Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: Sparrow on November 14, 2018, 08:40:58 PM
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At last- Modern French! Hurrah!
http://www.empressminiatures.com/userimages/procart91.htm
Been waiting for these for ages and “nicely timed” to coincide with the talk if a European Army! Fingers crossed for some vehicles/AFV’s to go with these!
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Whilst they aren't as consistent as I'd like with their schedule, another Empress modern release is always a treat. Id assume that infantry are cheaper to manufacturer than the larger vehicle moulds, so that explains the slowness in their vehicle releases (what was their last vehicle before the T-14 Armata? The Gaz Tigr?).
Pity they aren't Russians of course, but not everything can be Russians. ;)
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They do look pretty nice. And just in time for the change over from the FAMAS.
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Great looking models.
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Cool, and just in time for PLAN RED REIVER (and Warfare).
Their vehicle production has been very limited, before the Tigr and the T14, their last vehicle was the PLA T99 (the HLBSCo stuff does not count).
I hope they will do a VBL and an AMX-10 RC, the Jaguar and the Griffin do not look as impressive.
I would still like some suitable German vehicles (besides the Leopard).
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They do look pretty nice. And just in time for the change over from the FAMAS.
As opposed to the Bundeswehr figures.
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Could still use them the Bundeswehr as Spanish troops. lol
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Could still use them the Bundeswehr as Spanish troops. lol
Or SCO-19.
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Cool, and just in time for PLAN RED REIVER (and Warfare).
Their vehicle production has been very limited, before the Tigr and the T14, their last vehicle was the PLA T99 (the HLBSCo stuff does not count).
I hope they will do a VBL and an AMX-10 RC, the Jaguar and the Griffin do not look as impressive.
I would still like some suitable German vehicles (besides the Leopard).
Their newer vehicles are high quality, though their older stuff has been superseded by other companies. A pity that their HLBS stuff is 1/48th, as Spectre's new BMP-1 is 1/50th and led to me still using HLBS' range instead of transitioning over to that so the scales don't look off with my existing vehicles.
Vehicle production has to be outsourced to 3D modelers these days, which may be where the difficulty lies. Currently SASM looks like they'd be taking over from Empress in that regard if you're wanting modern vehicles, as they also do a load of European ones (and the quality's much better than it once was). However, European forces may be considered niche, so that may stilt further stuff coming out unless there's a definite market need for some (I've no idea what Empress' sales figures have been with these European lines).
Though yes, oddly even the larger militaries aren't well represent. Which tells you how niche moderns can be. The PLA barely has any models or vehicles (though their is a new Kickstarter for them by another company). Though the Americans and British of course are much better represented (and to an extent the Russians through all the Soviet ranges which are available).
A pity I suppose that 1/72nd took over as the modeller's scale as far as kits go. There's all sorts of obscure stuff available in that scale, though I constantly see gamers in that scale whinging about a lack of infantry, so it may not be as good in that regard (though when looking those size of figures I found tonnes of stuff which you can't get in 28mm so they may be a bit entitled :P).
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I'm probably not representative, but each '28mm' modern tank that is produced is a wasted production opportunity in my eyes. I might buy multiples of lighter and smaller vehicles, but at 'infantry action' distances a tank is a waste of money and time.
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And I can certainly agree with that. In my WWII collection half of the vehicles are tanks. In my modern one there's maybe four in total.
I'd much rather have a good model for an MT-LB than a T-80 (which reminds me to buy more MT-LBs...). On the modern battlefield civilian trucks appear more often than APCs, at least in irregular conflicts. And even with those involving mainstream forces IFVs would be more common (make those forces less well funded and improvised APCs take over tank roles).
Which is to say though, if infantry are available, then a decent APC model would be the first port of call. If we're mostly playing skirmish scale games then one of those would provide a decent oomph in firepower, and already be overkill if the enemy lacks sufficient AT capabilities (see the BMP-3).
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Good poimts.
Ranges and points make use of tanks difficult for modern games. I think I have four as well five (T72, T90, T14 and both Empress Challengers).
I would wish for Land Rover equivalent, light APC (Fox Hound), APC (FV432), IFV/ light tank (Scimitar 2, Warrior), Tank (Challenger 2).
I am sure you can come up with the equivalent vehicles for the German and French (and PLA).
Certainly if you do the figures, the addition of a light vehicle to carry them would be good.
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I suppose the answer is for you all to get together and start your own company?
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Cool, and just in time for PLAN RED REIVER (and Warfare).
Their vehicle production has been very limited, before the Tigr and the T14, their last vehicle was the PLA T99 (the HLBSCo stuff does not count).
I hope they will do a VBL and an AMX-10 RC, the Jaguar and the Griffin do not look as impressive.
I would still like some suitable German vehicles (besides the Leopard).
I would recommend getting the Gasoline/Quarter Kit models of the VBL and the AMX-10RC. Simply superb. They also produce a conversion kit for the VAB that updates it with new wheels, rear stowage basket and the Kongsberg weapons station.
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I do bother Tim at SASM over potential products every now and then. Though whether any ideas are picked up is more to do if Tim's interested, and if they'll sell.
"More Russians!" - "Dude, nobody else wants Russian stuff apart from you". - "Ok, stowage?" - "...I'll think about it".
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I suppose the answer is for you all to get together and start your own company?
It's been tried before, remember Mongrel Miniatures, Chieftain Models and a few others?
The concept of a company is to actually make money. I don't think 'Ultramoderns' supports that concept. A good Vietnam range might do okay-ish, but best to stick to Fantasy, WWII German Paras and Napoleonic French, if a meagre profit is your goal.
;)
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You forgot to add Zombies And Sexy Alians to the mix. lol
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You forgot to add Zombies And Sexy Alians to the mix. lol
A good Vietnam range might do okay-ish,
Well, if and when one ever emerges we'll know. ;)
To be fair the best ones to have emerged so far do not appear to have prospered and the most recent KS, which featured decent sculpts, albeit with the wrong kit, fell over nowhere near the finishing line. I don't think the septics like being reminded and almost nobody else cares.
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The Axis & Allies style Vietnam Game did over $113k on its KS, so there is a frisson of interest somewhere in the conflict. We are also past the 50th anniversary of Tet and heading towards the other 'end of war' events, so I imagine that trickle of interest to grow a touch.
That said the Great War Centenary barely ignited interest in that in our little world, so I'm not betting on that.
You forgot to add Zombies And Sexy Alians to the mix. lol
Mere fads. Seriously wargaming gold is in what I said, with maybe American Civil War if you just want to get a little together for your retirement.
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You forgot to add Zombies And Sexy Alians to the mix. lol
Call me weird, but I like sexy zombies