Regular friend of the BWU podcast, Andy Hobday, returns to talk all about the current Kickstarter for The Baron's War Fantasy Skirmish miniatures range! Currently on Kickstarter and knocking down stretch goals, this campaign will help launch this line of miniatures and a classic fantasy setting for the Baron's War but will also help establish Andy and Paul Hick's new company, Hobday and Hicks. Andy shared their inspiration for the line and dropped some juicy teasers about their future army plans including some very cool hints about the undead...

Back the Kickstarter now and join their Facebook community to learn more about the future of their game.

As usual, this podcast was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

This month's podcast guests are the founders of Rascal News, Lin Codega, Rowan Zeoli, and Chase Carter. Rascal is a new reader supported a tabletop roleplaying game and culture outlet striving to sustainably publish voicey journalism that is compelling, deeply-reported, and fearlessly honest. Lin, Rowan, and Chase were kind enough to spend their time talking with me about the state of tabletop games media, why they feel journalism is important even in the arena of hobbies and gaming, the challenges of organizing labor in gaming, and what they hope to accomplish with a wholly independent reporting platform.

Rascal media is currently running a pledge drive and I hope you'll join me in supporting their endeavors. Their ethos is very much in tune with that of the BWU and I'm looking forward to seeing their work for many years to come.

As usual, this podcast was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

or this month's podcast I was joined by my friend and fellow Union Member, Jamie Daggers! Jamie is a professional painter whose work as an instructor took up most of our discussion but she's also a competitive painter, and of course, paints for pleasure. We had a great chat about how she approaches teaching new painters, what tools she recommends, identifying as an artist (or not), and her thoughts on brush size utility.

Jamie Daggers (@jamiedaggers) • Instagram photos and videos

JamieDaggers Mini Studio | creating painting minis, doing commissions, videos, tips, and tr | Patreon

(138) Jamie Daggers - YouTube

As usual, this podcast is exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

This month sees the return of Shoshie Bauer to the BWU podcast! Shoshie has been a guest twice in the past, but this time she's here to talk about the release of the newest miniature in her very own line, Cat Daddy. The fourth in what will eventually be a line of 7 limited edition model conceived, conceptualized, and sculpted entirely by women, Cat Daddy will be available for pre-order starting Thursday, October 28th. Shoshie was kind enough to send me an advance copy of this very cool miniature and we had a great conversation about what goes into the creation of this very special line of figures. We also talked about the trials and travails of sculpting for the female gaze and just why she loves Kingdom Death so much.

Pre-order Cat Daddy on 09/28 or purchase the previously created sculpts at Shoshie's webstore. Follow Shoshie on Patreon, Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

As usual, this podcast is exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

Scalable Skirmish. Kinetic Action. Big Armor Suits.



That's the tagline for the upcoming miniatures game Zeogenesis, from wargaming luminaries Danny Block, Andy Chambers, and Gav Thorpe! This stellar team was kind enough to talk to me this month about their game with Danny talking logistics and production of the hard plastic minis they'll be manufacturing in North Carolina, Andy discussed the core game mechanics and dynamic terrain rules, and Gav had lots to say about the narrative and setting he's crafting for this far future science fiction setting! You may have gotten a glimpse of Zeogenesis at Adepticon this spring but the team had lots more to say, including some really exciting info about the terrain kits they'll be releasing both in hard plastic and as downloadable STL printer files.

If you're attending the 2023 NOVA Open in just a few days be sure to check out their presence and say hi to Danny and Gav!

Follow Zeogensis on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date and take part in their playtest.

As usual, this podcast is exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

For July's podcast I had the pleasure of speaking with fellow Union Member, Adam Loper! If you've been wargaming for any amount of time you're probably familiar with his Youtube channel, Tabletop Minions, currently celebrating its 10th year! Adam and I spoke about how he got started with Beasts of War (now On Tabletop), what goes into producing regular wargaming content, the challenges of helping new hobbyists, his favorite types of games, and his own forays into wargaming development as part of Snarling Badger Studios, working on games like Space Station Zero, Majestic 13, their upcoming zines, and more.

