space marines Archives - Page 7 of 23

Thunderhawk Transport

The Thunderhawk Transporter is a logistical variant of the standard Thunderhawk gunship used by the Adeptus Astartes to carry Space Marine vehicles into combat zones. The Thunderhawk Transporter, while lacking the firepower of the standard Thunderhawk, is no less important to an Astartes Chapter. The Thunderhawk Transporter can quickly load up to two Rhino sized vehicles of any type, or as seen here (hiding underneath), a single Land Raider sized vehicle.

This Thunderhawk Transport was part of a airbase diorama at Warhammer World where there were all the different kinds of Space Marine Flyers, complete with marching squads of Space Marines and Space Marine armoured vehicles.

There were some nice touches such as armed guards surround the flyers and ammo supply vehicles getting in close to rearm the transports.

See more photographs of the Thunderhawk Transport.

Sokar Pattern Stormbird

The Stormbird’s standard armament is four turret-mounted twin linked lascannon, three twin-linked heavy bolters, and a complement of six dreadstrike missiles. It is also equipped with particularly dense composite armour plating, and is further protected by a series of void shield generators which it can extend to protect disembarking troops and war machines.

Its cavernous transport bays can hold 50 fully armed Space Marines. Alternatively it can carry up to 5 Dreadnoughts, including the mighty Leviathan; Jump-pack equipped infantry; Rapier batteries; bikes; jetbikes; a Rhino armoured transport; or a mixed force of all of the above.

In the photographs you can see a Contemptor Dreadnought coming out from the side door.

A huge model that would make for an ideal objective for a game, though of course there are rules for using the flyer in games, but I think you would need a really large table…

This Sokar Pattern Stormbird was part of a airbase diorama at Warhammer World where there were all the different kinds of Space Marine Flyers.

Thunderhawk Gunship

The Thunderhawk gunship is used by the Adeptus Astartes as their primary means of deploying forces for ground combat as well as their primary source of air support. The Thunderhawk gunship is often considered the lynchpin of any Space Marine Chapter, as it is able to fulfill many combat roles. The Thunderhawk is fully capable of functioning as an orbital drop ship, a heavy ground attack gunship, or as a bomber. The aircraft is able to quickly carry Space Marine forces from orbiting starships down into the midst of a battle, while at the same time providing supporting fire against enemy ground or air targets.

This model is one of the Forgeworld Display models. When you see it for “real” you realise how large the model is. I am not a great fan of the model, however I do quite like the Thunderhawk Transporter.

This Thunderhawk was part of a airbase diorama at Warhammer World where there were all the different kinds of Space Marine Flyers.

There were lots of nice touches in this diorama, such as the above Thunderhawk getting rearmed for its next mission, whilst Space Marines guard the landing pad. Around the airbase, there were squads of Space Marines marching , as well as vehicles moving around and into position.

Deredeo Pattern Dreadnought

The Deredeo pattern Dreadnought was in the displays at Warhammer World.

The Deredeo pattern Dreadnought is a dedicated heavy support frame, though it shares many core components and systems with the more general assault-based Contemptor class. Initially deployed in limited numbers to each of the Legions due to difficulties in its manufacture, its durability and firepower saw demand for the Deredeo pattern dramatically increase after the outbreak of the Horus Heresy.

Xiphon Pattern Interceptor

This Xiphon Pattern Interceptor was on display at Warhammer World.

With unparalleled speed and manoeuvrability, the Xiphon pattern Interceptor saw increasing service in the Legiones Astartes during the dark days of the Horus Heresy. Based on ancient designs, the void and atmospheric craft carried heavy armaments into battle, allowing it to destroy both air and ground targets with apparent ease. Its pair of twin-linked lascannon and Xiphon rotary missile launcher combined with the Interceptor’s speed and agility to make it a deadly opponent from which the enemies of Mankind could not hide.

Space Marine Flyers

One of the huge dioramas at Warhammer World was a Space Marine space port or airfield. There were plenty of Forge World aircraft on display.

