Recreating Fred Reed’s Iconic Howling Griffons Army: With Jonny Watson Gaming

Recreating Fred Reed’s Iconic Howling Griffons Army: With Jonny Watson Gaming

Author: Bedroom Battlefields January 12, 2026 Duration: 55:28

White Dwarf readers of a certain vintage will undoubtedly remember Fred Reed’s iconic Howling Griffons space marine army. Then-Games Workshop store worker Fred showcased the stunning force in issue 179 (November 94), and it had a runout in the mag’s battle report a month later.

Fred’s army was a source of inspiration to many young hobbyists in the mid-90s and is still talked about more than 30 years later. One man who’s gone above and beyond in his nostalgia, however, is Jonny Watson of the Jonny Watson Gaming YouTube channel. Jonny did the ultimate homage to Fred’s Howling Griffons by assembling and painting his own tribute act.

I had the pleasure of chatting to Jonny about this project and the opportunities it brought him, from interviewing Fred Reed himself to being featured on the hallowed pages of White Dwarf. We covered his origin story, returning after the inevitable deep freeze, and how running a YouTube channel can supplement and enhance your hobby when you’re not playing the algorithm game.


Remember those afternoons spent hunched over a desk, a tiny brush in hand, trying to get the eyes just right on a Citadel miniature? Maybe your gateway was the grim darkness of Warhammer 40k, the dungeon-crawling of HeroQuest, or the claustrophobic corridors of Space Hulk. For many, life eventually pulled them away from those bedroom battlefields, only to draw them back decades later with a newfound appreciation and a whole new world of games to explore. That’s the shared journey at the heart of Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast. Hosted by Bedroom Battlefields, these conversations feel like catching up with old friends who never stopped thinking about the hobby. You’ll hear genuine discussions that dig into the tactile joy of painting an army, the strategic nuances of games like Frostgrave or Kings of War, and the simple pleasure of collecting miniatures that spark your imagination. It’s a space for those who understand that this pastime is more than a game; it’s a creative outlet, a historical deep-dive, and a social connector. Each episode explores the layers of the hobby, from brush techniques and kitbashing to campaign stories and rule debates, all with the warmth of shared nostalgia and a keen eye on the exciting present and future of tabletop gaming. This podcast is for the returning veteran and the curious newcomer alike, offering a welcoming audio companion for your next painting session or drive to the game store.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Coffee Table Books, Magazines, & Artwork in the Hobby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:25
The tabletop miniature hobby has no shortage of sub-hobbies, most popular of which are collecting, painting, and gaming. Less discussed but no less important is the artwork that forms the backdrop of the worlds we play i…
The Hobby Deep Freeze, Playing 40k Tournaments, & FLGS Involvement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:04
Ben AKA Kharnation from the Discord joins me for a chat about his hobby origins, coming out of "the deep freeze" to eventually play in 40k tournaments, and his involvement in Dragon's Lair, a friendly local gaming store…
Your Hobby Highlights of 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:04
Throughout the month of December we asked for your hobby highlights from the past 12 months. Here are the responses! Our question of the month for January is: Tell us about your named characters on the tabletop!Maybe it’…
How to Build a Painting Habit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:26
Being motivated to paint is great, but riding on motivation alone can be unreliable. On the other hand, if your painting becomes a habit, then you turn up no matter what. So how do you get there? And should painting alwa…
Named Characters & Memorable Stories on the Tabletop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:10
Why does naming characters and telling stories appeal to some gamers, but not others? And are we missing out when we see our exquisitely crafted and painstakingly painted miniatures simply as gaming pieces? I enjoy anoth…
Non-Violent Miniatures Games, and Storage & Transportation Musings. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:19
Everyone's favourite "yesterday's man" of hobby podcasting joins me to chat about ways to store and transport your little guys. We also pitch three non-violent miniature game ideas at each other, all of which will likely…
What's Your Relationship With Miniature Painting? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:45
Some seek mastery and recognition; others seek zen and the opportunity to unwind. Your relationship with miniature painting is the subject of our November Question of the Month. Also Mentioned: Tabletop Miniature Hobby P…