Elysian Tauros Venator

This Elysian Tauros Venator was in the displays at Warhammer World.

The Tauros is a light, sturdily built, all-terrain utility and tractor vehicle used on many Frontier Worlds. Its rugged drive axles are individually powered by high-yield galvanic motors that allow the vehicle to maintain its speed even when some of its wheels may be damaged or destroyed. The Tauros and many similar vehicles have also been used by Imperial exploration teams and sometimes by brigands, marauders, and rebel factions.

The Tauros is even used as a light attack and reconnaissance vehicle by the Elysian Drop Troops regiments of the Imperial Guard. The Elysian Drop Troops have modified the Tauros for airborne operations, stripping off any unneeded weight so that it can be carried into battle by their Valkyrie Sky Talons.

The Tauros comes in two standard variants: the four-wheeled Tauros Rapid Assault Vehicle which serves as a long-range scout vehicle, mounting potent anti-personnel firepower in the form of either a Heavy Flamer or Tauros Grenade Launcher, and the six-wheeled and more heavily armed and armoured Tauros Venator.

Elysian Tauros Venator
Elysian Tauros Venator at Warhammer World

The Tauros Venator variant is armed with a Twin-linked Multi-Laser for anti-infantry work or a Twin-linked Lascannon for anti-vehicle duty.

I have a Elysian Tauros Assault Vehicle on the workbench which I prefer over the six wheeled version.

I didn’t realise that Forge World had stopped making their Elysian models, which is a pity.

Elysian Tauros Assault Vehicle

I’ve always liked these Elysian vehicles ever since we saw them first at GamesDay 2009.

4-wheel Tauros is used by the Elysian regiments as a long-range scout vehicle, mounting potent anti-personnel firepower in the form of either a Heavy Flamer or Tauros Grenade Launcher. Its four wheels are individually powered by advanced high-yield galvanic motors, allowing it to maintain speed even with damaged tyres – often giving it a crucial edge when faced with superior enemy firepower.

I have decided to use them with my Daemonhunters’ Army with my Tallarn Imperial Guard. Before I start any model I have a look online at what others have done.

Elysian Tauros Assault Vehicle

You get a small bag of resin.

Elysian Tauros Assault Vehicle

Before I got started, I washed all the resin pieces.

Elysian Tauros Assault Vehicle

A really nice model and doesn’t look too complicated to build, looks complicated to paint though.

Elysian Tauro Venator

A Forge World Elysian Drop Tauro Venator entered into the GamesDay 2010 Golden Demon Awards.

Elysian Drop Tauro Venator entered into the GamesDay 2010 Golden Demon Awards.
Elysian Drop Tauro Venator entered into the GamesDay 2010 Golden Demon Awards.

It has a nice trailer, however I am less sure about the presentation of the model. The sand dune it is jumping off doesn’t look much like a natural sand dune and needed a little more work to make it more realistic and convincing. I am also less sure about the posing and placement of the model. This is a pity as the painting is quite good and done well.

Imperial Tauros Assault Vehicle

Another model available at the 2010 Forge World Open Day will be the Imperial Tauros Assault Vehicle.

tauros4wheel

The Tauros Venator is but one variant of this multi-purpose assault vehicle – the ‘standard’ 4-wheel Tauros is used by the Elysian regiments as a long-range scout vehicle, mounting potent anti-personnel firepower in the form of either a Heavy Flamer or Tauros Grenade Launcher. Its four wheels are individually powered by advanced high-yield galvanic motors, allowing it to maintain speed even with damaged tyres – often a crucial edge when faced with superior enemy firepower. This detailed model, designed by Will Hayes, is a full resin kit that comes with options for a Heavy Flamer or Grenade Launcher as well as two resin crew, designed by Simon Egan. The Tauros can be transported in either a Valkyrie Sky Talon or a standard Valkyrie, which the model will physically fit into. 

I like this, probably more so than the six wheeled version.

Tauros Venator Rapid Strike Vehicle

Back in September 2009 live from GamesDay I posted an image of the then described Elysian FAV. This was the first peek of something new and exciting. I later posted a larger image. We have seen images of the finished model armed with lascannons.

Forge World does say about the model:

…this full resin model comes with the choice to mount either a twin-linked multi-laser or twin-linked lascannon as well as optional hunter-killer missiles.

At the Dutch Frenzy event we did see the variant with the multi-lasers.

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Very tempting.

Photo source.

Tauros Venator Rapid Strike Vehicle

Back in September 2009 live from GamesDay I posted an image of the then described Elysian FAV. This was the first peek of something new and exciting. I later posted a larger image.

Well today Forge World announced the release of the FAV, or give it it’s proper name, the Tauros Venator Rapid Strike Vehicle.

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New for the Elysians is the Tauros Venator, a six-wheeled rapid strike and scout vehicle. Light, fast and heavily armed, these all terrain attack vehicles are used for rapid reconnaissance and savage lightning raids in support of the drop troop landings. Designed by Will Hayes, with Elysian crewmen by Simon Egan, this full resin model comes with the choice to mount either a twin-linked multi-laser or twin-linked lascannon as well as optional hunter-killer missiles. This is a great model and something genuinely new for the Imperial Guard and Elysian range.

Really like this, and would really like to get a squadron. At £34 they are a little more pricey then I would like, but it is a really nice model.

Elysian ATV or FAV

One of the very few sneak previews from GamesDay 2009 today was the Elysian ATV or FAV.

Elysian ATV

Designed to be carried and air dropped by a Valkyrie it’s a nice change from the many tanks the Imperial Guard normally have.

This is still very much a work in progress and may not bear any resemblance to the finished model.

As indicated in the contents of the forthcoming Imperial Armour book there will be a heavy lift version of the Valkyrie which can be used to carry the ATV or FAV.

More photographs from GamesDay 2009 coming soon.