Games Day Baltimore is tomorrow!

So, tomorrow is Baltimore Games Day 2009.

I have a lot of mixed feelings. It will be the 34th Games Day I've attended (in 4 different countries), but the first I've attended as a "regular hobbyist".

I'm kind of excited to be able to enter almost all of the Golden Demon categories, and it's kind of nice to know I don't have to worry about set-up or tear-down, or making sure that the electricity is on at the speed painting table (of the previous 33 I ran 11 of them, worries galore).

All that "kind of" is tainted with the knowledge that I won't be running the show, spending my day running around and making sure that everyone's having a great time. The early days, late nights, and serious heavy lifting have always been worth it in my books. I wish every one of my friends still "slaving away" behind the scenes the very best of success tomorrow. Onwards and upwards!

I mentioned the Demons, because this year I'll be entering 10 categories in Baltimore. I've painted two models specifically for this show and I've taken a few shots of them for you to check out. My other 8 entries are taken from some of my latest army work in those categories.

There he is, my Goff Nob that is my part of the Team North America Charity Ork Challenge. More news to come on this project. I hope you like this guy! The display plinth is from Dragon Forge Design.

I've had the parts for this guy laying around for quite some time (I haven't painted an Inquisitor mini since 2001) and I figured that the addition of the Large Scale Model category this year that I should do up a piece specifically for it. I've painted him up using the Lucky 13s color scheme, and displayed him on my snazzy display base from Wayne Turner. This base was used on my Open category entry in Chicago in 2007, Captain Nathaniel Garro.

And here is one of my eight "already painted for something else" entries. In somewhat-common painting parlance, this is known as the shotgun approach. Entering as many categories as possible in the hopes of picking up a trophy. Perhaps on Sunday or Monday I can let you know how it went ; )

To be honest though, there'll be some crazy-tough competition. I'm going to be really happy if three or four of my entries can make it past the First Cut.

Oh, and here's the finished version of the windmill! It'll head off to New Zealand on Monday.

Wish me luck, I'll need it!

Cheers

Dave

What's that over there?

Well, at least that's what I'm thinking this J.E.B. Stuart miniature keeps asking me.

Why a Civil War mini? Well that's what I've been painting over the last couple of weeks, and the best thing is it's been for work! The great Confederate cavalry commander (above) and half a dozen Union cavalrymen will be making an appearance in the July issue of Wargames Illustrated (#261) as part of our "American Civil War -The road to Gettysburg" theme.

The finishing touches on the re-launch issue (#260) are being finalized in England as I type, and I have to say it has been a pleasure to work with Dan Faulconbridge on this one. I have certainly learned a lot about putting together a magazine that isn't a "house mag". There's a certain freedom that is VERY refreshing. I have also learned that I need to start pushing my personal design and layout skills a bit, skills that have atrophied over the last few years of management. Anyway, this all means I'm very happy with the way my new job is going!

Oh, and I thought I'd throw in this pic. It's my take on a Dutch Windmill for Flames of War (or any other 15mm game with the potential to be set in Holland). The brief was to build a Dutch windmill from materials that are really easy to get a hold of. While I still have a few more things to add to the model above (including paint) this have been made from a cereal box, some Coke cases, a Bic pen, and a handful of bass wood strips (perhaps the toughest thing to get a hold of thus far). As well as making it into the upcoming Firestorm: Operation Market Garden campaign box coming out later in the year, we'll be doing a "how to" in Wargames Illustrated.

The building in front of the windmill is a resin cast of one of the cool Flames of War French village buildings that'll be released later this year. Jason Buyaki (of Gale Force 9, formerly my colleague at GW, and terrain guru) created all the masters for these pieces and boy are they really beautifully detailed!

So, I finally had a chance to take a good look through the Imperial Guard Codex (thanks Harry) and it is incredibly exciting!

It is full of great possibilities. In my mind there are as many options as there were with the doctrines system and the best part is, the all seem to be worth taking at some point or against some enemies! Although I have over 20,000 points of IG, I'll be using this codex to create lists for my Blood Pact first. The vast array of infantry and character options will make it really easy to field the units described by Dan Abnett in the Gaunt's Ghosts series. My Commander model (one of the first I painted back at the start of this blog) will be easily able to represent Colonel Straken, Creed can be used to represent Sagittar Slaith, etc etc.

My favorite idea (currently) is to add some Infardi (the green-silk wearing pilgrim-cultists from Honour Guard), lead by a Priest and Pater Sin. The Infardi will be built from Empire flagellants and behave as Conscripts in the army. Pater Sin turned up again in Sabbat Martyr leading two blind child-psykers - what a great chance to support my Blood Pact with a Psyker Choir!

Then, of course, there are these models (and character options). Oh what fun I shall have corrupting them!

And that's not even getting to the tanks and support vehicles!

I've almost finished all of my entries for the Baltimore Golden Demons, pics of these to come. Wish me luck!

Cheers
Dave