Stompa Boy Blightning

For the last couple of weeks we've been preparing a sponsorship effort for the Oh My Game Open: The Finnish Blood Bowl Nationals, held in Helsinki on the first of November. As long-time friends of OMG and their owner Supi, we're happy to make a contribution to one of their strongest tabletop gaming communities and the domestic Blood Bowl scene. We chose to paint up a Black Orc Blood Bowl team to be presented as an award in the Finnish Nationals, a brand new team for a distinguished coach to take home with them after the thrilling event.

We decided to work primarily with the new Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic range, something we've found is miles ahead of their old Warpaint products, especially in coverage. This was also our first time trying out their Speedpaints, where we found a couple of new favourites. The Speedpaint Medium was also used as a matte coat, reducing the shine of washes and the gloss varnish used in the previous stages. 

The orcs were a fun painting project and we challenged ourselves a bit with a limited palette, basing the entire scheme on the use of green and cold hues of grey. In addition to the obvious skin color, green was used as the armour and bone undertones, with moss deposits and green tufts in basing and Necrotic Flesh mixed in for leather and clothing highlight stages. Neon green eyes were the final touch, adding a contrasting spot colour that leaned on intensity rather than the effect of a complementary colour. 

The result we feel is a interesting take on the Blood Bowl orcs with a bit more "mature" and down-to-earth approach compared to what we usually witness on the pitches. The limited palette adds a sense of credibility and while the models are not exactly colourful, they remain readable due to value contrast and the combination of light and dark shades. The spots of snow are the icing to unify the schemes of bases and the models themselves!

We wish everyone competing at the Blood Bowl Nationals best of luck!

Back in time - War Head's Ropecon 2025

War Head’s annual army painting competition was held once again in Ropecon this year - in this video we leap back to Messukeskus in order to cover some of the event and other miniature program around us — including Horus Heresy and the Finnish launch of Trench Crusade by our friends from Factory Fortress! The official Show of Force results coverage can be found here.

War Head Civil War 2025 Results and Coverage

These are the good old days.

Our annual highlight of hobby magic and the peak in our shared Horus Heresy enthusiasm is in the books again. It was spectacular to return to the Civil War with such a dedicated crew and experience all new armies, unit additions and character reinforcements make their debuts after months of work on the hobby desks.

I really admire both the level of creativity as well as the bravery in how our participants were out to forge memorable and narratively inspired armies - as we took turns revealing our new forces one unit at a time there was twists and surprises at every turn. Civil War's artistic beauty is in its scale - patrol sized armies are much more approachable as hobby projects, and definitely enough to tell a complete story with as we witnessed again this Saturday.

Massive gratitude to all of the crew for making this special tradition what it is - the pinnacle of our joint hobby and something that keeps us inspired all year around.

All event photography by the brilliant Manel @mp_miniatures!

Round 1: Escalation (1v1)

14 Salamanders (Ollie) vs Ordo Reductor (Manel) 6
14 White Scars (Noa) vs True Mechanicum (Joel) 6
5 Death Guard (Lauri) vs Thousand Sons (Teemu) 15
8 Imperial Militia (Scott) vs Dark Angels (Eric) 12

Round 2: Battle Brothers (2v2)

15 Thousand Sons & Dark Angels (Teemu+Eric) vs Salamanders & White Scars (Ollie+Noa) 5
12 Death Guard & Militia (Lauri+Scott) vs Ordo Reductor & True Mechanicum (Manel+Joel) 8

Round 3: Carnage (4-way free-for-all)

Dark Angels (Eric) 5
Thousand Sons (Teemu) 5
Ordo Reductor (Manel) 3
White Scars (Noa) 3
Salamanders (Ollie) 4
True Mechanicum (Joel) 4
Death Guard (Lauri) 5
Imperialis Militia (Scott) 6

Final Standings

1. Thousand Sons 35
2. Dark Angels 32
3. Imperialis Militia 26
4. Salamanders 23
5. Death Guard 22
6. White Scars 22
7. Ordo Reductor 17
8. True Mechanicum 16

+ Army List Compilation +

Civil Warrior: Joel @fellfyre
Faction: True Mechanicum
Army: Experimental Weapons Field Test Sigma-18

