The Imperial Termite
If the commander has enough influence, Imperial units can be requisitioned the use of Termite subterranean transports. Though the construction of these burrowing vehicles is a closely guarded secret, the situation on the Eastern Fringe was thought to be so dire that the Adeptus Mechanicus provided several thousand Termite transports to the defenders.
This article explains ways on how to model your Termites, click read more below to find out more!

An Imperial Termite is a transport choice for Imperial Guard, Witch Hunters, Cult Mechanicus and Space Marine forces. Any unit which has the ability to purchase a transport in its army list entry may instead choose to purchase an Imperial Termite at the points cost indicated. Such units are held in reserve even if the mission does not allow it. Only the unit assigned the Termite may be transported in it. Independent characters may join a unit with a Termite before the game so that they may also travel in it. The Imperial Termite may not be given any upgrades.

Imperial Termites may be taken in Boarding Actions, though they represent boarding torpedoes rather than Termites.

The Second Tyrannic War brought rules for an old Imperial war machine not seen in battle since EPIC from the 1980s.Currently there are no models for the Termite available for use in the battlefields of the 41st Millennium. Fortunatly we are able to bring to the Fugitives the efforts of Chris Webb in his fantastic attempt to recreate this tunnelling wonder. In addition to being a firm fan of the Squats from 2nd Edition Warhammer 40,000, Chris is a keen gamer and modeller.
Chris is also a fan of the word 'faffly'. Over to you Chris:

 

"Since I'm thinkng about Termites a lot, I think it's time for a brief history of Drill Tanks. Most famous tunneling machine in pop culture is the Mole out of Thunderbirds. It popped off its carriage, drilled underground and rescued people. It's a great design, a triumph of function over form.
Can't say if it's the first ever Drill Tank, but it's the most recognisable.

There've been many over the years. Space Sheriff Gavan had one that was bizarrely similar. In fact, it was just 2 Moles stuck together. Kind of like a tandem I imagine.

Japan likes the idea a lot. They brought out a lot of Transformers with a Drill Tank alt-mode.

 

Then Games Workshop came onto the scene. Squats were synonymous with tunneling technology as they lived in Space Caves, and they introduced not one, but three, Imperial tunneling machines similar to the Mole. In fact, you could say they were straight rips, but as form follows function they didn't have much choice. In fact, one of them is even called the Mole in order to drill home the homage (hahahah).

Termites-

Mole-

 

Hellbore-

 

And then in the 90's, Epicast did a 40K scale Termite.

I think mine's better.

So I started making a one out of card. It was sturdy, but too stumpy for one thing (even though I based it one the old Epic Termites in terms of shape). It also looked a bit poo, and I got very put out when my girlfriend referred to it as 'the ice cream cone'.


I discarded my earlier attempt at a Termite, as it was too, well, crap. So I started again, with a long thin drill made from plasticard. I wrapped it around an iron bar, and then melted it into a spiral using a soldering iron. I changed the thicknesses of plasticard as I got towards the point so the grooves got thinner and more elegant.

 

The body is made from some urine sample jars.

I also stuck some spare Chimera tracks on the side (to provide the traction forwards when it's burrowing), a hexagonal door as homage to the original's circular port. Bit of detailing made from plasticard and an imperial eagle from the guard accessory sprue.

The base was covered in vermiculite - an artificial substrate for reptiles and insects. It's very soft and comes in quite largish chunks so it looks ideal for muddy earth. I figured most of the soil the Termite displaces will be of a different colour and consistency to the top layer, and so the base shouldn't just be sanded and drybrushed with patches of flock like the rest of the army. It is sanded and flocked like the army towards the edges of the base though, where the least earth has been displaced.

I need to finesse the tracking sections, and give it a nice earthy feel. I'd like to try giving it a coat of Ruffcoat (or whatever GW call it), but I've heard it's insanely temperamental and faffly. I need to make it feel like it's been tunneling under the earth, and not just rolled off the production line."



Then I covered it in some acrylic textured paint to give it a real dirty feel. It's not badly maintained or orky, it's just it's been pushing itself through the Earth and that's really got to damage the paintwork. I added a lot of sand to the surfaces I think it would collect after emerging.

Textured up my Termite, just about to spray it black. Quite excited as I need a change of pace from my infantry, and my Forge World accessories still haven't arrived. When they do I've promised myself I'll take my squats back to the table, (because they'll be closer to being wysiwyg with the chimera extra armour skirts).


I wet-brushed the textured paint along the drill bit in the direction of the bit to make it feel like it really has just been rotating feverishly. I also mixed in some fine grade sand to give it more of a 'just-surfaced' look, and hid a few of the more faffly joins.

Now I finished my Termite and my golly, if I can say so myself I am rather impressed with how well this has turned out.


And with all that photography, I couldn't resist a quick play 'shopping it GW Box Style. Well, it's not quite their house style, as they don't have muzzle flash coming off every single muzzle, barrel and tube.