Solitaire

This was a Harlequin High Avatar from GW's Skulz scheme that I got for a steal off Ebay. It'll be used as a Solitaire using the Autarch + Mantle of the Laughing God rules. It gives Wendlepot the option of a more Harlequin themed army. As the modern Harlequins are raised off their bases I raised the Solitaire to match with a tall scenic base showing a busted Star Cannon.

Shadowsword - 'Shot in the Dark'

I got this Armorcast Shadowsword in the USA in '98. It is an officially licensed Games Workshop product, as the GW logo on the box can attest, though that hasn't stopped Games Workshop recently considering it banned from gaming in their stores. Armorcast produced a Shadowsword and a Baneblade, both scaled up versions of the then Epic super-heavy models. I didn't bother with the Baneblade then as it had the firepower of 2 Leman Russes for the points cost of 3, while the Shadowsword added firepower nothing else could. This was around £60.

The then rules stated a Shadowsword had a Volcano Cannon, Hull-mounted Heavy Bolter and Bolter and two sponsons each with a Lascannon and 3 Bolters. The 3 Bolter concept is probably what evolved into the 3 Lasguns on the modern Chimera. I didn't like the pudgy metal Bolters so cut square holes and added plastic Marine Bolters. The Heavy Bolter on the front is from an original Leman Russ while its housing is made of plywood.

The 'Dozerblade is 2 old 'Dozerblades bolted together with a suitable skull and wings from a plastic ring I found on the front. I've added a searchlight, Stormbolter and an inbuilt Hunter-Killer Missile.

Heavy Weapons Teams

All the Heavy Weapons teams in this army are magnetised to allow for easy storage in a quarter-height KR tray alongside the rest of the squad, to allow for wound counting by removing loader models mid game and to allow for use as 2nd Edition models with no large base. Most bases have some sandbags for detail and a bit of ammo to identify the base by. Much of the ammo had to be crafted from Greenstuff.

The 64mm bases have a hole cut out using a rotary cutter (looks like a compass with a blade on the end). Then a filed down section of Lord of the Rings infantry tray is glued into place as this is designed for 25mm bases to fit into. The edges of the infantry tray stand proud so are smoothed using greenstuff. A 3mm magnet is super glued centrally in the 25mm recesses and another under the base of the models, which requires some of the base and metal tab to be carved out.

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Missile Launcher

This simply uses a double section of infantry tray to fit the loader and firer models.

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Mortars

These use a double section of infantry tray to fit the loader and firer models. The Mortars are pinned at the join and have a bar running between the Mortar and stand for strength. The Mortars have a 3mm magnet in their base and the 64mm base has raise bits to hold the mortar in position.

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Heavy Bolter & Autocannons

These all use a common chassis. The firer models have a 3mm magnet in their back side. The chassis has a 3mm magnet in the seat and another, almost lined up, on the bottom below it. A third is placed below the crossbar of the chassis with attracts to one in a piece of sprue on the 64mm base.

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Lascannons

I haven't figured out the Lascannons yet. There'll be some structure to hold a magnet up under the frame and maybe magnets at the end of the legs of the gun.

Platoon Command Squad - Lt Lea

This squad leads White Platoon. There are seven models: the Comm-Link operator and the Standard Bearer can be swapped for more Flamers for a maxed 5 man squad.

The Heavy Flamer has the end of his weapon swapped for an old metal Baal Predator sponson, all filed down to fit. I don't like the new Flamer aesthetic so use the old one wherever I can. He also has a knife added, for putting the squad number on, and, like the Lieutenant, a water canteen as it's hot work! The Lieutenant had his head removed, rotated and re-attached as I wanted to distinguish him from the Veteran Platoon leader model. His Boltgun was removed and replaced with a Chainsword as, with the addition of a Bolt Pistol, this model and squad will see close action and close combat. Similarly the Comm-Link operator had his Lasgun chopped off and replaced with a Laspistol and has a large sheathed knife added so there is somewhere to put the squad number transfer. The Standard Bearer is equipped for close combat, like the rest of the squad, with his large knife drawn. His flag staff is topped by an icon made from a chopped up vehicle aquila and a Space Marine hand.

Infantry Squad 1 - Sgt Mark

The Infantry Squads of White Platoon all have Sergeants with Power Swords for scaring off Marines and Grenade Launchers for versatility. Squad 1 has a Heavy Bolter and many bayonets drawn for fighting closer to the enemy and are posed accordingly.

The Sergeant had to have an empty pistol holster as all models need their squad number displayed somewhere. However I'd ran out of holsters at this point so made one by filing down plasticard: the holster is made from 1mm plasticard and the strap from 0.25mm plasticard. Despite the effort the effect was worth it.

The Heavy Weapons team is magnetised as explained on the Heavy Weapons Teams post.

Infantry Squad 2 - Sgt Nicholas

The Infantry Squads of White Platoon all have Sergeants with Power Swords for scaring off Marines and Grenade Launchers for versatility. Squads 2 & 3 have Autocannons for some stand-off firepower and they'll often be combined as one squad.

