I met Brandon Horsch a.k.a. AgentArrow at Adepticon, where he was showing some of his T’au Empire conversions for Warhammer 40,000. Here, he talks about how he got into Warhammer and how his customized models enhance his experience of the game.
How did you get into Warhammer 40,000?
There used to be a Games Workshop store at a shopping mall I frequented as a child. I always found the models interesting, but it wasn’t until a friend of mine toward the end of 2005 started playing and constantly shared his excitement at school that I gained a genuine interest and bought my first models.
What attracted you to the T’au Empire?
The juxtaposition with the rest of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. In a series of dark, gothic influences, they stood apart with clean lines and an appealing combination of organic and geometric shapes. Their lore as a budding, advanced empire who looks to technology to solve problems was also attractive.
The XV8 Crisis Battlesuit is one of the most customized models in all of Warhammer 40,000, and I became so enamored with upgrading the kit that I have precious few in their original form.
Standard Games Workshop T’au Crisis battlesuit modified by Brandon Horsch, aka AgentArrow.
What made you want to start making your own customized Warhammer models?
Games Workshop has always been supportive of what they call conversions — customizing models to make your collection unique. The rulebooks for the first couple of editions I played included sections showcasing conversions.
Then I discovered a website called Advanced Tau Tactica, which had archives of threads covering a plethora of conversions and step-by-step processes to create them.
Forge World version of the T’au Crisis battlesuit, modified by Brandon Horsch.
How do your conversions fit in with mass-produced Warhammer models?
My goal is always for the conversion to look like something which could have been an official model. It’s a really gratifying experience for people to pick up a model and exclaim that they didn’t realize it was customized. I am very careful with measurements when I craft components, and I design things to fit directly onto the original model with little to no modification. I want things to be interchangeable with the original mass-produced equipment.
Left: Forge World fuselage and customized parts for the Tau Barracuda aircraft. Printed in White Strong and Flexible (XSF). Right: A complete Forge World aircraft.
How does having a customized force change your experience of playing Warhammer?
While they aren’t different rules-wise, customized models enhance the experience. They’re a talking point and a mark of pride. Fighting a unique army is a special and memorable experience, and owning such an army builds a reputation in the hobby community. I’ve faced people I’ve never met before, but when I start setting models on the table, my opponent says things like, “Oh, you’re that Blue T’au guy! I follow your build blog!”
Right there I’m not facing a stranger anymore, we’re friends before the game even starts because they recognize my army. That would never happen without a customized force.
A 3D render of the Brandon’s Arrow pattern customization of the Tau XV8 Crisis battlesuit. He donated the model as a prize for the 2016 Advanced Tau Tactica challenge.
Someone got your customized T’au XV8 Crisis battlesuit as a prize. What did the winner do to deserve it?
Advanced Tau Tactica holds an annual competition that usually involves some combination of modeling, painting, and lore writing. For 2016, we asked members to invent their own unit, craft an example, and create their own rules and lore. We offered prizes for the top three entries as determined by popular vote, and two judges choice awards chosen by the senior members of the website. I felt that a customized model would be a fitting prize, so another moderator and I each donated a Shapeways-customized prize.
Pieces for the Arrow Pattern battlesuit plus conversion bits. Printed in Frosted Extreme Detail (FXD).
The entrant who won my XV8 created an excellent example of a stealth transport.
You are getting a degree in electrical engineering, so you must do 3D modeling in college. Do you see Warhammer as a hobby or as part of your education?
Both, though I feel it leans more to the hobby side. If I ever have a lull in my modeling tasks, I customize 40k miniatures as an exercise to keep my skills sharp, but I also do it for fun and enjoyment. I don’t take on projects for the sake of taking on projects, instead I take things on which inspire me. Often I can envision what will make a model better match my tastes, and that is the first step.
Having a community as passionate about my modifications as I am — and that wants to use my customizations in their own armies — is an amazing bonus.
You can find customized parts at Brandon’s Shapeways shop, Horschpower Concepts.
