About Me – My Journey in Miniature Painting
My name is Manuel Hautz, and I’m a miniature painting enthusiast from Düsseldorf, Germany. I love playing tabletop games, painting miniatures, and, most of all, diving into the world of Warhammer. This blog is my way of sharing my passion, showcasing finished projects, tutorials, work-in-progress updates, and tactical insights.
How It All Began with Warhammer Fantasy
I started my journey in 2010 with Warhammer Fantasy, painting my Vampire Counts army – The Klingenberg Legion. This was my first experience with miniature painting, and like many hobbyists, I constantly refined my techniques, repainting models as I learned. As my painting skills grew, I wanted to push myself further. In 2012, I started a new army project, The Cherry Blossom Grove, a unique Wood Elves force painted in vibrant, light colors – a stark contrast to the dark and gothic Vampire Counts. I loved creating narratives through painting, blending lore and discover new techniques.
During this time, I was also a highly active tournament player, competing in Warhammer Fantasy events and thoroughly enjoying the tactical depth of competitive play. The mix of strategic gameplay and the ability to design creative armies made Warhammer Fantasy particularly exciting for me.
From Warhammer Fantasy to Age of Sigmar
When Warhammer Fantasy was discontinued in 2015, it felt like the end of an era. With no clear successor at the time, my enthusiasm for the hobby took a hit. I briefly stepped away from painting and gaming, but my passion was reignited when I discovered other tabletop systems.
I dove into Kings of War, a game that captured the essence of rank-and-file battles with a fresh approach. Around the same time, I explored Infinity the Game, which introduced me to painting highly detailed sci-fi miniatures and required a different level of precision. I also experimented with Malifaux, a narrative-driven skirmish game with a unique aesthetic. This period broadened my perspective on the hobby and introduced me to new painting styles and strategies.
However, my love for Warhammer Fantasy never truly faded. When my gaming group decided to take the plunge into Age of Sigmar 2nd Edition, I saw the perfect opportunity to bring my old armies back to life in a new form. My Vampire Counts were transformed into the Soulblight Gravelords, keeping the essence of the Klingenberg Legion alive in the new setting. Similarly, I repurposed parts of my old Wood Elves army into a Sylvaneth force, breathing new life into my beloved Cherry Blossom Grove. Through these transformations, I reconnected with the fantasy setting I had once thought lost and found a fresh perspective on army building and storytelling within the Age of Sigmar universe.
Starting My Warhammer 40K Journey
In 2020, I finally took my first deep dive into Warhammer 40K, starting with Tyranids – the Hive Fleet Osvorax. The ever-growing, monstrous alien horde fascinated me, and I spent years expanding and refining this force. Alongside my Tyranids, I built my second 40k army in 2024, the True Scale Adeptus Custodes, ensuring their proportions matched the lore.
For me, tabletop wargaming has always been about creating cinematic, epic battles. It’s not just about the armies. The battlefield itself plays a crucial role in immersing players in the experience. Well-crafted terrain is essential to capturing the grandeur of Warhammer, enhancing both the visual spectacle and the strategic depth of the game. This passion led me to explore terrain building in greater detail.
Recent Milestones and the Road to 2026
At the beginning of 2025 I completed my fantasy terrain project creating an expansive and immersive battlefield. The process of designing crafting and painting the scenery was incredibly rewarding and I had an amazing time bringing it to life. You can see the full result in my
The end of 2025 marked a significant point as I successfully completed the long term expansion of the
Looking Ahead
The journey is far from over and my next projects are already lined up. I am currently focusing on a final expansion phase for the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Osvorax. Once this is concluded I will embark on my most ambitious project yet: a massive Emperor’s Children and Slaanesh Warhammer 40000 army. This project will keep me busy for years to come as it will combine intricate conversions with grim dark and high level paintjobs as well as deep storytelling elements to bring the decadent chaotic forces of Slaanesh to life.
With so many exciting projects ahead, I look forward to continuing this journey, sharing my progress, and engaging with the amazing tabletop community. Thank you for stopping by and most importantly: happy painting!
The Armies of Goldmunds Welt
- Tyranid Hive Fleet Osvorax (Warhammer 40k)
- Adeptus Custodes Blade of the Last Dawn (Warhammer 40k)
- Soulblight Gravelords The Klingenberg Legion (Warhammer AoS)
- Sylvaneth The Cherry Blossom Grove (Warhammer AoS)
- Wood Elves Guardians of the Cherry Blossom Grove (Warhammer The Old World)
Hello, I am delighted with your tyranid army!
ReplyDeleteI would really like to supplement my army with such unusual models, however recently David Martin (mentioned in the link) is not responding...
Can you please tell me if there are any other ways of contacting him? Perhaps he provided links to his work on Etsy, but they are no longer on Instagram, this is stated in the comments under his posts