Rogue Trader Space Pirates by Bob Olley: Part 2

Space pirates were a big part of WH40K in its early days. In The Book of the Astronomicon (1988) we learned that eldar, orks, humans and even squats engaged in piracy. That tome also provides a splendid army list for a pirate band, "Crangor's Buccaneers", which allows the player to assemble a band including squat ensigns, eldar void-dreamers, and recce squads on flying surfboards (aka power boards). 

Rogue Trader had to include space pirates. There wasn't a sci-fi trope that Rogue Trader didn't include, and space pirates have been an integral part of space opera since Ray Cumming's Brigands of the Moon (1931) or Buck Rogers battling Black Barney (1939). Leaving out space pirates would be like leaving out laser guns.

Of course there are space pirates and then are space pirates. Some versions rely on high camp (with parrots, cutlasses and Cornish accents) and some are a little more normal, i.e. "violent criminals with a spaceship." Bob Olley's version is somewhere in the middle: both eccentric and scary.  Personally, I think his version of space pirates owes a special debt to Doctor Who. Colourful yet menacing space pirates loom large in "Meglos" (1980) and the "Pirate Planet" (1978), not to mention the incomplete serial "The Space Pirates" (1969). 

Today I wanted to share six more painted miniatures from Bob Olley's fabulous IC301 range of Space Pirates (1987). 

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First up is "Star Raven". With his mix of cybernetics and fantasy-elements, this is a thoroughly entrancing sculpt.

Second "Vaal the Asharian". The big lips, fat head, and warty skin, make this sculpt 100% unfiltered Olley. I also detect a whiff of Matt Groening's animation style, although that may be anachronistic of me.

Third is "Verrington Kosht". This is another of Olley's splendid aliens. I particularly like tumescent weapon that he is carrying.

"Banzai Jones" seems to be straight out of a 1940's pulp adventure with his leather bomber and aviator cap. His name nods both to Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Adventures of Buckeroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984). An interesting pairing! Both had budgets of approximately $20, but one made back $6 million at the box office and the other $390 million.

"Zandar" is another one of Olley's random aliens. He carries a fabulous dragon-patterned gun of uncertain type. Olley's delightful penchant for inventing new alien species and new forms or armament was another thing that put him out of step with the homogenizing trend of Games Workshop in the late 1980's:

And finally, my all-time favourite space pirate, "Nightwing". I love the bionic arm, the flowing cape, and the sinister facemask:

Stay warm, my friends!

See the first post in this series here.

Rogue Trader Space Pirates by Bob Olley

Bob Olley's Iron Claw was an offshoot of Citadel Miniatures operating briefly between 1987 and 1988. Olley operated in a different visual language than all the other sculptors at Games Workshop, which was why (I suppose) it made sense to give him his own label. His figures were fungoid, stumpy and melodramatic. When other sculptors modeled heroes or villains, Olley sculpted character actors. His figures stood out like mold on bread.

If there was one range of miniatures particularly suited to the Iron Claw treatment, it was Space Pirates.  They allowed a sculptor like Olley almost unlimited scope to use his warped vision: motley crews composed of cyborgs, robots, and off-brand aliens; jury-rigged equipment and bizarre weaponry; and a fusion of fantasy and sci-fi tropes. And so the IC301 range of Space Pirates was born, with 17 models released in 1987.

The very characteristics that would make the IC301 Space Pirates charming are also what doomed it to obsolescence. Olley's playful and uninhibited approach meant that ranges like the Space Pirates had no place in Warhammer 40K as it evolved into a tournament game with well-defined races and regimented army lists. 

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First up is "Col. Vlad". Bulbous head? Check. Half-digested face? Check. Weapon growing tumors? Check. Yep, that's a Bob Olley sculpt!

Second is "Loritta". I love the way she is holding that gun: half Rambo, half Nita Strauss.

Next is "Ooglorg the Cruel". Well, you'd be cruel too if your momma called you Ooglorg.

