Spectre Miniatures Announces House Rules and Previews PLA Releases

First up from Spectre Miniatures this week, we have the announcement of some new Spectre Operations content. Alongside the announcement of gameplay videos coming soon (the advantage of having a gaming room in the office that we all wish we could have), Spectre has announced something called House Rules. These are going to be free alternative rules for systems within Spectre Operations, tweaking systems to use rules that didn’t make it into the core rulebook. Systems like Smoke, AOE (are we getting templates?), Vehicles, and Drones are interesting to see, but I am intrigued to see whether the changes to Stress (a core system that has seen plenty of confusion in the past) are a preview of more permanent changes. Either way, it will be interesting to see what these changes entail.

Over on the Patreon, we have had our first preview of Spectre’s upcoming PLA forces. The preview is the dollies for the two sets being released, a 9-man PLA Mechanised Infantry and a 6-man PLA SOF element. Spectre has spent a chunk of time researching the Chinese forces and sculpting a lot more items due to the lack of commonality with Western forces (no more JPCs for everyone). As you’d expect, Spectre is doing an Ultramodern version of Chinese forces, with the QBZ-95 bullpup all BF2 and Squad fans will remember replaced by the more conventional QBZ-191 rifles (and some even with optics), while the squad will also have the belt-fed QJB-201 for squad-level support. We should see the PLA Infantry and SOF this month, with future support including weapon teams, SOF in jungle gear and covert action teams and the ever-present unmanned systems. More details coming soon!

Desk-Ops Sale Continues Until Sunday 10th

As previously reported, friend of the blog Desk-Ops is currently running a sale. We’ve covered full details in the past posts, but basically, it’s everything in the store, 12% applied at checkout. This includes (in no particular order):

• high-quality prints of all your News Stand favourites (such as BobMack3D, Combat Octopus and Urban Scatter Gaming).
• EU exclusive distribution of Austin Miniatures and Echo Dark Studios.
• Thematic bundles (not technical in the sale but often a better bundle discount than the 12%)
• Desk Ops exclusive vehicles such as the MP Group Maverikk ISV Riot Van and the Chekan APC
• Desk Ops exclusive figures digitally kitbashed using Combat Octopus’s parts, including the new Black Atlas Consulting, DIV-KU PMC and even Kenyan Special Forces.

All of Desk Ops’s figures are printed in Germany and shipped from there, with DHL ensuring they reach you promptly. Additionally, every order over €55 includes a Tactical Starter Kit for Dynamic Infantry Combat (the new game from Desk Ops), complete with the XS Template, a quick reference sheet, and some smoke grenade templates. The sale is on until Sunday, the 10th of May, so get your orders in promptly.

Flank March Miniatures Wants Your Opinions

Having slammed through the East Germans, and with West Germans on the way, Flank March Miniatures this week has gone a new route – It’s survey time! Yep, wanting to take a look at the type of things people are interested in seeing from Flank March Miniatures with a whole host of options on the table – and I mean a whole host. The releases so far have been for the early 1980s, but the Cold War is full of plenty of potential miniatures. I’ll admit, I have a weakness for the various Special Forces sets (including the patrolling guards to go with them), but the concept for a second Korean War set of factions (including Anzacs with Austeyrs) and the more historical sets (Falklands and Mogadishu) are also excellent. There are even some options for the early Cold War for the 1950s and 60s. The survey is online as we speak, and you can answer here.

Miska Miniatures Previews More South African Troops

Miska Miniatures has continued his previews of the upcoming Red Dawn Intervention Kickstarter. Last week, we saw the regular Infantry and Recon troops; this week we have some troopers in the most dangerous pose of all for an individual infantryman at 28mm – lying prone. I’m sure I’ve mentioned my opinions on prone figures outside of weapon teams in the past, but I can see the point of them here (preparing an ambush against enemy forces). The preview also includes a platoon mortar team ready to support the infantry, as well as an Eland Armour car. We’ve now seen a good preview of what’s included in the project, with the next step being the stretch goals. No news on when the project launches, but you can sign up over on the project page on Kickstarter.

Pegasus Miniatures Previews Paramilitary With An Armalite

Pegasus Miniatures has, after a weekend away for the Anschluss Wargames event, given us a brand new preview for their upcoming figure range. This week, we are back to the Paramilitaries, this time with one half of the Armalite and ballot box strategy. The AR18 is an iconic part of the armaments of the Troubles, so it makes sense for it to find its way into the range. This figure also shows someone prepared for a premeditated action, wearing a boiler suit and mask, ready to limit forensic evidence and be disposed of after an operation. Interesting to note that Pegasus is going with slightly oversized barrels on their figures, another sign of their focus on playable figures that are going to last on the tabletop. We’ll see more figures next week, as I assume we’ll be back to checking on 14 INT.

Urban Scatter Gaming Previews May Release

It’s a new month, so it’s time for Urban Scatter Gaming to show off this month’s releases. It’s time for part 3 of the City Releases, and this one will really book-end the releases.

At the Builder tier, you’re getting the City Corner Building, a corner section with multiple floor pieces. The ground floor has multiple removable shop fronts with two designs, while the upper floors are stackable and feature USG’s self-supporting windows that can be popped out after printing without needing to add any in the slicer. The tier also includes some printable decals, ideal to theme the bodega-style floor with some window displays and banners.

