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New!!! USMC SAW Gunner from Defiance Games
November 25, 2011 by beerogre
Brand New and hot off the presses comes this cool USMC SAW Gunner from Defiance Games!
This new plastic kit will contain 24 USMC models for Alien War range and along with the SAW, you get standard M-46 rifles, M-46 rifle with underslung grenade launcher, M-46 carbine (short version), and loads and loads of extra bits and kit. The full face mask helmet is one of 3 helmet options along with 8-point Marine cap and bare heads.
So if you're looking for a new sci-fi army... keep an eye on Defiance Games keep your clicking finger ready for the launch date!
But if that's not enough... and let's face it... there's never enough. Then check out the concept art for the new USMC Hardsuits.
This looks really exciting... we can't wait to see the finished product!
Awkward way to hold the SAW. Doesn´t look realistic to me. The model I like, the weapon not so much.
I dont know all the history of this company, but im really looking forward to see what minis these guys can put out. looks like they would fit in well with the corporation army
these look awesome i can’t wait.
@cplhicks looks like it’s because it’s using the same arms as the assault rifle to hold a very different shaped gun. I guess they’re aiming to standardise the arms to keep the guns separate rather than like Cadian arms with moulded on hands, which will be good for anyone who wants to use some 3rd party weapons on them. Just means the hands may not always mate up as nicely. Remember the 2nd edition 40k marines with the tea tray hand? 😉
Hi warmill – and thanks guys! The guns and right arms are connected. It’s very hard to create a natural looking hold with a separate weapon and arm. Left arms are not – and there are a variety in the set to allow you to make a bunch of different poses.
Torso/legs are separate as well – and there are a fair # of bits (ammo pouches, backpack, etc.) to customize the figures.
Hi Tony.
@warmill
The arm molded to the weapon or not I still do not really like it. It looks a little too Rambo and not enough natural stable shooting position. The model with the rifle to the shoulder in the same picture looks much better in this regard. The way the SAW is now, it needs to be recoilless (probably it it supposed to be) to hit the broad side of a barn. ^^ A bipod would not have hurt either but probably is on the sprue. The grenadelauncher conflicts with that probably.
If I buy the models, I will convert them by using the aforementioned proper riflearm in combination with the SAW. Should be easy to do.
Thats rather good even with its faults.
Forgot to mention guys – the USMC Marine box will be $29.95 for 24 figures (including 25mm round bases). German Panzergrenadiers and Alien Bugs to follow!
Starship Troopers on the Table Top. Woo Hoo! Now about that mini, is that a cleft in his chin or did he use it to stop the blast back from a hand grenade? The proportions seem good, excluding the feet. This guy has some big dogs. Is the helmet a little big or is that just the heroic scale proportion thing?
I don’t have an issue with the pose so much. I mean he could just be holding the gun, scanning the horizon.
They heavy suits look realistic, and its nice to see someone doing realistic style for a sci fi. However, they all look too hunched over. I mean we know the marine’s are big drinkers, but building all the heavy’s so that they look like they just got back from a 48 hour bender well hopefully you can somehow change the posture.
I think the hunched over look depends on were you think the “eyes” are, as I look at it the bulging head/chest area doesn’t indicate the position of the head of the squishy meat sack inside- which if you think about it is a good thing, he can’t have his neck broken by a glancing shot to his helmet, and its a lot harder to aim for his head,
The line across the middle does create a sort of smiling face look to me, I can see a lot of these being painted with teeth or animal faces freehanded on around that line.
Hmm, from what I can see it looks ok, the only thing I’m not 100% on is the helmet…..it looks too busy with detail that really doesn’t mean anything. This was one of the issues with the Shock Troopers from Wargames Factory. What I’d like to see is something more simple, dare I say it, something like the Cadian heads….I know, believe me, I’m not a GW fanboi, I just sold my entire IG army to take up MERCS and Infinity….however, credit where credit is due, the Cadian heads are some of the best “Sci Fi” trooper heads out there (excluding Infinity of course 🙂 )
Ok where and when can we order them in the UK ?
