George's Imperial Guard - Wrap up post

Colonel Audacian charged past the advancing ranks of his regiment. Sword raised, his full voiced battle cry carrying over the explosions.

His command squad followed closely as the commissar struggled to keep up. They past the first wave of guardsmen and zig zagged through the fire pouring from the heretic stronghold. 

Audacian knew exactly where he was going. He surged past bunkers and firing holes until he reached the enemy's HQ. 

The imperial commander stared into the eyes of the heretic, raised his laspistol and shot him. Then the command section arrived and finished off the others. Immediately the heretic defence collapsed. Their soldiers downed their weapons and fled as Audacian's regiment chased them down.

The commissar scrambled in, panting and looked at Audacian. 

"You appear to have spared your men again, Audacian." He said through intakes of breath. "But you have not proved your loyalty."

Audacian raised his pistol and shot the commissar.

"My loyalty to who?" Asked the colonel. 

He leapt up and joined his men, chasing down the enemy.

Phew! I made it!

My dad took me to my first Games Workshop in 1989/1990 and bought me the plastic Imperial Guard box. I've dreamt of getting it painted up ever since.

That John Blanche artwork was a huge inspiration. When Byron announced the theme for OWAC 9 - a project inspired by a piece of oldhammer artwork, I knew what I had to do! I couldn't wait to make this army happen!

I had big plans at the end of 2025, but then dad fell very ill. He died in March and I considered walking away from the hobby all together. But I knew dad had spent too much time waiting patiently for me in model shops, I owed him this finished project.

Then we lost John Blanche. 

So many wonderful people have contributed minis, ideas snd support to this Army. I had to get it done!

Caring for dad and then dealing with the fallout after he died left me with limited painting time and the army lacks lots of the detail I'd planned. I had to give up on painting the vehicles and many character minis. 

But it's done and I couldn't be more proud.

And hobby time is great therapy! Every snatched painting session, though brief, gave me a break from the struggles of Real Life.

The army is mainly composed of those classic plastic guardsmen, sculpted by the Perry twins in the late 80s. Some are survivors from that first box I got when I was seven! Others have been contributed by wonderful members of the oldhammer community (thanks Auke, Joseph, Glyn and Graeme!) 

The pot of Codex Grey I got as part of the Imperial paint set back in 1991 did the lion share of the work.

Huge thanks to Byron and the amazing team who make the challenge happen every year. Until I first joined back in 2023, I had never finished an army. Now I have three!

And big congratulations to all of the challengers. Whether you finished or not, you're all heroes!

I'm already planning for OWAC X. Can't wait!

Final Army Points:

1 x Command Section: 280 Points

1 x Commissar: 45 Points

1 x Support Squad: 445 Points

3 x Tactical Squads: 600 Points

Total: 1,370 Points

Colonel Audacian leads his regiment!

The sinister commissar struggles to keep up!

CHARGE!

John Blanche's box art. Still so inspiring.

George's Imperial Guard, Rank & File Month 4

The commissar was staring very hard at the back of Colonel Audacian's head.

“They shall know no fear, commander.” Smiled the commissar as rank after rank of guardsmen marched towards the heavily defended enemy position.

“These men know nothing of fear,” replied Audacian, without turning. “But this is an unnecessarily expensive test of my loyalty.”

“Ah, you guessed,” the commissar smiled grimly. “You must confess, your methods are unusual. Such unorthodox leadership was always likely to arouse suspicion.”

“The loyalty of this regiment is beyond question. Just look at what we have achieved.” Replied the colonel.

“Indeed. But imperial armies are not expected to emerge from battle with so few casualties. Loss and suffering are essential as proof of loyalty.”

Audacian knew that to say more was to seal his own fate. So he remained silent and watched as his troops advanced.

I finally benefitted from my productivity earlier this year and was able to work ahead this month. And I can add another tactical squad to the mass ranks!

