Rogue Trader Imperial Army: an old paint scheme make anew.

 A long time ago, perhaps around 1990 ( I cannot quite recall), I painted some of the 1987/8 first releases Imperial Army miniatures for my Imperial Guard army. I wanted an 'army looking' colour scheme, but GW did'nt really have any khaki green paint, and I did'nt have access to World War Two/Vietnam colours. So I chose a basic scheme based on the 'Trooper of the Army of Retribution IX campaign' on page 161 of the Rogue Trader rulebook. This was the old Woodland Green for the clothing, Goblin Green for the armour.

Many years later, but still some time ago (!) I paint stripped them and tried out differing paint schemes. One was more 'army Green', then I tried the classic Codex Grey, and then a few in the much later Catachan Green and a mix of Vellejo paint, but none of them really worked. So I just boxed them up and forgot about them. Which was a crime for just cool miniatures.

Over the last week or so I dug out the old Imperial Army miniatures and thought "why not paint them up in the old paint scheme, only with better painting than 1990?" So I did. The result was great fun, and personally quite heartwarming in a way. My old Imperial Army/Guard had returned to life as I always recalled them, but with better painting than when I was 16. At some point I will do a more in depth look at the range, and I will be painting more in the future, but not yet. When I do, the army will be based on the Hylgar's Hell-Raisers Army list from the 1988 Book of the Astronomican.
Enjoy :)

'Trooper of the Army of Retribution IX campiagn' on page 161 of the Rogue Trader rulebook.

A terrible photograph of a weeks casual painting.
I need to base them, but have not decided on how yet.

Left to right:
Trooper Bruce, B-Trooper Gaxt, and Reconaisance Trooper Kai.

Trooper Langton, Point Trooper Hulme, and Trooper Lifeson.

Trooper Black (one of my all time favourite miniatures), Female Trooper Rutherford, and Trooper Trooper Caidan (I noticed the painting error on his puttee from the photograph and have now rectified it). 

Trooper Rothery, Trooper Brough, and Trooper Peart.

Trooper Morris, Imperial Garrison Trooper (from the first Rogue Trader releases), and Trooper Turner (with Heavy Bolter).

Three of Trooper Chow.
This miniature was often used as a 'standard trooper' in many blister packs as well in the hard blister packs of Imperial Guard sold around 1992. He makes a good generic grunt model. I like the backpack and blanket roll.

Sgt. Hicks (another of my all time favourite miniatures), and Trooper Jones with Ork head.

Lieutnant Olsen, and the Imperial Assault Trooper from the second Rogue Trader flyer in March 1988. As an aside, he looks very much based on the C100 Imperial Space Marine sculpts.

Talisman Timescape Astronaut.
I have included him as the Hylgar army list includes an entry for a Lieutnant with a Power Axe. I have painted him up in slighly more industrial colours with the idea that the Power Axe is used as part of semi-industrial equipment on thier planet, rather than being a standard issue.

Next update will be on my real current project,  re-painting Luggub's Drop Legion. Rynns World has been warned! ;)

Dorian Hawkmoon

I've have started reading 'The Chronicles of Castle Brass', by Michael Moorcock. For those of you unfamilar with it, it is a compliation of three stories set in the a post apocalytic Earth, set at least a 1,000 years from now. The setting is part of the Eternal Champion Multiverse, and the central character of these books, and the earlier books, is Dorian Hawkmoon, Duke of Koln [Cologne,Germany].

Now, Games Workshop produced a miniature of Dorian Hawkmoon, and other miniatures depicting characters from the Multiverse, in it's BC5 Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion boxset, produced in 1986. This miniatures depicts Dorian before the overthrow of Granbretan, when he still had the Black Jewel implanted in his skull. Whilst reading the book last night I thought it would be fun to paint up Dorian today for no other reason than for the fun of it. Which I did.
The boxset can be seen here:
http://www.solegends.com/citboxes2/bc5eternalchampion.htm

The miniature is lovely. Sculpted by Jes Goodwin, Dorian has all the grace and elegance which is suggested in Moorcock's writings, by some of the artwork based on the books (I am thinking of Rodney Matthews artworks in particular), and also which Jes Goodwin was to produce in his ranges of Elves in the following years. The miniature was fun and quick to paint, with nice detailing. One word of caution is that the miniature is delicate. The casting of the ankles is thin, as is where his sword meets his hand. I have seen several broken, and have anectotal evidence that this is common. As he is the Duke of Koln, I painted the shield with flag of Cologne.

Enjoy :)

 The 1986 Grafton Books edition (1987 re-print).
The cover artwork is by Mark Salwowski.

 Dorian Hawkmoon, Duke of Koln.

 Rear view, showing his firelance.

 Shield, based on the current flag of Cologne.

 Front view.

I am currently sorting out my Rogue Trader Tratior Legions, and so might return to the project I abandoned a couple of years ago. However, I have been distracted by a big box of Slann, and the Eternal Champion range today, so I really need to focus on a project for my next update.