Here's a quick, battle-ready paint job on some Eldar Warp Spiders.  They are Finecast models with really rough casts, terrible detail, and enormous mold lines. I was going to try my best on these guys, but my disappointment in their production eroded my urge to paint them. So I just based them, and here we are.  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #eldar40k #warhammerofficial

My Stompa needs a Mekboy to follow it around, so I made this simple conversion from my bits box. Since the GW model is out of stock,  I could only find a mek boy for $60 on eBay and this hobby is expensive enough. Besides, I think he looks cooler than the GW stock model, but let me know what you think!  #warhammercommunity #orks40k #orks #28mm #Warhammer40k #waaagh #dakka #conversion

Here's a single Craftworlds Guardian that was my test model for the army's color scheme. I like the mono white color, it seems far more alien, but my buddy Eli suggested that I paint the face plate black or the helmet another color. I also added some magenta to the armband to tie it to the Yncarne (kind of hard to see.)  What do you think?  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #eldar40k #craftsworld #spaceelves #aeldari #paintingwarhammer40k 

This old boy just got a touch-up on his paint job. I got him when the Third War for Armageddon codex/book came out and I think I've improved since then.  With 120 more boyz to go, I don't feel like I can give him the attention he deserves but I want to get more Orks on the table so this will have to do. #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #orks40k #spaceorks #deathskulls #Warhammer40k #waaagh 

 

I just retouched this Blade Guard Veteran from my Salamanders army, the Hellbenders. I previously painted him to a playable standard for a tournament, but I wanted to take him to a higher level now that I'm not under a time constraint. Still not a showpiece, but I would be happy to put him in the field.  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #salamanders40k #28mm #astartes #spacemarines40k #adeptusastartes #spacemarines40k #warhammercommunity #Warhammer40k 

I just completed this Primaris techmarine that will serve in my various Space Marine armies.  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #new40k #spacemarines #astartes #primaris #paintingwarhammer40k #techmarine #28mm #adeptusastartes 

I think I've settled on my recipe for the yellow hoods, black robes, and green skin. I really like the skin tone and I think my 40k Orks will be getting that in the future.  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #warhammerofficial #warhammercommunity #middlehammer #gloomspitegitz #badmoon #whfb #ageofsigmar #gobo #nightgoblins

Another little git who will try to steal your bottles! I'm loving this yellow!  #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #oldhammer #goblins #nightgoblins #gloomspitegitz #badmoon #whfb

I had so much fun painting this old git! Working on it brought back so many memories of the years I worked in a comic and game store, playing WHFB with my friends in my off hours. The smaller, Skull Pass-sized goblin models are great, but I really love the large-size Night Goblin range that came before, not to mention the metal minis before that by Kev Adams. I'm going to have to seek those out as I can't find all of my former collection.  Also, I think yellow is going to be the hood color of my lads. I think it really pops and it really sells the John Blanche Zorn-style color palette. (I know green skin breaks that...) I'll add a shield soon too. Let me know what you think. I'm off to paint another 119 more gobos. #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #oldhammer #goblins #nightgoblins #gloomspitegitz #badmoon #whfb 

The doctor is in! I just stopped painting this Apothecary Biologis... I just wasn't enjoying myself. I just wanted to be done painting, so I called it quits. I like the sculpt, it's a fantastic model, but I just wasn't feeling it. Also, I feel like I'm cheating - I didn't put a chapter marking on him so he could be seconded to any of my four Space Marine armies. Don't tell Guilliman I'm not codex compliant.  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #astartes #spacemarines40k #adeptusastartes #apothecarybiologis 

  I finished another quick goblin test model. I'm really torn between the red and yellow schemes - red being easier to paint. Maybe add some yellow flames? I also really enjoy the yellow eyes and I'm definitely painting all of their beady little peepers like that in the future.  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #goblinmode #nightgoblins #warhammercommunity #ageofsigmar #gloomspitegitz 

Some of the lads in my local gaming club are already fed up with 10th edition of 40k and want to go back to a fantasy setting, mainly Age of Sigmar. I thought I could paint up my old WHFB night goblins, but I can't decide on a color scheme. I might make a red hooded gobo too - what do you think?  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #ageofsigmar #gloomspitegitz #goblinmode #nightgoblins  

