Tag: arvus lighter

Painting the Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighter

I’ve always liked the Arvus Lighter. I did think about getting some resin versions for Aeronautica Imperialis. I was pleased to see the plastic versions for Legions Imperialis and they did go on that awfully long wants list. Visiting Jadlam Toys and Models in Glastonbury I was browsing and saw they had a box of the Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighters on sale at 33% off. Bargain, so I bought the box.

The Arvus Lighter is a solid and reliable workhorse shuttle, affectionately referred to as ‘Little Pig’ among air crews. The Solar Auxilia employ these durable craft as unarmed combat transports, to insert officers and specialists into a war zone with pinpoint accuracy.

In the box you get eight aircraft, across two sprues.

Having constructed the models I gave them a white undercoat.

I am planning to paint some of them using the same painting method as I did with my Valkyrie transports. The others will be in a different Imperial scheme.

I should really read my own workbench guides, as I gave the models a base coat of Army Painter Desert Yellow Spray.

This was too dark, and if I had read my guide I would realise I should have painted them with a basecoat of Ushabti Bone. Well I only painted four with the Army Painter Desert Yellow Spray, so that leaves four I can paint with Ushabti Bone.

Reflecting on the construction of the Arvus Lighter

One of the reveals at the World Championships Preview back in November was a plastic Arvus Lighter for The Horus Heresy. I ordered one from my FLGS.

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 like this model, though released for The Horus Heresy, I suspect it would make a great model for, not just Warhammer 40K, but also Necromunda. One of the additions to the plastic version of the Arvus Lighter model is a rear ramp gunner.

With most of my models I constructed them fully and then paint them. This is okay for many of my models, but I have with a few undertaken some part-assembly, then painting before putting the whole model together. One example of this on my workbench is the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank where I painted the tracks, sponsons and main weapon separately before putting them together.

Having reflected a bit more on the Arvus Lighter model, I have decided I will model the interior and have the ramp gunner as well.

I realised as I looked at the sprues and the instructions that I would need to paint some of the interior just for the pilot, and if I was going down that road I might as well do all the interior. As painting the cockpit and the canopy would mean having sub-assemblies anyhow. 

I also want to add detail to the inside of the Arvus Lighter, which already has some details in terms of seating. I will add additional equipment, straps and personal equipment to enhance the model.

So I will do some partial assemblies and then put the model together at the end.

There will be the sides, the base of the flyer with the cockpit, and the top superstructure with the wings and the engines.

I will model the Arvus Lighter with the undercarriage down, so that as well as using the flying stand, I can also use the Arvus Lighter in a landed mode. Though in this instance I might need to model the ramp gunner so that he can be removed. As he is shooting downwards, and this would look out of place when the Arvus Lighter is landed.

I am also going to go with the camouflage scheme I used with my Aeronautica Imperialis Valkyrie transports.

Arvus Lighter 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. 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.

Plastic Arvus Lighter on display at Warhammer World

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.

Arvus Lighter plastic kit
Arvus Lighter plastic kit

Comparing the plastic version to the resin version there are some subtle differences.

Resin Forge World Arvus Lighter

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.

Constructing the Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighter

I’ve always liked the Arvus Lighter. I did think about getting some resin versions for Aeronautica Imperialis. I was pleased to see the plastic versions for Legions Imperialis and they did go on that awfully long wants list. Visiting Jadlam Toys and Models in Glastonbury I was browsing and saw they had a box of the Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighters on sale at 33% off. Bargain, so I bought the box.

The Arvus Lighter is a solid and reliable workhorse shuttle, affectionately referred to as ‘Little Pig’ among air crews. The Solar Auxilia employ these durable craft as unarmed combat transports, to insert officers and specialists into a war zone with pinpoint accuracy.

In the box you get eight aircraft, across two sprues.

Alongside with flying bases and a transfer sheet. With appropriate bases they can also be used in Aeronautica Imperialis.

I am planning to paint some of them using the same painting method as I did with my Valkyrie transports. The others will be in a different Imperial scheme.

The models did feel like they would go together easily.

There are quite a number of parts for what are very small models.

However when photographing them for this post, I noticed that I hadn’t managed to get the parts together tightly on all the models, so they might need some additional work before undercoating.

So after sorting out the gaps, I will give the models a white undercoat.

Arvus Lighter on the workbench

I have the new Horus Heresy plastic Arvus Lighter on my workbench.

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 are three sprues in the box along with a flying base and clear plastic parts for the canopy.

I have been thinking about how I will construct and paint the model. One of the additions to the plastic version of the Arvus Lighter model is a rear ramp gunner. I like the idea of this, but it will add to the time to paint the model. As well as painting the gunner, the inside of the craft will also have to be painted.

With most of my models I constructed them fully and then paint them. This is okay for many of my models, but I have with a few undertaken some part-assembly, then painting before putting the whole model together. One example of this on my workbench is the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank where I painted the tracks, sponsons and main weapon separately before putting them together.

I think with the Arvus Lighter I will do some partial assemblies and then put the model together at the end.

You can model the Arvus Lighter with the undercarriage down or up. I am thinking down.

I am still thinking about the paint scheme, I am not sure if I will go with a grey scheme, or go with the camouflage scheme I used with my Aeronautica Imperialis Valkyrie transports.

Arvus Lighter

Arvus Lighter on display in a Necromunda diorama at Warhammer World.

Arvus Lighter

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.

This was the Forge World resin model. Since then a plastic kit of the Arvus Lighter has been released.

Arvus Lighter Miniatures Gallery.

Arvus Lighter

One of the reveals at the World Championships Preview back in November was a plastic Arvus Lighter for The Horus Heresy. I ordered one from my FLGS.

I really like this model, though released for The Horus Heresy, I suspect it would make a great model for, not just Warhammer 40K, but also Necromunda.

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

Plastic Arvus Lighter on pre-order next week

One of the reveals at the World Championships Preview back in November was a plastic Arvus Lighter for The Horus Heresy.

This week we found out that it goes on pre-order on the 18th January.

I said in my previous post when the model was announced.

I really like this model and I will probably get this when it is released.

Though released for The Horus Heresy, I suspect it would also make a great model for, not just Warhammer 40K, but also Necromunda.

Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighters

I’ve always liked the Arvus Lighter. I did think about getting some resin versions for Aeronautica Imperialis. I was pleased to see the plastic versions for Legions Imperialis and they did go on that awfully long wants list. Visiting Jadlam Toys and Models in Glastonbury I was browsing and saw they had a box of the Legions Imperialis Arvus Lighters on sale at 33% off. Bargain, so I bought the box.

The Arvus Lighter is a solid and reliable workhorse shuttle, affectionately referred to as ‘Little Pig’ among air crews. The Solar Auxilia employ these durable craft as unarmed combat transports, to insert officers and specialists into a war zone with pinpoint accuracy.

In the box you get eight aircraft, across two sprues. 

Alongside with flying bases and a transfer sheet. With appropriate bases they can also be used in Aeronautica Imperialis.

I am planning to paint four of them using the same painting method as I did with my Valkyrie transports.

The other four will be in a different Imperial scheme.

I have put the forthcoming 28mm version on that wants list.