Sokar pattern Stormbird for Aeronautica Imperialis

Sokar pattern Stormbird.
Sokar pattern Stormbird.

I have in previous blog posts discussed what possible future aircraft we coud see for Aeronautica Imperialis. In the first of the discussion pieces I went through prospective models, and I followed this with an updated version back in May when the Wrath of Angles boxed set was announced.

One model I mentioned was the Stormbird. Having recently constructed the Aeronautica Imperialis Thunderhawk Gunship I was reminded of the Stormbird and did start to think about if we would see an Aeronautica Imperialis model.

Stormbird is a catch-all term that refers to a series of various super-heavy dedicated attack landers that were once used by the Legiones Astartes as their primary means of deploying forces into combat. Stormbirds also served in air support and general planetary transport roles during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras in the late 30th and early 31st Millennia. 

Forge World have released a 40K scale model of the Sokar Pattern Stormbird, which is a huge (expensive) resin kit. I have seen the model at Warhammer World and it is one big model

The Sokar Pattern Stormbird was one of the later patterns of Stormbird developed during the Great Crusade and was used as the design precursor to the smaller, more widely produced Thunderhawk gunship.

Sokar pattern Stormbird
Sokar pattern Stormbird

The Sokar pattern Stormbird is a dedicated attack lander. It has served as a high-durability orbital assault craft, a mobile bastion and firebase which could land a Space Marine strike force and withstand heavy ground fire while its cargo or troops and war machines disembarked to press the attack. 

I could see Forge World making and releasing a Sokar Pattern Stormbird in resin for use in Aeronautica Imperialis, though such a large model may be problematic from a rules perspective. The Thunderhawk Gunship is not as big as the Sokar Pattern Stormbird and even that looks like it might be problematic from a gaming perspective, as it might be too big for the board.

This then got me thinking about other large flyers and that they would have similar issues.

In the olden days I am sure Forge World would have just gone ahead and produced a model, as they did with the Epic scale Thunderhawk Transporter they did for the original release of Aeronautica Imperialis which was shown off at GamesDay 2006.

They (appeared) to be more independent back then, now they seem part of the planned release cycles.

So will be see a Sokar pattern Stormbird for Aeronautica Imperialis from Forge World, I actually don’t think we will.

See the Sokar Pattern Stormbird 40K scale Gallery.

 

Tallarn Stormsword at Warhammer World

The Stormsword super heavy tank is built specifically for sieges and street fighting. Whilst the Shadowsword excels at long range and the Baneblade is an ‘all rounder’ equally at home in the open fields or in street fighting, the Stormsword lends its weight and firepower to troops at close quarters

Tallarn Stormsword at Warhammer World
Tallarn Stormsword at Warhammer World

This is constructed from the plastic kit. Compare this one to the original Forge World resin kit (circa 2006).

The Stormsword super heavy tank is built specifically for sieges and street fighting. Whilst the Shadowsword excels at long range and the Baneblade is an 'all rounder' equally at home in the open fields or in street fighting, the Stormsword lends its weight and firepower to troops at close quarters.

Imperial Navy Arvus Lighter

I’ve always quite liked the Forge World Imperial Navy Arvus Lighter for Warhammer 40K.

Arvus Lighter, from the Forgeworld cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Arvus Lighter, from the Forgeworld cabinets at GamesDay 2006

The Arvus is a small cargo shuttle commonly used to transfer supplies and small personnel units ship-to-ship or from fleet positions to planetary installations. While unarmed, the Arvus is capable of standing in as an assault boat, able to transport small infantry squads or boarding parties.

Arvus Lighter, BAT-21, from the Golden Demon cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Arvus Lighter, BAT-21, from the Golden Demon cabinets at GamesDay 2006

This was very much a scenery item, or a scenario objective, something from which a narrative game could be played.

I am pleased to see it is still available from Forge World, these photographs were taken at Games Day 2006, and there are many Forge World models that are now no longer available.

