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The Predator is perhaps the best known and most widespread variant of the basic Rhino chassis. Augmented with superior armour and firepower, it entirely sacrifices the Rhino’s troop transport capacity in favour of ammunition and generators for its formidable weapon systems.
This Deimos Pattern Predator was on display at Warhammer World.
See the Deimos Pattern Predator Miniatures Gallery.
See the workbench feature on the Deimos Pattern Predator Battle Tank.
The Panzer IV was a German medium tank that played a pivotal role in World War II. It was the most numerous German tank of the war, with over 8,500 produced between 1939 and 1945. The Panzer IV was a versatile tank that was used in a variety of roles, including infantry support, tank-versus-tank combat, and reconnaissance.
The Panzer IV was originally designed as a close-support tank to work alongside the Panzer III medium tank. It was armed with a short, stubby 75mm gun that fired high-explosive and smoke rounds. The Panzer IV was also relatively well-armoured for its time, with up to 80mm of armour on the front of the hull.
The Panzer IV was produced in a number of variants throughout the war. The most common variant was the Ausf.G, which was produced from 1942 to 1945. The Ausf.G featured a number of improvements over earlier variants, including a longer 75mm gun, thicker armour, and a more powerful engine.
The Panzer IV was a very effective tank in the early stages of the war. Its combination of firepower, armor, and mobility made it a formidable opponent for Allied tanks. However, as the war progressed, the Panzer IV became increasingly outmatched by newer Allied tanks, such as the Soviet T-34 and the British Cromwell.
The Panzer IV was one of the most important tanks of World War II. It was a versatile and reliable tank that played a key role in the German war effort. The Panzer IV is still remembered today as a symbol of German military power. The Panzer IV was the basis for a number of other armoured fighting vehicles, including the Sturmpanzer IV and the Jagdpanzer IV.
The Panzer IV at Bovington was completed as an Ausf D, with 30mm extra armour on the superstructure front and 20mm armour on the hull and superstructure sides before it even left the factory. In 1943 additional armour was put on the front and the original 75mm KwK L/24 replaced with the KwK 40 L/43 and this may well have been as part of the development of these various changes.
The next Sharpe book has been published, Sharpe’s Command.
“If any man can do the impossible it’s Richard Sharpe . . .”
And the impossible is exactly what the formidable Major Sharpe is asked to do when he’s dispatched on an undercover mission behind enemy lines, deep in the Spanish countryside. For a remote village is about to become the centre of a battle for the future of Europe. Sitting high above the Almaraz bridge, it is the last link between two French armies, one in the north and one in the south; if they meet, the British are doomed. Only Sharpe’s small group of men – with their cunning and courage to rely on – stand in their way. But they’re rapidly outnumbered, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and time is running out . . .
I think Bernard Cornwell taking Sharpe back to the Peninsular War (rather than forward) was a really clever idea.
I enjoyed the last Sharpe book, Sharpe’s Assassin, it was great to see Sharpe back in action.
This Legion Dreadnought Drop Pod was on display at Warhammer World.
Legion Dreadnought drop pods are larger than the general service drop pods employed by the infantry of the Legiones Astartes, with a sturdier frame and more powerful engine designed to support the formidable machine shell of a Dreadnought. As a result, these armoured capsules strike with unprecedented speed, making a dangerously meteoric descent from orbit to deliver their lethal cargo. Legions value these drop pods both for their ability to deploy Dreadnoughts safely onto the battlefield, and for the sheer impact of a mighty combat walker arriving from the skies.
The Vickers Valiant was a British high-altitude jet bomber designed to carry nuclear weapons, and in the 1950s and 1960s was part of the Royal Air Force’s “V bomber” strategic deterrent force. It was developed by Vickers-Armstrongs in response to a specification issued by the Air Ministry for a nuclear-armed jet-powered bomber. The Valiant was the first of the V bombers to become operational, and was followed by the Handley Page Victor and the Avro Vulcan.
This Vickers Valiant was on display at RAF Cosford.
