Squats in White Dwarf 1992-1995, Historia Squataticus Volume 2

Here we have the Second Half of our investigation of Squats in the pages of White Dwarf.

Part 5: The Second Epic Explosion of the Squats Army, 1992-1993.

This period sees the flowering of the Epic Squats Army as a unique force, rather than a sprue with access to Imperial equipment. The Epic game was reorganized with the publishing of a collection of earlier White Dwarf articles and the Epic Space Marine boxed set, which focused on infantry, transports, and tanks. This set contained new rules, and sprues for basic infantry and tanks/transports for Space Marines, Eldar, and Orks.

The development of the Epic Squats Army, like the other Armies, continued in the pages of White Dwarf, and as part of a series of rules supplements containing counters and cards for two armies in each box (SM & IG, Eldar & Chaos, Orks & Squats) for the new vehicles and big guns produced for the Squats.

Given all the attention paid to developing the Dwarfs and Chaos Dwarfs for their other games, a new round of 40K was still in the plans at this time, in the “once we've made it through all the other games” stage. But GW was a gushing torrent of different ways to play with their core creatures & mythos, seeming to be trying to include every type of setting (fantasy, sci-fi, naval, outerspace, football, etc.) and every type of gaming (board, solo, tiles, minis, etc.).


White Dwarf 150 (June 1992)
Back Inside Cover: Painted Mole in ad for Epic Battle Paint Set

Back Cover: Epic Battle Scene Orks assault Squat Stronghold
***

White Dwarf 151 (July 1992) Cover Art from Ork & Squat Warlords Supplement
p. 38-49: “Mekboyz and Squats” for Epic Space Marine by Andy Chambers, Squats content below.
p.41: Template for Land Train Dragon Firethrower
45-48: Fluff, Rules, Stat Cards, and for Epic Land Trains and Iron Eagle Gyrocopters by Andy Chambers p. 47: A mighty Squat Land Train forges into attacking Evil Sunz Orks, B/W art by John Blanche (full illustration of picture on Land Train card)

p. 50-53: Squat Land Trains, plastic Infantry & Support Units ('Eavy Metal, by Tim Prow)
“Each carriage of the Land Train is dedicated to one of the revered Squat ancestors...” “Banners form a very important part of Squat Tradition. The large banners on the Land Trains show the most revered ancestors of a particular stronghold while the pennants display runic slogans.” (p. 53)

p. 54: Ork and Squat Warlords Supplement for Epic Space Marine (Color Ad £12.99)

p. 59-61, 64-65, 68-69: Battle for Armageddon: The Chaos Wars- additional Chaos counters and cards, including Nurgle Chaos Squat units, for BfA boardgame by Jervis Johnson

p. 78: B/W Catalog Page for Land Train Engine (angled prow), Battlecar Chassis (thick section at rear), and all 4 Battlecar weapons (Berserker, Dragon, Bomb, Mortar (designed by Norman Swales, 4.99 for Engine & Car, 1.75 per Car)
***

White Dwarf 152 (August 1992)
p. 3: Converted Squat Adventurer (SmurfHat) by Massimo Colombari ('Eavy Metal)

p. 40-42: Epic Battle Scenes of Chaos army attacking Squat Stronghold (scratchbuilt from polystyrene and cardstock, painted mountains in background), Modelling Workshop Hills and Woods article and terrain by Adrian Wild.

p. 78: B/W Catalog Page for New Releases-Land Train (Train & Car £4.99, £1.75), Colossus with Iron Eagle Gyrocopter (£7.99, £1.75 for Gyro) (designed by Norman Swales)
***

White Dwarf 153 (September 1992)
p. 2: notice that Agmat is the official importer and translators for GW in France. Agmat produced a rare alternate version of the Thudd Gun (notice is in French)
http://collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Limited_Release_-_Imperium_Imperial_Thudd_Gun.jpg

p. 11: Squat Epic War Machines- Colossus, Goliath, Iron Eagle, Overlord, Infantry ('Eavy Metal)
“The Guild of Engineers is a powerful part of Squat society. It knowledge and experience in the art [of] mechanical construction is legendary.”

p. 32: Ork and Squat Warlords Supplement for Epic Space Marine (Color Ad, £12.99)

p. 74-75: B/W Catalog Pages for Land Train (Train & Car £4.99, Car £1.75), Colossus with Iron Eagle Gyrocopter (£7.99, Gyro £1.35), Goliath Mega-Cannon £3.99), Overlord Airship (£3.99)
***

White Dwarf 154 (October 1992)
p. 34-50: Epic Battle Report: Battle for Golgotha Squats vs Orks, Johnson vs Chambers.
Squats led by Commissar Yarrick, many Battle Scenes, recycled art, B/W Illustration of 2nd Ed Squat on p. 49, Squat Army deal for £51.90 on p. 69

p. 71: B/W Catalog Page for Goliath, Overlord, with Mark Gibbons pencil art Squat Infantry (in gear similar to the few 2nd Edition Squats) vs World Eaters, dated 1992.
p. 72: B/W Catalog Page for Land Train, Colossus, Gyrocopter (same prices as WD 153)
***

White Dwarf 155 (November 1993): None
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White Dwarf 156 (December 1993): None
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White Dwarf 157 (January 1993)
Front Inside Cover: An Epic Eldar Force Launches an Atttack Against a Squat Stronghold
***

White Dwarf 158 (February 1993): None

White Dwarf 159 (March 1993): None
***

White Dwarf 160 (April 1993)
p. 72: B/W Catalog Page for Leviathan
***

White Dwarf 161 (May 1993)
p. 11-21: Chaos Dwarfs Blast Forth from The Dark Lands and Dominate White Dwarf for 1993!
“The gates [of Zharr-Naggrund] are almost as high as the walls and massive beyond any obvious need.” (p. 13)

Center Insert: supplemental Warmaster rules & counters for use with Horus Heresy boardgame, includes a Chaos Squat squad.

p. 59: Vikas Ingram and plastic Squat with Helmet head in 'Eavy Metal Painting Guide
***

White Dwarf 162 (June 1993) p. 17-20: Tyranid Attack Dreadnoughts by Jervis Johnson
“Relatively few [Chaos Dreadnoughts] survive and they are carefully maintained and repaired by Chaos Dwarfs artificers”

p. 44: Squats Warriors & Chaos Horde Epic Boxed Sets (Color Ad for small version, $12.99)
Squat Warriors has 20 Bikes, 5 Guild Weapon Teams, 5 Thudd Guns, 5 Mole Mortars, 130 Infantry; Chaos Horde has 105 Chaos Infantry (incl Chaos Squats), 30 Riding Beasts, 10 Minotaurs, 10 Trolls
***

White Dwarf 163 (July 1993)
p. 2: News including picture of prototype of Banelord Titan, text saying Leviathan variants are being worked on.

p. 9: New pewter range for North America, blister of 2 Squats $4.99, 2 bikes $9.99, 2 Heavy Weapons $5.99

p. 48: Squats Warriors & Chaos Horde Epic Boxed Sets (Color Ad for small version)
***

White Dwarf 164 (August 1993)
Front Inside Cover: Chaos Squats in Epic Host of Khorne ('Eavy Metal)

p. 84-end: B/W Catalog Pages for entire Epic line, including Squats, Tunnelers, Chaos Engines and Titans
***

Part 6: The Last Chance for New Squats in Warhammer 40K, 1993-4.

