Dom Murray's Empire

This morning I was looking around the desks in our offices to see who was painting up some Empire models. It turns out that I didn't have to look that far - in fact, it was the desk right next to mine. Dom Murray, who works in the web team, happened to be adding a few models to his existing collection of Empire miniatures - and because Dom knows his way around a paintbrush, they looked impressive too. I'll hand over to Dom so that he can tell you more about his models.

Dom: I started collecting the Empire before there was even an Empire book. I began with the range of Citadel Fighters for Warhammer Fantasy, way back in the days of mullets and power rock. That range eventually got bigger and became the Empire, and I've stuck with them ever since. As fantastical and exotic as our background is, I've tended to only really collect human armies, and that's for both Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 - there's something about mankind's last stand against overwhelming odds that really appeals to me.

My current army is a Middenland force, which I've built up over a period of years. In fact, I've been doing it for so long that now I can just choose character models and little projects that I've always wanted to do. One example of this is the Iron Duke - he's the chap with the cross blades and wears an iron face mask. His regiment is made up of mercenary swordsman, and in it there are going to be soldiers from all the different states of the Empire. I'm enjoying taking the opportunity to add these pieces to the army, and that also includes some of the new releases. The first of these is the Empire Captain which, as you can see, I've painted in traditional Middenland colours.

One of the things I really value about the Empire army is the sheer wealth of plastic kits available. Be it an Empire Captain or a State Trooper, the huge number of kits with which to kit-bash give me an amazing choice. Having said that, my Knights are pretty much built straight out the box. There's something incredibly majestic about a full Empire battle line. Knights really do the job for me. That moment before the first turn, seeing rank upon rank of glittering steel, imagining those banners unfurling... It just looks awesome. [Dom's eyes just started to well up - Mark]

So there you go - my collection is quite an eclectic one. I'm currently working on the Empire General on Griffin, in Middenland colours, and I've got a box of Demigryph Knights to add to my Knightly Orders. After that I'll be painting a regiment of Empire Greatswords and a Helblaster Volley Gun because, as Ed in the office keeps on telling me, the new Helblaster rules are astonishing!