Spectre Miniatures releases Cops and Crooks, Previews Cartels

It seems like I’m not the only one talking about Cops and Robbers this week, as Spectre Miniatures has released its latest sets. We previously saw this released to Patrons a few weeks ago, but now they are all painted up and ready for wider sale. The Criminal Clowns bring some fan favourites into the new era of Spectre, while the High Speed SWAT and Vice Squad give you a few more police figures to handle the current crimewave (alongside previous releases in the Law Enforcement range). All of these figures are available as both STLs and in physical form, and there is even a bundle collecting these three new releases if you want all three of them.

This weekend also sees the release of the limited Covert Packages. These lucky dip releases are 10 random figures for £12, letting Spectre clear out the inventory and potentially let buyers get their hands on previous Special Edition releases.

Over on Patreon, we got to see some criminal activity south of the border. We have a new batch of Cartel WIP figures, this time with more of a cowboy or Tex-Mex look. The plan is to do a full set of these guys, ideal for a variety of factions down on the Mexico border that could be on either side of the law. The four figures we have so far is two figures with assault rifles, another with a G3 (previously the service rifle of the Mexican Army) and even one guy with a modern repeating rifle. Two more figures will be joining them, including one with an LMG. On the vehicle side, this month’s release will be a new Police SUV, as you see above, alongside the T-64 variants we have previously seen. Both sets should be up over the weekend according to Patreon, so stand by if you prefer your criminal shenanigans a little more dusty.

Austin Miniatures Continues On With Red Jungle Miniatures

The Red Jungle Miniatures Kickstarter from Austin Miniatures continues on. The backer number is growing, and they are inching closer to the first stretch goal with the SASR set. The Kickstarter includes figures for both American and Communist forces (both historical and intended for the Red Jungle supernatural setting), plus add-on packs with all sorts of weird and wonderful weapons. If you’re interested, the Kickstarter runs until September 10th, giving you a week and a bit to jump in.

Don’t Drink And Paint Releases GIGN Operators

Don’t Drink And Paint has expanded his range with a brand new set of Operators. Inspired by the recent GIGN show on Netflix, the range consists of two packs – a two-man sniper team (that would also work for plenty of other nations) and a ten-man stack of assaulters, complete with a drone operator and shield carrier.

As you can see, there are some nice details on these figures, such as the distinctive visored helmets, the unique BREN2 rifles in 7.62×39 and more. I especially like the marksman with a scoped 417 rifle, complete with a brass catcher. These figures would be great for any close-quarters battle and can be found right now over on Cults3D.

Flanks March Miniatures Finishes BRUDERKRIEG 1 with a Pile Of East Germans

Congratulations to Flank March Miniatures as they have finished deliveries on BRUDERKRIEG 1, the Cold War East German Kickstarter. This latest batch has some great additions to the force, ranging from automatic firepower to casualties and even more head options.

In terms of automatic firepower, we have a nice escalation from foot-mobile to very non-foot-mobile. The PKM is a sizable upgrade over the RPK that the basic squad would carry, mostly kept at the company level, especially in its tripod-mounted sustained-fire role (you can see both options in the first two images. As previously discussed, the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse paramilitaries used the DShK to provide heavier fire support. The S-60 Anti-Craft gun is probably the heaviest automatic weapon available to the East Germans, giving a 57mm anti-aircraft gun intended for area defence when the missiles weren’t available.

Casualties aren’t the most popular figures, but they can be useful as markers for injured leaders or to set the scene for when the metal hits the meat. Six poses give plenty of options.

Finally, we have two sets of heads that provide some alternatives to the default East German helmets included in the base Kickstarter. On the left, you have the heads intended for the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse – some of these heads look older and a little less like frontline soldiers, ideal for selling the less professional look of the militia. The other helmets are the Wz.63 Polish paratrooper helmet, used by the Polish Army (from the 1960s up until the 2010s) but also worn by the East German Falschjagers (and Iraqi paratroopers if you want an alternative use for them). Both of these heads are also supported by a new innovation in this Kickstarter, the BRUDERKRIEG 1 Blender Head Exporter – this tool means that if you want some more moustached faces with the para helmets (perhaps for more of a MENA vibe) or you want to make every trooper individual, then you are in luck with an easy-to-learn utility.

All of these sets have been delivered to Kickstarter backers and will be available in the webstore soon. As for what Flank March is working on next, well, a BRUDERKRIEG requires the other brother as well.