Warhammer 40K 2nd edition was released in the Autumn of 1993. This basic rules set contained “get-you-by-until-a-Codex-is-published” army lists for the various forces, including Squats. However, while the other armies got their codex and promotion in White Dwarf, the Squats were on the sideline waiting for development. Squats received some attention in the Dark Millenium supplement, but did not develop further as a 40K army.

Attempts at development of new 40K Squats resulted in the creation of at least 8 new Squats (3 Champions, 3 Berserkers, 1 Exo-Armor, and 1 Trooper). These were very briefly available, but the Squats never received a 2nd Edition Codex.

White Dwarf 165 (September 1993): None
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White Dwarf 166 (October 1993): None
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White Dwarf 167 (December 1993)): None
***

White Dwarf 168 (December 1993)
p. 40-44: Warhammer 40K Assault Squads by Andy Chambers. “All Squats are excellent hand to hand combat troops by nature.” (p. 40)
***

White Dwarf 169 (January 1994)
p. 11: 'Eavy Metal Painting Guide to include pages for Squats.
***

White Dwarf 170 (February 1994)
p. 3: Squat Cyclops (Color Ad, New Release $14.99)
“Armed with the Hellfury Cannon, the Cyclops is able to pulverize even the largest of Titans into bubbling piles of slag.”

p. 5-8: Squat Psyker Powers briefly discussed in intro to Dark Millenium Andy Chambers

p. 11-13: Squat Cyclops rules & pictures (by Chambers & Thorpe). Includes Mark Gibbons pencil art Squat Infantry (in gear similar to the few 2nd Edition Squats)vs World Eaters, dated 1992.

p. 39-45: Epic Eldar Tactics by Mark Watts, p. 45 Battle scene with Leviathan under Imperial command against Eldar.
“Squats are particularly difficult opponents as they have lots of firepower (greater to some extent than the Imperial Guard), good mobility and reasonably good close combat abilities plus a very high breakpoint.” (p. 45)
***

White Dwarf 171 (March 1994)
p. 7-11: Squat Psyker Powers briefly discussed in intro to Dark Millenium Andy Chambers, on p. 11 with Ink & Wash ill. of Squat Leader by John Blanche. Illustration is likely for 2nd Ed Squat design development.

p. 25-35: Epic Chaos Tactics by Mark Watts, many pictures and illustrations. p. 26 shows Squats defending stronghold from Chaos.
“One of the races where many of their number fell prey to the temptations of Chaos were the Squats. The twisted brethren of this noble race are responsible for constructing many of the special weapons and war machines that feature so strongly in all Chaos armies. On the battlefield Chaos Squats fight with great ferocity, favouring, like their still loyal brothers, the use of heavy weapons to eliminate their foes.” (p. 28)
***

White Dwarf 172 (April 1994): None
***

Part 7: The Epic Squats Army Stalls, 1994.

Throughout the first half of the 1990s, the Epic Squat Army appeared more frequently than the 40K Squats because GW had built their Epic terrain table with a Squat Stronghold on it back in 1992. Despite this privileged terrain, the Squats did not develop much further as an Army, perhaps due to the creation of an additional Epic Ork Village terrain table in 1994. The Squats were included as a separate force in the revised Epic Titan Legion rules, but the expansion plans reported in White Dwarf were never completed. The 1993 Cyclops and 1994 Thunder-Fire would be the last models produced for the Squats Army.

In Warhammer 40K articles, Squats would continue to be mentioned as adversaries in updated rules for the more favored Armies for several years, and would make the occasional appearance in Golden Daemon entries and unofficial rules publications until the current day.

White Dwarf 173 (May 1994)
Front Inside Cover: Epic Battle Scene - A Squat Army in Combat with Blood Angels Space Marines

p. 37-40 Epic Q&A, several questions involve Squats.
“Squats would never deliberately shoot at one of their own units. This rule doesn't apply to... Chaos who regard casualties caused by their own weapons as an acceptable fact of war, or simply bad luck.[Also as a cure for boredom, for the sheer joy of explosions, for satiating the red thirst, or just to see if you can hit them, according to General Stalkarlik]” (p. 39)
***

White Dwarf 174 (June 1994): None
***

White Dwarf 175 (July 1994)
p. 19-22: Epic Q&A by Mark Watts,
p. 19 has a Battle Scene of a Squats Army assaulting an Ork Town, p. 22 reprint of Warlords box art. p. 21-22 have Questions re Barrage Weapons, Overlord, and Cyclops Hellfury Cannon.
***

White Dwarf 176 (August 1994): None
***

White Dwarf 177 (September 1994)
p. 29: Golden Demon 1994: Overlord Airship by Jeff Durocha, 1st Place Epic Model

p. 31-34: Epic Tactics by Mark Watts, with Squats & Eldar vs Chaos Battle Scene (p. 31)
"The Squat Army is an extremely tough force.....don't let the Squats dictate the battle, take the fight to them. Because of their extremely high break points the only way really to neutralize them is to wipe them out." (p. 34)
***

White Dwarf 178 (October 1994)
p. 6-12: Epic Titan Legions introduction rules & models boxed set by Andy Chambers
“the Squats were tenacious and commanded the most awesome firepower imaginable” (p. 8)
“Norman Swales is also hard at work creating a new range of Adeptus Mechanicus super heavy war machines [the Ordinatus models] and Squat Juggernauts [Who knows?].” (p. 12)

p. 80: B/W Catalog Page for Colossus, Gyrocopter, Goliath, Overlord
***

White Dwarf 179 (November 1994)
p. 74: B/W Catalog Page for new release Thunder-Fire Cannon (2 for $7.99)

p. 80: B/W Catalog Page for Colossus, Gyrocopter, Goliath, Overlord
***

White Dwarf 180 (December 1994)
p. 31: Mole, Thunder-Fire, Leviathan, Scene of Stormhammers & Squats vs Host of Khorne ('Eavy Metal)

p. 79: B/W Catalog Page for Colossus and Leviathan
***

Part 8: Squats Disappear into the Core of Warhammer 40K, 1995.

