Scouts, Dropships, Gunships, Autonomous Small Vehicles

Here are some releases from the past week - perfect gifts for the 15mm gamer in your life. Even if it's you. :)

Oddzial Osmy has added a Scout pack to the New Vistula Legion. These are designed to be point men for the NVL infantry, rather than special operators like the previous LRRP figures. The pack includes six figures in three poses.

It is available now in the US from Picoarmor and in the UK from Fighting 15s. 

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The popular Titan Marines from Rebel Minis have received a new Dropship/Gunship Kit.

Rather than the separate kits seen in the Earthforce ships, Rebel Mike decided to release this kit with both the dropship's carrier pod and the extra weapon pods for the gunship. If you're clever with rare-earth magnets and your flight stand, you should be able to use your kit in either variant. The Titan Dropship/Gunship is available here, and a full gallery of Jason Moore's excellent paintup is on the Rebel Minis Blog.

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Khurasan Miniatures has added a huge variety of Autonomous Small Vehicles (ASVs) to the Federal Army. These are robotic support vehicles about the size of a large cart, and they are available in three different battlefield roles. And each of the three types are available in wheeled, tracked, legged, or grav versions - so there is a nearly endless variety of these little guys.

The Armed ASV (pictured above) includes three different weapon systems. There is a flatbed logistics vehicle (below left), and what I think will be the most popular - a medevac vehicle (below right).

I really like these ASVs - they are a very logical "next step" for some of the battlefield drones and robots being designed today.

Cheers,

Chris

IN THE PIPE: Khurasan Federal Navy Special Warfare (SPAR) team

The term 'Elite' in tabletop Sci Fi usually conjusts up one of two images. At one extreme it's shredded t-shirts, berets and bulging biceps . whilst at the other it's jump packs, shoulder pads and metal flares.

Not any more...

A couple of weeks before the whole Bin Lardy thing, Jon at Khurasan approached me with the idea of some Recon for his highly successful Federal Infantry range.

To me, Recon only has one connotation. Marine Recon. And let's face it Gunny if you are doing Marine Recon, why don't we go the whole hog. Hooyah!

We wanted something that was different but real. Figures that could be used in Force on Force as bleeding edge Future Warriors of 5 years time plus of course equally at home in the far future of Tomorrows War, FAD, FUBAR, Gruntz etc.

It was a dream opportunity. I gave Jon helmet designs and stipulated that the minis should tell a story, not random poses but a team that could be 'stacked'. 

A couple of weeks later, Bin Lardy-dardy-dah all over the news and Jon sent me the first photo of the master figures. Ok, hands up - I'm biased. But the minis in the photo makes me proud. I tell you, I'm having these minis on me at my viking funeral, to game with in Valhalla.

Jon wants to go for the big reveal, so sorry no photos (just yet). However I can exclusively and genuinely proudly, introduce you to the Federal Navy Special Warfare (SPAR) team.

The SPAR team consists of  four different 'stackable' operators armed with special .50 SMGs with integral grenade launcher (as seen on the Khurasan Corporate Marine officer ). Two different snipers (with anti-material rifle and with anti-personnel rifle), and one operator with FAW (thermobaric flame assault weapon). SPAR operators use a special lighter body armour and the ARC (augmented reality - combat) helmet.

The Federal Navy Special Warfare (SPAR) team will be released along with the Federal Infantry Mortar team above will be released at the same time as the drone and operator, the army casualty and medics diorama, the DIMOG 3 "Berserker" and Hercules civilian loader (both are conversion sets for the basic DIMOG) announced on Dropship Horizon on Saturday.

Naturally I'll keep you updated with intel as soon as it is released.

Cheers

Mark

IN THE PIPE: Khurasan Federal RAM Mortar Team

 
A whole heap of new goodies from Khurasan Miniatures are in the pipe and heading to a galaxy near you soon. I can bring exclusive news from Khurasan Alienworkz gmb that RAM (rocket assisted munition) Mortars are the asset of the day for any self-respecting intergalactic overlord.

There will be mortars for the Feds, Lhurggs and, in time, for the Control Battalion and Sepulvedan Resistance too. RAM Mortars provide a cheap, mobile and versatile weapons platform that can deploy a range of munitions. Providing the grunts on the ground with their own dedicated, on-call artillery.

So we're going to need a forward control element to locate the enemy and direct effective fires onto them. What better than a highly manoeuvrable eye in the sky.

