A few years back, I got obsessed with sci-fi tabletop wargamming (namely, Warhammer 4000). I even ran a popular sci-fi game modeling site for a time. As part of covering the hobby (at least that’s what I told the taxman), I attended several Games Day conventions in Baltimore. I thought my painting and modeling were pretty damn good. And then I saw the Golden Demon Awards, the model conversions/painting contests held at these cons. The conversions were incredible, the paint jobs were absurd. Keep in mind as you look at these images that these figures are 28mm scale (that’s about 1.1 inches!). You start with bare metal, and after hours sometimes counted in the hundreds, you end up with results like these. An eyeball on one of these models is like the point of a pin, and yet, these painters manage several levels of highlights, reflections, and glints. A current trend is painting lighting effects, torch light or laser blasts reflected on models and scenery. Crazy.
Pictured above is Natalya Melnik’s Gold-winning “Dark Angels Company Master” and Bennett Blalock-Doane’s Sisters of Battle Canoness which took Silver, both in the WH40K Single Miniature category. Bennett also took Gold in Warhammer Regiments, with his Beastlord and Retinue (seen below). Natalya, who’s sort of a rock star/goddess in the miniature painting world, took home the grand prize, the coveted Slayer Sword, also for her Company Master.
For all the coverage of this year’s Baltimore Games Day and the Golden Demon Awards, check out Games Workshop’s website.
