I don't remember what the base model for this kit bash was. I think it was some sort of metal pulp space pilot type character I got in a mixed lot. The neuro-gauntlet is a power claw from an old Mantic space orc sprue, I repositioned the arms a little and added a skull for a head, building up the eye a little to paint it as a bionic scanner type thing. The post/pipe behind him was made from a piece of RTB01 sprue, which were nice and cylindrical with round corners.
This model, which I converted a long time ago from different metal Captain or Sergeant figures is meant to be used with Marneus Calgar's rules in a Space Marine army. Calgar, the Chapter Matser of the Ultramarines, has the Gauntlets of Ultramar: two special powerfists with underslung bolters. In my army, he is called Ragusa McLaren, an anagram of Marneus Calgar with my own surname. Maybe that sounds a little egotistical, but when I was looking at anagrams it was too good a coincidence to pass up! I've recently given him a tactical rock and a 50mm base to bring him in line with current rules and model size.
I'll be running this unit as Sternguard Veterans in the current edition of 40k. They're a selection of some of the oldest power armour available for the army, both in-universe and in reality. The chap second from the left is the original Space Marine: LE2, who was released in 1985, 2 years before Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader.
Reading from left to right, the first, fourth and fifth figures are all from the old 'Armour Through The Ages' set. I've used mostly RTB01 arms and back packs, with a few muscular bare arms to connote psychotic, foolhardy bravery and add a bit of fun. The chap on the far right is holding some sort of comms thing, so I decided he should have an aerial on his back pack adorned with a skull. The sergeant in the middle is, I think, the 'Captain' sculpt from the old C100 range, and is only slightly younger than the LE2.
They are based with 32mm hex bases, which makes them suitable for the modern game, and which I have to admit does look better to me than the original cramped 25mm bases. I may rebase my whole army this way.
I wanted to make a vehicle in the Rogue Trader spirit, perhaps with a nod to Rick Priestley's famous Deodorant Grav Tank, but which would be useable in a casual modern game. This is what I've made. It counts as a Space Marine Storm Speeder Thunderstrike. I made the hull from a travel soap dish, with the canopy and cupola being made from the same double ended medicine spoon. The las cannon is made from a plastic paint brush handle, and the missile launcher is made from lego.
There are no shortage of tutorials for making these classic giant cacti for your oldhammer 40k board. Mine are pretty rough and ready, and were very quick to make. I cut a little flat spot on each of these of polystyrene balls (cheap from the craft shop after Christmas). Then I speared them liberally with cocktail sticks, sometimes using the sticks to join a small one to a big one. Then I sprayed them with Army Painter Army Green spray. The spray ate into the polystyrene a little, but I think this is OK and it's given the cacti some texture. Then I sponged them with a little Averland Sunset paint, with scraps from a washing up sponge. Lastly, I painted the spines with Wild Rider Red. Done!
I'll be playing some 40k in the current edition next weekend, and I've selected quite a varied little 1000pt force.
Stormwatch, 47th Deep Range Suppression Maniple:
Space Marines
Incursion (1000 points)
Gladius Task Force
CHARACTERS
Captain Jet Hamesfield
Captain (80 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Power fist
Brother Clavio Belcampion
Librarian in Terminator Armour (75 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Smite
1x Storm bolter
OTHER DATASHEETS
Devastator Squad Bad Omen (120 points)
• 1x Devastator Sergeant Sharrouk Khan
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Power weapon
• 4x Devastator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Lascannon
2x Missile launcher
Brother Pyrium Vale
Dreadnought (135 points)
• 1x Assault cannon
1x Dreadnought combat weapon
1x Storm bolter
Scout Squad Misericord (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant Jonus Polk
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
3x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
Storm Speeder Thunderstrike, 'Salmon of Knowledge' (135 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Stormfury missiles
1x Thunderstrike las-talon
1x Twin Icarus rocket pod
Vanguard Veteran Squad Gilgamesh,
with Jump Packs (100 points)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant Timion Selleck, with Jump Pack
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Storm Shield
4x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Vanguard Veteran Squad Gogmagog, with Jump Packs (100 points)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant Verwin Samp, with Jump Pack
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Storm Shield
4x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Vindicator, 'Bad Neighbour' (185 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
I've included some quite odd minis here, and I'll talk about them in more depth in another post.
Here are two units of Vanguard Veterans- one made from RTB01 marines and one from 2nd edition plastics, both with some Rogue Trader metal figures. The RTB01 unit are on 32mm hex bases, which I think match the Rogue Trader era minis well.
The other unit are still on 25mm rounds. I'm undecided whether or not to put these on 32mm bases or use converters when playing later editions.
The jetpacks for the RTB01 unit are made by removing the vents from the existing backpacks and gluing on two of these grooved wooden beads.
I don't remember what the base model for this kit bash was. I think it was some sort of metal pulp space pilot type character I got in ...