My friend (and pro painter,) Eli from Away Games and Mayhem Miniature Painting, had a fun challenge to paint the same model for each other's army. I painted this Primaris Phobos Lieutenant in Ultramarines colors and he's painting a Salamanders Lieutenant for me.  I'm pretty proud of this guy, I hope Eli likes it and I can't wait to see what he's done for me!  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #new40k #spacemarines #astartes #ultramarines #ultramarines40k 

"My flag means, desth!" I made a quick "Oath of Moment" marker. I'm tempted to write, "Oath" or "Death" on the skull's forehead. What do you think?  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #spacemarines40k #adeptusastartes #astartes 

Another test model for my homebrew Space Marine chapter, the Gargoyles. I'm not quite happy with the black though... I love the Crusader models from the Black Templars and this guy doesn't have any other overt conversions. I'm still on the fence about switching away from my silver and green color scheme that I painted my Deathwing models. I may paint one more test figure before I start army painting. #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #homebrewchapter #spacemarines40k #astartes #adeptusastartes 

Waaagh! My first Rogue Trader-era Space Ork for #orktober in proud, Deathskull colors! He's also my entry to Midwinter Minis #sporktober23 contest. He's not a real contender, but he was such a joy to paint. I even gave him a jack-o-lantern ork skull on one shoulder pad. I plan on taking him off the goblin green base and putting him on a 32mm son that I can still game with him in 10th edition. #sporktober23 #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #roguetrader #orks40k #spaceorks #deathskulls #Warhammer40k 

WIP of my Yncarne model after two painting sessions. It was a tough build but I'm enjoying the painting process. There's something freeing about painting an abstract idea, like an energy construct - there are no rules or painting guide; I'm just kind of going for it and I like how it's turning out. I normally don't add basing materials until the end, but I was basing some other models so I just started gluing, and here we are.  #wip #Warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #eldar #aeldari #yncarne 

This model broke me. I've been painting and assembling models for more than 30 years and the Yncarne may be the worst. Not to mention the instructions aren't the best.  I mean, I almost want to give up my Eldar... What's the hardest model you've assembled?  #eldar #aeldari

It was a blast to revisit these classic Space Marines for the #90smarinechallenge. Here's my finished battle brother from my favorite chapter, the Salamanders, complete with period accurate base!  At the time, the 'Eavy Metal Salamanders were a much darker green and I suspect that was to make them stand out from the goblin green bases. Thanks @darrenlatham  #90smarinefinished #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #spacemarines40k #adeptusastartes #salamanders40k #oldhammer

I recently completed this "Star Hunters" Thunder Warriors model for my Age of Stryfe-era White Scars.  I may need to add some more chipping, and I'm tempted to add some ochre streaks like John Blanche's art.  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #blanchitsu #ageofstrife #unificationwars #thunderwarriors #28mag #thunderwarrior #whitescars40k #starhunters #warhammercommunity 

Chapter Name: Gargoyles Founding Chapter: Unknown - White Scars and Alpha Legion are rumored. Founding: Ultima Founding Home world: KS-34 Colors: Light Blue and Black Specialty: Orbital Strike Strength: Unknown, believed to be less than 1,000 battle brothers Fortress Monastery: Battle cry: Morior iinvictu (Death before defeat!) Description: The Gargoyles are a loyalist Adeptus Astartes chapter who are suspected to be a successor chapter of the White Scars or possibly Alpha Legion geneseed. The battle brothers of the Gargoyles won't reveal their true origins, however, they are believed to be recruited from hive cities, like Necromunda. The Gargoyles specialize in void combat and orbital strike tactics. They prefer quick interdiction and often aim to strike an enemy commanders as their first point of attack. To this end, the Chapter utilizes drop pod assault, terminator deep strike, and other fast moving vehicles to, "fall on their opponents like rain." --- This is my first...

WIP 4 of my #90smarinechallenge mini. I'm getting close, but due to work, I don’t have much free time to put on this fellow before the deadline.  Also, every time I fix something, I seem to add another thing I need to touch up! However, I'm very happy with how this is going! 

