Gyrocopter-Made-of-Bits: Successful Accomplishment Complete

Our Gyrocopter / Bomber built of bits has successfully concluded. Base and Pilot are now present. Cost of parts was $16.87. Cost of shipping is not easy to calculate. These bits came along with assorted parts of Chaos and Undead of various sorts. The seller providing just about all these critters and bits, Bullet Bits, charges $0.20 per item beyond the first so we have $2.20 from what's there. The share of shipping for the rest would be another few dollars. A bit over $20, retail price $45 (free delivery if you spend another $20!).

The $7 Warhammer Fantasy Battle Dwarf Gyrobomber / Gyrocopter (So Far)

So when we last heard from Hungry Ghosts he went on a little rant about letting Beardlings play with expensive assault weaponry. Now the Dwarf Gyrobomber / Gyrocopter has hit the Bits Factory, and Hungry Ghosts has gone scavenging. Let's see what we got ourselves.

 

The first foray into buying us a Bomber brought forth a functional bonanza. Here we have a good chunk of the Gyrobomber. We have the Cockpit interior and exterior. We have the shooty things that go on the front and sides of the Pilot-Pod (Guns and Canards, according to the Bits Merchant). Then the main tail section of the Bomber, along with the Rear Rotor System.

So $5.87 spent so far. Now we are obviously missing some important parts, most obviousestibly the Main Rotor. Also the two extra rows of Bombs. No Pilot neiver, but we got plenty of eager Squats to fill that seat.

But let's be realistic: Hungry Ghosts wants those Pilot Heads.

Anyway, what if we want to make the much less exciting Gyrocopter instead of the super-blasty Gyrobomber?

 We got us the main Gyrocopter Engine and Tail section too.

But let's go back to the issue of Dwarf Heads and Realisticism. Remember, through the Misty Mountains of foggy Time, beset by Storm Giants hurling boulders in our general direction; are they at play, or are they angry at our trespass upon their territory? The inside of the mountain is Ours, the outside they claim mastery over. Mighty Eagles disagree, and woe unto the Storm Giant whose boulder disturbs a Dragon -- but clearly, this has gone on too long.

'Tis rare that a race receive an update so soon in the World of Warhammer, that is, unless you are a Space Marine. Eldrad Ulthuan, he of the mighty staff of easy breakage, and the Eldar Phoenix Lords, they who bear the gigantic heads, new and exciting releases for Warhammer 40K... 2nd Edition. Seriously, 21 years old. Real life people have been born, grown up, and fought in real life combat since these fellows were let loose on the tabletop. 

I, for one, am happy for Finecast...my ancient neck could ne'er otherwise kept my ginormous head aloft.

 The Dwarfs were offered as a bold bargain in the Skull Pass starter box, along with a crazy horde of Goblins, over 100 miniatures, rule book, and some versions even came with paints and a brush to provide the full gateway drug to $20 character models and $60 plastic dragons. But...

Continuing along a grotesque path almost as old as Eldrad, by the time Skull Pass came to be, our Dwarfs were naught but a giant bearded head with feet sticking out the bottom.

There may have been some ridiculous axes involved as well.

What could be done? A radical course correction? Yes, let's try that.

2006 Skull Pass Miner's Head, meet 2014 Ironbreaker's Heads.

Bigger than Bombs!

Of course, those Skull Pass bargain armies may not mix well with the new range of stout plastic warriors. A price must be paid for such realistic heads, a price of $50 for your 10 Ironbreakers. For the price of the Battle for Skull Pass starter box, you can get a box of them Ironbreakers and a model from the Lords and Heroes selection. Just make sure it's an old beard-with-feet version because the new range go for $6 more. But they are made of plastic now, and that's made from dinosaurs, so it's totally worth the price.

