Category: news

They come from the skies…

The Grey Knights are about to descend upon us….

We are about to see the imminent release of the new Grey Knights from Games Workshop and on the GW website is a real taste of what we can expect in this revamping of the Grey Knights. The models are now available to pre-order.

As well as lots of new plastic models, the main difference is the change in emphasis from Daemonhunters to Grey Knights in the new Codex. Previously the focus of the older Codex was with the Inquisition and entourage, with the Grey Knights very much there, but their role was supporting an Inquisitor. From the rumours and recently released pictures, what we will see in this new Codex is the focus now been on the Grey Knights. This Codex is about the Grey Knights and their weapons of war.
As expected the Stormraven is a key part of any Grey Knights force, but we also see some new and interesting models, particularly the Nemsis Dreadknight.

Its powerful weaponry will happily tear through any enemy army, both at range and in assault.

As a 4-Wound Monstrous Creature with the same save as a Terminator armour, the Nemesis Dreadknight’s adamantium-alloy skeleton also lends it incredible durability.

I like it and I don’t like it… probably something I need to see in the flesh (plastic) to see what it really is like. Reminds me of the older Eldar War Walker model.

These new releases may be the impetus I need to finish my own Grey Knights force.

Forge World Big Trakk Concept

One of the nice things about talking to the Forge World designers, whether it be at GamesDay or the Forge World Open Days is seeing how they move models from ideas and drawings to concepts to finished product.

This Ork concept vehicle based on the Ork Trukk eventually became the Big Trakk.

Forge World Big Trakk Concept

The other side was more of a half-trakk opposed to the full tracked side here.

If you compare it to the Big Trakk model you can see how the model evolved.

Forge World Big Trakk Concept

Flames of War – Battle of the Bulge




One other line in the news from Flames of War caught my eye and that was a reference to the Battle for the Bulge.

Following on from Italy we will be heading into the Bulge at the end of the year as well as creating another set of compilations for the Christmas season as we did last year with D-Day.

It would appear that as they did with the D-Day compilations, late in 2011 we will see a similar compilation for the late war. I don’t know what new releases we will see, but we did get a few new releases for D-Day so we may see some new ones for the late war.

I would like to see two tanks in particular, the M24 Chaffee and the British Comet. These tanks are currently not in the FoW range.

M24 Chaffee

The Light Tank M24 was an American light tank used during World War II and in postwar conflicts including the Korean War and with the French in the First Indochina War and war in Algeria. In British service it was given the service name Chaffee, after the United States Army General Adna R. Chaffee, Jr., who helped develop the use of tanks in the United States armed forces.

Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34)

The Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British cruiser tank that first saw use near the end of World War II. It was designed to provide greater anti-tank capability to Cromwell tank squadrons.

Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34)

It was armed with a 77mm HV, a derivative of the 17 pounder, with the result it was one of the few British tanks with the firepower to challenge late war German designs.

I would also like to see some Late War Monsters in a similar vein to the Mid War Monsters that we have seen before. As well as the German Maus, King Tiger II and E series, we could on the allied side see the Centurion and M26 Pershing. There are also the T29 and T30 US Heavy Tanks that could also be fielded.

T29 Heavy Tank

Talking of Monsters, some Early War Monsters wouldn’t go amiss either, the French Char 2C would be one example.

So a fair bit to look forward to for Flames of War in 2011.

Return to Vietnam

Flames of War will be returning to Vietnam…

Last year in Wargames Illustrated we tried something new and let a charge of enthusiasm for an exciting period, led by Pete, culminate in our first attempt at adapting the Flames Of War mechanics to other periods. The result was a wonderful success and with so many people getting excited about both the idea and the period we realised that it could not simply be a one-off. What we have decided to do is bring you Vietnam part II this April with a following instalment each year. The rolling plan has us adding to the forces, models and how it can be played. This has made us realise that Flames Of War Vietnam has become our second period and it will receive ongoing support.

Phil takes us back to a Vietnam in WI282 to bring you the armour and new helicopters for the US and the big guns for the PAVN. Rather than just taking up space in WI we decided to include the 48 page intelligence handbook as a bonus with WI so that everything you need to play is now its own book as well as being free. Phil being the excellent chap he is did not only get you new lists but included everything from the first outing we made to Vietnam so this booklet really has everything you need to play.

Read more

There are going to be a range of new models too, including tanks and the M113 APC with variants.

Quite like the models. Not so sure I will be buying into the era though. Apart from NVA and Vietcong infantry, the US seem to have all the firepower and armour (as they did in Vietnam). Then again I did enjoy Full Metal Jacket and Platoon, so maybe…

Operation Sealion – Airfix Magazine

The Vintage Wargaming blog has a nice series of posts with scans of the 1975 Airfix magazine that explored Operation Sealion, the possibility, the weapons and wargaming the invasion. Some really nice pictures of old 20mm wargames complete with Airfix railway scenery (the kits now available from Dapol) as well as Airfix military vehicles. Well worth a look.

Going Feral

With the imminent release of the new Warhammer Fantasy Orcs and Goblins army book, Games Workshop have announced various Orc models for pre-order.

Like any good Warhammer 40K Ork player it’s always worth a look to see what can be cannbalised for your Ork army.

My initial thoughts were about getting some reinforcements for my Feral Ork force.

The new Savage Orcs with a few additions would make some very nice Feral Ork Boyz.

To be honest I am not so keen on the Savage Orc Boar Boyz and will probably stick with “normal” Boar Boyz.

My main problem is the Savage Orcs seem to be sitting very high upon their Boars. The “normal” Boar Boyz are much more tightly crouched on their mounts.

I do quite like the Nasty Skulkers.

I think they would make for some fine Grots for my Orks.

And then we come to the Arachnarok Spider…

I don’t know, but for some reason I do like the model and would love to use it with my Ork army. There is something outrageous and silly about a huge spider and this would make for a setpiece for a Feral Ork army. Not so sure what the Imperial Guard would make of it though…

Outcasts

Outcasts is a new SF drama from the BBC which premieres on the 7th February.

The story follows a group of individuals who, after the destruction of the earth, try to live a new life on an alien planet. The new planet Carpathia has had human colonists creating a new colony for ten years. The series starts as they await the final ship from earth.

Settled in the town of Forthaven on Carpathia, the Outcasts are passionate about their jobs, confident of their ideals and optimistic about the future. They work hard to preserve what they’ve built on this planet they now call home, having embraced all the challenges that come with forging a new beginning.

They are led by President Tate and his core team of Stella, Cass and Fleur – they took charge and settled here first alongside Expeditionaries Mitchell and Jack.

They are a diverse group of individuals who left their old lives behind in extraordinary circumstances; promised a second chance at life they created a society, far away from their home, friends, family… and their pasts.

The planet offers the possibility for both corruption and redemption; while they try to avoid the mistakes made on Earth, inevitably our heroes cannot escape the human pitfalls of love, greed, lust, loss, and a longing for those they’ve left behind.

As they continue to work and live together they come to realise this is no ordinary planet… is there a bigger purpose at work? Mystery lurks around them and threatens to risk the fragile peace of Forthaven.

Set in 2040 this is a series that won’t have lots of tech and technobabble.
This is more of a drama set on an alien world, rather than a sci-fi series with dramatic scenes. It’s about human relationships rather than dealing with aliens, alien technology or invasive species.

It sounds an interesting premise and I will certainly be watching the first episode.

Find out more on Outcasts.