Orc Objective

One of the nice things about going to GameDay is the wonderful scenery that can be found, not only on the demonstration games, but also in the display cabinets. These pieces of scenery are often used in White Dwarf battle reports, but at GamesDay you can give them a real close look.

This Orc scenic objective is a prime example from GamesDay 2006, you can see the effort and detail that has gone into what is a relatively simple piece of scenery, which in the end would have been a small part of a photograph of the battle report.

Objective

See more photographs of Warhammer Fantasy scenery.

Top Ten Posts of 2011

Another successful year for Felix’s Gaming Pages with over 450 blog posts put online. Slightly less hits this year, but that was in the main as I didn’t attend GamesDay 2011 and therefore didn’t live blog as I have done in previous years. So what were the top ten posts (by visits) for 2011.

10. It’s back…

Well the 10th most popular post was about the return of Space Hulk. I was never that into Space Hulk, I have never bought the game in its earlier incarnations, but lots of people bought the limited re-release, so much so, it sold out very quickly.

9. Warhammer Siege Diorama

This post was a live blog post from GamesDay 2010. I was posting photographs from the show live to the blog via my phone. This was of a fantastic Warhammer Fantasy diorama, the Siege of Altdorf. I also took a fair few photographs of the siege using my DSLR.

Some excellent scenery and very evocative of the Warhammer world.

8. Ultramarines Dreadnoughts

Some very nice Ultramarines Dreadnoughts on display at Warhammer World. Warhammer World is always worth a visit and I have spent lots of time looking at all the wonderful miniatures in the Citadel Miniatures Hall. Every time I have visited I have seen something new (and sometimes something old).

7. Bloodthirster Greater Daemon of Khorne

The Bloodthirster Greater Daemon of Khorne from the Forge World display cabinets at GamesDay 2004.

6. Space Wolves Space Marine Army

This post is from 2007 and was a photograph of an amazing Space Wolves Army. This is one of those displays at GamesDay which makes you go wow! And then you think how much did he spend…

Space Wolves Army

More photographs of this amazing army.

5. Saurus and Slann

Another old post, from 2007, and another photograph from Warhammer World. A wonderful unit of Saurus Warriors with a Slann leading them. Part of the ‘Eavy Metal Lizardmen Army on display at Warhammer World.

4. Flames of War – Battle of the Bulge

This post was from 2011 and discussed the possibilities of a Flames of War Battle of the Bulge supplement that Battlefront mentioned in Feburary. Within the post I discussed the tanks that I hoped we would see in any such release including the M24 Chaffee and the Comet.

I also speculated how nice it would be to see some Late-War Monsters.

3. Marneus Calgar of the Ultramarines’ Land Raider

This post was all the photographs I had taken of Marneus Calgar of the Ultramarines’ Land Raider from the ‘Eavy Metal display cabinets at both GamesDay 2005 and Warhammer World.

Marneus Calgar of the Ultramarines’ Land Raider

2. Chaos BaneBlade

This photograph of a Chaos Baneblade that won the Silver Golden Demon at GamesDay 2007 is my second most popular post and the reason it is, is that if you put Baneblade into Google this image comes up!

Lots of photographs of the Baneblade.

1. Death Korps of Krieg

So my most popular post of 2011 was a posting from February 2009 about a link I had found in the community feed of some beautifully painted Death Korps of Krieg tanks.

Death Korps of Krieg

So will these same posts be just as popular in 2012, we will have to wait and see.

Orc Totem

One of the nice things about going to GameDay is the wonderful scenery that can be found, not only on the demonstration games, but also in the display cabinets. These pieces of scenery are often used in White Dwarf battle reports, but at GamesDay you can give them a real close look.

This Orc Totem is a prime example from GamesDay 2006, you can see the effort and detail that has gone into what is a relatively simple piece of scenery, which in the end would have been a small part of a photograph of the battle report.

See more photographs of Warhammer Fantasy scenery.