Be sure to follow Tabletop Minions on Youtube and Instagram.

As usual, this podcast is exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

My guest this month is Chris Kohler, owner of Slow Death Games and creator of the miniatures skirmish game, Wild in the Streets! Chris and I talked about his history as a gamer, as a punk, and how those two interests combined to create Wild in the Streets. We also discussed the game Star Breach for which Slow Death is the publisher and some hints about upcoming projects. Listen now, posers!

Chris was also kind enough to offer a discount for Brush Wielders Union members, keep an eye on your email soon for your code. And of course, if you're a Full Union Member your letter this month will be accompanied by a very cool over-sized sticker courtesy of Chris and Slow Death!

Follow Slow Death Games on Instagram and Facebook. 

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

brushwieldersunion.com

We're very proud to release episode 50 of the Brush Wielders Union podcast! It's hard to believe, but we've been doing our monthly interview podcast for over four years now, but for episode fifty I've shaken up the format. This month features our first ever "roundtable" format in which I invited four of my favorite hobby professionals to take part in an open discussion on some broad questions about miniatures painting and hobbying. The guests are:

Shoshie Bauer, professional painter and owner/operator of Shoshie's Minis

Matt DiPietro, professional painter and instructor of Contrast Miniatures

Byron Orde, professional painter of Artis Opus

Dave Taylor, professional painter, terrain maker, & publisher at Dave Taylor Miniatures 

This almost two hour episode featured some freewheeling and spirited discussion between these experts, spurred on by answers to the same hobby questions I posed to Brush Wielders Union members. 

Follow Shoshie Bauer on Instagram and Patreon 

Matt DiPietro can be found on Instagram and as part of the Miniature Monthly Patreon 

Byron Orde's work can be found on the Artis Opus YouTube and Instagram 

Find Dave Taylor on Instagram and as part of Build! Paint! Play! on Youtube.

Thanks to everyone listening to the BWU for 50 episodes. Here's to 50 more!

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

brushwieldersunion.com

If you've been anywhere near the indie minis gaming scene this spring you've probably heard about Demon Ship, the micro minis game by Malev. Well, Malev was kind enough to talk with me this month and we got into the nitty gritty of developing Demon Ship, painting for Metal King Studios, and some philosophical chat about the future of minis gaming beyond the traditional player-vs-player world. 

As an aside, Demon Ship is one of the most exciting and innovating games I've seen in a long time, and is well worth taking a look at. You can preorder Demon Ship now. 

Support Malev on his own Patreon, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also listen to his music on Bandcamp!

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

brushwieldersunion.com

This month I was lucky enough to pick the brain of Graham Davey, owner of Grey For Now Games, co-creator of one of my favorite skirmish games, Test of Honour, and a former editor at Games Workshop. Graham was kind enough to share his time and tell me about his journey as a hobbyist and professional, from his first encounters with wargames, to his time working on White Dwarf magazine, and his current days as the publisher of Test of Honour and his most recent game, 0200 Hours. I haven't played 0200' yet myself, but I've heard some great things about this game dedicated to WWII night fighting raids and covert missions. 

Be sure to follow Grey For Now Games on Facebook. 

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

brushwieldersunion.com

My guest this month was the owner and founder of Huge Miniatures, one of my favorite basing material manufacturers. Huge Minis makes an awesome and ever-growing range of texture paints, flocks, tufts, paints, and more. BWU members already get a discount through their webstore but I was excited to finally speak with Brinton about the history of his company and what the future might hold. We talked about what goes into actually manufacturing materials like flock and foliage, how they choose paint hues, and what it's been like expanding into their first dedicated workspace. 

BWU members can find their discount code here.

