Mike is one of the custodians of the Warhammer archive, an auramite-clad seneschal who spends his days among pristine artefacts of eras past. In his spare time, he likes to take the Salamanders just ever so slightly too seriously. He’s now amassed a huge collection of Vulkan’s sons, and has kindly shared them with us.
Mike: I wasn’t born a Salamanders collector. No one is. We are forged.
In the fires of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and upon the anvil of Black Library was a hobbyist created within me. The video game introduced me to the universe of Warhammer 40,000, but it wasn’t until I read Space Wolf by William King that I was truly sold. From there, I waded into the Horus Heresy series and discovered an obsession that has lasted to this day.
I was already a hobbyist at heart, but I hadn’t yet collected a single miniature. That changed the day I finally plucked up the courage to step into the Liverpool Central Games Workshop. I walked straight to the Space Marines section and picked out a Chaplain with a Jump Pack. I took my little box of metal home, opened it, and realised I had no clue what to do next.
So back to the shop I went. This time, I left with the Assault on Black Reach boxed set and some hobby supplies.
At this point, I still hadn’t chosen a Chapter. Hobby paralysis set in until later, when I stumbled upon The Horus Heresy: Collected Visions. Inside, I found a page showing each of the Legions and their colour schemes. Perfect, I thought. I began painting my Tactical Marines in the colours of each Legion, one by one.
I got through about half before I landed on the Salamanders. I appropriately chose the Tactical Marine with the flamer, painted him in their signature scheme – and immediately knew this would be the one.
Little did I realise I’d end up painting far more than just a single army: today, I’ve got around 10,000 points of Salamanders. It’s not just the paint scheme that drew me in – the more I read, the more I loved. Thunder hammers and flamers are, after all, the coolest weapons and Vulkan is obviously the best Primarch – just ask the Emperor who his favourite is if you don’t believe me!
In the beginning, I painted slowly but steadily. It wasn’t until I started playing games with my friend Stu, who fields a stunning Death Korps of Krieg army, that the fire was truly lit. Our first game was an absolute Isstvan V-level massacre. My Salamanders were obliterated.
I went home determined to improve – building, painting, and learning the game with intensity. I dove into battle reports, tactics, and list-building. What Stu didn’t realise is that he had awakened the relentless determination of a Salamander. Over the next year, our games became more even and competitive. We entered into a kind of arms race, each of us trying to outdo the other and bring something new to the table. That mindset stuck with me, and it’s a big part of why I’ve built such a large collection.
Without a doubt, my Land Raider Redeemer and my Flamestorm Aggressors are my favourite units. Charging up the board to unleash promethium-fueled carnage is what I live for. Backed up by Vulkan He’stan and Adrax Agatone, and usually with some Infernus Marines and Bladeguard Veterans in tow, it’s a thematic, close-range hammer blow. Quick, violent, and cinematic.
I’m definitely not the best painter, and my models are battle-worn, covered in dings from years of gaming. I’ve dropped them countless times and glued them back together just as many. But for me, that’s what they’re for – rolling dice, creating stories, and having a great time with fellow hobbyists.
My painting philosophy has always been simple: get them painted quickly to a standard I enjoy on the table. Over the years, my recipe has changed, but the current one is wonderfully straightforward. In fact, I shared it with Nick a while back and he even made a video showcasing it, though I personally prefer using edge highlights. For metallics, I use Warplock Bronze and Retributor Armour, washed with Basilicanum Grey. For Chapter iconography, I’ll either freehand it or use a transfer depending on whether I’ve got any left from the Salamanders upgrade kit!
In the new year, I’ll be taking my Salamanders to a Grand Tournament, just like I did last year. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to do it again. I’ve got a few projects on the go: some Terminators and Heavy Intercessors are still on the painting table. I’ve also got my eye on a certain Forgefather…
At this rate, I’ll hit 20,000 points before I ever grow tired of painting the best Space Marine Chapter. VULKAN LIVES!
