Imperial Armour Volume 8: Raid on Kastorel-Novem

Forge World have (finally) released Imperial Armour Volume 8: Raid on Kastorel-Novem.

imperialarmourvolume8

Waaagh! Garaghak is gathering pace across the Forsarr sector. Several of the Imperium¹s worlds have already fallen to the rising green tide of Orks, and now the sector¹s primary hive world has been invaded. Garaghak¹s hordes seem unstoppable, except that the Raven Guard¹s Scouts have discovered a secret behind the Goff Warlord¹s unending warbands – an Ork technical genius called Mek Boss Buzzgob who has created his own factories on the former Imperial refinery world in the Kastorel system.

This book contains a detailed history of the Raid on Kastorel-Novem and the rise of Warlord Garaghak. There is a complete Elysian Drop Troop Imperial Guard army list, including the Vulture gunship, Valkyrie Sky Talon and the Tauros and Tauros Venator rapid assault vehicles. There is also background information on the Raven Guard Space Marine Chapter, along with a new special character, Shadow Captain Korvydae. Rules, background and technical details are included for all of the recent Forge World Ork releases.

This book is heavily illustrated with over 50 colour pictures, 60 full colour vehicle profiles, over 30 technical drawings, plus colour profiles for the Elysian Drop Troops, Raven Guard and the Orks of the Goff, Evil Sunz and Death Skullz clans, all to add new depth and detail to the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

I will be ordering this book and am looking forward to reading it.

Ork Kannon

One of the things I like in the Forge World range are the Ork Heavy Weapons, not just the new ones, but the older ones as well. I ordered an Ork Kannon some time ago and it had been hanging around for a while, so I decided to stick it together. It goes together really easily.

I then gave the model a black undercoat.

Once finished I will be able to use it any of my Ork vehicles or a Squiggoth

Malcador Annihilator

A renegade Malcador Annihilator advances during the Siege of Vraks, supported by Renegade troops.

Renegade Malcador defending during the siege of Vraks. From the Forgeworld Siege of Vraks diorama at the Forge World Open Day 2009.
Renegade Malcador defending during the siege of Vraks.
From the Forgeworld Siege of Vraks diorama at the Forge World Open Day 2009.

Another example of ‘second-generation’ Baneblades, the Malcador Heavy Tank is a mobile fortress, heavily armed and armoured but slow. The ‘standard’ pattern has been altered to create several variants, each designed to fulfil a specific battlefield role. The Annihilator variant mounts a twin-linked lascannon in place of the limited-traverse Battle Cannon of the standard pattern tank, and is commonly equipped with lascannon sponsons to supplement this main armament.

Detractors of the design claim that the Malcador Annihilator falls between two roles, fulfilling neither fully as it is too large and too slow to serve as a ‘true’ tank-hunter while lacking the firepower and armour to evenly match a Baneblade in open war.

Against conventional armour, however, and in the hands of a skilled crew, the Malcador Annihilator can still prove its worth.

This is from the amazing Siege of Vraks diorama by Forge World.

See more photographs of the Malcador tank.

You can see all my photographs from the Forge World Open Day 2009 in this gallery.

Big Trakk with Big Lobba

One of the highlights of GamesDay 2009 for me was the fantastic Ork Shanty Town display that Forge World did. There were many of the new Forge World models including the excellent Ork Big Trakk. A turbine powered Ork tracked vehicle with twin Big Shootas.

Ork Big Trakk with Big Lobba.
Ork Big Trakk with Big Lobba.

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.

I really like this model, which combined with Trukks and Halftrakks gives the Orks a variety of vehicles that you would expect to find in their forces. However the model is shown with the new Big Lobba. Now I don’t really like this weapon that much. Not sure what it does, but I know I don’t like it.

You can check out how I am making my own Big Trakk in my workbench feature.

Check out my Games Day 2009 Gallery.

Malcador Defender

A renegade Malcador Defender advances during the Siege of Vraks.

Named after a mysterious figure from the Imperium’s earliest days, Malcador the Sigillite (a close advisor to the Emperor during the Battles of Unification, and the man credited with founding the Administratum of Terra), the Malcador Heavy Tank is a mobile fortress, heavily armed and armoured but slow. The Defender variant is perhaps the most common, although also the most unusual – its fixed turret mounts 5 limited-traverse Heavy Bolters, positioned to provide all-round defensive fire. The Defender crams 8 crew into a cramped interior, as it also mounts two sponson weapons and a hull-mounted Demolisher Cannon. Unsurprisingly, the Defender is perfect for the role of a breakthough tank – ably suited to close-quarters fighting, trench warfare and urban engagements in which its multiple fire-points and heavy armour excel.

This is from the amazing Siege of Vraks diorama by Forge World.

See more photographs of the Malcador tank.

You can see all my photographs from the Forge World Open Day 2009 in this gallery.