Be sure to follow Huge Miniatures on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

brushwieldersunion.com

For the first podcast of 2023 I was joined by Kit Peteranecz, founder of Game Envy Creations (and new Union Member). 

Kit shared the story of his journey from painting a D&D character to having multiple hugely successful Kickstarters for a whole line of hobby products! We talked about paint holders, paint brushes, manufacturing, and he even shared some exclusive news about their next Kickstarter coming next month for a hugely expanded line of paint brushes!

Follow Game Envy Creations on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date on their upcoming Kickstarter.

And finally, Kit was kind enough to offer a 10% discount on all their products for Full Union Members! Keep an eye out later this afternoon for another members-only post with that code.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

brushwieldersunion.com

My guest on this month's podcast, Bjarni Dali joined me all the way from the Faroe Islands to talk about his grimdark masterpieces. I first became aware of Bjarni's work on his fantastic Howling Gryphons diorama few years ago and have since come to appreciate all of his gritty, narrative driven dioramas and minis. We talked about where he finds inspiration, how he avoids burnout, and what it takes to paint a model as big as a 28mm Warhound titan!

Find Bjarni on Patreon, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube and be sure to check out his book, The Art of Bjarni Dali, available now.

As usual, this podcast was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

My guest this month was the one and only Hank Edley, a member of Adepticon's board of directors! It is without exaggeration or hyperbole when I say that Adepticon is the best miniatures gaming convention in the entire world, bar none, and I was thrilled to get to pick Hank's brain about what goes into the show. Hank and I chatted about the show's history, the incredible community of hobbyists that make it so great, why Adepticon's fully painted policy has been such a success, and what it was like to get the event through the interruptions of the pandemic. We also talked a little about the future of Adepticon and Hank had some hints about what that might entail!

I hope to see you all at Adepticon 2023, just a few short months away!

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union.

brushwieldersunion.com

This month I was joined by Mark Henry, owner and founder of Goblin's Hut, the exclusive North American distributor of the Dirty Down liquid effects paints! Dirty Down's set of rust, moss, and verdigris effects paints have been taking the hobby by storm this year and I was excited to talk with Mark about how they work and what the future holds for this line of unique effects. Mark shared all about the paints origins as special effects paints for TV and movies including Game of Thrones and many other famous productions, as well as some exclusive news about their upcoming expanded line of colors and sprays! Mark was also kind enough to share a 15% discount on most products avaialble only to full Brush Wielders Union members. Check out the upcoming member's only post for details!

You can buy Dirty Down products right now at goblinshut.com and be sure to follow them on Instagram.

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audience.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union.

brushwieldersunion.com

This month I was joined by Byron Ord, founder of Artis Opus, a company making some of the best miniatures painting brushes on the market! They've just launched a Kicsktarter for a new kind of product:  hand-crafted, wall-mounted, self-lighted miniatures display cases! They funded in just 5 minutes as of our interview and are skyrocketing past 10x their goal! Byron took the time to speak with me about what makes these displays unique, the years of R&D that went into their creation, and also a little about their Series D (not so) drybrushes. 

Check out the Artis Opus display cabinets now on Kickstarter. 

Follow Artis Opus on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

My guest this month was Jon Cleaves, CEO of DGS Games, and Lead Designer of the exciting fantasy skirmish game, Freeblades! Jon was kind enough to tell me all about the history of Freeblades, it's related RPG, Brightsword, and their upcoming mass combat game, all three of which share core mechanics and can be played separately or woven together to tell the most epic stories in the world of Faelon. Jon's enthusiasm was contagious, and we talked a little about not just the games but what DGS Games is doing to help make tabletop gaming a more inclusive and diverse world.

