Nick: I love Warhammer Underworlds, and in particular, the beautiful miniatures that have been released for the game over the last five years. We’ve seen tiny snippets of larger factions from Warhammer Age of Sigmar, brand new types of creatures, wonderful reimaginings of classic models and, perhaps most exciting of all, models from factions we’ve never seen before. Each warband is a wonderful hobby project, where you can really stretch those painting muscles on something brand new – safe in the knowledge it’s only a handful of miniatures.
At the start of 2022, I, like many hobbyists, made some hobby resolutions; promises I made to myself for what I would paint that year. I promised to myself that by the end of the year, I would have every warband for Warhammer Underworlds painted. It wasn’t as bad as it sounded… I had around 15 left to paint, including all the warbands that would be released that year – my geeky spreadsheet told me so. That was doable, right?
Well, the year rolled on, many other hobby projects came and went, and in mid-September, I realised that I hadn’t painted any of them. There were about 15 weeks left in the year, and I had 15 warbands to paint. The maths was simple. I could do it if I finished one warband every week until the end of the year. I had my quest.
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So, I set about it, learning techniques to really speed up my painting – such as fully embracing the Contrast range. I found that undercoating models first with Mechanicus Standard Grey, then applying a second, lighter undercoat of Grey Seer from above gave me even more depth of colour when applying Contrast paints.* Then, with one simple highlight, applied neatly, my models really popped.
I got through Morgwaeth’s Blade-coven, The Starblood Stalkers, Elathain’s Soulraid and The Crimson Court in the first month. It was doable; it was an achievable goal! The Gnarlspirit Pack, The Sons of Velmorn, The Exiled Dead, Da Kunnin’ Krew, Xandire’s Truthseekers, Skittershank’s Clawpack and The Shadeborn followed thereafter, all being posted to my social media with #WarbandOfTheWeek. I found this a real drive – it made sure I had to post a warband every Sunday!
Then, Blackpowder’s Buccaneers, The Gorechosen of Dromm, and as a treat, I left my favourites until last – Grinkrak’s Looncourt and Hexbane’s Hunters. The last base was finished on New Year’s Eve. I had done it!
There was huge relief; I had completed my hobby resolution. When Gryselle’s Arenai came into view in late January, I managed to snag an early copy from the studio – with that, I’ve painted every warband in the game – and one that isn’t yet! It’s a hobby achievement I am very proud of, and while I haven’t used them all in a game yet, I’m working on it!
Thanks Nick! That’s an absolutely epic effort. Gryselle’s Arenai will be up for preorder very soon – so you can complete your collection too!
* This technique is sometimes called “zenithal priming”, and it works with any pair of darker-and-lighter undercoats. See this technique in use in this Warhammer TV painting video.