Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
2014/04/11 14:55:51
Subject: Spectre Miniatures Modern Combat Kickstarter - All Stretch Goals Unlocked
* Note to Mods: If Spectre Miniatures create their own account here then please close this thread and allow them to post information in their own thread should they chose to.
Now that that's out of the way...
SPECTRE miniatures unveils a world of modern warfare and covert operations set initially within deepest Africa.
Special forces, intelligence agents and military contractors are on the front line carrying out secret missions against a multitude of enemies including ruthless warlords, insurgents and paramilitary groups.
Become part of an immersive, world-spanning story through a comprehensive range of tabletop miniatures, wargames terrain and unique rules set.
The company is set to launch a Kickstarter at the beginning of May (1st) for their Africa line. More information will presumably come out then, but for the moment they've released these teasers.
For anyone interested in 28mm moderns I'll say that I hope this will turn into an interesting range. Whilst Empress are handling the more mainstay military forces, Spectre seem to be aiming at private military contractors, militaries and other style forces.
The process of creating the weapons used on their figures:
And a comparison scale shot with one of 28mm Empress Miniature's moderns. They match each other quite nicely.
For those going to Salute tomorrow Spectre Minitures is giving away free copies of CIA SOG Officer. They're located at stall TJ22.
Right that's enough fancy html and banners.
This message was edited 18 times. Last update was at 2014/05/30 01:11:28
2014/04/11 15:11:51
Subject: Spectre Miniatures Upcoming Modern Combat Kickstarter
As with Empress miniatures 28mm, silly me for forgetting not everyone knows that. Empress tend to err towards realistically proportioned miniatures, so they can appear slimmer than say regular Bolt Action models (though they're the same height). From the comparison scale shot I'll say that Spectre's models are like for like with Empress in proportions.
I can create a lineup of popular manufacturers against Empress' models if requested.
2014/04/11 15:20:07
Subject: Spectre Miniatures Upcoming Modern Combat Kickstarter
^^ I wasn't insulted sir, I made a wee hiccup there. I think that's a two pence piece rather (I checked against my own minis). I have a few Empress moderns in my blog, though I don't think I've bothered to post a comprehensive scale lineup of the various manufacturers I use there as of yet.
2014/04/11 20:35:34
Subject: Spectre Miniatures Upcoming Modern Combat Kickstarter
Looks like some of the internet's favorite absurd combat outfits and firing positions from Africa are making the cut.
While I haven't seen exact analogues to some of them yet, the guy in the dress is already there, as someone noted, as is "AK held overhead and sideways" guy.
2014/04/14 21:04:44
Subject: Re:Spectre Miniatures Upcoming Modern Combat Kickstarter - Salute Previews
Spectre Miniature's have came out with a preview for their PMCs. I'd prefer the head without the hat though, but its not much effort to remove that and replace it with a beany.
No relation to these guys of course.
2014/04/16 01:41:15
Subject: Spectre Miniatures Upcoming Modern Combat Kickstarter - PMC Preview
Another pair of painted models have been posted on Spectre Miniature's Facebook page.
They've also said that everyone who backs their Kickstarter will receive a free .pdf copy of their rules. The goal of this Kickstarter is to pay for the production of these models. Their in house sculptor has already created a range of models. That begs the question of what their Kickstarter's stretch goals will be, but presumably they'd be capable of sculpting new models, etc should they need to.
I love toy soldiers, have for a long time. I even like the sick, quircky Malifaux figures (haven't bought in yet). But I have to say I see nothing funny in that picture. That has to be the most heart breaking photo I've seen in a very long time. My lord the story that photo tells is mind numbingly sad.
2014/04/16 14:37:44
Subject: Re:Spectre Miniatures Upcoming Modern Combat Kickstarter - Salute Previews
I love toy soldiers, have for a long time. I even like the sick, quircky Malifaux figures (haven't bought in yet). But I have to say I see nothing funny in that picture. That has to be the most heart breaking photo I've seen in a very long time. My lord the story that photo tells is mind numbingly sad.
