A long time ago, when I had no responsibilities or major financial commitments, I jumped into Fantasy Warhammer. I went all out, spending far more than a new player should, getting a full army of dwarfs, all the necessary books, paints, etc.
Despite my enthusiasm, my group only played a handful of times. I undercoated most of my units but never painted them, mainly because I was terrible at it. Eventually, they ended up in a box, where they’ve remained for the past 20 years.
Now, I’m back, this time in the 40K scene. But unlike before, I didn’t throw all my eggs in one basket… I threw in two instead. I walked away with two Combat Patrols: T’au Empire (which will be my main army moving forward) and Tyranids. Between myself and a few friends, we have six different armies to play against each other, keeping things fresh. The end goal? A fully assembled 1,000-point army to go to war with.
The Painting Journey Begins
This section of my blog is dedicated to my first proper attempt at painting, and I want to share my progress with you all.
I’m not the fastest painter, life is busy, and between other hobbies, it takes me a while to complete units. But I’m happy to say that I’ve finished two full squads already, which I’ll showcase in other posts. Right now, I’m focused on improving my technique, making sure my models don’t just look like a mass blob of paint.
Previously, I never knew you had to thin down Games Workshop paints, and this small discovery has made a massive difference in preserving details. I still have a long way to go before finishing my first batch, but I’m struggling to resist buying more models before completing what I have!
Playing the Game
We’ve played several matches already, though the Combat Patrol rules are a watered-down version of the full game. That means we still have plenty to learn before engaging in large-scale battles.
That said, I’m enjoying Warhammer 40K far more than expected. Painting has turned into something I genuinely look forward to, and gaming with friends is always a blast. I can’t wait to showcase a fully painted army.
Lessons Learned
My colour scheme doesn’t follow any official rules, making it uniquely mine. However, I’d love to hear feedback on how to improve my painting skills.
One common mistake that many beginners make, and one I made myself, was gluing all the models together before painting. This made reaching some areas incredibly difficult. If you’re just starting out, learn from my mistakes:
- Assemble your models in parts.
- Use Blu Tack to temporarily attach sections.
- Protect joining areas so the final assembly is seamless.
Final Thoughts
A friend of mine has been painting for years, and I’ve been picking up tips and tricks from him along the way. You can check out his work on TikTok, he uploads almost daily, showcasing painted models from a wide range of projects:
Resin Rogue 3D.
If Warhammer interests you, stay tuned for more as I document my journey.
Panda out.
Leave a comment