The common belief is that the Squats as a race were simply gradually forgotten about once new Squat Army models were no longer produced, or, more amusingly, that they were eaten to extinction by the Tyranids because they had a silly name. But a closer look reveals that the Squats, instead of being forgotten, infiltrated the core functions of both the Imperium's Cult of the Machine God and the War Engines of the Ruinous Powers.

The Adeptus Mechanicus's Epic Ordinatus war machines are revealed to have been largely created by Squat members of the Cult. The Squat Tech Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus battled back the mighty Ghazghull Thrakka, and remain the rulers of the mighty Imperial Forge World of Golgotha.

Similarly, Chaos Squats remain integral to the creation and maintenance of not only the massive Chaos Titans and Khorne's War Machines, but also to the armor of Chaos Terminators and Dreadnoughts. Chaos Squats have been a welcome source of heavy infantry since the Horus Heresy as well.

White Dwarf 181 (January 1995)
p. 23-30: Imperator Titan by Gavin Thorpe. p. 27 contains vile lies about how to kill Land Trains and Leviathans with the Imperator Titan

p. 40: Imperial Termites in 'Eavy Metal

p. 74: B/W Catalog Page for re-release of Imperial Mole ($8.50) and Termites (3 for $8.50)
***

White Dwarf 182 (February 1995)
p. 16-24: Waaagh Da Orks Epic tactics guide by Gavin Thorpe.
p. 22-23 provide unreliable rumors about how to combat Squat Super Heavy vehicles.

p. 52: 1995 Golden Demon Guide with Overlord Airship by Jeff Durocha from 1994 GD
***

White Dwarf 183 (March 1995)
Front Inside Cover: Cyclops and Squat Infantry assault Trygon and Gargoyles
***

White Dwarf 184 (April 1995)
p. 37-40: 1995 Games Day / Golden Demon Guide with picture of Overlord Airship by Jeff Durocha from 1994 GD. Squat Superheavies invited for Epic Group Battle vs Tyranids

p. 77: B/W Catalog Page for Thunder-Fire (2 for $8.50)
***

White Dwarf 185 (May 1995): None
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White Dwarf 186 (June 1995)
p. 19-20: 40K article on Ratling Snipers, with comparison to Squats.
“Extreme cases of physical adaptation have produced mutant populations which are no longer human. Squats are the most important of these mutants and the most widespread.” (p. 19)
***

White Dwarf 187 (July 1995): None
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White Dwarf 188 (August 1995)
Congratulations to Papa Nurgle on his exciting new Plague Towers!

p. 79: B/W Catalog Page Imperial Mole and Termites
***

White Dwarf 189 (September 1995)
p. 19-21: Epic Irresistible Onslaught Tyranid tactics.

Gavin Thorpe foolishly underestimates the power of the Squat Super Heavy Tanks against Tyranid Bio-Titans, while praising efficacy of Eldar Doom-Weavers. You are in The Book of Grudges now, Mr. Thorpe.
***

White Dwarf 190 (October 1995)
p. 21-24: 40K Callidus Assassin rules, Polymorphine Wargear allows Assassin to appear as a Squat.

p. 26: Epic Squat League Defends Stronghold against Tyranids ('Eavy Metal)

p. 37-41: 40K Tyranid Warriors tactics by Andy Chambers.
p. 38 falsely accuses Squats of being slow-witted, like Orks. Slow-footed is not slow-witted. Book of Grudges for you, el Andy.
***

White Dwarf 191 (November 1995)
p. 40-46 Dwarf Tacticus (for WFB) by Jeremy Vetlock.
“After my Dwarf Army was well underway...I began keeping my own Book of Grudges. This is great fun! … It's very pleasing when you avenge yourself and can cross off a past dishonor!” (p. 46)
***
p. 48-53: Epic Ordinatus rules and tactics by Gavin Thorpe, showing Squats to be the creators of Ordinatus technology.

p. 48: “This huge tunnelling machine [Ordinatus Priam] was assembled during the siege of Priam, a city overrun by the traitor forces in the Horus Heresy. The immense creation was designed to tunnel through the planet's crust and and then navigate through the white-hot mantle underneath. This rendered it undetectable to Priam's defences and allowed four companies of elite Imperial Guard troops to storm the city's Generatum Vulcanis, breaking the siege. However, Ordinatus Priam was irrevocably damaged during the attack, as parts of its heatshielding gave way.”

p. 50: Epic Battle Scene - The Hellfire missiles of Ordinatus Golgotha devastated the Ork army of Warlord Ghazghull Thraka, driving him from the Squat Homeworld of Golgotha and freeing the inhabitants from slavery – Squat Stronghold terrain with Bikers, Russes & the Ord.

p. 51: “Ordinatus Golgotha was constructed in the recaptured strongholds of the Squats. Golgotha's terrifying Hellfire missiles devastated the Orks, slaying thousands over the course of a week. The Orks were routed from the Squat Homeworld and since then the Ordinatus Golgotha has always been in the forefront of any battle against enemies who have a strong numerical advantage.”

p.52: “Geronimus Undersen devised an Ordinatus [Armageddon] as a defence against the marauding war machines [of Chaos]. Undersen mounted a massive starship weapon onto a land-bound chassis, giving the Imperial forces an immense machine powerful enough to destroy even the largest and most heavily armored foes. This idea was by no means original, and followed the concept behind the famous Squat Titan-killer – the Cyclops.”
***

White Dwarf 192 (December 1995)
p. 51-56: “Death from Above” Epic Air Tactics by Gavin Thorpe, includes discussion of Squat Overlord and Iron Eagle, battle scenes vs Eldar and Orks showing most of range of minis.
“the Overlord can lay down a murderous curtain of fire before the enemy can even try to shoot at it...Groups of Overlords are capable of obliterating whole companies of enemy troops at a single blow!” (p. 56, excited, though logically inconsistent)

p. 97-109: Eldar vs Chaos Epic Battle Report, Eldar player reported as usually Squat Commander (Steve Anastasoff)

p. 120: B/W Catalog Page for Adeptus Mechanicus Ordinatus Mars, Golgotha, and Armageddon
***

Conclusion?

