Painting competition at Games Workshop Open Day

I was fortunate enough to make it to the Games Workshop 2019 open day at Warhammer World. It took me most of the day to work out where the painting competition was being displayed. I managed to get these rushed pictures as there were packing down the display.

I believe the LOTR entry, 2nd picture down, was the over all winner.

Sorry just doing a photo dump. The Ambull wasn’t in the competition, I just thought you might like to see it.

First 40k 8th edition game with the Blood Angels

Due to no small amount of effort to get my Blood Angels Terminators to a gaming standard, my Blood Angels army has reached a the magic 100 power or 2000 points. Although this is achieved with no less than four HQs, including 2 Captains.

While 40k can be a lot of fun at smaller sizes. Two thousand points continues to be regarded as the default all afternoon game size by my gaming group. The Blood Angels aren’t my go to Space Marine force, so don’t tend to get a lot of attention. The recent Codex release has inspired me to try and finish the Space Hulk set which I purchased almost ten years ago. The armour on the Terminators has now mostly been highlighted across the all the squad members and a lot of the largest details have been finished. It’s always the last 10 percent of of models that I struggle with getting finished off. Niggly details I call them. Anyway…

On to the Blood Angel’s Battle

We ended up playing the 1st narrative mission in the rule book. Which sees the defender trying to survive to the end of the games. The attacker has unending reserves. I having a slightly larger force and opted to be the attacker. The game uses random game length. Which really adds to the tension of the mission.

My Blood Angel army was made from a Terminator Captain armed with a Storm Shield and Thunder Hammer, represented by a Sergeant model from Space Hulk.

Blood Angels

Two 5 man Terminator Squads and a Death Company squad with jumpacks gave me one extra command point. A Two 5 man tactical squads, a Chaplin, an assault squad and a devastator squad rounded off the infantry. A Rhino and a Knight Errant where the only vehicles in my force.

Blood Angels

My opponent picked a Lord commissar to lead his force. He took about as many veterans and flamers as he could muster from his collection. A sniper squad, two units of Storm Troopers, a sentinel squadron, a Manticore and a Knight Crusader rounded off the force.

Blood Angels

The game went much as you might expect. I threw all I could at the Guard as aggressively as I could. The guard player focused his efforts on removing the fastest units and closest ranged units in my force. Removing the longer range units could just see them return the next turn and unload the weapons, meaning no real differences to the Guards chances of survival.

By the end of the 5th turn I wasn’t at all close to wiping out the guard….

Blood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood AngelsBlood Angels

Blood Angels

By the end of turn 6 the Guard still has a wounded Sentinel and 2 veterans inside the bunker remaining. I was certain to wipe them out in turn 7. The roll for the random game length was a 2, meaning the game was over.

The Guard completed whatever ritual, intel retrieval or wipe they were conducting and retreated into a secret tunnel complex. The Blood Angels would have to find them and complete their purge another day.

Starship Troopers Style Tyranid Attack Battle

The only good bug is a dead bug  – Starship Troopers Style Tyranid Attack Battle

This was a game played for Jon’s Birthday

Jon brought every  single painted tyranid he owned, which meant about half a hour of gluing them back together before starting. We set the board up for a Starship troopers style fortress siege and used one of the missions in the big rule book. This wasn’t about the mission though, this was really just an excuse to throw some dice and enjoy the spectacle of the game.


The verdict…. Bastions are very tough to take out in 8th edition and an afternoon is not long enough play a game this size.

40k Single Miniture – Golden Demond 2017

The Single 40k Miniture catagory is always one of the most popular and Golden Demond, 2017 was no exception.

