BLOG EXCLUSIVE
Blog Exclusives are videos that will be Unlisted on Youtube, allowing me to focus on MaK for the YouTube channel, yet to also explore other genres here on the blog. The Blog Exclusives are set to not be monetized, so if you do see ads… that’s on YouTube. I tried. 🙂

When I first encountered Warhammer 40K, it was back in my aircraft building days. A few guys in the local model club played the game, and would occasionally bring a completed model to the meetings. They looked kind of cool to me at the time, but they were subjects I found less than interesting (Space Marines), and some downright repulsive (those rotting, disease things).

After my switch to Sci-Fi, I gained an appreciation for some of the models – Space Marines, Adeptus Mechanicus vehicles, and others. But when I encountered The Imperial Guard (Astra Militarum) I thought “this is something I can dig into.”

Now, I am NOT a player of the game. I have nothing against it. But I am an old, grumpy paratrooper who prefers to spend time at home. The one time I went to watch a game, I was lectured to by a younger fellow, who I will charitably describe as a pasty pale marshmallow who lived in his mom’s basement (literally). He very loudly declared that “Space Marine vehicles don’t rust.” I decided it was best for me to smile and nod and move on.

And not crush his soul by saying “you realize it’s all plastic toys and made up nonsense, right?”

What I love about the Guard vehicles and figures most is that had these been given to me (painted or not) when I was 10, they would have fit PERFECTLY in the massive battle scenarios I played out in my backyard, long before anyone had thought of Warhammer 40K.

A friend and I actually came up with a simple set of game rules.

• Infantry only shoots infantry, tanks shoot tanks.
  • That bazooka guy can shoot a tank.
  • No one knew what the guy with the bayonet over his head was good for so he usually stayed in the box.
• If any other vehicle has something that looks like a cannon, it can shoot a tank. Otherwise, it can only shoot infantry.
• One unit shoots at another unit and a die roll determines the outcome.
  • 1 or 2 means no damage.
  • 3 or 4 means it’s flipped down for a turn.
  • 5 or 6… oooh, sorry… he’s dead.
• Artillery (a tennis ball) could be used twice per game. It was dropped from a height agreed by all, and whatever got knocked over was DEAD.
• Each unit could move the length of its base (or size) OR shoot in a turn.
• All disagreements were settled by a brief scuffle, then everyone shook hands and continued to play, unless someone got mad and went home.
  • If you forgot any soldiers when you stomped off they reverted to the ownership of the person in whose yard the game was played.
    • Unless anyone’s mom got involved, and then you did as you were told.
      • Because it was the 70s. Spankings were a thing.

The 1970s were a much simpler time.

So do you actually have a point in all of this?

Yes, thanks for asking. 🙂

This Astra Militarum Hippogriff AFV would have fit in perfectly in my backyard battles, whether I was playing alone, or with friends. It’s just really cool, and a perfect size. Big enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Small enough to easily paint and weather. Big enough to not need reading glasses to see the details. (Mostly.)

I have no idea how valuable it is in the actual Warhammer 40K game. But I am quite sure it would have been a centerpiece of my plastic army.

The Plan

As you’ve seen by the thumbnail, this has been painted pink. And no, it’s not a Hello Kitty or Barbie theme. Rather, it is inspired by the British SAS and LRDG vehicles of WWII.

I say inspired because after reading various modeling forums researching this color, I discovered a hard and fast truth. For *anyone* to declare they know what the pink color was (which seemed to actually vary based on a variety of conditions) is on the order of stating you definitely know what the shade of WhoCaresElGelb was in NormanGrad in 1944-45. Food fights may ensue. Steve and his bayonet may be summoned. Because one thing is consistent across modeling genres… if anything can be nitpicked to death, it will.

So consider it “inspired by”. An “homage.” Or, more correctly, and old man mixing paints and saying “Who cares? That’s good enough!”

Because I know for a fact that 10-year-old Jon would have said “THANKS!”, picked up the Hippogriff, called it a “Hippo”, and it would have been in battle in minutes.

Fun.