Learn about the world of Faelon on World Anvil

Support DGS Games and unlock exclusive content on their Patreon 

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

This month I was lucky enough to once again speak with my friend, Sean Sutter, founder of Metal King Studio, creator of Relicblade, Sludge, and regular contributor to Blaster Magazine! Sean and I had last spoken on the podcast a few years back but he's been up to a ton since then. We talked about the trials and travails of being a creator in the post-2020 world, what led him to create such a different and darker game in Sludge than his previous work in Relicblade, starting his own podcast, and the challenges and complications facing a creator whose creations are growing and succeeding beyond his initial plans and hopes. Listen now!

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

Union member and inaugural podcast guest, Dave Taylor returns this month! Dave's been up to a ton of awesome stuff since BWU podcast episode 1 and we talked about a lot of it. Dave shared what's been going on with the books he's published like Terrain Essentials and the upcoming volumes of his ongoing The Art of' series as well as building custom Fallout and Skyrim tables for Modiphius' Gen Con booth next week. And most excitingly, we talked about his new livestream endeavour, Build Paint Play! We wrapped things up by discussing our own armies for the new edition of The Horus Heresy.

Pre-order THE ART OF... Volumes 4-6 now

Order published books from Dave Taylor Miniatures at Ironheart Artisans 

Follow Dave on Instagram 

Watch and subscribe to Build Paint Play on Youtube 

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

This month I was joined by game developer, Chris Masucci, creator of Crystallum: 15mm Epic Battles in the Far Future, currently on Kickstarter. Chris was kind enough to get into the nitty gritty of what makes this game of combined arms combat compelling in terms of its, game play, miniature sculpts, and background material. Crystallum is Chris' first professionally published game and I'm really excited to get my hands on it. 

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

My guest this month was Seyni N'diaye, an incredibly talented painter from Lyon, France. Seyni's unique style earned him a volume in the latest set of The Art of... series of miniatures artbooks from Dave Taylor Miniatures, now on Kickstarter! Seyni shared his thoughts on how he developed his beautiful, impressionist-inspired style, his preferences in brushes, his inspirations, and what he hopes to accomplish on his journey as a world class painter. 

Follow Seyni on Instagram and check out the Kickstarter for The Art of...Vols 4-6 now!

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

My guest this month was professional painter, Yeji Kim! You may know Yeji from her classes at conventions including Adepticon, Warfaire Weekend, and many others, or her work as a studio painter for Ninja Division. Yeji and I chatted about her career as a painter, and her focus on painting chibi style miniatures in particular. She shared some fantastic tips for painting eyes (and not just on chibis) among other thoughts on taking healthy breaks from your hobby. 

Follow Yeji and Snickernack on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch.

As usual, this episode was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

This month I was joined by John Swinkels,  convention manager for Privateer Press. John and I talked about all things Privateer' at Adepticon, coming up in just a few short days. John shared his thoughts on the Formula P3 Grandmaster painting competition, convention exclusives, and all the events for WARMACHINE, HORDES, Warcaster and Riot Quest that you can take part in at Adepticon, and of course, open play. I was also able to convince John to give up a few teasers on the upcoming Orgoth faction for WARMACHINE!

Listen now and be sure to visit Privateer's booth #401 at Adepticon and bring your 2022 Brush Wielders Union membership book for 10% off select items!

You can follow Privateer on Facebook and Instagram to see all the amazing entries in the P3 Grandmaster and stay up to date on what's going on at the show if you're not there yourself. 

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

PS don't forget to drop by the Brush Wielders Union Adepticon table, at space #914!

Joining me this month on the BWU podcast is one of the true titans of miniatures painting, Roman Lappat! Roman's work helped redefine how we viewed miniatures painting not just as a hobby, but as an art form in its own right. Roman's work is being featured in the latest volume of The Art of' now on Kickstarter and we spoke about that book but first chatted about his journey as a painter and illustrator and his philosophy of art.

Back The Art of Roman Lappat on Kickstarter now.

Follow Roman's work on Facebook and Instagram and visit his own site, as well as his contributions as a founder to Massive Voodoo.

