2024 was a bit of a rollercoaster ride of creativity, plastic glue, and paint-stained fingers. As I look forward to 2025, I can’t help but reflect on progress I made last year, how I’d like to rekindle the energy of the middle of last year, and how many potential projects I could dive into this year. Here’s a look back at the highlights of 2024 and a peek into my hobby and gaming goals for the year ahead.
Highlights of 2024: Revisiting Old Projects with Fresh Energy
The burst of energy I experienced from April through July in 2024 was pretty intense by my standards. Largely kindled by the Yaktribe “finish your stuff challenge”, for 4 months it felt like every lingering project on my desk was calling out to be finished, and for once, I actually answered the call. The highlights of last year for me were…
- Inquisitorial Retinue (for Acolyte): The individual members of my Inquisitorial retinue were a blast to model —each a character in their own right. This project reminded me why Warhammer lore is such a goldmine for creativity but also of the power of sitting with other hobbyists to kitbash, as the genesis of this project came about from a group of us wanting to play collaborative kill team and getting each other excited about our characters.
- Jain Zar (Phoenix Lord of the Howling Banshees): It felt like a big milestone to bring this series of iconic Aeldari heroes to completion after 10+ years. GW put out a striking model… I did an okay paint job. I say completion, but I was already imagining a Warp Spider lord at the time, GW have since released one, and I don’t like it… a conversion beckons.
- Comic Book Style Troll (Underworlds): The Troll was my big experiment of 2024, and embracing the comic book style technique was a true joy. I learned to play with high-contrast highlights and bold, crisp black outlines, giving models the pop and vibrancy of something straight off the pages of a graphic novel. It was intimidating at first, but I emerged with a newfound appreciation for the power of stylized painting techniques.
With those limited achievements under my belt, I’m looking forward to tackling 2025 with renewed zeal. So, let’s dive into my goals and projects for the year ahead.
Hobby Goals for 2025
It wouldn’t be a new year without a fresh list of projects. Here’s what I have planned for my desk and gaming table in 2025.
Build a Warhammer-Inspired Book Nook
This idea came from my sister-in-law’s Harry Potter book nook that she was gifted for Christmas. Seeing a tiny Diagon Alley tucked between books kicked my imagination into overdrive. What better setting for my own book nook than the grim, sprawling underhive of Necromunda? Creating a diorama that doubles as a book nook will be a unique challenge, and there’s so much potential here.
Ideas that spring to mind include:
- A crumbling industrial zone, with pipes snaking up the sides of hive walls and hanging cables.
- Flickering LED lights to mimic the cracked neon signs or malfunctioning underhive glow.
- Layers stacked vertically to demonstrate the claustrophobic verticality of Necromunda. I want to show dilapidated walkways, rusty metal panels, and gang tags scrawled on the walls.
- Imparting some angularity to the inside of the nook – not just a rectangular void.
- Plenty of places for gangers to sit between games – this should double as a display cabinet.
Paint the Death Korps of Krieg Boxset
This has been my only impulse hobby buy for many years, and I’m determined not to let it sit in hobby limbo. The Death Korps of Krieg radiate grim determination in the face of annihilation. Now for the real question: what color scheme? Beyond the default trench warfare setting, I could go down a couple of routes…
- Matching them to my existing Imperial Guard (who fight in a temperate/jungle setting) makes thematic sense, but is it too “clean” for Krieg’s vibe?
- An ice world palette could make for some stunning effects: pale blues, whites, and contrasting dark armor. I can already imagine the snow flock and frozen mud caking their boots.
I’ll play around with test models, but whatever I choose, I’ll lean into weathering powders and grimy oil washes to give them that battle-worn, unforgiving aesthetic they deserve. I’m also considering dragging my airbrush out of retirement, inspired by watching Marco Frisoni on YouTube.
Get Into 40k Again (Boarding Actions and Beyond)
It’s been years since I’ve played a proper game of 40k (since 6th edition!), but the new boarding actions format has caught my attention. The tight, narrative-driven gameplay is perfect for my current vibe—and a great way to ease back into the gaming side of the hobby.
I’ve got my eye on running an elite Aeldari boarding party or perhaps leaning into the grim determination of the Imperial Guard in these tight spaces. Either way, 2025 is the year I throw some dice again!
Finally Organize an Apocalypse Game
This one’s been a pipe dream for years, but no more! The idea is simple: an enormous game of Apocalypse featuring my massive armies of Eldar and the Imperial Guard. Highlights I’d love to see on the table:
- The Phoenix Court of Khaine leading the Aeldari charge.
- A full Leman Russ tank company?
- Multiple super-heavy vehicles smashing through enemy lines.
It’s time to make this dream a reality.
Revive My Mordheim Carnival of Chaos Project
Every time I revisit the Carnival of Chaos, I’m struck by how bizarre and fun the concept is. Twisted clowns, diseased beasts, and warped carnival imagery—I mean, the creative potential is endless. And I’ve just realised the progress I’ve made so far hasn’t even appeared on the blog yet.
2025 will be the year I start to document and expand this project with new models. Cavorting plague bearers, “knights” riding pantomime horses, plague ridden strong men and grotesque carnival treats.. Mordheim’s freewheeling creative ethos makes this a passion project I want to wholeheartedly embrace again.
Make a Chaos Warrior Diorama
I’ve had this idea in mind for ages, and finally, it’s time to follow through. Picture this: a diorama of Chaos Warriors and Marauders advancing over a desolate icy tundra, their blackened armor glinting in the faint light. The piece will be rendered in a stark limited palette—mostly monotone blacks, whites, and greys, with vivid bursts of crimson gore. Think Frank Miller meets Warhammer.
This project is my love letter to the dark, brutal imagery of Chaos, and it’ll be exciting to pour all my creative energy into a non-gaming display piece.
Wrap Up Ongoing Projects
Finally, I really ought to finish anything still lingering from previous years. Most notably the Etherfields Board Game Miniatures: These surreal, dreamlike sculpts were my first proper foray into speed painting, and it worked well. I have the other half of the box to finish and then perhaps I could actually play the damn thing?
I can’t wait to make some progress…