Category: imperial guard

Tallarn Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle

Games Workshop have just released the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle (for pre-order).

The Astra Militarum Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle serves as a vital asset for commanders needing to rapidly deploy infantry across hazardous warzones. Engineered for speed and efficiency, this rugged transport ferries squads to the front lines with a degree of protection that outclasses standard unarmored options. Its design prioritizes tactical flexibility, featuring an open-topped configuration that allows embarked Guardsmen to unleash a hail of las-fire while still protected by the vehicle’s sturdy hull, ensuring they arrive at the objective ready to fight rather than pinned down by suppressive fire.

This armoured half-track for the Imperial Guard has echoes of the World War Two M3 had track.

I do like the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle I am thinking about getting one to create a Long Range Desert Group inspired raiding force for my Tallarn forces.

The Long Range Desert Group (or LRDG) was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War.

One inspiration for me as to be the Matchbox kit of the Long Range Desert Group released back in 1976 which included a Chevrolet 30cwt patrol truck and a Willys Jeep, both stripped down and heavily modified for desert warfare.

When the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle was originally announced as a pre-order I wrote about this.

I am not sure how easy it will be to strip down the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle, but in order to give it that Long Range Desert Group look I will be adding stowage, extra fuel cans, canvas sand mats, sand channels, and other equipment. The actual Chevrolet 30cwt patrol trucks of the LRDG often had their doors, windscreens and roofs removed. I will have to see how the model is constructed before deciding how to strip it down.

Now the model is available to pre-order the Warhammer site has pictures of the sprues.

It is clear to me from the sprues that it should be possible to strip down the model to make it look more like something inspired by the Long Range Desert Group.

Hippogriff AFV

This weekend the Hippogriff AFV will be available to pre-order this weekend.

Keep up with the fastest vehicles and lay down powerful cover fire with the Hippogriff Armoured Fighting Vehicle. The Hippogriff brings raw agility, while carrying your choice of a vigilator cannon, chiron gatling cannon, melta cannon, or heavy lascannon.

When this was announced back in March I mentioned how it reminded me of Owen Rees’ Imperial Guard – The 374th Tahnelian Airborne Chimera APC conversions., Owen had made some wheeled armoured cars using the Chimera APC as a base for the conversion.

I do like the Hippogriff AFV and along with the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle I am thinking about getting them to create a Long Range Desert Group inspired raiding force for my Tallarn forces.

The Long Range Desert Group (or LRDG) was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War.

One inspiration for me as to be the Matchbox kit of the Long Range Desert Group released back in 1976 which included a Chevrolet 30cwt patrol truck and a Willys Jeep, both stripped down and heavily modified for desert warfare.

In order to give it that Long Range Desert Group look I will be adding stowage, extra fuel cans, canvas sand mats, sand channels, and other equipment.

Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle

This weekend the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle will be available to pre-order this weekend.

Ferry your troops to the front in the relative safety of the Astra Militarum’s newest people-mover – the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle. This speedy, economical vehicle can carry plenty of Guardsmen and has ample open roof space from which to shoot.

This armoured half-track for the Imperial Guard has echoes of the World War Two M3 half track.

I much prefer this model over the Taurox which was originally released back in 2014, really didn’t like it.

I do like the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle I am thinking about getting one (and a Hippogriff AFV) to create a Long Range Desert Group inspired raiding force for my Tallarn forces.

The Long Range Desert Group (or LRDG) was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War.

One inspiration for me as to be the Matchbox kit of the Long Range Desert Group released back in 1976 which included a Chevrolet 30cwt patrol truck and a Willys Jeep, both stripped down and heavily modified for desert warfare.

I am not sure how easy it will be to strip down the Centaur Rapid Strike Vehicle, but in order to give it that Long Range Desert Group look I will be adding stowage, extra fuel cans, canvas sand mats, sand channels, and other equipment. The actual Chevrolet 30cwt patrol trucks of the LRDG often had their doors, windscreens and roofs removed. I will have to see how the model is constructed before deciding how to strip it down.

We’ve seen this before?

One of the new models announced by Games Workshop at the Adepticon 2026 Preview was the Hippogriff AFV.

Hippogriff AFV

Hippogriff Armoured Fighting Vehicles provide ample firepower in a compact and mobile package that can keep up with roaring tank columns. Six wheels mounted on independent servo-axles gives them a good balance of speed and stability, while the turret can mount a flexible battle cannon, horde-shredding castigator gatling cannon, tank-destroying melta cannon, or bunker-busting lascannon.

Those with long memories may remember Owen Rees’ Imperial Guard – The 374th Tahnelian Airborne army which was on display in the cabinets twenty years ago at Games Day 2006. In his army were some wonderful Chimera conversions.

Imperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion)
mperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion). Part of Owen Rees’ Imperial Guard – The 374th Tahnelian Airborne, in the White Dwarf display cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Imperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion) Part of Owen Rees' Imperial Guard - The 374th Tahnelian Airborne, in the White Dwarf display cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Imperial Guard Chimera Armoured Car (conversion). Part of Owen Rees’ Imperial Guard – The 374th Tahnelian Airborne, in the White Dwarf display cabinets at GamesDay 2006.

Owen had created some wheeled armoured vehicles using the Chimera as a base. The new Hippogriff has echoes of these conversions.

Atalan Jackals as Tallarn Rough Riders

I managed to get a copy of #78 of Combat Patrol which came with the Atalan Jackals. Good value at £9.99 compared to the list price for the Jackals which are £40.

I am planning to use these as Tallarn Rough Riders.

You get four bikes and a quad bike.

Thinking about getting some replacement heads for them as well.

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 Rogal Dorn Battle Tank with an oppressor cannon and a co-axial autocannon
Imperial Guard Rogal Dorn Battle Tank with a twin battle cannon
Imperial Guard Rogal Dorn Battle Tank with an oppressor cannon and a co-axial autocannon
Imperial Guard Rogal Dorn Battle Tank with an oppressor cannon and a co-axial autocannon
Imperial Guard Rogal Dorn Battle Tank with an oppressor cannon and a co-axial autocannon
Imperial Guard Rogal Dorn Battle Tank with a twin battle cannon
Imperial Guard Rogal Dorn Battle Tank with a twin battle cannon
Imperial Guard Parade with Rogal Dorn Tanks leading
Imperial Guard Parade with Rogal Dorn Tanks leading

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.