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I have always liked this jousting diorama, The Bretonnian Joust, by Dave Andrews which won the Open Competition in the 1996 Golden Demon awards.
The level of detail is outstanding. There are hoof marks in the ground, created using clay. The manuscript on the back is handwritten.
The Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy is a type of Ork attack vehicle. The first Rukkatrukk Squigbuggies were invented by enterprising Snakebites in order to feed Speed Freeks on the move. Mobile pens full of edible squigs, the vehicles kept pace with the warband’s Warbikers, buggies and Trukks while their grinning crews hawked their wares at the tops of their lungs.
Once a suitable bag of teef was slung across to them by a hungry driver or passenger, choice Squigs were loaded into the Rukkatrukk’s Squig Launchas and fired into the hands — or even waiting gobs — of the hungry customers. Legend has it that it was only after a rabid Attack Squig was accidentally stuffed into the launcha and fired into a luckless Ork’s face that the true potential of this mobile murder-menagerie was realised.
Nowadays, Rukkatrukk Squigbuggies are often seen muscling their way through their fellow Speed Freeks as they roar towards the front lines. Easily identified by their rugged construction, the throaty roar of their engines, and the anarchic masses of Squigs and Orks riding aboard them, these vehicles employ their close-range living artillery to wreak havoc amongst the enemy ranks.
See the workbench feature on my Ork Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy.
This Imperial Fists Astraeus was part of the Assault on Zybos diorama at Warhammer World.
The Astraeus is a super-heavy tank, similar in form to the smaller Repulsor transport in use by the newly created Primaris Space Marines. It mounts a formidable array of weapons, designed around a pair of immense macro-accelerator cannon. Providing a stable firing platform for these temperamental weapons are banks of enhanced repulsor plates, allowing the inexorable advance of the Astraeus to continue unhindered by hostile terrain or the vain defiance of the foe, while its layered void shields can shrug off even the most devastating weapon strikes.
The Warlord appears to be the most common class of Battle Titan in use by the Titan Legions of the Imperium of Man, and many Adeptus Mechanicus Forge Worlds field their own patterns of this class.
These Forge World models of the Warlord Titan were in the display cabinets at Warhammer World.
This Imperial Guard Doomhammer was on display at Warhammer World.
The magma cannon of the Doomhammer is a smaller version of the volcano cannon, though its compact size allows for troop transport space within the hull. The Doomhammer is armed with a fearsome array of weapons – none more so than the mighty magma 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!
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.
This Red Scorpions Land Raider with reinforced armour was on display at Warhammer World.
The Land Raider is an Imperial main battle tank and troop transport which serves as the “armoured fist of the Space Marines.” Available to the Space Marines, the Traitor Legions of the Chaos Space Marines and the forces of the Inquisition and Adeptus Mechanicus, it is one of the most resilient and iconic armoured vehicles in the galaxy.
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.
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.
An Imperial Macharius Vulcan Heavy Tank armed with a Vulcan Mega Bolter, Twin-Linked Heavy Stubber and two weapon sponsons.
The Vulcan variant of the Macharius Heavy Tank sacrifices much of the anti-armour capabilities of the Vanquisher variant for the ferocious anti-infantry firepower of the Vulcan Mega-Bolter, normally carried by Warhound-class Titans and commonly fielded to provide cover for other super-heavy tanks and suppress enemy heavy weapon positions with a devastating storm of shot and shell.
From Damien Pedley’s collection on display at Warhammer World.
My original thoughts on the model when it was released back in 2007. This is one of my favourite models, and is probably at the top of the list of wanted models. As I write this, it is temporarily out of stock. I think on my next visit to Warhammer World I might treat myself to the kit.