Anyway, here's our $25 Space Marines Stormtalon. We need some Assault Cannons maybe, but I probably have some already. Figgering out the clear plastic canopy could be a bit more challenging, if we didn't have plenty of clear plastic bits of various sizes around here as well. But that's part of the fun. Hungry Ghosts has so many, many vehicles and critters of all sorts to assemble and paint, there's no need to plunk down $45 for a couple of sprues of plastic...sorry, for a multi-part plastic boxed set containing 90(!) components...that's going to sit on a shelf for nobody knows how many years. The thrill of the hunt.....

Improper Use of Expensive Aerial Attack Airships

Now Hungry Ghosts rarely pays attention to the current comings and goings in the various armies of Warhammer 40K or Fantasy Battle. OK, he views them as crazy expensive sprues of juicy bits for conversions when they get broken down and tossed on eBay.

And the occasional writing in The Book of Grudges. Lamenting the utter destruction of Orky Kultcha, regardless of past enmity. We miss Khorne Stormboys. Mad Boyz were always good for a laugh, though snarrffulling bubbly beer may bring a few tears to the eyes.

We wuz orkses. We wuz fun.

 Groaning about the Beastmen turning from wild hordes of insane convolutions of animal, vegetable, mineral, and man to domesticated livestock with pointy sticks.  

Not all goats. Not at all.

 Mocking the grotesque proportions of the Dwarfs and Ratlings...

 ...and pointing out how on every element of monstrosity – spiky bits, giant guns, huge body parts - the Daemons of Chaos are outdone by Tyranid, Goblins, Dark Eldar, Necrons...

Daemon Prince, Tiny-legged, Wee-headed, Daemon Prince

But now things have gone too far. Coming suspiciously close to the revelation of the Legioss Moriad XIV Experimental Aeronautics Agency, Games Workshop has released a new WFB Dwarfs Army Book and several new models.

Amongst the Mighty Lords of Mighty Prices comes the new Dwarf Gyrocopbopter or whatever it's called when you don't want to say something is a helicopter, 'cause you can't trademark helicopter. Take a looksee: http://tinyurl.com/gyrocopbopper

So COMPLAINT THE FIRST: Notice that you can make a Gyrocopter or a Gyrobomber out of the set. If you go through the pictures and/or text ("The Gyrocopter is a small yet nimble war machine." and "Kept afloat by two rotor arrays and a dirigible balloon, the Gyrobomber is part Gyrocopter and part airship.")

You will see that the Gyrobomber is about twice as big as the Gyrocopter.

Once upon a time, there was a game company that would notice that the Bomber is about twice as big as the Copter. That company wouldn't just sell one set that leaves the Dwarf enthusiast with a relatively small Gyrocopter, a pile of bits, and eyes watering with tears for the same price as a big old Gyrobomber, not much bits left over, and happy happy joy joy about their monstrous flying dragon-killer.

That company would say, “Hey, let's sell a Gyrocopter and a Gyrobomber as two different sets with prices reflecting the differences in size and complexity.” Or maybe “Hey, let's make one big-ass boxed set that let's you make one big-ass Gyrobomber or two Gyrocopters, swift as dragonflies.”

Instead, you blow $45 on a model that uses half the stuff in the box. Merry Beermass, beardlings!

COMPLAINT THE SECOND: Gaze upon the text accompanying these amazing flying machines.

“Gyrocopters and Gyrobombers represent the best of Dwarf engineering. Designed by the Engineers Guild and inspired by combining dragon and drilling machine the original Gyrocopter design took centuries to gain acceptance.”

There seems to be some words or maybe punctuation left out of that blurb, but we get the essence: these machines are the best, and the best means expensive, the best means prestige, the best means Living Ancestors tell you before you board the craft: “take care of this fucker or we'll have your balls if you survive the crash-landing.” Right? Right.

But instead of this proper care and handling of an expensive experimental awesomeness that took totally a lot of time to get permission to create, we are told that these machines are:

“Piloted by beardlings (still growing into their whiskers!) these fearsome war machines are regularly seen bombing the battlefield with wanton abandon.”

Hungry Ghosts has no problem with using fearsome war machines, or bombing the battlefield with wanton abandon.