I started using a wet palette for my miniature painting about 5-years ago. I'm not kidding when I say that it was one of the biggest game changers to my painting hobby. I mostly used it to keep my paint wet by adding days of shelf life to my paint. More painting time means I use less paint. Plus, I can blend colors well on the paper. I tried a homemade sponge and parchment paper kit, and it worked ok but it was far from perfect. However, I was convinced enough in the process to try a Sta-Wet palette from the art supply store. I loved it.  I paint almost every day and my first Sta-Wet last about 4 years before the sponge disintegrated to the point I couldn't use it.  I won an Army Painter Wet Palette at a tournament so I tried it out instead of replacing the Sta-Wet. It's a little smaller than the Sta-Wet but it was plenty big enough for the kind of mixing and blending I do. The Army Painter Wet Palette also features a brush holder; a feature that I didn't use and it con...

WIP of my #90smarinechallenge mini after about 4 paint sessions. I mucked up the flames on my bolter, and there's some smoothing out to be done, but I like where it's going. 

I got in another hour of painting on my #90smarinechallenge mini. I've lost most of my work on the chest gem and aquilla after gluing the bolter on...  I may make the gun red since it all looks very green. 80s & 90s Salamanders were a much darker shade of green and it makes sense to have their armor stand out more against the goblin green base. #wip #Warhammer40k #oldhammer #salamanders40k 

Here's a WIP shot for my entry for the 90s marine challenge by Darren Larham. This is my progress after two hobby sessions, about 2 hours of work and I'm pleased with how it's going so far. #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #warhammercommunity #salamanders40k #badabwar #armageddon40k #spacemarines40k

"Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war!" My Rouge Trader era army project continues with this humble tactical marine. My painting has slowed way down lately and I'm trying to paint better. However, my pile of shame is growing but I'll work on my #90smarinechallenge next - since this is an 80s marine. #badabwar #armageddon40k #spacemarines40k #salamanders40k #28mm #28mag #astartes #paintingwarhammer #warhammercommunity #warhammerofficial #Warhammer40k 

  Sword and Sorcery fans get ready!  I've been lucky enough to befriend some amazing writers, journalists, authors and creators and I'm always delighted when their work hits the stands. I can't wait to read my old friend, Howard Andrew Jones'   new novel that was released this week!

Earlier this week, Winters SEO posted a YouTube video talking about 10th Edition and asking if it was any good. The consensus is, yes, but it still needs some tweaks. There are a few problems with balance between factions, points per unit, and the dominance of the shooting phase vs close combat, as-well-as "Fluff dictating rules." I agree with most of the points made, but I felt the urge to chime in the comments and posted this: I've always enjoyed having lots of models and skirmish level games don't have a lot of attraction for me. (Pawns, give me lots of pawns!) I know that a lot other gamers (if not most) would rather play with just the best models in their codex and see "troops" as a tax to their enjoyment. My solution is to make those humble troops count for something, specificity, greater OC values. Make an ordinary troop count for OC 4. Make elite mega-killy models OC 1 or 0. Then ordinary isn't a tax on your army, it becomes a valuable asset to b...

Last ride of the Khan! Much of my White Scars army is not going to be printed in the next Space Marine codex so I took them out for one last ride. This is about half of the bikes and speeders I own, but I thought one more fight would be fun. I took out Angron in turn two, only to have him come back the next turn and kill the rest of my army. These Scouts, Sniper Scouts, Scout Bikers, Bikers, Attack Bikes, Thunder Fire Cannon, Captain on Bike, Librarian, Librarian with Jump Pack have seen many battles and will be really missed.  #warhammercommunity #new40k #Warhammer40k #spacemarines #whitescars #whitescars40k 

Today, James Workshop announced that much of the Firstborn Space Marine line will be getting the axe in the upcoming Adpetus Astartes codex. God speed to my beloved White Scars army. Most of my Sons of Chogoris models will be removed and I'll have a drop pod, some devastators, and a couple of others but the bulk of the army is gone. I'm losing models in my Wolves and Sallies too, but my collection is large enough to absorb the losses in those factions.  You rode hard & fast, were difficult to paint, and went through lots of base changes, but you were worth every scar. Man, this really bums me out. 

Another ancient battle brother is finally ready to serve the Emperor after finally receiving a long-awaited paint job! 

