WW1 Inspired Imperial Guard Project [Pic Heavy]

[madrilous]

I recently began working on an idea I've had for a while now, a WW1 era British Army themed Imperial Guard army. Not the most original idea I know but still, I really like the look of the historical uniforms. I picked up a Cadian Battleforce as well as some extra bits from Kromlech, West Wind Productions and Pig Iron Productions and got to work. Here is the WIP stuff first:





This is one half of an Infantry Squad. The squad features heads from West Wind Productions and backpacks from Kromlech. As well as the extra bits I also added GS shin wraps and shaved the forward sights off the lasgun. The sergeant makes use of one of the Pig Iron Kolony Command Head, I thought the cap would help him to stand out from the rest of the squad. I also made a slight conversion to the Vox Caster, I thought that the vox pack looked a little too techy for the look I was going for. Instead I clipped a couple of aerials from the vox pack and glued them to a Kromlech backpack.





For the heavy weapons team I have used the Auto-cannon team but decided against mounting it onto a tripod. Instead I have created a gun carriage from a 1/72 scale German Wagon. I have drawn inspiration from the WW1 field guns such as the 13 pounder.




After completing the assembly of my infantry squad I thought I would have a go at something a little different so I decided to build my sentinel. I went for the Armageddon style enclosed cab (protection from gas attacks) and made a couple of small additions. I wanted the sentinel to feel as though it is un-perfected technology, so I added a few extra pipes and tanks. I also added a couple of armor plates to the upper sections of the legs as well as a storage compartment behind the cab.





Finally I have the completed half of my infantry squad. When painting them I tried to be as historically accurate as was possible.


Once I have completed my current WIPs (or maybe I'll get impatient) I hope to create a command squad and some storm troopers as well. So I'm basically looking for some constructive criticism or some suggestions as to where I should go from here. I have a blog (link in the signature) which I will be updating regularly as this project continues.

[hendrik]

those are looking good!i especially like that you replaced the shinguards with leg bindings as they help a lot to give them a more british feeling!
i also like the autocannon conversion, but is it a cost efficient conversion?
A good alternative might be curious contstructs excellent weapon platforms whose look i absolutly love!
curiousconstructs.theslowcentury.com/ocart/index.php?route=product/category&path=73_83
To help with your WW1 feelinging my advise would be to rely on a lot of heavy artillery!
so here are a couple of units i personally would advise:
-heavy quad launchers, 12"-60", S5 ap5 heavy 4 3" blasts per quad launcher!and the oppent get's a -1 on his pinning tests!
I love forgewolrd version of this gun, but curious contructs also makes a nice count as option!
-earthshaker heavy artillery carriage. the all too well known earthshaker cannon from our basilisks, now at a discount on an immobile platform! And on top, the forgeworld model is gorgeous!
-medusa heavy artillery carriage. since you'll also need some AP2 to destroy whater is coming over to your trench!

I'm really looking forward to seeing more of this army!

[silversurfer]

A bit of vintage is never a bad thing. I will follow your thread for sure.

Nice base for the autocanon.

[madrilous]

Jan 15, 2014 15:23:10 GMT -5 hendrik said:

i also like the autocannon conversion, but is it a cost efficient conversion?

Thanks for the suggestions, I will definitely be looking to include some heavy artillery at some point. As for the conversion its actually pretty cheap. It costs me £8 for a box of three 1/72 German Wagons. Each wagon has 4 wheels and two axels so from one box I can get 6 gun carriages, plus a few extra parts to line my bitz box.

[hendrik]

in that case i'd definetly stick to your conversion!

[madrilous]

Even though I should probably be finishing off some painting I couldn't resist starting my Grenadiers (stormtroopers/veterens).

I wanted them to stand out from the rank file whilst steel feeling like the rest of the army. This meant that the current Stormtrooper miniatures wouldn't do. Instead I went for the maxmini greatcoat legs, I felt like this would add that air of elite to the standard Cadian kit. I also felt that the west wind production heads were a little bland for my needs, therefore I went for the Maxmini Neobrit Trencher heads. They still had the tommy helmet and gas mask but looked a little more 'techy'. To represent the Hot shot lasgun I added a pipe from the lasgun magazine to backpack. To finish off, I added some GS cuffs and an extra shoulder plate.

For the sergeant I used the bionic arm from the command squad sprue, mainly because I really like the sabre and I think some bronze bionic gizmos will give it that industrial era look.

Let me know what you think.

[Commissar]

Very sharp!

Really looks like a WW1 army thrust into 40K! Love it.

[commissarbob]

Great looking conversions, it is great to see more reporting to the trenches! I will be posting more of my army as I have been making some good strides as of late, life just has not been particularly conducive to the hobby or my participation online.