So now we've made it halfway through the 1990s, and roughly halfway through the history of Warhammer 40,000 and Epic Space Marine. Many of the Rogue Trader Era 40K armies have their 2nd Edition Codexes already (Eldar, Orks, Tyranids, assorted Space Marines) or would soon have them (IG, Chaos, more Marines), with only the Squats and Inquisition/Arbites left out. The Inquisition/AAs would have their own bumpy ride splitting them into multiple codices and introducing new types of troops. They would eventually have an interesting range of miniatures develop. Then stagnate. But that is someone else's war.

Our sturdy Squats had already seen some R&D that resulted in 8 Squats, most of which were much more similar to their contemporaneous WFB and Blood Bowl Brother-Dwarfs than the Rogue Trader Squats had been to the WFB & BB Dwarfs of their time. Whether due to neglect or lack of interesting ideas, this narrowing of design was in contrast to the general trend toward increasing the variety of the other forces, the endless fractination of Space Marines that look alike but fight different, the endless stream of Imperial Guard that look different but fight the same.

1995, however, also saw the introduction of a new game that was destined to greatly expand the variety of Citadel miniatures in type and individual appearances for years to come: Necromunda.

While the semi-serious official line is that the Squats were eaten by Tyranids, the true story ends with the Squats digging deeper into the fabric of the Imperium and the warp of Chaos to let us explore human jungles of The Underhive.

Though it was a worthy trade of Squats for Necromunda, we all know that those 3 Squat Berserkers would have made much more sense as Underhive Outlanders than the Eldar Farseer and Fire Dragons.

Squats in White Dwarf 1987-1992, Historia Squataticus Volume 1

Today we have the first half of my overly detailed list of Squats / Space Dwarfs appearances in White Dwarf magazine for Warhammer 40,000 and Epic Space Marine 40,000.

Along the way, we'll pause for some White Dwarf wisdom and interesting flacts. Flacts. Is that going to fly as a contraction of "fluff" and "facts"? Only you can decide, bitchcakes.

Part 1: Rogue Trader 40K, the Disorganized Period. 1987-1989.

This my name for the early years of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. A time before detailed army lists, dominated by spurts of troopers with dozens of exotic weapons, and by the over-sharing of vehicles and heavy weapons.

White Dwarf 93 (September 1987)
p. 39: 2 Squat Warriors, Color Ill. (artist uncredited, from Rogue Trader)

"Players have the opportunity to command not only ordinary humans but the various abhuman morphs including squats, ogryns, beastmen and psykers." (p. 39)

p. 40: 3 Squat Warriors, B/W Ill. (artist uncredited, from Rogue Trader)

p. 72: 6 RT03 Space Dwarfs painted by John Blanche (?) ('Eavy Metal)
(Gunslinger, Gatt, Twelvebore, Stoner, Smith, and Wesson
***

White Dwarf 94 (October 1987)
p. 58: RT03 Space Dwarfs (Color Ad for all 20, designer/painter uncredited, 5 for £2.50) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt03spacedwarfs.htm
***

White Dwarf 95 (November 1987)
p. 43: Irn Bonce the Squat in Color Ad for RT7 Mercenaries series (Naismith & Perrys, 5 for £2.50) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt7mercenaries.htm
***

White Dwarf 96: none.

***

White Dwarf 97 (January 1988)
p. 58: Squat Warriors in Battle, B/W Ill. (Ian Miller)

Back Inside Cover: RT302 Space Dwarfs Command Group (Color Ad for 8 but 12 in series)
(designed by Michael & Alan Perry, Standard, Champion, & Officer for £2.50)
http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt302spacedwfcommand.htm

Back Inside Cover: RT303 Space Dwarf Heavy Weapons (Color Ad for all 6 in series)
(designed by Michael & Alan Perry, Gunner, Loader, & Commander for £2.50) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt303spacedwarfheavies.htm
***

White Dwarf 98 (February 1988)
pp. 67-68: 8 Squats from RT03 and RT302 ('Eavy Metal, painted by Mike & Sid McVey)

"Again Blanchitsu refers us to the work of the guru, who estimates 'an evening, a day, and then some,' to work on a 28mm figure from start to finish." (John Blanche & Sean Masterson)

Back Inside Cover: Devastators Set includes Mole Mortar and 2 Squat Crew
(Color Ad, designed by Perrys, £9.99, also included SM Land Speeder and IG Tarantula) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rtb03devastators.htm
***

White Dwarf 99 (March 1988)
p. 7: RT601 Adventurers with Squat Miner and Engineer (Color Ad, Trish & Aly Morrison, Bob Naismith, Mark Copplestone, 5 for £2.50) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt601adventurers.htm

p. 62-63: Rules for Mole Mortar, Chapter Approved (by Rick Priestly),
Painted Mole Mortar & Crew, and exploded illustration
***

White Dwarf 100 (April 1988)
p. 18: Iron Claw Squats Color Ad (all 32, designed by Bob Olley, 5 for £2.50) http://www.polycon.org/squats/unIDIronClaw.html

"Squat rebellions are not infrequent events. The oppressed masses have been incited by belligerent clan leaders and manipulated by scheming renegade Imperial Commanders. Criminal Squats are even found amongst the piratical and bandit armies of the less salubrious regions of Imperial Space" by Bob Olley?
***

White Dwarf 101 (May 1988)
p. 2: Thudd Gun with Operator, Color Ad with exploded illustration.(des. A&M Perry, £3.50) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt304thuddgun.htm

p. 54-55: Thudd Gun rules & templates, Chapter Approved (by Priestly & Johnson).
***

White Dwarf 102 (June 1988)
p. 46: Blish Browning painted by Mike McVey ('Eavy Metal)

p. 71-80: Medics rules, art, painted examples (Index Astartes, by Priestly & Davis et al).
(des. Trish & Aly Morrison, Bob Naismith, Mark Copplestone, 3 for £2.50, 2 Squats Medics) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt701medics.htm
***

White Dwarf 103 (July 1988)
p. 18: Squat Bikes in Color Ad & exploded illustration.
(designed by Michael & Alan Perry, 4 Single-piece Riders & Single-seat Cycles, £2.50 each) http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt305squatbikes.htm
***

White Dwarf 104 (August 1988)
p.8-9: 40K Bike rules with B/W ill. of Squat Trike
***

White Dwarf 105: none.