It’s great fun seeing this Army come together!

Month points:

1 x Tactical Squad: 200 points

Army Total (to date):

1 x Support squad: 445 points

3 x Tactical squads: 600 points

Total: 1,045 points

Another tactical squad marches to battle!

Audacian's regiment prepared to advance!

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!

George's Imperial Guard, Rank & File, Month 2

Private Knuck stepped over the body of the fallen heretic, shouldering his lasgun and checking quickly that the guardsmen either side of him were still in one piece.

Knuck had been born into the brutal hives of his homeworld and had been raised by gangs. The whole gang membership had been drafted into the guard and now they were lined up, marching towards the enemies of the imperium. Knuck was loyal to his gang mates. They were his family and he would die to protect them.

But Knuck wasn’t too sure about the Emperor. Anyone who feasted on 1,000 souls a day didn’t sounds too great to him. However, he knew better than to say anything, especially now there were commissars crawling all over the regiment.

He was shaken from his thoughts as orders were shouted down the line. In the distance ahead Knuck saw Colonel Audacian signalling the advance. He checked again and counted in all of his friends.

Yup, all still standing.

Then he levelled his lasgun , and charged.

February was going so well. I’d finished painting nine guardsmen and only needed to finish the arms of the tenth, then take photos and write the blog post. But Real Life had other plans for me and I had to play an early Mulligan. *sigh*

Anyway, I’m back on track and painting is helping me through some tough times. Looking forward to finishing more guardsmen!

Rank & File Month 2 Points:

Tactical Squad: 200 Points

Army total so far:

Tactical squad: 200 points

Support squad: 445 points

Total: 645 points

Private Knuck and his squad form rank!

Private Knuck leads the charge!

Audacian's regiment taking shape!

George's Imperial Guard, Rank n File Month #1

 The regiment advanced with colours taut in the wind, shouted orders cutting through the din.

The regimental commander, Colonel Audacian marched ahead of his troops. Sword drawn, he called instructions to his orderlies, remaining calm despite the impending carnage.

The heretic defences were still out of range. But without warning, a hidden bunker burst open and three rhinos sped out. Captured and converted to heretic purposes, they opened fire with deadly bursts from their twin bolters and guardsmen in the front rank fell to the hail of shells.

Audacian pointed at the oncoming APCs with his sword. Orders were barked from the lines and a ten-man support squad dashed into firing positions. Their sergeant, Hakeman, was well known to Audacian for his meticulous aim whilst under fire.

“Hold fire!” Hakeman ordered, even as the three rhinos bore down towards him and his men. “Find your target and await the order.” His men trusted him absolutely and held firm.

Just as it seemed inevitable that the tanks would crush him and his men, Hakeman gave the order.

“Fire!”

Three lascannons fired a volley and each hit its target. Two of the rhinos exploded, fuel and ammunition igniting to destroy the vehicle and the doomed heretics within. The third took a hit to its track, spinning in a wild circle before over-turning.

After a moment’s pause, a hatch was thrown open. Smoke bellowed out, and then the heretics came, in shock, but still driven beserk by their battle lust. They launched into a mad charge towards the imperial guard ranks, firing side arms and readying grenades.

“Finish ‘em boys!” the heavy bolters and lasguns in Hakeman’s squad opened fire, immediately wiping out the heretics and sparing further imperial losses.

Audacian gave a small nod towards Hakeman, who acknowledged him with a salute before returning to the line with his squad. The commissar by Audacian’s side looked almost disappointed that so few of his men had fallen. But he looked back towards the heretic fortress and a small smile flickered across his cold face.

There would be plenty of opportunity for the guard to prove their devotion to the emperor with the ultimate sacrifice.

 

I’ve dreamt of painting these figures for a good 35 years. Since getting the plastic imperial guard box as a seven year old, I’ve always wanted to recreate that John Blanche artwork and now is my chance!

