The Pint-Sized `Guard`

[kiwichild]

After a wee hiatus I have found a new motivation to my hobby/painting addiction. They are the `mini-me` of the Imp Guard, they are those whose name is spoken in low tones, they are the forgotten, the neglected, they are........ the Squats. Here`s the sitrep: I got the lil` fellas ready to get themselves recognised, but I`m wondering about their colour-scheme. Here`s what I have found by dredging the in-tah-web:
#1
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...px-62ndReg.jpg
#2
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...50px-17Reg.jpg
#3
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...0px-5thReg.jpg
#4
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...0px-3rdReg.jpg

Fluffwise I imagine this force as a group of star-faring nomads, picking up non-Squat followers as those `foriegners` prove their worth/wealth. Half the force will be mounted in rhinos(count as chimeras), the other half will be the defence force, on foot and anti-tank theme. My first 40k army were Squats and I always wanted an abhuman/stuntie army, hence ratlings and ogryns will be included. There is the possibility of mini-scale Gundam models being turned into sentinal/warwalkers. Present count puts them at 60(60 squats) with ratlings(5) and RT(5-10) era guard models.

Colour-scheme wise #4 with flak armour, with (think #3) tan/biege as the main body, would be what I am looking at presently. I think Squat survivors would seek barren, mining colony type planets, so anything barren/sparse/un-hospitiable/Rad-world, are possible themes.

My question is, give me ideas for a colour-theme? Oh and basing ideas that don`t involve buying/casting 70+ bases?

[kiwichild]

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...i/P1000210.jpg

Imagine your colour-scheme on these Squats/........midgets.

[sigur]

Greetings!

One little suggestion: Don't use Rhinos that count as Chimeras. Maybe you'd like to use the rules for allied inq. stormtroopers instead which you indeed can mount in real Rhinos. Just an idea.

For the bases: you could just cut them out from plasticard or something else that has the right size. Apart from that, buying 28mm sotta bases isn't that expensive really. Getting two bags of them should totally suffice.

[Roel?]

Oh boy those are cute! :>

[mel_danes]

Good God Man, where did you get stunties?
Squats for the Win, hells yeah! You have to work some trikes in, the seminal squat unit.

I will be keeping track of this log.

[Dengar]

If they are space faring how about painting them in flight suits and mechanics overals just an idea as for colours well how about blues and greys hell you could even do the well known red/orange flight suit that might be going a bit too far though. Oh yeah awsome models?

[Catferret]

I second the ideas for overall/work clothes colours. Would really show the industrious nature of Squats.

For the bases, how about wire mesh or panel lines to simulate the space craft flooring? The panel lines are easy on plastic bases. File the top smooth, then take a v-shaped file and just mark lines into the plastic. Looks like metal floor panels. IOf you had the time, small rivets would also look good.

[Easy E]

Wow, are those original plastics from the old 36 plastic Squats box? They look like it. Those models are more detailed then I remember.

[1truegod]

Oh boy those are cute! :>

I agree, keep us informed.

Subscripted

[Patriarch]

**Old Fart Alert** all the squats in those reference piccies are Medics, which is why a) they have a lot of white on them and b) they have the "staff of Hermes" design on their shoulders.

The iconic Squats colour scheme is as shown on WD111 (sorry for rubbish picture quality).

Anyway, I'd go for something fairly utilitarian as far as colour schemes go (i.e. NOT like the one below) - something which isn't going to show oil stains too much. Grey, dark blue, deep red.

[Shinnentai]

Oh man, those plastics are classic :-D
I wonder if GW still has the master moulds for these?
Not that they'd ever re-use em - humourless oiks that they are....

