This year is the 40th anniversary of Warhammer. Warhammer Community has been covering just a tiny handful of the most important and iconic miniatures from these four decades, but we’ve barely scratched the surface.
To join in the celebration, we went out and quizzed people from all across the business about their favourites. Unsurprisingly, we had an avalanche of responses, and we’ve selected 40 in total from various departments – some of which we’ll show you today, with the rest following on Friday.
Warhammer Studio
Phil: Avatar of Khaine – ”Ever since I was a teen my favourite model has been the Aeldari Avatar of Khaine. Combined with Jes Goodwin's pencil artwork and fiction about it duelling a Slaanesh Keeper of Secrets in White Dwarf 127, I thought the molten incarnation of a Craftworld's vengeful warrior soul was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.”
Jordan: Watcher in the Dark – “I was immediately fascinated by the mysterious and gothic space knights of the Dark Angels when I first saw them in White Dwarf 327 – and especially the little fella. Why did these advanced and exceptionally paranoid super soldiers just let it be? Why was it so cute? Sixteen years and several Dark Angels armies later, Azrael's Watcher continues to embody the mediaeval weirdness of Warhammer.”
Nick: Saurus Oldblood on Carnosaur – “What could possibly be cooler than a huge rampaging, flesh-eating lizard? Answer: a huge rampaging, flesh-eating lizard ridden by an angry reptilian warlord with an arm forged from Old One technology. This beautiful model perfectly encapsulates the heavy metal fantasy of Warhammer.”
Leila: The Gobblapalooza – “Each one expressive enough that you can see their personalities at a glance. The Shroomancer, fearful of his own creations is a personal (and highly relatable) favourite, and the cheeky smile of the Spiker dishing out clinky-clanky poison bottles comes close second. They're just a bunch of horrible little guys plying their horrible little trades.”
Wade: Angron – “Angron's one of my favourite characters and the World Eaters have been one of my favourite armies for more than 30 years. I've converted a couple of Angron miniatures for my Warhammer 40,000 armies over the decades but the plastic kit is everything I could ever want from the Daemon Primarch of Khorne!”
Steve: Tyranid Pyrovore – “This mobile living artillery piece is my favourite because it looks horrifically alien. It’s unsettling but beautiful, and its symbiotic nature makes it peak.
Tom: Space Marine Land Raider – “This tank represents the over-the-top physicality and brutality of the Space Marines. Part battle tank, part transport, it crushes everything before it on its way to deliver its deadly complement of Space Marines into battle.
Andy: MKVI Tactical Squad – “I've been collecting Warhammer miniatures since way back in 1986, and my absolute favourite miniatures are the Age of Darkness MkVI Tactical Squad. For me this set absolutely nails the character of the original 'RTB01' Imperial Space Marines whilst updating their classic design. I've probably painted well over a hundred of these miniatures in the last year or so and don't intend to stop any time soon!”
Mark: Orc Shaman with Bone Staff – “I remember seeing this model early on in my career with Games Workshop. This was a new look for Orcs. The anatomy had changed from the previous iteration, with a more brutal and feral look. When I had the chance to work on some Orcs myself, I used this classic as reference.”
Warhammer Studio Miniature Designers
The men and women who design the current Warhammer miniatures presented an eclectic selection.
Israel: The Green Knight – “One of the most impressive and beautiful models we have ever made. Every aspect of this miniature comes together to make a masterpiece.”
Leonel: Beastlord with Great Weapon – “It was one of my first miniatures. It is aggressive, it has presence and just the right details to sell its narrative.”
Filip: Missionary with Chainsword – “One of the first pinnacle examples of grimdark that's been for sale for decades. Beautifully sculpted cloth and details with a good variety of textures over a dynamic pose. And the book offers a perfect opportunity for freehand.”
Maxime: Brother-Captain Artemis – “A dynamic and powerful representation of an Adeptus Astartes, with proportions and a level of detailing reminiscent of classic Warhammer artwork... (I still haven't painted mine!).”
Aly: Lord of Plagues – “A lovely simple looking static pose that still manages to look very threatening… and very smelly.”
Tom: Marneus Calgar (in Terminator armour) – “A beautifully sculpted miniature with power and intent perfectly representing the height and might of Ultramar.”
’Eavy Metal Painters
Once the miniatures are sculpted, they are brought to life by the ’Eavy Metal team, who paint all the exquisite miniatures you see on the box.
Natalie: Wight King – “The composition, details, and layers of textures make it the perfect painter's miniature. It’s the ideal canvas if you want to weather lots of different metals with verdigris or rust, or and a space for a cheeky bit of object source lighting from the potion.”
Carlos: Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead – “When I first saw it, two main things blew my mind, and they still do. The first was the big change of scale from previous Warhammer Fantasy heroes, the second was all the negative space and how it works.”
Tom: Farseer – “The soulstones and symbols that dangle from clean flowing robes and smooth armour in combination with the powerful casting pose conveys the perfect balance of elegance and might that characterises the Aeldari.
Chris: Golgfag Maneater – “One miniature can exemplify a whole range. From the vast and varied collection of trinkets and totems carefully arranged for display around his person, to his conquering stance and leering gaze you can tell that Golgfag fears nothing and has probably killed one of everything. He’s big enough that you can embellish on certain areas with advanced techniques like adding freehand tattoos, oxidising metals or adding woven texture to the trousers.”
Thanks very much guys, excellent choices. The second instalment will be out later in the week – including picks from the Warhammer Community staff (because it’s our article, and because we can)...