Downsizing, and choosing which guard project question

[Uprising]

I am in the process of downsizing my entire collection due to unfinished projects, time, space, and motivation reasons.  Last weekend, I was looking at my multiple unbuild guard model collection, and it is massive.  I have recent models, to model ranging back to the first wave that forge world released.  For 2026, my main goal is to start painting more and downsizing (which is working, as I sold my scions over the weekend).  I have a few questions and would like some guidance in choosing which project to continue with.  

  

Important note: I am more of a painter / modeler and do not play the tabletop anymore, so rules do not matter here.  The story does and the project.  

 

I have Five current guard army / project:

• Scions: Lot included 100+ scions, Taurux, Valk, and tanks.  I kept the vehicles and just sold the Scions.  They were my least favorite.  
• Old school Cadian / Hostile environment: I have been a fan of the 8th cadian scheme (I blame Space marine 1 and 2).  Not my favorite choice, but a fun and simple one.  Also, I have a lot of old style forgeworld Hostile environment upgrade torso.  
• R & H: One of my favorite ideas (I love chaos), and I was thinking of doing an Iron Warrior force (nicknamed: The lord of the Fodder) that would use the older plastic mixed with vraks enforcer torse (which I have hundreds) backed up by a few marines.  Think of an old school eye of terror force.  
• Krieg: I love the siege of vraks, but I am not a fan of the newer plastic.  So, in order to grow the force, I will have to find older forgeworld models.  Also, as a lore / historical mind individual, all my tanks are not the old school forgeworld Mars pattern which is a hang up for me.  This will mean I will have to replace my current tanks / vehicles with those from the Solar auxilia range.  Am I being too extreme / unreasonable here?  
• Tyrant Legion: I have an astral claws and lamentor army, and I always fancy a Tyrant legion force.  I got the transfer for the force and an idea for the scheme.   

I have the following: 

• 250+ Cadian guardsmen / vets / Command models (older plastic)
• 30 Heavy Weapon Team (older plastic)
• 4 Valkyries / Vendetta 
• 4 Taurox
• 6 Orgyns
• 2 Forgeworld Hydra
• 6 Russes (older plastic)
• 1 Dorn
• 6 chimeras
• 140 ish Forgeworld Krieg models (Do not have the full list on top of my head but a good mix of death riders, guardsmen, grenadier, engineer, hades, command, special and heavy weapons) 

So, what are your thoughts?  This will not be an overnight change, just more planning steps.  A lot of these models / forgeworld upgrade are hard to find, so I do not want to make a lot of sudden moves.  

 

P.S. If this is not the best place to post, please let me know.  Thank you and take care   
 

[W.A.Rorie]

R & H- I like this idea the most followed by the FW DKoK.  Just a thought as you are a painter and not a player, why not do a diorama? 

[Uprising]

On 2/23/2026 at 1:28 PM, W.A.Rorie said:

R & H- I like this idea the most followed by the FW DKoK.  Just a thought as you are a painter and not a player, why not do a diorama? 

The R & H (more like traitor guard to be fair) is the way I am leaning towards at the moment.  I usually do a display board once I am completed with each project.  Still pondering and willing to hear out other thoughts.   

[Galron]

I thought I had a back log. I have a full Elysian infantry army with 1.5 squads painted. Every now and then I get a bug to paint some and then I get distracted by another project that has a higher priority. I too have a large DKok Army that needs to be painted. I prefer the FW models but I dont have a problem with the new plastics and I have a pile of 3D prints as well. Hades drills and a Gorgon aside, all the vehicles for both are at least painted and I am not as picky as you. I also have a converted Praetorian infantry army with 300 dudes in it but it is 99% painted. But unlike you I have other armies. I have finally (after almost 20 years) begun to consolidate my marines into one army and will sell individual units I have bought over the years that I dont like or need. I still have two very large chaos armies, a small 3000ish point dark eldar and harlequin army, an even smaller eldar army, plus three old world armies and numerous Bolt Action armies. I am gradually selling a Necron army and still have a couple lots of units left.

 

Like you I paint more than play, especially right now. My two eldar armies are more painting projects than playing armies. I am trying the paint before building more theory with the eldar even. I have a priority list on my work bench right now to clean it up a bit of the wide array of models on it. I have some Eldar warlocks and farseers, 5 wood elf models, a halfing warband for mordheim, a couple other random Old World models who need to be finished because I lost them in the mess and didnt finish them with their peers, 6 more wood elf models who are on my priming table in the garage, and then I will evaluate whats next. Or I get distracted. I actually have a box behind me with a pile of random models from various armies that are primed, maybe I'll shake it up(metaphorically) and randomly grab a model and do that unit. 

 

If I were you, even if you dont play, figure out which army is closest to being done by building a decent sized list on New Recruit and start working on it. I (hypocritically) would not buy anything new until that army is complete unless you are filling in holes for that army. Skip the tank one for now, not to mention I think the Solar Aux tanks do not come with sponsons if I remember right. 

 

I know you have the parts, but do you really need two traitor guard armies? Be cool to lay everything out for pictures. I say a guy on FB yesterday who has collected an entire Blood Angels chapter. He took pictures of each company. It was really neat to see them although only a few units if any in each company were painted past primer stage.

 

 

[Uprising]

@Galron: I am in agree with you.  Trying to decide which main project to pick and cannibalize the rest into the main project.  Nothing painted at the moment, just assembled (which is the Krieg and IW idea).  

 

So far we have two votes for the IW (aka Traitor guard).  Any more thoughts?  I could get some paint on a few test mini.  

[Galron]

I would do Tyrants Legion just for looks. I am sure for friendly or themed games you could bring allied marines or just run it as chaos and traitor guard and conscripts(cultists) while avoiding the obvious mutated guys. I would use the cadian models for the professional traitor guardsmen and your lost and damned bits for the cultists to reflect the more ragtag look.