The Range is Hot! Please see page 13 for quick straw poll.

[Wyrmalla]

Ah right, Miniature Mojo also do some with MP5s, though they're a bit sci-fi looking too. Though what does modern winter soldier gear look like? Looking at pictures its just the regular uniforms in snow camo with a hood added and gloves (plus maybe goggles and a balaclava). Of course I may be wrong, that's just what cropped up on Google Images. Things like heavy jackets with woolen collars are more what's worn informally than being part of the standard kit, but again that's based on my limited knowledge on the subject, and indeed guys wearing a few inches of warm clothing would certainly do for militia type units of course.

[peachy rex]

If they're not fighting in a really frigid climate, then ordinary ultramodern troops will do fine if they have long sleeves - just paint the unis in a winter pattern (white with a few green squiggles), the vests etc in temperate, and maybe very thin gloves (ie black/green/whatever hands).

[Col.Stone]

Those Snow Troopers are perhaps a bit too sci-fi for moderns (given the laser rifles). Didn't Copplestone Castings to some with AKs at some point? I think that those are still available. I remember seeing some other ones at a show, but can't remember the manufacturer. =/

Though on this subject, and well perhaps its a bit too niche, Eastern European soldiers in Gorka suits would be interesting. Yes though, those are something you'd only see once the line was large enough or someone wanted to make Eastern European militias or what not. I suppose whilst we're in that area of the world, those Russian Spetnaz soldiers with the ballistic faceplates and AS Val rifles are something you don't see. Saying that I do think you can buy the faceplates loose, and couldn't probably get away with just giving them AKs (I just sculpted mine, but that doesn't really go for everyone).

TAG has faceplates for their MVD, are those the ones you're thinking of?
No AS-Val tho

[Wyrmalla]

Yeah its the TAG ones that I saw on their store. They're good-ish for all the random bits and bobs of gear, but their sculpting style is too chunky to use with more realistic lines like Empress. At least they aren't too difficult to sculpt, though those guys have different platevests than the regular soldiers too. Though the AS Vals are what you see in most images, they do use AN-94s as well, which you could probably convert a regular AK-74 to look like.

[Arlequín]

Cold weather gear is generally standard gear with liners, which makes a slight difference in the 'bulk' of a figure (which some 28mm ranges already have anyway).

'Arctic' gear is something else, even if it's just the addition of the 'one-size-fits-no-one' white coveralls, which gives all wearers an 'over-inflated' appearance, except where their LBE and vests pull it in. Snow boots and ski boots are obviously somewhat larger than their temperate counterparts too.

In all it combines to make troops look like they suffer from microcephaly if they don't pull their hoods up.  

 

[arget8]

So this is what I have planned if I decide to go the Generic Military and Western Insurgent route, feel free to critique!

GENERIC ARMY: 16 unique infantry wearing BDU style uniforms and Chicom chest rigs (Separate Heads Below)

-   Firefight (4x AK-47)
-   Skirmish (4x AK-47)
-   Command (Platoon Commander (AK-47), Radioman/Assistant (AK-47), Marksman (SVD), Platoon Sergeant/Rifleman (AK-47)
-   Heavy weapons (PKM and Assistant Gunner, RPG, RPK)

INSURGENTS: 16 infantry poses wearing a variety of military and civilian gear (Separate Heads Below)

-   Western Militia firefight (2x AK-47, 1x G3, 1x M16)
-   Western Militia skirmish (2x AK-47, 1x G3, 1x M16)
-   Western Militia heavy weapons (PKM and Assistant Gunner, RPG, RPK)
-   Western Militia command (Commander (AK-47), Rifleman/leader (G3), Marksman (SVD), Rifleman (M16)

SEPARATE HEADS: 44 heads (Bare and Helmeted)

-   Bare Heads: Middle Eastern
-   Bare Heads: African
-   Bare Heads: European
-   Bare Heads: Asian
-   Bare Heads: Face covered
-   PASGT: Middle Eastern
-   PASGT: African
-   PASGT: European
-   PASGT: Asian
-   Ssh-68: Asian
-   Ssh-68: Middle Eastern
-   Ssh-68: European
-   M1: African

I admit that I do not have any South American heads, but I from what I have seen on google, South Americans generally look like Europeans in regards to facial structure. In my opinion, at 28mm it would be pretty hard to tell the difference. The middle eastern heads will be more unique due to more prolific facial hair.

If you guys think I am missing any crucial things or something (such as weapons for the insurgents) needs to be changed, let me know. I am moving on to planning the Koreans next, then the IDF and western civilians. I see a possibility to move the RPG and RPK to the rifle packs, putting the RPG in one and the RPK in another, which would make more sense with kitting out a platoon as there would be less wastage, but then The PKM pack would be empty. Maybe put them in the rifle packs and use the heavy weapons pack to provide additional sculpts?