The child soldier IS sad. The outfit, well he's not the first African fighter that I've seen pictures of whose been wearing fairy wings or worse. They are prone to wearing some really odd stuff, all for a perceived psychological advantage or out of a local belief that assuming two identities at once can "confuse the bullets".
Spoiler:
Or, sometimes, wearing nothing at all.
Cue the quote from "General Butt Naked"
“So, before leading my troops into battle, we would get drunk and drugged up, sacrifice a local teenager, drink their blood, then strip down to our shoes and go into battle wearing colorful wigs and carrying dainty purses we’d looted from civilians. We’d slaughter anyone we saw, chop their heads off and use them as soccer balls. We were nude, fearless, drunk and homicidal. We killed hundreds of people, so many I lost count.”
Now, all that being said, these kinds of get up don't seem the norm for most of the African warlords and their men, and there are a LOT of pictures of more conventionally attired fighters in Africa. I hope that Spectre keeps the bulk of their African fighters on the sensible side.
From the looks of things I can only see one or two of their militiamen wearing headware that's outside the norm (I think I see one with a mask on), and only one wearing a dress. So most probably will be atypical types, with a few odder ones in there for flavour. I don't know if Spectre will be designing their models as single pieces, or having modular heads. Perhaps they're will be optional heads with wigs, etc if people want to do that kind of thing. If they do then it doesn't take much to paint a tshirt an odd colour or with a motif, or to sculpt on a few bits and pieces (paddling wings?).
I'm more interested in their PMC models really, but its nice to see them making local fighters for their African setting. Hmn, though does Empress make models suitable for Government militaries (professional mind). Oh, I know that other companies do (Eureka's just release some Rhodesians for one), Empress just have a different style than others though.
I like the Idea, but i see a lot of different weapons, in most news reels i see those African "Freedom" fighters use AK's and sometimes bigger guns but not much western weaponry
Plenty of western weaponry floating about in Africa. It just depends on the country.
AK's are a cheap, readily available weapon, but almost anything can be found over there.
My Blog: ski2060.blogspot.com
Occasional ramblings about painting and modelling.
ski2060 wrote: Plenty of western weaponry floating about in Africa. It just depends on the country.
AK's are a cheap, readily available weapon, but almost anything can be found over there.
Indeed. Lots and lots of AKs, quite a few FALs, but others, too. That last set of pictures I posted had two guys with M-16 pattern rifles, so there are a few of those, too.
Well hopefully they won't do anything as contentious as child soldiers, but I like the look of some of the games at the moment - there is another 'modern' kickstarter going at the moment, Skirmish in Sangrin etc, there is obviously a trend going at the moment for modern-era skirmish games.
Some of this stuff combined with Empress Miniatures would make for a great 'Black Hawk Down' style scenario game!
It's fair comment, I know a few people who won't play any historical games whatsoever for that reason, others steer clear of a particular conflict. It's a personal thing and I think different for each of us.
Jehan-reznor wrote: I like the Idea, but i see a lot of different weapons, in most news reels i see those African "Freedom" fighters use AK's and sometimes bigger guns but not much western weaponry
This isn't set in the present, rather its x years in the future. Presumably with the end of the wars in the Middle East Western countries will be taking the time to outfit their troops now with more up to date weapons. That means there'd be surplus guns out there for supplying to pro-democratic governments throughout the region through Intelligence Services or legally.
Just to clarify Black Hawk Down's regarded as pretty racist in Somali. It characterises all Somalis as blood thirsty gunmen (and really the whole thing's just a ninja propaganda film for the US military). It was so bad that when the film aired in the region the locals cheered whenever the Americans died just because it was so offensive.
Automatically Appended Next Post: A shot of the African Warlord posted earlier:
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/04/17 18:45:07
A tidbit too. Apparently the current range of miniatures numbers eighty models. That's including the African militia, paramilitaries, PMCs, and CIA agents (plus some other stuff perhaps).
2014/04/19 18:13:20
Subject: Re:Spectre Miniatures Upcoming Modern Combat Kickstarter - Salute Previews
Figures look good, but I have a ton of 15mm for this period already. I ran a Blackhawk Down type scenario at a local convention a few years ago with it.
Every time a terrorist dies a Paratrooper gets his wings.
