Category: gamesday 2007

Ork Battle Fortress – Skullhamma

This Apocalypse conversion from 2007 took the then new Imperial Guard Baneblade super heavy tank and it was converted into an Ork Battle Fortress, the Skullhamma.

Larger then a Battlewagon, Battlefortresses are used by richer and more powerful Ork Warbosses as super-heavy assault vehicles and mobile command centers. These enormous heavily-armed vehicles bristle with heavy cannons, energy weapons, and explosive launchers. As a rule any Ork vehicle of sufficient size will be called a Battlefortress by the Orks themselves and like most Ork vehicles there is very little standardization and they are highly customized, though several variants exist such as the “Dethrolla” and “Skullhamma”. Nonetheless, these vehicles are a match for any enemy counterpart on the battlefield short of a Titan. Ork Mek Boyz consider the construction of a Battlefortress to be one of their greatest achievements.

I first saw this conversion at Games Day 2007. These photographs were taken when it was on display at Warhammer World in 2024.

I do like the details on this model, the tracks have been converted and some of the road wheels have been replaced.

When this model was first shown I did consider buying a BaneBlade to copy the conversion and create my own Skullhamma. However as I wasn’t too sure about how it would turn out, also time and money, decided I would leave the idea as just that an idea. In the end I got a Battlewagon.

More photographs of the Skullhamma Battle Fortress.

The Great War at GamesDay 2007

Thirteen years ago today the 23rd September , it was GamesDay 2007 and I saw one of the best display games ever at the show, well one of my favourites.

It was Dave Andrews’ Warhammer Historical Great War game. The game was full of wonderful details and well painted miniatures and excellent scenery. I spent ages looking at it.

Mk IV Tank Male slowly trundles forward crushing the barbed wire obstacles in its path.
Mk IV Tank Male slowly trundles forward crushing the barbed wire obstacles in its path.
It's a well painted tank, excellent weathering.
It’s a well painted tank, excellent weathering.
The remains of a previous battle litter the area, this tank will fight no more.
The remains of a previous battle litter the area, this tank will fight no more.
British Infantry advance through the ruins of a French village.
British Infantry advance through the ruins of a French village.

It’s the eye for detail which makes the scenery do well done, here the interior has not just been modelled, but ruined in a realistic manner as well. Continue reading “The Great War at GamesDay 2007”

Mark IV Tank with Fascine

At the Bovington Tank Museum you can get close up and personal with the first tanks that were built and used in combat, such as the Mark IV Tank.

First World War tanks, namely the British Mark IV, started the practice of carrying fascines on the roof, to be deployed to fill trenches that would otherwise be an obstacle to the tank.

Mark IV Tank with Fascine

The Mark IV was a British tank of the First World War. Introduced in 1917, it benefited from significant developments of the Mark I tank (the intervening designs being small batches used for training). The main improvements were in armour, the re-siting of the fuel tank and ease of transport. A total of 1,220 Mk IV were built: 420 “Males”, 595 “Females” and 205 Tank Tenders (unarmed vehicles used to carry supplies), which made it the most numerous British tank of the war.

The “Male” tanks were armed with three machine guns and two 6-pdrs. Whilst the “Female” tanks had Five .303 Lewis machine guns.

The Mark IV was first used in mid 1917 at the Battle of Messines Ridge. It remained in British service until the end of the war, and a small number served briefly with other combatants afterwards.

I have been working on a metal 15mm Mark IV Tank for use with the Home Guard.

Though I do really like the Flames of War Great War models, which have a lot more detail.

Mark IV Male

I also have a gallery of Mark IV tanks from a wonderful 28mm demonstration game at GamesDay 2007.

Mark IV Tank

Ork Air Waaagh! ‘Eavy Bommerz

Ork Air Waaagh! 'Eavy Bommerz

Next week we will see the release of the next expansion for Aeronautica Imperialis with the Ork Air Waaagh! ‘Eavy Bommerz.

Ork Air Waaagh! 'Eavy Bommerz

You get two bommerz in the box. They look very similar to the previous Epic scale Eavy Bommerz.

As you can see they are very similar to the original Epic Ork ‘Eavy Bommerz from GamesDay 2007.

Epic scale Ork Bommer

I really like the sound and look of the new game, but I realised I never finished my original blog post about it. I haven’t yet bought the rules, but may do so soon.

You can pre-order them from Games Workshop.

Imperial Manticore

The Manticore is a mobile multiple rocket launcher variant built on the Chimera chassis. The launcher is capable of firing a variety of rockets, from standard high explosive fragmentation warheads to oxyphosphur incendiary warheads, from air-gas to surface-to-air interceptor missiles.

From the Forge World displays at GamesDay 2007.

Thunderer Siege Tank

When the advanced technology of the Tank Hunters’s Laser Destroyer malfunctions, or is damaged in battle the Adeptus Mechanicus often re-gun the the Tank Hunter with a different weapon. A common converison is to replace the damaged Laser Destroyer with a Demolisher cannon, to fill the role of the Demolisher.

Thunderer Siege Tank

Photograph from the Forge World display cabinets at GamesDay 2007.

Imperial Guard Hydra

Hydra Flak Tank
Hydra Flak Tank

This impressive Imperial Guard Hydra was from the Forge World display cabinets at GamesDay 2007.

The Hydra’s main role is defending mobile Imperial Guard attacks from the unwanted attentions of enemy aircraft. Even in the abscence of airborne threats, the Hydra’s long barrelled auto-cannons are still a potent weapon against lighter vehicles and infantry.