Fighting Tiger HQ (Updated 06/2009)
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.

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. 

Raja Khandar Madu
Raja Khandar Madu rules Jatis Mahaduyana and commands 500 Fighting Tigers. She counts as a Chapter Master. 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. 

To pay off a football bet he made with me, my friend Matthew Hunt built, painted, and sent to me a version of Raja Khandar Madu in Terminator armor. Matt's Cleveland Browns might never beat my Pittsburgh Steelers again, but he does excellent work. You can see more views of this mini here. You'll notice that Matt decided to base his version of RKM on a "stone floor" instead of on static grass, like I did. 

Acting Raja Chandramatie Bahl
Since Shamshir Talatra was deposed recently (as recounted in the story Traveller of Both Time and Space), the Librarian Chandramatie Bahl has been filling in until a more suitable replacement is found to lead Jatis Ghuyarashtra and its 500 Space Marines. I've had this figure for over 20 years: it's a lead Librarian from the Rogue Trader (i.e., 1st Edition) days. She originally came with a standard backpack, but I put a jump pack on her so she can get up-close-and-personal in a hurry. 

You'll notice that I painted Chandramatie Bahl in a standard Tiger scheme, not the all-blue look that "codex" Librarians have. I explain why here.

Kshatriya Jirbu Ghosh and Singh Squad
Khandar Madu's second-in-command (and heir apparent to the title of Raja) is Kshatriya (Captain) Jirbu Ghosh. She is accompanied by a Singh (Command) Squad of a Company Champion, an Apothecary, and Standard Bearer, and two fellows with flamers. 

The model for Jirbu Ghosh is nothing fancy, put together from a plastic, multi-part Marine kit. So too are the guys with flamers. The Standard Bearer holds a pewter Blood Angels banner (properly painted in tiger stripes, of course) and he's carrying a 2nd Edition Ork chainsword that curves like a scimitar, giving the figure an appropriately Eastern look. I used a plastic Lizardman shield and painted it green for the Company Champion's combat shield: maybe it was made from the hide of some dragon-like critter.

Kshatriya Sudra Patel and Singh Squad
Sudra Patel was once a disgraced Gray Tiger, but after his heroism in single-handedly defending Veda from a Dark Eldar force, he was re-instated and risen through the ranks, recently being promoted to Kshatriya, or Captain.

Like Jirbu's squad, the notable member here is the Standard Bearer: everyone else is a standard Marine figure without any conversions. For 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 Standard. Whatever attacks the tiger would get in battle are represented by the Standard Bearer's rolls. 

Other Fighting Tiger Tanadars
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 was the Chapter's most experienced Chaplain, or Tiger of Varuna; Varuna is the Vedic god of oaths. Formerly an advisor to Shamshir Talatra, she was killed fighting against Hive Fleet Ravana, but her armor was recovered and given to her acolyte, Chaplain Anhurada Chawla (below). Anhurada is still learning her place amongst the leadership of Jatis Ghuyarashtra, but she expects to lead the Terminator-armored Tigers of Indra into battle soon. 

Daksha Ram is another Chaplain, notable for his valor during the final battle of the Jungle's tie-in to the Eye of Terror Campaign. He also appeared in the final battle of the Tooth and Claw Campaign. Daksha Ram was formerly a member of Jatis Ghuyarashtra, but casualties necessitated his transfer to Jatis Mahaduyana. My friend Patrick Eibel originally painted this figure, and was kind enough to give it to me. Pat didn't object when I asked him if I could re-paint parts of Daksha Ram to reflect his realignment. 

You'll notice that I painted these figures in standard Tiger schemes, not either all-black for the Chaplains or all-blue like Librarians in other chapters. I explain why here.
 
 

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

Related Pages
Fighting Tigers HQ
Tactics: Fighting Tigers HQ
Raja Khandar Madu
 
 

Last Updated June 2009

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