This is the Space Marine Storm Eagle

A formidable gunship, the Storm Eagle mounts fearsome firepower for a vehicle of its size and is capable of transporting twenty Space Marines directly into the thick of an assault. The exact provenance of the Storm Eagle is unknown, but it bears clear similarities to the Stormravens employed by the Blood Angels and Grey Knights. Certain sources place the principal manufacture of the Storm Eagle upon Tigrus and Anvilus IX, both primary-grade Forge Worlds that suffered catastrophic damage during the Horus Heresy. In recent decades the number of Storm Eagles in active service has begun to increase, especially amongst those Chapters known to have favourable relations with the Adeptus Mechanicus. This has lead some observers to believe that production has been restored at an as yet unknown location.

Thunderhawk Transport complete with load.

The Thunderhawk transporter is no longer available from Forge World.

This is the Sokar pattern Stormbird.

The Sokar pattern Stormbird is a dedicated attack lander. It has served as a high-durability orbital assault craft, a mobile bastion and firebase which could land a Space Marine strike force and withstand heavy ground fire while its cargo or troops and war machines disembarked to press the attack. One of the later patterns developed, the Sokar was the design precursor to the smaller Thunderhawk Gunship. The Stormbird’s standard armament is four turret-mounted twin linked lascannon, three twin-linked heavy bolters, and a complement of six dreadstrike missiles. It is also equipped with particularly dense composite armour plating, and is further protected by a series of void shield generators which it can extend to protect disembarking troops and war machines. Its cavernous transport bays can hold 50 fully armed Space Marines. Alternatively it can carry up to 5 Dreadnoughts, including the mighty Leviathan; Jump-pack equipped infantry; Rapier batteries; bikes; jetbikes; a Rhino armoured transport; or a mixed force of all of the above.

I’ve always preferred the original concept of the Stormbird.

Providing fuel and supplies for all the aircraft was this tanker. I think this model was a conversion as I don’t recollect seeing it before and it’s not mentioned on the Forge World website.

The aircraft colour scheme did remind me of the old BOAC livery used in the 1960s and 1970s.

Massive Stormbird

I have just uploaded (and updated) a new version of my GamesDay 2009 Gallery, which has been offline for a few years. Moving to a new host has meant I am reviewing existing content, creating revised pages and uploading higher resolution images. Going through the images I was reminded of this interpretation of the Stormbird that was at GamesDay 2009, well before Forge World released their version. It is much bigger than the resin model.

The Stormbird Gunship is an armoured versatile craft that combines the role of dropship, armoured transport and strike craft.

This model was based on this pencil drawing from White Dwarf.

This was a lovely scratch-built model, with nice little details, such as these Assault Marines dropping from the ship.

Nicely painted as well.

Ultramarines Razorback

Razorbacks are common variations of the Rhino chassis that can be armed with a variety of powerful turret-mounted heavy weapon systems that offer the squads they carry effective fire support before and after they disembark.

This Space Marine Ultramarines Razorback was on display at Warhammer World.

I have been working on (for too long now) a Grey Knights Razorback.

Space Marine Sokar Pattern Stormbird

The Stormbird Gunship is an armoured versatile craft that combines the role of dropship, armoured transport and strike craft.

This is from an old White Dwarf and shows how Games Workshop back then thought the Stormbird looked like.

Back in 2011 I posted one gamer’s interpretation of that pencil drawing of a Stormbird. This was a huge model.

Over the weekend Forge World showed pictures at the Horus Heresy event of their version of the Stormbird.

Looking very similar to the Thunderhawk, that has been out for years, however as you can see it has a much larger hull, big enough to carry a whole Rhino. There are extra engines and looks like bigger wings.

Personally I would have preferred to see something more akin to the original concept of the Stormbird rather than something like the Thunderhawk.

Space Marine Xiphon Pattern Interceptor

Though it reminds me of many of the Imperial Navy aircraft, I actually think this is a good thing, as a result this Space Marine aircraft looks much better than many of the Space Marine flying craft we have seen before.

I did think when I first saw the photograph that it was an Imperial Navy craft, then I noticed it was blue and had the Ultramarines’ iconography on it.

Quite like it.

Via Twitter