Wargames Atlantic - SpaceNam

Zeb “Sarge“ Coleman - Backdrop by Jon Hodgson Backdrops

For one of my Five Parsecs from Home games, I rolled Roid Gangers for the enemies. And while I do have a horde of Nurgle baddies to draw from, they’re more wasting than muscle-bound. I briefly toyed with the idea of using some Blightkings but I felt they were a bit too big and overtly corrupted. The Goremongers were also a possibility, but the enemies I rolled were to be equipped with military rifles. Begrudgingly it seemed, I would need to buy some more models (the horror!).

Roy “Psycho” Peters - Backdrop by Jon Hodgson Backdrops

The Goliath gang for Necromunda seemed the obvious choice, if not the outright inspiration for this particular enemy option in Five Parsecs. I quickly decided against this for a few reasons. Firstly, Games Workshop kits are expensive; thirty pounds for ten guys isn’t bad by their standards. But I only need six guys and maybe only for this mission. Secondly, Games Workshop kits are incredibly detailed, which is not helpful if you want to get them to the tabletop as soon as possible. Thirdly, Games Workshop kits are incredibly detailed; so, each guy is going to be assembled from ten or more bits. And they will probably be monopose.

Jimmy “Bandit” Thompson - Backdrop by Jon Hodgson Backdrops

As the title of this article suggests, I eventually settled on the SpaceNam kit from Wargames Atlantic. They’re effectively Catachan proxies. Now, a box of these will build twenty guys, which is way more than I needed. But I was able to buy two sprues from a third party for the princely sum of fourteen of His Majesty’s pounds. Which included shipping. Bargain. Getting them assembled was a breeze as well, each one only needing four components. The torso, which already has the legs attached, two arms and a head. For the actual options, I picked out a special weapon, gave the Sergeant a machete (and cigar), and everyone else got a standard rifle.

Arnett “Tex” Rhodes - Backdrop by Jon Hodgson Backdrops

Once assembled, I primed them with Colour Forge Raven Black and painted the skin with Two Thin Coats Dwarven Skin. I tidied up any overspill with Two Thin Coats Death Reaper before giving each model a zenithal highlight with Liquitex Titanium Ink through my airbrush to set the lights and shadows. With that done, I painted the skin of half of them with Army Painter Speedpaint Warrior Skin and the other half with Reikland Fleshshade. The fatigues I painted, rather appropriately, with Militarum Green and any leather details, like belts and straps, with Garagahk’s Sewer. I painted the boots and armour with Black Templar. The weapons meanwhile I painted with Ratling Grime before giving them a drybrush of Necron Compound. To add a bit of pop to the models I painted the Sergeant’s cap badge with Vallejo Hammered Copper and any bandanas with Flesh Tearers Red. Finally, I dabbed a dot of Troll Slayer Orange onto the end of the Sarge’s cigar.

Daran “Hawk” Adams - Backdrop by Jon Hodgson Backdrops

At this point I called the models done. I’m sure I could take them a little further if I wanted to, but for some quick mooks to be shot at by my Rogue Trader crew, they’re fine as they are. So, with that in mind, I moved onto the bases. To start with I covered the bases with Vallejo Dark Earth texture paste, which I then washed with Army Painter Strong Tone. I then dabbed on some patches of PVA glue before sprinkling on some Geek Gaming Scenics Base Ready Patchy Plains, which I then sealed in place with some Geek Gaming Scenics Matt Sealant. Lastly, I painted the rims of the bases with Steel Legion Drab.

Johntey “Priest” Pope - Backdrop by Jon Hodgson Backdrops

Also I’m going to give them fun names. Purely, because I can.