And finally for today we have "Venk." He carries a resonant Star Wars vibe (a thing not uncommon in the Rogue Trader era).

Stay tuned for more Iron Claw madness! Thanks for coming by!

How Many Miniatures Can You Paint in a Year?

I kept track of my output this year and find I painted 135 miniatures in 2024. How was your painting?

The last time I kept such careful records was in 2017, when I painted 220 models. The decline is merely superficial because I painted only during the last six months of this year. During the first half of 2024, my attention was entirely fixed on writing a new rules set for a solo-miniature game (more on this in future posts). After the rules were polished and packed off for editing and playtesting, the paint brushes were finally able to get back into action. 

A dozen or so monsters from the late (and very lamented) Otherworld Miniatures was a particular high point. Painting these models is like stepping back into the pages of the AD&D Monster Manual. Look at this gorgeous WE38 Chimera (sculpted by Drew Day-Williams):

Another beautiful sculpture is Paul Muller's DM47 Night Hag, complete with elongated breasts and protruding bones:

Besides miniatures, I also painted some serious scenery, including this gorgeous 3d-printed Norman Castle (from the King and Country line):

I continue to cling to the same two or three elderly, attenuated, and abused brushes. By now, they are all as thin as Charlie Brown's hairline. I began the year thinking they were past the cusp of total failure. Yet over 100 minis later, and I'm still forcing these pensioner to work. They have the only point that I trust and can control. I guess they'll die at their post. And what will I do then? 

Perhaps I will turn to necromancy. Does it work on paint brushes?

I hope you have all had a lovely 2024. My year has been brightened by the very faithful companionship of Bertie the dog, who snores on a chair next to me whenever I paint. He's next to me as I write this, keeping an eye on my wordcount.

May you and all your dogs sleep soundly in 2025!

Rogue Trader Adventurers: Part 5... Stargrave

I've always loved Rogue Trader, but the impetus for my recent push to paint all of Citadel's RT601 Adventurers was the publication of Joseph McCullogh's Stargrave (Osprey, 2021).

I see Stargrave as the true heir to Rogue Trader. In some ways, the two games couldn't be more different. Rick Priestly's masterpiece from the '80's is dense as a Bible, with hundreds of illustrations, a sprawling backstory, and detailed rules governing everything from orbital lasers to cavalry charges. Stargrave is smaller, devoid of flavor text, and much more targeted: it provides rules for running a crew of 10 interstellar freebooters, and that's it.

A game of Stargrave

Beyond the cosmetic differences, the similarities run deep. Both are attempts to re-implement fantasy rules into a sci-fi setting: Rogue Trader from Warhammer Fantasy Battle, and Stargrave from Frostgrave. The common origin in fantasy gives the games an aura of whimsical space opera, even though both introduce dark doses of apocalypticism to create a complex mix (Stargrave's tagline is "Science Fiction Wargames in the Ravaged Galaxy" while 40K's is "There is only WAR"). 

Most importantly, Stargrave and Rogue Trader incorporate elements of roleplaying. In Rogue Trader, it comes through the game master, who runs a scenario with hidden information, elaborate subplots, and campaign continuity. In Stargrave, the captain of your crew becomes your player character and develops better abilities from session to session. In both games, the feeling of roleplaying puts a special emphasis on character -- especially characterful miniatures. In that sense, it's no surprise that the same sculptor, Mark Copplestone, provided miniatures both for Stargrave and for the RT601 Adventurers.

Well, let's see the last seven miniatures in the RT601 range!

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First is RT601 "Pilot Rav". If I had to guess, I'd say this was a Copplestone design, because of the clean lines, open face, and aroma of pulp adventure.

Second is the RT601 "Space Pirate", later renamed "Lan Duval". 

