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So I have had my IG army now for almost a year and am still working on painting them all. I just about have all of their uniforms finished and am now starting on faces (ugh!). Anyway, I make extensive use of conscripts and aside from their uniforms I would like for them to stand out from the more veteran guardsmen. So my idea is that they should look young and scared. I am a novice painter however and have never attempted anything like this. I had thought maybe trying a bit of red/pink on their cheeks but am afraid this may make them look too girly, also I want to attempt wide eyes. Any suggestions/tips would be much appreciated.

This is your best bet: http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-paint-rich-skin-tones-and-their.html

Trying to give Guardsman "wide eyes" will just make them look like they were on drugs.

Also, make their equipment much cleaner.

Scooty, that is one excellent source of information...I wish I'd found it before I painted my Deathwing!!

I'm not sure if the fluff mentions it these days, but back in RT times there were the whiteshields. New recruits who had not yet proven themselves worthy of wearing the regimental colors/insignia would have those places on their uniform painted white. After serving in combat, they would take the colors and wear the full uniform.

The Whiteshields idea is noted in the Imperial Guard codex under the conscripts, specifically for Cadian youth brigades, but it could be applied more generally as well.

ScootyPuffJunior - that really is a great article, thanks a ton. I think that the stubble part will help in making my guardsmen look a bit older than the conscripts.

Thanks everyone else for your input. I have already painted the white shields on their armor and made their uniforms/armor cleaner-looking. Easy enough as my paint scheme has them wearing white uniforms with green armor. But I wanted to add just a little extra touch for when people get up-close to the models.

Not sure if I can add anything helpful, as both painting techniques and "off the line" vs "veteran" aspects have been mentioned. Personally my regular guys have either a specific set of gear or just a bit of gear (I play marines btw), whileas veterans have heaps of it alternatively a lot of bling.

Even so, the difference between conscript/regular/veteran really just lays in with consistency. Personally I'd likely give all conscripts the same gear, regulars a bit of personality as in they choose what they carry, veterans even more so.

I model my guys depending on their "rank" as well, regular guys have stock poses, veterans have increasing customization and leaders often have scratchbuilt/modded stuff.

Really depends on your personal approach but I think you're off to a good start with the uniform/armor differences you've mentioned. If you haven't already I'd suggest having a look at different gear (additional stuff beyond their weapon selection).

Hope that helps.

I think trying to paint fresh-faced, wide-eyed innocence at 28mm is almost impossible for all but the most skilled of painters. One thing you do find in the military is that guys who have been in-country longer tend to have faded uniforms, especially in areas of high contact (knees, elbows, cuffs, and collars). It might be possible to replicate this effect by painting your vets' fatigues olive drab while painting the FNGs' uniforms a darker, richer shade of green. Still, a bit difficult to pull-off if you want your army to look cohesive, IMO.