Author: Felix

Unboxing the Dwarf Engineers

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

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

Crimson Fists Vindicator
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.

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.

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.

Deffkilla Wartrike
Deffkilla Wartrike

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.

Deffkilla Wartrike
Deffkilla Wartrike

Though the rokkit engine afterburner on the back means that they won’t have enough time to avoid the beast of a trike.

The riders aren’t protected, but why worry, when you can just charge into the enemy forces.

Deffkilla Wartrike
Deffkilla Wartrike

Great Ork model, that I may just need to add to my Ork forces.

Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy

The Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy is a type of Ork attack vehicle. The first Rukkatrukk Squigbuggies were invented by enterprising Snakebites in order to feed Speed Freeks on the move. Mobile pens full of edible squigs, the vehicles kept pace with the warband’s Warbikers, buggies and Trukks while their grinning crews hawked their wares at the tops of their lungs.

Once a suitable bag of teef was slung across to them by a hungry driver or passenger, choice Squigs were loaded into the Rukkatrukk’s Squig Launchas and fired into the hands — or even waiting gobs — of the hungry customers. Legend has it that it was only after a rabid Attack Squig was accidentally stuffed into the launcha and fired into a luckless Ork’s face that the true potential of this mobile murder-menagerie was realised.

Nowadays, Rukkatrukk Squigbuggies are often seen muscling their way through their fellow Speed Freeks as they roar towards the front lines. Easily identified by their rugged construction, the throaty roar of their engines, and the anarchic masses of Squigs and Orks riding aboard them, these vehicles employ their close-range living artillery to wreak havoc amongst the enemy ranks.

See the workbench feature on my Ork Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy.

Panzer III

This Panzer III was on display at Bovington.

The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside and support similar Panzer IV which was originally designed for infantry support.

However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, more powerful anti-tank guns were needed, and since the Panzer IV had more development potential with a larger turret ring, it was redesigned to mount the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun.

The Panzer III effectively swapped roles with the Panzer IV, as from 1942 the last version of Panzer III mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 that was better suited for infantry support.

Production of the Panzer III ceased in 1943. Nevertheless, the Panzer III’s capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war.

Imperial Fists Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank

This Imperial Fists Astraeus was part of the Assault on Zybos diorama at Warhammer World.

The Astraeus is a super-heavy tank, similar in form to the smaller Repulsor transport in use by the newly created Primaris Space Marines. It mounts a formidable array of weapons, designed around a pair of immense macro-accelerator cannon. Providing a stable firing platform for these temperamental weapons are banks of enhanced repulsor plates, allowing the inexorable advance of the Astraeus to continue unhindered by hostile terrain or the vain defiance of the foe, while its layered void shields can shrug off even the most devastating weapon strikes.