Space Marine Landing Craft

One of the work in progress or concept models at GamesDay 2009 on the Forge World stand was this Space Marine Landing Craft.

Still very much a work in progress with similar look and feel to the Land Speeder, it may be released at some point.

Of course within the depths of Games Workshop there are lots of models like this, some see the light of day, others are consigned to the bin, or the archive, or a shelf never to be touched again! Why? Well most times it’s probably down to the quality of the model, the design, the concept, or even mistakes in the production process.

What I do like about this model is that it gives us an insight into how Forge World go about making their designs and models.

Ork Chinork

Forge World have now got the Ork ‘Chinork’ available to pre-order at £60.

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These intricate and more than slightly crazed flying machines are designed for one thing only; getting a mob of boyz into combat as fast as possible, with the added bonus of being able to shout insults at the footsloggers down below as they fly over their heads. The Warkopta is a full resin model and looks hugely Orkish as you can see Here, with twin chain-driven whirling blades, engines, rattler guns and lots of added detail, it even comes with a set of arms to enable you to model Games Workshop’s plastic Orks clinging on for dear life!

We originally saw the Chinork (or War Kopta) back in March at the Forge World Open Day.

I remember thinking that as it was challenging to see what it was and how it was put together whether I did in fact like it.

I really like the concept of a large Ork Kopta, I am not sure if the Chinork meets my expectations for such a vehicle.

I have two main concerns, one is a modelling concern, the other is the actual design.

I do like Forge World models and I have a lot of them, but as anyone who has ever made one will know, these are not plastic kits, these are resin masterpieces that don’t always go together as simple and easily as you like. I have had issues (shrinkage and gaps) with the Repressor and the Ork Halftrakk for example. I don’t mind as I expect to get these with these excellent models.

The thing with the Chinork is that I can foresee a problem with the chain joining the two rotars. However I should say I don’t have one therefore this is conjecture, but the thought has put me off slightly…

So what about the actual design? Well…. the design is very open plan, so I think it will only work with lots of Orks on board (well Forge World know that they are providing resin arms with the kit for the passengers). I think I would have preferred a more closed design (aka the Valkyrie) over the open platform of the Chinork. I do like the fact it is BIG though.

So will I be getting one?

Probably not.

More on the Ork Battlewagon

Having made the chassis, the next stage was adding more to the superstructure. Various details were added from the kit to the model. These included exhausts, doors, mudguards and other bitz.

Still kept the model separate for painting purposes.

See the full workbench feature on the Ork Battlewagon.

See photographs of completed Ork Battlewagons from various shows.

Manticore and Deathstrike

New from Games Workshop (well announced this week) are the Imperial Guard Manticore and Deathstrike missile systems.

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Deadly long-range artillery, the Imperial Guard Manticore Rocket Launcher and Deathstrike Missile Launchers are incredibly destructive war machines. While the Manticore launches a salvo of rockets, each of which disperses into multiple warheads, the Deathstrike fires a single, incredibly dangerous missile.

These fearsome vehicles are favoured by Imperial Guard commanders who like to pound their enemy into oblivion with relentless firepower from the other side of the battlefield.

These models which originated from the Epic gaming system give Imperial Guard players some very heavy artillery. It comes as one kit with the choice of either making it up as a Manticore or as a Deathstrike. Forge World gave us a 40K Manticore, but this is the first time we have seen an (official) Deathstrike.

I do like the Manticore which as a much lower profile than either the Epic or Forge World versions, but as for the Deathstrike… well it’s a nice model, but having seen the Epic version! I know that I would have liked to have seen something similar to this.

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Nice models, and I suspect Simon will be buying a few boxes…

Imperial Armour Volume 8: Raid on Kastorel-Novem has arrived

My copy of Imperial Armour Volume 8: Raid on Kastorel-Novem has arrived.

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A very impressive book from Forge World with some wonderful photographs and images. What did catch my eye were the buggy and wartrakk schematics, no idea if these will ever go into production, but they look nice.

Snakebitez Boar Boyz

I have made and painted some Boar Boyz for a Feral Ork force already and you can see how I made and painted those here.

Feral Ork Boar Boy

Having decided to make some more, unlike my other three Boars, for these models I also ordered some metal Cyboar heads from the old Snakebitez bitz range – this was before Games Workshop rationalised their online bitz store. So the Boars went together pretty easily. Though I had no tails! On the plastic boars, the tails are on the head sprue and I only ordered plastic boar bodies. Ah well out with the Green Stuff!

The models were given a white undercoat.

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This is my favourite which has a lot of armour plates and cybernetics.

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See the full workbench feature on these Boar Boyz.

Imperial Armour Volume 8: Raid on Kastorel-Novem

Forge World have (finally) released Imperial Armour Volume 8: Raid on Kastorel-Novem.

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Waaagh! Garaghak is gathering pace across the Forsarr sector. Several of the Imperium¹s worlds have already fallen to the rising green tide of Orks, and now the sector¹s primary hive world has been invaded. Garaghak¹s hordes seem unstoppable, except that the Raven Guard¹s Scouts have discovered a secret behind the Goff Warlord¹s unending warbands – an Ork technical genius called Mek Boss Buzzgob who has created his own factories on the former Imperial refinery world in the Kastorel system.

This book contains a detailed history of the Raid on Kastorel-Novem and the rise of Warlord Garaghak. There is a complete Elysian Drop Troop Imperial Guard army list, including the Vulture gunship, Valkyrie Sky Talon and the Tauros and Tauros Venator rapid assault vehicles. There is also background information on the Raven Guard Space Marine Chapter, along with a new special character, Shadow Captain Korvydae. Rules, background and technical details are included for all of the recent Forge World Ork releases.

This book is heavily illustrated with over 50 colour pictures, 60 full colour vehicle profiles, over 30 technical drawings, plus colour profiles for the Elysian Drop Troops, Raven Guard and the Orks of the Goff, Evil Sunz and Death Skullz clans, all to add new depth and detail to the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

I will be ordering this book and am looking forward to reading it.