Category: imperial guard

Imperial Guard Baneblade

This Imperial Guard Baneblade super heavy tank was on display at Warhammer World. It was from Damien Pedley’s collection.

The Baneblade super heavy tank is the standard super heavy for the Imperial Guard. It’s huge and the design is one of the oldest in service with the armed forces of the Imperium. It is one of the Standard Template Construct (STC) designs that ensures that  Forge Worlds across the galaxy are able to easily manufacture the tanks to a consistent design.  The size means a large crew, ten in all. They are often used as command vehicles by Imperial Guard commanders.

With a range of armaments, a Baneblade is less of a tank and more of a tracked 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 Imperial Guard offensive, or as the unassailable lynchpin of even the most desperate of defences.

This Tallarn Desert Raiders Baneblade, from the ‘Eavy Metal team,  was also on display at Warhammer World.

Another Baneblade painted by the Games Workshop team, was also at Warhammer World.

The Baneblade was originally an Epic design, but was then available as a modelling project in White Dwarf. Forge World produced a resin version for many years. In 2007 a plastic version of the tank was made available. We shouldn’t forget the 1/6th scale version that Forge World showcased at Games Day 2006.

Initially I wasn’t a fan, I thought it was too big, but over the years I have come to like the concept. Will I buy the model? Well I might.

Solar Auxilia Shadowsword Super Heavy Tank

This is a Solar Auxilia Shadowsword Super Heavy Tank on display at Warhammer World.

The Shadowsword is armed with a fearsome array of weapons – none more so than the mighty volcano cannon on its turret. It can also be equipped with a pair of sponsons sporting a twin heavy bolter or twin heavy flamer, each capped by a lascannon turret! The Shadowsword is the sister tank to the Baneblade, a super-heavy vehicle employed by Solar Auxilia cohorts to engage and destroy enemy macro-engines with its volcano cannon.

A single super-heavy tank is a dominant presence in the Solar Auxilia 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. The Shadowsword is equipped with one of the most fearsome primary weapons – the dreaded volcano cannon – and is capable of taking down Titans at extreme ranges. Nothing short of the most powerful energy fields can hope to stop a direct hit from its blasts.

The same chassis has also been adapted to mount different primary weapons suited to their own modes of destruction, like the bunker-busting Stormsword siege cannon or the versatile plasma blastgun of the Stormblade.

Stormsword

This Imperial Guard Stormsword super heavy tank was on display at Warhammer World.

The Stormsword is a super-heavy tank of the Astra Militarum that is the result of an ad hoc field conversion of a wrecked Shadowsword tank. The Shadowsword’s original Volcano Cannon and all of its internal components have been replaced with a massive Hellhammer Siege Cannon, called a “Stormsword Siege Cannon” when deployed on this tank, and internal storage for its huge shells. The Stormsword has proven very reliable during urban combat, and is equipped to fight in close-quarters and against garrisoned infantry.

The Stormsword fills the role of a close-combat super-heavy tank, whereas the Shadowsword fills the long-range role, the Stormblade fills the medium-range role, and the Baneblade fills the “all-around” role, capable of fighting equally well in close, medium, and long-range battles.

Imperial Guard Banehammer

These Imperial Guard Banehammers were on display at Warhammer World.

It is unknown when the Banehammer was first created but it has had much use, especially during the recent Tyrannic Wars.

The vehicle is primarily used by Imperial Guard commanders to halt massed enemy advances.

The Banehammer replaces the Baneblade’s Battle Cannon with a Tremor Cannon, which launches projectiles which bury themselves and detonate only after traveling some distance. On detonation, the shell releases a huge shock wave, liquefying the nearby ground and forcing enemy infantry and vehicles to literally crawl their way through or risk the consequences.

Tallarn Inquisitorial Stormtroopers in the desert

I have some Daemonhunters Inquisitorial Stormtroopers which are based on the Cadian Kasrkin I decided many years ago to add a unit based on the Tallarn.

Here are the finished troopers in the desert.

Check out the workbench feature on the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers (Tallarn Blister).

Check out the workbench feature on the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers (Tallarn Blister).

Basing the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers – Tallarn

I have some Daemonhunters Inquisitorial Stormtroopers which are based on the Cadian Kasrkin I decided many years ago to add a unit based on the Tallarn.

