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This diorama shows a flight crew preparing an Imperial Navy Thunderbolt fighter for battle.
The amazing Dave Andrews made this fantastic diorama for the 1995 Open category Golden Demon and it won Gold. This was before the time of the Forge World Thunderbolt and even before Forge World!
More photographs of the diorama.
This Space Marine Whirlwind was on display at Warhammer World.
The Whirlwind is an adaptation of the Rhino design, a lightly armoured tank chassis armed with a multiple rocket launcher system capable of raining precision fire down upon enemy positions. Thanks to its target acquisition system, the Whirlwind is able to bombard hidden or entrenched targets with incredible accuracy, often from behind the safety of cover.
This is the kit version of the original Whirlwind artillery vehicle, based on the original Rhino kit. It was on display at Warhammer World. It comprised a plastic Rhino kit and metal components.
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. 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
There were quite a few Arvus Lighter models on display at Warhammer World.
Some of these are the original resin Forge World models, but there was also some examples using the new plastic kit that was released for The Horus Heresy. The main differences between the resin and plastic models are in the engine cowling and around the cockpit. Otherwise these are very similar models.
I have the new Horus Heresy plastic Arvus Lighter on my workbench.
This Imperial Fists Predator was on display at Warhammer World.
It makes use of the first plastic Rhino kit. The additional parts are metal, including the sponsons and the turret.
Here is another view from an earlier visit to Warhammer World.
Photographs of my Imperial Fists Deimos Pattern Predator.
On my previous visit to Warhammer World I took various photographs of the resin Forge World model which was on display. On my most recent visit in June 2025 I was able to take a photograph of the new(ish) plastic Arvus Lighter in the display cabinets.
Comparing the plastic version to the resin version there are some subtle differences.
The main areas are in the engine cowling and around the cockpit. Otherwise these are very similar models.
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. 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
I have the new Horus Heresy plastic Arvus Lighter on my workbench.
I made a visit to Warhammer World in June 2025, in the display cabinets were the new models for the Army of Grand Cathay for Warhammer Old World.
Charged with the defence of the Great Bastion, the Armies of Grand Cathay are experienced and battle-tested warriors. For centuries, they have kept the legions of the Ruinous Powers at bay. Though the Empire of the Celestial Dragon lies far from the nations of the Old World, Cathayan merchants have plied the ocean waves for hundreds of years, and vast armies of Jade Warriors and Lancers pledge to fight alongside or against the armies of the west in times of peril.
Since I started playing Warhammer Fantasy back in the 1980s I al ways liked the idea of a Cathay army, now we have the models. I really like the Cathayan Sentinel and the Sky Lantern.
This Imperial Guard Armageddon Steel Legion Baneblade was in the display cabinets at Warhammer World.
The Baneblade is the primary super-heavy tank of the Astra Militarum, and one of the largest and oldest armoured fighting vehicles in the service of the Imperial armed forces. The tank is a venerated Standard Template Construct (STC) design, with ten people needed to fully crew one. It is also one of the oldest STC designs in existence. They are often used as command vehicles by Imperial Guard commanders.
Bristling with armaments, a Baneblade is less of a tank and more of a rolling 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 Astra Militarum offensive, or as the unassailable lynchpin of even the most desperate of defences.
I made a visit to Warhammer World in June 2025. One of the displays at Warhammer World was this Horus Heresy battle, entitled, The Fall Of Outpost Sigma-12.
Traitor forces breach the Imperial Fist’s last defensive lines at Outpost Sigma-12 on Cthonia. Undermined by the Sons of Horus’ subterranean onslaught, the Loyalists are determined to fight to the last in the name of the Emperor. They ultimately reap such a toll of Traitor lives that any victory won was a hollow one. This battle would be one of the last fought during the Horus Heresy, for shortly after its bloody conclusion Horus launched his assault on the Emperor’s Palace on distant Terra.
I recently blogged about the Sons of Horus miniatures in that display. On my most recent visit to Warhammer World, I took some more photographs of the display.
One of the displays at Warhammer World was this Horus Heresy battle, entitled, The Fall Of Outpost Sigma-12.
Traitor forces breach the Imperial Fist’s last defensive lines at Outpost Sigma-12 on Cthonia. Undermined by the Sons of Horus’ subterranean onslaught, the Loyalists are determined to fight to the last in the name of the Emperor.
They ultimately reap such a toll of Traitor lives that any victory won was a hollow one. This battle would be one of the last fought during the Horus Heresy, for shortly after its bloody conclusion Horus launched his assault on the Emperor’s Palace on distant Terra.
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.