Going up to the Designer tier, you’ll get your hands on the Jewellery store upgrade. We’ve seen this previewed before a few months ago, bringing an alternative set of facisa and internal scatter pieces to let you set up your own jewellery heist or add some more decoration to your urban board. This is a neat little addition, and when combined with the previous few months’ designer tier releases, would give you a nicely detailed street to fight through.

But that’s not all – designers will also be getting another piece of city infrastructure, the Water Tower. This modular piece will let you build two sizes (depending on whether you want more capacity or more superstructure to fight around) and is an ideal addition to the range, perfect to give that New York Skyline you’ll want to fight.

All these items will be released on the final weekend of the month, but sign up now to suggest any tweaks or small additions, and follow along for Wedge’s practical previews.

Combat Octopus Reveals The Final Poses For D-Boys Part 2

Combat Octopus has continued working on the second pack of Delta Force for Mogadishu in 1993 and has now completed all four poses for a more action-packed set. As well as the new posing (including the eternally useful NCO pointing), we’ve also got a few more varied types of load-bearing equipment to show off the variety of gear the guys were using in Mogadishu at the time, such as the Blackhawk Omega vest. The next step is going to be some more heads, with this set promising to include (among other things) some NVGs. These should release this month, and then it will be onto a new theme. If you want to get your hands on these guys when they release, you can sign up over on the Combat Octopus Patreon.

Modern Miniatures Shows Off LEDs and Previews Next Month’s Releases

It’s the start of the month, so having delivered this month’s releases on time, Modern Miniatures is now ready to show off what is coming next month.

But first, we have a cool guide on how to add some LEDs to your own tabletop. As you can see above, Modern Miniatures included LED lights as part of the Greenhouse board to show off this month’s release. The guide shows off the parts used and some basic wiring diagrams to help get started, making it easy to set up your own tiny growing setup (or make those night scenarios really pop.

Speaking of purple lighting, there is something in the air tonight. Next month is Miami Vice month, and Modern Miniatures is going hard on the theme. First up, the terrain side is all ready for some action-packed gaming, bringing you two vehicles for the board (and a pile of cash to fight over). The vehicles are an Italian-style sports car (you know which one it is) and a 1990s-style armoured car just waiting to get held up by a heavily armed gang (although that might be a different Michael Mann project). There are also several other money-related pieces, including money piles, a cart to transport them, and even a safe.

However, the big thing for Miami Vice month has to be the characters – after all, you can’t go around saving Miami without a pair of finely dressed detectives. The pack includes two versions of each character – one ready for the neon streets of the 1980s, the other kitted up for the modern day. For example, Sonny has his sidearm out, with the modern version rolling a fully kitted out Glock (complete with optic and torch), while the MV has something far more stylish. Both also come with two head options, for when you need the shades on or off.

Of course, you do also need a villain, and this set comes with two – Pablo himself with an M16 and The Don with a Uzi. Both are non-modular (letting the sculptor go a little harder on their design), and both should be perfect when accompanied by some well-armed goons.

Both the vehicles and figures will be out early next month, giving you plenty of time to get your finest suits out and ready for the tabletop.

Finally, if you’re looking for a few little tweaks for your figures, Modern Miniatures has released a set of heads that are ideal to go with the previously released Generic Special Forces sets. All three heads are wearing full-face respirators under their FAST helmets, but each head has a steadily increasing number of add-on pieces (such as the IR strobe, camera and NVG battery pack). This set is already out on MyMiniFactory, and you can grab it right now.

Patrick Miniatures Shows Off His Sub

Patrick Miniatures has shown off an upcoming release on his Patreon. Well, after years of selling Navy Seals, it’s time for him to release his own submarine to fight over. Based on a Kilo-class submarine, this is going to be a big chunky centrepiece for any Ultramodern tabletop. No details on when it’s going to be released, but as you can see its still pretty early on in development.

Turnbase Miniatures Releases April Figures

Turnbase Miniatures has released its April sets, with them being dispatched to Patrons soon. The April theme turned out to be some near-future operators and their support assets. Tier 2 is the operators themselves, carrying a mix of weapons and various high-tech add-ons (such as AR goggles and lower-limb exoskeletons). Meanwhile, Tier 3 brings a modular set to build a two-legged remote weapons platform (whose design does seem a little familiar to those keeping up with other games in the space), complete with several weapon systems to mount on the arms and torso. These pieces should be out soon to all of those who backed the Patreon in April, with a MyMiniFactory release soon after.

WarDaddy Studios Releases 15mm Russian Heavy Weapons

Finally, WarDaddy Studios has released this month’s figures to Patreon backers. Designed to support the Russian Infantry sets that have already been released, the Heavy Weapons pack (available as both 15mm and 10mm Epic version) includes a whole host of weapons to provide fire support – key standouts are the DSHK HMG, AGS grenade launcher, ATGM and Mortars (as well as a few infantry figures to help provide the covering fire). These figures are all in WarDaddy’s traditional style (slightly puffy to help with readability but nothing so extreme they look like the Stay Puft man) and look pretty great. These are currently up on Cults3d and MyMiniFactory if you want to pick them up.

WarDaddy Studios has also mentioned that NATO will be getting a similar pack soon, perfect for adding some firepower to the table.