Rogue Trader Crimson Fists Squad Taurasi

With Space Marine players jumping for joy that the new Primaris miniatures get jump heavy weapons, I’ve jumped at the chance to do a Rogue Trader era squad – when jump heavy weapons were also a thing.

Rogue Trader Crimson Fists Squad Beitia
I regret not thinking of “JUMP THE GUN” as the armour graffiti for the squaddie with Heavy Bolter.

Stamped out in Warhammer 40,000’s second edition, and now only just reappearing 26 years later – Space Marines with heavy weapons could also select jump packs in a number of ways in the various army lists. Squad Taurasi have done it here by being a Tactical Squad upgraded to “Cobra Squad” status in the 1988 Book of the Astronomican army list – and the highly mobile lad on the far right is toting a Heavy Bolter.

Rogue Trader Crimson Fists Squad Beitia
Sergeant Taurasi’s graffiti reads “I SAY JUMP” and “U SAY HOW HI”, showing she’s the lady charge.

I had a lot of fun painting checks on the jump packs, to give the squad some visual interest, and distract from the assymetrically lumpen sculpting of these vintage Marine miniatures. This design of jump pack commands a high price on the collector’s market and is frequently pirated, meaning it’s taken years of patient hunting to source five genuine castings – so they’re worth lavishing the paitning time on.

Sergeant Taurasi is not actually a Space Marine miniature, but “Female Warrior Jayne” from the RT601 Adventurers range, meaning this blog counts as part of the Choose Your Own Adventurers series I’ve been doing with cheet0r and axiom. Recently, cheet0r has incorporated some of the Adventurer Cyborgs into his Necron army, and axiom has turned an Adventurer Pilot into a Buck Rogers homage – check ’em out!

To spin Female Warrior Jayne as a sergeant she’s received a thigh-mounted helmet with rank stripe markings, and an an Imperial Eagle command trinket (in lieu of an unaerodynamic back banner) on her jump pack.

Rogue Trader Crimson Fists Squad Taurasi
Squad Taurasi reinforcing the Crimson Fists battleline. Fort and towers coming soon from Fogou Models.

Squad Taurasi pushes my Crimson Fists force pleasantly closer to the initial 1000 points goal.

SQUAD TAURASI

1 Marine Champion [9], Power Sword [7]
16 POINTS

1 Marine [8], Power Axe [6], Bolt Gun [2]
16 POINTS

1 Marine [8], 2 Power Gloves [2*15]
38 POINTS

1 Marine [8], Plasma Gun [5.5], Hand Flamer [2]
38 POINTS

1 Marine [8], Heavy Bolter [15], Targeter [5], 2 Suspensors [2*2]
32 POINTS

Basic Equipment (all models): Bolt Pistol [1.5], Jump Pack [2], Knife [0], Powered Armour [6] (with Communicator [0.5], Respirator [0.5], Auto-senses [0.5])
55 POINTS

TOTAL: 195 POINTS

Crimson Fists Painting Tutorial

If you’d like to learn how I paint Crimson Fists, I’ve photographed a Marine in between each step of the blue power armour process.

Rogue Trader Crimson Fists Squad Patreon

These steps broken down, with 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. The back catalogue of tutorials also covers white armour and brass armour – and will continue to expand every month.

Patreon button

Coming soon – some vehicles and support characters to round out this vintage Rogue Trader force. I’ve been painting a Missile Armour Dreadnought on the twitch, and also powering through the original metal Land Speeder, and collecting the glorious classic Techmarines. Stay tuned!

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.

26 thoughts on “Rogue Trader Crimson Fists Squad Taurasi

    • March 11, 2019 at 5:35 pm
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      Two digits up is enough for me, thanks.

      Reply
  • March 11, 2019 at 6:43 pm
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    Well I jumped for joy at seeing this post! Fantastic squad Curis, you pushed it to the limit with this one. ;)

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    • March 11, 2019 at 7:03 pm
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      Thanks Grove! I’m dead chuffed with how they’ve come out.

