Last Grenadier Squad for the 30k Imperial Militia

Here's the last Grenadier squad for the Inferalti Hussars. Like the last squad, these guys have been equipped with bolters. The bolters are from the Mark III marine box set and are much bigger than the ones for the Mark IV. This puts them at just the outside edge of suitability for the Anvil models. I can't imagine what they must weigh when fully loaded and the recoil must be a nightmare, but these guys will be facing Space Marines, so lasguns won't cut it! This squad was supposed to complete the army, but I ended up ordering a few more units (of course). The militia and cults army allows you to use heavy weapons squads equipped with heavy flamers and Land Raider Proteus as dedicated transports for grenadier squads. As such, I ordered one of those and a squad of Solar Auxilia with flamers (I'll put 2 to a large base). Might not get to them for a bit because I'm going to try and finish the rest of my Alpha Legion by the end of August.

Raven Guard Veteran Tactical Squad for 30k

Veteran tactical marines for the XIX Legion Astartes. Figures from GW.

Some reinforcements for the Raven Guard! The marines of the XIX Legion Astartes received a new Contemptor Dreadnought earlier this summer, and that inspired me to whip together a veteran tactical squad to further bolster my Raven Guard forces. This 10-man squad is wearing Mark III power armour. Almost all of the components are plastic from GW, save for the comms pack (which comes from a FW command kit). The legion numeral decal is from the Forge World Raven Guard decal sheet, and the embossed shoulder symbols are from Pop Goes The Monkey. 

Selection of Veteran marines...sergreant with the comb, and a special weapon marine with a melta gun.

I am a Horus Heresy junky, and I just love painting Space Marines in Mark III armour in particular. I had not yet painted a veteran squad for the Raven Guard component of my 30k collection, and I was in a mood to paint some Mark III power armour...so I threw these guys together and got them under the brush.

Vox trooper on the left, Sergeant on the right.

Rear view of the officer and vox trooper - showing the segmented armour, and the handy chain swords. Because in the grim darkness of the far future, you need to saw stuff.

Veteran tactical squads in 30k are, essentially, the representation of what would become the basic 10-marine tactical squad in the 40k setting. All of the familiar elements going back to the Rogue Trader era are present...a sergeant, a heavy weapon (heavy bolter), a special weapon (melta gun), and bolt guns for the rest (keen 30k nerds will note that I switched up bolt gun versions, giving these fellows the "newer" bolt guns from the Mark IV sets - just to add some variety). And of course, as veterans, they are also carrying the ubiquitous chain swords - the Space Marine field tool of choice.

Let's visit Isstvan! What could go wrong?

I just love the segmented and somewhat old-school look of the Mark III power armour - it is a great design, looking perfect in the context of a techno-dark age heavy infantry. I have painted clouds of these things, and could happily paint many, many more...

Love the heavy bolter!

The Raven Guard were actually the ones who brought Isstvan III into original "compliance". Regrets?

My 30k Raven Guard collection is not huge, but it is getting bigger - it has all of the core elements one would require to put together a force for the table - but it still is lacking vehicles. So far, the only loyalist vehicles I have painted for 30k have gone to the VI Legion, the Vylka Fenryka. I do still have some vehicles, unpainted, stashed away...might be time to give some wheels/tracks to the XIX Legion. Maybe later this summer, unless other interests or projects divert me. 

Thanks for reading!

Belicosa BS at Forge World - Fun With Titanicus Weapons

A foolish and pointless purchase from Forge World...the Belicosa Volcano Cannon for the Nemesis Warbringer Titan in AT18.

Well, I continue with a 30k theme - broadly - in this post, but we switch game systems, returning once more to GW's re-booted Adeptus Titanicus. Now, let's look at some whacky guns for Titans, as well as some frustration, disappointment and fun with the gang at Forge World. 

Earlier this year I finished off some new Titans for the Loyalist side of my collection - including a new "Nemesis Warbringer" engine. That class of Titan chassis can mount Reaver-class-type weapons on its arms, but the main even on the Nemesis-class Titans is the big show up on top - a main weapon battery on a turntable-style mount. Naturally, there are options for the weapon mount. You get one that comes in the kit, and the other(s) available separately from GW and/of Forge World.

The mounting of the "Quake Cannon" on the carapace of the Nemesis Warbringer.

The Nemesis Titan model kit comes with one weapon option for the top mount - a "Quake Cannon". There are a number of components that come together to make not only the cannon itself, but the equipment to mount it - a turntable base, brackets etc. The rules allow for a second choice, however - a "Belicosa Volcano Cannon". It doesn't come in the model kit, but it was expected the GW or Forge World would make it available at a later time. That time came this past spring...as a keen collector of AT18 kit, I ordered a couple of them right away, so as to have these options for the Nemesis Titans in my collection. I'm such a dweeb.

The Belicosa Volcano Cannon from Forge World

I should have waited...

The Forge World bits. Note - I have assembled the cannon already (vain attempt to use). But this photo is more critical for what is not there - namely, the components you would need to actually mount the gun on the carapace of the Nemesis Warbringer Titan. And, of course, note how the resin cables snap in the package during shipping. F*ck resin.

