After the drought of last year (a combination of many mostly obvious factors), Spectre is back with a second release of this year, bringing out a rather high tech (and better trained) set of additions to the Insurgent range. These guys are inspired by a collection of groups that have sprung up around the War on Terror, such as Malhama Tactical or the Taliban’s Red Group – high trained veterans outfitted with more modern kit either purchased online or recovered from better equipped fighting groups.
Similar to the Delta release earlier this year, the set is split into a squad pack and supports. What is new is that some of the supports are of a different style of character, expanding the undercover range further.
As with the Delta figures released earlier this year, these figures are in the new design that Spectre seems to be working with – 3D sculpted and multi-part. Although there was some concerns about the scaling of the Delta models compared to the existing Spectre miniatures, these models are much closer to regular guys – turns out the Delta were just some big old corn fed American boys.
Packing and assembly is of a similar standard to the Delta as well. The move to multi-part has meant a massive decrease in the amount of broken barrels or just overall bent pieces that need fixing. In the squad box, each figure came wrapped in their baggy, so you don’t end up with a pile of arms and a pile of bodies to play jigsaw until you find the matching pair. Unless you really want to, that is.
Fit of the multi-part models is also better than the Deltas. I didn’t have to do any work with liquid green stuff. Additionally, thanks to the setup there was not quite the same level of miscast thin stocks that I had with the MCXs of the Deltas. Only one part had a bit of material missing, but it was able to be assembled with no issues.
And there we have one of the model fresh out the box. As you can see, there is a lovely texture to the metal, nice and smooth, easily showing the detail off. I only had a tiny amount of flash to clean off the models.
There will be more detail on this guy later but I adored this model when I pulled him out the box. This guy comes as a single piece of metal and is gloriously detailed.
So lets take a look at what the range actually includes, especially after I finish painting it up. The squad pack is made up of six Insurgent Operators. They are all equipped with body armour, ballistic helmets with NVG mounts, gloves, balaclavas and sturdy boots. If this sounds like most of the Task Force Operators from Spectre, they you’re right – these guys are pretty well equipped. A nice detail is that a lot of it is older gen – the kneepads are separate rather than integrated into the BDUs, the helmets leaning more MICH style than the latest and greats FAST helmets. There are also a few of them with shemaghs/longer scarves – not quite full on tactical capes but definitely long enough to hide some gear.
Weapon wise, the team is carrying some pretty modern assault rifles, all from NATO countries. Four of the team are armed with G36Cs, the stocks swapped out for the more modern IdZ style and with Angled Foregrips, while the other two have the FN 2000. All the guns are suppressed, mounting force multipliers such laser designators and optics. Most have Eotech style holographic sights (red dots in the rules) but one of the G36 wielders has a thermal optic, ideal for putting the odds in their favour.
The rear of these models show off a few more touches of detail to the models, the classic molle look to the back of the vest, as well as the collection of pouches you might expect to see from operators with plenty of gear to store. As the Spectre guys mentioned on the site, these guys are going to be equipped much the same as their Western counterparts, with kit like medical gear and various grenade types. Not quite so fun for the operators when they get flashbanged is it!
Of course, every squad needs some support options, both to bring them up full squad numbers and add some force multiplication. The first three match the rest of the squad, giving you a PKP gunner, an RPG gunner (complete with MP5 as a side arm) and a squad leader/commander with a P90. This lets you bring the squad up to 9 models (ideal for a US Army inspired squad layout) but also gives you access to some additional force multipliers – the medium machine gun for suppression, an RPG for anti-armour/counter-fortification fire and the radio comms of the Commander to give you a connection point to off board assets.
Honestly, though, my favourite model has to be the sniper. There are just enough hints to tie him to the rest of the main squad, with the chest rig, boots and helmet poking out of the shroud, but he has gone to town on the camouflage. Covered in thermal camo defeating sheets, set up on the wall, he’s a fantastic little model. Additionally, he comes with something bearing the classic muzzle break and magazine size that tells me there is a semi-auto Barrett hidden under there. I am already planning to put him on the field for the Skirmish Sangin Sniper Hunt scenario.
Regarding paint scheme, I decided to paint these guys up as part of the Special Forces of Bazistan, my fictional Middle Eastern country (that will still be part of my custom setting). While the regular forces of Bazistan make do with US three colour desert, the SF guys (thanks to one of the Royal Family’s patronage) get to use Desert MARPAT. As well as the colours on the uniform, I also decided to apply each colour of the camouflage to the helmet in the same order, giving them a dappled look I’m really impressed with.
So, the paint list:
- Undercoat – Black
- MARPAT Camo
- Base Layer – Vallejo Deck Tan
- Camo 1 – Vallejo English Uniform
- Camo 2 – Vallejo Medium Grey
- Camo 3 – Vallejo German Camo Beige
- Webbing/Kneepad – Vallejo US Field Drab
- Shemagh – Vallejo Iraqi Sand
- Boots – Vallejo Burnt Umber
- Gloves/Balaclava/Commander Rucksack – Vallejo US Dark Green
- Glasses – Vallejo Basalt Grey
- Weapons – Citadel Black Templar Contrast, Drybrush of Vallejo Iraqi Sand
- Attachments – Vallejo US Field Drab
Of course, not every addition to the range is full overt. There were two additional figures added that would be perfect on a less Overt battlefield. These two undercover operators are in civilian clothing with rucksacks (probably full of gear for breaking/entering/causing mayhem) while carrying smaller, more easily hidden SMGs. I always like the Skorpion machine pistol but the Uzi Pro is a cool addition to the range, giving a concealable weapon that still mounts things like red dots.
As well as supporting the Insurgent PMC, these undercover operators would also look pretty great alongside a few other figures in the Spectre range. They are really close to the Cartel Siccarios (with the facemasks and hoodies) and the mix of weapons wouldn’t look too far out of place. They would also look pretty good alongside the GRU low profile operators as well or maybe even the ones leading a FSB kill team (before getting the hell out of the way of those high calibre rifles).
Overall, I’m really happy with this release. It’s showing off another side of the irregular forces you wouldn’t see, as well as providing some useful figures for a whole host of potential forces. I’m really excited to get these guys on the board, especially in a battle that might pit some near tier forces up against each other – a nice change from the Elites wiping the board.
In terms of the overall “health” of the Spectre range, this is another great release from the new “era” of Spectre. The multi-part models are much more resistant to damage in transit, while still letting you have the detail. The new casters continue to provide high quality models which always help. Perhaps the only thing left to see is how quickly the stock levels can be replenished – these models are back on pre-order, so there maybe some wait if you want some of your own.