Tag Archives: Michael & Alan Perry

Warhammer 40k Armies – Praetorian Guard

My 1,000 points Praetorian Guard army for Warhammer 40k 7th Edition is finally completed. It started out 20 years ago with the Chimera and the lascannon teams taking part in a tank battle. Since then the other elements gradually came together, with the occasional interruption for re-basing and additional detailing on parts that had already been finished.

Birds eye view of infantry and vehicles between adobe buildings
Taking up positions in an abandoned outpost

Similar to my Mordian Iron Guard, this Praetorian Guard force is based around an infantry platoon with attached weapons teams and some armoured support. The backbone of the Imperial Guard taking to the field.

Squads of infantry in red uniforms and pith helmets
A forward headquarters is being established
Infantry and heavy weapon teams
Squads are ordered into a defensive perimeter

The reconnaissance element consists of a Sentinel with multilaser and two 3-man teams of Ratling Snipers. All suitable choices for the savannah like area of operations I have in mind.

A war walker advancing alongside infantry soldiers
The Sentinel is brought up to run patrol
View into the cockpit of the war walker
A multilaser also provides solid offensive capabilities
Space hobbits with sniper rifles in green uniforms
“Quick, secure the pantry!”

Fire support is provided by lascannons and a mix of heavy bolters and an autocannon. When I saw how people had swapped the lascannon wheels for those from the old Ork artillery, I borrowed the idea.

Lascannons on gun carriages behind sandbags
The big guns hunker down behind improvised barricades
Heavy guns crewed by soldiers in red uniforms with pith helmets
Any attackers will wade through a hail of bullets
Three weapons teams with mortars
A mortar battery lays down suppressive fire

The Lemon Russ was the last model to be finished. All vehicles ended up with different shades of sand colour, since several generations of paints went out of production during the raising of this force. I chose to interpret it as adding to the realism of an army supplied by the Adeptus Administratum.

Tank with large calibre cannon
The Leman Russ acts as a mobile strong point

While I was avoiding painting the tank I decided to convert the veteran squad and accordingly also the Command HQ which is formed of veteran soldiers. I both wanted to add variety to the appearance of the infantry units and also make it easier to tell them apart on the battlefield. The topknots were mainly plundered from the Chaos Marauders for Warhammer Fantasy Battle which is a kit that keeps on giving.

Commander of the Imperial Guard waving a chainsword
The Command HQ flies the banner of Praetoria
Squad of soldiers with pith helmets decorated with black horse hair
A veteran squad brings experience and firepower

There are another 500 points of reinforcements in different stages of assembly and painting, so the Praetorian Guard will be added to whenever inspiration for them strikes me.

Infantry advancing in front of an armoured vehicle
The Chimera is a mobile command vehicle
Eye level view of a line of Praetorian soldiers
Men and machines in the service of the Imperium
Command squad with standard bearer
“Smite the enemies of the Imperium, for Praetoria!”

Ruff in the Jungle

A second infantry squad and missile launcher team complete my platoon of Catachan Jungle Fighters for Warhammer 40k. I am aiming for a detachment size force of 500 points at the moment, so there’s a fire support squad, a trio of Ogryns and the Captain still to come.

Three units of Catachan soldiers in a jungle environment
A Catachan platoon advances through dense jungle

The missile launcher team features the metal sculpts but I used a new plastic tube as the original had been utilised for a different project. One of the squads also includes a plastic trooper that I put together from the command sprue as I was a metal figure short. His head is smaller than the others but otherwise he fits in reasonably well.

Two man team with missile launcher on bipod
Missile launchers are mobile and tactically flexible
Squad of soldiers in action
Catachans make ferocious fighters
Trooper with a flamethrower and Sergeant with chainsword and bolt pistol
With fire and sword

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Catachan Command

The plan for my Catachan Jungle Fighters is to have a 500 points force under Warhammer 40k 7th Edition rules. This will be formed around a single infantry platoon, reinforced by a squad of Ogryns and some fire support.

The first unit of infantry I already painted back in 2015, so now it is time to add the platoon command squad. It’s made up of the original metal sculpts, including a lieutenant, two special weapon troopers and a soldier with voxcaster.

Squad of five soldiers in green uniforms and red bandanas amongst jungle plants
Taking the fight into the jungle
Soldier with metal chest armour, wearing black sunglasses, smoking a cigar and holding a heavy rifle with ammo belt
Sunglasses – check. Cigar – check. Badass confirmed.
Two soldiers with laser rifles, one shouting into a radio transmitter
Calling in a fire bombing run
Two soldiers with a flamethrower and a plasma rifle
Plasma and flames will cleanse the undergrowth

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Praetorian Platoon

The infantry platoon for my Warhammer 40k Praetorian Guard is finally complete. With the base colours already in place, I managed to stay focused just long enough on the production line. While I don’t want to paint another pith helmet in a while, I might put together and base coat a second platoon while I’m at it, so I have them ready for the next push.

Ranks of soldiers in red uniform jackets accompanied by a figure in long black coat
A Commissar strengthens the resolve of the troops
Soldiers lined up into four units
An infantry platoon with command section and three squads

Praetoria is a hive world yet their regiments are often associated with actions on more rustic planets. Enter the adobe buildings from 4Ground once again, and some improvised barricades which I believe are from Ziterdes.

Several dozen troops marching in front of adobe buildings with heavy weapons on roofs
Taking up defensive positions
Large groups of soldiers with laser rifles
The pride of Praetoria

Now having an Ork army to field against them would be nice. Unfortunately, only 11 out of 69 models for that army are painted so far – a project for another year.

Ranks of soldiers in red jackets and tropical helmets advancing on two adobe buildings with Orks in the background
Infantry assault on an Ork settlement

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Praetorian Guard Advance

I’m progressing with my Praetorian Guard for Warhammer 40k and finished the first of three infantry squads in the platoon. There are only so many different sculpts, so this is going to be a bit repetitive. There actually is a conversion amongst these ten though, where I used a head from the Empire Flagellants, turning a Mordian into a Praetorian sans pith helmet.

Squad of soldiers in tropical helmets with red jackets and laser rifles
The infantry advances with fire support from a Sentinel

As I mentioned, I have a little battle scene set up, with the Necrons advancing on the Praetorian line. Here’s a shot from behind the gun line, showing the latest reinforcements throwing themselves against their pitiless enemy.

Squad of soldiers from behind in the distance with two laser cannons in the foreground
Lascannons are moved into position behind hastily assembled barricades

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