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One of the reveals at the World Championships Preview back in November was a plastic Arvus Lighter for The Horus Heresy.
This week we found out that it goes on pre-order on the 18th January.
I said in my previous post when the model was announced.
I really like this model and I will probably get this when it is released.
Though released for The Horus Heresy, I suspect it would also make a great model for, not just Warhammer 40K, but also Necromunda.
This was one of those models that I liked the idea of. If you have ever seen the special edition of ALIENS, you will remember that the Colonial Marines used automated sentry guns to defend the colony from the aliens. I am pretty confident that these models are inspired by that film. In the pack you get two identical sprues that allow you to build two turrets mounted with twin grenade launchers, and two with twin heavy stubbers. It also includes ammo crates and control consoles. The models go together quite easily.
There is quite a bit of undercut on these models, so I had to do a double spray for the undercoat.
I gave the guns a base coat of Citadel Leadbelcher. The ammo cases I sprayed with Army Painter Army Green Spray.
The next stage will be a wash.
This was one of those models that I liked the idea of. If you have ever seen the special edition of ALIENS, you will remember that the Colonial Marines used automated sentry guns to defend the colony from the aliens. I am pretty confident that these models are inspired by that film. I also liked the Tarantula sentry guns that were once available from Forge World.
In the pack you get two identical sprues that allow you to build two turrets mounted with twin grenade launchers, and two with twin heavy stubbers. It also includes ammo crates and control consoles. The models go together quite easily.
As is the case with many Games Workshop models there are a number of parts, some quite fiddly. Next stage will be a white undercoat.
This was one of those models that I liked the idea of. If you have ever seen the special edition of ALIENS, you will remember that the Colonial Marines used automated sentry guns to defend the colony from the aliens. I am pretty confident that these models are inspired by that film.
I also liked the Tarantula sentry guns that were once available from Forge World.
In the pack you get two turrets mounted with twin grenade launchers, and two with twin heavy stubbers. It also includes ammo crates and control consoles.
Trazior Pattern Sentry Guns are illegal within the underhive, and with good reason – they will indiscriminately fire at anything that moves within its sights. However, gangs caught in desperate firefights still find uses for these deadly sentry weapons, just as long as they can keep out of the crossfire.
I don’t play Necromunda, and I don’t have any gang models, however I do like some of the terrain and scenery items.
In the box are two identical sprues.
So the first stage will be construction of the models.
With its tracked propulsion, the Ironcrawler can drive over anything – from sand and rocks to prone enemy gangers or Gun-smyths who’ve sold you dodgy merchandise. Its sealed cab keeps the driver safe from radioactive dust storms and radioactive gangers alike, for a true all-terrain vehicle.
This kit is a combination of plastic and resin. I do like this model and think it is a much better model than the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler. I was a bit on the fence with the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler and never bought one. Though they did bring out the trailer and the Promethium Tanks trailer, the concept still didn’t really work for me.
However, the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler model has a realistic industrial feel to it. I can see this not just in the Ash Wastes, but also in games of Warhammer 40K. I quite like the Necromunda range, it has some nice models that can add to the look and feel of 40K scenery and games.
Now with the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler I am also thinking that this could make a good hauler for a land train. Then I got thinking about making some armed and armoured trailers for a land train. One option would be to add wheels instead of the tracks to the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler, as the chassis is probably the same as the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler.
Another idea I have thought about for the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler is to paint it in JCB yellow as a piece of scenery. Though it is missing a dozer blade.
On my most recent visit to Warhammer World I certainly was tempted to pick one of these up. I thought it was quite reasonable at £99. In the end though I went with some other things. So, may as well add this model to my ever increasing list of wants!
Various Arvus Lighter models were on display at Warhammer World.
The Arvus Lighter is a small, general purpose cargo shuttle that is widely used by the Imperium of Man for many tasks, both in space and on the surface of planets. The Arvus is commonly used by both Imperial Navy warships and Imperial merchant vessels, including Rogue Traders.
This Arvus Lighter was part of a Necromunda diorama.
The Arvus is just one of many types of small, void-capable shuttles used by the Imperium. The Arvus is piloted by a single pilot, and is not equipped with any weapon systems, in fact, the Arvus possesses only the most basic navigation equipment, external sensors, and proximity alarms.
