Deimos Pattern Predator Support Tank for Imperial Fists

Deimos Pattern Predator Support Tank - plastic kit from GW's new "Age of Darkness" range.

If you celebrate Christmas, surely one of the best parts of it are the lights? Perhaps this may still be true 30,000 years into the future. A time The Emperor clings to power in the face of a rebellion by his Warmaster. Sure - half my loyal Space Marines were killed as Isstvan, but perhaps Malcador will bring me that one stocking stuffer I'm hoping for?

Lascannons on the sponsons, for extra AT punch.

Well, whatever may happen, I surmise that one way to add a certain "festive light" to the Christmas celebrations on Terra circa 30k is to use a "heavy conversion beamer", such as the one mounted on this Predator, to render your heretical enemies directly into particles of light! Thus the gloom is illuminated, while the rebels are crushed! Glory to The Emperor! And it is all thanks to this handy "Deimos Pattern Predator Support Tank", a multi-part plastic kit from GW's Horus Heresy range.

Rear view, showing the customary legion numeral, as well as the completely safe, 100% no problems-ever power unit for the Beamer on the exterior of the turret.

The Horus Heresy is chock full of whacky, whacky weapons you can use to eradicate your enemies. The list of weapon options has grown exponentially over time. One of the surest places to track this fun trend is the choice of weapon options for the humble Predator...once a supporting sort of infantry-fighting-vehicle of the Imperium, in the current "Age of Darkness" game there are so many different weapon options for the thing they actually have two different kits.

The Heavy Conversion Beamer, ready to power up and "make some light"!

The "Support Tank" version of the Predator model carries with it some of the more exotic weapon options. Since my VII Legion forces are still pretty lightly armed, and lacking in AT ability, I went with an option that packs a lot of anti-tank punch AND also has a shout-out element to the crazy Rogue Trader-era. To quote those original rules, "the weapon functions by converting matter into energy". What could go wrong, right?

Remember the Conversion Beamer? Good times.

Since enemy tanks are made of matter (I pause here for the Word Bearers to chuckle, but regardless) I thought this would be the best AT-type platform for my loyalist detachment. To add to the AT punch, the sponsons are equipped with lascannons, so all in, this will be pretty effective at wrecking vehicles. One truck with the beamer, however, will be to find clear lanes of fire, as the strength of the weapon is dependent on the range - it is rather unusual in the sense that it needs to the further away in order to be more effective. A bit odd, that - but then, it is an odd weapon.

The "family photo" of my VII Legion forces painted to date. A little speed bump for Horus, but a stubborn one, at least.

So I have the new "family photo" above - three tactical squads, a terminator squad, a smattering of officers, a dreadnought, three APCs and now a tank. This is a decent force for a small "Age of Darkness" game, and I hope to see them on the table at some time next year. Meanwhile, these models are no doubt hoping some further reinforcements might arrive during the approaching Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge...we shall see! Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!