Hey, remember how last week’s edition was really short? Well it turns out everyone was just holding stuff back to pack this week’s edition to the brim. We’ve got updates across the board, from Spectre to White Dragon Miniatures to Combat Octopus and more!
As always, thanks to the News Fans and other patrons over on the ChargeBlog patreon for buying my time to make this wrap-up each week. If you like these roundups and find them useful, why not chip in on the Patreon?
Spectre Miniatures Shows Off Their Resin And Deploys Agents To The STL Releases
Spectre Miniatures has spent a chunk of this week showing off the upcoming cast resin versions of the Aftermath Killteam and Criminal Heavies. After some pictures of the original test frames, on Friday we got some assembled figures. You can definitely see the level of detail that cast resin can provide. You can also see the detachable head options on the Criminal Heavies, with a little head rotation showing off the difference on the leader figure. These figures are already for sale, but if we’re getting previews of the final products they’ll be winging their way to people soon.
However, behind the scenes, Spectre has been sneaking out another release. It seems I was not alone in requesting a way to get my hands on the STL version of the older Agents Crisis Response Squad (a set that will be remasted very soon and I had mentioned in my coverage of the Criminal Heavy remaster). Luckily, Spectre put up the requested STLs for sale on Friday, letting people wanting to add to their libraries get their hands on this team of incredibly heavily armed operators. Anyone buying should be aware that these guys are the first-gen Spectre 3d sculpts (complete with full-size pill bases rather than the foot specific ones of later releases) but otherwise are all you need to get printing them (complete with separate backpacks). I’m very tempted to look at some kitbashing but I may have already printed out a set…
BobMack3d Previews The Last Vehicle For The World Revolution Kickstarter
BobMack3d, who in case you may not have seen is kicking off a brand new Kickstarter on July 19th called “World Revolution“, has shown off one final vehicle that will be included. The BTR-60PB (the predecessor to the BTR-80 currently in use) fills in the last slot, giving you a mobile APC that was used by the Warsaw Pact, Syria, Egypt, Iran and Iraq as well as a frankly terrifying deployment system involving the top hatch. The vehicle also shows off the vehicle crew that will be included in the Flank March add-on set, idea for making them look a little more lively. As said at the top, the full Kickstarter will kick off at the end of the week on the 19th, with a pile of stretch goals to extend all the vehicles shown off. With the T-55, the PT-76, the Shilka, the BTR-50 and now the BTR-60 (as well as NVA addons for some of them), this set feels like it’s going to be a must-have for Cold War gamers (or anyone playing Ultramoderns who needs something for the lower level OPFOR to roll around with).
Fire! Modern Combat Shows Off US Rangers
Fire! Modern Combat has a habit of magically appearing out of nowhere and deploying some incredibly interesting news about the upcoming release of their ruleset (coming to Kickstarter soon). Last week they dropped some more images of the US Army Rangers that will be coming as part of the Kickstarter campaign. As you can see, this set is going for the very latest, with both the XM7 rifle and the XM250 LMG (not to mention the usual High-Speed Operator look with helmet, plate carrier and combat uniform). I am very interested to see how these guys look in the flesh (or more accurately resin) but a quick glance at the renders is very promising. More details coming soon (and this time I’ll actually post them quicker), as well as hopefully some more updates on the Kickstarter.
White Dragon Chills and Chats
Over on Facebook, White Dragon Miniatures popped up with a casual chill and chat. As well as showing off the impressive workshop setup and covering the trials and tribulations of an independent company, there were also a few little hints about what’s going on with Courage in Contact. After a rather eventful year, WD has talked about some plans for the range going forward – the weapon systems for both the Brits and the Taliban are being released in 20mm (exciting news for a few people who love that scale) while both the Brits and the IDF actually have some alternative poses that have been hidden away – the Brits wearing patrol packs (as opposed to the vehicle dismounts that are currently up for sale) while the IDF have some with M4s as a different look. There are also some brand-new figures coming soon but he’s keeping his cards close to his chest, including how best they are going to be sold. It’s a little heartbreaking to hear how few packs of the latest Russians have been sold.
I’d recommend giving it a watch as Alan talks through everything (including the ups and downs of running a small business, how it is to sell modern miniatures, if he’s going to do STL releases and more) but more importantly, I’m glad to see that White Dragon isn’t out of the game just yet.
Black Powder Red Earth Reveals Plans For Convention Season
Black Powder Red Earth have an exciting few weeks coming up, especially for BPRE28mm. Later this week they will be in Lancaster PA for Historicon (17th to 21st of July) where the team will be running game demos and signing any books you bring along. After that, folks going to the Nova Open in DC (August 28th to September 1st) will also be able to get in on the fun, with demos running each day in the indie area and John Chang taking part in a Games Design panel (probably well worth seeing if the reaction to the BPRE talk at the Connections Wargaming Conference). There are also rumours that there may be a separate event running around the main show, but for more info you’ll need to be a Patron.
