Whenever there's a two week pre-order window for a big release, you know the next week is going to be something... "classic". Lord of the Rings, Blood Bowl or even Warhammer 40K or Old World Warhammer, and today it's the latter with six minis - some old, and some very old.
First up we have the mini that should probably now be called Mini Archaon as he now has a much bigger rendition, but Archaon, Lord of the End Times (I think his second mini) is a great mini for it's time. It's dynamic, he has a great horse and that thick metal cape is so "classic". For a hand crafted miniature, this surely has to be one of the best. Next up we have the Mounted Chaos Sorcerer, who is riding some sort of horse/ deer making him potentially Slaanesh or Tzeentch - hard to say! An all-time favourite with roots right back to Slaves to Darkness (the original back in the 1980s), the Slaanesh Chaos Lord is everything - cloven feet, chunky shoulders, pink armour, the massive top-knot - Slannesh personified if you're from a certain era. The next mini has an unfortunate paint job, but is actually a very nice miniature. Having converted the Nurgle Chaos Lord into something else he is well worth the time. Now we delve a little lower on the quality scale with the Khorne Chaos Lord - never a high point in the collection of Khorne's finest, and the Tzeentch Chaos Lord with Familiar... what is actually going on here?? 
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Don't forget, this week is the final week to order the Cadia Stands Army Set too. The miniatures will be released separately next year, so if you're desperate, go forth! 

Games Workshop released the teaser video for their upcoming assassins-themed game, but I wonder if anyone cares? Was this something you were wishing for and do you even care now it's here?
After Space Hulk, do we need another limited game, do you use Assassins in your 40K play and is all this just more filler to drag out future 40K releases until later in the year?
With the Horus Heresy box, Dark Angels, Warhammer 200th edition etc is this really what you want?

The lure was too great - these have been in my collection for years and I just had to give it a go!
I've got two more on the bench, so stay tuned for all three in the next little while plus a review of the kit.
Suffice to say - these were an absolute pleasure to make and paint...

This morning Games Workshop buried this sneak peak at the upcoming Imperial Guard releases on their website. 
No word on the name change to "Astra Militarum", just a broken up shot of what looks like a Militarum Scions trooper. Interesting to see the helmet on the right hand side of the video. Although there has only been a glimpse of it in the one leaked image, maybe we will have enough to equip a full squad!?

A few things to notice from the fleeting glances at the video:
- The Icon is not the usual Imperial Guard-style. It has a lion's head on wings but no actual aquila. Odd for the what is meant to be the Emperor's fist.   
- The weapon seems to be an amped up Lasgun with power cables running from it.
- Notice also the breastplate and armoured gauntlets as seen in this leaked image.

So the date says this weekend - White Dwarf may be about to get very interesting.
As usual, we'll have a full look at the release previews first thing on Saturday morning AUS time and Friday night US & UK time.

If you've been following the ongoing saga of the War Hounds Space marines Project Blog, you'll know that I've been thinking a lot about how they look. When my friend Rob suggested the War Hounds have an element of gladiator to them; they fight in tournaments against one another, they are brutal hand-to-hand fighters and they fight to the death when in combat - it got me thinking about gladiators!.
What do you think of the War Hounds as having an element of Gladiator to them? Would love your feedback before I stuff this up completely!