Winter troops are possible, but I'm not sure that the demand is high enough to do a large range of them (Maybe a couple packs down the line?). Most armies winter uniforms are not different enough from their regular uniforms, apart from hoods and a slight increase in bulk. Doing slight conversions on US figures in MOPP gear would not be far off.

Loving the conversation!

Gunnar

[arget8]

Also, if anyone has knowledge of the platoon organization and equipment for South Korea, please sound off. I have been able to figure out which weapons, but the actual weapon distribution and numbers is something I am seriously struggling to find.

This is what I have for organization at the moment. The North Koreans are correct as of 1996, which I doubt has changed much. The South Koreans are based off of pictures and the assumption that they share similar organization with the US. They are nominally armed with two K11's per squad according to official releases and the plan is to have them completely replace the K2 by the 2020's.

North Korean:

Platoon Commander- T-64/68 Pistol

3 Squads consisting of 3 teams per squad

SL/TL- AK-47
RPG Gunner- RPG-7 and AK-47
Rifleman- AK-47
RPD Gunner- RPD/RPK

South Korean:

Platoon Leader- K2
Platoon Sergeant- K2
RTO- K2
Medic- K2

3 Squads consisting of 2 teams per squad

SL- K2

TL- K2
LMG- K3
Rifleman- K2
UGL- K2 w/M203
Light support Weapon- K11

And here are the potential (Very WIP!) packs:

NORTH KOREA: 16 Unique Poses
-   Firefight (2x AK-47, 1x RPD/RPK, 1x RPG/AK-47)
-   Skirmish (2x AK-47, 1x RPD/RPK, 1x RPG/AK-47)
-   Command (Officer T-64/68, Radio man (AK-47), Marksman (SVD), Rifleman (AK-47)
-   Heavy weapons (RPD/RPK, RPG, Type 73)

SOUTH KOREA: 16 Unique Poses
-   Firefight (1x K2, 1x K2/M203, 1x K3, 1xK11)
-   Skirmish (1x K2, 1x K2/M203, 1x K3, 1xK11)
-   Command (Commander (K2), PSG (K2), Radio (K2), Medic (K2)
-   Heavy weapons (K12, K3, LAW)


Thanks,

Gunnar

[fraction]

I like the outcome. Berets would be a nice Addition (european for me :p ) but your options are really good as they are. Hope we will See first progress soon.

Cheers

[Elk101]

Generic Empress compatible troops with an Asian PASGT head option armed with AK47s would be better than anything I'm currently aware of for the VPA so I'd buy some!

[Johnno]

So this is what I have planned if I decide to go the Generic Military and Western Insurgent route, feel free to critique!

SEPARATE HEADS: 44 heads (Bare and Helmeted)

-   Bare Heads: Middle Eastern
-   Bare Heads: African
-   Bare Heads: European
-   Bare Heads: Asian
-   Bare Heads: Face covered
-   PASGT: Middle Eastern
-PASGT: African
-PASGT: European
-   PASGT: Asian
-   Ssh-68: Asian
-   Ssh-68: Middle Eastern
-   Ssh-68: European
-   M1: African

I admit that I do not have any South American heads, but I from what I have seen on google, South Americans generally look like Europeans in regards to facial structure. In my opinion, at 28mm it would be pretty hard to tell the difference.

Gunnar

Maybe some heads with peaked caps or berets?
I like the generic military with the options of swapping heads to suit the region.

[peachy rex]

Another vote here for berets and/or peaked field caps.

Were you thinking of separate heads for the North & South Koreans?

[arget8]

Maybe, but the South Koreans use domestically produced weapons that are not prolific globally and the North Koreans are wearing soviet era uniforms. This makes neither of them very versatile and I know that I prefer figures with attached heads when no variation is an option. However, there are some other head options, such as winter hats for the Norks or patrol caps for the ROK.

Berets are definitely a possibility, as are boonie hats and patrol cap/ball caps.

Gunnar

[peachy rex]

My impression is that ultramodern has a fairly high incidence of imagiNations - I know I'm not the only one reluctant to game conflicts that have just been in the news. Now, everything is grist for those, but it's even better if you can easily change heads.

[Elk101]

My impression is that ultramodern has a fairly high incidence of imagiNations - I know I'm not the only one reluctant to game conflicts that have just been in the news. Now, everything is grist for those, but it's even better if you can easily change heads.

This! That's exactly what I'd be using generic Asian forces for. Imagine-nations do seem to be extremely popular and will likely account for at least some of the sales of ranges such as Spectre Miniatures.

[arget8]

Well, if there is no problem with separate heads, I guess yes, they will be separate heads, haha.