“Though our tanks and artillery are mighty, it is the vast ranks of Imperial Guardsmen that shall trample the enemy to dust - let them come.”
To mark the release of the Warhammer 40k video game, Dark Tide, McFarlane released a wave of their Warhammer 40k figures in 2022 taking inspiration from some of the characters in the game. The Darktide releases introduced the Astra Militarum or Imperial Guard into the McFarlane collection. This was done using the same principle as the Space Marines and Orks by creating a general figure body onto which varying parts, components, and paintwork can be added to individualise the character.
The Veteran Guardsman was part of the main wave of Darktide figures and is packed into the same window box as per all the WH40k general releases from its inception in 2020 and through until the 2024 releases where the packaging aesthetic was updated. This general box uses a dark gothic-inspired design personalised to the figure on the side art and the rear of the box only. There is no background text or overview of the figure - only images - with the figure itself set against a deep yellow card back. The figure is strapped tightly into an inner tray with several clear ties to negotiate to release him. The figure stand is glued onto the card back in its own bubble, meaning if you do want to use the stand the packaging will be damaged when unpacked.
The Veteran Guardsman shares some of the main body components with the Traitor Guards from the same wave. He stands 18cm tall which does call into question some of the scale with the McFarlane Warhammer 40k figures and making either him too tall, or the Space Marines too small. He features a black base body overlaid with a deep olive green armoured panelling across the legs, chest and shoulders and over this we have a tactical belt in a lighter military green. The final decor is included with a white stripe on the left shoulder pauldron - a finish that is less than tidy - and silver skull and Imperium crests on the chest and belt.
The head is enclosed in a green combat helmet with another silver-winged Imperium crest. The face is obscured with a breathing mask that includes milky white goggles, and a brown face mask with silver filters.
The Veteran features two weapons, starting with a Las Pistol that is shared with the Traitor Guard variant. This one is painted in gunmetal and with a brighter silver grip and trigger. It can be held in either hand, with both left and right hand options including a separate trigger finger. Like most McFarlane releases, the plastic for the hands is not overly flexible and engaging the gun in particular may need a bit of gentle heat to avoid damage.
The other weapon is a Chainsword, and while this is pretty similar to the ones packed with both the Marines and Sisters of Battle, it is a new scaled piece of its own to fit with the Imperial Guard Veteran. It includes deep sculpted component parts and the Imperial Eagle symbol with a main body coloured in gunmetal silver, with the teeth of the blade picked out in a standard silver colour. It also fits in either hand, but as it has a smaller grip than the Las Pistol the grip is not as severe.
The articulation is 19 points in total setting the standard for ‘human’ characters with double-jointed knees and elbows, butterfly shoulders, and an ankle rocker that also rotates and is supported by toe joints - although the latter of these are not massively useful. The legs are restricted at the hips so you will only get upright poses out of your guard. The upper torso is much more manoeuvrable offering plenty of options for the Guard with or without either weapon. Be mindful that the butterfly shoulder piece can pop out easily if the arm is over-extended.
The release also includes the usual black circular stand with the Warhammer 40k logo in white across the front. It features a single peg that should line up with the holes in either the right or left foot, but the Guardsman's left foot hasn’t been cut deep enough so you will need to use the right peg hole or have the left foot hovering.
I am impressed with the Imperial Veteran Guardsman from Darktide. He features a well-designed body - but one that also offers McFarlane the option to expand and update for future variants - with a dark but accurate paint job to the game. The paint is clean and crisp in the main but lacks the fuller detail that the hobby would encourage experienced painters to add themselves - or go the whole hog with the Unpainted Artist Proof version. Weapon choices are nice, but adding a third weapon like a Las Rifle may have opened up some further Army-building options.
The Veteran Guardsman was the most popular of the Darktide releases and with the announcement of the addition of the Karskrin to the McFarlane Imperial Guard ranks, the figure is likely to grow in popularity.
Keep Track of all the Warhammer 40k figures from McFarlane at our comprehensive
If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports
About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
Comments