Black Hills Games Preview Delta Helicopter Riders

It’s time for the monthly update from Black Hills Games, except this time we have images. As previously mentioned, backers in July and August would be recciving a bonus set – four helicopter riders to expand the US Special Forces Delta from February last year, giving you four figures ideal to be sat on the side of your Black Hawks and Little Birds. This set has already been sent out to subscribers and is also available on Gumroad and MyMiniFactory.

Other updates include that the August set (GIGN operators) is coming soon and will include assaulters along with a drone operator and shield carrier. Looking to the future, we’ll be seeing more figures similar to last month’s operators, “inspired” by The Division and filling out the roster of both operators and street gangs. We’ll also be seeing our first glimpse of the 13 Hours Kickstarter in September, with BHG having mentioned that faces for the main characters are all sculpted and ready to be used. Finally, and perhaps the most interesting news, BHG is starting a loyalty program

Combat Octopus Releases British Army Figures All Ready For a Sangin Patrol

Now this is a big one that I have been eagerly waiting for.

Combat Octopus has now released his first set of modular British Forces. This pack is designed around British troops in Afghanistan around 2007, with the mixture of equipment, weapons and clothing that comes from one of the more distinctive periods of the war – before the arrival of the various Urgent Operational Requirement items, MTP uniforms, Mk 4 Osprey armour and the Mk 7 helmet. This was the era when British troops fought in T-shirts, mixed woodland and desert DPM, with the SUSAT and green handguards on the L85 still soldiering on. This is also an era of the war in Afghanistan not currently covered by other ranges, with Eureka covering the early 2000s while Empress’s comprehensive range covers 2011 onwards.

The first pack of two includes four poses, all themed around a static engagement. All the soldiers are modelled with PLCE webbing under their body armour, providing plenty of magazine storage for combat. All four poses come with two torso options, one clean and ready for placing pouches and the other with radio pouches and wiring in place. Each pose also comes with plenty of options – the riflemen have at least the L85A2 in three versions (original, original with bayonet fixed and the version with the Daniel Defence rail), as well as the Crow Cannon itself, the L86A2. The kneeling pose extends this selection with an L85A2 with UGL, ideal for providing 40mm grenade fire. The machine gunner has both the L110A2 (including one with an ACOG mounted) and the classic Gimpy (with two options for mounting the belt). The torsos are cut in a way that they work with all the bodies, while the cut of the arms at the shoulder should allow for plenty of kitbashing opportunities.

As well as the pouches for both the PLCE and the Osprey vest, the release also includes 8 heads wearing the MK6 helmet, most also wearing the Bowman headset, with a variety of helmet-mounted netting, covers, and NVG mounts.

While I am a little biased because I originally voted for a Combat Octopus-designed set of Brits, I think this is a great release from Combat Octopus and a considerable amount of work compared to other sets. With multiple weapon options and modular parts that let you build more figures than the initial four options, this is a set I find hard not to recommend.

If you want to get your hands on these figures now, you can sign up on Patreon.

Modern Miniatures Previews September Releases

Finally, as a new month approaches, Modern Miniatures is already ready to release September parts and has plenty of previews to show off.

For the terrain side, patrons are getting a pair of Cartel-related vehicles and scenery. We’ve covered the Narco sub and its stand before (including the ability to mount other boats on the stand thanks to the adjustable clamps AND the ability to take the lower half off the Narco sub itself for a waterline version), but the Narco Tank is a monster. While based around a Ford F-350, this vehicle has been covered in armour panels, with a turret added, plus plenty of bulletproof windows and firing ports to shoot out of. It’s obviously not intended to fight actual armoured vehicles, but in a setting where troops don’t traditionally expect to encounter them, it’s a terrifying prospect. The kit is modular, allowing for some variation, such as wheel armour or choosing the style of turret.

For the figure tier, we have the second set of figures to back up the Generic PMC team from August. This support squad includes four figures and carries a set of more specialised weapons. To provide fire support, a gunner with a KAC LAMG can provide suppression. The other three figures focus on close-quarters battle: an assaulter carrying a suppressed Crye Six 12 shotgun, an ECM operator pointing out a target while carrying his MP7, and a medic with a large rucksack stuffed with medical supplies and an MP7. As with the basic set, these figures support Modern Miniatures modular head options – they are shown with various gas-masked helmets, but the regular ones would also fit just as well.

As mentioned last week, the MyMiniFactory release for September will be a set of three buildings ideal for South America. With three different structures available (and with two supporting being mirrored to print again), this is the perfect start for your Cartel fighting table.

Overall, this is a very strong month of releases from Modern Miniatures. As they are good to go, and Modern Miniatures is very quick at getting figures out, you can expect to see them when September arrives on Tuesday.