There are many occasions when a naval officer would need a pair of henchmen. Hired muscle, guards to a vital control centre, jailors, sentries...the list goes on. After painting up my Fleet Officers a few weeks ago, the logical next step was to make some goons for the officers to order around.
Bubbling to the surface of my mind were the two soldierly chaps standing to attention in the Martin McKenna illustration below.
The base models for my Armsmen were the PR11 Imperial Guardsmen (commonly known as 'Cadian at Ease') - these were promotional figures available at several Games Workshop events in the early 2000s.
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| PR11 Imperial Guardsmen (image from Stuff of Legends). |
The Cadians at Ease were the right pose, but their tiny, modern helmets lacked the look I wanted. So out came the razor saw and a pair of Mark Copplestone Rogue Trader Imperial Guardsmen, and the change was made.
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| "I'm sorry, the Commodore is too busy to see you today. I could however arrange a private hearing this evening...for a fee." |
Armsmen Priestman and Stilley have served in the Imperial Navy for several decades, working their way up through the Rating ranks. Currently posted to the command of Commodore Chance, they are personal aides to Lieutenant Pender. Their impassive faces present an intimidating deterrent to any chancer looking to get one over Lieutenant Pender, and they are more than happy to look the other way during the Lieutenant's 'under the counter' dealings. As long as they get their cut, that is.
Priestman and Stilley got the same colour scheme as their officers, with the addition of the slate grey body armour. I chose grey as a nod to the traditional Imperial Army uniform from Rogue Trader.
The sculpts are pretty rough in places - I guess largely due to the fact that the figure was originally sculpted as a concept piece for the plastic Cadians, before being pressed into service as a limited edition release.
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| Lieutenant Pender is a much more confident man with Priestman and Stilley at his side. |
The expression of all models here are spot on !
ReplyDeleteWonderful.
Thanks JB. I like the Dredd-like impassiveness that the Copplestone heads give, compared to the originals. Changes their character quite a lot I think.
DeleteThey look great, spot on :)
ReplyDeleteThanks mate :)
DeleteSo cool... I just love the original guardsman helmet shape - echoes the mk 6 Marine helmet and gives both a common heritage I feel... why on earth did they ever do away with them! Anyway, cracking job mate, yet another inspiring idea to tuck away for a rainy day :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd never picked up on the similarity between beakie helmets and the Imperial Guard. Now you mention it, I can't believe I'd missed it!
DeleteGlad you like them :)
Those copplestone heads are a huge improvement to those cadians (and go nicely with the stiff poses as you suggest). it is too bad they are not more commonly available.
ReplyDeleteIf you did a couple more of these, you might exchange the metal arms for plastic ones pointing the lasgun, or the laspistol/chainsword combo.
You certainly have the skill to make one out of plastic bitz too. The standing Tank commander legs are about the same as these, but lack the tunic bottom.
I'd like to do a couple more - probably a Sergeant at arms at the very least. I'd discounted plastics as being the wrong pose, but had forgotten the tank commander. I'll go and investigate more options :)
DeleteNice work - the new (old?) heads do have a surly 'don't mess with me' vibe.
ReplyDeleteThanks - the expressionless faces give them a bit more menace I think!
DeleteSimple but very atmospheric conversions, lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe more I see of Pender the more I enjoy disliking him.
Pender is a thoroughly dislikeable character. I wouldn't trust him in the slightest ;)
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ReplyDeleteCool! It strikes me how such a limited conversion can change the mini so much! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThanks Suber! I'm a firm believer in the effectiveness of a head swap. I think it's usually highly successful in changing the tone of a figure.
DeleteGreat job on the guardsman and a continuation of the beautiful colour scheme from before. What blues did you use for this colour scheme Axiom?
ReplyDeleteIt's Citadel Alaitoc Blue with an Asurman Blue wash, then highlighted with white. Nothing complicated, but it's a nice colour - bright, but not too bright ;)
DeleteBrilliant! This is a wonderful little project well executed.
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