RTB01 - Imperial Space Marines

Once upon a time, in an island country far away, across the ocean, there were three sculptors, Jes, Aly, and Bob, who toiled away in a Games Workshop, creating toy soldiers.  One day, they decided to try making toy soldiers out of plastic instead of lead (or health approved "white metal").

Little did they know that this new kit of model soldiers would define an entire generation of wargamers (this author included) and would continue to echo three decades later.

The RTB01 Space Marines.  Rogue Trader Box 01 (of 16) was the first, multi-part plastic infantry kit produced by Games Workshop.  Designed by Jes Goodwin, Aly Morrison, and Bob Naismith, this kit was definitive at the time and, were it to be released today, would still stack up against the current range of plastic kits available on the market.  Admittedly, detail is lacking compared to the current GW plastic kits, but in terms of variety of parts, the RTB01 box is not that different from the multipart plastic Space Marine Tactical Squad box released with 3rd edition 40k.

Let's take a look at the box:

On the front is the same art that graced the cover of the Rogue Trader book, this time presented in it's full panoramic glory (ork head not included).

"We are the guardians of humanity.  We face the dangers no man may face.  We are the Adeptus Astartes - Masters of the Stars - the Space Marines"

On the back we see something that some of the current lines could do with a little more of.