Here we see the Federal Army Infantry Drone team, previewed recently on Khurasan Miniatures' blog. These drones are perfect for providing real-time information back to 'the grid'.

Modern C-RAM (Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) weapons are ground based - but a fast moving drone with a powerful energy weapon may be able to conduct successful point defence missions and set up a C-RAM environment around the unit or facility it is protecting. I foresee (C-S) Counter Sniper Drones and C-RAMS (Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar and Sniper) Drones in the future.

So, when are these going to be available? The Federal Infantry Mortar team above will be released at the same time as the drone and operator, the army casualty and medics diorama, the DIMOG 3 "Berserker" and Hercules civilian loader (both are conversion sets for the basic DIMOG).

Included in this release and again exclusively to Dropship Horizon will be a new kick ass unit of Federal Elite forces, but more on those tomorrow! Hooyah!

Cheers

Mark

Khurasan Miniatures 15mm Pride guard

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Also up for painting this bank holiday weekend, a selection of Khurasan's TTC-1302 Elite Pride guard

Khurasan Miniatures 15mm Sci Fi

Felid Elite Pride guard

Each pack contains 10 miniatures in 4 rifle poses, 2 different support weapons and a leader.These minis are essentially helmeted Felids/Tigrids. Perfect for Felid protected forces or jump troops.

The helmets whilst having a certain Felid flare, anonymize the miniatures and turn them into a useful generic alien bipedal grunts. Under those helmets can be whatever bipedal lifeforms you want.

Each unique figure is a character in his own right and once again the detail pops. Very simple painting techniques only are needed to reward you with stunning results. 

Cheers

Mark

  

Don't forget to check out todays's other posts.

 

Sniper Scout Idea

Sniper / Scout project for my Neo-Brits: Khurasan Federal Army SAW gunner (and/or Sniper figure), GZG googly visor head, putty cloak.....

The Khurasan Federal Army heads are easy to remove - I'm thankful of this after a week of hacking at 20mm Moderns for Winter of '79. You can twist the heads on most of the standing figures. This one needs a small cut then you can lever the head off with your thumb.

Keep the heads you've removed and can use them again on the likes of Rebel or QRF Modern US miniatutes which will give you Federal Army auxiliaries, Colonial militia or Near Future troopers.  You can also use them as stowage on the side of vehicles or trophies on totems etc.

Cheers

Mark

London Calling: 2024AD

Another example of Khurasan Federal Army goodness converted into Neo British. Inspired not a little, by the excellent Gone With The Blastwave e-Comic.

London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared - and battle come down
London calling to the underworld......

CHORUS

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
Cause London is drowning and I, live by the river

"OK 417, cut the music......"

Cheers
Mark

Khurasan Federal Army 'VDV'

Four more packs of Federal Infantry arrived from Jon at Khurasan today, making a total of 12 packs since they were released.

These guys are destined to form a distinct stand-alone force. Let's call it a platoon for now, with focus for now being Tomorrow's War, and inspired by Richard's 20mm Liberation Miniature Soviet VDV airbourne assault troops - I'm thinking of of recreating this look in 15mm. Here's a quick photoshop test before I put paint to miniature.....

Photoshop colour test

Works for me as a scheme which marks them out as Elite troops or Mercs, but will it work on the miniatures themselves? Let's find out. I'll paint a test miniature tonight.

Cheers

Mark

TEST UPDATE:

Painted Federal Army Command & Support Codes

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Jon at Khurasan has sent me these pics from his Federal Army range:

 TTC-2004 Federal Army Command Team

TTC-2006b Federal Army Tripod Heavy Missile Launcher

TTC-2004 Federal Army K-9 Sentry Team

Cheers

Mark

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More Federal Army Specialists

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"Pooch says wev'e got bugs Cap'n and pooch is never wrong! Sending grid now!"

TTC-2002 Sniper with Anti-Material Rifle (right)

Unidentified signaller figure (left)

The Sniper figure above is packaged with a Plasma gunner. Nice sniper, no ghillie suitt though :-(, but I like the modular nature of the advanced-tech weapon system. I left off the P-gunner as I wanted to show this tasty signaller (?) figure who can be used as a scout, FOO, Grid-tech, squad leader.

TTC-2003 K-9 Sentry Team

I may have the wrong human figure - hope I have, as he's a bit static - I would personally prefer the 'signaller' figure in the top photo to accompany the K-9.