Yah, I vote for non-hyper colour. Some cool urban camo mebbe?
Heh, how big would the FW Thudd Guns look next to these guys XD

[kiwichild]

Well bar 3 more of the lil` blighters on their way in the mail, I have gathered up all the infantry. Here`s group shots and I`ll try and explain alongside the photos. This will be a triple post so I`ll reply to comments in the 3rd post.
Here goes:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000464.jpg
Pet shot
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000465.jpg
Group shot of the metal figures
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000466.jpg
Squats
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000467.jpg
Squats and Ratling snipers

cont next post

[kiwichild]

Back into it:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000468.jpg
Warlord in exo-armour with human/psyker advisor
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000469.jpg
Basic bitz and pieces for Living ancestor conversion, tank treaded mobility scooter FTW!
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000470.jpg
Plastic figures (right)
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000472.jpg
Plastic figures (left)

cont next post

[kiwichild]

The third and final post:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000473.jpg
Brief army layout, 1cmd squad and 2infantry squads, these will be mounted in rhinos, maybe a razorback for the cmd squad.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000474.jpg
The defence force (on foot), 1cmd squad, 2 infantry squads and a heavy weapon squad (top of pic)
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...t/P1000475.jpg
Main cmd squad.

Not pictured: ratlings (special weapons squad), rhinos (still in bitz), sentinals (haven`t arrived) and ogryns (no where near purchased yet)

Replies to comments:
sigur-Cheers, have the bases just no idea about theme for them. Good idea with the rhinos, can witchhunters use razorbacks?
Roel? and 1true god- Cute, but grumpy and armed
mel_danes- hmmmm trikes could count as sentinals, they are pretty hard to come by though, maybe the e-bay machine spirit will bless me.
Dengar and Catferret - Nice ideas, my originals squats were gray, black and bone, the orange jumpsuits could be funny (squats live in GW`s gitmo). I like the panel idea for the bases, any ideas for combining it with a wasteland feel?
Easy E- Some of the old plastics are really remarkable with their simplisty and detail, RT-era guard plastics are beautiful.
Patriarch- `Old fart alert`.......I wondered why I smelt cabbages and old folks. Yeap they are medics and cheers for the pic, do you have any other pics of squats for inspiration?
Shinnentai- FW Thudd guns look BIG next to Squats.

Well that`s me for the moment, I`m of to wait in the snow by the mailbox for 3 midgets and a heap of dwarf bitz to arrive, then I`m gonna strip.........those painted metal squats.

[Catferret]

I like the panel idea for the bases, any ideas for combining it with a wasteland feel?

Concrete paving slabs instead of panels maybe? same technique as I mentioned before. Just throw a bit of sand over it so they look unused. Also carve in a few cracks and don't forget weeds growing between them. A little like this maybe? (no weeds unfortunately)



Even metal panels are feasible in a wasteland. Wreckage from a crashed spacecraft or maybe metal panelling outside a desert bunker.

[kiwichild]

Even metal panels are feasible in a wasteland. Wreckage from a crashed spacecraft or maybe metal panelling outside a desert bunker.

Ohhhh my that looks rather nifty, I will definitely try that out with some metal plating, could probably use some plasticard off cuts to give it some extra depth/bulk. Thanks for the pic Catferret!

[Easy E]

The Warlord in Exo-armor looks way better then I remember! I've even seen one within the past year in person, and it still took me by surprise.

In the old RT list Commissar advisors were common. Have you thought of adding some of them in? Also, what doctrines ar you planning on using? Sanctioned Psykers obviously.

For the LA, here's a couple of ideas. If you use the Witchhunter list, field him as the Throne of Judgement. Alternatively, if you use the Guard codex, field him as a sanctioned psyker with an Honorific Imperialis and Force weapon. That should fit the old concept nicely.

[kiwichild]

In the old RT list Commissar advisors were common. Have you thought of adding some of them in? Also, what doctrines ar you planning on using? Sanctioned Psykers obviously.

For the LA, here's a couple of ideas. If you use the Witchhunter list, field him as the Throne of Judgement. Alternatively, if you use the Guard codex, field him as a sanctioned psyker with an Honorific Imperialis and Force weapon. That should fit the old concept nicely.

My problem is I don`t have my codex with me, it`s packed away back in New Zealand. I have afew more squats still to arrive (hint: the ebay machine spirit blessed me), and then I can give you a full run down on numbers, general layout and a theme, would you be interested in putting togteher a WH or Guard list for me?

[Light of the Emperor]

I'm a fan of the third color scheme...

Those are some cool models though! I just got my hands on old school thudd guns and rapiers...they are awesome models for their age and should go well with the squats.

Best of luck on 'em!

[Keadaen]

Do the second or the third one for the color scheme, haven't actully seen squats before so this should be cool.