{"id":31103,"date":"2025-04-01T20:26:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T19:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hntdaab.co.uk\/blog\/?p=31103"},"modified":"2025-04-02T00:50:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T23:50:16","slug":"the-news-stand-01-04-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hntdaab.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/04\/01\/the-news-stand-01-04-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The News Stand: 01\/04\/2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It’s the start of the new month! Seeing as this comes out in the evening, I think we’re past all of the April Fools updates and we can focus on the good stuff – the latest releases and previews from the Ultramodern Wargaming community. We have an exclusive sneak peek from Urban Scatter Gaming, as well as previews and releases from Combat Octopus, Black Hills Games and Modern Miniatures.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Support ChargeBlog on Patreon!<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n
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As always, thanks to the News Fans and other patrons over on the ChargeBlog patreon<\/a> 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<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Urban Scatter Gaming Provides An Exclusive Sneak Peek At A New Release<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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As an exclusive preview straight from Urban Scatter Gaming<\/a>‘s desk, we have a sneak preview at a new release for the MENA range. Nicknamed Building 2, this is a multi-storey structure, designed in a similar way to Building 1<\/a> to give you some major urban real estate to fight through. As you can see from these work-in-progress renders, this is an impressive structure, complete with decorative grating over the windows and several storeys to watch while assaulting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As with many other of Urban Scatter Gaming’s fantastic releases, the building comes in separate pieces and includes an interior designed to be played in, complete with staircases to move between levels. I’ve actually managed to print the ground floor, and it’s a lovely piece that I can’t wait to finish off printing. He’s aiming for a release very soon, but we may see a few additional tweaks that are still in discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Echo Dark Studios Prepares For Full Launch On Friday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Fresh off a successful time at Adepticon, Echo Dark Studios<\/a> is now ready to put their relaunch of InCountry even more global. The website where you can pick up your own copies of the starter box (including two factions and a small form factor rulebook) will be going live on Friday, so keep your eyes on social media for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Hills Games Releases Criminal Gang For March<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Coming in tight, Black Hills Games<\/a> has released the Criminal Gang set to March patrons<\/a>. These guys look great for an Eastern European setting, with AKs, trainers and balaclavas galore. There is also a nice pair of covert\/overt figures for the boss, who perhaps could pull double duty as some form of local contact. The set has been sent out to patrons, and if you’re interested in picking it up for yourself, it should be on the Black Hills Games Gumroad<\/a> soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combat Octopus Knocks It Out The Park for SSO Part 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Strap in because once again, Combat Octopus<\/a> has more than delivered with this month’s release<\/a>. The second part to last month’s combat-focused SSO operators set, this brings you four more figures in a slightly more mobile setting. And if you’ve read the weapon list, you might notice a few unusual suspects in there. Yep, all ready for kitbashing, we have a set of western weapons on the list. I’ll talk about those later, but first let’s take a look at the operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As you can see above, we have four figures. Each comes with two torso types (with and without rucksack), and each body has a wide variety of weapon systems. As well as the usual set of 5.45 and 7.62 AKs, the SR-3M and AK-12SK (a carbine-length version of the new AK-12) join the set. There is also a collection of support weapons, with the SVDS, Gm-94 and a modernised PKM (rather than the PKP) to give you the force multipliers you need when assembling a squad. There are also some of CO’s favourite western guns, with the M4 URGI and HK-417 giving you something different for the bodies, ideal if you (like me) have spent far too long in Tarkov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Finishing off the pack is a set of useful bits. There are multiple heads with both LShZ and 6B47 helmets (including night vision monoculars, various light elements and GoPros), groin plates (for the digital kitbashers) and two versions of the infamous Steckin Pistol in holster, with both hard retention and soft material options to equip your force. But that’s not all! If you also have the first part, there are additional weapons (the AK-12SK and western rifles) if you want to run your force as cutting-edge or western-themed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want the pack, these figures are out right now over on Patreon<\/a>, so sign up and get them downloaded. If you’re interested in Pt2, that should soon be up over on the Combat Octopus MyMiniFactory<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern Miniatures Prepares For April Releases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Modern Miniatures<\/a> has also been getting ready for the new month, showing off the latest stuff he’s been working on. The big ticket item this month is the South American fam set<\/a>, with all the barns, tractors, silo and more. This set is going to be available to anyone joining the Patreon this month, so if you need somewhere to grow all that coca, this is going to be the set for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are also a few other additional sets, including a rather distinctive car you see above. These will not be included in the Patreon, but patrons will get a 50% discount on them. They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n