Hungry Ghosts does have a problem with experimental war machines and weaponry... a problem with making too many of them. The fact is that the Dark Mechs of the Legioss Moriad have a free pass to screw around with any manner of machine, be it meat or metal, or more likely both.

 Most recently, there's been uncontrollable urges to develop mobile weapon platforms that eliminate the need for a team of two to handle a heavy weapon. Like so:

Hungry Ghosts Mechs are busy melding these Necromunda Pit Slaves (Pit Slave 4 and 5, fresh from the Underhive!) with the type of weaponry normally seen mounted on wheels or tracks. In the interests of controlling the beasts and gathering lots of datas, our Pit Slaves have implanted computronic displays, info-jacks, and cybertubes.

These here Pit Slaves were purchased for use as the other three: vehicular violence victims.

But they are honking huge comparatively, and well armed... except for the arm cut off... or maybe now they're even more well armed … stupid pun confusion ….

"Don't press the Red Button" "Which one's the Red Button, he ain't painted yet?"

The Galaxy's Worst Cell Phone Contract Ever.

 The Dark Mechs of Moriad have a Dark Fascination with taming and controlling the ancient enemy of the Dwarf race, the dreaded Rust Monster. Here we see one such experiment, obviously going quite well.

Not only does our Rust Monster have twin-linked Las Cannons mounted upon its back, extra firepower has been pumped up by replacing the forelegs with Eldar Webspinners fresh from the exarch. All of this weaponry did require installing some additional brain power to the insect.* But care was taken to ensure the minimum was added, just a few little neuro-nubbins.

Back to the beardlings. Yes, beardlings like to get into all sorts of shenanigans. If your beardlings insist on flying, we know what to give them.

Put-Put Away Young Eagle, Put-Put through the Clouds in your little Cloud-Cars!

And of course they'll want to play with some dead bodies, or semi-dead bodies, try out some cyborgization or reanimation. So you let them play in here:

Not super expensive flying machines! Not even the pile of bits left over when you make the Gyrocopter instead of the Bomber!

Long rambling rant complete.

'Puters are hard when you come from a low-tech world

*Moriad Mechanicii have determined that the Rust Monster was possibly the first Tyranoid entity to penetrate the Great Bearded Galaxy**, long before the Catachan Devil or the Ambull.
**You didn't think we'd call it the Milky Way, did you?

Ancient Creatures of Chaos: Demons of the 1980s: Zygor, Leaping Slomm, Ngaaranh, and SA-ATOR!!!

We will start off the new year by looking at some of the things Hungry Ghosts was playing with last year instead of making more blog postings about Squats. First, Ancient Creatures of Chaos!

 We have a trio of ancient monsters, the Mark of Chaos Creatures from Citadel Compendium 1 (1983): Zygor Snake Arms, Leaping Slomm Two Face, and Ngaaranh Chaos Spawn. 

Lovely Ngaaranh Chaos Spawn

And Leaping Slomm Two Face

 

Leaping Slomm is a Mutant Chaos Troll

Lastly, Mr Zygor Snake Arms. Snake Tail too.

 

 Yes, Beardlings, 30 years ago, no internet (for practical purposes), and photographs were too expensive for hobby catalogs. At least we have some drawings. Hungry Ghosts remembers ordering miniatures just by the name alone: Female Elf Ranger. What's she going to look like? We'll find out in 4 to 6 weeks when she arrives in the mailbox. (We also had to pay $3 for the catalog, which also took 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. A primitive system for desperate young gamers, who also might be mistaken for devil worshipers, but that is a tale for another day. Or an early Tom Hanks film).

http://solegends.com/citcat1984arch/ArcList11-01.htm

http://solegends.com/citle1980/c1chaos/index.htm

Now, from 1985, SA-ATOR, the Gigantic Demon Lord.
Part of Tony Ackland's Arcane Monstrosities series.

SA-ATOR is a Gigantic Demon Lord of Complex Thought.