The Arvus has a powerful engine that allows it to carry heavy cargo to and from a planet’s surface.
The Necromunda Cargo-8 Ridgehauler was on display at Warhammer World.
The Guild of Coin rules the roads of Necromunda. They transport material between hives and, for a hefty price, they’ll even smuggle weapons and people. Crossing the arid, violent, and irradiated ash wastes is a risky business, so the guild employs convoys of Cargo-8 Ridgehaulers. These hulking vehicles are perfect for traversing the dunes thanks to their massive wheels and sturdy engines, hauling trailers of armoured containers and transport carriages across the Great Equatorial Wastes, but their true appeal comes from their modularity – it takes little effort to outfit one with enough guns to make it a mobile fortress, ready to repel gang ambushes and raids.
Back in January 2022 we were given a glimpse of a vehicle used in the Ash Wastes of Necromunda, though we had no idea what it was. It looked interesting though, I did like the concept of a land train running though the ash wastes and getting attacked by raiders.
There were echoes of Mad Max and Car Wars in all this. However at this stage this was a concept, and we got some idea about the vehicle from the drawings in the animation.
Then we found out that the land train was the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler.
Goods from the hive manufactories are ferried across the poisoned wastes on great land trains. There’s money to be made from protecting the Guild of Coin’s Cargo-8 Ridgehaulers, which are juicy targets both for the nomadic denizens of the Ash Wastes and for gangs of underhive bandits.
My reaction was a little muted to the reveal. It wasn’t quite what I was thinking it might be. It seems to have been built around the Munitorum Armoured Container and I am not sure if this works. Well I get that the background is about moving goods across the ash wastes, so need containers to move it.
We did get some additional trailers, but I really felt that this wasn’t the concept we saw in the original animation. I decided that this wasn’t a model I would buy. However, I still like the concept of an armoured land train.
This Ironhead Squat Prospectors Skalvian Explorator was on display at Warhammer World.
The Skalvian Explorator is an indomitable example of Ironhead Squat technology, a heavy all-terrain exploration and excavation vehicle suited to extracting the wealth of the Great Equatorial Wastes, surviving its many perils, and ferrying cargo back to safety. Though the Ironhead Squat Prospectors are master weapon makers, much of their equipment is based upon mining tools, and the Explorator’s armoured bulk makes it a match for many purpose-built war machines.
I do like this model, it has some real charm. I do think there are some really nice Necromunda models out there.
The Escher Cutters for Necromunda which were previewed in August will be available to pre-order next week.
The Escher Cutter is a solution dreamed up by the engineers of the House of Blades, who are clearly enjoying slightly too many of their own Clan Chymists’ chemical creations. It’s a jetbike in its purest form – a giant engine propelling Escher gangers at staggering speeds and the ability to soar over buildings and rivals. Combine that with the underslung weapons – a choice of twin-linked grenade launchers, plasma guns, or heavy stubbers – and these beauties really pack a punch, no matter where they are in the engagement zone.
Looking at them again, I am thinking they would make great Tallarn Rough Riders.
They certainly have a Star Wars Tattonie desert planet buzz about them, which, made me think of using them with my desert Imperial Guard Tallarn models.
Obviously I would need to convert the riders, but there are quite a few third party Tallarn alternate heads available now.
Having seen the announcement only a couple of weeks ago, I was a little surprised to see that the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler available to pre-order next week.
This kit is a combination of plastic and resin, and it will be available to pre-order next week from Forge World.
I do like this model and think it is a much better model than the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler. I was a bit on the fence with the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler and never bought one. Though they did bring out the trailer and the Promethium Tanks trailer, the concept didn’t really work for me.
I do like the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler model, it has a realistic industrial feel to it. I can see this not just in the Ash Wastes, but also in games of Warhammer 40K. I quiet like the Necromunda range has some nice models that can add to the look and feel of 40K scenery and games.
Now with the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler I am also thinking that this could make a good hauler for a land train. Then I got thinking about making some armed and armoured trailers for a land train. One option would be to add wheels instead of the tracks to the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler, as the chassis is probably the same as the Cargo-8 Ridgehauler.
Another idea I have thought about for the Chronos Pattern Ironcrawler is to paint it in JCB yellow as a piece of scenery. Though it is missing a dozer blade.
Well add this model to my ever increasing list of wants!