The Valiant was the only V bomber to have dropped live nuclear weapons (for test purposes).
The Valiant was the first of the V Bombers and to me looks like an aircraft of the 1950s, compared to the much more futuristic look of the Victor.
The Churchill AVRE was one of the so-called ‘funnies’ designed by Percy Hobart specifically for use on the D-Day beaches to break through the German fortified defences. The AVRE was the most successful ‘funny’ type and AVRE vehicles remain in service with the British Army today.
This Churchill AVRE was on display at the Tank Museum at Bovington.
There was also a Churchill AVRE at Duxford.
There were various Land Raider Proteus models on display at Warhammer World.
Mechanicus tech-savants believe that the Land Raider Proteus is a precursor to the Phobos pattern vehicle now found amongst the armouriums of the Adeptus Astartes. Bulkier and faster than the Phobos, ancient and forgotten data-looms describe the Proteus as a forward assault vehicle, commonly fielded in Explorator missions during the dawning days of Mankind’s fledgling galactic empire.
Those of us who have been playing Warhammer 40K since it was first released will recognise this model. It is of course a new version of the original Land Raider that was released back in 1987 following the release of the 1st edition of Warhammer 40,000, Rogue Trader. Forge World did release a resin version over ten years ago and this is the model on display above.
There was also this variant Proteus with armoured hull mounted dual lascannons on display made from the new plastic kit.
This variant can be made from the Horus Heresy plastic kit.
It is similar to the armoured Proteus which was announced back at Games Day 2011. However it is missing the sponsons.
The Handley Page Victor is a British jet-powered strategic bomber which was developed and produced by Handley Page, and which served during the Cold War. It was the third and final V bomber to be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the other two being the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. The Victor had been developed as part of the United Kingdom’s airborne nuclear deterrent. It was retired from the nuclear mission in 1968, following the discovery of fatigue cracks which had been exacerbated by the RAF’s adoption of a low-altitude flight profile to avoid interception.
Handley Page Victor XH672 is on display at RAF Cosford.
Another photograph of the Handley Page Victor XH672.
Handley Page Victor XH648 is being restored at Duxford.
We finally got the announcement that Legion Imperalis is on its way.
Next week there will be a two week pre-order window for Legion Imperalis.
It also looks like there will be a wealth of releases. As well as the boxed set there appears there will be a range of models, accessories, scenery and other stuff all released at the same time.
A quick Google search shows that the boxed set will have a RRP of £120. The pack of ten Rhino APCs will be £30.
Don’t quite know what I will pre-order at this point.
Over on the Warhammer Community site they have showcased Legions Imperialis miniatures painted by community painters.
One force caught my eye, and it was a Solar Auxilia force painted by Gadge.
Legions Imperialis models are incredibly detailed despite being in epic scale, so it’s really important not to lose this detail with overly thick paint or too many layers. Drybrushing and Contrast paints are the key to this ‘sand and spinach’ scheme that will look good on both desert and temperate battlefields. I started off with a base coat of Zandri Dust Spray undercoat, which was drybrushed up with Flayed One Flesh, where the tonal difference helps pick out every hatch and rivet. To avoid swamping the model with excessive paint, I used Creed Camo Contrast paint to apply the camouflage bands and blotches, as the translucent quality of Contrast paint allows the existing highlights on the base coat to surface. Other parts were painted variously with Black Legion, Blue Horror, and Evil Sunz Scarlet, before being outlined lightly with Agrax Earthshade. Lastly, I applied weathering by giving the tracks a light drybrush with Terminatus Stone, before dipping a brush in Ratling Grime, wiping most of it off, and dabbing it all over any areas where I felt the tanks would be either well-oiled or getting in contact with a lot of grime – the vents, grills, gun barrels, and wheels.
I did like the scheme and it reminded me of the Aeronautica Imperialis Valkyrie Assault Carriers that I painted.
I think I might use the same scheme and process on any Legions Imperialis Solar Auxilia I get.
See the Aeronautica Imperialis Valkyrie Assault Carriers workbench.