Category Archives: Imperial Agents

Adeptus Ministorum Priests: Imperial Preacher 1 (1997), Chaos Cultist (1999), (converted) Redemptionist (1997) – Neglected February 2019

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Imperial Preacher 1 (1997), Chaos Cultist (1999), (converted) Redemptionist (1997)

This trio of models was completed in February, after a long, long time in the making. So long, in fact that I don’t precisely recall when they were started, though I do know that they were all started independently of one another, and it was only over the years that the three became a trio of models that I stored and considered together.

The first one of these models, on our left with the sword – is the second of my “proper” Preachers that I painted from the line that came out with the 2nd Edition Sisters of Battle Codex. The first was done years ago now, but I’m not sure where the model is, though improbably, the other model is still available new from GW. Possibly with some of my Imperial Guard, or more likely in one of the two missing figures cases that house a lot of my Blood Bowl and Necromunda figures. I’ll take some pics and post him up when I find him. This guy is the one that we’d always joke around and refer to as “Keith from The Prodigy”, because of his hairstyle. A bit grim in a way for me to have just finished him and have been listening a little to The Prodigy recently. 😦

Imperial Preacher 1 (1997), Chaos Cultist (1999), (converted) Redemptionist (1997)

The second of these models – the shirtless fellow in the middle – is from the small range of metal Chaos Cultists released during 3rd Edition 40k in 1999. There were two Demagogues and six Cultists. I have a couple more of these, but I’m not sure if I got all of them. This guy is “Chaos Cultist 6”, but I felt like he wasn’t exceptionally Chaos-y, and with an appropriate paint job would fit in with the wider group of Redemptionists, who I had painted in similar schemes, along with my Preachers and even my WHFB Flagellants. This was to create a consistent visual theme between the models where you could see that the Redemptionists and even my Cawdor, who could sub for Ministorum Troops, PDF or Imperial Guard – as well as Necromunda Gangers (and, obviously, cultists of almost whatever was needed). This of course, is where the divergent styles of basing that I’m doing now in the twenty-teens creates a potential problem.

Imperial Preacher 1 (1997), Chaos Cultist (1999), (converted) Redemptionist (1997)

The third of these preachers was originally a Necromunda Redemptionist model, specifically – Brethren with Stub Gun and Autopistol. As you can see, the Stub Gun was removed and replaced with a bell on a chain (from the plastic WHFB Zombie kit) and a bearded head from one of the Empire kits. Probably the kit that came packed in with Mordheim.

So that’s it. Though I am pretty pleased to have finally completed this trio of models that sat, part-finished and thoroughly Neglected for well over a decade and more!

Officio Assassinorum: Cullexus Assassin (40k2e, 1999)

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Officio Assassinorum. The Order of Imperial Assassins. The face of death to whomever is unlucky enough to see them, and many who never even catch a glimpse of their killers.

This is the “Head 1” version of the model. I think I have the alternative version, unpainted, somewhere. It utilises the same torso and body, and given the “throwing grenade” pose of the torso, I doubt we’re going to get a radically different model when I do eventually find and paint him.

The Culexus Assassin, of course was released last out of the four (five?) Imperial Assassin types. The first, obviously was the Rogue Trader-Era “Ninja” Assassin, of no fixed temple. Now my memory is a little sketchy, but I recall the original being superseded over the course of three months worth of White Dwarf by the trio of the Vindicare (Sniper), the Callidus (Close Combat Shapeshifter) and the Eversor (All-out Psycho-Killer Berserker). Later on, with Codex: Assassins, they introduced the Culexus, who is a psychic “null” and a thing called the Animus Speculum bolted onto their gigantic, Xenomorph-like heads. When the eye of the Animus opens, focused “negative psychic energy” is unleashed and does a right number on any Psykers nearby, and in particular on its target.

Having read through Index 2 to see what this guy is like in-game, I can see he’s a bit of a glass cannon, and appropriately nasty against psykers. Assassins were a nasty surprise to anyone who came near them back in 2nd edition, which was when I most often employed Assassins – this fellow in particular against a friend who’s Slannesh army was fond of rather potent psykers.

I’m not sure how often a weapon like this will manage to see the tabletop in my games of 8th, which will largely be focused on smaller, friendly games for some time as the forces are built up. Perhaps he could be rolled out for especially large games? Certainly once we get to the stage of Daemon Princes and Greater Daemons being rolled out to the table, he’d have a place then.