From GregB: Rogue Trader 25th Anniversary Commemorative Figure (10 points)

From Greg:

Time sure flies - the 25th Anniversary of "Warhammer 40,000 - Rogue Trader" seems like a relatively recent thing to me, but it was actually in 2012, just about two years ago.  

In keeping with GW's sure-fire tin ear and clueless lack of self-awareness, the company celebrated this significant anniversary with a special White Dwarf featuring Gandalf on the cover. But they also released a special figure to commemorate the occasion - a figure inspired by the Crimson First leading a doomed last stand from the cover of the rulebook.  These were limited edition models issued at the time and I picked a couple up because I am a shameless fanboy, and I love Rogue Trader.

This has been sitting primed since February 2012…thank goodness for Curt's painting challenges that encourage to get these kind of projects finished!

You have the option of mounting it directly on the scenic base beside the standard, or mounting the officer on a smaller base separately.  I went with a separate base for the Commander, leaving the banner to be a piece of scenery, and objective or terrain. 

It's a really, really nice figure, and was a nice souvenir of sorts. This being GW, though, it can't take two steps forward without taking one-and-a-half back, so unfortunately the figure was made of "Finecast" instead of proper metal. This is the first Finecast figure I have worked with (even though it has been around for a couple of years now). "Finecast" combines the issues of resin with the floppiness of plastic - all at the price of gold. Fortunately I was spared many of the more serious problems (holes, deformed casting etc) this crap medium seems to present to many other gamers.  

Finecast truly does suck, however.  The detail on the figure is really something, but the banner in particular was tricky to paint as Finecast has all of the tensile strength of a wet noodle - even my 8/0 brush caused it to bend! The experience did not pump me up to seek out other Finecast figures, although GW seems to be out of the metal business so more and more of its products are cast in this medium.

Anyway, the figure was still fun to paint and I'm glad to have it done.  The sculpt is very loyal to the inspiration of the image on the Rogue Trader book cover, right down to the ominous Ork head being waved around in his right hand. As I continue to build up my little collection of Crimson Fist troops this fellow will fit right in, and the standard will make a fine rally point for them to make some kind of pointless last stand on the gaming table.

Whoa, wonderful work Greg!  I clearly remember my buddy and I receiving the first copies of 'Rogue Trader' at our store, flipping through its pages and then looking at each other,  saying almost in unison, 'F*ck, this is going to be huge.'  And it was. 

I really like the over-saturated blue and red you've used for this figure and banner Greg - they do a great job in making the figure 'pop'. As you mention, it's weird how GW either misses the plot completely or can't leave well enough alone. The original art had this guy blazing away with this righteous big-ass, fist-cannon thing, but of course for the commemorative figure GW decides to make it a measly plasma pistol. Buncha ijits, I tell ya.

This Space Marine of the Crimson Fist Chapter along with his banner will give Greg 10 points.  Thanks for the memories buddy!