"Opinions please good people. " Topic

Hello, this is the first of many new developments since I started my previous thread on starting a minis line. I decided to go for it (live your dreams and all that) and have sent the first sets of sketches I received from my wonderful concept artist off to various sculptors I like to get their quotes for 15, 20, and 28mm scale. I actually haven't decided which scale yet, it's a hard choice! Anyway, I don't want to do KS so the plan is to get a few sets of releases done and ready to cast and release it all at once maybe the start of 2015? Enough about that, here is the first image (and my favorite) of the Human range, my special forces types named SPIRIT. SPecial Infiltration, Reconnaissance, and Interdiction Taskforce. What do you guys think? I'm always open to opinions and constructive criticism, thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy it. The idea is for a five man/woman team. One NCO type fiddling with the wrist computer, two kneelers aiming down sights, one standing guy with a march/attack pose, and 1 guy running and gunning, so to speak.

[URL=http://s1077.photobucket.com/user/ethankakashi/media/Miniatures%20Design%20Work/ReconArmorSheet.jpg.html]

Interesting designs …

That assault rifle? Seriously? How about replacing it with something futuristic looking that is actually made and field in the service of several nations like the FN F2000 bullpup?

Looking good!

If you go the 15mm route, you just won a customer.

The rifle is the XM-8 the H&K submission to replace the M-16 from a few years back. There are a lot of small arms designs to look at for inspiration. I do like the figure and the concept. If these guys are SF I think more should be added to their gear in terms of pouches, camelbacks etc., even a side arm of some sort. Also some of these guys should be carrying special weapons and equipment, i.e. sniper rifle, SAW, electronic warfare equipment etc. Nice idea and I would buy these in a heartbeat if they were in 15mm. One thing I would do is lose the bluish green faceplate. The camouflage the uniform gives is lost with it.
Good luck and keep us posted . It looks good.

Thanks for the suggestions I suppose. If it helps you any, the idea is that they are rapid deployment raiding type troops. In and out, thus the lack of unnecessary gear. It's also not "hard sci fi" with laser guns and things like that. As far as the gun is concerned, it appeals me to visually, and that's why I chose it. The blue visor is more for looks in the artwork, I imagine people would paint that as they please. Thanks for looking anyway!

Yeah, but look at the current "in-and-out" guys---our special forces operators. They are festooned with stuff!!

I'd say depends on the mission, my Dad was a Ranger up until the end of the first Desert Storm and his pictures (both in and out of combat zone/helicopter) they're never wearing much. Some basic web and a backpack. Can't please everyone, thanks for looking though.

Like the armour and gun – for the helmet, it would need to have some pretty kick-ass sensor systems – notably to get good visuals and acoutics

Not so sure about the cape – seems too small if you want a "ghillie suit" kind of concealment – also too small for a "keep the rain off"

As to the kit, while you would expect a lot of kit on someone on a prolonged infil/exfil, could be lean and mean for a quick recce/infil

I should add, that all the stuff being designed (more like refined) is from a series of shorts I wrote for myself, to go along with all my ideas in my head. The cloak is supposed to shift/bend light (theoretically) to make anything it covers "invisible" which I think in reality would just make them blurry. Anyway, that's the idea behind the word SPIRIT. I know it doesn't help on a miniature, since people just see it as a cape, but it's part of the theory/story and it has meaning to me to see those ideas come to light. It might not look cool to you, and I'm sorry for that, but it's staying.

I would ditch the cloak; looks too small to do much, and it reminds me too much of those awful capes/cloaks on Star Wars characters – showy and impractical to fight in. :)

I like the cloak. I don't mind the color of the visor, but something about either the shape of the visor or helmet seems slightly off to me; though unhelpfully I can't pinpoint exactly what.

Nice art will agree the gun, not the right fit for the art.

That assault rifle? Seriously? How about replacing it with something futuristic looking that is actually made and field in the service of several nations like the FN F2000 bullpup?

How is a rifle that has been produced since 2001 considered "futuristic looking"? It's already in use and has been for 13 years. That's "current-looking" by definition. Perhaps even "old-looking", being that it is over a dozen years old, now, and not some speculative or recently-revealed design.

I like them and would buy if in 28mm. A couple of things:
Helmet: looks a little plain to me. Maybe more vent slots around the cheek/mouth? Camera nodules? The pic on left looks more plain than the drawings.

Cape: I get the idea but it would cover up any detail on the back and that would go with some of the "too clean" thing, maybe buttpacks or other kit along the lower back/hip? If there were guys with/out the cape that would allow people to add on gear as they wanted. Pig Iron does some packs and I think others do too that would work if people wanted a heavier loadout.

Gun: No problem here, but in a pack of 5 I would like to see a SAW kind of dude besides the NCO. That would give a nice fireteam right out of the box and immediately useful if that fits their game size; no waiting for the "support pack".

The trooper and gun look futuristic enough to me.

Thanks for the comments everyone (even the negative ones) gives me something to think on! I think the plan is as follows:

1.] Eliminate cape from 4/5 members. NCO will retain cape.
2.] Add in some form of SAW type weapon, visually compatible with rifle (which I am keeping)
3.] Add some form of backpack/extra gear to non cloaked men.

Sounds like it'd work to me. Maybe I'll post the update after I send this off to the concept guy. See which version gets more love, go from there.

That, or the thought just occurred to me, make each pack of 5 with capes/backpacks included, so you can pick and choose?

I like the pick and choose option! ;)
The initial artwork looks very good. Yes please for a SSW! A sniper model would be great for this team as well. I agree that the helmets look a little bland, I like the concept with the hood pulled over the helmet better. Honestly, tech doesn't much matter as the helm looks very bland. Perhaps a light or helmet band to break up the open spaces. Unit insignia could break it up, but I do prefer a sculpt to help pick up drybrush and washes. The rifle looks pretty good too, perhaps it will be standard to unify this team to a faction? It hasn't grown on me visually yet, but if it is also the same rifle used with more common ground pounders of the faction, it's appeal would probably broaden for me.

Yeah, the art for the regular joes is almost done, and they use the same weapons. The "range" is HOPEFULLY going to be
joe schmoes (rifles/squad weapon)
spirit (rifles and now maybe a sniper and ssw)
power armor (pretty much boss)
heavy weps for joes (crewed mgs and possibly a flamethrower and at team)
I'm working on vehicles digitally, only thing in the works as of yet is a fast attack vehicle with a heavy mg (kind of like a Toyota Technical, or a Warthog from HALo, not the same visually, but that's the idea behind it)