The curious thing about the above miniature is his startling resemblance to a design from the same period by Trish Morrison, the Talisman Timescape "Space Pirate" (pictured below on the left). Citadel is well-known for basing two or more sibling miniatures on one prototype (i.e. Kylla Condotti and No Face Fargo) where the basic pose is the same but identifying traits are switched out (usually the face and the weapon). However, in this situation, the Space Pirates share a similar face, a similar weapon, and similar outfits, although all the minor details are different. Maybe Aly Morrison and Trish Morrison decided to each sculpt the same fellow in an excess of marital bliss.

Next we have the RT601 "Cyborg".

The above miniature also bears a striking resemblance to the Talisman Timescape "Cyborg" by Trish Morrison (below on the left). Once again, the identifying traits are all quite similar, but the details and the poses differ. It just goes to show that when Rogue Trader first came out, it was not so different from a zany game like Talisman Timescape to prevent the miniatures from being mutually compatible.

Below is the RT601 "Bandit". Methinks he bears some relationship to the Talisman Timescape "Archaeologist".

This is the RT601 "Ship's Officer". On his slotta-tab is carved the alternative name "Astronaut". It will no longer surprise you to learn that he shares many traits with the Talisman Timescape "Astronaut" by Trish Morrison.

Behold the RT601 "Imperial Assassin". She was the last of this range to come into my collection. I thought she'd never arrive. All Praise to the Emperor - the Emperor Provides!

And finally, the last miniature in the RT601 range is the "Mad Punk". I saved her for last because I think she's my favourite paintjob of the lot: a nice, clean lick of paint.

Many thanks for staying with me over this long series of posts!

Rogue Trader Adventurers: Part 4... The Art of Bob Naismith

 

The 32 miniatures in the RT601 Adventurers range for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader were sculpted by four top-notch artists: Aly Morrison, Mark Copplestone, Jes Goodwin, and Bob Naismith. We have those names only because they were all included in the page devoted for this range in the 1988 Catalogue (where the range was re-designated as 4004 Adventurers).

Artist Bob Naismith

Bob Naismith was the old-hand of the bunch, having started working at Citadel in 1981 and having hundreds of sculpts under his belt. We know (thanks to an interview done by Axiom at Magpie and Old Lead) which six models in the RT601 range that Naismith carved: the Imperial Scout, the Ex-Tech, the Scum (aka Space Eunuch), Astropath Koth, the Hero, and the Hive Worlder. After that, it becomes foggy on who sculpted whom. I'd bet good money that Aly Morrison sculpted the Pirate Captain because he's so damn ugly. But my powers of guesswork fade after that.

If any of you have any information or insight into which sculptor is responsible for a given miniature in the RT601 range, please let me know in the comments.

It strikes me as a true shame when we can't assign a model to the responsible artist. If you take miniature sculpting seriously as an art form (and I do), proper attribution is essential. How else can we discuss a particular sculptor's style, evolution, and influences?

In any case, for today's post, let's look at Naismith's six models in the range. As a group, they showcase his talent for varied poses and his imaginative use of details to tell a story about the miniature.

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First comes my personal favourite, the RT601 "Scum". This miniature is also known as the "Space Eunuch" because that is the name carved on his slotta-base tab. And a Space Eunuch he is, what with his bare bum cheeks, bald head, and leather boots. I tried to enhance the effect by giving him Marie Antoinette facepaint, including heart-shaped lipstick and a beauty-spot.

Second is "Astropath Korm". Like every member of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, Korm was led before the Emperor so his mind could be fortified in the hideous rigour of the soul-binding ritual. Did you know that, according to the WH40K: Rogue Trader rulebook, this doesn't merely make all Astropaths blind -- it also deprives many of smell, touch, or hearing? In Koth's case, I tried to illustrate his wretched state by showing his eyelids sewn-up like a shrunken head.

Third is the RT601 "Ex-Tech". I'm not sure what his name means. I suspect he used to be a ship's technician before an encounter with hostile aliens forced him to abandon his toolbox and take up flame-throwing for a living. In any case, this is a great sculpt: lots of emotion and activity!

