Cadian 101st and Friends

This is Lieutenant Arminka “Minaka” Lesk, the principle protagonist of the Cadian Honour novel series who was promoted to the Command of 2nd Platoon at the end of the Traitor Rock.

For those wondering: Yes they did announce a new book to be accompanied by an official model for this character. Yes, this was literally the day after I finished building this particular model. Yes, I want Games Workshop to know I take this personally. =P

That aside, here she is in squad commander armour. I maaaaay consider getting the official model when it’s available to switch in but for now I am quite happy with this.
She has the Powersabre she looted on Malouri and her Marauder pattern Bolt Pistol she was issued upon her promotion (which is supposed to have a drum magazine based on the book but hey, not even the official model has that so I don’t feel to bad about the detail either).

Who knows what the new Novel, Shadow of the Eighth, will bring but this is where I am taking the squad from for this build.

I went with a custom head from MGS Miniatures that has the bangs and the bun we so often see Minka sporting in official art. It’s not as high up as the official model but I am still happy with it for a kit bash and my own take on the character.

For a her Rank pauldron, she gets the default Commander option which I have decided has the skull which means Lieutenant.

By the end of the Traitor Rock, Blanchez (no we don’t get a surname name, or possibly forename) has essentially become Lesk’s sharpshooter and she takes Blanchez into her command squad. Beginning as a cadet in the new Cadian Whiteshield program, taking children born to Cadian’s off world to try and train much needed reinforcement for the rapididly declining diaspora of Cadian Shock Troopers, she earns her Trooper status and falls in with Minka during the course of the war.
Now, not only is the Sniper Rifle not a great pick for this squad (I expect this one to be up at the front with the infantry for the Regimental Banner bonus and to be issuing orders) so it’s Heavy type wrecks it’s ability to move and shoot but there isn’t even a Sniper Rifle/Longlas part in either the Cadian Shock Trooper kit, the Command Squad Kit or the Cadian Upgrade Kit… so that’s a bust.
Rather I made her the standard bearer and gave here sleeved lasgun on the back accessory to give the vibe of “she could pull it out and attach a scope and what not” but for play purposes she’s the “Standard Bearer with Lasgun” I need.

She’s also the first on this list with my modified “Command Squad Pauldron”. This is the pauldron we saw on Colour Sergeant Tyson with the Sergeant Stripes ground away (the camera flash really catches the edge of the marks but trust me, they blend in to the naked eye).
Moving to Lesk’s Command squad infers no particular rank in the Cadian 101st so I didn’t want the stripes but I did want something other than blank plate that basic troopers get so I settled on this as it leaves that small Cadian Gate at the top of the pauldron as a distinguishing mark. This’ll be seen on others in this squad.

Blanchez also got a head from MGS Miniatures. She is described as having a pony tail in the books but blow me down if I could find a head with a pony tail that would fit in place with that banner just over the shoulder that didn’t have her staring straight into the pole to make room.
Rather I settled on a head that came with a pony tail, soaked it on hot water and broke it off at what was previously the tie back for said pony tail. At a distance this looks like a small bun (a bit like Lesk’s, but smaller still) and the hair in front give a good impression of having the long hair.

The Platoon’s Standard got the winged skull topper, just because it fits nicely as one step down the Regimental Order from the Company Standard’s laurelled skull.

I’m splitting this squad into two posts as there’s not enough entries on a post to do all five.