My pandemic project was getting back into painting minis, and my latest task has been putting together a penal legion using the excellent Cannon Fodder sculpts (with the help of some other company's miniatures as well). Here's the first squad I put together: includes 7 prisoners and 3 guards. My goal is to create an infantry platoon using I.G. rules, with support & special weapons.
I'll try and post more of the squads & support as I finish them. Any CC welcome and appreciated.
@Erebos Hammerhand Thanks! I was definitely inspired by some of the older GW books and minis. I'm especially thinking of the 3rd Edition City Fight cover art by Kopinski.
Quick Update: Finished up the Warden Commander for the penal legion. He'll be a junior officer/lieutenant in charge of the platoon. I've always loved this scuplt; its so full of personality. For some reason, he just screams corrupt prison warden to me. Happy to have found a relatively cheap one so I could paint him up!
Still working on his command squad, as well as a second squad of prisoners & their overseers. Hope to have more painted & posted after the weekend painting!
Commissar is definitely in the works. How else can I keep the scum and villainy in line? And the prisoners too! ;) As for human bombs, @JTam is absolutely right re: demolition charges. Just gotta put on my kitbashing/green stuff thinking cap to figure out how to sort it out.
Life interrupted hobbies this week, but I'm hoping to post squad 2 over the weekend.
As far as I do remember, back to W40K 1.5 and 2, Penal Battalions included Adeptus Mechanicus personnel since they were responsible for the explosive collars, under Commissar strict monitoring -so detonating those of soldiers that fumble their Morale check for instance.. avoiding any rout and reinforcing the Esprit de Corps of the survivors.
Update! Squad 2 is finished, ready to earn some pardons at the end of a bayonet. And a rear view, which I totally forgot to show in my initial post... But it's how you know they're in the 141st!
And a view of the entire platoon so far:
On the painting front, I've got to finish up the Lt.'s command squad, and the platoon commissar. Then, add some special weapon support (snipers, human bombs?), another squad or two, and some support weapons. Lots to do!
@Mumbleford Waits Not sure how well the rules would fit, but perhaps your bombers could work as cyclops demolition vehicles. Instead of being remote controlled by an operator, it would be remotely commanded by an overseer of some kind :)
And a rear view, which I totally forgot to show in my initial post... But it's how you know they're in the 141st!
