The SALUTE Painting Competition is an annual showcase of the amazing work created by some of the world’s most talented miniature painters as well as a celebration of the creativity and enjoyment we all find in our shared painting hobby.

Whether you’ve been painting for decades or you’ve just picked up a paintbrush for the first time — whether you’ve painted ninety six figures for your entry or just one — whether you’ve painted Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Historical figures — whether you’ve painted towering titans or tiny troops — we really want to see what you’ve been painting this year.

Make sure to carefully read all the competition rules and information below before submitting an entry form.

Submit an entry form

NEW CATEGORY - WAR HORDES

At the South London Warlords we don’t just paint figures, we paint ARMIES! And we want to see yours. So we’re adding an all-new category for Salute 54. A WAR HORDES submission can be historical, sci-fi or fantasy with figures, vehicles and creatures in any scale you like. We’re looking for forces that are beautifully painted and fit together as a cohesive whole. Something that makes us want to rush home and get our own armies built and ready for the tabletop.

3 NEW HOBBY AWARDS

This year we’re also introducing 3 new Hobby Awards. What’s a Hobby Award? How is it different from a Painting Competition Medal? Good questions. Just like the SALUTE Game Awards, the Painting Awards will be judged and awarded by us - the South London Warlords - rather than our busy panel of expert judges. We’ll select from all the Painting Competition entries across all categories. We’ll still be looking for beautifully painted miniatures but our eyes will be particularly drawn towards entries which we could imagine seeing on our own wargaming tables. The 3 Hobby Awards for Salute 54 will be…

They say God is on the side of the big battalions - so are the South London Warlords! This award will go to the entry we think is the best example of a ‘proper’ wargaming unit. Nothing less than 24 figures will do and the more figures the better. Submit a 96 figure pike block and you’ll really have our attention!

BIG BATTALION

Most entries we receive are typically 28mm (or thereabouts). But bigger isn’t always better. We love wargaming with small scale miniatures and they deserve some recognition. So, this award will go to our favourite entry that’s 20mm or under.

Tiny TROOPS

The Salute Painting Competition Judges are an incredibly talented group with an eye for masterful brushwork, flawless highlights, and impeccable consistency. We Warlords are a less refined bunch. This award will go to the entry we think simply displays the highest level of creativity and imagination, regardless of its purely technical execution.

WARLORDs’ CHOICE

General Rules & Competition Info:

  • Bring your entry to the Painting Competition stand (in the very middle of the hall) on the day of SALUTE.

  • Please complete one of our online entry forms for each of your entries before arriving at the stand.

  • No more than one entry per category per contestant.

  • Entries close at 12 noon, winners will be announced on the Main Stage at 3:30pm (check the showguide and Painting Competition stand for exact times on the day). Entries will be available for collection from the back of the Painting Competition Stand from 3pm.

  • Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category and the entry judged to be the Best of Show across all the categories will also receive the SALUTE Shield trophy.

  • Figure scales (e.g. 54mm, 28mm, 15mm etc.) are measured from the bottom of the figure’s foot to its eye level.

  • Entries must be capable of being carried safely by one of our volunteers.

  • Entries which do not fit inside the cabinets (i.e. those more than 30cm tall or very wide) or which pose a risk of damaging other entries may be placed on a table next to the cabinets instead.

  • Unit entries consisting of many individually based figures must include a movement tray of some kind so the entry can be safely and quickly moved to and from the cabinets.

  • The use of AI is not allowed in the creation of any entries to the competition.

  1. Historical Single Figure

  2. Historical Unit

  3. Historical Vehicles, Creatures & Artillery

  4. Sci-Fi Single Figure

  5. Sci-Fi Unit

  6. Sci-Fi Vehicles, Creatures & Artillery

  7. Fantasy Single Figure

  8. Fantasy Unit

  9. Fantasy Vehicles, Creatures & Artillery

  10. Large Scale & Busts

    Any number of figures over 54mm scale or a bust of any size.

  11. Dioramas & Duels

    Formerly the Miscellaneous Category. A vignette, duel or battle featuring two or more figures or models (of any scale) within a narrative scene.

  12. Junior

    Any entry covered by categories 1 to 11 and entered by a person up to and including 16 years old.

  13. SALUTE 53 Figure

    Any entry that incorporates the SALUTE 53 figure of Saladin in some form.

  14. War Hordes (New for Salute 54)

    A wargaming army or force featuring any mix of infantry, cavalry, artillery or vehicles in any scale. No minimum size requirement but a typical 28mm entry might include 5+ units with 40+ figures. Larger entries will be prefered over smaller ones. Entries must be submitted on a display board so our volunteers can move them.

Categories

Single Figure Category Rules

One figure, on foot or mounted on a roughly horse-sized creature or vehicle (e.g. a motorbike), up to and including 54mm scale.

Unit Category Rules

Three or more figures, on foot or mounted on a roughly horse-sized creature or vehicle (e.g. a motorbike), up to and including 54mm scale. Overall unit footprint must be 400cm² or less.

Vehicles, Creatures & Artillery Category Rules

Up to 8 figures and models of any scale at least one of which must be a Vehicle (e.g. a siege tower, helicopter or boat), Large Creature (e.g. an elephant, troll or demon) or Artillery (e.g. a trebuchet, howitzer or tripod-mounted heavy weapon). Overall unit footprint must be 400cm² or less.

SUBMIT AN ENTRY FORM

FAQs

“I’ve painted some ultra-modern figures. What category do they go in?”

Ultra-Modern or Modern entries should be submitted into the Historical categories.

“I’ve painted a 300mm tall giant. It’s from a game played with 28mm figures so it’s 28mm scale, right?”

No, figures over 54mm scale need to be submitted into the Large Scale & Busts category. Remember that the competition rules are only concerned with the actual measured height of a figure, not the notional scale of the game it’s from.

“I’ve painted a Sci-Fi figure with a small alien pet on its back. Am I allowed to submit it into the Single Figure category?”

Yes. Entries into the Single Figure categories may include:

  • Any number of very small creatures as decoration and basing elements if they are not a major part of the entry (e.g. bugs, lizards, rats, fairies, nurglings).

  • Up to two small pets, creature companions or familiars if they’re the size of a cat or dog.

  • One horze-sized mount.

If you’re in any doubt or have any other questions please email us at painting-competition@salute.co.uk.