Hi Folks,

It has been a while since I have last worked on my custom Astra Militarum Regiment. As it is based on kit bashed GSC models, it might lead to some confusion with GSC. But I do not play GSC (yet), even if through purchases (for example patrol boxes) I might harvest some sheer GSC models too. And as such it might lead me sooner or later to add enough specific GSC models to align a swiss-knife army. But this is not today’s topic.

Before diving into the scheduling, a small resumé can be required. Where does it comes from? It is a long-term commitment. It started when W40k still had its Allies matrix in 8th Ed.  My will was to complete my SW force with an armored fist detachment in order to boost my Tank payload with stuff punchier than Predators and cheaper than Land Raiders. Leman Russes were a perfect fit. This drove my early customization and kit bashes works during the Lock down in order to “space-marinize” them, especially including heavy weapons variants and armor panels for sponsons. As you can see, even if the released edition at the time was not 8^th and neither 9^th anymore, I had some lag…

I then started adding some other kit bashes in the form of stormtroopers based on SM scouts and heavy weapon teams.

In the meantime, I had accumulated a lot of sprues of GSC Neophyte hybrid. I have started kitbashing them as battle line units and command squads. Yet these remained in standby for so long that a new codex version has been released in-between. And the built models are not aligned with the rules anymore: heavy weapon team in command squads, special weapons used… are a few stuff to be corrected. For that I have more sprues available.

This is therefore paving the way for the work to be done with some priorities:

• Removing the heavy weapon teams I had built for my 2 command squad and adding another  kitbashed models to field a complete new unit of 3 teams.
• Substituting the removed models by new ones as per the current rules to get a legit command squad (2oo2)
• Dispatching the kitbashed models by “types” of defining paint schemes variations for eased unit identification: I have swapped heads using hooded or helmeted Skitarii heads but these are distributed in uneven amounts between units. Head can be a visual trick to bound the unit to Cadian/DKoK/Catachan rules for example. I could also do this by color scheme or just by special weapon selection as these may differ from one datasheet to another.
   

Yet I did not do this for my HW teams where crew are mixed. It is more likely that paint scheme will be the way, using color code on pauldrons for example. or a combination of selected heads and paulton colors...

So what is the next step? Well: mugshots. It is indeed needed getting a more exhaustive view of the current model distribution in order to draw a comparison with the current state of the rules as per codex. It will then lead to a design of the tasks to be done.

This is the overview of the models and the usual suspects built and primed but never painted. These lads were used for building 2 different command squads and now need to be redistributed:

One HB weapon team. I will probably extent the barrel and use the gunner as a prowy DKoK heavy machine gun. GSC stubbers or anotehr Scout HB I have will do the job for adding 2 extra gunners. Adding bitz from the Skitarii sprue will allow building the radio operator/spotter.

Radio operator, standard bearer and medic. 

These will easily find a role in any redesigned command squad.

2 snipers and one GL. Interestingly the snipers are (by coincidence) with helmets. So I still might build DkOK proxies all with helmets. I hadn't that in mind...

Officers or Sergeants: they will fit anyplace

Interestingly I was convinced I had also a 10 men strong Infantery platoon built. But apparently not... I have enough sprues to do something like 40 troopers. THis is going to be a hell of a ride (and I have also sourced 2 Jotunn Ogryns that will do perfect bodyguards in ther Command groups). This is a plan.

See you once the DS from the codex will have been digested so that I can build a first draw of a list in order to do detailled scheduling.