Welcome to the new version of The News Stand, delivering you a catch-up on the headlines in the Ultramodern Wargaming Scene. Usually, I’d do this weekly but seeing as I’ve been away for a bit, there is going to be a touch of catching up to do. The intention of the News Stand is mostly reasearch, keeping an eye on the tempo and flow of the Ultramodern market as it currently stands. But seeing as I’m gathering it all for my own use (and the Patrons need to be fed something), I might as well write it up for everyone else.
Gunslinger
All news on Gunslinger will get its own posts (shocking I know), so if you want to see what we’re up to check out the post from earlier this week announcing the latest releases of the Black Sector Global Interdiction Group’s Command and Support Teams. And then come back on the 25th for a deeper look at this month’s releases, showing off some of the features you might have missed. In the meantime, take a look at one of the figures (Catherine Jensen from the Command Team) painted up by Bing Lim (or Bingles), the painter who is responsible for all the painted figures on the Flytrap Digital MMF page.
SkullForge Studios Joins the Fight
In the most surprising news I think, we have a new addition to the Space. SkullForge Studios, makers of some of the best figures inspired by a Galaxy Far Far Away are launching some ultramodern figures among their monthly releases. This new team of M4 armed operators really caught my eyes while scrolling down my feed (I blame having just come out of messing around in Tarkov). There are some tweaks to certain items to help with the printing (which might drive certain people mad) but it’s awesome to see SkullForge’s style brought across to my genre of choice. These guys are scaled for 28mm but are recommended to scale up.
In addition to the latest team, there are a few other Ultramodern figures that he’s been working through, such as a Spec Ops team designed for the new Majestic 13 rules (as well as some Agents in Suits with more sci-fi gear) and (as seemingly is required by anyone making modern figures) a John Wick figure in multiple variants. Based on comments Jordan has made, we have at least one more modern set coming this month, as well as more coming soon.
Spectre Opens Pre-orders, Pushes 3D Printing In New Releases and Shows Off Some Teases
Oh boy, Spectre Miniatures has been busy. First up, and the biggest news, the new set of rules from Spectre has a pre-order date. This entirely new ruleset will be up for pre-order on the 25th of August, with a full release to come soon after although the date has not yet been released. As well as receiving the physical book, pre-orders also include a quick reference guide, Force Cards and, for the first time, a PDF version of the rules.
Remember in the last Spectre post we talked about Spectre’s Print on Demand trial? Well, it was obviously successful as they have moved to add several brand new figures using this method. These scenario figures are ideal for adding into some more narrative games, giving you some very characterful figures. You can tell when a sculptor got to have fun with the crafting of a figure and I think all of these have that flair (including the Architect). All of these figures are provided via Print on Demand, using the Phrozen Mini 8k printer and high-quality resin direct from Spectre (removing one step in the supply chain).
Along with the new, we also have the old. The RWS systems first released alongside the Humvee set have long been a popular item, to the stage where finding them in stock was a problem (even during the time Spectre brought resin production in-house). However, these items (along with the SUV and Off Road SUV that already fill out my tiny garage) are all now available via Print on Demand, hopefully keeping them in stock more often. But it’s not all old stuff – a keen eye may spot the new RWS Minigun, something which I think people have been asking for for a while. Finally for POD, the Local Forces Squad (one of my favourite releases in the 3d Sculpted Spectre era that I need to get painted up) are now available as either the existing multi-part metal (currently out of stock) or using the Print on Demand method as single figures. It looks like Spectre is hitting the POD hard, presumably to help remove any sticking points in supply chain.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Spectre without a cheeky preview so these are the two I’ve missed since the last News Stand. On the left we have one of the new Task Force Operators (seeing as the old hand sculpted range is being put to bed) while on the right we have the DAGOR, a vehicle that I know Steve has been wanting to make since the original Razor came out all those years ago. Seeing that thing printed in 8K is great so I’m looking forward to seeing that one come out.
