Citadel Spacefarers were first seen in the Molten Magic review column of White Dwarf 16. This was dated December 1979 and presumably they were launched around this time. The first full product listing was revealed in the Citadel Red Catalogue for 1980.
The range was designed by Alan and Michael Perry (as were many Citadel ranges of the time). An interview with Tony Ackland (by David Wood here) reveals that Tony actually sculpted the bikes and some of the robots with the Sentinel originally planned to be part of the 54mm Spacefarers range. Thematically it seems to be inspired by major science fiction tropes of the era – Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Flash Gordon and 2000AD.
White Dwarf 16. December 1979.
First appearance of Spacefarers
(Games Workshop 1981)
In 1981 Games Workshop released the Spacefarers wargame skirmish rules designed specifically for the use with the figure range. They were written by Andy Murkin and Nick Henfry with development also by Dave Morris.
Nick Henfry has said that Games Workshop were looking for a set of games rules that would help sell more figures and although Bryan Ansell had an existing system ready it was decided to develop a new, simpler set that would be more accessible by younger players.
The Bryan Ansell set would then go on to become Laserburn. This game predated 40K by a few years but it is difficult to see that much (if anything) of Spacefarers influenced the later ruleset. The rules were launched in White Dwarf 25 alongside a new marketing push for the figures.
In 1982 Citadel produced two catalogues. The first (yellow) added two new figures (security guards) that were transferred from the now defunct Star Trek The Motion Picture range. Presumably they were only models in that range that were generic enough to be produced without the license. The second 1982 catalogue (blue) for the first time advertised the Spacefarers rules for sale.
1983 saw the range reorganised as C100 Spacefarers, with a number of figures removed from the line. Some of the (previously separate) Superheroes range were incorporated and the Dark Disciples were – for reasons unknown – rebranded as Rebel Warriors. This was around the time of the D&D “Satanic Panic”, I wonder if the renaming was an attempt to de-evil the range ?
In October 1983 the First Citadel Compendium was produced. In the introduction Bryan Ansell described the development of a new set of science fiction RPG rules… Rogue Trader. He wrote “We’ll be re-making and re-titling our Spacefarers models to coincide with the release of these”.
And that was the last we ever heard of Spacefarers.
References
There are some great resources out there that are very helpful for researching early Citadel figures. The links below are the ones I used when putting together this blog post.
If anyone has any further information on the history of these wonderful figures then I would love to hear from you – please leave a message in the comments below or message me as @goatmajor on Twitter.
Stuff of Legends
Lost Minis
Collecting Citadel Miniatures
Delaney King’s Spacefarers Page
David Wood’s “Dear Tony Blair” Old School Miniatures Blog (Including interview with Tony Ackland)
BoardgameGeek (Spacefarers Rules)
Alegis Downport Blog (Spacefarers Rules)
Spacefarers: The Sci-fi Wargame Games Workshop had Before Warhammer 40,000 – Codex Compliant An excellent summary of the Spacefarers rules by Snipe and Wib (Watch their other stuff too!). Features some nice references to this blog too 🙂
My Collection
I’ve been a big fan of the range since they were first released. We used to use them when playing Traveller with the old Judges Guild starship deck plans. They then sat in a box for decades before I started topping up the range with eBay purchases, some generously gifted by my good friend Gary Philips, an excellent Dark Disciple jet scooter rider courtesy of David Wood and the towering Giant Robot Sentinel courtesy of Marc Flack – thanks all !
I have now managed to collect and paint the whole range.. Some of them have had to be repaired, gun barrels in particular being quite fragile. So observant collectors may occasionally spot some weapons that aren’t quite the same as the original sculpts.
