your money that is sitting in the account, and on a whim can and will, restrict how much you can take out at any given time. When my wife and I opened our checking account at the bank here, it took three HOURS to do, only because the person "helping" us made a show of checking facebook, talking on the phone, walking away to talk to co workers etc while she was setting it up. Banking here is a total failure.
Anyway, on to bigger and better things!
Our trailer modifications have been completed, now we just need to get it painted. We used my dive trailer, which was set up to haul tanks and gear to dive sites, and added to it so that it can easily become our Utila Airsoft "Battle Rattle Wagon". Three layers of storage and platform hauling sweetness! Bottom layer can be tank tubes can be used for separating small items (batteries, bb's etc) along with the rest of the tub for general stuff. Second layer is general storage for whatever and also has our cash box bolted to the front. This layer slides out the back and is held in place by bolts up front that fit into cutouts in the wood. the top layer is where we will put the platforms. Off center to make sure the platforms are centered on the trailer width, we will bungee them down securely for transport. Also of course, the rest can be used for cartage of whatever else we need. A cooler will be on the back rack of the quad. With this setup, we can easily haul all of our gear and material to the field and back. The entire system is easily put on and taken off. I like it. In the pictures is my island "jack of all trades" Douglas who I hire to do all of these little projects for me. Gearhead from Boston originally, he is a genius with motors, but likes these one off type projects as well. Now I just have to get it sealed or painted, depending on what is available on the island when I go looking today.
We are running out of things to get done prior to opening, and that's a good thing! Our opening date is officially April 15th. A number of things went into this decision, but it is made. We are going to make laminated flyerss to put up around town and have the Facebook page where we will fill in details for potential players. Aside from that, small things to do until then.
Still looking for that perfect field and have the word out to a few landowners - hopefully we hear back this coming week. It's getting close and getting real. Updates to come as things happen.
Sarge out

Real Time update 14MAR23
Short today.
Got the Battle Wagon painted today. Now just need to add the padding for the top edge where the platforms will sit to keep them from getting damaged in transport.
Got footage for the great fartflap video of 2023 with the SSX-23. Will construct the youtube video maybe tomorrow, but a little spoiler alert here first - The FPS with the shortened (2 sections instead of 3) Novritsch suppressor with THREE fartflaps installed, actually went UP 2 fps. One fartflap is installed at the back, one in the middle and one at the business end. Hop up needs adjustment obviously, but shots are hard and true. On the practical side, which is the whole reason for the experiment - the sound of the pistol was GREATLY decreased. We went into the jungle and I had my partner walk as if playing while I shot the pistol in his general direction. At a distance of 45 feet, he could not hear it AT ALL. Silence. Without the suppressor and fartflaps on, he was clearly hearing it at 170 feet so we simply called it a day. Easily could have gone out much farther, but the point is proven - the fartflaps are effective at making this pistol more quiet than just the suppressor foam alone. Imagine, at 45 feet he couldn't hear it at all. That was aimed in his direction too. If you are in a hide and shooting at a 90 degree to someone else walking, I can imagine that distance is cut further. It makes it more of a true sniper sidearm.
Still waiting on the lawyer to finish up whatever it is he needs to do.
We are part of doing an island "get together" for Easter with an egg hunt for the kids, and a hog fry for everyone on April 9th. It will be a great way to get airsoft into the heads of the locals and also give them a chance to shoot the "rifles". Will take pics and vids I hope. Should be fun to do!
We plan on bringing in 2 more platforms for a total of 10 "rifles" and 4 "pistols" along with the SSX-23. We hope to have them prior to opening. After that, our longer term goal is to have 15 total "rifles" and bring in some SSP-2's for field use as well. Also the Novritsch SSG10 A2 for US to use.
Getting closer and closer!
Sarge out

Real Time update 28MAR23
Slow with the updates, but my oldest daughter and her family totally surprised me by walking off the ferry with my wife when she came back from the States - total shock! Great time with them, but UA took a backseat to them being here and making memories.
Since last time, we have been trying to find the right land to play on. Up until now, nothing really excited me. Either too much jungle (read as impossible to get through without a machete) to completely open, with neither one being an option. We can always use the lot I already own, but want to find something perfect. Just yesterday, my partner and I looked at some land owned by the same person we bought our lot from, so there is already an inroad there and he likes us. The land would be perfect, and it is large enough to have 3 or 4 different fields on. We have set up a meeting tomorrow morning at 9 with him to discuss possibilities. Cautiously hopeful............
Tomorrow morning after that meeting, my partner and I are going to clean all the barrels, adjust the hop ups and zero the sights on all of the platforms in preparation for our first exposure here on the island - the Easter bazaar in which we have a booth. Easter egg hunt for the kids, traditional hog fry for the adults and booths by local businesses, including us. It should be a great time and we will take pics. That is April 9th, and our first sessions of play are April 15th. Getting close!
The lawyers are still jacking around withe the business license, but we are opening without it anyway. Don't much care any more. "It is in process" is going to have to be enough for anyone who asks.
We have two more platforms ordered bringing us to a total of 10 M4 platforms to start with. Hopefully they are here prior to opening, but if not, the original 8 with pistols will have to do. The goal is to have 15 M4 platforms not too long after opening. We are just wanting to ensure that the business and interest justifies them.
The war wagon is ready to go. All painted and done. It is pretty cool.
Islanders crawling out of the woodwork wanting to play. It is a good sign!
Still holding off on the Novritsch order for the SSG10 A2, supressor, SSP2 etc since they are still "out of stock" on the suppressor. Need to make one order from them and ship it together, not spread it out. Customs would screw that up for sure.
I think that is it for today. I will update tomorrow with the results of the land meeting.
Sarge out.

Real Time update 29MAR23
Well, we found land! When I say land, I mean LOTS of land. Perfect land! The person who owns it is the same person we purchased our lot from for our house when we build it, so we already had an "in" with him. He didn't even thinnk about it when we met this morning, just said (in spanish) "sounds like fun, I like it!". There is room for a few different fields and we have the run of it all. Great Jungle to play in but not so closed off that you need to cut through it to move, open areas with trees etc to use for cover/concealment, all pretty much shaded - perfect! This was the last large thing we needed to get done prior to opening, and it is done. I will take a video or pictures to show in the next couple of days.
This morning, after the meeting, got together and got all the platforms out, painted the front sight post on each fluorescent, cleaned the inner barrels, adjusted all the hop ups, then the sights so that they are ready for use.
We have a flyer we are going to have printed and laminated for posting at various places and restaurants around the town. It has a QR code that when scanned takes them directly to our facebook page, which we will update with details etc.
We will be coming up with a payment method for deposits to be received. One thing I have found out in owning a few businesses is that if people have a little "skin in the game" they show up. If they don't, then it's too easy to just sleep in, or find something else to do. Our session rate will be 1000lps ($40) per session, so we will require a $10 deposit to reserve their slot for any offered session. We will run morning sessions every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. I have a good friend back on island that will help Marshall for at least a couple of months. I did his Divemaster Cert with him here a little over a year ago, and he is back, so perfect timing. I can rely and trust him to handle some of that while we find the right people to train in that position.
Overall, a great day for UA. Onward and upward from here!
Sarge out.