As usual, this podcast was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

My guest this month is the one and only Victoria Lamb, founder and owner of Victoria Miniatures! If you've had any kind of big kit-bashing project or love for a nostalgic and out-of-print Imperial Guard armies, you're almost certainly familiar with Victoria Miniature's expansive line of arms, guns, heads, and alternate body parts. Victoria was kind enough to speak to me about what all went into growing her small operation into the international hobby resource it's become. We talked about the challenges of sculpting modular parts, what goes into sculpt art direction, why she loves miniatures and much more. 

You can find  the official Victoria Miniatures Facebook here, the new and unofficial Victoria Miniatures Fan Page also on Facebook, and of course also on Instagram.

As usual, this episode was exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

My guest this month was professional painter and longtime hobbyist, Jeff Hall! Jeff has had a storied career in miniatures, having worked in events Games Workshop and currently as operations manager of Games and Stuff.  These days he specializes in creating immersive tables for use in Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop RPGs! Jeff shared some practical advice on dressing your own tables, building a versatile collection of dungeon terrain, and teased his upcoming book, The Tremendous Tome of Decorating Dungeons, coming to Kickstarter in February!

As usual, this episode was exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

It was my great honor this month to speak with the one and only Andy Chambers! Since the early 90s, Andy's been designing some of the most beloved and genre-defying miniatures games, and he was kind enough to spend an hour talking about those experiences. Andy reminisced about his first projects at Games Workshop, what it was like developing Warhammer 40,000 2nd edition (and 3rd...and 4th...), as well as what went into the early days of Titan Legions, Necromunda, and his "magnificent octopus/magnum opus" Battlefleet Gothic. We also discussed his post-GW career including Starship Troopers and  his current game, Blood Red Skies. 

Be sure to check out the new Battle for Midway starter for Blood Red Skies, join the associated BRS Facebook fan group, The Ready Room, and follow Andy on Facebook.

As usual, this episode was exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

—Simon Berman

General President, Brush Wielders Union

My guest on this month's podcast is my old friend, and former co-worker, Ron Kruzie. Ron is the longtime Studio Director at Privateer Press, but these days I know him better as the person who runs the best looking miniatures event games I've ever played!  I've played in a couple of Ron's games, and they're always incredible games that I find myself thinking about years later. Ron was kind enough to talk to me about what goes into creating beautiful and immersive wargaming tables without sacrificing playability. He also talked about what goes into making his homebrew rules systems to make sure the games play as he imagines. 

Follow Ron on Instagram to see more of his incredible figures and bespoke gaming tables!

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to brushwieldersunion.com members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

My guest this month is my old friend, former co-worker, and former podcast co-host, William Hungerford. You may know him from his time at Privateer Press where he was Press Gang Quartermaster and then a leading game dev for many years on WARMACHINE, HORDES, Riot Quest, Monsterpocalypse, and other games! We spoke about his time at Privateer, his philosophy of game development, and about what he's up to now, working at Broken Anvil Miniatures on their upcoming game, Rivenstone!

Follow Hungerford on Twitter at @wnhungerford 

Learn more about Broken Anvil Miniatures on Patreon, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to brushwieldersunion.com members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

This month I spoke with my old friend and fellow Union member, Ross Thompson! Over the course of his career Ross has become one of the pillars of the miniatures wargaming hobby and community. We talked about his time at companies like Privateer Press, CMoN, and the Op Games, before talking about community building, running conventions (like he did with KingdomCon) and generally swapped old war stories.

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to brushwieldersunion.com members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

And don't forget, Full Brush Wielders Union members receive a 10% discount code at the Turbodork webstore!

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

This month I spoke with my old friend and fellow BWU Member, Andrew Bailey. You might know Andrew from his days as Mod_Faultie on the Privateer Press forums but these days he's best known for his incredible kitbashing creations, focused on the Kroot of Warhammer 40,000 and one of the pillars of the #siegeofpech and #krootvasion communities on Instagram. We chatted about kitbashing, world building, and carving out a niche for yourself in an existing setting as he's done in 40k.

