The Black Maria - An Inquisitorial Transport

I've wanted to make some sort of special forces vehicle for a little while, and had originally bought the Zinge Industries APC conversion kit for my Imperial Guard Kill Team. But it had sat, assembled and unpainted for a couple of years. Having recently completed my Inquisitorial Commandos, I figured I could dust down the APC and paint it up for them.

Kill Team: Rogue Trader 1987

I admit it, over the last couple of months there has been a little bit of a hidden agenda with regard to some of my output. When Kill Team: Rogue Trader was released in September 2018, it sparked off the idea that I might be able to replicate the Imperial forces using actual Rogue Trader miniatures from the 1980s, rather than the modern plastics (which are fantastic miniatures of course).

This wouldn't be an exercise in proving that old is better than new, but rather that the modern figures have their archetypal roots embedded in 40k history. Below is my 10-strong proxy group of Kill Team: Rogue Trader Rogue Trader equivalents, comprised of:

• Rogue Trader Phal Kyrie standing in for Elucia Vhane
• Tech Priest Zon playing the part of Sanistasia Minst, Rejuvenat Adept
• A mysterious Imperial Assassin in place of Knosso Prond, Death Cult Executioner
• Tech Priest Schlan substituting tech-priest Larsen van der Grauss
• A squad of Commandos as Voidsmen and C.U.R.R. the cyber-mastiff in place of Aximillion the canid





Kill Team: Rogue Trader 1987

Kill Team: Rogue Trader 2018

Mobile Firepower - Eldar Scout Walker and Spotter

With the deadline of completing my Eldar scout kill team for the Old World Sprint Challenge looming, I figured it was high time to get on and finish the final two figures required. I needed to bring in one last Scout to meet the minimum requirement of 10 figures, as well as a "support element", which could be anything relevant to the unit - a Dreadnought, transport, heavy weapon or similar.

Eternal Wanderlust - Eldar Scout Characters

Part of the fun of Kill Team is including a wide range of individual specialist fighters. Whilst I'm limiting my Eldar Kill Team to the Ranger/Scout theme, that doesn't mean that I can't include proxies like my "grav platform" guy with his big gun. And like my illegal 2nd edition unit of Scouts with shuriken catapults, I see no reason why long rifles are the only weapons that an Eldar Scout would utilise.

Pathfinder Bres Ayvan leads his scouts through Imperial ruins.

So my next two additions are the leader of the Kill Team, and a guy with a handy special weapon. In game terms my leader, Bres Ayvan, represents a Dire Avenger Exarch (hence his shuriken catapult), and the fusion gunner is a Storm Guardian.

Ranger Support - Eldar Scouts with Alternate Weapons

I wanted to add some variety into my Eldar scout-themed Kill Team. I figured the best way to do this was by way of proxying some scouts with different weaponry. My favourite unit in my 2nd edition 40k army was a squad of scouts armed with shuriken catapults. These guys in fact:

This veteran unit has experienced the horrors of being boxed and discarded for decades.

I converted this unit by clipping off their long rifle barrels and replacing them with Dark Elf crossbows. At some point in the late 1990s or early 2000s, the unit got further upgrades with fur and Wood Elf accoutrements, and were used as Exodites. It was only a few weeks ago that I suffered the acutely embarrassing realisation that scouts armed with shuriken catapults are not a legal 2nd edition codex unit. I can tell that you're shocked.

My current Kill Team will salvage and refurbish some of the horrifically converted scouts owned by my younger self. And will possibly redeem my rules illegality in the process.

Eldritch Outcasts - Eldar Scout Unit

Back at the start of the year I confidently predicted I'd be painting up a Rogue Trader Eldar army. That may yet prove to be the case, and perhaps my current project will help ease me into it.

I'm painting up an Eldar Scout/Ranger* force two hit two hobby outcomes. The first is to create a new force to use in games of Kill Team, the new 40k skirmish game. The second is to participate in a fun two-month challenge in one of the Facebook groups I'm a member of. The Old World Sprint Challenge challenges participants to paint at least 10 models from the system of their choice.

I'll be painting 6 standard Eldar scouts plus some conversions to represent the different troop types available in Kill Team.

Shadow War: Armageddon - Completed Kill Team



This Wednesday evening sees the start of my gaming group's Shadow War: Armageddon campaign. With that in mind I've finished the 9 models required for my starting Kill Team, with an additional Guardsmen to bring me up to full strength. And a right dirty-looking crew of scumbags they are too!

 



Kill Team Quinspirios Alpha - the 'Ripperjacks'

Shadow War: Armageddon - New Recruits

With just over a week to go to the start of a new Shadow War: Armageddon campaign, it's high time I got the remaining figures painted up. Over the last week I've painted an additional 3 Guardsmen, bringing my total to 8. I need to paint one more (the flamer) to have my starting Kill Team ready, and I plan a 10th member shortly afterwards.

 

Kill Team Alpha-Curzon deploy from their insertion point.

Shadow War: Armageddon - Ratling Sniper (by Kev Adams)

A short-statured ratling sniper draws bead on a renegade noble.

 

Nearly two years ago, I attended the excellent Bring Out Your Lead event, hosted at Foundry. One of the many attractions was to have Kev Adams sculpt a new face on a model in exchange for a charitable donation. I was wholly underprepared, but managed to find an Imperial Guard ratling. I tasked Kev with sculpting my face on the wee little chap. I am 6' 4" (193cm), so a diminutive ratling seemed rather ludicrous and therefore highly appropriate!