And I must say, I’m bloody loving it! I didn’t make life easy for myself this month: After a hectic December I started January with an army that still needed priming and assembly, far from ideal! So much of the month was spent undercoating the main body of the army.

In the end I had about a week for the actual painting. Again, not ideal! I’ve had to skimp on some detail, but I’ll come back to that later!

Once I got going, I decided that this is one of the best things I’ve ever done. These miniatures are absolutely fantastic and it’s an honour to be coating them in thick layers of original Codex Grey!

I’ve largely stuck to the schemes and details from the box art and painting guides in White Dwarfs 109 and 110. The slight deviation is the regimental numbering – I’ve decided to mark the type of squad, rather than regiment or platoon number. As this is a support squad, they get an “S” (turns out an “S” is harder to paint than I imagined!)

Now that I’ve finished all that priming and got into more of a groove, I’m excited to crack on and to get more done in February.

For the emperor!

 

Points:

Support Squad (3 x lascannons, 2 x heavy bolters, 4 x lasguns, 1 x sergeant): 445 points

 

And finally, my offering to Jaako, the Goblin Overboss: Chorsheema the Impaler, Goblin Champion. Sculpted by the late, great Bryan Ansell himself!

Sergeant Hakeman leads his support squad into battle!

Hakeman and his troopers take up firing positions!

Time to finish off those heretics!

Chorsheema the Impaler, Goblin Champion (sculpted by Bryan Ansell) 

prepares for his flight to Finland!

George's Imperial Guard - Intro Post

 

Colonel Audacian watched as his regiment assembled. Boots crunched in perfect synchronicity, a gratifying vindication of hard hours spent on the drill ground.

Imperial and regimental colours flapped in the wind as the vast columns took up their positions.

Audacian was proud of his regiment. He was proud of every soldier who stood before him. And unlike many imperial commanders, he went to great lengths to keep his troops alive.

Through skilful diplomacy and radical battlefield tactics, he had minimised casualties. Their campaign had seen them liberate planets from heretics and conquer new worlds for the Emperor. And all at low loss of life.

But Audacian was woken from his thought by the serpent whisper of the commissar who stood by his side.

“The time to let blood for the Emperor is nigh.”

The commissar almost seemed to enjoy the thought of the guard suffering mass losses.

Audacian had noticed the steady increase in the number of commissars attached to his regiment. They would arrive, unannounced, and follow officers and NCOs at all times. The commander himself was now under constant surveillance.

Perhaps his refusal to sacrifice the lives of his men had roused suspicion. The imperial administration expected officers to be ruthless.

And now he faced an impossible situation. He had been given a direct order to mount a full regimental frontal assault on a heavily defended position. With commissars now everywhere, he could not see a way to avoid this suicidal strategy.

Audacian felt the commissar’s hard stare. He cleared his throat, drew his sword and ordered the advance.

 

I was 7 when my dad and I first stumbled upon a Games Workshop. Already obsessed with toy soldiers, I insisted that we go in. Weeks of pocket money was invested in the plastic imperial guard box set and now it feels only right that 35 years later I get round to painting them!

Inspired by that superb John Blanche cover art, I’m planning massed ranks of infantry, with plenty of banners! White Dwarf issues 109-115 will provide lists and painting guides (Although in the spirit of Rogue Trader, points values are secondary to narrative!)

Speaking of narrative, I do love a bit of fluff! I will certainly be taking the opportunity to expand on Audacian and the sinister commissars!

I also want to thank the wonderful community for stepping forward and providing essential miniatures for the project. Graeme, Joseph, Auke and Glyn – thank you! You are all heroes and the Emperor will smile upon you!

I can’t wait for this challenge. There are a lot of brilliant projects to look forward to. Best of luck to everyone!

 

Points:

1 X command section: 280 points

2 x tactical squads @ 200 points each: 400 points

1 x white shields squad: 200 points

1 x support squad: 445 points

5 x commisars @ 45 points each: 225

1 x land speeder: 200 points

 

Total: 1,750

Audacian's regiment! Awaiting stripping and priming!

