Warhammer World Open Day – 2023

After far too many years, I finally made it to Warhammer World 🙂

The first weekend in March was Warhammer World’s store anniversary / open day, so I used it as the ideal excuse to take the Johnmobile Mk II on the six hour drive south to Nottingham for the day.

Truth be told, I wasn’t really interested in the game demos or the other festivities, I really wanted to visit the exhibition, see if I could catch up with friends (hi, Art!) and spend some hard-earned (hah!) cash in the shop. In any case, I had a great time, and can’t wait to go again, but next time I’ll take some minis to get a game in.

The Exhibition

I spent a good hour in the exhibition. While my photography skills are questionable at best, I’d like to share the highlights.

Finally, it wouldn’t be an open day without a gratuitous swag shot!

Operative Umbral-Six – Vindicare Assassin

Even though I’ve a million things in-progress on my painting desk (well, my only desk), when my Warhammer Plus year one miniature dropped through the door I couldn’t resist!

Since this is really a display piece, I decided to take inspiration from the box art rather than go my own way. I think if I ever pick up the more game-ready variant I may try something different.

Dark Angels Primaris Inceptors

After much gnashing of teeth and shouting to the heavens warp, I finally finshed my first bouncy Primaris unit.

Originally I’d hoped to use the supplied flying stems, but no glue in the world would stick them securely and I’m too clumsy/lazy to even consider pinning such a small connection Fortunately I have a ton of spare scenery bits so after attacking some unfortunate sprues with clippers and a saw, you see the results before you.

Dark Angels Tactical Squad in Mk IV Armour

I’ve not been able to proper paint in a while, so I thought the best way to get back into the habit was to go back to my roots so-to-speak and paint something old school, and you don’t get much older than the First Legion in Heresy-era armour!

I used the current Mk IV plastic kit mixed with parts from the non-Primaris Dark Angels upgrade sprue, fairly basic paint jobs, but given how long I’ve been out of practice, I’m quite happy.

I actually managed to use five of these in my first game of 9th Edition a few weekends ago and while my army was certainly pretty, things didn’t go that well for the Unforgiven…

Necron Deathmarks

After a very busy festive period followed by my wife’s birthday and a metric ton of work thanks to my day job, I’ve finally been able to devote some time to my ever-so-slowly-growing Necron army. Today I was able to finish this sniper-assassin squad.

I’ve tried to keep it simple but for the first time I’ve attempted to edge highlight the black carapace armour rather than taking my usual approach and drybrused it. I still need to work on getting the lines thinner and crisper, but it’s a start.

Imperial Fist Test Model

As I continue my quest to clear as many part-finished projects from my desk, I decided to turn my attention to the single Space Marine Hero figure I picked up.

I’ve toyed with building an Imperial Fist force since I first read Ian Watson’s Space Marine back in the early nineties.

Emperor class titans operated by three space marine scouts and Tzeentch-worshipping squats, it was a simpler time…

Anyway, here he is.

I’ve really no idea if or when I’ll get round to painting more, but this has certainly scratched the itch for now. Plus, if I do take the plunge, at least I’ve got a colour scheme I’m happy with.

Chaos Space Marine Helbrute

As many hobbyists, I’m using this time to catch up on some projects that have been lingering in my Drawer of Shame.  First up was the monopose Helbrute from the 6th edition Dark Vengeance set.

I’ve been wanting to paint this since it was first unveiled back in 2012 (simpler times etc) and it’s been sitting on-sprue in my limited edition Dark Vengeance box since then!

I also wanted to get this chap done as I’ve been neglecting my Chaos Marine renegade chapter The Heralds of Desolation, since 8th dropped and I started building up my Death Guard.  Plus, I’ve two sets of the Chaos sprues from the Shadowspear set that I want to paint sooner rather than later and they’ll be joining my Heralds so I wanted to get some practice in before commencing that project.

I’m not sure what to finish next, I have some Plague Marines basecoated as well as a Catacomb Command Barge, and a nearly-finished Ambot all staring at me from the corner of my desk.

Maybe I’ll start something new?

Sassy Nurgling (and friend)

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?  Wish I could say that my absence was down to nothing but an ongoing cavalcade of awesomeness but I’d be a bigger liar than usual.  Truth is, I’ve been dealing with a lot at work as well as some pretty ugly mental health issues that have escaped their medicated cage and run riot through my skull.

Fortunately, things are getting better inside my noggin (less said about work the better, but it’s manageable thanks to my wonderful team and other colleagues) and as such for the first time this year, nay, this decade I’ve actually finished a model!

These chaps have been sitting undercoated on my desk for months and it felt so very good to finally do them justice.

They’re not up to my usual mediocre standard, however given the gap since the last time I picked up a brush, I’m very happy with the result 🙂

Noxious Blightbringer

This is the third and final unit that I completed in time for last Friday’s game.  I’m particularly pleased with this one as I only realised on the Wednesday evening before the game that I was significanly under the points limit and try as I might I could not find any realistic way of closing the gap.

In despiration I resolved to get this chap ready in time.  It was touch and go, but I managed to build and paint him in less than a day.

Now, back to the Necrons!

 

 

Maybe 😉

Myphitic Blight-haulers

Following on from yesterday’s post, here’s the second unit I managed to compete.

Some of you may remember that in my Fifty Day Nurgle Challenge from last year, I painted up my first Myphitic Blight-hauler, now finally I have completed the squad 🙂

And, of course, a family photo!

Please come back tomorrow for the thrid and final unit I managed to finish!