The Armies on Parade contest kicked off in November last year, with articles covering all sorts of topics – picking a New Army, taming Battlefield Behemoths, recruiting Gods of War, mastering Wizards and Warmachines, and picking your Fields of Battle.
The long wait is soon over, and the submission window is just one week away. On the 17th of October, you’ll be able to enter your creation into Armies on Parade, all the way through to 23:59pm on the 1st of November. If you’ve been keeping up with your progress all year you’ll have a great army ready to go, but we’ve got a few pointers for those finishing touches.
While the broad scale of your project is important for the initial impact on the judges, it’s the little details that can sell the narrative and push an amazing-looking collection into jaw-dropping territory.
Picking out feathers, eyes, teeth, claws, gemstones, trinkets, and little freehand elements rendered with eye-catching colours and crisp highlights will help each model stand out. It’s challenging work, but there’s a whole playlist of Warhammer painting guides to watch while you sweat over the small stuff.
You can also add to the mise-en-scène of your display board with careful details. Try adding technological or lighting fixtures in urban and industrial boards, and ladders, vines, and foliage in more naturalistic displays.
Decals and posters, such as those available for the ash wastes of Necromunda or these Regimental Standard classics for Kill Team, really sell environments – why not design and print off your own? Plus, no Warhammer display board is truly complete without a hefty sprinkling of skulls.
Finally, make sure you have a nice clear space to take photographs of your board.* Nothing distracts from a beautiful display board than paints and brushes littered around, a kettle in the background, or a cat peeking out from behind a Knight – though that last one is potentially acceptable...
Make sure you’ve got good lighting – take a photo outside if it's a clear day. If you need a neutral background, a big sheet of paper or card from a local art store will work as a backdrop.
With all that in mind, you should be well on your way to putting the finishing touches to your Army on Parade. It’s been a long journey, but it’s nearly at its end!
Armies on Parade submissions open on the 17th of October, and you’ll be able to enter until 23:59pm on the 1st of November.
Warhammer Community will publish the entry methods for submission next Monday, as well as the terms and conditions. The online awards ceremony for Parade Day will be held on 26th of November – good luck to everyone who is planning on entering!
* Check out this classic model photography guide for more top tips.