I think the arms on the SAW gunner would look better if there was some kind of grip on top of the gun, or even if there was just no grenade launcher module (which looks awkward to use with the grip on the saw anyway) on the gun, but since they’re multi part the SAW is probably optional anyway, and since its real life counterpart is being phased out slightly anyway for lighter options if you don’t like it you don’t have to use it, unless the eventual rules are just so much better than a rifle its impossible to be effective without one.
We also designed this in such a way that you can slide a straight edge down one side and then up along the box magazine to completely remove the GL. That way you can use the GL in an open hand (or attached to someone’s belt) and also have the SAW gunner grip the weapon higher up.
The marines look fine. They remind me a little of Colonial Marines from Aliens. I could see uses for the models in many different games. Price and model wise these look to be a good alternative to Cadians in 40K. But you could use them Infinity, Tomorrow’s War, etc. I like the fact that the guns aren’t too heroic. All in all good job.
What impresses me the most is the USMC Hardsuit. Very hard science fiction -like. If the model’s size is somewhere around GW’s Terminator size, I’ll be getting a lot these. Don’t mind if it’s slighty smaller than that. The market has seen a couple really nice powered armour models like Zandris IV’s powered armour and Infinity TAGs. The problem with these is that the models are pretty big. Meaning you can’t really use them for Space Marine stand-ins. I’m hoping that Defiance Games will retcon this…
So this is a very thought out kit. I like the over all look. Yes it has a sci-fi look but you can believe that it not that far in the future from the gear they have. Even the big suit has that District 9 timeline to it and look.
Forget my ramblings, I wish to play reporter and as Tony from @defiancegames some questions.
1. Give us some background bud. Where are you guys coming from and how did you get into the mini market?
2. As a man that loves sci-fi (and wishes to make minis as well) what inspired your models and any story you might have as fluff?
3. What did you use to design you minis?
I have many more questions but I better keep it to a few. This isn’t an interrogation I seeking, just wish to know more about the men and women behind a product. It makes it so much more personal and open ended for us to give our feedback to a new line that can help them make better stuff and for us to feel happy with what we can get our hands on.
Hi! Thanks for all the great comments! To learn more about us pop on over to the site, join our forum which Is getting very active, and follow us on FB. On the site check out about dfg which has our plan and my personal blog – Hard Beam Cowboy.
Alien War is an SF setting that’s been in development for decades now! Howard Whitehouse is wrapping up the beta for Combat: Alien War, which will be a free set. The universe is very realpolitik – set in 2259 it is a future dominated by national and corporate rivalries in a human space that is constantly expanding. We’ve striven mightily to make this sf for grown ups – ie no goblins and elves in space and weapons and technology that might just be in play in the future. The rules themselves have been designed with the help of current military pros with extrapolation for the future. There is no combat in which two forces face off ala a medieval battlefield and start shooting at one another! (in C:AW everyone would be Very Very dead very very quick with that scenario!)
We hope you like what we’ve been working on! -Tony
This sounds like a real winner in my books. Any game that is “for grown ups” will get my vote. Also I voted on the next force you will come out with and I hope the brit/common wealth wins. Why because I want Canada to have a force of its own, or at least a troop or something that says thats canadian. I have yet to see a game EVER mention Canada and our forces. We just get forgotten even thou we have a big country and active on the world stage.
Back to you guys. Im glad to see a setting that keeps itself on the “this might be our future” and not on high flying space fantasy, gothic, apocalyptic or occult for a change. Don’t get me wrong those other minis and games that do have elements of the above are good, I’m just glad your grounded on what the future is in your game.
Looks like a Ma.k. SAFS with some extra plating.
Those hardsuits look awesome!
Hi Guys – the Marines went up for pre-order tonight with a couple pre-release offers that will let you build up an army at a REALLY good value! Check them out here:
http://www.defiancegames.com/index.php/shop#ecwid:category=1831024&mode=category&offset=0&sort=normal
Pre-ordered a box today, have you got a uk distributer set up? Import tax is a killer on big orders
Hi davedog – thanks! We’re going to have some news on local UK/EU and local AU delivery after the new year. It should make things go MUCH smoother on those kinds of orders.
Re: UK distribution – as they say, anybody who’s anybody is going to be stocking them! 😉
Thanks,
T