***

White Dwarf 106 (October 1988)
p. 70-71: Vikras Ingram & Gunner Karl with Heavy Plasma Gun ('Eavy Metal)
***

White Dwarf 107 (November 1988)
p. 7: David Gallagher, Squats & Imperials vs Orks painting (Illuminations)
***
White Dwarf 108 (December 1988)
p. 71: Iron Claw Squat Warriors (Color Ad for all 28, by Bob Olley, 5 for £2.50) http://www.polycon.org/squats/unID1988squats.html
***

White Dwarf 109: none.

***

White Dwarf 110 (February 1989)
p. 62: Squat Thudd Gun against Phantom Titan, B/W ill.
***

Part 2: Rogue Trader 40K Squats Army List, 1989.

Spring of 1989 saw the release of the first Squat Army List, as well as the expansion of the miniatures line with Space Dwarfs plastics box and hybrid metal-body/plastic-arm Squats. The variety of Squat troop types expanded, but the exotic weapons were exchanged for standard Imperial issue weaponry. Aside from their Bikes and Trikes, the Squats would continue to share the vehicles of the Imperium as well.

Most of the new models were released during 1989. After that, the Squats appeared briefly in the numerous revisions to the vehicle rules that plagued Rogue Trader, and the occasional 'Eavy Metal picture.

White Dwarf 111 (March 1989) Cover uses art from the Space Dwarfs box
Front Inside Cover: Space Dwarfs box Color Ad, shows bits and assembled minis (£9.99, $22.95)
http://www.polycon.org/squats/images/p60.jpg

p. 27-50: 40K Squats Army List, for Homeworld, Imperial, or Chaos Squats (by Ansell, Stillman, & Davis). Includes fluff, stats, color & b/w illustrations, painted minis. Squats could use Imperial Robots, Rhinos, and Land Raiders in this first army list. Includes-
p. 39: painted Biker, Guardsmen/Warriors, Guild Master, Wounded Squats (plastic arms series)
p. 43: painted plastic Space Dwarfs fighting along Imperial Guard
p. 47: painted Squat Servitor
p. 50: B/W Catalog Page for Warlord & Hearthguard, Living Ancestors, Bikers, Guards/Warriors, Wounded (plastic arms), Adeptus Mechanicus & Exo-Armor 3 http://www.polycon.org/squats/part2Hearthguard.html

"(T)here are many strongholds and Brotherhoods who have sided with Chaos. During the wars of the Horus Heresy, Squat forces fought on both sides, and inevitably some fell prey to the corruption of Chaos. Like other followers of Horus, these have now largely been banished to the Eye of Terror, but there are always rumours of isolated groups of Chaos Squat raiders in varioys parts of the Imperium.

It has even been rumoured that some of the strongholds which were lost to the warpstorms in the Age of Isolation may have survived, their horribly-mutated inhabitants raiding into the Imperium from time to time." (p. 30)

p. 75: plastic Squats with Lasgun & Hvy Bolter ('Eavy Metal)

Back Cover: 40K Squats and Marines battle Orks, diorama by Mike McVey
***

White Dwarf 112 (April 1989)
p. 7: Squat Trikes with Biker 1 and 5 and Heavy Trikes with Warlord & Living Ancestor Sidecar and Guildmaster with Standing Biker 3 in Color Ad

p. 21: B/W Catalog Page for all Squat Bikers, Bike and Trike parts (Alan & Michael Perry), with exploded illustration (£2.99 each for 1 Trike, 1 Bike, with Rider) http://www.polycon.org/squats/images/p56.jpg

p. 75: Warlord, Living Ancestor w/ Sword, 5 Hearthguards (painted by Rich Hodgkins). Also Ancestor with Staff, 2 versions of Tech Priest, and Exo-Armor 3 ('Eavy Metal)
***

White Dwarf 113 (May 1989)
p. 3-4: Volksheim Brotherhood B/W ill. by Paul Bonner

p. 10: 3 Chaos Squats in Power Armor, Chaos Squat with Horns ('Eavy Metal)

p. 41, 48: Vikas Ingram and Colt Stoner in How to Paint Citadel Miniatures guide

p. 77: B/W Catalog Page for Squat Adventurers (6) and Chaos Squats (8) (both 6 for £2.99)
http://www.polycon.org/squats/unIDWD113.html

Back Cover: Iron Claw Squats and Mole Mortar join IG to battle Harlequins
***

White Dwarf 114 (June 1989)
p. 52: Adventurer 2 and 3 ('Eavy Metal)
***

White Dwarf 115 (July 1989)
p. 26-27: Adventurer 5, Chaos Exo-Armor 1 ('Eavy Metal)

p. 49: Exo-Armor 3 & Living Ancestor w/ Sword (by Dale Hurst, 'Eavy Metal)

p. 74: Living Ancestor & Warlord in Genestealer Caverns, B/W ill. with brief story

p. 80: B/W Catalog Page for Chaos Squats in Exo-Armor (£ 2.99 for 3)
***

Part 3: Squats Get Smaller for Epic Space Marine, 1989-1990.

In the 6mm scene, the Epic Marines and Guard would develop their non-Titan forces, producing a number of vehicles that would be shared with Squats, especially the Tunneling Trooper Transports. Unfortunately, the Squats did not receive their Infantry Sprue until the summer of 1990, making stunty-lovers wait anxiously for some Hearthguard to fill their Hellbores.

White Dwarf 116 (August 1989)
p. 10-19: Rules for Tunneling Vehicles including Mole and Termite, and for Light Vehicles Rapier, Tarantula, Mole Mortar, Thudd Gun. Lots of B/W art.

p. 78: B/W Catalog Page for Epic Artillery (Thudd Gun, Tarantula, Mole Mortar, Rapier v1, Land Speeder, Jet Bike) (designed by Mark Copplestone, 2 of each for £2.99)
***

White Dwarf 117: none.

