From GregB: Rogue Trader Imperial Guard Penal Detachment (55 points)

 

From Greg: 

Inspired by Lee's Rogue Trooper, I decided to go "Rogue Trader".  Over the years I have managed to accumulate a small pile of Rogue Trader era Warhammer 40k figures.  While the original Rogue Trader rules had many issues, a Rogue Trader game is gaming paradise compared to the current excrement pile that passes for the current 40k rules.  Our group in Winnipeg has played Rogue Trader games fairly often, and I'm quite chuffed about my small collection of old Imperial Guard figures.  This submission includes 10 28mm scale Penal Battalion troops and an Imperial Guard Lieutenant. 

In the grim darkness of the far future, a lot of things could happen if your'e bad. Or you might just get transferred to the penal battalion!  And not just any Penal Battalion, but the one where you are "equipped" with an explosive collar around your neck that your officers/social betters will use to blow the heads off of you or your companions should your unit falter in battle! Gotta love the dystopian world of the Imperium of Man… 

These models are from the late 80s/early 90s.  My favourite feature on the penal battalion troops (not really visible in the photos) is the inscribed belt buckles that read "PB".  As if the explosive collar and shaved head weren't enough, at least you get a pimped out belt buckle, right? Consistent with my other plastic guardsmen I equipped them with lasguns from the current range (after scraping the stupid skulls off of the guns).  It's far from a perfect fit, but they look a lot better than the old lasguns. 

The Penal Battalion squad was an option for an Imperial Guard player of the Rogue Trader/Compendium era.  They were armed only with lasguns, the collars and could also have drug dispensers to whip them into a suitable emotional state for whatever mission they would receive.  These squads did not have squad leaders per se, so I did a rough conversion on one fellow to have one stand out from the rest, which sadly suffer from monopose syndrome. 

The officer is a Lieutenant.  Like all of the beautiful officer figures from this lost era, he wears a breastplate as a symbol of rank.  Rather than arm him with a pistol I gave him a full-on regular lasgun in the hopes of giving him a bit more of a frontline vibe.  A platoon commander, he's still close to the frontline action.  For example, he'll need to keep an eye on that Penal Battalion squad…

As I always say, there's no school like the Old Skool. I remember these models very fondly from my salad days. I owned a hobby store in my early 20s when this figure range first came out and I recall the sale of them financing many illicit habits.  :)

These lads will give Greg 55 points. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Greg!

From ClintB: 10mm Peasant Samurai (31 points)

Continuing on with the revolting peasants, we now turn from medieval europe to feudal Japan with these fine archers from a lower socio-economic class.

From Clint:

I have managed to finish an additional 32 Peasant archers. You will note that 15 are in blue/grey Hats and 15 are in brown Hats. The other two figures are a couple of spare low ranking Samurai each with a Sashimono Back banner to designate command bases. While this may not be historically accurate it is something which works on a wargames table and that is the function these troops are destined for. Needles to say the different coloured Hats will represent different armies, again while not totally historically accurate it does make it clear from a wargames point of view.

I have settled mostly on pastel shades as darker colours would be harder to dye and thus be more expensive to produce. I have also disregarded uniforms as I wanted a rag tag feel to the peasant troops feeling that they have probably come from the fields and workshops and their Lords have not decided to equip and train them to the level of Ashigaru.  As with the last lot all these figures are by Pendraken (code SAM 10) and were acquired as part of their starter army pack.

Lovely work Clint! I'm quite impressed with these, particularly the wonderful sashimono banners.

These lads will give Clint 31 points which includes a bit extra for the banners. Well done and Merry Christmas!

From BrendonW: 28mm Villagers with 50 Shades of Filth (20 points)

Brendon sends us these wonderfully vile villagers for our appreciation.

From Brendon:

The manufacturer of these figures is Gripping Beast. The man with the shield is a plastic Saxon with a head from another GB plastic set. The angry village mob perhaps need a flaming torch to complete the 'lets git Dr Frankenstein!' look as they try and break down a door. They are a part of the GB baggage blister for the Saga 'Escort' mission. 

After completing them I think there may be room on the base to place a barrel of mead. That will give them courage and something to fight for. I wanted them 50 shades of filth looking and I think they are close to that. 

Those Bernard Cornwell novels really create an image of filth in my mind when it comes to Dark Age Britain. Only 1 more large base to go and I will have the 3 bases required for the mission. Excellent!

Wonderful 'local colour' Brendon (in fact, he had one of his image files titled 'Stinky Peasants Back' - perfect).  I like the idea of adding a cask of mead to the base, or perhaps some local loudmouth haranguing them into action.

These poor unfortunates will give Brendon 20 points to add to his total. Nice job!

From TamsinP: 15mm Swiss Halberdiers (144 points)

I'm getting a bit of deja vu here. Didn't we do this around a year ago? Nonetheless here we are on Christmas eve with a horde of Tamsin's Swiss demanding to be registered on the points chart. Really, who can deny them?

From Tamsin:

Is there any sight more certain to inspire terror in the hearts, minds and bladders of medieval Austrians, Burgundians, Italians, pretty much anybody in medieval Europe than a phalanx of Swiss halberdiers using both hands to wave their big choppers at you? 

What's that? Oh, yes, a phalanx of Swiss pikemen holding their huge poles with both hands and pointing them threateningly at you. I'll give you that one, but you'll just have to settle for these halberdiers as I won't be doing any more Swiss pikemen - 256 of the blighters is more than anyone can handle!

Figures are 15mm from Donnington Miniatures New Era range. These were very nice and quick to paint up (these took just 2 days to paint and base). The colours of all the cantons at Morat are represented here in this group.

Like I said, deja vu. That's 72 wee Swiss on the make - very impressive Tamsin. These lads along with the other 184 makes for a very impressive sight. Well done!

This unit of halberdiers will give Tamsin a very tidy 144 points. Great work Ms. P and Happy Christmas!

From AlanD: 28mm Citizens of Hurricane (45 points)

Alan's been a busy lad as he adds more new citizens to his town of 'Hurricane'.

From Alan:

Here are the latest inhabitants of Hurricane. Figures are mainly from Wargames Foundry, with just the young guy foolishly about to draw from Great Escape Games. I'm really enjoying painting these guys. The Foundry figures I think were sculpted by Mark Copplestone, and are full of character, and the newer ones from Great Escape mix in perfectly.

My favourite is the reporter, and I'm interested to see that even in the 1880s whenever a reporter was talking to somebody there was always some other bloke standing gormlessly in the background. 

My painting elves will have other tasks for the next week or so, so this is probably it from me until the New Year. Merry Christmas to everyone, and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2014.

Yes, another great set of additions for Hurricane - lovely work Alan. Like you my favourite is the reporter - great face on that fellow and I love his open notebook. 

This group of citizens will give Alan 45 points. Well done and Merry Christmas!