Being the first Saturday of the month not only do we get White Dwarf we also get Warhammer Visions, the monthly "hobbyist-based" magazine from Games Workshop.
Warhammer Visions changed it's format two weeks ago to a larger magazine size rather than the digest size it had been for over a year. Initially I was .skeptical and probably mainly because the bookshelf wouldn't look as cool now rather than anything else.
But as content is king it's all about what's between the cover.
The changed size also gave GW an opportunity to get change some things in the magazine, add some new content and change it up. That hasn't happened yet!
So what do you get in this issue of Warhammer Visions?
Some bloody big photos - most of which are very good and if you've loved this month's worth of releases then you will like this issue. There's also Golden Demon 2014 and two awesome armies. But is it any good? Read on...
Warhammer Visions changed it's format two weeks ago to a larger magazine size rather than the digest size it had been for over a year. Initially I was .skeptical and probably mainly because the bookshelf wouldn't look as cool now rather than anything else.
But as content is king it's all about what's between the cover.
The changed size also gave GW an opportunity to get change some things in the magazine, add some new content and change it up. That hasn't happened yet!
So what do you get in this issue of Warhammer Visions?
Some bloody big photos - most of which are very good and if you've loved this month's worth of releases then you will like this issue. There's also Golden Demon 2014 and two awesome armies. But is it any good? Read on...
In the previous incarnation of Warhammer Visions, the Latest Releases section was really just a big plug for the new stuff with recycled images from White Dwarf and not much else.
In the past few months though, this section has generally been very good. There are tonnes of new images and great detailed shots of some of the key features of the new miniatures. Yes there is some repetition in showing those features but on the whole this section has improved markedly.
In the past few months though, this section has generally been very good. There are tonnes of new images and great detailed shots of some of the key features of the new miniatures. Yes there is some repetition in showing those features but on the whole this section has improved markedly.
Part of the Latest Releases section this week shows off the new Imperial Knight in it's different variants. These shots are beautiful - HD and well lit. If you're looking at doing Knights or you just like them then you will like the pictures included this month.
The new assassins game came and went this month (bet you'd forgotten it even existed!). This section gives a brief look at the models and a few shots of the game. As I said at time of release, I'm pretty sure they jumped the gun on this and ended up releasing a bit of a dog!
Another meager offering from Forge World this week. Either do the section or don't. You'd be better off showcasing people's Horus Heresy forces or the like than just putting this in...
Now this is cool!! This is Nick Bayton's Ultramarines force. It's big, it's cool and has some really nice little touches including some of the best rocket effects you will have seen on vehicles. That gunship is just brilliantly conceived and executed. A highlight of the issue!
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The Golden Demon 2014 section has some nice shots, but nowhere near as nice as the other sections. They're just not as clear and often a bit hard to see the detail. That being said, the Space Wolf one (above right) has some of the nicest and most natural looking Space Marines I have seen in a while.
A look at some of the fighting vehicles of the 40K universe. Some hits and a few misses here.
Mechanicus vs Eldar on a battle board we have seen before, despite the fact they say it was built specifically. All good - whatever, right?
'Eavy Metal is Skaven heavies which are very nicely done, but we did see this recently in a White Dwarf...
Reader Parade Ground is always great. People come up with the best ideas and some of this is just so well executed! Not sure the photography is that great, but you get that!
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Now THIS is a Tau force! Departing from convention and going for a very weathered look, Jan Knackstedt has knocked this one out of the park. Weathering vehicles is an art and this has been executed very very well. SO much work has gone into each miniature, and with such a big force there is a lot of time and love here! Have a look at the conversion work on some of these to add character to the force.
Parade Ground brings some nice models together, none more so than these Dark Eldar Wracks and Sons of Horus Space Marines. Both executed so nicely and so cleanly. That Sons of Horus force is a force of individuals rather than just an armoured column and the alternate scheme on the Wracks is amaze-balls!
John Blanche is the undisputed master of the dark world of 40K. He is the progenitor, the Primarch one could say. It's actually nice as a Beardy to see someone who was doing stuff when you first got involved with the hobby still doing his thing. This month Blanchitsu actually concentrates on John Blanche rather than those who follow in his style and it's Mechanicus time.
Blanche is pretty much responsible for the modern take on the Mechanicus. There were others who pioneered the look, but he added that old corroded look that is now the accepted one.
What I found interesting for me though was how, though the progenitor, thew work of those who have followed in his stead are.. well... better! It's all in the eye of the beholder, but I think the INQ28 movement has perfected his look and maybe refined it.
Don't get me wrong - John Blanche - VERY COOL, but we also have to hand it to the newbies too.
Blanche is pretty much responsible for the modern take on the Mechanicus. There were others who pioneered the look, but he added that old corroded look that is now the accepted one.
What I found interesting for me though was how, though the progenitor, thew work of those who have followed in his stead are.. well... better! It's all in the eye of the beholder, but I think the INQ28 movement has perfected his look and maybe refined it.
Don't get me wrong - John Blanche - VERY COOL, but we also have to hand it to the newbies too.
Paint Splatter - how you have impressed me this week!
Paint Splatter in White Dwarf can be a bit crap - in fact a lot crap - and Warhammer Visions has tended to follow along suit, even reprinting that White Dwarf ones.
BUT (yes I started the sentence with a 'but') this month they have impressed with some alternate colour schemes for a Knight and some Mechanicus.
Early in it's history Warhammer Visions did a great spread on all the known Tyranid colour schemes, it was great. They also did a similar thing with some of the Harlequins.
THIS is what Paint Splatter in Warhammer Visions should be. The hobbyist's magazine should offer more and this is such a small thing they can do, for us.
Anyway, Paint Splatter is a nice surprise.
Paint Splatter in White Dwarf can be a bit crap - in fact a lot crap - and Warhammer Visions has tended to follow along suit, even reprinting that White Dwarf ones.
BUT (yes I started the sentence with a 'but') this month they have impressed with some alternate colour schemes for a Knight and some Mechanicus.
Early in it's history Warhammer Visions did a great spread on all the known Tyranid colour schemes, it was great. They also did a similar thing with some of the Harlequins.
THIS is what Paint Splatter in Warhammer Visions should be. The hobbyist's magazine should offer more and this is such a small thing they can do, for us.
Anyway, Paint Splatter is a nice surprise.
Verdict
Warhammer Visions wasn't bad this month.
The expansive coverage of the month's releases was well done, Paint Splatter was good, gthe two armies featured were both nice for totally different reasons.
Forge World was a waste of time, again, 'Eavy Metal could have been a bit more imaginative - what about the colour schemes of the Imperial troops in Warhammer or the colour schemes of all the Ork forces in 40K.
Anyway - if you liked this month's releases then this issue will please you.
The expansive coverage of the month's releases was well done, Paint Splatter was good, gthe two armies featured were both nice for totally different reasons.
Forge World was a waste of time, again, 'Eavy Metal could have been a bit more imaginative - what about the colour schemes of the Imperial troops in Warhammer or the colour schemes of all the Ork forces in 40K.
Anyway - if you liked this month's releases then this issue will please you.
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