The Warhammer 40,000 Leviathan Tournament Companion version 1.0 was released last week. This handy document provides guidance for organizers on how to best play Warhammer 40k events and tournaments, including rules for terrain layouts, mission selection, and pairings. This useful document is truly a sign that ol’ James Workshop is listening to players and I’m absolutely pleased in its release.   I loved, loved, loved the Warhammer Events team’s organized play rules for 9th. The terrain rules, the handy mission cards, the use of the Best Coast Pairings, etc. allowed for smooth flowing events and I felt the terrain was perhaps the most balanced 40k has ever been. Seriously, the terrain rules were fantastic, and I’ve stopped playing in tournaments that use player placed terrain. My local club almost always uses the GW terrain setup for our friendly games.   One of the elements I enjoyed the most in the 9th edition tournament pack was the precisely placed terrain and measured foot...

I just finished this terminator in time for 4th edition. I'm about 20 years behind but better late than never!  I should get to those new Leviathan terminators around 2042.  

"It's clobbering time!" Comic book collecting is my other hobby and my favorite character has always been Ben Grim, the ever-loving, blue-eyed, Thing. (The Fantastic Four also being my favorite comic.) So, in honor of new comic Wednesday, here's a bootleg Thing model I found online. I think he's intended for Marvel Crisis Protocol. That's a game I don't play but I might if the FF joins the game. #marvel #thething #fantasticfour #miniaturepainting #marvelcrisisprotocol 

I looked at my stats for this blog recently and I just passed 40k views!  To say I'm pleased is an understatement. I realize most of it's probably bots or simply picture views, but it seems like such a cool landmark for my hobby. I also know it's peanuts compared to the podcast who has the same name, but I still feel a bit of joy sharing my hobby with others.  Thank you to all of the real people who visit and read my posts! In case you're wondering, in the 10 years+ that I've been blogging, I've earned $12 in revenue - and Google pays you when you reach $100 - so really it's zero. 

  This weekend, a few of us in my regular gaming group, The Sunday Morning Fight Club, tried a game of Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition. We had points, the stock mission from the main rules, and the index rules at the time of the game. There are still a lot of clarifications we need, like, “what is a battleline troop?” and, “can you really reduce a damage to 0?” but we soldiered on, stumbling and fumbling along the way. I brought my Space Wolves and I played against Eli and his combined Daemon force. I can’t speak for Eli, but I felt like we both brought a variety of units to see how they worked, interesting interactions, and some combos and tactics we were excited to try. My thoughts on building a Space Wolf List: I had a bit of a challenge with building my Space Wolf roster. I have lots of troops. I have lots of characters. However, I mostly own first born characters and I want to field Primaris troops, which prevents me from having characters join a similarly armored unit. It’s not...

This Space Wolf Wulfen conversion I recently finished painting was a lot of fun to build and paint. I really don't like the regular Wulfen kit, but mixing it with a primarus torso and legs looks better in my eyes. Let me know what you think!  I missed the Kansas City Open this year and I likely would have brought my Space Wolf successor Great Company (called the Tempest Hounds for now.)

Good news/bad news. I was painting some terrain for my FLGS and I took it outside to seal it... now the bottom floor doesn't block line-of-sight. 

I converted one of my Black Templar Neophytes to be a standard bearer for the Crusader Squad.  Of course, he's painted in the colors of my home brew chapter, the Rampant Lions.

I took a break from Orks and worked on my Thunder Warriors project; the Star Hunters, Age of Strife-era White Scars. 

"Drive me close'a so I can hit 'em with me head!" I'm calling it quits on painting the new trukk for my boyz. This usually sprints downfield with nobz on board, then gets wrecked.

The new Balance Data Slate was released today for Warhammer 40k 9th edition and my beloved Dark Angels Deathwing list took a beating.  If you don't have the codex, the fourth bullet point was the rule that gave Inner Circle infantry units, like Deathwing Terminators, Transhuman Physiology. Basically, the key feature that most players loved about the list.  Rest in peace, Deathwing, we hardly knew ye. Also, what a crappy way to write that rule?! Why not simply include a sentence that says, Inner Circle models do not benefit from transhuman without use of a strategem? I know 10th edition is supposed to be cleaner and easier to understand, but this does not bode well. I'm not really a loyal Dark Angels player (see what I did there?) so I'll just shift back to playing one of my other Marines armies or orks. I've been day dreaming about a Thunder Warriors army again and dug out some bits to work on conversions. I'm loving the idea of a Age of Stryfe White Scars/Star Hunt...

Who needs a krump'n? I just finished this Ork Nob for my Deathskulls mob.