Our delve into the archives has already uncovered the very first Space Marine – but these iconic warriors have changed a lot since then. RTB01 was a key point in Space Marine evolution – their first plastic kit, which solidified the look of the Imperium’s greatest defenders as they faced off against marauding Space Ork Raiders.
Back in the day, that legendary initialism simply stood for Rogue Trader Box One. This box of thirty multipart Space Marines was released alongside the Rogue Trader rulebook, the source from which the universe of Warhammer 40,000 would emerge.
The original beaky helmet from those early metal models was still core to the design, but those new Space Marines now had more recognisable MK VI armour. The box also featured a delightful array of weapon options, including power fists, bolt pistols, flamers, combat blades, bayonets, chainsaw bayonets and a rocket launcher.
All of these options combined allowed the creation of the Tactical Squad, a flexible and formidable fighting unit that forms the backbone of many Space Marines’ armies to this day.
Rogue Trader marked the point when Warhammer 40,000 lore started to crystallise into the bedrock of the setting we know today, with classic Chapters like the Crimson Fists who adorned the box art being enshrined in canon.
Every Space Marine unit followed in the footsteps of this boxed set, and with the recent launch of Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness, this legendary kit was refreshed as the Legion Mark VI Tactical Squad, complete with chain bayonets bolt pistols and many of the same accessories included in RTB01– the swish-looking rocket launcher and flamers can be found in the Heavy Weapons Upgrade Set and Legion MK VI Tactical Support Squad boxes.
We’ll be plucking plenty of memorable miniatures from the wing of the archive marked “grim dark future of the 41st millennium” in the coming weeks. Check back here next Wednesday for another look at Warhammer’s glorious history, and share your memories of venerable Space Marines on our Facebook and Twitter pages.