Legion Sicaran Arcus Strike Tank

This Legion Sicaran Arcus Strike Tank was on display at Warhammer World.

Legion Sicaran Arcus Strike Tank
Legion Sicaran Arcus Strike Tank

Once the Arcus strike tank was one of the most advanced support platforms available to the Space Marine Legions, but for reasons long since lost to the past, the Adeptus Mechanicus holds the pattern as a slight against the Omnissiah and refuses to produce or repair such vehicles. Without the specialised knowledge of the Machine God’s adepts, the advanced launchers of the Arcus have slowly failed and been replaced with more common rotary launchers and stocks of its rare warheads have dwindled. Now it is used by the Space Marine Chapters that retain examples of this rare pattern as a fast strike tank, racing it forwards to saturate a target area with incendiary devices of a more commonplace provenance and using its renowned speed to escape unscathed, enabling them to clear otherwise redoubtable bunkers and fortresses with brutal efficiency.

Javelin Attack Speeder with Missile Launchers

This Javelin Attack Speeder with Missile Launchers was on display at Warhammer World.

It was part of The Battle of Signus Prime diorama at Warhammer World, where the Blood Angels Legion are advancing towards the Cathedral of the Mark across the devastated landscape of Signus Prime.

Larger and more heavily armoured than the common pattern of Land Speeder, the Javelin Attack Speeder is a nigh-irreplaceable relic of a bygone age of technological mastery. Gravitic nullification plates, the secret of whose production and maintenance have long since been lost, allow the Javelin to mount an array of heavy weaponry more akin to a heavy tank destroyer than a nimble Land Speeder, allowing them to make pinpoint strikes on enemy armour or infantry with devastating lascannon or missile barrage. Those Chapters of Space Marines whose histories stretch back into the grim days of the Imperium’s founding may, if they are fortunate, still possess a few justly revered Javelins within the sanctified depths of their armouries.

Forge World Reaver Titan

These huge Mars Pattern Reaver Titans were on display at Warhammer World.

The Reaver Battle Titan is a frontline combat titan, designed for direct confrontation with the enemy.

Reavers primarily serve as vanguards for the Warlords, there to fan out and prevent the larger and slower Warlords from being flanked, so they can keep the enemy boxed into the Warlord’s field of fire.

Reaver Battle Titan Miniatures Gallery

Warbringer Nemesis Titan

This is the Warbringer Nemesis Titan on display at Warhammer World.

The Warbringer Nemesis Titan serves the Collegia Titanica in the role of heavy fire support. It mounts a single Warlord-scale weapon on its upper carapace and Reaver-scale weapons on its arms – sacrificing the speed, armour and manoeuvrability of a conventional Battle Titan in favour of firepower far in excess of its size. Though rare and specialised, the Warbringer Nemesis is a sight to inspire dread in all but the most battle-hardened enemy princeps.

Warlord Battle Titan

There was some (huge) magnificent 40K scale Warlord Titans on display at Warhammer World.

The Warlord appears to be the most common class of Battle Titan in use by the Titan Legions of the Imperium of Man, and many Adeptus Mechanicus Forge Worlds field their own patterns of this class.

Another excellent Warlord Titan.

I sometimes think I would like to get a Forge World Titan, but then I think they are quite expensive (usually in excess of £1000) but would I have the skills to make and paint one, would I have the time? Probably not. So it can remain a dream and I can admire those that are on display at Warhammer World.

Warlord Battle Titan Miniatures Gallery

Legio Custodes Coronus Grav-carrier

This beautifully painted Legio Custodes Coronus Grav-carrier was on display at Warhammer World.

Legio Custodes Coronus Grav-carrier
Legio Custodes Coronus Grav-carrier

Armed with twin-linked Lastrum bolt cannon and Arachnus blaze cannon, the Coronus Grav-carrier is perhaps one of the most recognised vehicles used exclusively by the Legio Custodes. This heavily protected transport skimmer provides them with a degree of speed and agility unmatched by the grinding armour of others who fight in the name of the Emperor, allowing the Legio Custodes to deploy rapidly into a range of terrain whilst reducing the risk of being pinned down by enemy forces.

