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 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.
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.
The Sicaran battle tank is one of the most advanced armoured units in the arsenal of the Legiones Astartes, with a number of variants that spread quickly throughout the Legions.
These Forge World variants were on display at Warhammer World. I was totally impressed with the painting of these models and the intricate insignia across both vehicles.
The Sicaran Omega Tank Destroyer is a formidable tank hunter, utilising the speed provided by the Sicaran’s engines to apply overwhelming short range firepower.
Sicaran Omega Tank Destroyer
It races forwards to ambush and obliterate the lumbering siege tanks of enemy columns, unleashing the brutal energies of its oversized plasma array – a crude, retrofitted imitation of the Mechanicum’s plasma technology that is nevertheless entirely capable of reducing hostile vehicles to smouldering wrecks.
This Xiphon Pattern Interceptor flown by the Ultramarines was on display at Warhammer World.
With unparalleled speed and manoeuvrability, the Xiphon pattern Interceptor saw increasing service in the Legiones Astartes during the dark days of the Horus Heresy. Based on ancient designs, the void and atmospheric craft carried heavy armaments into battle, allowing it to destroy both air and ground targets with apparent ease. Its pair of twin-linked lascannon and Xiphon rotary missile launcher combined with the Interceptor’s speed and agility to make it a deadly opponent from which the enemies of Mankind could not hide.
This was a Red Scorpions Xiphon Pattern Interceptor.
The Macharius Heavy Tank is used by the Imperial Guard. As with many Imperial armoured vehicles, there are various variants of the Macharius. The Macharius Omega is one such variant, it is armed with the Omega Pattern Plasma Blastgun.
Macharius Omega
The Omega Pattern Plasma Blastgun is a derivative of the Ryza Pattern Blastgun, optimised for reduced weight and size. This is achieved through the implementation of a compact generator and a smaller force crucible, allowing for integration into lighter platforms such as the Macharius.
Macharius Omega
The Ryza Pattern Blastgun is commonly deployed on the Stormblade super-heavy tank.
This beautifully painted Forge World Crassus Armoured Assault Transport was on display at Warhammer World.
Solar Auxilia Crassus Armoured Assault Transport
This immense armoured carrier is named after one of Lord Solar Macharius’ greatest generals, Borgen Crassus, who remained steadfastly loyal to the Imperium throughout the grim and bloody Macharian Heresy that followed the Lord Solar’s death. The vehicle can be retrofitted with additional weapons to undertake other battlefield roles as required.
The Mechanicum Ordinatus are massive weapons of destruction that the forces of the Imperium use when faced with unprecedented enemy forces. Essentially they are Titan style weapons on tracks.
In the time of the Great Crusade the Ordinatus macro engines were rarer than even the Battle Titans of the Legio Titanica, and only a handful of Forge Worlds had the resources or indeed the doctrinal blessing and religious authority to produce or maintain such embodiments of the Omnissiah’s divine wrath. Such was the sacredness of these machines above all others, that an entire subcult of the Mechanicum was devoted to their worship and propitiation.
We first saw these vehicles in Epic, and then Forge World released 40K scale Horus Hersey versions of these massive vehicles.
The Ordinatus Ulator is a rare and truly arcane weapon system of huge power. Its primary weapon is the Ulator class Sonic Destructor.
Mechanicum Ordinatus Ulator
Another version is the Ordinatus Sagittar, similar to the Ulator, it is armed with a Volcano Cannon.
Mechanicum Ordinatus Sagittar
These are nice models, but I am not really a fan of them. They look very vulnerable to enemy fire, there is no armour to speak of. They also don’t look very mobile (despite the four tracks). What do you think?