***

White Dwarf 118 (October 1989)
p. 66: B/W Catalog Pages for 2 Squat Medics (packed with 2 Imperial Guard Medics) http://www.solegends.com/citcat89autumn/c89aut-072117-3-02.htm

p. 67: B/W Catalog Pages for Squat Servitor (packed with Adeptus with Axe and 2 Human Servitors), Squat Adeptus Mechanicus (packed with 2 Human Adepti, probably £2.99 per pack) http://www.solegends.com/citcat89autumn/c89aut-072117-4-02.htm
***

White Dwarf 119 (November 1989)
p. 78: B/W Catalog Page for Epic Artillery (Thudd Gun, Tarantula, Mole Mortar, Rapier v1, Land Speeder, Jet Bike, 2 of each for £2.99), Mole (£2.99), and Termite (3 for £2.99) (designed by Mark Copplestone) http://www.solegends.com/citcat89winter/cat89wint023x-02.htm
***

White Dwarf 120 (December 1989)
p. 5: B/W picture of assembled Hellbore (designed by Goodwin, Copplestone, Naismith, & Dixon)

p.9: Rules for Hellbore with B/W art

p. 42: Epic Mole and Termite (designed by Mark Copplestone, 'Eavy Metal)
***

White Dwarf 121 (January 1990)
p. 58: Hellebore ('Eavy Metal)

p. 78-80: B/W Catalog Pages Epic Artillery pieces now randomly put 1 per pack with Vehicles & Titans
***

White Dwarf 122 (February 1990)
p. 79-80: B/W Catalog Pages for Hellbore Heavy Mole (£7.99), Mole (£2.99), Termites (3 for £2.99) (1 Epic Artillery piece randomly put in each blister pack with Vehicles & Titans) http://www.polycon.org/squats/unIDWD113.html (Hellbore)

***

White Dwarf 123 (March 1990)
p. 21-28: Epic War Machine rules (by Karl Tebbutt and Roger Gerrish). Includes Termite, Mole, Hellbore with B/W ill.

p. 74-75: B/W Catalog Pages for Mole (£2.99), Termites (3 for £2.99) (1 Epic Artillery piece randomly put in each blister pack with Vehicles & Titans)

Back Cover: Imperial Army with Hellbore advancing against Word Bearers
***

White Dwarf 124-126: none.

***

White Dwarf 127 (July 1990)
p. 56-71: Epic Army List for Squats by Andy Chambers, stats & counters, no pictures of minis

p. 76: Epic Squat Warriors box released (B/W Ad for large version, £7.99, $16.95)

***

Part 4: Squats Won't Shout While You Fiddle About, 1990-1992.

After both the 40K and Epic Squats Army Lists and accompanying miniature releases, our Space Dwarfs appeared only sporadically in the pages of White Dwarf, in rules updates and the pages of 'Eavy Metal.

It is also likely that the not-cataloged 10 Squat Pirates were released in this period, see WD 140.

White Dwarf 128 (August 1990)
p. 22-35: 40K New Vehicle Rules by Rick Priestly including Squat Bikes & Trikes
***

White Dwarf 129 (September 1990)
Front Cover: Imperials including Squats battling Genestealers

p. 69: Nurgle Squat Power Armor w/Horns, Tzeentch Squat Power Armor w/Sword ('Eavy Metal)
***

White Dwarf 130 (October 1990)
p. 45: Warhammer 40K League Stats for Squat Combat Squads, B/W ill. of 3 Squats by Paul Bonner

p. 48-51: New rules for Hellbore by Andy Chambers
***

White Dwarf 131 (November 1990)
p. 14-30: Epic Chaos Hordes by Andy Chambers, including Chaos Squats & Squat Artillery

"Chaos Squats are armourers and artificers of the armies of Chaos. With devilish cunning they construct weapons and engines of war which defy sanity. Each new creation is magnificently built to evoke the correct aura of terror and majesty. It is thought that the Chaos Squats are responsible for the maintenance and reconstruction of Chaos Titans and the fearsome Artifact Weapons of Chaos. Chaos Squats fight with unparalleled ferocity on the field of battle, favouring heavy firepower to slaughter their foes." p. 22

"As terminators are killed in action, their armour is retrieved and repaired by Chaos Squats" p. 22
***

White Dwarf 132-134: none.

***

White Dwarf 135 (March 1991)
p. 50-51: 40K New Vehicle Points Values (by Nigel Stillman) includes Squat Trike and Bonner B/W ill. with heavy trike and biker
***

White Dwarf 136 (April 1991)
p. 75: B/W Catalog Page for Mole, Termite
***

White Dwarf 137-139: none.

***

White Dwarf 140 ( August 1991)
p. 31: Golden Demon: Squat Command by David Knowles (4 converted Pirates w/ SM Flight Packs) http://www.polycon.org/squats/unIDPirates.html

p. 61: "The technical achievements of ... isolated human civilizations, such as the Squats, are of almost enough interest to the Adeptus Mechanicus as rumours concerning the STC." (Space Fleet article)
***

White Dwarf 141 ( September 1991)
p. 6-7: Epic preview reports Norman Swales is working on Squats Land Trains and more.
***

White Dwarf 142: none.

***

White Dwarf 143 (November 1991)

p. 12-20: Epic rules for Chaos Androids and Mole Mortars from Stompers set (Rick Priestly)

The Chaos Android is a shining skeleton of hardened plasteel. Its cunning construction is a secret known only to certain tainted Squat fabricators working in league with Chaos Renegades (p. 13).

Back Inside Cover: Epic Stompers box with Mole Mortar Color Ad (new release, £9.99)
***

White Dwarf 144 (December 1991)
p. 16: Hellbore shown in action against Marines

p. 27-35: Epic Vehicle Rules for Hellbore, Mole, Termite, & Leviathan rules (Johnson, Priestly, Chambers). Painted models in Necromunda colors shown on p. 35 in 'Eavy Metal.

"The Hellbore is so huge that it is almost unstoppable in close combat, grinding infantry and lighter vehicles into the ground as it advances!" (p. 27)

" This awesome vehicle [the Leviathan] is made by Squats and supplied to the Imperial Guard as part of the mutual exchange of materials between the Squat Homeworlds and the Imperium." (p. 30)

p. 73: Epic Stompers box with Mole Mortar Color Ad

p. 76, 78: B/W Catalog pages for Leviathan (new release, £5.99) and Hellbore (£11.99) http://www.solegends.com/citcat9x3/c92414epicimpwarmachines-02.htm
***

White Dwarf 145 (January 1992)
Back inside Cover: Epic Attack Force (£14.99), War Horde (£12.99), and Battle Group (£14.99) sets Color Ad. War Horde contains Squats sprues and Mole Mortars from Stompers, Battle Group has Chaos Squats. (New releases)
***

White Dwarf 146: none.

***

White Dwarf 147 (March 1992)
p. 78 B/W Catalog Page for Leviathan (£5.99)
***

White Dwarf 148: none.

***

White Dwarf 149 (May 1992)
p. 32-40: 40K New Vehicle Rules for Bikes, Trikes and War Walkers rules by Andy Chambers.

