The Old World Army Challenge

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Paul's Dwarf Army April #Rank and File 4

Well a lot of painting has gone on this month with the highlight being a trip to Wales to spend a few days with the legend that is Tom Young aka Frogbug. It was an amazing couple of days and was an absolute privilege to see his collection and witness the way he paints his models. I took a mixture of models to paint which included a unit of thunderers, 2 cannons, an organ gun, a Runesmith, my army General some spearmen and a unit of Slayers. At the end of last months post I confidently said that I would be showing off 5 more spearmen with a command group but the best laid plans oft go astray. I made excellent progress but I do have a habit of jumping around. Therefore, the vast majority of the models mentioned are 90% finished but not quite there. This takes the pressure off for May but I was hoping to exhibit more this month.

Despite this I have managed to complete a unit of slayers and these old models are absolutely beautiful. This unit was a nice change as there is not a lot of armour or cloth but a considerable amount of "Dad-bod" flesh to paint. This was a welcome change and renewed my enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I only have a limited amount of sculpts for this unit which means that there is a lack of variety in the poses. In addition to that I made the rookie mistake of just adding them to there bases as individual models and not ranking them up before sticking them down. This means that as a block they don't really work but they do make a really good line of crazy axe wielding maniacs stretched across the battlefield.

Below you can see the unit as a whole and as sets of 5. I think that they've come out nicely and fit in with the Army as a whole.

These add another 120 points to the army as I'm counting them as all being armed with 2 hand axes bringing the total to 635 points. With only 2 months left I still have a lot of models to paint but there are a lot that are almost complete. I would love to do a themed display board for these little dudes as I think they deserve something better than an old GW carrying case. I have visions of a dwarf gate with a tower and a mine entrance but I'll be a bit more low key with my prediction of just what will be finished for next month. I need to get the minis painted before I lose myself in delusions of grandeur. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the rest of the guys have produced this month as it is always inspiring.

Tom's Goblins and Orcs - APRIL // Leaders

APRIL!

After this month, it feels very much like the home stretch. I'm filled with enthusiasm for the green horde!

This month sees my leaders painted, plus an extra. It leaves only the orc regiment and the promised ogre for May, and then my Wildcard (which I guess could be nothing...😬) for June.

Anyway. *Clears throat* - 🎶here come the boooyoiz. Boyois. Boyz. Boyz🎶 👇

Now, I have heard of photostacking (to get everything in focus), but right now I'm not gonna learn it. Single pics rule, starting with the Warlord: Gorfang 👇

I omitted a shield, but he looks fine without one!

I very much remember doing some stripes on the cape as a kid, and enjoyed doing it this time round too! I do regret not doing more of a tiger orange though...

Next up, the Shaman. He's a model I've had kicking around in the unpainted pile for at least a decade or so, so he's well overdue for a lick o' paint 👇

He's a model I've really put off painting as he was a bit confusing - what is that, like, some netting over his body? But as soon as I was, like, whateeeever, I enjoyed painting it (lies - what I really enjoy is seeing him finally finished!)

Now onto that legend of the Combat Cards! My Big Boss...👇

I figured he could have some kinda magical sword or something. Mainly to make up for me not painting a back shield for him. But that big black spike doesn't look too out of place. (Could probably do with a few dwarven beards strung up on it though)

I was vey pleased with how the red armour turned out.

Now onto the GIANTS! One is my planned Cloud Giant (available still from Ral Partha Legacy: LINK)

The other dude is a Mountain Giant, from Satyr Studios (LINK). No need for a timestamp on him as he was only released a few weeks ago! 👇

I painted the cloud giant with the previous OWAC's giant in mind (LINK) - it's why there's a fleur de lyss on the shield. I'm a little gutted that I didn't go a bit darker on the skin, but hey ho!

All the shine you see in the photos is the satin varnish I use. Generally I try to take pics before varnishing, but...

I was a little worried about leaving his base just plain, but it fits in with the rest and for me, that's what counts right now.

And the Mountain Giant 👇

I was very please with how he came out, although I did bottle doing a great big tattoo on that tummy!

I thought this pic would highlight the size difference between the three 👇

On to the war machines!

