"40k Imperial Ship Crews (armed)...." Topic

I am planning on doing some ship boarding action sin 40k in the near future. I need some human figures suitable in size for 40k figures that could represent Imperial ship crews armed w/ pistols (Las, Auto, or Bolt, doesnt matter).

I dont want IG looking troops, no armor or anything. Just naval crew looking, but armed.

Thoughts? (GW suggestions or other are both welcomed).

I know you don't want IG but couldn't Mordian fit in a pinch?

link

GW used to make a set of 'dismounted' vehicle crews.

Eureka makes some VSF 'engineer' types with giant spanners, but they are less 'robust' than GW style figures.

You could try finding some of the old GW Frateris Militia figs. No armor. Armed with pistols/SMGs and knives. Unfortunately, there are/were only four individual figures so not a whole lot of variety available.

Necromunda gangers? Orlocks, Goliaths and Escher for basic ratings, van Saar for repair crews in vacuum suits.

My thoughts went immediately to the various WOTC pre painted Star Wars security forces . I thought the Bespin Cloud City guards , Coruscant troopers and Naboo defense forces ( there are probabaly more ) . The pre-paints come up really well with a quick touch up or repaint and are as cheap as chips , most of them are armed with simple sidearms you'd imagine to be carried on board a large ship and the size of the figures works well with GW stuff .
I have a whole squad of Genestealer Hybrids i use as a personal bodyguard in my SW games, the scales mix really well . cheers Tom

Victory Force?
link

Jes Goodwin did some concept pencils for starship crews – both Imperial and Eldar – in the White Dwarf articles that expanded the original Battlefleet Gothic – called Spacefleet, IIRC – and they were interesting – very Victorian. Think diving helmets, combat shotguns, lots of tubing. I wish they'd gone ahead with the range.

Hmm.. interesting question..

Okay.. first off.. do the crews wear a uniform..? If so,
it would probably be utilitarian.. Okay. and weapons would be also pretty standard.. but in tune with 40K..

Sounds like some Necromunda gang..
Goliath and Escher I would reject.. Van Saar always seemed
to slim to me.. and Cawdor and DeLaque have masks..

Leaving.. the Orlocks.. available in plastic in e-bay
sometimes.. look fairly uh.. 'normal'.. Maybe convert
a few to carry power swords, etc..

That's how I'd do it.. pick a color scheme for the
'uniform'..

The only other option would be the plastic Combat Zone
minis from em-4.. but you'd need 40K style weapons and
some conversion work..

Look at Hasslefree link

or link Heresy in their sci-fi range

also look at Urban Mammoth Militia range link

A mixture of these I use for adventurers/ships crew for Rogue Trader.

AS

Hmmm. I would probably use WWII Germans with a sidecap. Just switch out the KARs for lasguns. Kit might be an issue, but IMHO it would be a good starting place. If someone makes German Naval infantry too (officers with double breasted coats IIRC) that would be better.

Damon.

"I know you don't want IG but couldn't Mordian fit in a pinch?"

Actually, I plum forgot about those! They would do nicely!

Good points Sherlock.

I'll have to look into some of the GZG lesser armored troops too and see if something will work.

Mordians are actually the perfect look. Too bad they never made them in plastic sets! (yet).

GW actually made a couple of Titan crew figures very much as MacrossMartin describes, rather VSF with tubes and wires, which came with plastic arm and weapons sprues. They may be worth looking on ebay for.

I never really got on with the dress uniform style of Mordians. Van Saar gangers have been my choice. The Juves are young midshipmen who are nominally in charge while an experienced senior rating makes sure they stay on the right path.

It all depends on the following: Crew? most likely Van Saar or Catachan, as they'd be wearing shipsuits or hot-condition clothing, depending on where they're assigned. Security? Kasrkin or Cadians, as uniforms with armor would most likley be the order of dress for them. This also saves you from having to decide what non-GW stuff is "most appropriate", as if it's an Imperial ship, they'd be using standard Imperial gear; if it's a pirate or non-Imperial ship, anything goes! As for command crew, the higher officer types done for Cadians and the baneblade stand-alone officer are good choices, and make sure to throw in a few engineseers(techpriests) too, as they'd be all over the place making sure those ham-fisted norms are treating the Omnisiah's tech with the respect it deserves! LOL!

Don't forget to add a few servitors to flesh your crew.

For my late-'90s boarding party, I went with:

o The Titan Crew Princeps Seniores as an officer: link

o Mordians as elite troops, Van Saar as boltgun-fodder.

I think the original IG, plastic and metal, would also look good in that role, but I never bought any: link link link link link

If I were doing this today, I'd replace the Van Saars with the Blue Moon Human Spacemen, leaving off the helmets: link

o A maniple of 5 Crusader Robots: link

o A Techpriest Overseer – the one with a staff on this page – and the Servitor with Wrench: link

I considered adding one of the original Furibundus Dreadnoughts to the party, as a unit to breach the enemy ship's hull and serve as a bunker-buster: link I even bought the mini, but I never got around to using it in games.

Those original metal Guard figures still are quite nice!

I have been thinking about something similar, except in my case armor crew once they are outside of their vehicles. I am leaning toward the old IG figures like the ones jpattern links to. I just picked up some, and they look like they will do nicely. The Van Saar gangers also seems a good suggestion. I have eyed them a few times, thinking about a security firm. But they would make good ships crew too, I think.

Wasnt there a white dwarf article where a guy made a boarding party using Men At Arms and a couple ogres with green stuff welding type helmets

Hey quick thought for you guys (gals?), most naval boarding parties are conducted by marines…so the boarders need not look like your sailors.

Especially with large ships and large crews you will find everyone has a primary and secondary job…mechanic and fire response team, operations specialist and flight deck support crew, electronics tech and communications watch stander, etc.

Boarding crew members would be…marine and marine, boarding crew and boarding crew, etc.

Just a thought.

"Hey quick thought for you guys (gals?), most naval boarding parties are conducted by marines…so the boarders need not look like your sailors."

Yes, but in this case I was primarily thinking of Imperial ships being boarded by "other" races…hence, I need some ad-hoc imperial Navy defenders.

I do 40K in 15mm, with the old MJ figs for marines and orks and some Alternative Armies thrown in for Tyranids and Necrons.

I do use naval troops, and for these I just used the FOW Soviet Naval infantry. They make nice secondary troops for Imperial vessels, and good shore parties and ship's security for merchant vessels.

According to the Eisenhorn novels, Naval Security wear black uniforms and full face masks, and are pretty elite. I think Adeptus Arbites might work well for those.

"According to the Eisenhorn novels, Naval Security wear black uniforms and full face masks, and are pretty elite. I think Adeptus Arbites might work well for those."

Interesting stuff, thanks!

I also had been thinking about using WW1 or 2 Russian Naval minis as ship crews. The only problem is no sidearms.

Re: Ships officers, Rankings, and Non-Marine or Guard boarding crews, are there any descriptions of uniforms in the novels or anywhere else in the 40K verse?

Not that I know of, but IIRC, the old Spacefleet rules (White Dwarf) had pictures of Naval officers and ratings. I think one of the Inquisitor articles also pictured a naval petty officer.

I would imagine that there would be similar illustrations in BFG. Good luck.

Sorry, indeed met "ratings" not "Rankings"…duh.

Thanks.