Tag: imperial navy

Imperial Navy Arvus Lighter

I’ve always quite liked the Forge World Imperial Navy Arvus Lighter for Warhammer 40K.

Arvus Lighter, from the Forgeworld cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Arvus Lighter, from the Forgeworld cabinets at GamesDay 2006

The Arvus is a small cargo shuttle commonly used to transfer supplies and small personnel units ship-to-ship or from fleet positions to planetary installations. While unarmed, the Arvus is capable of standing in as an assault boat, able to transport small infantry squads or boarding parties.

Arvus Lighter, BAT-21, from the Golden Demon cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Arvus Lighter, BAT-21, from the Golden Demon cabinets at GamesDay 2006

This was very much a scenery item, or a scenario objective, something from which a narrative game could be played.

I am pleased to see it is still available from Forge World, these photographs were taken at Games Day 2006, and there are many Forge World models that are now no longer available.

Valkyrie Flyer

Valkyrie Flyer of the Imperial Navy
Valkyrie Flyer of the Imperial Navy, on display at Warhammer World.
I do think that this was one of the best concepts ever produced by Forge World, and obviously with the release of the plastic kit version, made it much more accessible.
I like the execution of the concept, it isn’t a helicopter without rotors that you sometimes see with SF flyers, likewise it doesn’t look like a transport plane with short wings! I do have one of the plastic kits, but alas still in the box. Maybe time to get out the craft knife and the glue.

Chipped Imperial Navy Valkyrie

This Imperial Navy Valkyrie was an entry in the GamesDay 2009 UK Golden Demon awards.

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Another view.

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I do like the modelling and the markings. However I am less sure about the weathering. Don’t get me wrong, I do like it, but not sure how realistic it is. This chipping is used quite extensively by people who paint Games Workshop models, including the ‘Eavy Metal team. However if you look at these pictures of combat helicopters you can see that there isn’t really any chipping.

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Most times paint will be worn away on surfaces that the crew and passengers use to get on and off the aircraft. So the chipping on the footplates by the canopy would be likely.

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It is unlikely that such chipping would happen near the nose, unless those panels were coming off on a regular basis.

So though I like the effect, think it works, I am less sure how realistic it is? Then again how realistic can models be for Warhammer 40K and should we care?

See more photographs of the Imperial Navy Valkyrie.