Fighting Tiger Troops (Part I): Tactical Squads (Updated 08/2009)
Unlike Codex Astartes Chapters (such as the Ultramarines), the Fighting Tigers do not organize themselves into companies. Instead, the Tigers divide themselves into two castes, or jatis, one based on each of Veda’s continents, Mahaduyana and Ghuyarashtra. Each jatis is identical in size (about 500 Marines, plus attendants) and organization. Each jatis takes its name from its home continent and its markings from the tigers found there.

Fighting Tiger Troop units are either Tigers of Rudra (Tactical Space Marines; Rudra is the Vedic god of battles), or Tigers of Puchan (Space Marine Scouts; Puchan is the Vedic god of guides). Currently, my army has six squads of Tigers of Rudra and six squads of Tigers of Puchan. Basic colors are Fiery Orange and Chaos Black for Jatis Mahaduyana, Bubonic Brown and Bestial Brown for Jatis Ghuyarashtra. One of the benefits of painting Marines in different color schemes is that it's easy to tell squads apart. Orange and black Marines are obviously members of one squad; mustard and brown Marines are obviously another squad. 

In the photos below, you will note that my models have different styles of armor, slightly different color schemes (original and simplified), and even different shades of colors. I began painting Fighting Tigers in 1987 with plastic RTB01 Space Marines that came 30 to a box. As the years went by, I deliberately used different figures and shades to keep myself interested--it would be dull to paint the same old thing over and over. I also think that the "mixed" look of the troops nicely reflects the ancient age of the chapter. Surely, in the thousands of years that the Tigers have existed, there would have to be at least small changes in appearance.

All my Tac Squads are 10-man units with a special weapon (usually a flamer) and a heavy weapon. Often, the Sergeant is a figure that someone else painted and gave to me as a present. Such is the case in the squad above: the Sergeant is the fellow in the all-orange armor. The squad also has two Rogue-Trader era “beakie” Marines with studded shoulders; a few 2nd-Edition pewter figures, several “modern” plastic figures, and even a figure (given to me by my friend Paul Hill) from another gaming line. 

This squad has more RTB-01 “beakies,” more metal guys, and another non-GW dude with an almost Tau-like helmet. I made the flamer from bits of old models. The main body is a lascannon from a Rogue Trader-era Tarantula. The nozzle is the bit from the plastic RTB01 flamer. The two larger fuel tanks are from a Imperial Guard tank accessory sprue. 

More mixing of old and new figures, with lots of old-school “Space Mice” (as my wife calls the original Marine minis). Interestingly, the guy with the plasma gun is NOT an RTB01 Marine, but one of the newer figures with a “retro” studded shoulder. That smaller, right-handed power fist on the Sergeant is from the 1980’s RTB01 set. Incidentally, I usually (but not always) give my Sergeants a pawprint design on their right shoulder to mark them as the Man in Charge.

The right arm of the Sergeant in this squad is from the 2nd Edition Nazdreg figure, which comes with a weapon that could easily pass for a combi-flamer. Instead of stripes, the melta gunner has his sabha name (“Rudra”) on his left shoulder. Like other squads from Jatis Ghuyarashtra, you can easily tell which ones are the newer models: they’re lighter brown. 

The Sergeant of this squad was originally a Chaplain figure (“Daksha Ram”) sent to me by friend Robert Gutkowski, but as I already had a “Daksha Ram” mini (painted by my friend Pat Eibel), I gave this fellow a combi-flamer and a power fist and put him in charge of a Tac squad. I love the scratch-built turban that Robert gave him. The squad also has a converted flamer made from old bits. 

The plasma cannon-dude in this squad started off life in a Devastator Squad, which is why his left shoulder is brown and not mustard. I moved him because plaz cannons are much cheaper in Tac Squads. The Sergeant is another non-GW figure given to me by Paul Hill: I lopped off the old head, replaced it with a SM helmet, and added a combi-flamer and an Imperial Eagle emblem on his chest. 
 
 

Next page (pg 6): Troops, Part II Previous page (pg 4): Gray Tigers

Related Pages
Fighting Tiger Troops
Tactics: Fighting Tiger Troops

Last update August 2009 

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