Building the Aeronautica Imperialis Air Waaagh! Fighta Bommerz

Having recently purchased the Wings of Vengeance boxed set I was expecting that it might take a little time for the models to be built and painted. I am a bit slow when it comes to modelling, mainly in finding the time. So finding some room and time I decided to build a couple of the models from the Aeronautica Imperialis boxed set. I had a choice of four different aircraft, and it was quite difficult to choose which to do, initially torn between the Fighta Bommer and the Thunderbolts, I decided, let’s for the Orks first.

There are two of these Fighta Bommers in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. This is the painted version on the GW website.

Laden with heavy armour and an even heavier payload of guns, rokkits and bombs, the Fighta Bommer is built with a single principle in mind – might makes right! This flexible aircraft does exactly what its name implies, serving as both an attack fighter and a bomber. It is equipped with quad big shootas, turret big shootas, and an ever-handy tail gun with which to defend itself against enemy fighters.

Here is the sprue for the two models.

There are two different versions on the single sprue. The boxed set has instructions for all four aircraft (as might be expected) and though there looks like lots of parts, they are quite simple to put together. The number of parts is about the number of weapon choices you can have.

The initial stage is the nose and forward weapons. There are two versions included in the model. So in theory you can mix and match if you get more kits later. The nose is then added to the fuselage and the main engine added to the rear.

There are also two tail variants, adding the number of options you can have to create different versions of the same jet (very Orky). In theory I should have added the wings to the model before adding the armament, but in the end I decided to add the bombs, rockets and big shootaz to the wings before sticking them to the fuselage.

Here are the completed models prior to undercoating.

Considering their size, these are really detailed models and are reminiscent of their larger Forge World 40K cousins.

I gave the models a white undercoat, using a spray on both sides.

The next stage will  be the base coat.

I am still decided which colour they should be, thinking orange!

War Mûmak of Harad

The armies of Harad often employ Mumakil, massive war-beasts trained by the Mahud, to trample their enemies under colossal hooves. A Mumak is nigh unstoppable once is begins its charge, tossing aside enemies like broken dolls. The largest model in The Lord of The Rings range, a Mumak can break through an enemy line while Haradrim warriors rain deadly arrows from atop the howdah on its mighty back.

A Mumakil from the display cabinets at Warhammer World.

War Mûmak of Harad

See the Mûmak Miniatures Gallery.

Skies of Fire

Well on Sunday over on the Warhammer Community site, there has been the official preview of the new Aeronautia Imperialis boxed set, Skies of Fire.

You’ll get absolutely everything you need to fly your first sorties, including a set of five aircraft for each side, a game mat and rulebook, dice, reference sheets, tokens and a transfer sheet. The T’au force includes three Barracudas and two Tiger Sharks, each with a wide array of weapon options. The Imperium’s forces consist of two Valkyrie Assault Carriers, which can alternatively be built as Vendettas, plus three Lightning Strike Fighters, one of which can be built as a Lightning Fighter.

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that I had taken the leap and purchased the Wings of Vengeance boxed set.

After hearing that it had gone direct only and was to be superseded by a new boxed set featuring the Tau, I decided I had better buy it now before it was gone.

It’s not that I don’t like the new boxed set, much more that I prefer the Imperial and Ork models in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. So much so (and quite unlike me) I have already started putting the models together…

These are lovely models, so I was interested to see what we would get in the Tau boxed set. Obviously there would be Tau, but I was intrigued who their opponents would be. Not looking at the rumours I did wonder if it would be a Xenos race, so was pleasantly surprised to see that it was the Imperial Navy.

I wasn’t anticipating that we would see the Valkyrie.

They look great.

I don’t think I will buy the boxed set, but I do think I might get a box of the Valkyrie Assault Carriers. As I said on Twitter I do wonder if we will ever see tanks and infantry in this scale for Adeptus Titanicus? Well this Valkyrie does show what is possible.

I am not a great fan of the Lightning Strike Fighters so happy to let them pass. As for the Tau, well they look like nice models, but not for me.

