Putting together a Kill Team for Her

I honestly thought this project was going to be easy, but as I delved deeper into the rabbit hole I found a plethora of opinions and emotions that I did not know was there. To be honest the only thought in my mind was, “this is going to be cool to play a game and spend time with someone that I share my life with.”

Now don’t get me wrong, I had an idea of the kind of “salt” I would experience going into a project like this, but I under estimated the responses I have received. As with any “good intention” idea, especially with financial commitment for this hobby, it should start with an army list and theory crafting.

This is where I feel like I had messed up upon sharing the basis of the Command Roster composition. I choose Deathwatch Primaris Space Marines as her entry army, but what to go from there. She may want the minimal amount of models to move around and less dice to roll around. The only things she requested that  the Kill Team has to be the Patriots and that the leader be Tom Brady. I know what you are probably thinking to yourself; that’s heresy! Yet I did it anyways.

We purchased a combat squad of Intercessors and the Fangs of Ulrich box set. And off to the races we go. I started out with the Leader of the Kill team, Tom Brady. Then she chose Gronkowski, Bruschi, Moss, and Brown (now Law, but that’s for a later date.) From there I chose the weapon load outs as  best as I could with the information she provided.

To further elaborate the Kill Team, she wanted a few players on her roster mainly who she calls the GOAT, Tom Brady. I for one asked her who? Then she started to explain who is who and why she wants them on her team.

Out of simplicity sake, Tom Brady is the leader of this Kill Team and Intercessor Sergeant. He is equipped with a Bolt Rifle, Bolt Pistol, and Power Sword. Here I had use the standard body of an Intercessor and choose parts to portray that he is leading on the field. The sheathed chainsword is from a Sequitor bit. Which is the only non 40k bit that has been implemented into this model. The other arms and equipment come standard in a Combat Squad box of Intercessors.

Tedy Bruschi is an Intercessor Gunner and Sniper Specialist. He is equipped with a Bolt Pistol, Stalker Bolt Rifle, and Auxiliary Grenade Launcher. I had used a modified Bolt Rifle that has the Grenade Launcher molded to it. To differentiate the type of rifle being used, I snipped the tip of the barrel and replace it with a silencer bit that came with the sprue.

Rob Gronkowski is the Combat Specialist of the Kill Team. He is a Reiver Sergeant and is equipped a Combat Knife, Grapnel Launcher, and Heavy Pistol. Most if not all parts of this model has parts from the Reiver sprue.

Randy Moss is the other Intercessor Gunner, but he is the Kill Team’s Comms specialist. He is equipped with gear in the manner of Bruschi, but his Auxiliary Grenade Launcher has been kit bashed from an Astra Militarum sprue. I had shaved lower part of the Bolt Rifle so that I can accommodate the Grenade Launcher weapon. The back end of the Grenade laucher has been sniped in order to make the Launcher fit properly.

Ty Law rounds the Kill Team with his Bolt Rifle and Bolt Pistol. Although not a specialist, he is equipped with an Auspex. The though process behind this is to stretch the specialists on the field and lessen the blow should one Kill Team member to be taken out of action.

Its been busy the past week and I managed to find time to finish these guys to an acceptable standard for my Fiance. I changed their bases from the Necromunda bases to a custom base that simulates a part of a Football Field.

I had used some sand that I glued on blank bases that came with the Primiaris set. Then I painted them Green. Used varying shades of green as highlights, only to paint parts of the grass with Football Field Iconography and markings.

I added further details on the miniatures themselves by writing numbers on their backs to help identify the miniatures out on the field faster.

Finally I carefully removed the Patriots from their 40k themed bases to the new custom bases to further streamline the Patriots theme. It was a simple switch and I felt lucky that none of the paint on the miniatures chipped off during this process.

Now that the miniatures are complete perhaps she will further enjoy the game rather than be annoyed at rolling dice. I hope this will ignite a fire in her to put together her own miniatures and practice painting. In truth, I might be doing the painting for her.