I must thank Peachy Tips for this.
Eventually. His video on kitbashing models for Trench Crusade has inspired me to look at the mass of the grey plastic and make something out of it. Not for some game, rulesset or even. Just for the sheer enjoyment of creating. Yeah.
When you locked between day job and writing rules for a hobby, your creative juice is used up very quickly.
Vostroyans are regiment in Warhammer 40k universe, thats unique due incredible ability to get reinforcement from its homeworld. This creates a strong military tradition, and allows veterans to pass both tactical expretise and superior weapons to a new generation of soldiers.
Thats a story in essence. Visually, regiment memebers stand out with their iconic bear hats, baroque weapons and carapace armour.
When i chose them as a source of inspiration i divided them into three groups:
Grey beards: thats veterans with other 10 years of service in regiment. Mostly bald and bearded, they take on specialist and advisory roles. Some remain in command positions.
Bear hats: these soldiers have served over 5 years or have distinguished themselves in combat to be elevated into veteran status.
Shiny tops: the new generation of soldier, mostly used as footsloggers before the baptism of fire and eventual promotion.
They are distinguished by Adrian style helmets and optional gas masks.
Once the roles were established it was easier which parts i would use.
Most of Shiny tops were built using Anvil industries Adrian helmet with gas mask, trench coat torso and trenchers legs.
For arms i used parts from Atlantic games expendable troopers, they had the most Warhammer look. Details like grenade, bayonets and flasks came mostly from US infantry, as well as some of the bagpacks.
Bear hats were more tricky. First of all they did not work well with trenches torsos. Luckly i had a choice between Atlantic games Raumjager ( space fallshimjager), Old Grognards (space napoleonics) and Space Viking Dwarves. Combination of those kits gave birth to iconic visial of high bear cap with lasgun, sword, flamer or radio.
Greybeards were probably easiest: i simply added some unified elements like lasguns and backpacks. Their helmets already looked similar to others, so i keepopted to use fur coats provided in the kit to the "bear" theme going.
I started with a plan for 6 soldier, but eventually got carried away into a group of 20. Almost a full platoon, with missile, plasma, flamer, grenade launcher and sniper option.
Next step is painting. Wish me luck. 😉