That classic box art and the inspiration for this project!

George's Bad Moonz, Wrap Up Post

Big Gobb was proud. Very proud.

After countless humiliating defeats he’d won a battle! Just like his father had won all those battles!

Close observers might have noted that Big Gobb was standing at the back, far from danger as his boyz charged the enemy lines. But there weren’t any close observers.

To celebrate his first victory, Big Gobb had raised a mighty banner as more and more boyz flocked to the WAAARGH!

Now Big Gobb and his big mob were ready to take on anyone and everyone. As they prepared to march into the galaxy in the hunt for glory, the boss took a moment to soak it all in.

He was a flash git. And he bloody loved it.

I’m chuffed to bits to have finished this challenge!

Bringing Big Gobb’s mob to life has been so much fun, and I’m delighted to finish a project that has been ongoing for 2.5 years! Having said that, there are plenty of orky models I had collected and still need to paint. Life, work etc. forced me to reduce my plans, but I was pleased to finally add a banner this month.

This is the first time that I’ve painted orcs and I’ve loved it. The Rogue Trader era originals are a joy (and let’s not forget that Hero Quest wizard!) and the recent sculpts from Old School Miniatures, Foundry, Ramshackle Games and Knightmare Miniatures blend in really nicely.

Bad Moonz are a great fit for me: bright colours and weird. I've found my clan!

Huge thanks to Byron and the tireless committee who keep this challenge going. And to the other challengers for the motivation and inspiring projects. So many glorious armies to enjoy!

But I don’t have too much time to enjoy the celebrations as I’m planning something pretty big for OWAC IX. It’s already time to get the modelling knife out!

Total Army Points:

Warboss: 90 points

Warboss’s Retinue (5 x Nobz, 5 x boyz): 310 points

2 x Weirdboyz: 100 points

1 x Mekaniak: 15 points

3 X drill bosses: 60 points

Big Mobb (10 x boyz): 280 points

1 x Rhino: 350 points

Total: 1,250 points

Big Gobb leads his big mob!

Big Gobb pictured moments before moving to the rear!

A Rogue Trader flash git!

Weird boy courtesy of Foundry!

Banner!!!

Another Rogue Trader flash git (thanks Jaako!)

A Knightmare Miniatures nob!

A Hero Quest wizard turned weird boy!

Big Gobb 'imself!

"C'mon!"

Another nob from Knightmare Miniatures

WAAARGH!!!

George's Bad Moonz, Month VI: Leader

 

Big Gobb could feel the power of the WAAARGH pulsating through the air. His big mob was ready.

His father had been a great war boss. Now Big Gobb was one too.

He loved the feeling. Loved it more than anything.

Well, almost anything.

What he loved even more was how flash it all looked. Yellow, red, green with blue and white checks. These really were the flashest gitz in the galaxy and Big Gobb felt huge pride that they were his flash gitz.

He opened his huge mouth and called the mob to attention. Nobz, Weirdboyz, boyz and tanks formed into a mass of yellow, red and green.

The mob hung on his every word.

Big Gobb pointed the way forward and yelled a battle cry at extraordinary volume. The mob joined in, chanting at the tops of their voices and advancing at terrifying speed.

Big Gobb took the opportunity to move steadily towards the rear, well away from the danger as bolter shells and missiles began to fly by.

His father had been a great war boss. But he had also died in battle, and Big Gobb had no intention of doing that.

 

 

Phew! I’ve dragged myself over the finish line.

The Wonderful Ramshackle Games produce a mini perfect for Big Gobb. I actually painted one last year, the only miniature I managed to finish before entering the Field of Bones! It felt like retribution to buy another one, and for him to be the finishing touch for my complete army.

