Rogue Trader Christmas Space Marines

It was Christmas 1987, and Games Workshop celebrated the festive season by releasing two limited edition Space Marines (or “Spaced Out Marines” as the advertising called them).  I’ve painted the pair for my growing Crimson Fists force.

Rogue Trader limited edition Space Marines

Crimson Fists, more like … Crimson Pisseds.

These castings came thanks to @DocRods – who’s been sending me an absolute surfeit of vintage beakies and 2000AD bits.  Thanks Doc!  A very merry Christmas to you, more of them appearing painted very soon.

Rogue Trader limited edition Space Marines

The Battle Brothers have I FEEL FISTIVE and PUNCH DRUNK graffitied onto their armour.

The cigar-smoking Space Marine has a wisp of tobacco smoke sculpted onto his cheek, which other painters have misinterpreted as a casting worm to remove, or a facial scar to paint pink.

Rogue Trader limited edition Space Marines

“Everyone! Let’s … hic… get (war)hammered!”

There are two varieties of plastic mk6. backpacks – identical except for the placement of the depressions where they attach to the Marine.   One hole is so high up that when mounted on the metal Rogue Trader Space Marines it looks like it’s sliding down his back – but on this one Marine it’s perfect for the drunken dishevelled feel.

Rogue Trader Christmas Space Marines

The Crimson Fists stagger back from the Candlemas celebrations.  But who-ho-ho is lurking in the woodlands?

Crimson Fists Painting Tutorial

This month my painting tutorials have seen a record number of sign ups in the wake of the Golden Demon victory.  Thanks to all the new Ninjabread patrons who are supporting the photography and write ups, and also the website in general!

Rogue Trader Crimson Fists Squad Patreon

If you want to see these steps broken down, wth the techniques and theory behind them spelt out, the tutorial is available on Patreon. The skills you’ll learn are transferable to all colours of power armour.

Patreon button

I’ve brought a pile of metal Space Marines away with me at Christmas, so hopefully it won’t be too long before I can post up some new squads, characters and vehicles.  Will 2019 be the year they can reach the critical mass of a workable army?

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

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.

12 thoughts on “Rogue Trader Christmas Space Marines

  • December 25, 2018 at 3:02 pm
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    This post is a Christmas present to us all. I definitely would have tried to remove the wisp of smoke from his face. Now I know better.

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    • December 25, 2018 at 5:41 pm
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      Thanks Sean! Removing it was my first instinct – but the S-shape hinted at being intentional on the part of the sculptor. It’s cos it doesn’t actually connect to the cigar that it confuses people, I reckon.

      Reply
  • December 26, 2018 at 10:26 pm
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    Haha, I had seen them in Christmas colours before, but never in a dedicated Chapter scheme, awesome work!
    Merry Christmas!

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    • January 5, 2019 at 3:14 pm
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      Thanks Suber! And a happy new year to you! I really like them in the Christmas colour scheme, but that restricts the possibility of using them all year round as a part of the force. I really like it when people paint up the tactical arrows on the shoulder pads as Christmas trees.

      Reply
  • December 26, 2018 at 11:09 pm
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    Great work, and I look forward to seeing this army grow in 2019!

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    • January 5, 2019 at 4:15 pm
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      Thanks Warburton! I’m really excited getting it big enough to start slipping in the characters and vehicles!

      Reply
  • December 28, 2018 at 11:46 am
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    These guys are so wonky, and I have never seen them painted really super nicely, so I’ve always sort of written them off as being a bit crap. I’m glad that part of my life is over now. Merry Christmas!

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    • January 5, 2019 at 4:17 pm
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      I know! They’re so wonky – it’s really off seeing how Bob Naismith went from doing super refined and detailed sculpting for Citadel in the early to mid 80s (like the LE Gumshoes and the Space Santa), and then boshing out minis like this when 1987 comes round. I guess it’s time and budget constraints.

      Reply
  • December 29, 2018 at 9:58 am
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    Great work on this pair, but as much as they’re filled with charm (and alcohol, no doubt!), I think a big part of their charm are some very strong nostalgia glasses. :)

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    • January 5, 2019 at 4:35 pm
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      I think you’re very right. Love to be able to see the old miniatures more objectively, like how a 12 year old in 2019 would. It’s always the argument against rereleasing the old miniatures through the archive service – some were very much of their time.

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      • January 16, 2019 at 4:58 am
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        I liked the days of the “open” archive service. Made to order is better than what we’ve had until recently, but the old mail order catalogues and the ability to order anything you wanted from them was obviously a lot nicer. It also meant that if you wanted some drunkard marines, you could get them without needing to worry about how popular they might be in (current year) or if some bean counter felt they were worthwhile to be temporarily made available again…

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        • January 22, 2019 at 3:54 pm
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          Yeah, I miss the archive service too. I liked being able to pick out obscure miniatures without the fear they’d be recasts, suffering from lead rot, or damaged from decades of poor storage. But with patience, all oop pieces are available with canny eBay use.

          Reply

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