"No creature broods with black evil as does SA-ATOR, and no other creatures does he despise more than the pathetic race of humanity. His malice is bottomless, his hatred a deathly palor that glows black upon his rank and leprous hide He could destroy humanity if he wished. But SA-ATOR is far too subtle, and far too cruel, to merely slay mankind. That would he too easy! too unsatisfying! SA-ATOR knows that there are terrors worse than death, horrors more profound than the maw of oblivion, agony a thousand times more intense than the death rattle. No - instead he delights in the corruption of man, pleasures in the dance of death; in the war and hatred and cruelty that he seeds in humanity. These are emotions lie knows well; emotions that could be read in his gleaming yellow eyes were there a creature that dare look. But few living creatures could survive the stare of hatred in that face, or breathe the exhaled air of corruption that issues from that foul muzzle. A few that tried would be lucky enough to die. More likely they would themselves become twisted with bitterness, turned upon their own race and driven insane with lust for death and carnage."

http://solegends.com/citta/ta8saator/index.htm 

By April 1986, technology had progressed to allow photographs.

Despite his brooding about the corruption of humankind, SA-ATOR gets 10 Stomp attacks per turn.

Deadly Poison Breath attack too.

The 80s were a good time to be a

Gigantic Demon Lord.

Squats in Non-GW Magazines, Historia Squataticus: Appendix 13

Squats in Non-GW Magazines, Historia Squataticus: Appendix 13

Le Héraut Citadel.

This was a French language magazine published by Agmat (maker of the Agmat Thudd Gun) on an irregular schedule in the mid- to late 1980s. I have only issue 5, dated June 1988. Like White Dwarf at the time, this magazine was shifting from a mix of TSR, Chaosium, MERP, and Games Workshop content toward being entirely devoted to GW. I am not sure how many issues were published; issue 5 is the only one I have.

Issue 5 features a black & white picture of the Squat Mole Mortar (unpainted) on p. 15 along with other black & white and color pictures of Warhammer 40K and WFB models.

Inquisitor (Epicast / Armorcast).

This 18-issue magazine was published at an erratic schedule by Tim Dupertuis. Tim was the man behind Epicast and then with Armorcast, so it is understandable that there would be some trade-offs between publishing issues and production of models. Armorcast still produces a fine range of wargaming terrain and miniatures (http://www.armorcast.com/), some of which can be seen in Hungry Ghosts posts, particularly the Alien Plants series.

The dates on the covers of the issues do not necessarily correspond to the actual time of publication, but may reflect the intended date rather than the actual date as was common for small publications of this time.

Number 1 (June 1991): No Squats

Number 2 (September 1991): Squats-free

Number 3 (January 1992): Disturbing absence of Squats.

Number 4 (April 1992): Advertisement for Epicast U.S.A. Termite and Falcon, page 10. This is probably the first ad for the Termite ($20). Given the overlapping ownership between Inquisitor and Epicast, all future issues feature an ad for the Termite somewhere in them and will not be included here.

Page 18: points values for various Squats-associated weaponry included in a Space Marine Army record sheet, including the Mole Mortar, Thudd Gun, Rapier, all Tarantula variations, and the Leviathan for those ambitious enough to construct such a monster (500 pts). Note that we are dealing with the Rogue Trader rules at this time.

Number 5 (June1992): Page 5, Q&A with Andy Chambers, including Squats questions about Exo Armor, Power Lance, squad and ally options and requirements.

Number 6 (September 1992): Page 4 notes the sad absence of Squat Champion units.

Page 14 index of White Dwarf articles from issue 93-151 reveals the conspicuous absence of Squats articles, limited to the Army List in 111 and the Land Train rules in 151. But it also foolishly includes the Mole Mortar in the Imperial section, along with generally shared systems Rapier and Tarantula, and bikes of all sorts.

Want Ads on page 19: Dwarf-friends in Alaska and Hawaii are still searching for Squat Musicians and Heavy Weapons Trikes. Good luck sirs, Inquisitor's publication numbers were measured in the low 100's. We had trouble in NYC getting minis in the 1980s and early 1990s, Alaskans and Hawaiians must be truly in dire circumstances.

