Xethemez's Imperial Guard - Redressing the ranks for 5th edition

[Xethemez]

First of all, a big thanks to anybody who is interested in this project, I will do my best to reward you by keeping it up to date!

With 5th edition of the Imperial Guard codex just over the horizon I have decided it's time for me to stop sitting on my hands and bring my first 40k love back out of retirement.
This is a pretty large project as I plan to paint roughly 60-100 infantry to a reasonable standard, the infantry I have at the moment are either unpainted or need to be heavily touched up - luckily I never painted particularly thickly so they aren't a write-off.

I am staying close to the colour scheme I originally used when I first started collecting Guard about 5 years ago but with the added advantage of Fenris Grey, which is pretty much identical to the Shadow Grey/Chaos Black mix I used before. I am also significantly brightening up the fatigues – I still want them to be gritty, but my old Guardsmen were just downright dark!

I will be focusing initially on getting some basic infantry done but I also have some goodies such as Storm Troopers, Sentinels and officers/conversions to break up the monotony of massed Guard, and following the release of the codex I plan to carry on this project as I paint up some of the new models (namely the Valkyrie, Command Squads and Sentinels).

Examples of my new colour scheme:



I am also planning to add some GW Scorched Grass sparingly following varnishing and eventually add some shoulder pad makings once I have figured out how the army will all fit together.

Advice, comments and constructive criticism are very welcome!

[xbanditsx]

So far everything looks good - your scheme is simple and very well executed. My only suggestion would be to add some more contrast to the base, maybe with one final highlight of Bleached Bone mixed with whatever brown you're using. Nice work!

[Inquisitor Earl]

Very cool (in both meanings of the word) and well executed colour scheme.

If thats your reasonable standard you are going to have a really nice army when its all done. Unique too. Not many people go for a cool pallette or blue colour scheme with guard.

To me they give a feeling of the Imperial navy somehow. Some Valkyries and stormtroops are definately going to look good with this army.

A bit of contrast on the bases and grass like you mentioned would be all i can think these models need.

Good luck.

[Xethemez]

Thanks xbanditsx and Inquisitor Earl for your positive comments, I took your advice and improved the contrast by a couple of shades on the bases. Sorry about taking a week to reply but I thought I would hold off posting until I had something more to offer, so here are the guys I have painted this week:



Sorry the images get a little fuzzy around the edges, I tried to photograph them in two ranks but unfortunatly it didn't work that well. I think they are still good enough though.

@ Inquisitor Earl

To me they give a feeling of the Imperial navy somehow. Some Valkyries and stormtroops are definately going to look good with this army.

Thanks Earl, I found this comment very inspiring as that is exactly the kind of army I am going for, the fluff is that it is meant to be an assault force which works in conjunction with the Navy so Storm Troopers in a Valkyrie will be an absolute must for my army, I am also going to be looking at a couple of squads of Sentinels and the rumoured Fleet Officer will be an absolute must too.

I also have a couple of new goodies to show you. Below is a WIP of my first Lieutenant. I don't know what to do with the head yet, I might use an Empire head or see what is on the Command Squad sprue when it comes out.
Right now I am tentatively playing with the idea of having an assault-based platoon for objective taking and a support-based platoon equipped with Heavy Weapons, if that is the case then this officer will command the assault platoon.

[Zema]

Very nice, cool, realistic, understated color scheme, also, really well done on the skintone.

Personally, i find i always choose rather bright color schemes, empire soldiers in yellow and blue, IG with red armour, but i must say, your color scheme is a breath of fresh air!

Rep!

[xbanditsx]

Nice looking conversion on the officer. I'd say go with the Empire heads so you can paint him up without having to wait for the new models to come out.

[Commisarlestat]

nice clean painting and a good conversion, looking forward to seeing some more!

A

[Xethemez]

Hi guys, thank you for your comments, and thank you for the rep too. Sorry I haven't been able to do much this week, I have some assignments on the go at the moment so I have been making slow progress, but I am still going.

I plan to get a Sentinel painted and then some more infantry and possibly some Storm Troopers once I have decided what to do with them (I could also paint up this officer), if you have any preference on what you would like to see first let me know.

@Zemaphore

Thanks mate, I tend to go for the darker blues when painting and unfortunatley it can often come off looking dull, glad you approve!

@xbanditsx

Unfortunatly I haven't ordered off of a bits company in some time and I didn't realise quite how hard it was to get what you want from them these days, so the Empire heads might be a write-off.

Fortunatly I did find the unhelmeted head off the Eldar Guardian sprue, the features are very fine, but so is his rapier so it might suit him! Sorry about the poorer light, it's almost midnight as I'm doing this!



Sorry this is my only offering at the moment, I promise to get some new stuff painted this week!

[MrDee]

proper nice painting mate, and I like the look of the lieutenant.

Damien

[Zema]

Cool! You used the eldar head! I did the same on the marine representing myself! Looking good man.