Sons of Horus Land Raider Proteus

The Land Raider is regarded by many as the finest armoured fighting vehicle of its class in the Imperium’s arsenal, and is the mainstay battle tank of the Space Marine Legions. It is a phenomenally powerful war machine, its multi-layered composite armour and reinforced hull all but impervious to even heavy weapons, being a sealed unit designed to resist enemy attack from any approach. Intended to serve in almost any environment as both war machine and exploration vehicle, it can operate freely in war zones ranging from acid swamps to rad-deserts without any noticeable impediment to its performance, and can even operate in hard vacuum, ensuring there is no open battlefield on which its armoured wrath cannot be unleashed.

This (resin) Sons of Horus Land Raider Proteus was on display at Warhammer World.

Land Raider Proteus
Land Raider Proteus

Those of us who have been playing Warhammer 40K since it was first released will recognise this model. It is of course a new version of the original Land Raider that was released back in 1987 following the release of the 1st edition of Warhammer 40,000, Rogue Trader. Forge World released a resin version a fair few years ago, and since then, a plastic version of the kit has been released as part of The Horus Heresy range.

I have been thinking about getting one for my workbench.

Land Raider Proteus Miniatures Gallery

Arvus Lighter

Arvus Lighter on display in a Necromunda diorama at Warhammer World.

Arvus Lighter

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.

This was the Forge World resin model. Since then a plastic kit of the Arvus Lighter has been released.

Arvus Lighter Miniatures Gallery.

Ork Big Trakk

This heavy Ork transport can also be used to carry Big Gunz into battle. A brutal-looking machine, the Big Trakk comes with twin-linked big shootas, a massive gas-turbine engine, and ramming tusks.

Ork Big Trakk

Originally this was to be a conversion of the Ork Trukk kit, however in the end it was decided to make it a full resin kit. 

Ork Big Trakk

Big Trakk’s are essentially an enlarged and modified version of the Trukk, a Turbine powered Ork tracked vehicle with twin Big Shootas, designed to move across sinkholes, rubble, or ash wastes without getting bogged down. They are also designed to be bigger, louder, and carry much more armament over the standard Trukk and are frequently used as gun carriers instead of troop transports.

I have a Big Trakk model on my workbench. Main issue I had with the kit, is that it comes with no instructions and it isn’t the easiest kit to put together.

I also have a gallery of photographs of the Big Trakk.

 

Blood Angels Legion Land Raider MkIIb

This Blood Angels Legion Mark IIb  was on display at Warhammer World.

Land Raider MkIIb

The Land Raider MkIIb is probably my favourite Land Raider variant. I do have one of them in my collection. I knew that if I was going to get a Land Raider it would have to be the Forgeworld MkIIB Land Raider. I did get one in the end at GamesDay 2006. Sadly it was recently retired from the range. I wrote up some reflections on my MkIIB Land Raider, on the current state of the painting and what I needed to do next. In the end I went down a different route.

Imperial Navy Vulture Gunship

Imperial Navy Vulture Gunship

The Vulture is a gunship of the Imperial Navy’s Aeronautica Imperialis that is capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). It is used to provide heavy air support for Astra Militarum ground units and the Valkyrie transport. The Vulture is very similar in appearance to the Valkyrie, but with a drastically different role on the battlefield. The Vulture is capable of carrying a large variety of weapons and is able to engage both infantry and armoured units, and is also able to effectively attack fortified enemy structures and bunkers. The Vulture is an attack gunship, and its main role is the support of Valkyrie assault carriers while in flight and while their Imperial Guard troops are disembarking. The Vulture will often stay at the drop zone after the Valkyries have left in order to provide heavy air support to the infantry on the ground. Regiments of the Imperial Guard like the Elysian Drop Troops make heavy use of Vultures as they are often deployed into hostile territory without heavy armour or artillery support. Like all Imperial aircraft, the Vulture is crewed and operated by members of the Imperial Navy’s Aeronautica Imperialis, though it is always used in support of Astra Militarum ground forces.

Valkyrie Sky Talon

Valkyrie Sky Talon
Valkyrie Sky Talon

The Valkyrie Sky Talon is a variant of the Valkyrie Airborne Assault Carrier, and is used as a support aircraft intended to provide combat airlifts of light vehicles and cargo for the Astra Militarum. The Valkyrie Sky Talon, also known simply as the Sky Talon, is used for the transportation of light armoured vehicles, whereas the standard Valkyrie transports the air mobile infantry of the Imperial Guard into battle.

Red Scorpions

This Forge World Red Scorpions Razorback was on display at Warhammer World.

Red Scorpions Razorback

This Forge World Red Scorpions Land Raider  was on display at Warhammer World.

Red Scorpions Land Raider

The Red Scorpions came from Forge World. They could play around with the chapter, without it impacting on the mainstream chapters.

Burlok Damminson on pre-order next week

This week we found out that this lovely dwarf miniature  goes on pre-order on the 18th January.

Burlok Damminson was an old dwarf in the era of Karl Franz, but we see him here as a young and impetuous inventor who’s really getting on the nerves of the Engineers’ Guild… He’s armed with several proprietary experimental weapons, and substantially improves nearby ranged units by his very presence.

The model is made of Forge World resin.

Very tempting.

 

Thunderbolt Fighter

Thunderbolt Fighter

The Thunderbolt heavy fighter is one of the two main fighter aircraft patterns used by the Imperial Navy, the other of which is the Lightning air superiority fighter. The Thunderbolt is the mainstay weapon system of Imperial Navy fighter wings and is a rugged, well-armed and armoured heavy fighter with all-around capabilities, a good maximum speed and above-average maneuverability, powerful nose-mounted weapons and hard points located on the wings for missile or bomb load-outs.

Mark Bedford’s excellent Thunderbolt diorama.

It is an aircraft that is well-liked by those who fly and service it and it has served the cause of the Emperor for many centuries.

Thunderbolt Fighter

The Thunderbolt’s primary combat role is as an air superiority fighter. It seeks out and engages enemy aircraft in dogfights or hunts enemy bombers to establish air superiority. The Thunderbolt’s greatest strength is its versatility, since it has good performance as a high-altitude escort fighter while it is also serviceable in the roles of a low-altitude fighter-bomber, night fighter or even as a reconnaissance aircraft when necessary.

Marauder Bomber at Warhammer World

Marauder Bomber

The Marauder Bomber is the workhorse of the Imperial Navy.

Marauder Bomber

Capable of both atmospheric and void operations, it is used as an attack craft in fleet actions as well as fulfilling a tactical role, supporting ground offensives by bombing enemy troop concentrations and support positions.

Marauder Bomber

Such tactical bombing missions are often launched prior to, and in support of, Imperial Guard offensives.