Number 7 (February 1993): Article on pages 6-9 on Scout and Recon units. Provides rules and stats for Squats Scout/Recon squads. Reports that Squats do not distinguish between Scouts and Recon types, related to their heavy-handed approach to gathering information. Rules and Stats for a Jeep type recon vehicle in use by the Imperials and Squats (basically, touch it and it explodes).

Page 17 Want Ads. Our friends in Alaska and Hawaii continue their searches. Their pleas will continue, but will no longer be reported here.

Number 8 (Spring 1993): Squat Engineers on Bikes appear on the cover.

Pages 5-7, article on Combat Engineers, including Squats rules & stats. Squats also have access to specialized Rhinos with engineering modifications (bridge-laying, mine-sweeping), as well as Termite, Mole, and Hellbore tunnelers and the Gorgon (rules for which were promised in issue 9 but never appeared, except for Gorgon).

Page 13, Q&A with Andy Chambers notes that the Mole Mortar as detailed in the Battle Manual is far more accurate than any other weapon.

Page 18-19: Updated points values and equipment lists for Squats armies.

Number 9 (Summer 1993): Pas des Nains d'espace.

Number 10 (Fall 1993): Warhammer 40K 2^nd Edition appears with minimal army lists. Page 5 notes that it is likely that a full Squats army list will not be seen soon...

Pp. 16-17, updated points values for 2^nd Edition.

P. 18: Vain hopes for new Squats miniatures in 40K 2^nd Ed.

Number 11 (Winter 93/94): Page 4, Squats Living Ancestor Dark Millennium psychic powers noted, as well as vulnerability of tightly clustered Squats armies (among others) to Virus Grenades.

Obstacles and Line of Sight rules on pages 10-14 discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being shorter than Humans, Orks, and Keeblars. Features illustrative photographs including Squats.

Number 12 (Spring 1994): No Squats.

Number 13 (February 1995): Vehicle System Update (pages 14-29) provides generalized rules for military vehicle classes and attempts to rein in the (literal) overkill allowed to Imperial Land Raiders and Dreadnoughts. Vehicle weapon points are adjusted for BS of crew, including Squats.

Also, the particular converted-into-superheavy-APC Soviet T34 tank shown in the picture on p. 13 was purchased by Hungry Ghosts and is now in their service. Counts as Gorgon (with the traditional 40K “Bag of Holding” troop carrying capacity compared to transport size), with stats on p. 26.

Number 14 (September 1996): Cauldron of Blood ($40) and Cannon of Khorne ($30) are now available from Armorcast (p. 2) and featured in an article on adapting WFB Chaos for 40K fun (pp. 5-7). Exo Armor Chaos Squats appear prominently in the army photo on p. 5.

Review of Galaktik Taktik spacecraft from Pewtercraft USA of Jackson NJ (p. 11) notes that the Colonial Forces ships would work well for Squats. Hungry Ghosts says, yes, but needs more skulls and tentacles.

Number 15 (August 1997): Armorcast High Tech Walls now available and seen in the background of many Hungry Ghosts blog posts (p. 2).

More importantly, this issue is devoted to remedying the missing Squats Codex for 40K 2^nd Edition (pp. 5-24). A b/w illustration of an angry Squat with a large Bolter by Joel Phillips appears on p. 3.

The Squats Army List starts on p. 5. It is broken up into a Brotherhood Army List (pp. 8-13) including an assortment of converted WFB minis filling in the gaps in the product like, and an Engineer Guild Army List (pp. 14-17).

The Squats Army is equipped with vehicles from Simtac's Kryomek line of Nexus Marines, in pictures as well as rules.

The photographs included reinforce the belief that only a few Iron Claw Squats appeared in North America (Numbers 1, 5, 10, 17).

The illustrations by Joel Phillips seem to indicate that pictures or copies of the unreleased 2^nd Edition Squats had been seen, or at least the Champions and Trooper.