Painting the windows of the Civilian 4,500kg Truck

I  bought the Citroen Civilian 4,500kg Truck with Canopy from Warlord Games to go with my French Partisan Band. Either to use as a transport or as scenery. Citroen made many of these trucks in the 1930s and 1940s.

Having constructed the model and given it a white undercoat, I then gave the rear canopy a basecoat. The next stage was to give the bodywork a basecoat.

I painted the windows using Vallejo 70.862 Black Grey.

I am not sure if I will keep them black, and I have been looking through various Bolt Action publications and magazines to see how others have painted windows of vehicles.

See the full workbench feature on the Bolt Action Citroen Civilian 4,500kg Truck with Canopy.

Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Battle Titan

This Adeptus Titanicus scale Warlord Battle Titan was in the displays at Warhammer World.

Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Battle Titan

Warlord Battle Titans bestride the battlefields of the Imperium, their thunderous tread heralding the destruction of the enemies of Mankind. A mainstay of the Collegia Titanica, Warlord Battle Titans are among the largest and most powerful war machines ever devised by the Mechanicum.

I really like this model and the larger scale makes it a much nicer model that the old (smaller) Epic versions. The downside is they cost a lot more.

Nurgle fortress at Warhammer World

This incredible Nurgle fortress was on display at Warhammer World.

It includes this Great Unclean One. They are the Greater Daemons of Nurgle. In form they are massive and bloated with disease and decay, and their necrotic and boil-covered flesh is rent, where their organs spill out, hanging across their huge girth.

Great Unclean Ones can endure tremendous amounts of damage before being felled. Many opponents cannot stomach to look at a Great Unclean One, let alone fight one.

Lord-Celestant on Stardrake

Even amongst the gloried ranks of the Stormcast Eternals and the star-born hierarchy of the Children of Dracothion, only the mightiest and noblest are chosen to lead an Extremis Chamber. So infused with celestial power are the Lord-Celestant and Stardrake that they radiate azure energies. The power of the stars themselves is theirs to command…

Lord-Celestant on Stardrake

Magma Dragon

These primordial beasts are among the most malevolent of dragon kind. Their gullet burns with the intensity of a raging volcano, and when roused to wrath they incinerate their foes with jets of flame, or else tear them to shreds with their enormous claws and fangs.

Magma Dragon

This beautifully painted Magma Dragon was on display at Warhammer World. Alas no longer available from Forge World.

Download the Age of Sigmar rules for the Magma Dragon.

Valkyrie from the Catachan 22nd Airborne Assault Group

The Valkyrie Airborne Assault Carrier is a heavily armed Imperial Aircraft with VTOL (Vertical Takeoff Or Landing) capabilities, used to ferry special forces such as Storm Trooper Squads and Drop Troop Regiments such as the Elysian Drop Troops and Harakoni Warhawks to and from combat zones.

Catachan Valkyrie

The Valkyrie, like most of the Imperium’s aircraft, is piloted and operated by the Imperial Navy, with a pilot, co-pilot and two door gunners. Valkyries are provided in joint operations for use to the Imperial Guard on an as needed basis, with pilots reporting directly to the regiment’s senior officer.

This example has been painted to reflect the regiment’s identity and colours. Some Valkyries have been so successful with certain regiments, that they are permanently assigned to them. One such regiment is the Catachan 22nd Airborne Assault Group.

M40 Gun Motor Carriage (Self Propelled Gun)

M40 Gun Motor Carriage (Self Propelled Gun)

American WW2 and Korean war tracked self-propelled gun, crew of 2 plus gun crew of 6, powered by Continental 9-cylinder radial air-cooled petrol engine, armed with 155mm gun. Used by US forces in very small numbers in 1945 during the advance into Germany. It was used in much larger numbers during the Korean War, where it also equipped two British artillery regiments.

This vehicle reminded me when I built the Matchbox version of the SPG.

Matchbox M40

I was quite impressed with the model I made. The base provided in the kit was a little disappointing, as it was quite small, just a bit of ploughed field. Of course the size of the diorama scene base in these kits was very dependent on the size of the model. Smaller tanks and armoured cars had bigger and more scenic bases. Bigger vehicles like the M40 GMC came with small bases. I was always disappointed that the Airfix kits of the time didn’t come with bases.