Praetorian Guard Blog

[_Si_]

Hi all. My first project log over here, hopefully it'll generate enough inspiration to keep me motivated. I do have something akin to adhd when it comes to modelling.

So a little background. I've long been a fan of the praetorian guard, having seen Zulu every bank holiday monday since I was five (s'traditional). Always wanted an army but never really managed it. So why not wait until they're no longer available, nothing like making life easy for myself!

I'd love to say this thread will be a nice straight line with ordered sensical content, but expect something more along a stream of consciousness. That's how my modelling works so it's only fair.

Right then, a few pics to get us started.

First we have two bog standard praetorians. I have a handful of the old models, these are the only painted ones. I actually painted them up for a job interview at White Dwarf. Fat Bloke handled these. And was suitably unimpressed, but I like them so ner to him.



Then there's the rest of the squad, who are now PIP after being ITC for many years (in the cupboard).




Curses, too many pics. Another post follows.

[_Si_]

You may have already seen these guy (he might even be my avatar, I can't remember hah!). This is my first and only so far Cadian-Praetorian conversion. I think I made life very hard with this, subsequent ones should be more straightforward.



I've also started a new way of converting. I noticed Praetorians, due to their rarity, cost a bloody fortune on t'bay. However, Mordians are relatively cheap, especially with their rerelease on GW. So buy mordians, new heads. Sounds like a plan (those of a sensitive disposition look away now!):



Not perfect, the helmet is a tad large and the beard isn't amazing, but with my painting you won't notice!. First of many, so I should improve.

...

[_Si_]

Next up, Ogryns. I had this idea, and started it, about three years ago. So far I've got one finished and one underway. The speed I work. Praetorian Ogryns. Praetorians themselves are ex-gangers, harangued and punished into being iron disciplined beasts. Who better to train an Ogryn properly? There will be an accompanying sgt major standing on a wooden box, bellowing at the "orrible little men".



The last one will hopefully have an open tunic. I'm just hoping my sculpting improves before I get there or it'll be a sod to do!

...

[_Si_]

Finally a tank, then I'll go away, promise. I wanted to do something suitably old fashioned for these guys, but a Mk1 tank didn't do it for me. I figured WW2 Russian vehicles were pretty chunky and robust looking. Which of course led to KV2s and Ragnaroks. Weird circles huh? So I'm doing a Ragnarok as a Leman Russ, and hence I've named it a Bromhead Pattern Leman Russ.

Loads and loads to do on this, the turret is getting there but that's all.




I think that'll do for now. I'll come back with concepts for the Chard pattern Chimeras once I have them drawn up. Also got artillery and lancers planned which should all be interesting. Actually whilst I'm thinking about it, if anyone has suggestions for colour schemes for Engineers (who I reckon will drive the tanks) and Artillery (who will man the artillery, strangely enough), please put them forward. I'm currently edging towards inverted infantry schemes for artillery, and all blue similar to the lancers for the engineers.

Cheers for looking
Si

[Vasteye]

everything here looks great, i especially like the ogryn.

keep at it! and good luck with the extensive conversion work

[Col.Gravis]

*thumbs up* Looks good Si! Liking the Ogryn espeically!

[Bloodknight]

Yep. Fine models. I like the conversion of the guy on the rock a lot, and especially the Ogryns. Pith helmeted Ogryns, hilarious . Thumbs up.
Are the Ripper guns just shortened autocannons?

[Cassarus]

love the ogryns, great work!

[_Si_]

Thanks guys, feeling the love for the ogryns, might have to finish the squad off!

The ripper guns are probably over complicated conversions. I did a walkthrough here the pics start at the bottom, still not rewritten that feature on my site.

Going to try and get the first squad painted up. I've just about got enough praetorian and mordian artillery guys to put together a fire support squad, so I'm going to look at sorting some gun carriages. Perhaps that's a job for tonight after work.

[tinfoil]

Praetorian Ogryns! Love it. And the Russ looks like it's going to be fascinating to watch take shape. Great start, here.

[_Si_]

Ok an update! Think I'm going to spend a lot of time recovering this thread from the bottom of the list, I work rather slowly.

Anyway, done a fire support squad. I wanted something I could build quickly, get done, and generally avoid painting the squad. Tried to make them feel like period field guns/gattling guns, so used warhammer wheels. The rest is bashed from bits of sprue, rod and the old style IG dozer blade support.





Quite happy with the results. The crew are a botched together array of autocannon and lascannon crew, but I'm hoping it'll all come together. I didn't want to try and mount a crewman on the guns, so these will be fired remotely. Most likely with a bit of string and your fingers in your ears!

Want to try and get the russ polished off next, then I might look at the chimeras. Also had a thought about tiny gun tractors for these, but might resist the urge, we shall see.

Cheers for looking.
Si

(really struggling with the image limit, I do like my smilies and it keeps scuppering my posts, dagnamit!)

[soulcrusher]

very unique and well themed, love the conversions and the painting is good

however i thought praetorian guard were roman ?

[alexh]

Those ogryns are great, I look forward to seeing more of your work.

[Getifa Ubazza]

Those are really nice models. Fat Bloke missed out, it seems.

[_Si_]

Thanks guys. Trying to keep everything closely linked, since at the moment these sit inside another IG army. Once I have enough Praets I'll split them out.

soulcrusher, the praetorian guard were indeed Roman, personal guards of the emperors iirc. But the GW praetorians are based on the 24th of Foot, late 19th Century British forces. Hence the old style artillery

Getifa Ubazza, nice of you to say so, but I think it was the right choice all round regarding the job. Still I'd love to go back with some of my current models and see what they have to say..

[Wolf Scout Ewan]

The name of the Praetorians comes from a mixture of Queen Victoria and Preatoria in South Africa, which was a major base for the english army at the time.

[kharnage]

that ogryns rock! cant wait to see more of them

[Col.Gravis]

Very nice work on the Heavy Bolters, me likes!

[shadow113]

those heavy bolters are great, they really go with the preatorians, very jelous of your greenstuff work, love the bromhead, and looking forward to the chard, your models remind me of one of my favorite battle reports, last stand at glazers creek from WD222, classic!

[Student]

This looks great. I'm tempted to dig out my old Mordians and have a go at giving them new hats.