I just got a copy of the Superpowers game to build a custom 21st century game from. I was nonplussed by the size of infantry, armor, and fighter units, and frankly thought that the sea units looked a bit cartoonish. I hated the colors too. Where can I get modern looking infantry, sea, and air units to replace these pieces?
The upcoming Vietnam-era game mentioned in this section of the forum…
Axis and Allies.org Boards > More Board Games > The War in Vietnam
…is probably your best bet.
The War in Vietnam, the game (BGG link: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/247926/war-vietnam), should be a source of 50s to 70s military hardware, both “free world” and “communist bloc”. If you are looking for something more high tech, I can think of a few options:
Command Post Games (www.commandpostgames.com) makes a game called Supremacy 2020, which is a game about world combat in the coming decade. While there color palette is similar to the Superpowers game, you might find something to work with in their expansion sets for 2020, among them: “Bombers (B-2 Spirit looking things) & SLBMs” and Fighters (F-117 looking things) & Carriers", and “Glow in the Dark Mushroom” clouds, for the inevitable nuclear exchange awaiting us all in warfare in the future.
Websites that cater to miniatures gamers, such as www.skytrex.com and panzerschiffe.com, often have “post war” designs, including some that would be considered modern today.
And finally, Historical Board Gaming (www.historicalboardgaming.com). While they are best known and currently oriented around WWII plastic miniatures (read - Axis & Allies expansion pieces), they are working on a series of games spanning from the 1860s to the 2050s. Once they start producing miniatures to suit the later end of that range, you will likely find something you can work with.
And that’s what I know.
-Midnight_Reaper