Black Powder Red Earth 28mm Heading Rapidly towards Nova
First up for BPRE, big news about Nova next weekend. The team from _Echelon will be running a version of the next expansion for BPRE28 named Spearhead, showing off the new campaign mode for the first time to the public. For those going, they will receive a special pack of exclusive pieces for the event to help you get playing the new content, in the form of new maps, rules and the Battlespace Effects Record sheet to keep track of all the nightmarish things you get up. What’s even better is that all Patrons on the BPRE Patreon will be getting these handouts via PDF the day after the event, giving you a first look into what’s coming later this year. After having been part of AFO Torch on the Discord and getting an early look at all that Spearhead entails, I’m really excited to see how the players take to what is the most apocalyptic rules BPRE28mm has brought to date.
Additionally, Jon Chang from _Echelon has been on the No Dice, No Glory podcast chatting up a storm as he likes to do about all things Black Powder Red Earth 28mm. It’s a great listen, giving plenty of insight into BPRE and some of the processes that they took to get the game out.
(As an aside, there is going to be an article/video combination coming soon covering my own chat with the BPRE guys back in November last year. It’s taken way too long to get around to it but I’m looking forward to making something special.)
INCOUNTRY:RECON Releases and the Tribe Continues
Since the last post, ESS has released INCOUNTRY:RECON, the fast-paced match play version of the core rules. It seems to have gone down well with the ESS fans, offering a new method of play for free. There are also 5 teams that will be released soon, with the pre-orders for them currently up on the store and running through until the end of the month. There is also a giant oil rig set they are selling, ideal for some shenanigans.
Over on the Tribes page for ESS, this month we received the Russian Killteam – a set of figures armed with the notorious ASh (beloved of Tarkov bosses and Barkov’s men in MW2019 alike) and a SVU rifle to support. Due to the number of members in the tribe, all now have access to a mounted weapons pack – this gives you access to three different gunners (Western, Eastern and MENA) as well as a variety of weapon systems such as the M2 and Dshk HMGs, the Mk47 grenade launcher and a Minigun. Finally, next month will see them release the Danish Frogmen, taking one of The Pack releases (previously only available to paying members) and making it onto a wider release. It’s interesting that they appear to have left behind the original plan of building full forces for INCOUNTRY via every three months and instead settled on wider-ranging themes instead.
SoloWargamer Announces “Haywire”
After many years of beating Spectre Operations into various shapes (Red Dawn, Tarkov and more) to suit his solo wargaming style, The SoloWargamer is doing his best Thanos impression and making his own thing. Luckily he made a channel update video covering the info.
Based on what’s mentioned above in the channel update and some of the comments in the SoloWargamer chat on the Ultramodern Wargaming Discord, it looks like it’s going to be a relatively simple core system with lots of addon parts (such as characters for factions) to provide a level of customisation and special abilities. The main focus of the game is to support Solo play and be something that is quick and easy to get on the board and hammer out a game. Even if this isn’t the style of game I look for normally, it is definitely a handy tool in the toolbox for those times you want to move some figures around and don’t feel like playing with yourself.
…
Not like that.
Combat Octopus Deploys The PMC
Combat Octopus continues the monthly releases with a rather exciting range of Private Military Contractors. Taking full advantage of the modular nature of his releases, he’s managed to cram in a mountain of cool pieces, with four separate torsos available in both plate carrier and slick versions ideal for creating that custom force of mercenaries. As always, hitting at the Sergeant levels gives you even more fun toys, such as additional characterful heads and perhaps most important, finally someone making the Magpul Masada in 28mm form. I can already hear all the Jormungand fans rejoicing. If you want these guys, joining up in August will get you the links.
With the move to dual-month releases (giving more time to work and expand out the range to an even more playable state), this means September will also be having some more PMC fellows. As you can see above, an LMG gunner will give you options between the western MK46 and the Eastern PKP while the second pose will let you roll in with the rifle out or have the moving figure using their sidearm. CO is doing a good job with the look of these guys so they aren’t all at the peak of military standards, ideal for more irregular groups. He is also doing two female poses, with the WIPs available on the Ultramodern Wargaming Discord in the wip and teasers channel. These figures should all be released early in September.
