Felix, Author at Felix's Gaming Pages

88mm PaK 43/41

The German 88mm gun is perhaps the most infamous weapon of World War II. Initially designed for anti-aircraft defence, its devastating effectiveness against tanks, first showcased in the Spanish Civil War, earned it a fearsome reputation. Despite its potency, the original 88 was bulky and difficult to manoeuvre.

Recognising the 88’s potential, the Germans developed a two-piece barrel version in 1943. This design was intended for both tanks and anti-tank roles, using the same ammunition.

The Pak 43 was a German 8.8 cm anti-tank gun developed by Krupp and used during World War II. The Pak 43 was the most powerful anti-tank gun of the Wehrmacht to see service in significant numbers.

It appeared as the PaK43/41 on a mobile carriage and the KwK43 within the Tiger II tank. However, production delays for the anti-tank version necessitated a rushed, simplified model mounted on a cumbersome, two-wheeled carriage.

This 88mm PaK 43/41 which was captured by the British stood outside the School of Infantry in Warminster for decades. In 1996 it was donated to the Tank Museum. The decision was made to restore the weapon. Back then, the Tank Museum did not restore its exhibits, it would conserve them. So this was quite a change. The restoration was started in 2008 and was finished four years later in 2012.

Space Wolves Primaris Repulsor

This Primaris Repulsor of the Space Wolves Space Marine Chapter was part of the displays at Warhammer World.

The Repulsor armoured transport is a deadly combination of manoeuvrability and raw brute force.

Due to the turbine array at its rear, it has tremendous motive power, held aloft by powerful anti-gravitic generators. The Repulsor is so heavily armed and armoured that is doesn’t skim over the landscape but instead crushes the ground below it.

The tank grinds forward with a deep bass thrum, reducing rock to gravel and fallen bodies to smears of gore and powdered bone.

Primaris Repulsor Miniatures Gallery.

Blood Angels Stormraven Gunship

The Space Marine Stormraven Gunship is an armoured versatile craft that combines the role of dropship, armoured transport and strike craft.

This Blood Angels Stormraven Gunship was in the displays at Warhammer World.

Imperial Guard Macharius with Vanquisher Cannons

The Macharius Heavy Tank, often referred to as a “Second-Generation” Baneblade, is a heavily armoured tank of the Imperial Guard. It is larger than the standard Leman Russ Tank but smaller than the Baneblade it was built to replace when none are available. Macharius tanks are built by Adeptus Mechanicus Forge Worlds that are eager to secure large military contracts, but do not possess the Standard Template Construct (STC) designs which are needed to manufacture super-heavy battle tanks such as the Baneblade or Shadowsword.

This is the variant with Vanquisher Cannons.

From Damien Pedley’s collection on display at Warhammer World.

Cromwell IV

This Cromwell IV tank was on display at the Tank Museum.

The Cromwell tank, named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed from the powerful and reliable Meteor engine, and reasonable armour, all in one balanced package. Its design formed the basis of the Comet tank. The Cromwell first saw action in June 1944, with the reconnaissance regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps.

The Cromwell tank was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in the Second World War. Its design formed the basis of the Comet tank. However by the time the Cromwell first saw action in Normandy in many ways it was already out of date.

Overall the Cromwell was a welcome addition to the British forces, but as with many allied tanks, they were under armoured and under-gunned when faced with the German tanks of the same time period. Where the allies won out was in sheer numbers and probably more importantly logistics.

I am the process of painting some Cromwells for Flames of War.

Imperial Guard Stormblade

The Stormblade super-heavy tank is a variant of the Astra Militarum’s Shadowsword Titan-killer tank. It is armed with a Plasma Blastgun instead of a Volcano Cannon, but it is still able to perform the role of Titan-hunter on the battlefield.

This Imperial Guard Stormblade was in the displays at Warhammer World.

Stormblades are built on Forge Worlds that lack the ability to build true Shadowsword tanks, and thus have to compensate by using different weaponry and other less advanced technologies than the original.

Another Stormblade from the cabinets.

From Damien Pedley’s collection on display at Warhammer World.

I like the lighting effect that has been used on the model.

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.