Fighting Tiger HQ
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.

Members of Fighting Tiger HQ units are collectively called tanadars, or officers. The biggest difference you may notice between Fighting Tiger HQ units and other Space Marine HQ units is color scheme. Characters from the Ultramarines, Blood Angels, and Dark Angels wear different colors to help them stand out from the regular troopers: thus, Chaplains wear black, Librarians wear blue, Apothecaries wear white, and Techmarines wear red. 

In contrast, Fighting Tiger characters wear colors appropriate to their jatis and will look like regular Fighting Tiger Marines. Basic colors are Fiery Orange (or Skull White, for females) and Chaos Black for Jatis Mahaduyana, Bubonic Brown (or Skull White, for females) and Bestial Brown for Jatis Ghuyarashtra. 

New Command Squad
I had some figures lying around, so I organized them into a 5-man Command Squad. Just for a change of pace, I painted them in brown and mustard, the colors of Jatis Ghuyarashtra. The squad consists of a Veteran Sergeant with a power fist, a Standard Bearer, an Apothecary, and two Marines with flamers.

Below is a closeup of the Standard Bearer. I thought I'd do something a little different: instead of holding a big flag or banner, the Marine accompanies a real, live tiger, an animal sacred to the the Fighting Tigers. The Marine is a typical Standard Bearer miniature, with the metal standard pole chopped away from the right hand and replaced with a bolt pistol (one can never have too many sidearms, can one?) The tiger figure is a Winged Tiger from the Dark Heaven line by Reaper Miniatures. I simply left off the wings and filled the gap in the back (where the wings would go) with green stuff.

In game terms, the tiger is a piece of wargear, not a model, and serves as a Company Banner, a Sacred Standard, or a Chapter Banner. Whatever attacks the tiger would get in battle are represented by the Standard Bearer's rolls. 

Next up is the Veteran Sergeant and the two flamer guys (below). Nothing too fancy here: these are 2nd Edition-era pewter figures. Notice that I've painted them in the simplified color scheme of just doing stripes on helmets and shoulder pads. Colors used are Bestial Brown for most of the armor, Bubonic Brown for the shoulder pads and helmets (with Bestial Brown stripes), Chaos Black for guns, and Dwarf Bronze for accents. Each figure is washed in watered-down Chaos Black for definition and to make them look less "cartoony." Bases are Goblin Green with static grass glued down onto them to mimic the lush jungles and plains of Veda, the Tigers' home planet.

Raja Khandar Madu
Raja Khandar Madu rules Jatis Mahaduyana and commands 500 Fighting Tigers. This figure consists of a series of simple conversions. Her torso and legs come from the 3rd Edition plastic Marine sprue; her chest eagle is gold and her backpack sports some sabretooth tiger heads. The Iron Halo is half of the collar from the Warhammer Chaos figure Scylla. Her lightning claws are Terminator arms, again painted gold. She hangs her helmet on her belt; her head is from a fantasy figure. Her hair is painted in Blood Red with several applications of Flesh Wash to make it appear more natural. 

Raja Khandar's Singh (Command) Squad
"Singh" is a Vedic word meaning "tiger warrior": these Marines, some of the finest and most valorous Fighting Tigers, are allowed to serve as Raja Khandar's bodyguard. Below are some members of the squad.

Above left is the Standard Bearer for the squad. I HATE paper banners (because they're fragile) so I used the (metal) Blood Angels banner and painted it appropriately, with the "blood drop" at the top becoming a green gem. The (2nd Edition) Ork chainsword curves like a scimitar, giving the figure an Eastern look.

Above right is an Apothecary, or Tiger of Savitri; Savitri is the Vedic god of healing. The Apothecary is painted orange with black stripes black except for his right shoulder, which bears the double helix insignia.

Previously, I had used a Razorback for Raja Khandar and her bodyguard, but a new and improved Command Squad needs a new and improved ride. My friend Dwayne Powell was kind enough to build and paint "Man-eater IX" (below) for his favorite Fighting Tiger, "the Redhead." 

Raja Khandar's Rhino is the only "new" one in my collection; all my other Rhinos are from the original design that debuted in 1987. Because her Rhino is special, it can look different and still fit in with the rest of my transports. 

Zaghnal Maratha and Talwar Chakram

Left: Tiger of Brihaspati Zaghnal Maratha. Right: Tiger of Varuna Talwar Chakram

Zaghnal Maratha is the Chapter's most powerful Librarian, or Tiger of Brihaspati; Brihaspati is the Vedic god of wisdom. Zaghnal is armed with a force weapon, protected by a psychic hood, and uses a jump pack to accompany Tigers of Kali into battle. He despises the forces of Chaos and is Raja Khandar Madu's most trusted advisor. 

Talwar Chakram is the Chapter's most experienced Chaplain, or Tiger of Varuna; Varuna is the Vedic god of oaths. On her banner pole hangs the pelt of a Ghuyarashtran tiger that Shiva slew with nothing but a knife as it attacked him. Talwar is Raja Shamshir Talatra's advisor but their relationship is frequently strained as she is often forced to rein in the stubborn, impetuous Raja and remind him of his responsibilities and duties to the Chapter.
 
 

Next page (pg 3): Elites Previous page (pg 1): Introduction

Related Pages
Fighting Tigers HQ
Tactics: Fighting Tigers HQ
Raja Khandar Madu
Zaghnal Maratha
Talwar Chakram
 

Last Updated: May 2007 

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