Black Hill Games Drops In The US Airborne
Black Hill Games is someone that really needs more coverage as he’s doing a good job hammering out releases on his Patreon. In June he released a set of USMC figures with the M27 and various additional pieces. In July, he released a pack of US Airborne, giving you some recent US Army soldiers including some of the specialists you’d need. The August release is going to be a little bit off the wall – Contras, the Central American guerrillas that may end up being quite a useful set based purely on the gear. Definitely worth keeping an eye on and all his old releases can be found on his Gumroad.
Modern Miniatures Arrives On Patreon
At the start of this month, Modern Miniatures took the step from Webstore and Kickstarter machine, and into his own Patreon, costing only £9.50 a month. Alongside a welcome pack, the first month’s release was a modular kit for the M1078, giving you a choice of three different types of cab, multiple rear sections and assembled in a way to let you easily swap the parts in and out on a common chassis, complete with pre-drilled magnet holes.
Next month’s theme is going to be this remote airport pack with several interesting bits and pieces. The plane and the control tower are obviously the centre pieces, but there also going to be things such as Contraband boxes, fuel tanks and big oil tanks, a wind indicator and even a tree armature.
The releases are a mix of Resin and FDM intended pieces and I’m intrigued to see how the Patreon develops. There was voting to decide which theme was released next, and I have a feeling that the designer is several packs ahead to make sure he can deliver all of them on time every month.
Urban Scatter Gaming Brings The Favela To You
There have been some very interesting releases from UrbanScatterGaming recently. Working with SoloWargamer, Wedge from UrbanScatterGaming has cooked up some Favela packs, offering walls, scatter and poles to really bring the table to life. All three packs include some cool touches, such as gated doors in the wall pack, the roof tiles and awnings in the Scatter and even a selection of pole bases with preinstalled scatter. I’m already eyeing these for my eventual terrain project and I’ve noticed that even Spectre has been using them on their display boards. The pricing also works out nicely, ideal for bringing that extra touch to any board.
District Miniatures Roll Out In The Pinzgauer
District Miniatures on the Ultramodern Wargaming Discord released some very cool STL files ideal for those looking for some different vehicles. The Pinzgauer, as beloved by military users worldwide, is available in two versions, a 6×6 command vehicle with a hardened rear section (for free) and the more common 2×2 version with a soft cover for the reasonable cost of $4. For those of you running ops Stateside, the UPS delivery truck is also a great addition to the table, giving you something slightly more substantial to hide behind.
Windham Graves Continues Being A Machine With His Time
Windam Graves is a very nice fellow I’ve met via the Ultramodern Discord (including seeing him at work on some of the hang outs). His Patreon is an unusual model – rather than buying a specific pack or vehicle, the Patrons spend money to buy Windam’s time to 3d design WW2 and 20th Century vehicles, mostly models. Patrons get first access to the models produced each month, before they are unleashed to the public for free on thingiverse after two months.
This month, he managed to crank out a few things that might interest the ultramodern wargamer. The Huey is obviously the big one but Ural Trucks and the Unimog will definitely find itself a home in certain theatres. There was also the rubbish cans (ideal for street scenes) and the folding chair (ideal for preparing yourself for what I’ll be seeing at Wembley next weekend). The Windham Graves collection incluides some weird and wonderful pieces (where else can you get a LeHaitre Tractorcycle?) so supporting him should help him continue on making this stuff.
Phew, that’s all for now. The next News Stand should be slightly shorter and out at a regular tempo, ideally aiming for Sundays if there is any news to cover for that week. It will not be quite so long next time… hopefully.
If you want to support my work on gathering the news together, my Patreon is the best way to keep things going. With a minimal cost of £1 a month, every little helps to keep the news spigot flowing and to let me cover more of the suppliers out there.