Fourth is the RT601 "Hero" (or, according to his slott-base tab, "Feral Hero").  Look at that leopard-skin loincloth! What a beefcake!

Next is the RT601 "Hive Worlder". The equipment in this model tells a story. He's wearing a knight's plate armour from the hips down, a biker's leather jacket, and carries a hand-crossbow that's jury-rigged with something that looks suspiciously like a micro-missile launcher. But the main attraction is his hair. No matter how bad things get on this fellow's homeworld, he always takes time to wash and condition.

Finally, we have the RT601 "Imperial Scout". His exotic equipment and world-weary expression shows that this fellow is a seasoned traveler. To my eye, he seems to be wearing a still-suit out of Dune, complete with tubular breathing apparatus and skin-tight membrane. Another great sculpt from Bob Naismith!

Thanks for coming by!

Rogue Trader Adventurers: Part 3... Forerunners

I am not the first painter to tackle the miniatures in Citadel's RT601 Adventurers range from 1988. Indeed, it's hard to love Rogue Trader and not want to paint some of these incredible models.

However, the only other person (that I know of) who has tried to collect and paint all 32 miniatures is Jason Fulford at Rogue Heresy. His painstaking work in analyzing the range (and recording the names carved on the slotta-tabs, which often differ from the catalogue names) is a service to the hobby. Following his progress in completing the "Adventurers Project" was a source of inspiration and encouragement for me. I'm particularly fond of his colourful "Hive Worlder" and the fierce expression he coaxed out of the "Pirate Captain".

There are many other painters whose work on this range are worth a good look:

• Axion at Magpie and Old Lead has done some wonderful things. I particularly love the matching assembly of the "Cyborg" and "Test-bed Slave" (plus other Rogue Trader figures).
• Ninjabread created a wonderful series of dioramas using "Tech-Priest Schlan". Remember: only the strong will survey.
• Warburton at Classic 40K zeroed in on the best sculpted miniatures in the range: the unobtrusively named "Official". Under his brush, the beautifully carved face and subtle details in costume all come to life. Brilliant!
• At the Lead Plague, Asslessman has conscripted several members of the Adventurers range into his fantastic sensei warband.
• Sho3box's "Squat Miner" shows some real mojo.
• Every once in a while, when I want to remind myself what extraordinary painting looks like, I check out the work of Dr. Mathias at his Miniature Extravaganza.  His version of the "Navigator" is simply gorgeous -- and even more gorgeous when you see him arrayed with all his mutant colleagues.

If you know of any other painters who have dabbled in this range, please let me know in the comments.

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First is RT601 "Pilot Lorgar". His outfit shows the levity that you could still find in Rogue Trader miniatures: the gold epaulettes, the handlebar moustache, the expression of panic.

Second we have RT601 "Punk", renamed in 1988 as "Xaif".

Below is the RT601 "Astropath Yerl". He was first released in March 1987 as the "Imperial Psycher" in the RT1 range. He's a disproportionately tall miniature, verging on a different scale.

Fourth is the RT601 "Tech-Priest Zon". He also appeared first in the RT1 range as a "Telepath" and later an "Astropath", as I've detailed in my posts on the first Rogue Trader miniatures.

Behold the RT601 "Pirate Captain". I love this miniature, with his malicious leer and his Buck-Rogers garb. I tried to make his teeth nice and yellow, because I don't think space pirates floss.

The RT601 "Psyker" is another of my all-time favourites. Her simple pose gives us an excellent sense of the painful energy coursing through her. In a tribute to Stranger Things, I gave her a nosebleed, as you can see. Oddly, on this miniature's tab is written "Citizen".

Last but not least is the "Official". As I mentioned above, I think he's the best-crafted miniature in the range. He has lots of elegant details, an intriguing pose, and a memorable facial expression that's a joy to paint. I wish I knew who the sculptor was!

Thanks for taking a look!

