Rogue Trader Lizard – Space Cowboy

The Rogue Trader Lizard is an obscure collector’s piece.  Designed to take the plastic RTB01 Space Marines, this miniature was only available through Mail Order for a brief time in 1988.  I nabbed one for a bargain years ago, but never had the willpower or funds to collect enough to make a full squad (as, enviably, Ed Gladdis has managed).  Then axiom had a game planned and an opportunity arose.  Presenting Mungo Beefhead and his trusty steed Drayne.

Rogue Trader Lizard Space Cowboy

Yes, he’s called Drayne.  Drayne the Lizard.

axiom’s game was grox-herding.  Grox are the Warhammer 40,000 equivalent of cattle, and as a participant I’d have to bring a figure to round up herds of this dino-livestock.  Lacking any sort of subtlety I deployed every cowboy cliché I could.  But in space.  Space Cowboy.  Like that Jamiroquai song.

Rogue Trader Lizard Space Cowboy

The rider was originally Johnny Cuba from the Citadel Miniatures Judge Dredd range.  I’ve had the figure knocking around for years in my bitz box as I’ve been buying up power boards.  But with his cowboy hat and his lunging skysurfer legs, he needed only minimal further conversion.

Johnny Cuba Midnight Surfer

Johnny Cuba as he appeared in 1985’s 2000AD Prog 427.

JD13 Skysurfers
Citadel’s JD13 Skysurfer range.  Image thanks to Source of Legends

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I swapped his bare feet for boots from an Imperial Army jetbike rider, and then after some experimenting I added a lasso made from brass rod (for the top section where robustness is important) and lead solder (where the ability to bend it made modelling easy).

Rogue Trader Lizard Space Cowboy

An early experiment with an entirely solder lasso.

Painting-wise I went for garish primary colours because the concept and source miniatures were inherently goofy.  I intended to paint Mungo in a palette evocative of Bravestar (who is cool) but ended up channelling Sheriff Woody from Toy Story (who is not cool).

On the day of gaming itself Mungo Beefhead rounded up his herd and led them to the pen at the speed of cheeba, but was pipped to the post by sho3box thanks to a series of poor tactical decisions (read: me nobbing over the wrong people with special play cards) and being nobbed over by people’s special play cards.  Great fun.  Thanks to axiom for putting together a very fun gaming experience.

Rogue Trader Lizard Space Cowboy

Photo courtesy of Jean-Baptiste of Lead Plague.

I have absolutely no future plans for this figure.  I will not make a squad of them.  He will not build into an army.  Though, very generously, axiom did give out grox hatchling miniatures to all participants, so I can revisit the theme at a future date.

Check out axiom’s post about how he made the herds themselves and modelled the grox pen.

Curis

Curis has painted for Games Workshop, Forge World, Warlord Games, Mantic Games, Avatars of War, Wargames Foundry, Studio McVey and many others. He's won at Golden Demon and Salute. He publishes monthly painting tutorials on Patreon.

6 thoughts on “Rogue Trader Lizard – Space Cowboy

  • August 15, 2017 at 11:13 am
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    The game was very fun and Mungo with Drayne certainly helped make it look even better !
    Sorry for removing some of your dice, you know how it is…
    *makes an awkward heart shape with fingers*

    Reply
    • August 15, 2017 at 11:42 am
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      That’s okay. I’m sorry I captured your Bratt ganger and denied her access to edgy hair dye.

      Reply
  • August 16, 2017 at 6:15 am
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    Dwayne is ace, the game was good fun and pitched perfectly for that time and place and I am glad that Jamiroquai is dead.

    Reply
    • August 16, 2017 at 11:30 am
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      You only liked it cos you won.

      Reply
  • August 16, 2017 at 6:55 pm
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    I love the fact that you took the time to make Mungo for the game, and a rollicking rodeo it was too! Glad you enjoyed it.

    Mungo is a brilliant addition to any figure collection. Perhaps he has a place roping the supply herd for your IG force?

    Reply
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