Qrab's Empire: Reiksgard (228 points)

My contribution to the first month of the second Old World Army Challenge consists of the Empire's elite infantry unit, 11 Reiksgard who are joined by a Level 10 Hero. Combined, the unit and hero total 228 points.

Over the summer, as I prepared for the second Challenge, I spent a fair amount of time looking through my collection. I've acquired a reasonable amount of the MM65 Marauder Reiksguard and initially considered painting them, but they're just so big that they're difficult to rank up on 20mm bases. Ultimately I decided to select for this unit a handful of models I had originally painted back in the 80s. Those classic models were supplemented with command models from the mid 90s as well as a Marauder Empire Ogre I had picked up somewhere along the way (I'd really like to get more, but the prices are more than I'm willing to spend). Stripped of the old paint jobs and cleaned of mold lines I didn't bother with back in the 80s, the unit is an eclectic mix of characters, which I think is fitting for an elite unit. 

As I started working on the shields, I decided to paint the right side in the colors of Altdorf (red and blue) and paint the left side with different colors to reflect the province from which each individual originated.

Here's a photo of the entire unit.

Empire Reiksgard - +2 Shock Elites.

Because some of the models in the rear ranks are obscured, here are some photos of the individual models. Starting with the unit leader, Sir Kit Breaker from the 1986 Paladins range. For the purposes of the Challenge, he is a Level 10 Hero with heavy armor and shield (59 points). The colors on Baronen Breaker's shield indicate he is from Reikland.

Baronen Sir Kit Breaker, Leader of the Reiksgard.

Next up are two of the Reiksguard command models from the mid 90s.

Reiksgard Musician.

Reiksgard Standard Bearer (banner to be painted later).

Rounding out the front rank is Moritorus, a model from the 1984 Lords of Battle/Fighter range. This guy has a very dynamic pose making him difficult to photograph. He's also got snake motifs on his armor, which is unusual. The colors on Moritorius' shield indicates he's from Middenland.

Moritorus - front side.

Moritorus - back side.

In the second rank is Sir Crispen of Talabheim, released as part of the 1987 F2 Fighters range. 

Sir Crispen of Talabheim.

Also in the second rank is Otto Wolvesbane, another model from the Lords of Battle range. With his fur lined helmet and boots, I imagined Otto as hailing from the northern province of Ostermark, so the colors on his shield are maroon & yellow.

Otto Wolvesbane from Ostermark.

In the back rank we have a paladin based on the same model as Sir Kit Breaker, but with a helmetless head and a different sword arm. I couldn't find him on Stuff of Legends, so for now he is unnamed and carries a black shield.

A mysterious warrior.

The other member of the back rank is Anthony of Averland, also from the F2 Fighters range. This sculpt is a little dodgy; the massive wings on top of the helmet were a tricky to paint and even trickier to photograph!

Anthony of Averland.

The final model in the unit is my personal favorite of the MM41 Marauder Ogres, Ogre with Greatsword. On a 40mm base, he takes up the space of four models. There's a lot of detail packed into this what at first glance appears to be a simple sculpt.

Marauder Ogre - front side.

Marauder Ogre - back side.

So that's it for January. The models are all painted, but the weather isn't warm enough to seal them. rather than have a repeat disaster as I did with my Thugs last year, these models will remain unsealed until the weather is better.

Still trying to decide what to paint next month.