HQ: Magos Dominus, Artificia Cybernetica, Master-Crafted Photon Gauntlet, Machinator Array, Power Lance, Cyber Familiar
Troop: 10 Adsecularis Tech-Thralls Covenant
Troop: 4 Scyllax Guardian-Automata Maniple, Kraken Bolters
Fast: Vorax Battle-automata Maniple, 1 Irad-Cleanser

Civil Warrior: Eric @wrhd.eric
Faction: The Dark Angels
Army: The Final Sanction

HQ: Optae, Artificer Armour, Nemesis Bolt Gun
Elite: Dreadwing Interemptor Squad
Troop: Legion Tactical Squad, Stormwing
Troop: Legion Despoiler Squad, Deathwing
Fast: Sabre Strike Tank, Volkite Saker, Heavy Flamer, Ironwing
Transport: Rhino APC

Civil Warrior: Lauri @lateheresy
Faction: The Death Guard
Army: The Hollow Harvest

Elite: Legion Apothecarion Detachment, 2x Apothecary
Elite: Legion Rapier Battery, Gravis Heavy Bolter
Elite: Legion Rapier Battery, Gravis Heavy Bolter
Troop: 12x Tactical Marines, Augury Scanner, Sergeant with Power Scythe and Toxin Bombs
Troop: 12x Tactical Marines, Augury Scanner, Sergeant with Power Fist and Toxin Bombs

Civil Warrior: Olli @wrhd_ollie
Faction: The Salamanders
Army: Survivors of the Trogdor System

HQ: Legion Overseer, Power Sword
Retinue: Solar Auxilia Rifle Section, Auxilia Vexilla, Sergeant with Chainsword
Elite: Legion Apothecarion Detachment, Apothecary
Troop: Tactical Squad, Sergeant with Chainsword
Troop: Despoiler Squad, 2x Power Lance, Sergeant with Power Mace
Troop: Scout Squad, 2x Shotguns, 3x Bolt Pistol & Chainsword

Civil Warrior: Scott @wrhd_scott
Faction: Imperialis Militia
Army: Thracian First, Death World Conscripts

HQ: Force Commander, Charnabal Sabre, Iron Halo, Cyber Familiar, Needle Pistol
Provenances of War: Feral Warriors & Legacy of the Great Crusade
Troop: 16 Grenadiers, 2x Shotgun, Flamer, Heavy Stubber, 14x Chainaxe
Troop: Fire Support Squad "Traplings", Remote Detonators (Missile Launchers)
Fast: Thunderbolt Attack Fighter "Betsy"

Civil Warrior: Teemu @gowarhead
Faction: The Thousand Sons
Army: 5th Archivist & Development Group

Elite: Numerologist Cabal Mhosis T'kar, 4x Life Wards "The Reborn"
Elite: The Whisper Occult Cabal, Khenetai Blades
Troop: Corvidae Tactical Squad, Sergeant with Combi-Grenade Launcher
Transport: Rhino APC, Hunter-Killer Missile Targeter
Transport: Rhino APC, Hunter-Killer Missile Targeter
Transport: Rhino APC, Hunter-Killer Missile Targeter

Psychic Power Markers: Wyrd-Remembrancer Seth An-Khamun & Thrall Scribe
Wysiwyg Token: Cloud Scarab UAV, Prosperine Mind-Link, Missile Configuration

Civil Warrior: Manel @mp_miniatures
Faction: Ordo Reductor Mechanicum
Army: Thavrax's Ashen March

Elite: Tech-Priest Auxilia, 4x Servo-Automata, Magos-Auxilia, Conversion Beamer
Troop: Adsecularis Tech-Thralls Covenant
Troop: Adsecularis Tech-Thralls Covenant
Troop: Thallax Cohort, Chain Bayonets
Heavy: Ordo Reductor Artillery Tank Battery, Whirlwind Artillery Tank

Civil Warrior: Noa @wrhd_noa
Faction: The White Scars
Army: Hunting Tiger

HQ: Moritat Consul, 2x Volkite Serpenta, Warhawk Jump Pack
Troop: Legion Despoilers, 2x Power Axe, Heavy Chainsword
Fast: 9 Legion Seekers Squad
Transport: Rhino APC, Heavy Flamer
Transport: Rhino APC, Heavy Bolter, Dozer Blade

Thanks for checking out our results coverage, please stay tuned for individual unit pics, musings and reports in our Instagram @gowarhead and everyone's individual accounts! Thanks again to @mp_miniatures for the brilliant photography.

