Back when I started Project Chemdogs one of the options I considered was Wargames Atlantic's Bulldogs. Part of their Death Fields range, these were British themed sci-fi troopers, with a variety of heads, and in one memorable example, a cup of tea. Now, I am not immune to the occasional spark of patriotism, but I am somewhat aware of the history of the British Empire, so I eventually went for the less nationalistic angle of prison conscripts. I did however have a lingering idea of prison guards, or possibly another regiment or two mixed in. The Astra Militarum does not have to be uniform, in fact I'd argue in favour of variety. Too many damn Cadians these days. Meanwhile, the Tempestus Scions were coming up a lot in competitive play discussions. These are fairly inexpensive in game, somewhat more elite than my usual fair, and very mobile. I'd been having trouble with the whole claiming objective thing, so I was tempted. Then I had the idea I could do them up like British policemen, thus contrasting with my orange prison troops, and things flowed from there.
These are somewhat simpler of a project than my usual infantry, as these are meant to be a well-equipped and professional force, not prisoners in jumpsuits and tattered rags. The main thing would be modifying them to visually suggest a Scion profile. This meant sculpting on a chestplate to justify a 4+ save, and adding cabling to the guns. While effective, the chest plates would interfere with some of the arms, most noticeably the grenade launchers. In my defence, they're coppers, even without the stabproof vests on, they tend to look a bit portly. This also resulted in me using the "single" arms, and being confused by them. I eventually came to the conclusion that these featured bionics and/or heavy gauntlets, but I mistook them as regular hands at first, and painted them as such. Maybe I should have looked at some painted examples, you know, actual preparation before charging in, but it was an easy fix. Meanwhile the stereotypical "tit helmet" was achieved via the use of pith helmet heads and some adhesive gems painted silver to suggest the elaborate badges such things have. I'm sure there's better solutions out there, but the desired effect was achieved.
The equipment of these chaps (and presumed chappettes,) was largely driven by the composition of the Bulldogs sprue versus the current Scion data sheet. I'd wanted to do these up with multiple plasma guns, I had spares, but this isn't actually legal. Fortunately the grenade launchers were a convenient alternative and vaguely sensible in game. Less useful was the limited number of backpacks, prompting the use of spares from the Cannon Fodder sprue, which makes them less cohesive as a unit, but I gave those to the weapon specialists to compensate. Sarge types were done up with power swords and "counts as" plasma pistols, which probably isn't optimal, but I honestly couldn't be bothered with making power fists when the sword option was right there. Its not like you expect guard units of 5 guys to do much in a melee as it is. Speaking of unit sizes, while I made these as two squads of 5, I also made a spare bobbie so I could field a legal squad of 10 by swapping out a sarge. Its a squad compostion thing, look it up. I did not make a vox operator at this time, as he would be downgraded to a pistol and that looked bad, but I have the bits should I change my mind.
Painting was matter of rummaging for a suitable blue and ink wash, and then aiming for a slightly less drab look than my other infantry. The "Flying Squad" has a dirty job, but they get decent kit and are vaguely professional about it. Uniforms were done in Vallejo Medium Blue, with a careful application of old Drakenhof Nightshade. Details like skin and backpacks were done in my usual way, although I went lighter for some of the metallics. While I briefly considered doing the gasmask lenses in orange, I felt that was too Helghast, so I did them in Soulstone Technical instead, atop an off-white to brighten them. I then proceeded to muddy up the bases and boots.
Perhaps not my best work, but certainly table-worthy.
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