This was the first set of photos from the day and unfortunately therefore the worst quality. I also got to this cabinet so early, they were a bit Spartan. None the less they were still some fantastically well painted models.
Blood Angel Captain 

Built using the Master of the Recuits model from the Masters of the Chapter box set. The power Sword had been expertly converted for a Blood Angel power sword with a helmet and plasma pistol and back pack icon also added from Blood Angel plastic kits.Blood Angel Captain Golden Demon 2017

Space Wolves Wolf Guard 

This is a strightforward use of the Storm Bolter and Wolf claw from the Space Wolves termintor kit. Wolf Guard Golden Demon 2017

Dark Angel Interigator Chaplain 

While using a modern colour pallet, the yellow plasma pistol is a old school nod back to the second edition days.Dark Angel Chaplain

Tech Priest

Dark tones have been used to make the red robes of the machine cult stand out adding some warmth to an otherwise very cold colour pallet. Tech Priest Golden Demon 2017

Ultramarine Chapter Standard

A straightforward interpretation of the Ultramarine Chapter ancient. The blue has been extensively blended creating a pastal colour tone to off set the darker reds used on to acsent the details.

Ultramarine Chapter Standard Bearer Golden Demon 2017

Space Wolves Blood Claw Sergeant

Every year it seams there is someone who replicates a Mike McVey paint job from the old days. They never do well in Judging but as a grey beard I always enjoy seeing them.

Space Wolves Blood Claw Sergeant golden Demon 2017

Space Marine Captain

Space Marine Captain Golden Demon 2017

Ultramarine Chapter Champion 

Made using the Ultramarine upgrade kit and a plastic MK4 space marine. The helmet has been painted white to reflect the Mariens service within the 1st company.

Ultramarine Chapter Champion Golden Demon 2017

Space Marine Limited Edition Terminator Chaplain

Space Marine Limited Edition Terminator Chaplain

Geanstealer Magus 

Geanstealer Magus

 Space Wolves Legion Chaplain 

Lunar Wolves Chaplain Golden Demon 2017

Emperors Children Leagion PreditorGeanstealer Magus and Lunor Wolves Chaplain Golden Demon 2017

Emperors Children Leagion Preditor

Dark Angels Terminator Chaplain conversionDark Angels Terminator Chaplain conversion Golden Demon 2017

Harlequin Solitaire Harlequin Solitaire Golden Demon 2017

Catachan Jungle Fighter – Colonel ‘Iron Hand’ StrakenCatachan Jungle Fighter - Colonel 'Iron Hand' Straken

Imperial First Legion Centurion

Imperial First Legion Centurion Golden Demon 2017

Dark Angel Legion Champion and Ultramarine Tech MarineDark Angel Legion Champion and Ultramarine Tech Marine Golden Demon 2017 

Space Wolf  Arjac Rock Fist conversion 

This model has me confounded as to what parts have been used to recreate this classic Space Wolve miniature.
Space Wolf  Arjac Rock Fist conversion

Ork War Boss on Bike

A surprising entry of a bike in the category, however the rider is undead an Ork Warboss.

Ork War Bike Golden Demon 2017
There were a lot more entries which were off for judging. As always this was a very competitor category at Golden Demon. Not one for the first time enterant to try, unless they are extremely talented.

Warhammer 40,000 Vehicle – Golden Demon 2017 

The Golden Demon 2017 Warhammer 40,000 Vehicle categories appeared to be one of the most competitive this year. There were unsurprising lots of Space Marine Dreadnoughts. There were no less than five Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnoughts. The imperial knights didn’t make  as strong a showing this year. 

Ultramarine Contemptor Dreadnought
Ultramarine Contemptor Dreadnought

Imperial Knight PaladinImperial Knight Paladin

Imperial Guard Astra Militarum Valdor Tank HunterAstra Militarum Valdor Tank Hunter

Ultramarine Razorback armed with Assult CannonsUltramarine Razorback armed with Assult CannonsUltramarine Razorback armed with Assult CannonsDeimos Patten Vidicator Laser DistroyerDeimos Patten Vidicator Laser Distroyer

Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought

Sons of Horus – Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought with Siege Drill

Emporest Children – Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought armed with Grav Flux Bombard

Imperial Fist – Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought armed with Grav Flux BombardLeviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought armed with Grav Flux Bombard

Ork looted Goliath Rockgrinder

Space Wolves Venerable DreadnoughtSpace Wolves Venerable Dreadnought

Space Marine – Leviathan pattern Siege Dreadnought with Siege Drill

Imperial Knight Etrant Imperial Knight Errant

Elder WraithseerElder Wraithseer