War Head Civil War 2025 Rising

          As an annual occurrence, War Head Civil War has been fought six times, beginning as a 40K gaming day and later transferring to the scenes of the Horus Heresy. The focus of the event has always been in the camaraderie and the visual aspects of the hobby in miniatures and terrain, with the friendly games in a secondary role. One's wargaming hobby might be entirely different depending on who they surround themselves with - in a like-minded company where everyone feeds off each others' inspiration and shares the same gaming values, it's a creative and social joy like no other. Civil War has been created to encapsulate this principle.

 

War Head Civil War 2025 preparations are in full effect and we'll assemble for traditional Horus Heresy patrol skimirshes on the 11th of October! Secret schemes, new armies and fierce deployments await - read more about the format and what to expect below.

+ Civil War 2025 Event Primer + 

x

War Head x Saimaa 40K

Our commission painting service is hard at work all year around, and there's been some memorable gigs on the desks lately! We're now starting to book the last of 2025's commission slots and would be happy to discuss projects of any size and a theme. If you have a need for a painted force or a terrain set for any game system, but don't think you have the time or the skills to turn the vision into reality, send us a message and we'll see how we can help! Our service terms and portfolio are better described here on our commissions page.

Questions? Email us at contact@gowarhead.com!

We'd also like to mention we've teamed up with Saimaa Gaming in anticipation of their opening salvo - the Saimaa 40K 2025 tournament on September 27-28th! The event is about intense 40K in a cosy spa environment with a BBQ evening to top things off, what's not to like? War Head will serve as the protector of the Best Army Award, sending prizes and commendations to crown the most industrous hobbyist with. Check out the details and join in!

This vast Black Legion ensemble is the latest army commission fresh out of the War Head assembly line - these were prepped, built, based and painted entirely in-house for the customer to pick up as a ready-to-play collection. 

Show of Force 2025 Results and Coverage

Show of Force! We'd like to express huge thanks to all of the hardworking participants who brought their army displays for the Ropecon visitors to enjoy - a total of 229 public votes were given on Saturday, speaking volumes of the importance of the competition as a window to the Finnish wargaming hobby. 

The category winners each claimed a certificate and hobby supplies graciously sponsored by our supporters Trench Crusade, Green Stuff World and AK-Interactive! 

Big thanks for putting on a show for all of us!

Best Sci-Fi

Jussi Lindeberg, Cadia Stands (Imperial Guard)

Best Fantasy 

Jaakko Karjalainen, Defenders of Ghrond (Dark Elves)

Best Historical

Tor-Erik Nygård, Flames of War Americans

Fan Favourite

Jani Kautto, Primeblood Marauders (Trollbloods)

Trench Crusader

Laune Pablo, Apostasy of Brabant

+ Full Facebook Picture Gallery +

Gambit of the First Heretic

The Echoes of Thracia was a War Head Horus Heresy campaign, fought over three years and five narrative events. In the grand finale we laid siege upon the feudal world of Thracia Rex. This is how the campaign day unfolded!

Summer Heat

While most of our personal projects have lately been all about the Horus Heresy, it's been a busy spring and early summer with all kinds of commission work. We're excited to show more of the results as Ropecon draws near, but here's a couple of older, completed gigs from our camera roll. The Aeldari are a part of a previously finished army build, whereas the Chaos Space Marine characters were painted to reinforce customer's own collection as centerpiece miniatures.

We'll see you all in Ropecon - get those Show of Force entries over the line!

Aeldari tanks are so ageless, always fun to paint up.

Eldrad was painted in a custom scheme to complement the palette of the army.

A scout walker, Autarch officers, psykers, a Wave Serpent transport and a towering Wraithknight stand ready to join the customer's existing force.