Number 16 (November 1997): No Squats.

Number 17 (February 1998): Update of Combat Engineers article for 40K 2^nd Edition rules, including Squats units (pp. 5-9).

Squats Army List errata on p. 25.

Number 18 (May 1999): In 18 issues Inquisitor has traveled from Rogue Trader to 40K 3^rd Edition.

Page 12 gives a system for determining points costs of troops based on a average human model with additions for improvements. This system was used in assigning points costs in the Squats army lists that appeared in Number 15.

Page 25 Q&A includes discussion of weapons access for troop types in the Squats army lists.

Australian Realms.

From the vast wilderness of Western Australia, a bimonthly magazine covering all sorts of fantasy and sci-fi games – miniatures, RPGs, CCGs. I have only issue 21, dated January/February 1995. No Squats here.

The Dark Library: A magazine for the Warhammer 40,000 gamer.

Issue 1 from Autumn 1994 includes an article on boats in Warhammer 40K which reports that Squats do not have specialized Frogmen-type troops, as “squats rarely have much experience with water” (p. 6). But they do have much experience with beer, and have specialist Grogbrothers, who maintain the integrity of the vast beer production facilities found on every Squats Homeworld, expeditionary base, and spacecraft. They also care for the Beerquariums common to Squats entertainment parks (“The Happiest Fish in the Galaxy”).

The inside back cover reports that the next issue will feature Squats material, noting that “Squat players haven't had much to play with for quite a while now – the only new squat miniature released by GW in the past year or so was the mark 2 motorbike – and we hope to remedy some of that.

However, it goes on to state “If you're a squat player and would like to contribute something on squats, please send it in!”.

Open solicitation for material for the next issue is never a good sign in terms of maintaining a regular publication schedule.

Issue 3 from Spring 1995 is a much improved publication in terms of quality of content and format.

A scenario named “Irregularities on Vauxhault II” forbids allies for the mixed force of Imperial Guard and Space Marines, including Squats, which does not bode well for the humans.

An article on “Warhammer 40,000 Night Battles” reports the obvious – the superior genetic composition of the mighty Squats includes Infravision, “a second sight which allows them to not only see colors as humans do, but to see heat as well,” allowing them to function in the night without any deficit. On the other hand, it states that flashlights are useless to Squats. This is simply not true for a race as ingenious as the Squats. Amongst other functions, they can be sold or traded, used to make the ignorant think that Squats do not have Infravision, used to temporarily blind others by shining the lights in the eyes, or as a general whacking stick (pp. 21-22).

Page 26 features an ad for Nick Tompkins's Epicast U.S.A. resin vehicles, including the Termite ($22.00).

Page 29 introduces the new regular feature “Toshe Tales: Great Squat Lore”, concerning the mighty deeds of the Toshe Clan Stronghold. In this issue, the defeat of Ork Blood Axe Clan Kaptain Ironlung's Kommandos by a combined force of Squat Gyrocopters and Sky Surfers(!), taking special advantage of their geologic knowledge of the terrain.

The article includes rules (40K 2^nd Ed) for Squat Sky Surfers troop type in addition to the story, as well as the Camo-Cloaks, Power Boards, and the Longrifles used by the Sky Surfers and Squat snipers. (pp. 29-32)

Issue 4 (Winter 1995) starts off with an editorial whining about the price of the Rhino transport used by Squats and other less important beings - $15! (p. 2).

Page 7: another ad from Epicast offering the Termite.

Page 11: a little complaint about the allies system for 40K 2^nd Ed, noting that former enemies Squats and Eldar can now cooperate, and that Squats will condescend to ally with Space Marines.

Pages 21-35: Space Slann are back! On pp. 28-29, there is a sidebar discussion of an entity known as Saul of Nenuphar, a very ancient entity who appears in legends from just about every known race, including Squats. Saul is believed to have been a Slann. Or maybe a Dragon.

Imperial Dispatches: A Warhammer 40,000 Fanzine.