Be sure to follow Andrew on Instagram at @ironbeak_mercenaries and on Twitter @ironbeakmercs

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

This month I was excited to speak with professional miniatures painter, Elizabeth Beckley! You may know her work as part of the Miniature Monthly team or as a sometime studio painter for Kingdom Death (link NSFW) and formerly, Cool Mini or Not. Elizabeth is one of the featured painters in "The Art of..." the new series of art books now on Kickstarter from fellow Union Member, Dave Taylor. Elizabeth had lots to share about her journey as a hobbyist from an amateur gamer to a pro-painter for multiple studios and even the hobby megabrand, Plaid!

Give a listen and check out Elizabeth's work online and be sure to back "The Art of..." book series on Kickstarter before May 20th!

You can follow Elizabeth online!

Twitter: @minimistres

Instagram: miniature_mistress

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

My guest this month was legendary game designer, Tuomas Pirinen! Tuomas was the creator of Mordheim, the lead developer of Warhammer Fantasy Battle 6th Edition, Warhammer Siege, and countless other miniatures games as well as video games, having worked at EA, Ubisoft and other companies. Most recently, Tuomas has signed on to create the rules for the upcoming Trench Crusade miniatures game and he was kind enough to talk to me about all of the above, including why he thinks Mordheim's popularity has endured for a quarter of a century, and most of that time unofficially supported! We also talked at length about the gameplay of Trench Crusade and what he loves most of all about this upcoming gritty and bleak skirmish game.



Follow Tuomas on Facebook and learn more about Trench Crusade, take part in their open playtest, and join their community on Facebook.

As usual, this podcast was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

For this month's podcast I spoke with my friend and fellow Union Member, Dan Vander Kooy, operator of Iron Buffalo, a game store with a coffee problem! While we didn't talk too much about minis this month, we did get into the nitty gritty of what it's like to run a game shop. These pillars of our community are notoriously fickle creatures and Dan was kind enough to share his thoughts on their care and maintenance. We talked about the importance of game stores to the community and what we as community members can do to make them the kind of places we want to be. We also got into what it's been like to weather a global pandemic as a retailer and events space! Finally, we maybe got a little distracted talking about the very cool dice available from the Cozy Gamer...

Be sure to check out Iron Buffalo everywhere on the web, and definitely swing by (when you're fully vaccinated) while you're in the Amherst, NY area!

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

This month I finally spoke with my old time friend and fellow Union Member, Gregoire Boisbelaud, co-owner of Dust USA! Gregoire chatted with me about his long history in the miniatures industry going all the way back to his time at Rackham and to the present as one of the main people behind Dust 1947. We talked about the French miniatures scene, what it was like inside the legendary Rackham, and the trials and travails of producing a miniatures wargaming in these turbulent times.

If you're interested in Dust, don't forget that all Full Union Members get an exclusive discount code at the Dust USA webstore! Learn more here.

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

I've been looking forward to speaking with The Terrain Tutor for a long time, and what better excuse than with the release of his first book, Terrain Essentials: A Book About Making Wargaming Terrain! It's a truly comprehensive resource that covers the fundamentals of terrain making from planning, to materials, to execution, all accompanied by beautiful and helpful photography. Terrain Essentials is a real achievement, and I believe it will be the definitive book on terrain building for many years to come. If you have even the slightest interest in the subject you will want a copy.

Mel is a familiar face in wargaming circles as his Youtube channel has become a foundation of the hobby over the past 7 years. Mel was kind enough to chat with me about the tremendous work that went into his first book, shared some tips and tricks for planning a terrain set, and even a little about the evolutionary psychology behind making your terrain appear "real."

You can order your own copy of Terrain Essentials through your FLGS and I hope that you will!If your local shop can't get a copy you can order it direct.

In North America, order from Iron Heart Artisans.

