Felix, Author at Felix's Gaming Pages

Necromunda Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler

With its tracked propulsion, the Ironcrawler can drive over anything – from sand and rocks to prone enemy gangers or Gun-smyths who’ve sold you dodgy merchandise. Its sealed cab keeps the driver safe from radioactive dust storms and radioactive gangers alike, for a true all-terrain vehicle.

This kit is a combination of plastic and resin. I do like this model and think it is a much better model than the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler. I was a bit on the fence with the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler and never bought one. Though they did bring out the trailer and the Promethium Tanks trailer, the concept still didn’t really work for me.

However, the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler model has a realistic industrial feel to it. I can see this not just in the Ash Wastes, but also in games of Warhammer 40K. I quite like the Necromunda range, it has some nice models that can add to the look and feel of 40K scenery and games.

Now with the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler I am also thinking that this could make a good hauler for a land train. Then I got thinking about making some armed and armoured trailers for a land train. One option would be to add wheels instead of the tracks to the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler, as the chassis is probably the same as the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler.

Another idea I have thought about for the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler is to paint it in JCB yellow as a piece of scenery. Though it is missing a dozer blade.

On my most recent visit to Warhammer World I certainly was tempted to pick one of these up. I thought it was quite reasonable at £99. In the end though I went with some other things. So, may as well add this model to my ever increasing list of wants!

Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car Mark IV

This Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car Mark IV was on display at Bovington.

The Marmon–Herrington armoured car was a series of armoured vehicles that were produced in South Africa and adopted by the British Army during World War II.

The Mark IV was a completely redesigned vehicle, though still based on the same engine and Marmon–Herrington components. It was a monocoque with rear-mounted engine and a turret-mounted 2-pounder with a coaxial .30 in Browning machine gun as the standard armament.

Further versions were designed but never got beyond the prototype stage. By that time (late 1943), the North African Campaign had ended, the mountainous geography of the Italian campaign did not suit armoured cars, and the British and Commonwealth armies were receiving enough armoured cars from other sources.

Opening the box

On a recent visit to Warhammer World I purchased the boxed Orc Warboss on Wyvern for Warhammer: The Old World.

I never had this (originally) metal kit, this version is resin and I did like it. did think about using it for my Feral Ork army. Though I might paint it for an Orc and Goblin army for The Old World.

The model comes in a plain Forge World box.

Within the box are a number of resin pieces, some plastic wings and a large rectangular plastic base.

The original version of this model was metal. This has been re-released as a resin model. The castings were excellent.

They will need to be washed, cleaned up, stuck together and then fitted onto the base.

Ork Boomdakka Snazzwagon

These Ork Boomdakka Snazzwagons were in the displays at Warhammer World.

The roar of overcharged engines and the crackle of flames herald the arrival of the Boomdakka Snazzwagons. Lightly built speedsters based around looted vehicle frames, Snazzwagons are clad in hastily welded scrap armour. Their drivers go hell for leather, as they know that a single artillery shell is likely to blow their ride to smithereens. Of course, the enemy has to hit them first, and as the Snazzwagons fishtail and skid madly through hails of incoming fire, it quickly becomes apparent that this is no mean feat! Gangs of howling Burna Boyz cling on, flinging burna bottles – the resulting inferno is as dangerous to the Orks as it is their foes, but the crew is too busy having fun to worry about paltry concerns like getting cremated in a firestorm.

This Bad Moons Boomdakka Snazzwagon has a real Max Max feel to it, down to the grot tied to the front of the wagon.

Though I do like this model, I think that a simpler version would have allowed for easier conversions, both homemade and Forge World kits.

Unboxing the Dwarf Engineers

On a recent visit to Warhammer World I purchased a blister pack of four metal Dwarf Engineers.

I did baulk slightly at the price of £37.50, nearly ten pounds per miniature. I know it’s been nostalgic when I remember buying a blister pack of five dwarves back in the 1980s for £1.95.

I was pleased though that these were metal models.

These were originally released about twenty years ago. I never bought these, as my original dwarf army comprised miniatures from the 1980s and 1990s.

Within the blister are the four dwarf models, separate weapons and tools, and four 25mm square slottabases.

These will need to be cleaned up, stuck together and then fitted into the bases. I am planning that these will be painted in the same style as my drunken dwarves.

They have snowy bases with light blue uniforms.

Crimson Fists Vindicator

This Crimson Fists Vindicator was in the display cabinets at Warhammer World.

The Vindicator is a Rhino-based siege tank that boasts the most devastating weapon in the Space Marines’ armoury – the demolisher cannon. The demolisher cannon is the weapon of choice amongst the Imperium’s armies when faced with dug-in enemy infantry in a dense environment such as a cityfight or siege. The terrific blast unleashed by the detonation of the huge demolisher shells can bring down building in which the enemy take cover.

Games Workshop have had a Vindicator model in their ranges for many years now. Originally a conversion article in White Dwarf back in 1989, it was followed up some years later with a Forge World resin conversion kit of the then new plastic rhino.

In 2007 Games Workshop released a new plastic Vindicator. Not to be outdone, in 2013 Forge World released the Demios Pattern Vindicator. In 2023, ten years later, a Vindicator Siege Tank plastic kit for The Horus Heresy was released.

Vindicator Miniatures Gallery.

Buying stuff at Warhammer World

I was visiting Warhammer World and decided I would treat myself to something. I did have an idea of the kits I might get, but wasn’t really set on any one thing.

I did consider getting the Macharius Vulcan Heavy Tank, which is one of the models on the top of my wants lost. However it wasn’t in stock. Another idea was the Warhammer World exclusive Land Speeder, but that also wasn’t in stock.

As I toured the exhibition, I decided that I would probably get some more Grot tanks, as I had enjoyed building and painting the ones I had bought before.

Though you can mail order models from Games Workshop (that aren’t available in your local gaming shop or even branches of Games Workshop) there is something about buying them from Warhammer World.

So, before I paid my money I did look around at what else was around. Seeing the metal models available for The Old World, I started to feel a little nostalgic. In the end I bought two models from The Old World Range.

I bought the Orc Warboss on Wyvern.

I never had this (originally) metal kit, this version is resin and I did like it. did think about using it for my Feral Ork army. Though I might paint it for an Orc and Goblin army for The Old World.

The other thing I got were the Dwarf Engineers.

This was four metal models, which were originally released about twenty years ago. I never bought these, as my original dwarf army comprised miniatures from the 1980s and 1990s.

I was pleased with my purchases and am looking forward to constructing and painting them.

Kettenkrad

This Kettenkrad is on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.

The Kettenkrad SdKfz 2 started its life as a light tractor for airborne troops. The vehicle was designed to be delivered by Junkers Ju 52 aircraft, though not by parachute.

The vehicle had the advantage of being the only gun tractor small enough to fit inside the hold of the Ju 52, and was the lightest mass-produced German military vehicle to use the complex Schachtellaufwerk overlapped and interleaved road wheels used on almost all German military half-tracked vehicles of World War II.

Deffkilla Wartrike

This Ork Deffkilla Wartrike was on display at Warhammer World.

What is lacks in armour, it makes up for in speed. Deadly scythes on the wheels can cause massive damage to all those who fail to get out of the way of this mean trike.