Monday 21 December 2015

Rogue Quest Expansion: The Ranger - Algaarg, Xenos Tracker for Hire

OK, this really is the last figure of 2015! I don't have any more spare evenings between now and the New Year, but I did manage to paint up this guy on Friday evening while my wife was out at her Christmas work do.
 
This last figure for the year also rounds out the Rogue Quest adventuring party, with all the original classic archetypes represented. Ironically, I've always identified with Rangers more than any of the other classes. The only real reason for leaving the Ranger to last was because I hadn't got round to finishing the conversion!

 

The model I selected for my Ranger isn't really of the same vintage as the rest of the warband, having been assembled from the torso of a Mutie raider (produced for the Gorkamorka expansion, Digganob, in 1998). The legs are somewhat more modern, coming from the plastic Skitarii kit, while the armour and satchel om his hips are again from Victoria Miniatures. I added a backpack from Denizen miniatures, then covered all the joins with greenstuff. He also got a spacer of plasticard to elongate the torso.

Dodgy phone pics of the unpainted conversion.

And the rear, with some filler sculpting on the satchel.

When it came to painting the figure, I eventually decided he was an alien, rather than a mutant. It appealed to me to have a xenos scout with enhanced olfactory senses and wide-spectrum vision acting as my Ranger.

I decided to use the same blue spot colour for his skin, as used elsewhere on the adventurers. Teamed with white hair, cream trousers and some earthy browns, I think he looks pretty striking.



The metal got some brown and black washes to make it look worn, with a slight patina. I'm not entirely sure what event led to him losing his lower legs, but he has clearly been able to invest in some top-notch bionic replacements! Business must be going well.



Algaarg is from a race rarely encountered in the Imperium. Little is known about this blue-skinned Xenos species - they are motivated by cash, make excellent trackers, but not nothing is known about their origins or homeworld. The most notorious of this race was Oolgorg the Cruel, one-time leader of the Iron Claw space pirates. Little is known of his fate, but many colonies on the Eastern fringes shudder at the mention of his name.

Algaarg and Goedes fend off a rioting mob of Imperial workers.

See also:

20 comments:

  1. A rum looking customer to finish of a collection of rum looking customers. Your conversions are always a surprise. Interested to see what you and JB put together for the game.

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    1. That's high praise! I was aiming for characters on society's fringes. The rummer looking, the better ;)

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  2. Ending it with brio here, I quite fancy the nod towards Ooglorg the cruel ;)

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    1. You've got to squeeze those RT touchstones in where you can JB! They looked close enough to be the same species :)

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  3. That is good. Top and bottom really work together nicely.

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    1. Thanks! I think the added armour/satchel softened the transition and stopped there being a jarring contrast between them.

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  4. Lovely job JB - he is brilliant! Cracking conversion, lovely paint job, all round perfection :-)

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    1. Thanks Alex! I had a lot of fun making him. Plus the painting all happened pretty easily. I'm hoping to use most of these guys in the New Year.

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  5. He's an interesting fella to be sure. You sir are too darned talented ;)

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  6. That did come out most nicely indeed. :) Didn't play enough GorkaMorka, clearly. There are some nice models in that range, and you've used the pieces well.

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    1. I do like the Gorkamorka muties particularly - there's a lot of potential with them :)

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  7. Great job you've really captured the sense of motion. Your bits box pieces reads like an all star list; I've been trying to get my hands on muties forever!
    I've always loved the ranger especially in 3.5 so I think it's very cool to see one in RT. Thanks

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    1. My bits box isn't as good as it was - I cleared out about 10 years ago, much to my regret! I'm steadily replenishing it though ;)

      The torso and legs both have the same feeling of direction which is great. I did mock up the figure with some other Skitarii legs, but this pair was the best fit visually.

      Glad you like him!

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  8. well, you certainly know how to combine bits. This guy turned out great!

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    1. Thanks Suber. I do enjoy a bit of bits bashing ;)

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  9. Well that is certainly a good use of the old mutie torso. He could also serve for a target for some of the more... puritan factions to eliminate.

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    1. I suspect he offends many a puritan with his mutated alien form :)

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  10. He looks fantastic. Great work as usual Axiom. Your last figure for 2015 is an excellent way to cap the year.
    Oh yes ... have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)

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    1. Thanks! Nice to finish the year with something interesting :)

      Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too!

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