Mordian 7th Regiment, D Company - Planning and build nearly complete.

So once upon a time, I started a blog that was all about the glorious Mordian 7th Regiment with the intent that it would keep me on target with my hobby work and allow me to solicit feedback from all you awesome readers. That worked for a while, but about a year ago I finally became fed up with all the little problems that I'd introduced into the army and I sold off a goodly chunk of it with the intention of starting over from scratch. In the mean time I've been all over the map with Orks and Ad-Mech and Dark Eldar (oh my!). Nevertheless, behind the scenes over the last year I've been slowly buying the odd box set of guard models and tucking them away in the Closet of Doom, and I've fiddled around with various army lists, knowing that the "original" Mordian 7th list is neither competitive, interesting from a modeling perspective, or in certain unit's cases even possible with the current codex. That being the case I've decided to toss out the plan of meticulously re-creating the original list and instead come up with a blended list that a) includes most of the 'signature' units from the original, b) would be fun to build and paint, and c) actually be a feasible army in the current edition.

I sat down, cracked open the painting chart (thanks to Admiral Drax once again for this fabulous idea) and set to mixing and matching what I thought would be a fun army to build and paint. Luckily I kept a number of units from the previous army, so a seed of already-painted models exists for me to structure the rest of the army around. I started from the top and worked down the army list...

Leading from the front is Company Commander Evin Eldro and his command squad. In game, I utilize Creed's rules to represent Evin's years of service, fiery temperament and superior tactical acumen. Though shouting "Eldrooooo!" is not quite as satisfying as "Creeeeeeed!"

The HQ slots are further filled with Lord Commissar Fidel Arden (shown here leading the rest of the members of the Commissariat assigned to the Mordian 7th)...

...and Sanctioned Psyker Morrin Dannel (taking refuge with the rest of the psykers that accompany the glorious 7th). There is also a small detachment of Techpriests assigned to the Mordian 7th as well, though I have no pictures of them at the moment.

Filling in the Elites slots are a number of Abhuman units - the Mordian 7th is well known (and a bit infamous) in their use of Abhumans. First and most often seen taking the field are 3rd Platoon, a.k.a. "Thargadd's Thumpers", a unit of Ogryns who have accompanied the 7th since its inception.

As diminutive (and sneaky) as the Ogryns are large (and smelly), Dunno's Deadeyes are the 7th's unit of Ratling Snipers.

Nicodemus is a disgraced Imperial Assassin that has thrown in his lot with Commander Eldro and is often sent on insanely dangerous missions, which seems to suit his need for atonement. In game, he counts-as Guardsman Marbo and is armed and modeled accordingly.

Now I'd sold off nearly all of the Troops choices for the army and have been re-building them. At the moment, no pictures, but it includes the following:

1st (Tactical) Platoon
HQ squad w/ Chimera
3x Squads of Guardsmen with Grenade Launchers, Missile Launchers and Chimeras
3x Lascannon-armed Heavy Weapons Teams. 

2nd (Assault) Platoon
1x Veterans Squad w/ 3x Plasma Guns and Valkyrie (anti-infantry squad)
1x Veterans Squad w/ 3x Meltas, Demolitions and Vendetta (anti-tank squad)
In the original list, all of these models used to be equipped with laspistols, CCWs and Jump Packs which is no longer an option. Instead I've kited them out with Grav Chutes and mounted them in Valkyrie/Vendettas which I feel is a fair approximation.

4th (Beastman) Platoon
10x Beastmen armed with two hand weapons. Packmaster Raakt is armed with a pair of Chainswords, but the remainder of the unit carries basic axes and swords.
In the original list, Beastmen were a valid unit choice. To represent them in the current edition, I utilize them as a Penal Legion who always have the "Knife Fighters" option and forfeit their lasguns. They are made from fantasy beastmen who have had their torsos replaced with Cadian torsos and occasional bits of equipment (canteens, grenades and the like).

6th (Penitents) Platoon
10x Penal Legionnaires w/ Lasguns
Very simple unit - the 7th is primarily modeled using Cadians but the Penitents utilize Catachan models to represent a more buffed-out criminal look. Painted in prison orange, complete but apparently I've never taken pictures of them...

On the Fast Attack front, the army includes a Bane Wolf, a trio of Mars-Pattern Sentinels (currently unbuilt) and a 10-strong unit of Rough Riders. Instead of horses however, the Rough Riders are all mounted on motorcycles and are led by Captain Hilts who is a counts-as Mogul Kamir (bonus points if you get the Captain Hilts reference).

As mentioned in the Troops section, the Imperial Navy has supplied the 7th with several aircraft. The Valkyrie has been assembled and painted for some time now, but the Vendetta still languishes in a box in the Closet of Doom...

On the heavy support front, the Thudd Gun that used to accompany the 7th has been replaced by a Medusa Emplacement. Hands down one of my favorite FW models of all time. I could have sworn I had a picture of the completed model, but apparently the only shot I have is an old in-progress picture.

The Rapier Laser Destroyer has accompanied the 7th for decades as well, and is usually watched over by one of the two Techpriests that are part of the army.

One can never have enough artillery, so a Manticore has been seconded into the army as well. My intention is to also include one (maybe two) Leman Russ tanks, I'm planning on a heavily magnetized version to allow for as much flexibility and options as I can.

The Imperial Navy also provides the 7th with significant air support in the form of an Imperial Thunderbolt...

...And a Vulture Gunship armed with twin-linked Punisher cannons. If all else fails, I guess I'll be more or less ready for the vaunted "Summer of Flyers"!

All told the army comes out to just a hair over 4,000 points as listed. Now all I need to do is paint about 80 infantry and 7 vehicles, as well as re-base nearly all the currently-painted models so the bases match my current theme. Looks like I have my work cut out for me!