In the rest of the world, from Warlord Games.

You can also join Mel's fantastic community on Facebook, The Terrain Tutor's Terraniacs.

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong, and in the words of the Terrain Tutor, "Crack on!"

For the first podcast of 2021 I spoke to "Mocha", competitive painter and professional instructor! "Mocha" of Mocha Minis is an overly-caffeinated, multi-award winning miniature painter, instructor, video game enthusiast and karaoke queen. After being introduced to tabletop gaming in 2010, she fell in love with painting miniature figures and currently teaches at national conventions, friendly local game stores, and online through her new Patreon! You can find her painting live on Twitch and sharing positive painting vibes on her family-friendly channel.

We talked about the ups and downs of competitive and commission painting, what excites her about sculpts, her tips and tricks for getting people (especially kids) painting for the first time in lockdown, and the anxiety of mastering a new technique.

Check out more of Mocha's work and take part in her streams and her very own Patreon where you can take classes!

mochaminis.com <-- website/portfolio/commission info

patreon.com/mochaminis <-- Mocha's new Patreon!

twitter.com/mocha_minis <-- Twitter

instagram.com/mocha_minis <-- Instagram

facebook.com/mochaminis <-- Facebook

twitch.tv_mocha_minis <-- Twitch (live paint streams 2x per week)

As usual, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public.

Union Strong!

For this month's podcast I interviewed the creator behind the upcoming Wyrd Science Magazine, John Power Jr. This project came to my attention after being shared by Gav Thorpe, and I immediately saw it as the kind of thing I love; a deep dive into the deepest corners of the RPG and miniatures gaming hobbies. John has lined up a stunning array of interviews for the first issue, including Simon Stålenhag (Tales from the Loop, The Labyrinth), Chris Spivey (Haunted West), John Nohr (MÖRK BORG) and many others, as well as the first instalments of what will become recurring features. John kindly shared his time to talk with tremendous enthusiasm about Wyrd Science and his own thoughts on the state of the hobby in this tremendously weird year.

As always, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public. The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

This month I was lucky enough to speak with the one and only Shoshie Bauer, professional painter and owner of Shoshie's Magnificent Minis Painting. Shoshie shared her thoughts on painting for a living, the trials and travails of competitive painting (and offers a few thoughts on an alternative path for high end painters), dealing with project burnout, her some recommendations for brushes and paints, and talks about why Kingdom Death is her favorite game to paint and play. Shosie is currently celebrating 20,000+ likes on Facebook, so be sure to join her communities for a chance at some amazing giveaways.

You can follow Shoshie all over the internet:

Instagram - @shoshiesminisTwitch - Shoshie'sMinisFacebook - Shoshie's Magnificent Minis Painting

As always, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public. The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

My October guest was the one and only Mike Tuñez, creator of Blood & Plunder, and owner of Firelock Games. ! Mike and I chatted about all the amazing new stuff coming in their latest Kickstarter as well as his lifelong love of pirates, art references for painting your pirates, their other naval game, Oak & Iron, and he even dropped a few hints about the possibly fantastical future of the game.

As always, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public. The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

This month I was joined by one of the luminaries of the Warhammer and Horus Heresy communities, the one and only Thomas "Garro" Rhodes. Garro has been a foundation of the Horus Heresy community since its inception and such is his renown at sharing interesting Forgeworld news from Warhammer World and Weekender events that he's at times been mistaken for a Games Workshop staffer!

Where Garro usually finds himself the one giving the news and talking to GW staff, I've turned the tables on him to hear about his own journey from being just another hobbyist to a pillar of the online community, including how he chose is particularly appropriate online handle. Be sure to follow him on Facebook to stay up to date on all the Horus Heresy and Specialist Game news!