Principally used as a transport, the strikingly-designed Legio Custodes Coronus Grav-carrier served as the technological basis for the Pallas and Caladius grav-craft. While its primary function is transporting a unit of warriors into battle, its armaments – hull-mounted Lastrum bolt cannon and turret-mounted Arachnus blaze cannon – ensure that it is more than capable of mounting appropriately aggressive defenses.

 

Legio Custodes Ares Gunship

The Ares is a potent terror weapon, bypassing enemy armies as it blazes over their lines in the shadow of its eclipse shields. Using its immensely destructive Arachnus magna-blaze cannon against the monuments and edifices which an enemy culture hold most dear to their hearts, it strikes a decisive blow against their will to wage war.

This Legio Custodes Ares Gunship was on display at Warhammer World.

Legio Custodes Ares Gunship
Legio Custodes Ares Gunship at Warhammer World

This heavily-armed super-heavy gunship is ideal for taking out large targets such as monsters and vehicles, and even packs enough of punch to take down the void shields of Titans. It is protected by its eclipse shield, making it nigh-on impervious to return fire.

Known as the Legio Custodes during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras, the Adeptus Custodes, is the Imperial Adepta responsible for protecting the Imperial Palace and the physical body of the Emperor of Mankind, as well as serving as His most important emissaries, His companions, and the keepers of His many secrets.

Legio Custodes Miniatures Gallery

Forge World Aeronautica Imperialis Pre-Orders

We’ve known about them for a while now, but the Arvus Lighter and Vulture Gunship are now on pre-order from the Forge World website.

These are the first releases for (the new) Aeronautica Imperialis boxed game from Forge World and hopefully will be the first of many new releases for Aeronautica Imperialis in the future. I recently posted a blog post about my thinking of what’s next for Aeronautica Imperialis.

So what of the new models?

First there is the Arvus Lighter, an Imperial transport.

Arvus Lighter

The Arvus Lighter is a workhorse of the Imperium. Transporting both vital cargo and critical personnel, even from orbit, they’re small and fast enough to slip through war zones that would prove too difficult for larger, more cumbersome craft. While armoured, they are completely unarmed, relying on support from escort aircraft in active battles. Affectionately called “the hog” or “little pig”, this scout-class ship is a common sight on battlefields across the galaxy.

Completely unarmed, maybe not the best option for a game of Aeronautica Imperialis, however as an objective for a scenario, it could prove useful.

This small model comprised of nine parts looks very much the part.

The other release is the Vulture Gunship.

Vulture Gunship

Squadrons of Valkyrie Assault Carriers are often supported by these heavily armed dedicated gunships. The Vulture sacrifices troop-carrying capacity in favour of a massive engine and souped-up power plant, delivering serious firepower via underslung hard points. When armed with a Punisher Cannon, they can unleash devastating fusillades to annihilate targets at medium range.

I did think that these are lovely little miniatures, but was a little surprised by the price, well why would I be surprised by the price, it’s Forge World! Having said that £26 gets you four Valkyrie Assault Carriers, whilst the Vulture costs £30 for just two.

Having said that, I do like both models and am seriously thinking about getting some.

Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider

The Achilles-Alpha pattern Land Raider is the most durable vehicle currently in the service of the Legiones Astartes.  This is the version on display at Warhammer World.

Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider
Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider

These vehicles shrug off weapon strikes that would cripple other battle tanks, and are proof against even the most toxic environment.

Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider
Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider

The weaponry of these vehicles is formidable, featuring an advanced quad launcher and powerful volkite batteries.

Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider
Achilles-Alpha Pattern Land Raider

Canoptek Spyder

This Canoptek Spyder was on display at Warhammer World.

Canoptek Spyder

Unlike their Necron masters, Canoptek Spyders never sleep, but while away the aeons servicing the structures of their Tomb World. Though the Canoptek Spyder is essentially an automated drone, it is still a formidable foe when the situation demands. Any enemy foolish enough to stray within reach of the Canoptek Spyder will have flesh scoured from bone by an array of mechanical tools and pincers. If a triad of Canoptek Spyders operate together, one takes overall command, harnessing the processing capacity of the others to create a supermind far greater than the sum of its parts. This hyper-efficiency is passed on to all Canoptek Wraiths and Canoptek Scarabs in the immediate vicinity, allowing a co-ordinated and precise response to any threat – and ensuring the safety of their slumbering masters.