Rogue Trader Adventurers: Part 2... Geriatricus Speaks!

You bastards. You have no idea how good you have it today. When I was young in the early '80's, we didn’t have nice rulebooks with full-colour illustrations. Holy Jumping Christ, we barely had rules. And we certainly didn’t have Warhammer 40K. If we wanted to play a knock-off Star Wars skirmish game, we couldn’t just reach for the latest British import, like some silk-slippered princeling. Oh no. If we wanted to roll dice, we had only one option: we played Galacta: Star Commandos.

Have you heard of Galacta: Star Commandos? Of course you haven’t. You belong to a generation that has never known privation. You couldn’t find Galacta at a gaming store. We had no gaming stores! Gaming stores were a far-off dream, like universal peace or a cure for mange. If you wanted Galacta, you took a bus to the mall and went to the "hobby store". The same store that sold your mom yarn. They kept Galacta behind the counter, like porn. And if you asked to buy it, the old lady at the cash would say, “This isn’t a toy, you know. You can’t eat the lead.” 

Those old ladies are gone now. So are the hobby stores. And so are the malls. They have been plowed into the earth so that you and your friends can sip bubble tea on a patio. What is bubble tea, anyway? My only prayer is that it's something that will give you gas.

Unboxing Galacta was a painful experience, but we grew up fast in those days. Inside we found: (1) ten solid-based miniatures so lumpy they looked like Hershey’s Kisses; (2) a photocopied pamphlet with two pages of rules; (3); a dozen pots of paint dried into hard putty; and (4) a paint brush so splayed that it couldn’t be used to apply makeup on a Bonobo.

They called it a “paint-and-play” game, the cruel jerks. But did we make a Reddit about it? Of course not. Because that’s what wargaming was all about in my day: disappointment.

And then Rogue Trade showed up and ruined everything.

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This is the last time I let someone write guest post. What a downer. Anyway, let's continue the tour through Citadel's RT601 range of Adventurers for 40K Rogue Trader. 

First up is "Female Warrior Gabs". Her slotta tab gives her the alternative name "Sister", which seems to a reference to page 268 of the Rogue Trader rulebook (1987), where we find an enigmatic passage mentioning the Adepta Sororitas or Sisterhood: "an order of devotional warrior women." The accompanying illustration by Stephen Tappin shows "Sister Sin" in full power armor. Sadly, the Sisterhood was an idea that languished for a few years, but was rekindled in the 2nd edition Warhammer 40,000 rulebook (1993).

Next we have the only other Sister from the Rogue Trader era, "Female Warrior Jayne". This is another beautiful sculpt, with female characters that are dynamic and interesting without being sexualized or caricatured. I only wish they had chosen better names than "Gabs" and "Jayne". It makes them sound like they play bingo.

Nothing is more evocative of Rogue Trader than the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus -- mainly due to the mind-wrenching illustrations of Will Rees. Here we have "Tech-Priest Schlan". He's a wonderful miniature that really captures the strange blend of technology, religion and body-modification. I tried to paint his face in such a way that the tubes and plates are hard to distinguish from his flesh.

And speaking of bionics, here is the "Test Bed Slave". This is another miniature (loosely) based on an illustration from the Rogue Trader rulebook. I do wish that not every cyborg was waving his arms around like he's Frankenstein's Monster.

Fifth is the "Old Pirate". I find him fairly ho-hum -- but he's one of the few Rogue Trader miniatures portrayed with a needle pistol.

And finally, here is the "Space Amazon". This is another iconic miniature that seems to be in high demand (if eBay prices are anything to go on). As Jason Fulford has pointed out, this sculpt is almost certainly based on John Blanche's "Amazon" illustration. I enjoyed painting this miniature, but it is the opposite of Gabs or Jayne. With her garter belt and bodice, the Space Amazon is a female warrior whose essence is confined within the stereotype of the sexy femme fatale.

Thanks for coming by!

Illustration by Stephen Tappin (1987)