Khurasan Federal Army TTC-2001 "Female" SAW gunner

Critical Mass Games Light Recon support gunner

A comparison shot of Khurasan's Feds vs CMG's Recon as the question was raised on TMP. Notice that the Light Recon gunner stands on a slightly thicker base, but otherwise no real difference in size or bulk. The Federal SAW gunner is from pack TC-2001 "female" troopers. Not my personal interpretation of a sci fi "female" trooper but there you go.

TTC-2004 Federal Army Command

(map is not cut to size)

TTC-2004 Federal Army Command pack has three standing bareheaded 'senior' officers, with helmets attached to their belts. They are studying a 'holomap' which  is very cleverly, a small map printed on clear acetate that fits into a small metal projector. Really nice touch. Two of the officers are pretty standard, third with folded arms has very soft facial features and much smaller head so I'm either going to give him a helmet or a Vargr headswop. 

Overall I give Jon 11 out of 10 for effort in coming up with an extensive yet cohesive range that just begs one to build large enough tactical units to incorporate all the support and command options that are available. However, I must ask, and I've said it to more than one manufacturer, that quality of sculpting or concept does not suffer in the rush for quantity.


Cheers
Mark

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INCOMING....... Federal Army Reinforcements

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Khurasan's new Federal Army range has created a buzz leading to my review on 5th September receiving the highest all time number of page views on Dropship Horizon.

Responding to customer feedback here are the first wave of reinforcements and support weapons for the Feds.

15mm Sci Fi Khurasan Federal Army

Anti-Material Rifle (left), Fusion Gunner (right)

The barrel of the A-M Rifle was not straightened by painter

15mm Sci Fi Khurasan Federal Army

A homage to Vasquez. Fem Troopers!

15mm Sci Fi Khurasan Federal Army

Tankies/generic crew

15mm Sci Fi Khurasan Federal Army

20mm autocannon (comes with Anti-Material barrel swop)

Cheers

Mark

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Khurasan's "HOG" - You are gonna love this!

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New from Khurasan to give the Federal Army mobile support on the ground:

"The DIMOG Armoursuit is a light assault mech which permits the Federal Army to bring the power of their platoon heavy weapons -- the 20mm autocannon and the Rattler heavy anti-tank missile launcher -- to bear in an offensive.  The Federal Infantry love the DIMOG because it is right there when they need it, and have nicknamed it the "Mog" or, more often, the "Hog".

There are two variants of the DIMOG -- the DIMOG Mark 1, as shown in the image, and the DIMOG Mark 2, which is hardened (with additional armour so that it is completely enclosed).

Both kits will be available within a month or so, and each comes with two sets of legs, two autocannons, and one missile launcher.  (Yes, that attachment point you see on the roof of the DIMOG is a weapons port so you can mount all three weapons on one DIMOG!)

In the image you can just make out the sergeant operating his Mark 1 Mog.  This should make it clear that this is a small Mech, not a towering cyborg like the L-HAC."

 So, what  is the Dropship opinion? I showed the pic to Eli just before posting and he came back with:

I like! This scream armed labor militia to me. Like a modified civilian loader. It makes me think of a game I ran for an Aliens RPG (not the Leading Edge one) I ran back in the 80s. One of the missions that the Marines were sent to do was to provide security during a hot labor dispute on a corporate colony world. Modified loaders were used as weapons by the militia groups. They carried everything from jerry rigged flamers and rockets up to smuggled in heavy weapons. Walking technicals they were.

Me? Jon, I want six!

Available from
Khurasan Miniatures
E.T.A. SOON!

Cheers
Mark

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REVIEW: Khurasan 15mm Sci Fi Federal Army

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My week has been stolen by the arrival of samples from Khurasan Miniatures forthcoming 15mm Sci Fi Federal Army range. Not only have I been playing around with the miniatures, working out different organisations and fireteam basing options, but using my 'Google-Fu' to get inspiration for a suitable camo scheme.

The figures are 18mm sole to eye, and all of comparable heights and proportions to newer figure ranges on the market The soldiers all wear closed helmets, chest, shoulder, knee and lower leg armour. Overall the figures have the right 'feel' to them of being soldiers in miniature. This is particularly demonstrated by the way the weapons are carried. You can feel the weapons have a weight and balance in their hands.

No apologies, I'm going to begin with my favourites from the Support Weapons pack. This pack contains a Team Leader, Grenadier, SAW, MAW Gunner MAW No.2.