I had done some more work on them, but never got around to photographing them for the blog or website. As a result I had forgotten how much progress I had made with them. I painted their bases.

I drybrushed the bases with Citadel Ushabti Bone, which is a replacement for Bleached Bone.

Check out the workbench feature on the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers (Tallarn Blister).

Inquisitorial Stormtroopers – Tallarn

I have some Daemonhunters Inquisitorial Stormtroopers which are based on the Cadian Kasrkin I decided many years ago to add a unit based on the Tallarn. Having found some Tallarn Heavy Weapons blisters in a box, I dug around to see if I could find my other Tallarn models to finish them off. I did manged to find the boxed set, from which I had based and undercoated the models. I then later found the three models from the blister pack. What did surprise me slightly was I had done some more work on them, but never got around to photographing them for the blog or website. As a result I had forgotten how much progress I had made with them.

I did intend to paint the bases for the model next, but upon checking the workbench feature for my Inquisitorial Stormtroopers, I realised that I needed a paint I didn’t have. For my Inquisitorial Stormtroopers I painted the flocked (well sanded) bases with Bestial Brown and then drybrushed with Bleached Bone. After that I went over the edge of the slottabase again with Bestial Brown.

I didn’t have a pot of Bestial Brown, and Citadel no longer manufacture that colour. According to the Dakka Dakka paint compatibility chart the best option is Mournfang Brown. So, the next time I was out and about I bought a pot of Mournfang Brown. I used this to paint the bases of the Tallarn Imperial Guard.

Check out the workbench feature on the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers (Tallarn Blister).

Campaign weary Rogal Dorn Battle Tank

So, we know there is a new tank coming for the Imperial Guard.

Rogal Dorn Tank

The new Rogal Dorn Battle Tank is a behemoth of a vehicle, perfectly suited for smashing enemy positions and anchoring defensive lines. Its heavy armour gives it durability worthy of the Praetorian’s name, while its powerful engines ensure it doesn’t fall behind squadrons of Leman Russ Battle Tanks.

In a recent post on the Warhammer Community we learnt a little more about the kit and how the model goes together.

As I read the article it got me thinking about building a camping weary Rogal Dorn tank, a fighting vehicle that has been out in the field for a while.

It’s also the first time we’ve shown proper suspension on a tank kit, so you can leave off the side skirts and see the wheels. 

Now this is interesting, I quite like the idea of modelling the tank without skirts, maybe they got lost during a firefight.

The stowage is also really versatile – there are plenty of sandbags, packs, tools, and oil canisters – but we’ve been careful with the sizing so they fit in lots of different places. 

I like this idea, I can see how this will allow you to create a tank which has been on a long campaign. Covered in stowage and personal belongings. This isn’t a parade ready tank, this is a fighting vehicle that has been fighting for a long time.

I suspect it won’t be long before it’s available in pre-order.

New Rogal Dorn Battle Tank for the Imperial Guard

Rogal Dorn Tank

So there is a new tank coming for the Imperial Guard.

The new Rogal Dorn Battle Tank is a behemoth of a vehicle, perfectly suited for smashing enemy positions and anchoring defensive lines. Its heavy armour gives it durability worthy of the Praetorian’s name, while its powerful engines ensure it doesn’t fall behind squadrons of Leman Russ Battle Tanks.

Its turret mounts either two full-size battle cannons, or an enormous oppressor cannon. 

Like the idea of this model. A nice big Imperial tank. This is bigger than a Leman Russ, but smaller than the Baneblade.

Rogal Dorn Tank

It’s interesting that for many years Forge World produced resin tanks that were also bigger than a Leman Russ, but smaller than the Baneblade. Tanks such as the Malcador Heavy Tank…

…and the Macharius Heavy Tank.

Imperial Macharius Heavy Tank
Imperial Macharius Heavy Tank

I do wonder why they decided to design a completely new tank, though I am reminded of the Imperial Guard Raganrok tank that was developed for Epic.

I suspect it might be that attempting to recreate an existing resin model in plastic was challenging, and to ensure that the sprues would fit in the box they needed to start from scratch.

Having said that, as I said I do like this model.  Also I like that the kit comes with tons of detail parts, so you can add tool stowage, track links, and other bits and bobs all over the chassis, as well as a range of weapon options.