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Hello,

This has been done before and I'm sure will be again but with 8th Edition coming up I've decided to do my best at creating a dual army. Because I love Horde Armies I want to go with Orks and Imperial Guard while recreating a 6th Edition Army I had which was Imperial Guard with Ork models. There are a few reasons for this:

* I have a lot more experience/comfort with painting Orks than anything else.
* Conversion opportunities are fun!
* Two armies for the price of one!
* Able to keep both armies WYSIWYG.

Because 8th Edition isn't out yet I'm sticking with the staples: Boyz, Trukks, and Nobz. If I can pick up other things for cheap I will though. Here are my very loose conversions as planned:

Rokkit Launcha Boyz = Missile Launcher Heavy Weapon
Basic Guardsman (Lasguns) = Shoota Boyz
Sergeant = Nobz OR Choppa Boyz
Commissar / Platoon Commanders = Nobz
Conscripts = Gretchin
Ogryns = Nobz
Chimera = Trukks and Chimera Mix
Lascannon / Plasma Gun / Melta Gun = Lootas
Sentinel = Deff Kopta
Hard Topped Sentinel = Killa Kan
Bullgryns = Meganobz

That's mostly what I have so far, Leman Russ will just be the standard model with some Ork adornments and an Ork captain/pilot.

In order to keep things straight I will be putting what each model is on the front of the base so that there's zero confusion. Where I'm struggling is how to IG up the Orks a bit and blend the worlds. Using Lasguns on Orks looks a bit odd because they're small and they already have Guard-like armor, painting them regimented would help. Trukks are going to get the Plasticard treatment to seal up the back a bit and make it look like a proper transport. Heavy Weapon Teams will be magnetized to a bigger base so they can pop on and off.

Overall I think Orks work pretty well as IG the way they are, I'd just like to standardize and regiment them up a bit. I'm no master crafter, I have no greenstuff talent so I'm hoping to stick to bits and painting. An easy start seems to be helmets for every model and limiting the exposed skin with shoulder pads. Flags could also be a decent touch.

So what should I be adding to get my Orks looking properly regimental? I'm trying to focus more on table quality changes for the rank and file since massed Guardsman are what I think of when I think IG and then I will make detail changes on things like Vehicles and Characters for the extra touch. I'm just not sure what all I should do!

Standard bearers, lots of 'em!!!
As for the conversion list I quite agree with what you've listed.
Won't you be playng Wartrukk?
The only thing I don't like is the Sentinel\Kopta mix, I'd use KK for both sentinels models.
I'd put this on a trukk and heavily modify it in order to produce a Wyvern
https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-GB/Ork-Flakk-Gun

I think that the best way for orks to be recognisable as IG is to give them uniforms and helmets, specificaly the WW II ones. Why? Because the wermacht is typicaly seen as the epitome of german discipline and precision. This is a great contrast to the typical barbaric nature of orks. One other thing is posing. Convert a few of them to salute or march to further solidify the disciplined ork look.

Kromlech.eu do some excellent Orks in great coats and other more Imperial looking clothing which you could use to make your Orks more regimented.

I've been tempted to use some as Sturmgrenadier Ork platoons for a while now!

They are expensive, but when you factor in all the green stuff you will use as well as the time you might as well buy these.
http://bitsofwar.com/home/140-orc-schmeisser-graetcoat-squad.html

Unfortunately I'm trying to stick with pure GW Models, mostly for tournament reasons. So whatever conversions I can do with their line is what I'm going with.

Standards seem like a good idea and it shouldn't be too hard to convert some into unique poses. I'm still a little lost how to make the Boyz look more like Guardsmen though, I suppose they could have a bit more of an armored look like Vostroyan or Steel Legion? Doesn't have to mirror Cadians exactly. After all the general aesthetic would be Orks trying to copy IG, not them being IG. I find it more endearing that way and I think it would keep that balance of letting me use the models in either army.

If I was going to go all out I'd probably use 'Ard Boyz for the rank and file but that would be very expensive and I'm probably going to use them for Storm Troopers.

There's a flat-topped somewhat commissar looking hat on the Stormboy sprue that could serve you well. Also, painting a crude aquila on their helmets would go a long way in making Boyz look like Guardsmen.