Broadcast from Alameda California, said to be quarterly. I have only Volume 2 issue 1, dated February 1992. Features a less-than-flattering illustration of the Emperor of Mankind on the cover.

A brief article titled “Artillery, the King of Battle” concerning artillery in (Epic) Space Marine notes that the rules are intended to be for general use, including Squats (p. 6).

Louis Porter's Fallout

I have Issues 3-6, March May July September 1995.

Issue 3 (March 1995): Page 7, picture of Imperial Commissars who have stolen a Squat Termite.

Page 12, article on efficient Space Marines point spending advises use of the Thudd Gun.

Issue 4 (May 1995): Page 8, quiz offering fabulous prizes for answering questions about Mole Mortars and less important things. Also discussion about people wanting GW to make some vehicles for armies besides the Smurfs and Imperial Grots, including Squats. Notes that Epicast offers such things, including the Termite, with ad for Epicast with Termite on page 12.

Issue 5 (July 1995): 40K scenario, Mission Delta: Assimilation, features Squats battling Tyranids for possession of a Squat Homeworld alternatively referred to as Drun Kale or Darmer, said to be closest to the Tyranid infested part of the galaxy (pp. 8-11).

Epicast ad for Termite etc p. 12.

Pages 14-17 feature 40K rules for the Blood Slaughterer of Khorne and the Holocaust tank, created by Khorne Cult engineers (i.e., Chaos Squats Adeptus Mechanicii).

Issue 6 (September 1995): Rules for Termite on pages 11-12 and 14. “Virtually invulnerable and invincible” while underground.

Mars: Adventures in Miniature

A quarterly magazine focusing on miniatures-based games from all companies, published in Vancouver Canada. I have only issues 3 and 4, from Summer and Fall 1997.

The letters column of issue 3 (“Martian Mail”) includes a silly idea from a reader, combining Battletech miniatures with Warhammer 40K. Noting that the Battletech mecha are of similar size to a Space Marine, our reader created a new race of tiny Gnomes. Our Gnomes pilot the mecha against 40K opponents who will tolerate such nonsense. The same reader reports that he is busily working on a Squat Codex, which would be of dubious quality from someone who would play silly Gnomes instead of just using the Battletech mecha as Epic 40K Squats Knight Titans, as any sensible person would do (p. 2).

A snippet on page 39 notes that the home planet of the White Scars Space Marines, Tengri, is near the Squat Homeworlds.

No Squats in issue 4.

Chaos Squats 40K Special Character Chikibi Chhattisgarh, Hungry Ghosts Gunnery Sergeant, Volume III: The Dragging-Outtening

Now we will finish having fun with Gunnery Sergeant Chikibi. Based on Catachan Imperial Guard Gunnery Sergeant Harker, Sgt Chikibi's main weapon is also a Heavy Bolter used without the need for a loader assistant.

Strapped to the lower right arm is the 'Terrordactyl', which is huge enough to have a mind of its own. Which is good, because Chikibi has 4 arms and a prehensile tail to think about. Also not spilling his pipe.

Terrordactyl is based on the Heavy Bolter that came with the Rogue Trader Space Dwarfs weapons sprue. It has been given life with eyes created from some inset gem bits from some creature that did not deserve such finery. Terrordactyl is part Tyranid like Chikibi. In this case, the claw comes from an Epic Lictor. The large spikes at the rear also come from the Tyranid Biomorphs sprue, with small spikes snipped off of the Dark Eldar Warriors that everyone was super-happy to get in the 40K 3rd Edition set.

The "rear leg" is a sword handle from a mid-1990s Orc Regiment sprue. Of course, the ribcage and spine are from the venerable Skeletal Horse. And I still have a baggie of Skeleton Army bits for the future.

The color of the body of the weapon comes from using a very old version of Bad Moon Yellow, right out of the Ork & Eldar Paint Set, that is translucent and good for nothing other than acting as a glaze over darker shades.

 

The last thing seen by enemies of the Hungry Ghosts.

Maybe this.

Assessing the possibilities...