Category: warhammer world

Tau TX4 Piranha

Tau TX4 Piranha
Tau TX4 Piranha

A TX4 Piranha is a type of lightly armoured combat scout skimmer used by the Tau Fire Caste – a mobile weapons platform that is capable of great speed and manoeuvrability. Using its jet-thrusters and anti-gravitic engine, a Piranha is a fast moving craft that is extremely hard for a foe to hit, its twin crew well able to hug the terrain and make the best use of any cover. Furthermore, a Piranha’s weaponry allows it to punch well above its own weight, either using its Burst Cannon to slaughter enemy infantry, or using a Fusion Blaster to blow apart battle tanks many times its own size. Along with a nose-mounted main armament, a Piranha carries two Gun Drones — either retained on the vehicle to add firepower, or detached into AI (Artificial Intelligence) mode to perform some other mission. When operating as lone hunters, Piranhas are dangerous enough, but it is when they are fielded in teams that they become truly lethal.

The Battle of Vesh’yo – Tau versus Adeptus Mechanicus

This diorama of The Battle of Vesh’yo was on display at Warhammer World.

The legions of the Cult Mechanicus launch an assault on the resource-rich Tau colony world of Vesh’yo, intent on plundering it to feed the insatiable appetites of their Forge Worlds. The mighty Titans of Legio Atarus walk alongside the Knights of House Col Khak, bound to the Lords of Mars by oaths of fealty even older than the Imperium. But will this be enough to defeat the cutting-edge technology of the upstart xenos? Can even a Titan prevail against T’au Supremacy Armour?

There was a huge display of Tau forces defending themselves against an attacking force of Imperial Knights and Titans. At the heart of the display is the huge Tau Manta.

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 armored firepower when the legendary Baneblade super-heavy tank is unavailable, the Macharius represents a “second-generation” approach to heavy tank design.

Larger than the ubiquitous Leman Russ Battle Tank but significantly smaller than the Baneblade it seeks to emulate, the Macharius is a product of necessity. Forge Worlds, eager to secure lucrative military contracts, often lack the Standard Template Constructs (STCs) – ancient blueprints for advanced technology – required to manufacture the truly colossal Baneblade or its equally formidable kin, the Shadowsword.

Deprived of these sacred designs, Forge Worlds are left to their own devices, leading to a diverse array of Macharius variants. Some emphasize heavy firepower with powerful cannons, while others prioritize mobility and armor. This diversity reflects the decentralised nature of Imperial production and the inherent limitations imposed by the absence of standardised designs.

The Macharius, despite its limitations, serves a vital role in the defense of the Imperium. It provides a potent armored fist for the Imperial Guard, capable of punching through enemy lines and supporting infantry assaults. However, its reliance on local Forge World ingenuity and the lack of standardized production inevitably results in a less consistent and less predictable performance compared to the meticulously engineered Baneblade.

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 in September I would very likely have picked one up. The second hand market prices have gone up considerably as a result.

More photographs of the Macharius Heavy Tank.

Cathedral of the Martyr Resplendent

The Cathedral of the Martyr Resplendent was a diorama at Warhammer World. It featured Word Bearers fighting Adepta Sororitas inside a Cathedral.

The Talledus system burns. Totalitarian faiths are the fuel, frenzied zealotry the spark that sets it ablaze. Hordes of Chaos-worshipping Word Bearers assault the strongholds of the Imperial creed, toppling statues and hurling libraries of holy texts into the flames.

The Cathedrum of the Martyr Resplendent is one such imperilled bastion, where the Battle Sisters of the Order of Our Martyred Lady make their stand, with righteous revulsion in their hearts.

Alongside the diorama were a fair few Adepta Sororitas models including this Adepta Sororitas Exorcist.

The Exorcist exemplifies the Adepta Sororitas’s unique blend of fervent devotion and ruthless prosecution of heresy. This mobile shrine to the Emperor is a masterpiece of ornate craftsmanship, rolling into battle while broadcasting hymns of praise. These inspiring sounds resonate across the battlefield, filling the hearts of the faithful with renewed faith and pride. When squadrons of Exorcists advance in armored spearheads, their combined hymns transform even the most brutal warzone into a resounding cathedral.

There was a also an Adepta Sororitas Castigator.

Castigators are formidable battle tanks of the Adepta Sororitas, designed to provide devastating fire support for their Battle Sisters. These heavily armored vehicles are equipped with a diverse arsenal, allowing them to engage a wide range of targets. Their primary role is to shatter enemy formations and decimate infantry ranks with overwhelming firepower. A single volley from a Castigator can tear through tightly packed enemy squads, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Whether unleashing a barrage of bolter fire, incinerating foes with flamestorms, or unleashing volleys of missiles, Castigators excel at clearing the path for advancing Sisters, turning the tide of battle in mere seconds. Their presence on the battlefield is a testament to the Emperor’s might, a symbol of righteous fury unleashed upon His foes.

Thunderbolt Fighter

Thunderbolt Fighter

The Thunderbolt heavy fighter is one of the two main fighter aircraft patterns used by the Imperial Navy, the other of which is the Lightning air superiority fighter. The Thunderbolt is the mainstay weapon system of Imperial Navy fighter wings and is a rugged, well-armed and armoured heavy fighter with all-around capabilities, a good maximum speed and above-average maneuverability, powerful nose-mounted weapons and hard points located on the wings for missile or bomb load-outs.

Mark Bedford’s excellent Thunderbolt diorama.

It is an aircraft that is well-liked by those who fly and service it and it has served the cause of the Emperor for many centuries.

Thunderbolt Fighter

The Thunderbolt’s primary combat role is as an air superiority fighter. It seeks out and engages enemy aircraft in dogfights or hunts enemy bombers to establish air superiority. The Thunderbolt’s greatest strength is its versatility, since it has good performance as a high-altitude escort fighter while it is also serviceable in the roles of a low-altitude fighter-bomber, night fighter or even as a reconnaissance aircraft when necessary.

Skorpius Disintegrator

The Skorpius Disintegrator of the Adeptus Mechanicus drifts gracefully across the dunes, its anti-grav motors thrumming quietly in stark contrast to its thundering guns. As it accompanies the advancing Skitarii phalanxes, the Skorpius Disintegrator delivers punishing salvoes from its ferrumite or belleros energy cannons, while its cognis heavy stubbers and disruptor missile launcher spit death at any who would threaten the armoured vessel.

Skorpius Disintegrator
Skorpius Disintegrator
Skorpius Disintegrator

Marauder Bomber at Warhammer World

Marauder Bomber

The Marauder Bomber is the workhorse of the Imperial Navy.

Marauder Bomber

Capable of both atmospheric and void operations, it is used as an attack craft in fleet actions as well as fulfilling a tactical role, supporting ground offensives by bombing enemy troop concentrations and support positions.

Marauder Bomber

Such tactical bombing missions are often launched prior to, and in support of, Imperial Guard offensives.

Onager Dunecrawler

Onager Dunecrawler

Owing its origin to the lost knowledge of millennia, the Onager Dunecrawler is based on the Mars Universal Land Engine; itself inspired by the bad-tempered beasts of burden that transported their masters across Holy Terra in ancient times. The Onager Dunecrawler, rather than being a mere people-carrier, is absolutely brimming with advanced, powerful weaponry capable of reducing worlds to wastelands.