New Special units magazine from fellow onesixhwarrior !

[Ultima Ratio]

Mods, if you feel it is inappropriate, please delete ;-)

I used to be a HUGE collector with still about 1'000 figures in my office...
While I don't collect anymore, I am still very involved in the "special units" community as a photographer.

Today, I am very happy and proud to present to you the first issue of FLASHBANG magazine !

After a couple of years as a free-lance photographer for several "tactical" magazines, I have finally brought to life a project I've had in mind for years.

FLASHBANG is very different from existing publications on the market :

- 160 pages
- over 400 exclusives and never seen pictures
- no advertising !
- high quality printing and paper
- 4 issues per year
- 3 units from all over the world in each issue
- worldwide distribution
- very few (english) texts

Those units, sometimes very discreet and seldom photographed, granted me their trust and have accepted to share a glimpse into their incredible lives.
It has been nothing but an honor and a privilege to work with them and I hope that my respect for who they are and what they do will show in my pictures.

With FLASHBANG released quarterly, each edition will allow you to embark on an incredible journey across the planet to discover some of the best, most operational police or military units, revealing how they relentlessly prepare for the worst and train to be the best to protect us all.

FLASHBANG has been officially unveiled at Shot Show on January 15th and is available for order on a dedicated website:

http://www.flashbang-mag.com/

There isl also plenty of info and news on the Facebook page :

http://www.facebook.com/flashbangmag

Again, not only there is no advertising in the magazine, but a percentage of the proceeds from all sales will be donated to each unit association or to the non-profit organization of their choice.

And It is a very interesting reference material for 1/6 collectors ;-)

Thank you and stay safe !

[fisherman]

Holy cow! Fantastic work buddy! Soldier story/ DAM/ whoever should buy this magazine and be making figures based on them. Hehe. Anyways congrats again buddy.

[privateERIC]

A very interesting magazine!

[grail]

I ordered mine when it fisrt came available and received mine yesterday and I can say that it's worth every dollar, plus it's a great reference tool (and the photos are great!)

can't wait for the second issue.

[Ultima Ratio]

Thank you for the kind words guys ;-)
It is really a thing of passion for me !
There are some very interesting units in the pipe... South America, USA, Europe, Asia... You name it.
In the second issue, I have photographed one of my all time favorite European unit :-)
Here are pictures of the actual magazine. It is in fact more like a book with a weight of 1 kg !

[Ultima Ratio]

Grail, thank you very much for your order !
I am more than happy that you like it :-)
Second issue will be unveiled during a big Mil/LE show in Germany (IWA) and should be ready to ship March 15th.
It is one that you don't want to miss...

[Ultima Ratio]

One more thing...
I know each one of us receives tons of commercial solicitations every day...
But if you feel this project is a good thing, please, share with as many people as you can, repost on you FB, blog, forum, etc...
Again, not only there is absolutely not a single advertising in it, but a percentage of all sales will be donated to each unit non-profit association.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

[alexx]

That looks great! Might be interested in the second issue if it contains USA + EU forces.

[AEB1]

Got my copy today and I can highly recommend it. Any news on what will go in issue 2?

[Cpl Ho]

Great work, UR! Any chance there will be e-versions of the mag? Cos I'll defn get one if there is...

[1911williams]

I've ordered a copy, I hope to see it soon.

[Ultima Ratio]

AEB1, thank you, I am glad that you like it !
It is a bit too early to reveal what's in the next issue...
The magazine will be ready for the IWA trade show in Germany, March 10th.
I will let you know a bit before that, but there are 3 very interesting units, one being one of my all time European favorite (?).
And I have just "signed" the 3 units that will be featured in N°3, it shouldn't be bad neither ;-)

Cpl Ho, we have of course thought about that but I'm not sure...
The whole concept is to provide exclusive and never seen before pictures on a very high quality support. If you buy all the issues, it will be like owning a "special units" high end encyclopedia.

1911williams, thank you for your business ;-) LOL
You shouldn't be disappointed, let us know what you think when you have received it.
There is no better advertising than customer satisfaction, so don't hesitate to talk about it ;-)

Have you guys checked the FB page ? Don't hesitate to leave your appreciation here also.
http://www.facebook.com/flashbangmag

[apotheosis]

How about a subcription package for a year ?
I wudnt mind exploring that option too if there's any.

[Ultima Ratio]

We will offer a subscription package in the near future.
It was just a bit too complicated to set up in time and we wanted to "test the market" before.
But we will definitely offer it.

[shockwave]

just ordered!

[Ultima Ratio]

shockwave,

Thank you !
You had to with Singapore STAR in the magazine ;-)

[privateERIC]

Can i also order it from Germany? And how much is it?

[Ultima Ratio]

Yes, you can order from all over the world !
The price is 39.95$ and shipping to Germany is 8.10$.
It will be delivered in about a week.

In fact, you have to realize that you buying something that looks and feel like a book (weight is 1kg !) and not a traditional magazine...

And there should be some German's units in the future ;-)

[AdamC]

I would consider a digital version very carefully. The publishing world is hurtling towards digital in a hurry and ignoring it eliminates a large number of potential customers. I like hard copies myself, but I would have far more use out of a decent res digital version that I could have on tablet while working on bashes. Two income streams, think about it

[Ultima Ratio]

You are absolutely right AdamC.
We are still considering it for the future, just didn't have time to find the perfect solution ;-)
The other negative point is the units reaction towards it...
I am working here with very special guys, and to convince them to go on print is already very hard work. With the hard copies, they feel they have a greater control of their image...

[AdamC]

Great point, I don't imagine it's easy getting access like you have. Something for us all to keep in mind.

You are absolutely right AdamC.
We are still considering it for the future, just didn't have time to find the perfect solution ;-)
The other negative point is the units reaction towards it...
I am working here with very special guys, and to convince them to go on print is already very hard work. With the hard copies, they feel they have a greater control of their image...

[Ultima Ratio]

In the coming N°2, I had the incredible privilege to work with a European unit that has not allowed a photographer in their base for about 10 years...
Once you have earned their trust, you MUST be up to it and not disappointed them !

Anyway, I really appreciate everybody's feedback and input (and business !).
Hopefully it's just the beginning of the adventure, but for now, even if it is a thing of passion for me, I need to sell this N°1 ;-)

[cdn_rhino]

That's pretty awesome

The downside of digital is only one person has to buy it, and then everyone can have it for free. Which is usually what happens. And then the unit in feature has no control of the images.

[DrJackManson]

totally cool.. now we can get ideas easier.

[Ultima Ratio]

cdn_rhino, absolutely, once the pictures go digital, they are everywhere...
I have chosen not to even sell the pictures to other magazines so that I can guarantee each unit an adequate use of them.
So you will never have seen them before and will never see them anywhere else than in Flashbang ;-)

[1911williams]

I've just received mine. Thanks for the fast delivery.
I'll give a report of my impressions shortly.

[Ultima Ratio]

Cool ! How long did it take to Australia ?

[1911williams]

Less than a week.

[Toyscout]

It looks solid to me and I’m very interested. Would I be able to find them in a typical brick & mortar bookstore? Is there an ISBN number I can use to place order? Great stuff.

[Ultima Ratio]

Toys Scout, thank you for your interest.
Where are you located ?
It is already available in a couple of selected shops around the world (tactical equipment or airsoft mainly).
Otherwise you can order it online and delivery is worldwide.