It’s fair to say that May and June have not been good months for my hobbytime. A lethal combo of work and real life have drained any painting opportunities. Fortunately, I had foreseen this before the challenge started and painted enough from January-April to get me through.

I would have loved to have done more, and to have added some flourishes, but life has had other ideas!

However, I’m still proud as punch of this army.

In my first OWAC (OWAC VI), my goal was to finish. No fuss, no fine detail painting. Just finish. And I managed it. I then crashed out after Month I of OWAC VII.

This time, I wanted to stretch myself a bit more, finishing whilst using a few more techniques. With such a wonderful selection of models available for space orks, this has been a great opportunity to go wild! Finally gaining confidence with colour blending has been a real joy, and I’ve loved adding texture to all of those bold yellows and greens. It’s been great fun!

Anyway, I’ll save the Oscar speech for my wrap up post!

Month VI Points:

1 x Warboss: 90 Points

Big Gobb!

Big Gobb and his nobz!

Big Gobb's Big Mob!

George's Bad Moonz, Rank & File, Month 4

Big Gobb heard them before he saw them.

The deranged cackle, honking clown horn and buzzing chainsaw.

The rumbling shamanic ramblings.

The weirdboyz had arrived.

One a depraved clown. The other a long lost mystic. Together a formidable psychic force.

Big Gobb liked bright uniforms and luxury. He wasn’t too sure about psychic warfare, but he was a Bad Moon and Bad Moons always had weird boyz. He just hoped they didn’t explode while he was standing nearby.

Phew! That was close. Very close.

Look hard, and you’ll see that the paint on some of this month’s minis is still wet in the pictures. It was a photo finish, but I bloody did it!

And I had fun in the process! The weirdboyz are great models – a Hero Quest wizard I’ve had for more than 30 years and a one off from the amazing Warmonger Miniatures. They each have two minderz to keep an eye on them (four minderz in total).

I also added some more nobz to Big Gobb’s retinue. These are from Old School Miniatures and again, were loads of fun to paint. I didn’t have much time to get them done, but still thoroughly enjoyed it.

And finally I added a mekaniak, a classic Rogue Trader miniature. I experimented with a slightly different colour scheme, which I don’t love and won’t repeat. But hey, you’ve gotta try!

Onwards!

Points:

2 x Weirdboyz: 100 points

4 x minderz: 0 points

1 x Mekaniak: 15 points

3 X drill bosses: 60 points

Month 4 Total: 175 points

Clown weirdboy!

Shamanic weirdboy!

Nobz!

Mekaniak!

Big Gobb's Big Mob!

George's Bad Mooz - Rank & File Month 3

Despite Big Gobb's record of humiliating defeats, his call to WAAARGH was growing stronger.

He threw teeth at any problem and hired guns were joined by more boyz well up for a fight.

And he had his entourage. A few loyal nobz who had survived his doomed campaigns and stuck by him and now they were ready for battle. Sporting the brightest power armour and uniforms teeth could buy, they looked the part. And in Big Gobb's Big Mob, that’s what really matters.

That was great fun!

I had thrown myself into a painting frenzy in the first couple of months to buy myself some more time for character models, and it was well worth it!

The five nobz are a selection of Rogue Trader Space orks and Knightmare Miniatures. All of them were great to paint and I really enjoyed adding some freehand individual flourishes.

Also, I finally Painted the Rogue Trader Orc in Power Armour that Jaako, a fellow OWAC challenger sent me in 2023. Genuinely one of the most fun figures I've ever painted! Thanks Jaako!

I didn’t manage any banners – I’ll do some soon, I promise! But otherwise I’m proud as punch of these fellas and really enjoyed painting them. They are joined by 5 more boyz, swarming to join the WAAARGH!

Now on to next month!