Includes painted pictures of Squat Motorcycle Mark 2 w/ Biker 4, Cycle Mark 1 w/ Biker 6, Heavy Trike w/ Biker 2 and Standing Biker 4, B/W Illustrations of Squat Bikers

p. 78-79: B/W Catalog Pages reprinting p. 54-55 in Blue Catalog

***

Squats in Epic 40K Part 3: We Got a Great Big Land Train

The Squats came roaring back as a fully distinguished Epic Space Marine* army in the summer of 1992. Epic was starting to coalesce from a blizzard of loose White Dwarf pages and tiny versions of 40K critters into a flurry of loose cardboard stats card and counters, but with more fun vehicles not available in 40K.

So exciting new 40K minis inspire tiny Epic versions, then Epic makes exciting new tiny minis that inspire 40K versions. And that is how you make a Forge World. So many tanks...can never afford them all...

Back to the Squats. The Epic Squats, unlike their 40K counterparts, are generally considered reasonably fun and dakka-dakka. The not-so-secret secret is their many "Titan-Killer" vehicles.

The first was the Land Train. This picture shows how they would appear on the table top- the Engine came with 1 Battlecar, and Battlecars could be added 3 at a time, up to 7 cars.

There were 2 different Land Train Engines. Here is the Engine with the rounded front, assembled above and separated below. The Land Train was the first of the new Epic Squats vehicles to be released in July 1992 (WD 151) along with the Ork and Squat Warlords Supplement.

The Land Train Engine was an awesome beast, plowing through infantry and light vehicles, blasting away with its Doomsday Gun and 2 Heavy Battlecannons. Only a Titan or Superheavy Tank could pin down the Land Train.

This is the other Land Train Engine, with an angular front. The Land Train had the same powerful armor on front, back, and sides. There was only 1 Turret variant for both Hulls.

Andy Chambers kept piling on the armor: the Land Train Engine also had 2 Titan-style Void Shields, and gained another Void Shield for each Battlecar following it. These kind of attributes, to me, make the Land Train more of a Titan alternative, rather than a Titan killer. A Titan alternative for a people afraid of heights.

There were also 2 variants of the Battlecar, one with a thick bit at the end, the other in the middle. If you are wondering why there are crenelations on these Battlecars, it is because the Land Train was crawling with Squat Berzerkers ready to repel any pesky infantry trying to attack the cars. Any cars still connected to the Engine could also be protected by the Void Shields.

The Land Train featured 4 different weapon options. On the right is the Mortar Battlecar, similar to the Imperial Bombard. Next is the Bomb Battlecar, a one-shot rad-bomb with unlimited range and high accuracy. Third, the Dragon Battlecar that brings forth a 10-inch gout of flames. And finally, the Berserker Battlecar, with an Autocannon turret and 5 Squads of Berserkers for guarding the Train.

Mortar and Berzerker Battlecars assembled. Each Battlecar could fire independently of the Engine. The 5 Squads of Berserkers could also leave the Car and fight independently.

Dragon and Bomb Battlecars assembled. Each car had independent propulsion, and could be separated from the Land Train Engine and can join with another. Only Cars attached to an Engine had access to the Void Shields, though.

Above are all of the Land Train options from above, below are the pieces from the side. Originally, an Engine and a Car sold for GBP 4.99 and extra cars at1.75 each.

The Land Train seems like it was a fun, but complicated, vehicle to slither across the battlefield.

Still, there are questions. Don't almost all trains travel across land? And, if it is a Land Train, why does the Stats Card say it spends so much time underground? Perhaps most importantly, how would you use the Mortar, Bomb, or Dragon underground without destroying yourself?

Those are Giant Leaches from Heresy round the Chaos Totem. I just wanted to make them look like Really Giant Leaches. The various resin terrain all come Armorcast, the grey bits from 40K 3rd ed Imperial Building sprue.

And now another installment of our erratically scheduled series "What has Hungry Ghosts been doing instead of finishing his army?"

Mutant Scrunt Bots! Made from Bob Olley's Scrunt Vehicle Driver Torsos and Citadel bottom halves and mutations bits. For some reason, I felt compelled to create a group of Tall Dwarfs.

*Like the dread Nyarlathotep, this game has 1000 names, and no one knows them all...

Squats in Epic 40K Part 2: Riding the Imperium's Coattails

After the Squats Army boxed set was released along with the publication of the Squats Army List in White Dwarf 127 (July 1990), the Epic Squats line of miniatures was mostly ignored in White Dwarf for a couple of years. At this time, the Squats had access to all of the Imperial weapons and vehicles, so there was no urgent need to make some. The army list also allowed IG or SM allies, and could even ally with the Eldar, but only against Chaos. They could also have Chaos allies if they were Chaos Squats.

It took until WD 151 (July 1992) before the Epic Squats were relaunched with their own line of vehicles, along with the Epic Warlords box of rules and counters. Some joker at GW thought it would be funny to put the Squat material in the same set as the Ork material. He has never been seen again. Both sides claim credit for the "disappearance".

Today we will take a look at some of the Epic Space Marine miniatures from the fallow time of the 6mm Squats, the wacky Imperial Knight Titans.

These single-person Titans were actually released a month before the Squats list, and I'm not sure if the Squats were ever allowed direct access to the Knights. But the 3 Knights in the bottom row are clearly from the servo-arms of the Squat Adeptus Mechanicii.

Here is Knight Lancer 3. Someone has been listening to the whispers of Tzeentch. The Eldar Harlequins Army List from Citadel Journal 17 included a converted version of this Knight as a Familiar for the Shadow Seer. It is basically the bird head on Epic War Walker Legs, which is unnecessary in my opinion. The Ordos Xenos needs to inspect this Knight for unholy contamination.

Lancer 1. Same legs, different head/body. More of a robo-reptile than a robo-bird, though both have those tiny Tyranosaur arms.

The slotta tag says Sentinel, another example of the flippity-floppity naming patterns GW has for its minis. Maybe they changed it because the Sentinels were a big part of the storyline of the X-Men comic book around the same time. Or maybe it was because they already used the Sentinel name. But that hasn't really stopped them before. Executioner. Firestorm.

Finally a design an Inquisitor can love, Lancer 3. I don't know why but this one took a long time to find. Rounding up a few of these and doing some weapons swaps and you can probably brew up an interesting IG infantry squad.

Down to the next row, we have "Knight Warden We'll-Call-Him-3-Because-There-Are-2-Warden-1s-in-the-Blue-1991-Catalog". I don't know where this design came from, it is rather different than most Warhammer minis, not just the Knights. He has the aggressive off-balanced dakka-dakka position only an Ork or a Khorne Berzerker could really appreciate. He also kind of looks like one of the old crappier Go-Bots, the ones where you just push the head and gun down and your transformation is complete. Warden 3 looks like he would transform into an APC.