First up, the small rock lobber 👇

And now the bolt thrower. I really struggled with this one - it's sat since Jan half painted. Many thanks to my friend Paul Rayburn - currently doing a crazy NMM dwarf army decked out in yellow and black, (on this very Challenge). He came over for a painting visit and it was really motivating. Many thanks OP! 👇

Now onto the crew for the toys...

The guy who keeps everyone working 👇

The mean one 👇

The caring one 👇 For some reason his eyes are pretty messed up.

The one who thinks he's better than everyone else 👇

The lookout. He's got a hurty foot. 'Tis but a scratch though. 👇

The guy who actually likes his job 👇

And now, a secret EXTRA. The mighty goblin Grom. Feared slayer of Dwarfs and ingester of Troll.

Here's a quick timestamp just as I was starting, and a sneaky peak at the boys for next month! 👇

I have painted the dwarf on the base to match my current dwarf hold (which was painted here on the OWAC over two years...here's a link my instagram with a pic of them: LINK)

Anyway. I tried a little bit harder on Grom as I'd like to have something to put into the OLDENDEMON comp: LINK. It's why the base rim is green 🙂

It's always great looking at other peoples submissions, and it's super easy to enter. Do it! If I like trawling through everyone's submissions, there'll definitely be others who'll like it too. Who knows who you will inspire!

👇

Well, that wraps up this month!

Next month will see the Orc Boys come to the fore, along with a third ogre. Here's a quick timestamp, and I've included some snotlings just in case I can get round to them too!

And here's a group shot of all of this months painted models 👇

Aaaand the roundup of the usual links back through my challenge 👊

Intro: link

January: Rank and File #1 link

February: Rank and File #2 link

March: Rank and File #3 link

April: Leaders

110... Orc Warlord

72... Orc Big Boss

33... Goblin Big Boss

57... Orc Shaman

200... Giant

66.5... Small Rock Lobba (with three crew)

46.5... Bolt Throwa (with three crew)

Total: 785!

Cheers. See you next month for the unit of boys and the ogre. Who knows, I might manage to paint something else too!

Boy's a menace...

George's Imperial Guard, Rank & File, Month 3

Colonel Audacian watched as another tactical squad matched past.

They were advancing against a heavily defended heretic fortress. A fully frontal assault. Mass casualties were certain.

Unlike many imperial commanders, Audacian had gone to great lengths to keep his men alive.

Despite having always achieved his objectives, his refusal to sacrifice the guard under his command had drawn suspicion.

And so it had been decided that his loyalty to the Emperor should be tested.

Audacian's regiment was flooded with commissars and he was ordered to send his beloved troops into certain death.

With a commissar by his side and more commissars surrounding all of his officers, Audacian had no choice but to give the command. And now all he could do was watch.

Lots of people don’t enjoy batch painting, but I’m completely addicted! Painting ranks of Perry sculpted guardsmen is the completion of a childhood dream and I’m absolutely loving it!

I had planned on painting more of the Ally Morrison Imperial Army minis for this project, but I’m finding that these classic plastic troopers are a great fit for the John Blanche artwork that inspired me. So I’m painting even more of them! I love the Ally Morrison sculpts and these will be part of a future Rogue Trader RPG project.

If you look closely, I have added a few of the Mark Copplestone lead guardsmen that came a little bit later. Wonderful figures!

Points:

1 x Tactical Squad: 200 Points

Army Total:

2 x Tactical Squads: 400 Points

1 x Support Squad: 445 Points

Total: 845 Points

Another tactical squad marches to battle!

Audacian's regiment forms line!

Saturday, May 9, 2026

Ian's Goblin Army (part II) - OWAC IX - April : War Machines

All those Wolf Riders will need some long range backup. 5 Goblin Doom Divers should do the job.

In the 4th edition Orcs & Goblins army book, if vour army contains at least one Goblin Mob then it may include any number of Doom Diver Catapults. Goblin Wolf Riders count as a mob.

Up to a quarter of the points value of the army may be spent on war machines. So now I have to paint a 2000 points army for this OWAC if I want to use all 5 Doom Divers! I don't think I'll be able to achieve it during the last 2 months of this challenge. From my initial plan, I still have a few wolves left to paint but not enough riders, 3 trolls and my leader, Skarsnik and Gobbla. Far from the 1000 points I need ! I still have hundreds of miniatures in my pile of green shame that I could choose from but I know it's time I won't have enough...