Unreleased Rogue Trader Marines to be indentified...

[Daeothar]

I thought I pretty much knew (and almost owned) just about every Rogue Trader Space Marine miniature out there, but just now I came across these four that I've never even seen before!

Apparently they're unreleased miniatures. I've got almost all of the Mk6 transition miniatures, but these don't quite seem to fit the sculpting style of those; there are some obvious differences in some elements.

The only recogniseable thing about these is the Mk7 marine in the back with a pose very reminiscent of the first Mk7's in the Rogue Trader Compendium. It's very likely one was the inspiration for the other, but which one came first is everybody's guess.

I can't find them on either Collecting Citadel Miniatures and/or Stuff of Legends, but I'm sure the collective memory of the LAF can shed some light on this

[OSHIROmodels]

Are these definitely unreleased and not fan sculpts? They don’t have the same quality as ‘true’ sculpts of the era.

[Daeothar]

That immediately came to my mind too, yes. They're a bit too rounded, edges not quite sharp enough, etc.

But the seller (he's selling them) claims they're metal. And I know the studio did a lot of minis as intermediate models for their own use for playtesting, concepts, etc. So it's not outside the realm of possibilities that they're genuine.

Also; he sells all kinds of rare and unreleased miniatures in his store, so they're not out of place either... 

[OSHIROmodels]

Is it Jason Lye (I think I got his name right)?

[Daeothar]

I wouldn't know. The website I found them on states it's run by 'us' , which implies a multiple person operation.

Apparently they're all ex-mailorder trolls and assorted ex-GW personnel, which might explain their access to the rare stuff?

[Moriarty]

I’m sure I’ve seen the top left pose before looks like the guy with a bionic leg.

Back in the day a Nasty Man cast metal versions of the RTB01 plastics and sold them before being shut down. Could these be the result of this?

[Inso]

The one top right, seems to be a biker body on standing legs... I think that bottom left may also be similar.

[Tactalvanic]

bottom left makes me think of the old flier crew/gunner leaning out with bolter.

Top left i don't even think they did that helmet back in "rogue trader" era - its a few years later? or am I being too old?

familiar in parts rather than as whole miniatures.

[BeneathALeadMountain]

I agree with all those that think they’re fan sculpts or at least non-official. The quality of sculpt just doesn’t seem good enough (helmet makes me suspicious too). To be honest they look like the Fimo marines I made when aged 6 after I was allowed to watch my brother and friends playing RT and couldn’t afford any minis!

Balm

[westwaller]

I knew id seen them somewhere.
http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Space_Marines_-_Unreleased

[Daeothar]

Da heck? 

So they were on there all along? My search-fu has become weak...

Cheers for that, westwaller 

[OSHIROmodels]

Unreleased because they weren’t up to scratch then?

[Tactalvanic]

ooh well, learned a new old thing!

what an amazing place this forum is.

[Daeothar]

Unreleased because they weren’t up to scratch then?

They look like they might have been proofs of concept for the transition marines. And there's no denying a link between the Mk7 marine in the picture and the illustration on the back of the Strike Force boxed set...

[Belligerentparrot]

They're all definitely genuine unreleased GW sculpts, and as noted they're all on the CCM wiki.

If anyone wants to see other pics of the marines, I have all of them and can post them here if you like. I've been collecting unreleased minis for over 20 years, and managed to get all of them from legit sources.

Lots of reasons why minis don't end up released: not quite up to scratch, wrong weaponry or size, training sculpts that were never meant to be released, or just general chaos at GW/citadel in the early days. I don't know the story behind all of these, but the banner guy couldn't fit into a blister so never made the cut.

I wouldn't recommend that particular ebayer though - just my opinion based on what is sold and the dubious quality of a couple of supposedly legit unreleased minis I bought. He's not Jason Lye - Jason sells legit stuff.