Though not quite finished, I have used my Ork Fort in a couple of games now. In this game my Orks are defending it in a Rorke’s Drift type scenario. Click the image for a larger view.
Author: Felix
Panzerkrieg Normandy – Warhammer World War Two
There has been some interesting commentary in Wargames Illustrated recently on a new release forthcoming from Warhammer Historical of a set of World War Two rules, Panzerkrieg Normandy.
At Old Glory 2010, the report says…
The table with the most buzz this year was Operation Goodwood 1944 – a demo game being run by the local Derby Wargames Society. The table was impressive in itself, but the fact that it was being used to playtest the forthcoming Warhammer Historical 20mm WWII ruless (Panzerkrieg Normandy – working title) made it really interesting. Author Warwick Kinrade was on hand with a first draft of the rules, and of course, the main question leveled at him from show-goers was – “when will it be available?” a vague “not before Christmas” was given in reply.
Another quote attributed to Wargames Illustrated, but I couldn’t find it myself says:
The Historical Wargamers Group, in association with Wargames Illustrated, held another successful event at Warhammer World on 24 – 25 October, WAB players from around Europe did battle across several campaign settings and attendees were treated to a bonus surprise appearance when Warwick Kinrade of Forgeworld demonstrated the forthcoming Games Workshop World War II game.
Warwick ran through a game in which a British Battlegroup stormed a German held position in Normandy circa 1944 – the British sector in Normandy being the focus for the rulebook. The game is designed for 20mm figures although it will work equally well with 15mm (adjustments will be necessary for 28mm). Interestingly the game seemed to owe little to the well-known Warhammer game system.
The game is still work in progress with a release date of “next year – hopefullyearly on” planned. The core rulebook will be supported by further supplements, which will include more army lists and (further down the line) more threatres of the war).
To be honest this doesn’t surprise me as in recent years we have seen a huge growth in 28mm World War Two figure ranges. However the fact that they are aiming the rules at 20mm (well probably 15mm) to me shows how successful Flames of War have been and that they want to get into that particular market! Well possibly.
Adding the Big Trakk Tracks
The next stage was adding the tracks. These have been numbered on the sprues and this is the order around the wheels that they go.
The largest pieces of track I had were quite warped, but immersing them in hot water allowed me to get them nice and flat. The key I found in placing the track was to get the largest piece flat attached to the rear cog.
I managed to get the right side track to fit. It was quite a struggle to get the bits underneath the rear flatbed in, but it all came together in the end.
And now the left…
The workbench feature on the Big Trakk may help anyone else putting one of these kits together.
Stormraven, not just for the Blood Angels
Well if this photograph of the back of the Stormraven box is real then the Blood Angels are not the only Space Marines that can use the Stormraven.
As you can see the box has a Grey Knights painted version with lascannons.
Now to be honest I have never been one to follow GW’s doctrine to the letter, if I like a model and want to use it in a particular way then I will (and usually I will ask my opponent’s permission too). If you like the model, I would say buy it and paint it in the colour of your chapter (or legion). Yes it may be “problematic” if you wanted to use it in a tournament, but for me gaming it about gaming and not competitions. Just because a rulebook says that I can’t use a model, doesn’t mean that I can’t use that model. The Warhammer 40K universe is very big and despite the Inquisition, I am sure that in some depths of the universe there are Space Marine chapters and Imperial Guard units using stuff that according to doctrine they shouldn’t. Where needs must and all that.
Actually if you go far enough back in time you can find in old copies of White Dwarf Imperial Guard units using Land Speeders and Rhinos – that was in the days when GW made very few plastic kits and there was no Forge World. So it made sense for all the forces of the Imperium to use the scarce plastic kits available. Alas today where we are awash with plastic kits, GW can now make kits for single chapters that “can’t” be used by others.
So, if you want to use the Stormraven for your Imperial Guard or your chapter of Space Marines, then go ahead and do so. You’re not going to kill the fluff if you do.
Thinking though that one of these Stormravens would make a nice Inquisitorial transport for my Inquisitor – and we know that they would have access to them…
Warlord Titan
At GamesDay 2008 there were many excellent demonstration games on show, one which really caught my eye was one which had a superb (and huge) Warlord Titan.
Lots of time had been spent on modelling and painting.
There were lots of nice details on the model including a coffee bar on one of the main weapon arms.
See more photographs of Warlord Titans.
Flames of War – Open Fire
Open Fire! has been carefully designed for someone who has never heard of Flames Of War before, or has seen the 256 page rulebook and not known where to start. Open Fire is not a simplified set of the Flames Of War rules, but rather a complete introductory box for a new player!
Really nice idea and perfect for me.
16 page full-colour introduction booklet.
3 detailed American Sherman tank miniatures.
2 detailed German StuG G assault gun miniatures.
3 American dice.
2 German dice.
I think what surprised me was unlike the blisters I had seen the tanks were all resin rather than resin hulls and metal tracks.
Time to start painting…
Ork Deffkoptaz
A flight of Ork Deffkoptaz. From my collection.
Drop Pod
One of Simon’s Drop Pods.
Ork Fuel Depot
As well as putting together an Ork Fort I also using a similar technique to build an Ork Fuel Depot. Using parts from the Stompa kit and Cities of Death Manufactorium I added more detail to the Depot.
See the full workbench feature on the fuel depot. However at this stage it is probably going to be just an ordinary fort now.
Stormraven finally arrives…
Despite leaking much earlier than we can guess Games Workshop wanted, today saw the infamous Stormraven becoming available to pre-order on the Games Workshop website.
The Stormraven Gunship is an armoured versatile craft that combines the role of dropship, armoured transport and strike craft.
This multi-part plastic kit contains 116 components including every option available for the Stormraven from heavy bolters, assault cannons and plasma cannons through to Bloodstrike Missiles and a modified magna-grapple. The kit also comes will full interior detail, which can be painted prior to assembly, and a clear plastic cockpit window through which you can see the pilot and the turret gunner.
Personally I am not a great fan of the model I think it looks a little too squat and front heavy. It’s almost a flying Land Raider, but then again I guess that’s what it is suppose to be!
What do you think, do you like it?