I know Kill Team is all the rage at the moment so it's natural to lead with those releases, but GW are releasing yet more amazing Age of $igmar kits. The breathtaking Lord-Arcanum on Tauralon/ Aventis Firestrike: Magister of Hammerhal combi-kit is just amazing, and the first non-Easy Fit character we have seen from Age of $igmar V2.0 - and doesn't the price difference highlight that. This is an incredible kit, probably too good for the likes of us to attempt to paint, but you'd really better want it because this is not a cheap kit. Nighthaunt also get a nicely rebooted kit in the form of the Black Coach - again, amazing detail. 
Now - on to Kill Team - and this week's pre-orders see two Starter Sets, the Kill Team: Drop Force Imperator – Astra Militarum and Kill Team: The Writhing Shadow – Tyranids. Both of these sets see you get the troops pretty much for free, so worth the price. There's also a Kill Team Tape Measure (for that price you'd want something cool on the tape - but it's bog standard fair) and a number of Kill Team dice sets for Astra Militarum, Genestealer Cults, Tyranids, Space Wolves, Mechanicum and Orks. 
With the new Adeptus Titanicus on the horizon, Knightsblade - Imperial Knights Book 2 is back in paperback as is an old favourite (think this is the third time it's been back) Lukas the Trickster.  
Speaking of Adeptus Titanicus - it's finally on it's way in August and White Dwarf has all the news plus Designers Notes and more. Be one to check out for sure.

First up today I though I'd apologise for the lack of updates recently. I started a job 3 weeks ago and it's been all consuming - a bit like being fisted by the Incredible Hulk frankly - but slowly getting there.
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This week sees the supposedly highly-anticipated release of Kill Team. We last saw Kill Team in 2017, so obviously it needed to come back urgently... happily though, we get some great new sets to go along with it! The Kill Team set itself is a bit of a monster with terrain, 20 miniatures and more. The minis are made from the coloured plastic, not the traditional multi-part grey plastic and questions have been raised about the detail on them - time will tell. Next week also sees the Killzone: Sector Mechanicus released, which seems like pretty good value too. Kill Zone also introduces some new additions to the Sector Imperialis series of terrain - the Sector Imperialis Basilicanum, Sector Imperialis Administratum, Sector Imperialis Sanctum and Sector Imperialis Ruins. There's also two Faction sets which include some terrain - Kill Team: Fangs of Ulfrich and Kill Team: Krogskull’s Boyz. Now both these sets are also on the coloured plastic, so be aware before you purchase that these are not the standard plastic sets currently available. A really cool little product is the Kill Team Carry Case, which is a soft case with foam padding that carries your minis around in "safety". Reckon we'd need to see this in person, but a great concept. If you're curious about the game but don't need the entire set, then you can just buy the rules in the Core Manual. Interestingly I had seen a hardcover doing the rounds, but it seems to have disappeared! There are also, of course, the Data Cards to go along with Kill Team too.
In terms of book releases this week - its the audio drama Hunger, with the Genestealers facing the speciesist suppression of those well known oppressors, the Flesh Tearers. Forced to wander the universe Genestealers are set adrift amongst the stars desperately looking for a home. When will these lonely travellers be given a chance to settle? May you soon find a home, friends!

