Plastic Macharius Heavy Tank, perhaps?

Will we see a plastic version of the Macharius Heavy Tank?

The Macharius Heavy Tank stands as a testament to the ingenuity and desperation of the Imperium of Man. Born from a necessity to field potent armoured firepower when the legendary Baneblade super-heavy tank is unavailable, the Macharius represents a “second-generation” approach to heavy tank design.

I guess the question is whether the Macharius is a Horus Heresy era tank like the Malacador, or is considered more of a 40k Imperial Guard tank.

This is one of my favourite models, and is probably at the top of the list of wanted models.

Sadly the Macharius Heavy Tank and its many variants have been removed from the Games Workshop range. If the Macharius Omega had been in stock when I visited Warhammer World last year I would very likely have picked one up. The second hand market prices have gone up considerably as a result.

So I for one would be pleased if we did eventually see a plastic kit of the tank, well even a re-release of the resin kit as a made to order special.

More photographs of the Macharius Heavy Tank.

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank

The Rogal Dorn Battle Tank is larger than the standard Leman Russ battle tank. A huge tank that provides support for the infantry of the Imperial Guard.

Imperial Guard Hellhammer

This Imperial Guard Hellhammer was on display at Warhammer World.

Imperial Guard Hellhammer

The Hellhammer is a super-heavy tank of the Astra Militarum that is a variant of the infamous Baneblade tank. The Hellhammer replaces the rocket-assisted Mega Battle Cannon or Baneblade Cannon of the Baneblade with a Hellhammer Cannon, a variation of the Battle Cannon commonly found on the Leman Russ main battle tank. It has a shorter barrel with special heavy-gauge suppressors built into it that allows it to fire extremely high-calibre shells without ripping itself apart. These shells are designed to destroy armour and emplacements with an unstable sub-atomic charge.

Super Heavy Tanks of the Imperial Guard

In the display cabinets at Warhammer World there are some really nice models of the Astra Militarum Super Heavy Tanks.

Super Heavy Tanks of the Imperial Guard

Though, I like the little Chimera APC which has sneaked into the display.

More photographs of the Astra Militarum Super Heavy Tanks.

A single super-heavy tank is a dominant presence in an Astra Militarum battle line. As it ploughs inexorably forward it lays down a wide path of destruction. Enemy ranks shatter long before it reaches their position, and those unlucky few who are able to maintain their defensive formations are ground to paste under the slab-like plates of its tracks.

Imperial Guard Baneblade

This Imperial Guard Armageddon Steel Legion Baneblade was in the display cabinets at Warhammer World.

Imperial Guard Baneblade

The Baneblade is the primary super-heavy tank of the Astra Militarum, and one of the largest and oldest armoured fighting vehicles in the service of the Imperial armed forces. The tank is a venerated Standard Template Construct (STC) design, with ten people needed to fully crew one. It is also one of the oldest STC designs in existence. They are often used as command vehicles by Imperial Guard commanders.

Bristling with armaments, a Baneblade is less of a tank and more of a rolling fortress. An unmistakable icon of the Imperium’s armoured supremacy, a single one of these super-heavy war engines can serve as the mailed fist of an Astra Militarum offensive, or as the unassailable lynchpin of even the most desperate of defences.

Baneblade miniatures gallery

Kill Team Ratlings

I missed out on getting the Kill Team box Kill Team: Brutal and Cunning, which sold out more quickly that I anticipated. However the individual teams from that box set have been released and one I am thinking about getting is the Ratlings.

Ratlings are snipers and spotters without peer in the Astra Militarum – these abhumans are small in stature, and unusually sneaky. They often operate behind enemy lines, reporting on targets of interest and neutralising choice targets with extreme prejudice.

I did get the Provisionally Prepared limited edition box, which features two halflings, sorry abhuman Ratlings, hiding behind some ruins. One is a sniper and preparing to shoot, the other is preparing lunch.

The boxed set of Ratlings builds 10 Ratlings, a Ratling Battlemutt, an Ammo Cache marker, and two Tripwire markers. 

All great looking models.

Cadian Imperial Guard Heavy Weapons Squad

This Cadian Imperial Guard Heavy Weapons Squad was on display at Warhammer World.

Cadian Imperial Guard Heavy Weapons
Cadian Imperial Guard Heavy Weapons

While massed infantry can overwhelm the foe, it often falls to Heavy Weapons Squads to deliver the killing blow. These teams of gun crews swiftly set up their mobile heavy weapons as their comrades advance, providing the firepower to bolster battle lines. With access to an arsenal of portable armaments, they can offer close fire support with adaptable loadouts of precise – or indiscriminate – firepower.

Across the three teams are a lascannon, heavy bolter, and an autocannon.

Imperial Guard Shadowsword

Imperial Guard Shadowsword from the display cabinets at Warhammer World.

Shadowsword
Shadowsword

The Imperial Shadowsword Super Heavy Tank is the sister tank of the more common Baneblade super-heavy tank of the Astra Militarum. The Shadowsword is a nearly identical super-heavy tank to the Baneblade with the exception of its armament and battlefield role as a Titan-killer. Armed with a massive forward-firing gun known as a Volcano Cannon the Shadowsword’s primary focus during combat is the destruction of enemy Titans.

Imperial Guard Shadowsword Miniatures Gallery

Astra Militarum Wyvern Suppression Tank

Astra Militarum Wyvern

The Wyvern Suppression Tank exchanges the Hydra’s anti-aircraft autocannons for a pair of twin-linked stormshard mortars. The tank excels in the claustrophobic environment of urban warfare, raining curtains of shrapnel down upon enemy infantry with ever exposing itself to harm.