#ArmiesOnParade2025 - Warhammer Liverpool in-store parade

Afternoon #Warhammer Community as I didn't share my #ArmiesOnParade2024 pictures until March this year I thought I better crack on with my in-store photographs from Warhammer Liverpool. First up we have what I think is a Blood Ravens army.

Nice little battleforce.

With some terrain.

This Kill Team Gallowdar board was by Umaya, who has been doing AoP since 2022 at least. It was nice to see him again. 

Last year he brought 4 individual Kill Teams on custom boards. I think some of them have helped evolve this board alongside quite a lot of additional models and scatter terrain alongside the board sections.

There's detail everywhere and I love how his AoP journey has brought him here. To go back to previous years and see this grow, exactly as I believe AoP should champion.

Helping people start out small and celebrating the growth of their hobby. 

I think all the walkway and board sections have been scratchbuilt, with card for the floor plates. Another side to the hobby on show. 👏

Such a great escalation in his parades.

A nice Seraphon board.

With individual holes for all the figures' bases. 

Cool ziggurat in the background.

And these flesh/muscle trees were downright disgusting!

A Nurgle/Death Guard/Chaos Knight parade.

Chaos Knight.

Mortarion and banner.

The Death Guard alongside the mark of Nurgle glowing from the ground.

With previous in-store 'musters' where folk brought in their army to secure a participation plaque I'd already seen this Chaos Titan/Knight/Dark Mechanicum army.

But I wasn't quite prepared for the quality on display.

The painting standard was top notch,

Just look at that accursed verdigris 🗽!

You have to admit, Legio Fureans have got style.

The Armigers also had LEDs built into the heads and windows on the carapace hatch.

So glad I got to see these in person.

The board was really detailed too.

With so many cool models, even hidden way in the back. This went on to secure second place in the public vote. 🥈

Last year a father and son duo created a quartered board with two different Tau armies, Space Wolves and Tyranids. 

The Dad was back this year with mostly Space Wolve and a few Tau for them to savage.

I particularly liked the ruins. Obviously I love a good red building!

It was nice to catch up and chat about AoP.

Maybe the Tau will come back fighting next year?

There was another Tyranid board, featuring Leviathan.

Plus the Tyranid Kill Team terrain I had wanted. At least someone got to parade it.

Plus some valiant Imperial defenders.

I think this is Darryn back with his Orks and a new board.

I mean the whole thig was just awesome.

The scrapmek workshop, like something out of Mad Max Fury Road. The clever use of cheap battery operated push button lights, painted red to add glows underneath the walkways.

This was the worthy winner. In a change to previous years entrants were not allowed to vote. With the amazing terrain this would have probably got my vote if I'd been able so gold was well deserved. 🥇

And my own entry. Now you would be right in thinking this is a bit 'stripped back'. It's my original board from year's ago, few pieces of terrain and no backdrop. 

Well, I decided not to have the backdrop as it was just too big, under the circumstances and I didn't want to overshadow any entry either side.

I did include Mr Pink's gift of one of his terrain pieces. Which was convenient as he's featured in this month's White Dwarf, which I was able to share with anyone who was willing to listen!

So I finally paraded my Tyranids in Liverpool Warhammer. All of them were new, or repainted, except for the base and Matt Black: Former Hero of the Imperium.

You're probably tired of me saying the competitive element of AoP is something I could do without. That being said, I have always wanted a bronze medal. Whether it's my brassy/bronze proclivities they look the best to me and I was fortunate enough to finally secure one. 🥉 I think the Void Shield Generator might have made the difference as apparently the votes were very close between all entries.

That being said I was pleased to hear them say everyone was able to get a participation plaque. At least I think that was the case. No participation pin badges, but if this is the replacement I consider it a massive investment in GW in rewarding the hobby, rather than just the 'winners'. This is exactly how it should be.

I've no idea what AoP2026 will be. I have my Goblin Town and my Adeptus Titanicus, but there's no a huge amount I will need to add to either, but we'll just have to see.

'nids part 382 - Leviathan Tyranids - WHITE BACKGROUND PICS ⚪

Afternoon #Warhammer Community I've been #PaintingWarhammer and after the red background pics come the white background pics. The second set of chitin highlights were such a revelation to me. I was totally in the zone. It did not feel at all tedious to do and I was motivated just to crack on and get them done.

Although, I don't think it was in one sitting. But even so I was completely reinvigorated for the last push to do all the little details that makes my scheme more than just 'tabletop'. No way Golden Demon but they're definitely smarter than the average Biovore! 😉

After the second set of chitin highlights I didn't really keep track of how long the red and black highlights took, it was just a lot quicker to crack on without interruptions.

My wife got me a 'getting started with Warhammer 40k' magazine a while back and it came with this unique Termagant [and Infernus marine]. It was like £9 or £10 and she hadn't realised the cost and was not happy when she got to the till. Typically reinforcing the pricey nature of the hobby. I'm really not sure what use he is with broods only coming in multiples of 10, but he is quite cool.

I think I'd found the first brood of 5 Barbgaunts something of a chore. But second time around it was a lot easier.

I was actually quite surprised that those same feelings didn't resurface. I'm not sure if it was the unknowns first time round.

This time I had references to work from so I knew which colours were going where and how to add the chitin striations.

Not that they're perfect, it's just I had a plan to follow. And the second highlights, although easier as you know where they are going, does require more finesse in how you apply them.

So, it's not always quicker, but perhaps it's a bit easier. 

So I still think there's some yellow flock to add on two bases but a brood of 10 definitely looks cool. Not that I can ever imagine me playing all 10. But for Armies on Parade they will look much more impressive altogether.

And the VRL's, as nobody calls them. I do think I should have been braver and swapped the arms around a bit.

The basing helps differentiate them from the original brood of three in their standard poses.

But I think arm swaps would have made them that little bit more different than their twins.

Still, they got done and that's what counts.

And they're different enough to make the brood of 6 more interesting.

And the Neurogaunts, which I love.

I think 20 of these might have pushed me over the edge though. They're not hard to do as there isn't a huge amount of model to paint.

But again GW have added a lot of detail on a very small model so they felt far more time-consuming than they had any right to be.

But look at them, they're sooo cute.

And the main guy. I can't work out if the brain glow works. I think it does, I like it at least. I don't why I'm surprised the yellow glow has turned out green when over the turquoise though. I mean it's basic colour mixing!

But it somehow surprises me but I also love it.

And the little guys. Again, does it look like a weird hivemind glow between symbiote 'neuro' beast and gaunt bioform? I think it just gives enough visual queues to sell it.

And lastly the 3 Genestealers for my Castigator base.

So, 43 models done. This may not be Poxwalker levels of Serotonin high, but I am way more satisfied and proud of my achievements than I thought I would be. Again, a lot of legacy feelings and emotions had kept me from embracing the task, just seeing it as a chore to overcome. I know many hobbyists say that should never be the case, We do this for fun, as they say in certain addictive advertising campaigns "when the fun stops - stop!" But, lets be realistic, sometimes you have to push through. And there is satisfaction from overcoming obstacles and mojo-sapping tedium. If that's what it takes to reach that zen state, sign me up. I'll happily wade through the soul sucking effort if the end result is to feel at peace and one with the project. So I might not feel quite as 'high', but definitely fulfilled in other ways as well.

Now, what's next?