The mountain of releases for Age of $igmar 2.0 continue with some really good stuff, and some kind of questionable stuff...
Nighthaunt seem to be absolutely owning Warhammer at the moment with an amazing general in the shape of Kurdoss Valentian, The Craven King - an amazing looking mini taking serious influences from Lord of the Rings which (as GW will soon loose the license) is only a good thing. Nighthaunt don't just get one amazing mini - they have a few this week with the Easy To Build ​Dreadblade Harrows and Reikenor the Grimhailer kits. We may celebrate the prices of these, but if GW are only offering Easy To Build in the future, could we loose the current flexibility of the multi-pose kits. Speaking of multi-pose kits - this is where things get a little pissy; the Evocators have their multi-pose kit released next week and it looks like it's back to the good old Age of $igmar pricing with this set being around $90 AUD for 5 figures. This is why we started using the '$' on Age of $igmar. In recent times they have calmed-the-farm a bit, but maybe not for long. Great looking kit!
One of the premier looking Stormcast kits is also out next week, is the Easy To Build: Astreia Solbright, Lord-Arcanum on that amazing Celestial Dracoline mount. Truly awesome and was the main influence on my trialing Stormcast paint schemes. Also out next week is the Easy to Build: Celestar Ballista. GW are obvisouly trying to empty the cupboard of old stock, with Start Collecting! Stormcast Eternals Thunderstrike Brotherhood and Start Collecting! Khorne Bloodbound Goreblade Warband - which are just the pushfit minis from Age of $Igmar V1. You can also get these start Collecting sets with the Battletome as well - you won't save any money though. For those wanting to test the waters with Age of $igmar 2.0 there is also a smaller starter set for the game called Storm Strike and if you like the idea of a cheap mini with some pretty pictures, then the Getting Started With Warhammer Age of Sigmar magazine may be for you (left). The last version of this was awesome, and this free mini is also great, so worth the price! New paint sets are on the way, and rejoice, the tiny little pots of paint are gone - Warhammer Age of Sigmar Paints & Tools Set, Nighthaunt + Paint Set and Stormcast Eternals + Paint Set.
Made to Order is back next week with a few interesting generals from the past - Greasus Goldtooth, Zacharius the Everliving, Gorbad Ironclaw, Grom the Paunch (that model has to be 25 years old by now) and two from armies that don't even exist any more... Settra the Imperishable and High Queen Khalida who are back to lead the non-existent Tomb Kings. Thing is, we'd have been tempted to get half of these, especially the chariot, but those prices!!
Books next week are two paperbacks - Sons Of The Hydra (which some people were pretty pleased with) and the Grey Knights-themed Castellan.

After weeks of stellar Age of $igmar releases, it's back to some boxed set supplements by adding the much-awaited Dark Elf team to the Blood Bowl crew and some Shadespire bits and pieces.
Dark Elves rock hard in the Old World! In Age of $igmar they're all a bit lost and wishy-washy, but here they are mean, keen and spikey! Thankfully we get some new minis for them in the shape of The Naggaroth Nightmares. Apart from being great from Blood Bowl, If you're a Drukhari, Dark Elf, Deepkin, Daughters of Khaine or similar hobbyist - then you NEED to check out these sprues! The minis come in quite a few pieces, making them not only great for characters, but also great for bits to scatter amongst your forces. These are on my list for sure! There are of course the requisite Dark Elf Dice, Team Card Pack and rather excellently a Dark Elf Pitch & Dugout. The sexy Dark Elves aren't the only ones to get a pitch and dug out though - the excellent Chaos Chosen also get their one too. Speaking of added fun, the Dwarves team now have their own Team Cards as well and next week sees Issue #2 of Spike, the Blood Bowl magazine, on the stands.
Shadespire also gets some attention next week with the Shattered City Board Pack, the Shadespire Card Sleeves, and the new Shadespire – Leaders cards - wonder how far away the Daughters of Khaine Shadespire force is...?
In books next week, it's Mephiston-your-face: Revenant Crusade telling us all about the blonde vampire lead singer of the Blood Angels hair-Metal band and Callis and Toll: The Silver Shard which follows some Witchhunters through the world of Age of $igmar.

It's been a while since a hobby update, but I've been slowly working away on a few things. A new job and life get in the way, but I've added a new character to the War Hounds Legion and started work on an idea for a Stormcast Chamber - not entirely sure why...

I'm not entirely sure if this new War Hound is going to be part of the Command Squad or maybe a Captain to go with the Assault units, but this combination came to me early one morning. The torso you may recognise as being Space Wolf, but a few different colours and look - they're hounds!! There's actually been a fair bit of conversion work in this guy. His face needs a bit more work, but overall he's pretty close.
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The Stormcast is from a Chamber I'm calling the Ebony Dawn right now. Really it was s test mini for an idea and also a chance to try pint chipping on painted armour. It['s not perfect but the effect does work. The face, again needs some love. Notice the Chaos Knight pauldrons to replace those ugly Stormcast ones!