We’re over halfway through the year now, and yet our thirst for hobby projects remains unquenched. Let’s see what people have been up to in July!
Soggy
This month was a bit crazy due to things happening IRL in addition a flurry of activity relating to our coverage of Horus Heresy third edition. As part of this I painted up these four models from the set, where I share more thoughts on in our model review. I’m a big fan of the Saturnine Dreadnought, and look forward to trying out converting the different weapons similar to Henry later on in this post.
I’ve recently had my own Saturnine box turn up, so it’s likely going to keep me occupied for the foreseeable future!
Jake “🐙” Bennington
I am loathe to admit it, but despite playing Warhammer Underworlds for years and owning over 30 painted warbands, this was the first warband I have painted myself. The models were pretty heavily derided when Games Workshop first previewed them, but after making some incredibly basic and ham-fisted conversions (aka haircuts), I am pretty happy with the results.
Turns out painting can be fun after all!
Rockfish
I unfortunately remain trapped in phases of my disability being disabling and a lot of life stuff so not too many models from me at the moment, I did get a couple of knights done though.
I also managed to get a few Battletech models done too.
SRM
I got to review the new Execrator and Crusade Ancient models here on the site, and had an absolute blast with them for the most part. Working my way around the Ancient’s shield on the banner was kind of a pain in the ass, but other than that, these were both pretty smooth sailing. Read my review for a more detailed breakdown of that whole process. I’m definitely thinking of adding another Execrator to my army, but that’ll probably be a conversion of something else to keep things novel and interesting. That was of course part of our coverage of the new Black Templars codex, which if you couldn’t tell from my video on the subject, I’m absolutely thrilled about.
Despite being part of the initial coverage of the Cities of Sigmar range, I never got to actually paint up any Freeguild Fusiliers, their line shooting infantry. Good gravy, were they a lot. Like, a lot a lot. I started them a month and a half ago, and while I definitely got pulled towards other projects, each dude was like painting two models for the price of one. Those pavises take a boatload of work, and the infantry are no slouches either. I’m super happy with how they look, but they are one of the few models I’ve encountered as an adult where I can say they’re actively difficult to paint. Know this, dear reader: anyone advocating you paint 60 of these is advocating self harm.
Thundercloud
July saw me paint a lot of the Kill Team Typhon box. I’ve painted up 4 Warcry Warbands and about a dozen Underworlds sets in previous months, so I’ve got everything I need to play Warcry done, so now it’s time to get stuff done for Kill Team.
Kill Team is pivoting to do more with the Horde mode, with Tyranids in the Typhon box and it looks like Necrons in the next box. I’ve completed the Tyranid terrain and the Hormagaunts, but wasn’t able to quote finish both teams in time for the end of the month. However these should be done for next month, giving me two more finished Kill Teams before I have the next big Kill Team box to paint.
KyleBe
Since the last week of June, which I’ll count here because I was out of town for the June round up, I apparently have been pretty productive, as far as my Marvel Crisis Protocol models are concerned.
I finally painted Winter Guard, although I have yet to actually get them on the table. Maybe they should be the feature of this game night this week…?
I powered through the last two mutant boxes within a week of getting each one.
Phoenix was an absolute blast. Instead of taking the time to learn new techniques and really trying to learn how to paint fire well, I just didn’t. I love the models and I’m happy with how they are, but I probably should have taken it as an opportunity to grow as a painter. Well, maybe if I get another one and paint her as the Dark Phoenix.
The new Brotherhood of Mutants box was a joy to paint as well. The palette for Exodus was very fun and wildly different than any other models I’ve painted in ages. Oh right, these three are why I’m not going to bring Winter Guard to the table for at least another week.
Happy painting!
Jay “Lorehunter” Kirkman
As one of Goonhammer’s resident Black Library hobbyists, I was excited to finally start building my vision of a museum in miniature using a combination of Limited Edition editions, Warhammer miniatures, and assorted curios.
Here’s a closer look at the Ahriman shelf, including the coins, tarot cards, and bookmark from the Ahriman: Eternal Limited Edition box.
I’ve always loved bringing together the minis and associated books, thus you’ll see Orikan and Trazyn standing vigil in front of The Infinite and the Divine, the Hell’s Last unit box guarding their most recent book, and Belisarius Cawl showing off The Great Work.
And, of course, Nagash keeping it down for Age of Sigmar. This first display was a proof of concept, and I was delighted with the results. Another is already on the way!
