Evolution of the Land Raider

The Landraider is the single most destructive weapon in the Adeptus Astartes’ arsenal. Protected by bonded ceramite and adamantium armour, the Landraider is impervious to all bar the most destructive weaponry. Equally impressive are its armaments – four lascannon and twin-linked heavy bolters allow the Land Raider to deliver punishing support fire capable of decimating enemy infantry and tanks alike.

Evolution of the Land Raider

Those of us old enough know that this model of the Land Raider is now how it has always been… This is the MkIII Land Raider there as both a MkI and a MkII.

Originally the Space Marine Land Raider looked like this. This is from the Rogue Trader era and used the concept of symmetrical parts to reduce the number of sprues that needed to be cast. Compare that to today where we have plastic Stompa kits and virtually everything that Games Workshop now sell is in plastic.

Evolution of the Land Raider

This (I believe) is the three-up version for the Epic version of the Land Raider.

With the release of Epic 40000 a new version of the Land Raider was envisaged which because of the time did not need to worry about number of sprues.

Evolution of the Land Raider

This is very similar to the current  version and the MkIII is derived from this model. Of course it will be familiar to those gamers who know about the Forge World MkIIb Land Raider model as that Forge World model is a version of the Epic model.

These models were on display at GamesDay 2005.

More photographs of the MkIII Land Raider.

Ork with Rokkit Launcha

This Ork conversion has had a Rokkit Launcha using a metal grenade and Shoota. This is a work in progress. The base is done, the basecoat for the skin is done. Most of the metal work has been drybrushed with Tin Bitz and Boltgun Metal.

Still to do are the skin highlights and more detailing of the belts and clothing.

See the front view of this model.

Full workbench feature on my Orks with heavy weapons.

Grey Knights Land Speeder Crew

Having worked a lot of my Grey Knights Land Speeder, one of the key components is the replacement crew. I could have used the included plastic Space Marine crew, but in the end I used some metal Grey Knights models. I started with a black basecoat and then gave the armour a basecoat of Boltgun Metal. This was followed with the gold metal parts been given a base coat of Brazen Brass.

After painting the base coats for the purity seals and other iconology on the Grey Knights, I gave the purity seals a top coat of Bleached Bone and highlighted with white paint. I then added text and writing using a fine brush and thinned black paint.

See the full workbench feature.

Standard Beaverette

A Standard Beaverette of the Home Guard on patrol by a farm.

Home Guard Standard Beaverette
Home Guard Standard Beaverette

This is a 15mm scale model with farm buildings from Hornby’s N gauge Lyddle End range.

The first version of the vehicle was built in 1940 by Standard Motor Company at the instigation of Lord Beaverbrook, then Minister of Aircraft Production (hence the name Beaverette). It was based on commercial car chassis, on which a simple riveted armoured hull was mounted. The 11mm of steel was backed by 3 inch thick oak planks. The hull was open at the top and at the rear. The armament consisted of Bren machine gun which could be fired through a slot in the glacis armour. Subsequent versions received all-around protection and a machine gun turret – an enclosed one with Bren MG or an open-topped one with twin Vickers machine guns. Some vehicles also carried Boys anti-tank rifles. Some had No. 11 or No. 19 radio set. The production was stopped in 1942. About 2,800 units were delivered.

I have always liked the idea of gaming Operation Sealion and one day I may get some more of my collection painted and out on the gaming table.

Eldar Vampire

Vampire

When Imperial forces bring an Eldar army to battle one of the Eldar’s most potent threats is their aircraft. The Eldar’s unequaled grasp of anti gravitic technology means that their aircraft are faster and more agile than Imperial equivalents. The Vampire Raider is often used for making swift sorties onto a planets surface, capable of travelling at many times the speed of sound, and is capable of defending itself.

From the Forgeworld Displays at GamesDay 2004.

Tau Barracuda

Tau Barracuda being used in a demonstration game at GamesDay 2001.

Tau

The Tau Barracuda is used to patrol Tau airspace and support the Fire Cast in times of war. The Barracuda is capable of using groung based markerlight equipped teams to guide its supply of seeker missiles stored in its drop down bay.When the pilot is in trouble the cockpit of the Barracuda can be ejected from the main fuselage, and use its limited anti grav engine to propel the pilot to friendly lines.

More photographs from GamesDay 2001.