40K in 1/72!- Painting The Hazzard 1977th Astra Militarum

The world of Hazzard has for millenia been a haven amongst the myriad plagues on humanity. Deep in the galactic south amongst the Segmentum Pacificus and home to the Redeemer chapter of Space Marines, Hazzard has for generations been left to its own devices – fuelling it’s economy with the large scale distribution and production of Luna Luceat liquor, of which the Imperium at large has an insatiable demand for. 

Understandably.

However, with grim inevitability, war has come to Hazzard, and the populace will not simply stand by and let their homes be overrun by Ork monstrosities, leering mutants, agents of the Ruinous Powers or devouring Tyranids – in support of their gene-enhanced Redeemer brethren, the Hazzard PDF fixes bayonet, raises lasgun to shoulder, and with a rebel yell cries “NONE SHALL PASS!”

Let’s be honest, Imperial Guard were always the force it was going to be easiest to do in 1/72 (or 20mm, whatever is your poison), and these guys are from our epic 2012 eBay haul– Plastic Soldier Review criticised the posing of the guy smashing someone’s face in with his M16, but frankly to me, that’s 40k all over… Give me my laser! I want to hit someone in the face with it!

Anyway, I’ve been trying to improve my painting skills a little recently, so I thought I’d share what I’ve managed to do – these guys (I think) look pretty tidy considering how weeny they are.

1. Prime & Prewash

Finally got myself some spray primer for £1 in white – but taking a cue from the airbrush crowd and their pre-shade technique, I decided to wash my lads in black ink and then drybrush them, creating a more 3D surface to layer paint on. Let’s be honest, at this scale, we need all the help we can get! One word of advice – thinning your ink too far will result in it not adhering to the primer, but the result should give you a good strong surface to paint on.

2. Basecoat

The prevailing wisdom seems to be thin your paints (especially when you’re working with cheapy acrylics like we do)- pre-wash and drybrush should help with detailing here. I started with the tan, thinned down as per tutorials:

3. Wash Basecoat

Thinned down some Vallejo Brown ink for this part, don’t overload the brush though, you want to keep control over this and make sure it doesn’t go everywhere.

4: Drybrush Basecoat

As it sounds, back to the basecoat colour and drybrush to bring a more 3D effect, bringing out the details. Be sparing with this, don’t overload your brush.

5: Camouflage Pattern

Trying to imply a digital camo pattern at this scale is lunacy, so I cheated – sponge chipping. Bit of sponge dunked in Vallejo Russian Green, dab off the excess so you don’t smear it all over the model and dab on. Then do the same with another bit of sponge and Burnt Umber craft paint.

6: Black detailing

Simple – thinned down black craft paint (with water and Vallejo Black Ink) on the lasgun which is definitely not an M16, boots and because these are based on the Rogue Trader Imperial Guard, the flak armour too

7: Skin – thinned down flesh tone craft paint, washed with thin (possibly too thin, these lads do look a bit pasty) Vallejo Skin Wash. Really important to use a detail brush here and not overload it, with models this small there’s not much room for error.

8: Stowage – these guys have load bearing harnesses which I picked out in tan and then washed in Vallejo Brown ink, being as careful and as neat as I could..

9: Basing! Dead easy – I use hole punched 20mm circles of thick cardstock, glued the models on before painting, and then when they were done it was PVA glue and a little carton of dust swept off the garage floor (muy muy skinflint).

Then, when that’s dry, a few dabs with a toothpick and dunk it in some flock to mix it up a little, and edge the bases with the colour of your choice (I used the tan here)

 

BOOM! 40 Guardsmen, done. Now, they’re just lasgun wielding grunts at the minute- without a leader, without a plan..

But that will change, as I’m planning to boost their numbers and bring in some more “Modern US” forces with heavy weapons to be 40k’ified. And some armour, of course. Can’t have Guard sans tanks. My recycling bin is going to be very empty in the next few weeks….

Hope that’s given you a few ideas, see you soon for some more thriftiness!