Bair
It’s happened. Assuming anyone actually reads any of this text or remembers my previous months of painting it has happened. I’ve hit a bit of burnout. In the entire month of July I only managed to paint 20 whole models. Shocking and disappointing, I know. This puts me on 298 models painted in 2025 so far with high hopes over getting that up to around 500 by the end of the year; the 100ish 12mm Vivctrix US Airborne that I decided to base individually will absolutely help with that.
The first few models of the month were for review with the new Kharadron Overlords Vongrim kit and Null Khemist hero. These have also sparked in me the want, and need(?), to re-do my Kharadron army along with the new Battletome that has made them actually-interesting as a faction to play with/against. This time around I’m going to paint them better though and in a more fun scheme: Barak Zon. These are the only skyport that are really any kind of military force instead of just privateers but more importantly I love the red and blue! I’ve gone for desert basing (which will be a theme across this month) since it contrasts nicely and you don’t see it too often. I really do love that new Vongrim kit, it’s what Kharadron should look like and the lack of flying stand is just fantastic.
I’ve been getting back into Star Wars Legion in a big way with the new edition kind-of-out but really right around the corner. Stay tuned for some writing from me about all of that but I’ve really been loving getting my droids back out and playing against my buddy’s Clone army. So, naturally, I needed to get some of the newer models painted for them!
Anyone familiar with droid kits knows that they take about twice as long to build than they do to paint and that is absolutely still true of both of these. I really need to get a desert hill for some more fitting photos. The Crab Droids especially I kept staring at reference pics thinking that there must be more detail to add and there just….isn’t. They’re simple. I love that. I went for a metallic finish though instead of the weird matte orange one on the box art, it felt more correct and that copper with a shade is just gorgeous. Battle damage was a necessity. The Aqua Droids are equally simple being just a few silvers, a Darkstar metallic blue, and a dark grey for joins and guns before a nice thick wash is slapped all over.
On all of the models so far I’ve been using a new-to-me sand texture that I think looks a lot nicer and shapes nicely but am already frustrated that it doesn’t match my existing droids 1:1 in colour. Oops.
Lastly was some of the new Victrix foot knights helping out Lenoon with a review. All my thoughts on the kit are over there at the bottom but the short of it is that it’s very good and very nearly a perfect kit. I’ve got another eight yet to do in my green/yellow Chivalry colours that I just didn’t get to. There’s something really nice about going from the very-detailed but fun-to-paint Games Workshop kit at the start of the month and finishing off with a very simple historical one. Nice cadence to that.
Saffgor
July was one of the bigger hobby months for me in recent memory, both in terms of getting my models in the process of being playable, and for my first GT with my Ash Waste Admech! My list consisted of no fewer than 35 Electro-Priests, the maximum allowable amount of Servitor Battleclade, and plenty of tech pieces. I’ve committed to running Data-Psalm for the remainder of 10th edition, and my GT involved a 3-0 Day 1 into two excellent Death Guard players and a brutal Beastslayer Space Wolves list. All went well, before being humbled Day 2 by Knights, but going 3-0 with what is generally seen as the 2nd worst Admech detachment is a victory in my eyes!
I knew I wanted my Battleclade to be unique, and given the base for my Priests is the Tarantulos Brood from Warcry, it only made sense to utilize their swampridden cousins in the Rotmire Creed, WYSIWYG with plenty of Kataphron bits. For anyone looking to play Data-Psalm, these are a must-have at their maximum amount, and given they’re not sold separately right now this made sense to get them tournament-ready ASAP.
As a last hurrah in the actual building & painting of my Bugmech for the time being, I’m getting my hands dirty with a fully-magnetized plane. This isn’t a good unit, but it’s one I’d love to play in a narrative game, given it’s gorgeous and provides ample paneling for weathering and even freehand!
The last thing I’m excited to talk about is my journey back into AoS! I had ~4k points of Beasts of Chaos, and after much hand-wringing and grumbled spite, I’ve taken the plunge with Droggz’ Gitmob, and some extra gobs in case they get rid of the AoR. Using so many Sylvaneth pieces for my Admech, I was left with a substantial amount of their tree components, so it only made sense to embrace the wild hunt, and introduce Loggz Da Sunchompa in his quest to understand photosynthesis (How come plants get to eat the sun, and he can’t?).
Boyes
Truthfully, a slow month for me. A lot of work stress mixed with an active Crusade campaign to manage and play in has meant that this past month has been dedicated to character models, things I can get down in a session or two.