      Reply
  • March 11, 2019 at 7:15 pm
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    These are glorious, not least because of the inclusion of Jayne. Oddly enough, the jetpack gives her much more presence than she usually has (with a standard pack). Is the axe guy a converted Brother Kitt with an added helmet, or a variant I’m unfamiliar with? If the former, where are you getting all these helmets from?!

    The silky smooth painting is really set off nicely with the retro markings and graffiti. Lovely!

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    • March 11, 2019 at 8:07 pm
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      Thanks axiom! The lad with the axe is indeed Brother Kitt. cheetor sent me his headless mutilated one (thanks cheetor!) and I added an slightly sliced-down RTB01 helmet to it.

      Reply
  • March 11, 2019 at 10:50 pm
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    Absolutely spectacular Curis! Those jump packs look spot on with the little chequered details. As you say, they’re not the easiest things to track down in numbers without parting with a lot of cash.

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  • March 11, 2019 at 11:39 pm
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    Anything I can say about these is simply such an understatement. They really rock, awesome work.

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    • March 14, 2019 at 12:38 pm
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      Thanks Suber!

      Reply
  • March 12, 2019 at 6:46 am
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    Love the checks on the jump packs. You’re very much making me wish I had more of them. My one jump equipped squad is a right proper RT era mix and mash mess of improvised and cast in a couple of styles. Maybe the way to go is to fancify my improv and replicate those. Anyway . . . inspiring! Well done!

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    • March 13, 2019 at 10:03 am
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      Thanks SP! I wish I had more of the jump packs too – I’ve got the second five members of the squad standing around like lemons waiting for eBay and the OTC to cough up more genuine castings at a reasonable price.

      Reply
  • March 12, 2019 at 10:18 am
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    They say JUMP! AHHH AHH AHHHH!
    What a beautiful unit. Truly a treasure, you need to get these into battles, all the battles, jumping in like Van Halen, like Kriss Kross, hot bolter rounds’ll make ya, jump jump! Uhuh. Uhuh.

    Reply
    • March 13, 2019 at 10:09 am
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      Thanks Crooksy! They’ll be seeing action soon enough. They’ll have their jump packs fall off in the case in the way over. They’ll have their jump packs fall off mid-game. They’ll have their jump packs fall off while they’re on the dead pile. They’ll have their jump packs fall off when I knock them with my can of Fosters. They’ll have their jump packs fall off in the case in the way back home. Good times.

      Reply
  • March 12, 2019 at 12:13 pm
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    Great add to your Crimson Fast Fist. I love the marine with the double power gloves… He seems to be a fearsome warrior.

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    • March 29, 2019 at 3:45 pm
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      Thanks Nico! I originally had the double-fister ear-marked as a standing version of Marneus Calgar – but the marine’s pose is so squat he still looks seated!

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    • March 30, 2019 at 3:45 pm
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      Thanks Riot!

      Reply
  • March 21, 2019 at 2:14 pm
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    Stunning! It’s a classic look for sure, on a classic Chapter paint scheme. I agree that including Female Warrior Jayne here was a great idea. She definitely mixes it up from the usual Space Marine types. I have no idea if including her is kosher in-game. But who cares? She and her squad look ready to rain death from above!

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    • April 22, 2019 at 8:01 am
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      Thanks Allison! I reckon there’s cheeky scope for female Space Marines that don’t contradict the background in the super early days (85–88), before the background settles down and codifies Marines as exlcusively male. But there doesn’t have to be – it’s just nice to represent gender better!

      Reply
  • March 30, 2019 at 12:50 am
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    Love it. I too am sad you didn’t use “Jump the Gun.” So many puns, so little time.

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    • March 31, 2019 at 8:02 am
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      Thanks Sean! I’ll get that pun up and running as soon as I’ve finished sourcing a further five vintage back packs, don’t you worry.

      Reply

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