Wednesday 30 January 2019

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! ;)

9 comments:

  1. Nice little treasuers you got there! I like what I see :)

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  2. So many cool miniatures there. I used to love the old IG minins.

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    1. Thank you, I really love the old IG miniatures too, lots of character to them.

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  3. Replies
    1. Thank you, they are lovely sculpts to paint.

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  4. Nice to see these old classics getting some great attention.

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    1. They are great fun to paint. I have more of these, as well as old Space Orks to paint.

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  5. Looking good as always. As it happens I´ve been painting old IG too. Not as old as your sculpts but anyway. https://vanhaavasarointia.blogspot.com/2019/02/1st-tactical-squad-completed.html
    The only problem I have is where to get more sergeant and grenadier models. They seem to be pretty hard to find.

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    1. Thank you. I'm afraid you're right, the old Imperial Guard miniatures are getting more difficult to find, especially the sergeant and grenadier.

      The 1989 release Imperial Guard army list was'nt a very good list for gaming when compared to Space Marines, Eldar, or Orks, and so a lot of people at the time did'nt really collect them. If they did, many did'nt bother buying the specific sergeant and grenadiers. So the miniatures are'nt always easy to find now.

      I like your Imperial Guard. Great painting, and an unusual choice of uniform colours, which works very well. Nice to see a proper 1989 era squad.

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