Knight Paladin 1, known to his friends as "Jazz Hands". Finally something a Commissar can love. Or at least not despise as a weak and cowardly elfy-man. But then Mr Commissar looks closer and sees that Jes Goodwin has transplanted an Eldar Dreadnought Hand on Pal 1, and given him the same loincloth as his Eldar Dark Reapers released at the same time. Looks like were gonna hafta keep that Xenos watch on Jazz Hands, boys.

Paladin 2, showing us just how big the daemon that got away was. Same legs as Pal 1 and and the loincloth of a Dark Reaper Exarch.

For giant robo-suits, Paladin 1 and 2 look a bit strange. Paladin 1 looks like he's been surprised while doing something he shouldn't. Paladin 2 is looking confused as to whether he wants to use his chainsword or battlecannon. Use both. Always use both.

Maybe Paladin 2 is looking confused because in the Blue Catalog he is right next to a freaky robot cave spider that somehow shares his name. And that is because the Paladin 3 STC was uploaded to the Imperial databases by Chaos Squat saboteurs*. Silly Imperials, everyone knows spiders are Chaos creatures. The Warp is full of them. Below is a picture of Pal 3 from behind, because this arachnoid weirdo should be admired by all in his fullness.

Next Warden 2.

Another unique freak. If you want to find interesting conversion bits and minis, the specialist games are the place to go. I think the designers for these were given more creative control than the 2 main games. Which resulted in a decade of chaotic cacophony with sparks of genius (Escher Gang) and some awful failures (Eldar Phantom Titan v2).
Here is our bombardier beetle from the side. That's a body made for underground missions.

This is Warden 1, the last of the Imperial Knights. This one has me dumbfounded. In what possible environment could this be a preferred design? When does a Titan need to look up close at tiny things and then blast them, and his own head, to bits with the giant missile launcher on his back? What was Jes Goodwin thinking when he gave all these Titans tiny arms?

Warden 1 from the back, and he is strangely thin. Will he be sneaking into a tight space? And those ribbed overlapping scalloped and bolted plates of armor just about scream "Blood for the Blood God!"

I've been very snarky about these minis tonight, but they really are some of my favorites. But they are some of my favorites because of their strange designs, which made them a mess in gaming terms. Such a mess that when Andy Chambers wrote the rules for Epic Knight Titans in WD 126, even he was unable to deal with the variety-pack Knights.

"There are many different designs of Knight but the differences between some of them are mainly cosmetic. Therefore both Human and Eldar Knights can be categorized into three classes." (p.44)

White Dwarf 126 is one of the best- Horus Heresy Space Marines for Epic, Human & Eldar Knights, and Ork Madboyz. So is 127- just two long Army Lists and some nice Golden Daemon winners in between. Good work, humans.

*This is also why the Dark Eldar only have open topped vehicles.

Khorne in the Kitchen: Master of the Cuisinatorium

I have been slumbering in the arms of Nurse Nurgle for the recent past, but now bring forth a new Hungry Ghosts character. Right now he plays no gaming role, just important in the fluff, which is just what you need be doing instead of finishing your tanks.

Master of the Cuisinatorium Ghoti "Gravy" Chunckx

Here is the insane ratling master chef whose drugged cuisine of mysterious meats played a critical role in turning the sturdy and noble Legios Moriad XIV into the mutant undead Hungry Ghosts of Khorne. He started out as part of my fetish with turning unlikely souls into Chaos mutants and as a joke about Dwarf cooking ability, but the latest IG codex provided the opportunity to turn my joke character into a mockery of the Command Squad Regimental Advisors. Thus was sparked desire for creating the Master of the Cuisinatorium, Ghoti "Gravy" Chunckx.

Ghoti is based on the RT601 Adventurers series Halfling Cook*. I got him a while ago, but since he is a bit puny in his native form, with a piddly little laser gun. So I needed to wait until the right conversion bits came along and he sat on the shelf waiting for duty. The first person who can tell me how Ghoti's first name is pronounced will win the severed Ratling legs.

But look, he flies like the wind on hooves of brass, like no proper Halfling should even think about. Gravy's silly little laser has been exchanged for an old Chaos Renegade Bolt Pistol. And he carries a variety of small pouches and canisters for spices and poisons, from the WFB Dwarf and 40K Cadians.

Master Chef has been turned into a Chaos Centaur. His tiny slow pudgy feets have been replaced by the bold red and brass power of Khorne. The body comes from the C38 Beastman named Crawler or Horse-Man**. His head was popped of and replaced by the Chef's torso. The body by itself doesn't really look like he is running, so I had to add some bits to make a sense of motion- the plastic Horse Tail flying in the wind, the severed head swinging back, and Chef Chunckx pointing his large (for a Ratling) gun forward.

Now our Chef has a swift gallop going, but all the flowing hair patterns and hooves sticking out makes me want to put more curved/flowing bits that stick out. When you see a good gestalt for a conversion forming, it's best to dive right into it and see where it takes you.

In Chef Chunckx's case, he also needed some bulking up to look like a credible servant of Khorne. The original Beastman body was sculpted with strong muscular detail, so that was fine. It allowed me to focus on providing him with the customary spiky armor. So I went with the best source for organic-looking armor plating bits, the Tyranid Biomorph sprue. Four of the horn-like curved armor bits, one at the top of each leg, and one of the shovel-blade shaped bits on the back. These also hid the place where the Ratling meets Beastman along with the pouches.

And because every chef loves a hidden surprise, Ghoti Chunckx has the snarling face of a Tyranid Hunter Slayer with a goat-like beard where the standard rear exit would be. The swinging beard and turned face help add to the impression of movement, especially since the face is not looking at what the head is looking at.

This is what happens to Tyranids who misbehave.

Since I was trying to create a kind of panoramic flow and circular symmetry with this conversion, here is a view from the top. I tried out another piece of armor in the front, so he would have 8 parts pointing outward for each of the points of the Chaos Star, but it didn't look as good as 7.

This guy was fun to create. I've been carrying that Tyranid face with me for over 20 years waiting for the right punishment for his Crimes Against Squats. Finally the Stars Were Right and the Sleeper Has Awakened, Quiznos Haagen-dasz etc.

Enough hyperbole. You all are by now thinking "where's the rest of that Hunter-Slayer?"

This guy!
From the loopy daemon generation rules of Realm of Chaos filter through my 14 year old brain. And, yes, White Dwarf really did advise the use of paperclips and index cards for your banners back then.

* http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt601adventurers.htm
** http://collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Image:C38beastman26.jpg