S1 Star Patrolman with Laser Pistol
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S2 Star Patrolman on Jet Cycle
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S3 Star Marshal with Laser Rifle
S4 Star Ranger with Autolaser
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S5 Bounty Hunter with Bolt Rifle
(Sculptor: Alan Perry)
S6 Planetary Citizen
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S7 Female Planetary Citizen
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S8 Adventurer with Machine Pistol & Power Glove
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S9 Adventurer with Autolaser and Force Sword
S10 Adventurer on Jet Cycle
S11 Adventuress with Laser Pistol
(Sculptor: Alan Perry)
S12 Adventuress on Jet Cycle
S13 Star Lane Pirate with Machine Pistol
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S14 Star Lane Pirate with Laser Pistol
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S15 Star Lane Pirate with Bolt Gun
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S16 Star Lane Pirate on Jet Cycle
(Sculptor: Alan Perry)
S17 Star Lane Pirate Girl with Laser Pistol
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S18 Star Lane Pirate Girl on Jet Cycle
S19 Street Rebel with Machine Pistol
S20 Street Rebel on Jet Cycle
S21 Interplanetary Scout with Bolt Gun
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S22 Interplanetary Merchant
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S23 Supreme Lord of the Dark Disciples
S24 Dark Disciple with Machine Pistol
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S25 Dark Disciple crouching with Bolt Rifle
S26 Dark Disciple with Portable Missile Launcher
S27 Dark Disciple in Power Armour with Heavy Bolt Rifle
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S28 Dark Disciple Follower on Jump Scooter
S29 Dark Disciple Monk with Bolt Gun
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S30 Dark Disciple Fanatic with Bolt Gun and Power Glove
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S31 Fanatic Disciple Priest with Bolt Gun and Hand Flamer
S32 Emperor of the Imperialists
S33 Imperial Marine with Laser Rifle
(Sculptor: Alan Perry)
S34 Imperial Marine with Needle Rifle
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S35 Imperial Marine with Conversion Beam Projector
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S36 Imperial Marine in Power Armour with Autolaser
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S37 Imperial Marine on Jump Scooter
S38 Imperial Marine Officer with Laser Pistol
S39 Imperial Invincible Trooper with Autolaser
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S40 Imperial Invincible Captain with Needle Gun and Force Sword
(Sculptor: Alan Perry)
S41 Robot Fighting Machine
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S42 Security Robot
(Sculptor: Alan Perry)
S43 Battle Droid
(Sculptor: Alan Perry)
S44 Giant Android Law Enforcer
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S45 Cyborg Assassin
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S46 Armoured Hovercar with Crew
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S47 Spacefarer’s Jet Packs
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S48 Spacefarers’ Weapons
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S49 ‘Big Brother’ Armoured Security Vehicle with Crew
S50 Six Gun Attack Droid
S51 Street Rebel on ‘Chopper’ Jet Cycle
S52 Robo-reconnaissance Droid
S53 Giant Robot Sentinel
(Sculptor: Tony Ackland)
(Kindly donated by Marc Flack)
S54
Security Guard Firing Laser Pistol (Formerly ST9
Security Guard)
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
S55
Security Guard Aiming Laser Pistol (Formerly ST9
Security Guard)
(Sculptor: Michael Perry)
Really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I had a few of these – uncertain if they are with the rest of my old metal figures in the loft. (Sadly the Laserburn and Spacefarer rules are long gone.) Thanks so much for posting this.
This has been an outstanding project and a pleasure to follow the progress. You’ve done some classic figures proud. And good to get some history as well.
Wonderful post and painting!
Look forward to seeing these in action!
Great post. I’ll keep and eye out for those you still need.
Cheers David !
Found you a S28 Dark Disciple Follower on Jump Scooter and a S51 Street Rebel on ‘Chopper’ Jet Cycle – only the riders though, no bikes.
Thanks David much appreciated !
[…] **Update May 2022** – the GÖATERDÄMMERUNG blog has an excellent article describing some history and images of painted Spacefarers over at How to Paint and Collect Citadel Spacefarers Miniatures. […]
Just scrolling through these again now that you’ve added Big Blue. Brilliant collection. Brilliant project. Well done.