Points:

Warboss's Retinue

-4 x Big Bosses: 100 points

-4 x Power Armour: 24 points

-2 x Power Gloves: 30

-1 x Heavy Plasma Gun: 20 points

-1 x Drill Boss: 20 points

-5 x Boyz: 50 Points

-1 x Heavy Plasma Gun: 75 points

Total: 301 Points

Proper oldhammer git! Thanks Jaako!

Big Nobz luv big guns!

Awesome mini from Knightmare Miniatures

"You sayin' you're flasher than me?!"

Another awesome Knightmare Miniature

Big Gobb's Retinue!

Boyz Boyz Boyz!

Rank & File Month 3!

Big Gobb's Big Mob!

George's Band Moonz - Month II - Rank & File

 Big Gobb had always wanted a tank. He didn’t ask much in life: loads of teeth, bright uniforms, a life of decadent luxury. And a tank. Nothing says BOSS like a tank.

Then one day, his boyz came back from patrol.

“Boss! We got one!” Big Gobb reluctantly rose from his comfortable throne to see what the fuss was about. And there it was. Glistening. Beautiful. A tank. A real tank!

He rushed down to admire his new treasure.

“We caught ‘em re-fuelling, Boss. Didn’t stand a chance!”

Big Gobb ignored the bolter shell holes on his precious new toy.

It was a rhino. Armour thicker than anything he’d ever seen before and capacity for at least ten of his best boyz to squeeze in and punch through enemy lines. He loved it.

He just needed it in brighter colours.

“Call the mek.” He ordered. “Tell ‘im to make it look a bit more ork. And paint it a brighter colour.”

 

So here we are, month two complete!

I’ve really enjoyed painting this model. I always loved old rhinos, but I wanted something that looked that bit more ork. Step forward Ramshackle Games! Their Iron Grumbler tank makes for a great rhino proxy and I’ve made a few additions to give it that Big Gobb charm.

I’d love to add some freehand and a banner, but I ran out of time! Details to include at a later date.

It’s an absolute joy to be painting regularly again, I’m loving it! Now that the days are longer it’s easier to paint in the evening and I really can’t wait to crack on with next month’s unit!

 

Points:

1 x Rhino: 350

"'Cor! Nice wheelz, Boss!"

"Mek done a fancy job with that paint!"

The boyz love their new toy!

George's Bad Moonz - Month 1 - Rank & File

 Maybe Big Gobb wasn’t a great general like his father. But he knew a thing or two about how to dress. Bad Moonz love bold colours, and Big Gobb was a proper Bad Moon.

And he wanted his boyz to look the part. As his mob formed, he spent loads of teeth on the brightest uniforms. He spent so much, that even a warlord as rich as him nearly ran out of teeth.

The mob started to grow as the call to WAAARGH! Spread, and Big Gobb looked with pride at the brightly attired boyz who gathered. Sure, their weapons might have been a bit rusty, but who’s counting?! These flash gitz were dressed to impress.

 

Well, I’ve made it through month one! I’m absolutely delighted. Last year I finished one mini as part of the challenge. This year I’ve finished at least ten – win!

Most importantly, it’s been great fun. I’d always wanted these posable plastic orks (released in 1990) and when I found them on ebay, I was excited to find that they had been heavily kitbashed by their previous owner (a ten year old!) I almost felt a bit bad restoring them (I made a video about them that you can see here), but feel that my childlike love of bright colours has done them justice!

So here we have it, Big Gobb’s Big Mob is taking shape. I’ve loved painting again and can’t wait to do more!

Points:

1 x Bad Moon Big Mob – 100 points

2 x Heavy plasma guns – 150 points

2 x power arms – 30 points

Total: 280 points

 Them boyz knowz 'ow to dress!

Sarge was always the flashest git!

Sunglasses all year round, rain or shine!

For my challenge offering, I painted up this chaos sorcerer, sculpted by Bryan Ansell himself! I only learnt recently that he sculpted a small number of chaos minis for Citadel in the early 80s. This dubious little chap is now flying to Finland to join his new master Jaako!