As always, this episode will be exclusive to BWU members for a few days before being released to the general public. The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

I was lucky enough to finally interview the elusive Annie Norman, owner and founder of Bad Squiddo Games, home of believable female miniatures! Annie joined me to share the story of her journey as a painter, hobbyist, and founder of her own ever-expanding line of miniatures. We talked about what gets her excited about miniatures, the ups and downs of starting your own miniatures company, why sometimes a lady needs a cardigan, and a surprising amount about guinea pigs (relating to her upcoming game).

Follow Annie and Bad Squiddo on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

This month, we delve into the tuberish mysteries of the hashtag taking (at least a small corner of) the miniatures world by storm: #turnip28! I spoke with the man behind this project, professional artist, Max Fitzgerald.

Max kindly explains just what this pseudo-Napoleonic, post-apocalyptic, root-vegetable obsessed world is all about. We talk kit-bashing, painting, community, game design, and get some exciting first hints as to just what will be in the soon-to-be released first issue of the Turnip28 zine! We also talk a lot more about turnips and radishes than any of us are used to.

Support Max and Turnip28 on Patreon.

Max's artwork can be seen at his website.

Follow Max on Instagram (and be sure to search #turnip28 both there and on Twitter!)

And check out the models from Cult of Paint, for which Max did concept art!

The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

Sean Sutter, creator of Relicblade, might just be the hardest working man in miniatures gaming but he took the time out of his busy day to talk about his latest project, Cursebreaker! Cursebreaker is a stand alone minis game set in the same universe as his ongoing skirmish game, Relicblade, but offers a unique play experience. Sean spoke with me about what went into this new project, the joys of game design, and what he's most excited about with this latest foray into the world of Relicblade and the Shattered Lands. 

Find Cursebreaker now on Kickstarter and follow Sean and his company Metal King Studios on Facebook and Instagram. 

As usual, this podcast was exclusive to Brush Wielders Union members for a few days before being released to general audiences.

brushwieldersunion.com

My guest this month was Josh Mallett, a world famous hobbyist and aficionado of Horus Heresy era Alpha Legion! Josh is hugely talented hobbyist but he came to my attention from his statement this month about an incident that occurred to him Warhammerfest. Josh was kind enough to speak with me not only about his journey as a painter (and shared some great thoughts on the hobby) but also about his experiences with racism as a person of color in the Warhammer community, his thoughts on this moment in history regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, and how we can move forward as a community.

Follow Josh on Instagram to see more of his beautiful work and read one of his tutorials here!

The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

Our guest this month is professional scale modeler and prop restoration specialist, Jason Eaton! Jason has worked on numerous collectible replicas and has restored on-screen prop models from Star Wars, Star Trek and other media for private collectors. His work has been featured numerous places, including on starwars.com.

Jason shared his perspectives from a 20+ year career as a modeler. We talked about his inspirations, techniques, and anecdotes from his time working with film models including a "hero" X-Wing model from Star Wars: A New Hope!

Check out Jason's work at http://www.jasoneaton.com/Mystery10 follow him on Instagram and shop his webstore.

The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

This month the podcast was lucky enough to be joined by the one and only Chris "Gdaybloke" Miller, the man behind the long running Lost Hemisphere blog and painting community. I've known Chris for a very long time now and his work at LH has made him a real pillar of the painting and minis gaming communities. Chris shared his thoughts on what he likes to paint, how to help your quarantine partners get started on their own painting journeys, what it takes to lead a community during social distancing, and the joys of painting for others. Special guests: Chris' birds.

The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com

This month the BWU podcast was joined by Jordan Lamb, Lead Studio Painter at Privateer Press! Jordan took some time out of his day to talk about what it was like to transition from a hobbyist to a studio painter, how he has helped envision Privateer's studio paint schemes, and of course, some tips and tricks for painting the models of the upcoming game, WARCASTER: Neo-Mechanika, now fully funded and live on Kickstarter!

The Brush Wielders Union is a community of like-minded miniatures gamers dedicated to playing their games fully painted and supporting one another in their craft.

Learn more at brushwieldersunion.com