forge world Archives - Page 14 of 101

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Canoptek Spyder

This Canoptek Spyder was on display at Warhammer World.

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.

Typhon Heavy Siege Tank

Named for the ‘Great Beast’ of Ancient Terran myth, the immense Typhon Heavy Siege Tank was developed by the Mechanicum alongside the Spartan, with which it shares a basic chassis design.

The Typhon’s primary armament is the massive Dreadhammer cannon, and was created in response to a request from the Primarch Peturabo, master of the Iron Warriors. He demanded a Legiones Astartes war engine that could rival the great batteries of the Imperial Crusade Army in firepower, but manoeuvre and deploy at the speed of a Space Marine force.

Some more photographs of the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank.

Fellblade Super Heavy Tank

Based upon the same STC data as the Baneblade and Deathhammer super-heavy tanks, which are a mainstay of the vast brigades of the Imperial Army, the Fellblade is a more advanced variant that first saw widespread service with the Legiones Astartes in the last decades of the Great Crusade.

It is most noted for its use of Mechanicum atomantic arc-reactor technology and a reinforced metaplas alloy chassis superior even to that of the Baneblade, alongside an advanced accelerator cannon as its primary armament. These systems are all fruits of Dark Age technologies rediscovered and restored to humanity shortly before the nightmare of the Great Heresy.

This Fellblade was part of a airbase diorama at Warhammer World where there were all the different kinds of Space Marine Flyers as well as the odd tank or three.

Working more on the Grot Krew

Across my Ork Big Gunz, heavy vehicles, even my Stompa, I have a variety of Grot Krew that need painting. This post shows where I had got so far with them.

The next stage was finishing off the detailing and clothing on the models.

These Grot Krew are from the Forge World Big Zzappa, though there is a Stompa Krew Grot in the first photograph.

I painted the nails and claws of the Grots with Ushabti Bone and then highlighted with Wraithbone. I painted the trousers of one of the Grots with Ushabti Bone and the other with XV-88.

These are from the Stompa kit and the Skorcha.

I did some more with the Grots. In the main I painted some clothing using various shades of khaki and brown. I highlighted the screwdriver with Stormhost Silver. I washed the pistols with Nuln Oil.

I an pretty happy with the Grot with the Wrench from the Skorcha kit. Not sure what I am going to do with the eyes, probably black and then a spot of red.

I used various greys to paint the bandana of the screwdriver yielding Grot.

These Grots are from the Kill Kannon.

For the Kill Kannon observer, I painted a lens effect on the observing tool. I painted the entire lens with Thunderhawk Blue and then used Lothern Blue for the reflection before finally adding a drop of white at the top. On the other side of the device I used a drop of Mephiston Red.

For the loader, the one with the helmet, I painted his jacket with XV-88 and then highlighted with a mix of XV-88 and Ushabti Bone.

I have a fair few other Grot Krew I need to clean, base and paint.

These are the Krew from the Supa Kannon and their ammo crate.

Once I cleaned up the models I glued them temporarily to bases and then gave them a white undercoat of Corax White.

Mechanicum Triaros Armoured Conveyer

This beautifully painted Mechanicum Triaros Armoured Conveyer was on display in Warhammer World.

The Triaros is the primary armoured battlefield transport of the Mechanicum Taghmata during the era of the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. Eschewing the more commonplace STC designs, it relies on a number of unique technologies held as arcana by the Magos Autokrator and never divulged for wider Imperial use, even by the Legiones Astartes. Designed for use in hostile environments, it incorporates multiple galvanic traction drives and its defences are comprised not merely of brute armour, but layered techno-cant wardings and interlocking energy shields, particularly around its seemingly exposed control dais, as well as independently animated weapons servitors.

More photographs of the Mechanicum Triaros Armoured Conveyer.

Shading the Kill Bursta

I have had my Kill Bursta hanging around on the workbench for a while now, so it’s nice to make some significant progress on the model.

Forge World’s big Ork tank mounts a huge gun ready to take on any Imperial BaneBlade or even Titan. The Kill Bursta mounts a huge-bore Kannon capable of destroying bunkers and siegeworks with ease.

The last time I looked at the model I had given the model a double undercoat of white and black and then using a thinned Chaos Black I touched up the black basecoat. I also black undercoated certain parts of the engine.

The first thing I did was something different and sprayed the upper surfaces of the model with Citadel Spray Zandri Dust. Using a brush I painted the tracks with Gorthor Brown. I did the engine with Leadbelcher, rather than drybrushing with Tin Bitz over a black undercoat.

I started painting some of the panels with other colours, notably Balor Brown and Ushabti Bone. This is really to break up the predominant colour of the model. However I didn’t do too many, as I didn’t want a patchwork effect.

I retained the dark black undercoat on the front prow and didn’t spray that too much as I quite liked the idea that this was dirty and weathered compared to the rest of the tank.

I did consider painting the main weapon with Leadbelcher, which is something I had seen on other people’s Kill Bursta models, but in the end I went with the base colour instead.

I also did some of the chains and piping with Leadbelcher.

The next stage was a bit of a challenge, using various Citadel shades, though mainly Seraphim Sepia, to add shadow to the model.

I did use a large 1/2 Round Mop brush which helped.

I think I might need to revisit the shading and also look at overpainting those areas where the shade had pooled as well.

See the workbench feature on the Kill Bursta.

Mechanicum Macrocarid Explorator

This Mechanicum Macrocarid Explorator was on display at Warhammer World.

Originally released in November 2016, the model is now no longer available to buy from Forge World.

Uniquely crafted to the needs of the Magos leading the expeditionary force, Macrocarid Explorators first saw use as frontline combat and mobile command vehicles in the early days of the Great Crusade. Heavily armoured and equipped with the Mechanicum’s signature technologies and weapons, they are now pressed into service on both sides of the cataclysmic battles of The Horus Heresy.

Macrocarid Explorators can transport Magos’ or their units of deadly automata across the battlefield, cutting through any opponent foolish enough to come close with powerful weapons enhanced by augury scanners. Their heavy armour makes them as durable as the Legiones Astartes Land Raider, with the addition of extensive self-repair systems.