My Black Templar force is coming up close to 2000 (coherent) points, and I’ve finally gotten round to adding paint to my Judiciar who was sitting there primed since 2020. It was meant to be a quick paint-job to ready him up for a game the next afternoon and it ended up being one of my prized paintjobs so far, next to my Marshal.
I’ve nearly entirely switched to Pro Acryl for my paints and the coat leather was a good way to finally utilise all the warm-browns I’ve collected. It’s a simple effect of scratchy, layered highlights moving into ochre and then glazed back down with a red-brown. (in my case, Reikland Fleshshade for it’s semi-gloss finish to contrast against Pro Acryls matte finish) It immediately pops and looks great on the table, which is exactly where he was next day leading me to a decisive victory against some Custodes.
I’m happy with his sword too. You might notice the back is looking a little bare there, and that’s very much something I plan to solve later. A lot of the backs of weapons are missing their power-weapon highlights in order to save some time to get them on the table quicker, and I plan on putting myself through a grueling power-session to get them all knocked out at once. Is it a bit lazy? Sure, but I prefer to think of it as an exercise of accepting a good-enough result rather than letting perfectionism rear it’s ugly head.
Outside of my Black Templar and the Crusade campaign, I’ve been putting my usual effort into Kill Team. I’ve posted about my Goremongers before but now they are officially, totally, finished. (Until I buy another box.) These are some of my favourite models, and I really want to see more human cultist weirdos attached to each of the original legions. I’m eying up some Jakhals sometime just to keep up with this theme of prison-break freaks rampaging over some city.
There’s a lot to be proud of here for me! I’ve put the time and effort into improving my work-flow and painting and I can see it paying off the more I post. There’s a convention in a few months here in Blackpool that’s hosting a painting contest and I’m excited to enter one of my pieces and see how it does.
I’m setting myself the lofty goal of having an entire, functional Black Templar army by next month (including the two new minis!) to showcase. I’ve got a few squads that need painting up, my Sword Brothers mainly, but it’s so close I can taste it!
Cronch
A varied month for me. Some real world problems destroyed the last week or so of the month, but I did get through a few bits before that.
First of all, I finished a test model for a Death Guard army. I’ve always wanted to do some in a bright pink and green scheme, but was at a bit of a loss for how to do it efficiently. My solution is to base with Convict Orange spray from Colour Forge, before a zenithal of Rogue Pink. This spray can solution does a lot of the work. From there it’s some basecoats on the trim and other bits, gloss varnish, streaking grime, matt varnish, and honestly that’s mostly it. I’ve done some highlights for the extra pop.
Next, I finished off some Classic Fantasy Battles Orc Horde from Wargames Atlantic, for review. You can read my thoughts here!
Finally for painting, I got to paint up the new Crusade Ancient for the Black Templars. I love this guy, you can see the review here. This reignited a long-running desire to do a Templars project, so I dug some kits out from the cupboard and started putting some units together. My favourite so far is the Bladeguard Veterans, with donor parts from the upgrade sprue, Sword Brethren, and Marshal added in to make them altogether more crusade-flavoured.
Finally at the end of the month I did finally manage to get back on the hobby train a little and start putting paint on Iridan the Witness. They aren’t finished yet, but I’m hoping it won’t take too long to get them to my tabletop standard.
Beezer
Another month, another bunch of Marvel Crisis Protocol minis painted. I completed 22 models this month, in addition to completing enough terrain to have a dense, city-themed MCP board to play on. Here are some of my favorites from this month:
NotThatHenryC
This week I’ve mostly been writing stuff about Heresy and haven’t built or painted much. I did manage five Mk2 Veterans for my Raven Guard, however.
I do have the other five too, nearly ready to go. Soon I’ll have a full squad.
Meanwhile my Saturnine set arrived and, awkwardly, I’ve no idea what to do with it. I’m probably going to make a whole new army using it and some of the tanks in my pile of shame but I don’t know which one.
I’ve built the Dreadnought though, for my Raven Guard. I found some annoying damage on the sarcophagus I wanted to use, which I fixed by sticking a tiny Raven skull on.
Also in my pile of shame were two Adeptus Titanicus Conversion Beam Somethingorothers. Ever since I’d seen the Saturnine Dread I’d wondered if Warlord guns would fit on and indeed they do, kind of. I’ve magnetised these to give my Dreadnought a couple of Inversion Beamers. I also dug out Sigismund’s Hero Sicaran, allowing the classic Captain Morgan pose. Overall I think it works quite well.
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