Close to a year ago, a friend of mine and Kinpatsusamurai‘s surprised us with the best birthday cake ever. (Our birthdays are like a week apart.) We all got together for board games and for the end of the old Space Station Zero run, when he unveiled a birthday cake in the shape of a Space Marine. Needless to say, it was one of those watershed moments you remember, and where you think to yourself “this is a friendship this will never get left behind.” This friend moved out of town a while back, and we don’t all get to hang out as much as we’d like, but when the three of us get together and roll dice it’s always a good time.

This particular friend’s birthday is coming up, and while he doesn’t play Space Marines (yet), word has it from reliable sources that may or may not be kinpatsusamurai that he likes Salamanders. I had some extra marines from the Kill Team Salvation box that I wanted to put to use, and Kinpatsusamurai had an old dreadnought and a rhino, so we got to work, and managed to get the whole kit and kaboodle done a month ahead of schedule. Sometimes it just works. I made these pretty much stock out of the box, added some skulls and fancy resin bases, and decided I wanted to throw lava on the bases to contrast with the bright greens of the armour. Kinpatsusamurai then adjusted the base on his dreadnought, “Stampy,” to match.

More than once over the years, painting a squad of miniatures or a small army is how I’ve rung in birthdays or special occasions for people I care about and it’s one of my favorite things to do with Warhammer. (In part because then I don’t have to worry about storing the finished products!) Every time it feels great to get those projects to the finish line and to get them sent off, and this project is no exception. If anything, I think this is one of the better gift squads I’ve done and I’m thrilled with how these toasty bois have turned out.