Rogue Trader: Now in 28mm

Back in 2014, I started a role-playing campaign using the since-discontinued Fantasy Flight Games Rogue Trader system. Seeing as how I've already spun the campaign into a justification for a series of Warhammer 40,000 games starring many of our characters in their previous lives, I figure it's about time I made 28mm models of their campaign iterations as well. Here's some of them now!


Cardinal-Commodore Brother Malachi of the Missionary Diocese of the Wounds of St. Cyrillos

I've been a little bit improper and started modelling our player characters with Brother Malachi, but this was where the whole project started: we were discussing the character's uniform with the player while I was browsing 28mm models online, and one thing led to another. The Cardinal-Commodore's model is built from Anvil Industry bits: officer coats, dress uniform legs, specialist weapon arms (to hold his flamer), epaulettes and, delightfully and by the player's personal choice, a tricorne hat.

I started by painting and varnishing the front of the torso and the part of the flamer that was going to be up against it. The shirt is Deep Sky Blue, with Old Gold braids, and the trousers are London Grey; the flamer is Gunmetal Blue. The fur lining on the jacket is Orange Red, and the flamer pipe (?) connecting to the fuel tank is Copper.

Then it was time to put everything together: arms, head, fuel tank and epaulettes.

I should say that the Anvil Industry parts were an absolute delight to work with, and I highly recommend them. Next, after a white undercoat for the unpainted bits, I painted on the main colors.

I then gave the flamer and fuel tank a Black Glaze wash, highlighted the epaulettes a bit with Gold and gave the fur and feather a dash of Fluorescent Orange.

Finally, I applied some facial scarring with Red and a Medium Fleshtone wash.

All that remains is to paint the base Neutral Grey, and we are done!

I'm very pleased with how characterful the model looks! In his youth, the Cardinal-Commodore was a preacher attached to the 165th Ophir Highlanders during the Ignatian rebellion, where he looked like this:

The model is a GW Warrior Acolyte from the old Inquisition range.


Arch-Militant Crimson Chirikov

An original member of our first group, Crim is an Imperial Guard veteran who follows a simple credo: her boss points, she shoots. Presumed lost in the Charriere incident, she made her way back to Imperial space with the Cardinal-Commodore, and was last seen signing up for the Aquilian Crusade at Babylonia Typhonis.

The model is a plastic Sister of Battle with a Postapoc Female Head from Brother Vinni, and a plasma cannon from an old Space Marine Devastator Squad box. I'm quite happy with how this all came together!

Painting her, I decided to use Black Grey as the Frunze armor color. The lumen-heraldry on her armor is in Pink.

This is Crim in her army days, as a soldier in the 76th Chirikov Rad-Guards:

Astropath Luna Faenius of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica

An Astropath assigned to House Frunze, Luna helped Brother Aphesius root out a sect of heretics on Sancrist and now serves as part of the astropathic choir on the Frunze flagship.

The model is Victoria Miniatures' splendid Astro Witch, who I painted according to a color scheme drawn by the player. That's Royal Purple and Medium Blue on the robes, and a German Camo Black Brown staff.


Rogue Trader Laurenz Frunze

I enjoyed working with Anvil bits so much that I wanted to make more models! It was therefore about time I respect the chain of command, and model our Rogue Trader, Laurenz Frunze himself. Laurenz is young for a Rogue Trader, having been plucked out of Commissar training when he unexpectedly inherited the Warrant. A valiant and inspiring leader, Rogue Trader Frunze was last seen leading his flagship into battle against an unholy alliance of pirates and xenos raiders in the Pinus system.

I was originally just going to straight up use a Commissar model, but the player expressed a desire for something simpler. So I started out with the other officer coat and dress uniform legs, added fatigue command arms, a dress uniform head chosen by the player, and the power sword from the plastic Sisters box, as well as some epaulettes.

I gave him a Black Grey Frunze uniform under the commissar jacket, and a sash in the house color, with his ancestral seal in gold.

Astropath Cynthia of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica

After a long stint at (as) an astropathic relay station, Cynthia was assigned to House Frunze, where she served as part of Cardinal-Commodore Malachy's retinue and is currently the Rogue Trader's personal Astropath.

Her model is a female robed cultist from Anvil Industries, with a staff I built from a GW banner pole and an autopistol from a plastic Chaos Cultist.

Brother Aphesius

A priest and skilled chemist, Brother Aphesius was recently charged with the local crimes of disturbing the Emperor's peace, destruction of property, endangerment of critical life support systems and arson in the Vestigium Hanini system, and the Imperial crimes of resisting the Adeptus Terra, incitement to treason and treason. He was released into exile under Rogue Trader Laurenz Frunze's supervision, and now spreads the word and wrath of the Emperor in parts unknown.

The model is another Anvil robed cultist, with a long hair head from the same company and a flamethrower from a Cadian squad box.

Adept Cornelius Gorgo, formerly of the Administratum

Finishing off our trio of commanders was easy, because the fleet officer model in GW's Regimental Advisors pack was perfect for Cornelius. Formerly a high-ranking member of the Administratum, Adept Gorgo was hired by House Frunze to manage their finances; what he ended up doing was something rather different.

Adept Gorgo is wearing a Light Grey outfit with Dark Sea Grey cuffs, and a Medium Sea Grey tunic.

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I've also made our characters a Land Speeder. I can't remember the exact circumstances of its purchase, but the Rogue Trader wanted one, we made an acquisition roll for it, and it succeeded; so now he has a Land Speeder. Here it is!

A Land Speeder Storm seemed the most appropriate kind for a Rogue Trader, so that he can transport his retinue. They also acquired a plasma cannon, so I stuck the other one from the Devastator kit on.

Frankly, I'm delighted with this. Vehicles are fun, so I'm also on the lookout for a Tauros, since there's at least one in the Frunze motor pool, but have had no luck finding a model!

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So that's the first batch of Rogue Trader miniatures; I'll have more later!