Adeptus Mechanicus - SKULZ, Inq28, and a Golden Age

Tech-priests of Mars assemble!

Way back in June of 2000, Games Workshop started a sales promotion campaign known as the Skulz Program. The program rewarded customers with little Skulz stickers for every $10 worth of product purchased directly through Games Workshop.  These stickers could be collected and redeemed for a host of different prizes, such as limited edition models, belt buckles, and even a mighty Baneblade!


Ever since the Skulz Program started, there was really only one prize I had my eyes on, and that was the limited edition Adeptus Mechanicus unit sculpted by Alan and Michael Perry. The set came with 9 different Adeptus Mechanicus models, including 5 Tech priests, 2 servitors, and a Magos complete with a book wielding servant.  Each was unique and imaginative (and charmingly silly), keeping the Adeptus Mechanicus theme with cogs, ribbed armour, rebreathers and axes.  And although they all have similar styling, few resort to reusing faces or weapons (they each have unique bolt pistols or hand flamers (!?)). As promotional miniatures, they are not quite Simon Egan masterpieces, but they are so steeped with atmosphere and character that it hardly matters!

The remaining Tech Priest to trim and assemble...

I can't build there. Somethin's in the way!

At the time of their release, I did not really have the means to acquire all the Skulz tokens needed to get the squad, and, while upset, I eventually put the loss behind me (but they never completely left my mind).  If we jump back to the present, the hobby community has grown tremendously since that time, with countless talented hobbyists exploring every facet of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.  In my opinion, one of the most interesting ones in hobby today is the ever more popular INQ28 and =I=Munda (playing Inquisitor on the 28mm scale).  Bloggers from all around the world have been delving into the dark corners of their minds (and the 40k mythos) to create some of the most fantastic models yet seen in the hobby; it has been justifiably described as a Golden Age.  A lot of this work has even started to be featured in White Dwarf (the Blanchitsu section).  Even more excitingly, it is beginning to spawn collaborative efforts between many of the more renown members of the developing scene, with the Yggrasilium Pilgrimage springing first to mind.

All of these developments in the hobby (In particular the Spiky Rat Pack and Migsula’s Legion of Plastic),  got me to start thinking about those venerable Adeptus Mechanicus models again. After looking around for a while, I was able to obtain a complete set from a friend.

At this point, I have only had time to finish trimming and assembling three of the models, but thought people would be interested in seeing them. Keeping in character with Adeptus Mechanicus theme (and my Space Hulk themed Ultramarine force) I opted to base the models on Dragon Forge’s Tech-Deck bases. The tech priest with the punch-spike had always been a personal favorite, and was the first one I assembled (he is also the only tech priest to not have a ridiculously sized backpack, housing a servo arm that would make those used by the tech marine models today weep).  While often overlooked, the Magos’s servant is actually wired into a powersupply held by the Magos. What’s more, the poor little guy is also chained at the neck and being held in place by the Magos.  There can be no rest for the weary I suppose...  There are still more devotees of the Machine Good to assemble!

Not quite sure what his punch spike is for, but it sure looks wicked.

The little guy in the front was used as a Fallen in the 1999 Summer Battle Tour: Hunt for the Fallen.

Look at the Rogue Trader era power armour!

Oh, and while you have the Machine God on your mind, you should go check out Dave Taylor’s stunning Adeptus Mechanicus army!

- Harlon Nayl