Away from the convention circuit, last week the BPRE Patreon announced that they have sold out of the Patron-exclusive advisor model, saying thanks to everyone who has signed up and purchased that figure for all the support over the last two years. There has also been another soundtrack drop to give you some ambient music (embedded above) and an excellent video review covering the whole series that is well worth a watch!
Combat Octopus Shows Off Marksmen V2 (Now With Chest Rigs)
Combat Octopus has continued work on Pack 2 of the Marksman theme, with two more figures well on their way. These two contras the fully geared look of the first pack, swapping out the plate carriers and combat shirts for a chest rig of mags and a jacket. With a seated shooting position using a tripod as well as a kneeling figure ready to support, these guys should be ideal for any lower-profile combatants with high-tech gear. Plus, for all the kitbashing mad people, the kneeling figure with Gen 3 trousers will be ideal for adding to the kitbashing pile!
Next on the workbench will be a pair of female marksmen. We’ve had a brief glimpse on the Ultramodern Discord but it was a little too hot off the press (as the pose was still WIP) – standby to see them next week! There is also talk of other projects being announced later, so we’ll need to see what they are.
Modern Miniatures Shows Off The Dagor And Releases The MK19!
Modern Miniatures has continued to show off the upcoming DAGOR vehicle coming next month and being the industrious chap he is, has actually managed to print and paint up a full vehicle. This includes the crew figures, that will come as part of the miniatures tier, giving you a set of four seated operators and one gunner. It will be interesting to see how these guys look on other vehicles but the sheer pile of kit on the DAGOR will be exciting as well. Some of the add-on elements on display include the winch, the side skirt extension and backpack holders with other pieces available from the MMF.
And of course, Modern Miniatures also entered the “releasing items just after The News Stand goes live” club with last week’s release as he sent me the renders literally as I pressed for the post to go live. The much anticipated Mk19 has finally been released, alongside an updated version of the UB-32 MRLS system. As with all releases, the Mk19 comes with a pile of accessories and options, letting you pick the basic model, a version without the box for turret mounting and a special forces setup with an optic and illumination device. Having already played around with the MK19 (pictures soon), this is a great pack. Plus, with the old-style humvees on the store, it’s finally time to make your Generation Kill team. Both of these sets are up on the MMF store, with Patrons able to get 10% off.
Turnbase Miniatures
Finally, Turnbase Miniatures is back in action, having released the July sets in July. This month’s release is designed to give you some sets for the US in Vietnam, with a five-pack of soldiers and an M48 Patton tank. These should now be available for all the backers on Patreon or MMF, all ready to print.
Now, I’m going to put my objective news hat to one side and raise some questions about the research that has gone into these sets. There are lots of details on both the vehicle and the infantry that do not look Vietnam era to me. The helmet for the US figures looks much more like the later PASGAT (with the shape being similar to WW2 German units) while the inclusion of M14s is not wrong but having them mounting a red dot optic on a rail is very much out of this era. As for the tank, it is technically an M48 but mounting the 105mm main gun (distinctive with the fume extractor and lack of muzzle break) as opposed to the 90mm that was actually used but the US in Vietnam. It’s great to see Turnbase manage to release figures on time (as well as still coming out with new releases after over two years) but it is concerning that it matches up to a release that feels very rushed. The historical market as a whole (and Ultramoderns especially) appeals to most people due to accurately bringing the look and feel of specific time periods to life – trying to sell figures and vehicles that don’t match to the setting feels like you’re kind of missing the point.
Desk-Ops Offering 20% Gunslinger POD Through July
As shared last week, friend of the site Desk-Ops is offering 20% off Gunslinger 2030 packs. However, this offer will only last until the end of July as the agreement allowing him to sell them ends when the clock strikes midnight. These sets give you a mix of forces, be it the Western Black Sector operators, the rough and tumble Kojoti mercenaries and multiple character sets. So if you’re interested in getting some of these guys printed for you, now is the best chance to get your hands on them.
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.
Of course, if you are a REAL news fan, there is a brand new tier called, shockingly, News Fan. For £5 a month (or £1.25ish a news post), you can guarantee you’ll get your weekly dose of news updates.
If you think the news is only okay but would like to see me actually do something slightly more unique, you can join the ChargeReal Researchers. For only £7.50 a month, you’ll get to see first insight into the ongoing world of the ChargeReal, as I detail my fictional Ultramodern setting. Researchers will also get thanked in the final product as well as some input into the ongoing work such as suggesting ideas and providing feedback.
Leave a Reply