Khurasan 15mm Sci Fi Federal Army

L-R: Team Leader, Grenadier, SAW

Khurasan 15mm Sci Fi Federal Army

L-R: MAW No.2, MAW Gunner

• The Team Leader is in the middle of communicating and will make a good alternative squad or platoon  leader.  
• The Grenadier is poised at the ready, looking like he's stacked and ready to breach a room.
• The SAW gunner is a gem. Kneeling, his SAW has a large capacity drum and at his feet there's a satchel with further drms. He would easily make a heavy sniper if you chose.
• The MAW No.2, possibly my favourite figure from this pack, he is kneeling at the ready with three rockets hanging from his right hip.
• The MAW gunner is a tasty heavy duty tank or VTOL killer. Whilst some of you might not like this style of 'cumbersome' rocket launcher in a Sci Fi setting, I see it as being a multi-purpose weapon system, perhaps firing thermobaric rounds or 'beehive' canister-like drone killers.

There are five different castings in the Fire Team pack. A Grenadier and four Riflemen. My photo does not do these figures justice, particularly the two advancing figures on the left.

 

Khurasan 15mm Sci Fi 
Federal Army Fire Team

The figure holding his rifle in his left hand can be used as an alternative fire team or squad leader. The Grenadier is not just some johnny standing bolt upright firing his weapon. You can see that he has it braced and firing slightly hgh to compensate for the trajectory of the lower velocity grenade.

Finally, there's a Command Pack which contains a Squad Leader and armed Medic.

Khurasan 15mm Sci Fi

Federal Army Command Team

• The Squad/Platoon Leader is standing pointing forwards. Less dynamic than I would prefer, but a decent figure nevertheless.
• The 'Medic' is IMO, one of the nicest miniatures in the range. He is only identifiable as a 'medic' by a large rucksack with side pockets, so can easily join his mates as a rifleman or demo specialist. I really like his no-nonsense advancing into combat pose. And if that was the only rifle armed pose Jon produced, I'd be happy with dozens of him alone.

As you can see, the Federal Army range are suitable as Near Future transitional troops or Sci Fi planetary forces. If you are searching for an opposing force for Eureka's Sci Fi Germans, the Federal Army miniatures would make great Neo-Sovs in an AT-43 style Red Blok camo scheme. I can also certainly see these in the role of Ghost Recon Future Warriors, HALO Marines or even ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) proxies. To an old Sci Fi grognard like me, there's just that something about them that cries 'classic' Traveller: Mercenary. And of course, they will be right at home in Ambush Alley Games' forthcoming Tomorrow's War.

Jon envisions his Federal Army troops to have smallarms that are equivalent in firepower to today's SAWs, Grenadiers deploy underslung grenade launchers capable of firing powerful, programmable RAM Grenades. 

Due to a little slippage in the casting schedule, it's likely to be a few weeks yet before the Federal Army packs are available, but it's well worth the wait.

All in all, a versatile, well thought-out and designed set of miniatures, allowing you to build a platoon or two with enough variation to prevent becoming stale. Armour is on the way and Jon has plans to augment the range some time in the future with more command, snipers and at least one heavy weapon. If you have any thoughts on additional troops or the type of heavy weapons you'd like to see, share your ideas in the comments section below.

Now off  to paint them!

Cheers

Mark

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INCOMING....... Khurasan 15mm Federal Army

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Making an orbital drop through my letterbox this week courtesy of Jon at Khurasan Miniatures the first of his all new 15mm Sci Fi Federal Army range.

These are 'hard' Sci Fi miniatures. Equally useful as Mid-tech Sci Fi or 'Transisitional' Near Future forces - and believe me, they are beauts! Jon first shared the original photos several months ago and I can tell you that the miniatures lived up to my expectation 110%.



Listening to gamer's feedback, Jon had the Federal Army figures sculpted from photos of Modern troops in action in a current combat zone - and it shows. these are not 15mm dollies dressed up and positioned. They are soldiers in miniature.

 Khurasan Miniatures 15mm Sci Fi

Federal Army

Jon sent me three packs of these cracking figures:

No.1 Squad Leader & Medic (armed)
No.2  Assault Team: Riflemen & Grenadiers (underslung g/l)
No.3 Weapons Team: Team Leader, MAW, MAW No.2, SAW, Grenadier (underslung g/l)

Further packs are planned to follow including additional command figures, sniper, heavy weapon with crew and more

 If you want to know more.... photos with a full review of the Federal Army miniatures will follow this weekend.

Cheers

Mark 

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