The grenade launcher here is a metal Lasgun model with the Lasgun carved out and a plastic Grenade Launcher superglued in. Originally it had a metal Cawdor Grenade Launcher but that was the old Grenade Launcher design and it was much easier to update to match all the newer ones in the army. The Sergeant has a pistol swap and has a Power Sword replacing his carefully carved out hand and sword. He has a holster added so his squad number can be displayed on it.

The Autocannon team actually predates the existance of a Catachan Autocannon team. The gun and firer were orderd as parts from GW, back when you could do that, and the loader is a Lascannon loader with his ammo carved to look like it carries some shells instead. The Heavy Weapons team is magnetised as explained on the Heavy Weapons Teams post.

Infantry Squad 3 - Sgt Justin

The Infantry Squads of White Platoon all have Sergeants with Power Swords for scaring off Marines and Grenade Launchers for versatility. Squads 2 & 3 have Autocannons for some stand-off firepower and they'll often be combined as one squad.

The Sergeant has a Power Sword replacing his carefully carved out hand and sword. He has his knife replaced with a sheath so his squad number can be displayed on it. Similarly the Autocannon loader has a sheathed knife added for the same purpose. The Heavy Weapons team is magnetised as explained on the Heavy Weapons Teams post.

Heavy Weapons Fire Team 4 - Cpl Becca

Since the days when there weren't Catachan Mortar models I'd always wanted a Mortar Heavy Weapon Squad. With the Barrage rule they make the most sense for Heavy Weapon Squads whilst guns etc fit well enough in Infantry Squads. I call it a Fire Team (counts as Heavy Weapons Squad) as its not a full 10 man squad, hence its only led by a Corporal.

As with all squads this one has a leader, marked out by his outstretched knife, and a radio operator, despite both roles having no effect in game beyond aesthetics. The Heavy Weapons teams are magnetised as explained on the Heavy Weapons Teams post.

Company Command Squad - Cpt Niel

I spent a lot of time assembling a fully equipped Company Command Squad to lead my Imperial Guard forces. As all the Regimental Advisors have Close Combat weapons and Laspistols I decided to make the whole squad close combat orientated, with many Chainswords. This has proved itself useful in defending the Captain and even fighting off Dark Eldar Hellions!

The Captain is made of about 20 pieces, many filed down to fit. Some are stolen from the old metal Catachan Captain, like the sheathed sword and Power Fist. He has a Cadian Breastplate and shoulders to give the impression of Carapace Armour as in 2nd Edition, and on metal models, all Captains and Lieutenants had that. He's raised up on sheets of plasticard in the base to subtly make him stand out.

To add detail, pre-empt zealous WYSIWYGers and have somewhere to put squad number badges the Regimental Advisors have Laspistols/Close Combat weapons added. The Astropath has had his staff drilled out and replaced with brass rod as the white metal was already breaking.

The Veterans are carefully posed for their roles and equipped generously.

Storm Trooper Squad - Sgt Alex

Originally I wasn't sold on the idea of Storm Troopers but I got some Cadian sprues as part of an Ebay bundle and thought, compared to Catachans, they'd look the part. Sadly they don't have many battle honours.

I built them with plastruct rod bent from the guns to their backpacks like the power cabling on proper models. The backpacks are simply paired pouches from Space Marines. Space marine scopes on each gun, rebreather masks and short paperclip aerials on their helmets round out their upgrades. Two models have Plasmaguns, thicker cabling and the body of a flamer making up half the backpack like a power pack (even has a gauge to show power remaining).

Veteran Platoon Command Squad - Lt-Cdr Weasel

This squad, which counts as a Company Command Squad, leads the Veteran Squads of Black Platoon. There are seven models: the Comm-Link operator and the Standard Bearer can be swapped for more Plasmagunners for a maxed 5 man squad. The squad has Carapace Armour mainly to survive their own weapons overheating. They have a poor reputation in battle, often mostly dieing leaving the Lieutenant alone, broken and fleeing.

The Comm-Link operator has a sheathed knife added so there is somewhere to put the squad number transfer. I've done similarly across most of the Imperial Guard. The Standard Bearer is equipped for ranged combat like the Plasmagunners. His flag staff is topped by an icon made from a chopped up vehicle aquila and a Space Marine combat blade and looks a little like the SAS symbol.

Veteran Squad 3 - Sgt Laz

Veteran Squad 3, lead by a counts as Gunnery Sergeant Harker, is geared for outflanking and then clearing terrain and/or an objective before camping it. To do this the squad has a balance of assault weapons (Heavy Flamer, 2 Grenade Launchers, Demolition Charge and Harker's relentless Heavy Bolter) and ranged weapons (Heavy Bolter and Grenade Launchers, Missile Launcher and Lasguns). I may be optimistic in 10 humans' abilities and the squad costs a lot of points.

3 extra models allow the squad to be rearranged as an infantry squad with a Sergeant with Chainsword, a Grenade Launcher and a Missile Launcher or, by putting Harker and the model with a heavy ammo belt on the magnetised 64mm base, a Heavy Bolter. The Heavy Weapons team is magnetised as explained on the Heavy Weapons Teams post.