PTS 94 + Warhammer 40k + Kill Team

Rogue Trader 40k Kill Team. 

A glorious Painting Table Saturday #94 with the completion of my Rogue Trader (Warhammer 40k) Kill Team!

So far I have a magnificent seven made up from the following Space Marine Chapters:

Space Wolves
Ultramarines
Dark Angels
White Scars
Blood Angels
Tech Marines (Iron Hands?)
Imperial Fists

I found this humorously accurate.

To speed up the painting I utilised some old Space Marine decals (I never thought I would ever require!) that came free with a mobile painting desk I purchased off trade me a few years ago. The White Scar, Imperial Fist and Dark Angel shoulder pads are decals, with some over painting. Also the Blood Angel insignia on his right leg, which proved tricky and ended up in a mess which required painting the other half anyway.

I had a lot of fun painting the Space Wolf insignia and the Imperial Fist Banner. The later has checks from a previous painter (thanks Jamie) that I couldn't bear to cover up. I can see myself continuing to add detail to these miniatures as they gain experience on the gaming table. We have been playing ITEN with some rules adjustments. I have a Librarian and a Thunder Warrior  (both painted back in the 90s) that I can field with this Kill Team.

I also paid a lot of attention to the base of each miniature, often adding debris from vehicles to enhance the look of a futuristic battle landscape. The backpacks were painted with a similar scheme to give a sense of unity despite the Space Marines coming from different Chapters. Even with the bold brass bling, these are a rough bunch of blood brothers. I'm sure a back story will develop during play.

Please excuse the poor photography.

Blood Angel Veteran

Blood Angel Insignia Detail

Dark Angel with Missile Launcher

Dark Angel Insignia Detail

Imperial Fist Banner

Imperial Fist VII

Imperial Fist Insignia Detail

Medic with Carnifex

Space Marine Chapter Decals 

Angels of Death

Space Wolf

Space Wolf Insignia Detail

Iron Hands Tech Marine

Ultramarine Insignia Detail

Kill Team Sarge!

White Scar Insignia Detail

God bless you and have a great week.

PTS 93 + Rogue Trader 40k Medic Marine + Carnifex

Converting Space Marines. 

Here's Painting Table Saturday #93 with more Warhammer 40k goodness as I continue working on my Rogue Trader Kill Team.

A few plastic marines I have collected are being converted into axe wielding assault troops, with more dynamic poses, thanks to a sharp knife and liquid glue.

One of my 'new' old Citadel miniatures had already been converted. A classic Medic figure was given a more modern plastic bolter. You may notice how big it is compared to the one in his other hand. Medics (or Apothecaries) tend the wounded, collect Chapter gene-seed from fallen comrades and monitor recruits and neophytes for mutations. Unfortunately the bolter conversion also meant he lost his Carnifex.

His what? Well, I had no idea what one was! Fortunately my good friend Lewis was able to inform me about this important piece of medical equipment, required to euthanize grievously wounded Space Marines. Lewis was also kind enough to lend me one of his unpainted Medics so I could sculpt a Carnifex for mine. Rather than rip off the oversized bolter I decided to hang the new Carnifex from his belt at the rear.

On closer inspection, the right shoulder pad is also missing it's embossed insignia. The symbol of Hermes, two snakes winding around a winged staff. The Caduceus has in recent history become erroneously connected to medicine, instead of trade and negotiation, so I will give him a Chapter badge instead.

Original sculpt with Carnifex on the left. 

That bolter is huge!

The Caduceus emblem.

The new Carnifex, hung from his belt.

God bless you and have a great week!

PTS 92 + Rogue Trader 40k Space Marines

Ultra Marine Veteran Sergeant. 

Here is last weekend's Painting Table Saturday #92. Here are the beginnings of my Rogue Trader Kill Team. The old Citadel miniatures have plenty of character! I'm really enjoying reading up all the histories on the different Space Marine Chapters. Some real goofy sci-fi stuff!

I've already made a modification by adding a more advanced backpack onto the Tech Marine. This also has a modified flamer (thanks Jamie) attached. The Ultra Marine is superb. I may yet add more Chapter makings. Anyway, this is the team so far. Looking good!

God bless you and have a great week!

PTS 91 + Space Marines + Rogue Trader 40k

Old School plastic Space Marines with homemade rocket packs.

It's almost Saturday again and here is last weekend's Painting Table Saturday #91. The delay is due to a full schedule of being a dad, husband, music teacher and bluesman, with an event or two thrown in the mix. I may also be far too social to be a blogger. I'd rather be doing stuff with folks than writing about it!

With a week full of commitments, there wasn't a whole lot of painting going on. I did get a game in though. After a few Monday's of ITEN, Rogue Trader 40k took a break and I ran AD&D on Monday night. So, although I have made some progress on the space marines, they weren't required for the gaming table. Actually, we didn't need any miniatures for that game night. I was running it Old School.

Back to the painting table, I was having so much fun looking up Space Marine Chapters for inspiration that it seemed a shame not to paint my own with as many as different colours as possible. I made a decision to create a Rogue Trader Kill Team. A standard operating unit of experienced xenos-fighters, the best of the best (or perhaps a dirty dozen). Great warriors, exemplars of their Chapter, brought together for specialist missions. A squad of space marines that hearkens back to the glory days of Warhammer 40k. The days when I didn't play wargames that often. I was more into role-playing games.

I had a discussion recently about what the difference is and to be honest, you have to be a real gaming geek to know the history of how Dungeons & Dragons came about. Ironically the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons (1974) fantasy role-playing game was a set of "Rules for Fantastic Medieval Wargames Playable with Dice and Pencil and Miniature Figures". At least that's what it said on the box. Ten years after, Warhammer (1984) was more worthy of that title. Given that, you can still hold a different opinion as to what a RPG is and whether wargaming counts. I believe the real joy of gaming comes from the people you are playing with, not the game itself.

This time last week I was a judge at a regional school bands competition.

Following Saturday morning: Netball Dad. 

Last Saturday I also played at The Thirsty Dog (Auckland) for International Blues Day.

On Sunday the kids got kids. 

Monday, first lambs. Well, these were the neighbors. Our first arrived on the Tuesday.

Collecting 40k bits. Yes, that's a Chronopia figure in the middle.

With a few online purchases of citadel miniatures from the days of my youth, I have collected enough bits and bobs to make some simple conversions. There is plenty of work yet to be done. Scale is a minor issue. If you look at the above photo you can see that a new backpack is slightly bigger than an old backpack. Arms and armour are similarly guilty of power-creep. Bolter guns just keep on growing in size! When I have assembled and painted this ragtag band of elite warriors I hope to have a Kill Team worthy of the Deathwatch.

God bless you and have a great week!