One of the Clash of Steel Starter Sets have been on my wants list ever since I found out about them at the beginning of the year. I ordered Operation Unthinkable boxed set containing the British and German tanks.
There are 17 tanks, two of which are the Tortoise heavy assault tank. One I had already constructed, decided to put together the second one as well.
The Tortoise heavy assault tank (A39) was a British heavy assault gun design developed during the Second World War, but never put into mass production. It was developed for the task of clearing heavily fortified areas such as the Siegfried Line and as a result favoured armour protection over mobility.
This diorama shows a flight crew preparing an Imperial Navy Thunderbolt fighter for battle.
The amazing Dave Andrews made this fantastic diorama for the 1995 Open category Golden Demon and it won Gold. This was before the time of the Forge World Thunderbolt and even before Forge World!
This Space Marine Whirlwind was on display at Warhammer World.
The Whirlwind is an adaptation of the Rhino design, a lightly armoured tank chassis armed with a multiple rocket launcher system capable of raining precision fire down upon enemy positions. Thanks to its target acquisition system, the Whirlwind is able to bombard hidden or entrenched targets with incredible accuracy, often from behind the safety of cover.
This is the kit version of the original Whirlwind artillery vehicle, based on the original Rhino kit. It was on display at Warhammer World. It comprised a plastic Rhino kit and metal components.
Earlier this year I went to the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
In the aircraft displays was this former German Air Force Mil Mi-24 Hind Helicopter. Was part of the East German Air Force, and was transferred to Germany on reunification in 1990. They were retired in 1993.
The Mil Mi-24, famously known by its NATO reporting name “Hind,” is a formidable Soviet-designed attack helicopter that uniquely blends the roles of a gunship and a low-capacity troop transport.
Introduced in 1972, its distinctive silhouette, often likened to a “flying tank” or “Crocodile,” quickly made it an iconic symbol of Soviet military power. The Hind is characterized by its heavily armored cockpit, robust airframe, and stub wings that not only provide lift but also house a diverse array of weaponry, including machine guns, rocket pods, and anti-tank missiles. While primarily designed for close air support and anti-armor operations, its ability to carry up to eight armed troops in its central compartment gave it a versatility rarely seen in Western attack helicopters. The Mi-24 saw extensive combat, most notably during the Soviet-Afghan War, where its resilience and firepower made it a feared asset, cementing its legacy as one of the most successful and enduring combat helicopters ever built.
The Arvus Lighter is a small, general purpose cargo shuttle that is widely used by the Imperium of Man for many tasks, both in space and on the surface of planets. The Arvus is commonly used by both Imperial Navy warships and Imperial merchant vessels, including Rogue Traders. The Arvus is just one of many types of small, void-capable shuttles used by the Imperium. The Arvus is piloted by a single pilot, and is not equipped with any weapon systems, in fact, the Arvus possesses only the most basic navigation equipment, external sensors, and proximity alarms. The Arvus has a powerful engine that allows it to carry heavy cargo to and from a planet’s surface
There were quite a few Arvus Lighter models on display at Warhammer World.
Some of these are the original resin Forge World models, but there was also some examples using the new plastic kit that was released for The Horus Heresy. The main differences between the resin and plastic models are in the engine cowling and around the cockpit. Otherwise these are very similar models.
I have the new Horus Heresy plastic Arvus Lighter on my workbench.
I was pleased to hear in the Battlefront preview video in December 2024 about their new releases.
Back in 2011 I wrote this after the release of the Mid-War Monsters.
I do hope that we see future “monsters” for Flames of War, there are some nice concepts and ideas out there for both Early-War and Late-War.
In the Battlefront preview video it was announced that Battlefront would be producing some Early War ‘Eavies. The preview included glimpses of the British TOG and the French Char 2C, see some photographs in this post.
Alas in a recent video announcement, the release of these massive tanks was said to be delayed. However we did get to see some photographs of painted versions of these monsters.
This is the French Char 2C.
Screenshot
This is the British TOG.
Screenshot
Alongside these we saw some British A13 cruiser tanks, infantry, artillery, and the delightful Light Tank VI.
Screenshot
For the French we saw the Char B1 bis.
Screenshot
These will (I suspect) be all plastic kits. I’ve been waiting well over ten years now for these monsters, I can wait a little longer…
In the original preview video there was also mention of a German super heavy tank, but it was not identified in the review, I suspect it might be the Großtraktor that was built by Krupp and entered service in 1935. However despite seeing some nice PzKpfw I tanks and PzKpfw III tanks and variants, no mention was made about the German tank…
Though we did hear about a 1960s version of Team Yankee called Checkpoint Charlie, sounds interesting.
I recently went to the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
They had a Belgian Army Renault FT-17 Light Tank on display.
The Renault FT or Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917, inexactly known as the FT-17 or FT17, was a French light tank; it is among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history. The FT was the first operational tank with an armament in a fully rotating turret, and its configuration with the turret on top, engine in the back and the driver in front became the conventional one, repeated in most tanks until today; at the time it was a revolutionary innovation.
Copies and derivative designs were manufactured in the United States (M1917 light tank), in Italy (Fiat 3000), and in the Soviet Union (T-18 tank).
France still had several thousand First World War Renault FT tanks in 1940. Over 500 of them were still in service in independent bataillons de chars de combat (BCC) tank battalions in the front lines. Although adequate for infantry support, they were totally outclassed by German tanks in a mobile battle.
Unlike the French Army, the Belgian Army had withdrawn all FT tanks from front line service before World War II.
It is one of my favourite tanks, I have always had a fondness for this little tank, probably as a result of making that Matchbox plastic kit of the Renault and the Char B1 when I was young.
On my previous visit to Warhammer World I took various photographs of the resin Forge World model which was on display. On my most recent visit in June 2025 I was able to take a photograph of the new(ish) plastic Arvus Lighter in the display cabinets.
Arvus Lighter plastic kit
Comparing the plastic version to the resin version there are some subtle differences.
Resin Forge World Arvus Lighter
The main areas are in the engine cowling and around the cockpit. Otherwise these are very similar models.
The Arvus Lighter is a small, general purpose cargo shuttle that is widely used by the Imperium of Man for many tasks, both in space and on the surface of planets. The Arvus is commonly used by both Imperial Navy warships and Imperial merchant vessels, including Rogue Traders. The Arvus is just one of many types of small, void-capable shuttles used by the Imperium. The Arvus is piloted by a single pilot, and is not equipped with any weapon systems, in fact, the Arvus possesses only the most basic navigation equipment, external sensors, and proximity alarms. The Arvus has a powerful engine that allows it to carry heavy cargo to and from a planet’s surface
I have the new Horus Heresy plastic Arvus Lighter on my workbench.