Look, I generally love Forge World stuff. Yes, the prices are high. Yes, the resin can suck. But they make some pretty neat stuff, are generally very nice to deal with, and have perservered through difficult pandemic restrictions to try their best to keep serving customers - even releasing new stuff despite delays and challenges. I'm fortunate to have a fair selection of Forge World kit in my collection - especially my Horus Heresy 30k collection. I rant and rave, of course, as all passionate fans can, but I really do try and keep things in perspective. These are toys, after all, and they make toys I like. Every so often, there is a problem - does that really matter in the grand scheme of things?

With that said, on this specific item, they f**d this up. And I don't see how they would not have realized this, and they just did it anyway, and it is a piss off.

Some melodramatic fan rage...still, this was disappointing...

You see, Forge World made the Belicosa Volcano Cannon option for the Nemesis Titan...and did not provide enough of the parts to do the job! There is no weapon mount or turntable! In other words, this only works if you have not already built your model. I suppose it is possible, in theory, to magnetize the mounting...but still...just f*ck this. What a tw*t move. GW/Forge World has some form here - so this shouldn't be a huge shock. The joke is on me. Still, f*ck. 

What really winds me up is that they took the time to provide alternate components for every aspect of the weapon - including the "ammunition" (see "Fiddly Bits" below) - but still but NOT the turntable! FFS, come on! 

Anyway, I could not dis-assemble the Titan components I had already built...fortunately, there was an alternative...

The Vanguard Heavy Ordnance Energy Cannon

From Vanguard. Hey LOOK - a turntable!!! Just HAPPENS to fit on the Nemesis Warbringer Titan!!

There was a bit of a reaction to this on Forge World's Facebook page, as you might expect. The Commissars came along and purged most of it, but one poster shared a link to a solution - the "Heavy Ordnance Energy Cannon" from Vanguard Miniatures, and I was lucky to see this comment before it was deleted. Vanguard is a purveyor of cool sci-fi products in 3mm, 6mm and 15mm. It just happens that this specific item fits the weapon mount on the top of the Nemesis Warbringer Titan - a pure coincidence, no doubt!

Looks great painted up! You can see the Vanguard weapon on the left, and the Quake Cannon (from GW - comes with the Nemesis Kit) on the right.

You can compare - the Vanguard sculpt is a little leaner on details than the Forge World one - but it has a huge advantage in that you can actually use it. And I have to say, having assembled and painting it up, it looks pretty sharp on the Nemesis Titan IMO. The weapon you see in these photos is the one painted in the loyalist colours of Legio Gryphonicus, and I am painting another one up for the rebels of Legio Mortis.

Fits like a charm!

Looks great painted up, and fits in very nicely with the look of the Titan.

A view from the front...the big gun on top from Vanguard fits great.

Well done Vanguard!

The Fiddly Bits

 

WTF are those parts for?

Forge World...they don't provide the turntable, but they have battery-looking bits too...what are they?

OK, so I am ranting at Forge World and praising Vanguard here. But there is a lapse on my part as well - the fact is there is a lot more going on with the weapons on the carapace for the Nemesis Titans then I had really considered. I liked to think I knew all about the Titans, but clearly there are aspects of the Nemisis I did not understand.

Little did I realize that, in the big pile of boxy stuff on the back of the Nemesis Titan's carapace, there is a spot for "ammunition" for the Quake Cannon (or, I assume it is ammunition...it is a big boxy thing). If you opt to mount the Volcano Cannon, then one would swap out these "boxes" too - for a battery-type set up that suit the Belicosa. 

These components sit pretty awkwardly on the model. They are connected using a dry fit to the back of the Titan model. Personally, I think that dry fit would work more on faith than any actual belief that it would survive on the table as players move the Titans around. YMMV, but a dry fit here is not going to work.

Turns out those things go on this place on the Titan...something to watch for...I had glued these into place, but in theory, they can "dry fit". I hate dry fitting gaming models...all disclaimers apply.

All this to say to watch out when you are assembling your Nemesis Titan! If you want to be able to fully switch the carapace weapons, you need to make allowance not only for the gun itself, but for its ammunition supply/power source components.

Conclusion

The Forge World version of the Belicosa Volcano Cannon certainly looks nice - but if you have already built your Titans, it will be of no use to you (unless you heroically somehow knew what they would do, and managed to magnetize the relevant parts in precisely the right way). Perhaps you still have an un-opened kit on your shelf? If yes, this will validate your decision to hold off building it! But if you are like me, and you have already built one or more of these models, go get the Vanguard alternative to serve as your Belicosa Volcano Cannon.

If you have yet to build your own Nemesis Titan, you can consider the Forge World version of the Volcano Cannon - it would sure look nice! Maybe you could even manage the magnets so the turntable would work for either weapon. Dallas or Byron are smart enough that they could figure that out I suspect, and some other hobbyists out there have suggestions. It's not like it is impossible - but it is more complex than your average weapon-magnetizing work. And even if you do, remember you will need to consider the dry mount for the "ammunition" bits on the back of the Titan.

Anyway thanks for reading, and happy painting!

Maloghurt "The Twisted" & Resizing Marines in 30k

The Warmaster will see you now...

Two things I wanted to touch on with this post. First, I wanted to show some more 30k painting progress, and the nature of the specific figure will lead to the second topic. 

But first things first - here is Maloghurst "The Twisted", Equerry to The Warmaster. This is a character figure for GW's Horus Heresy setting, released very recently by the folks at Forge World. This is a "28mm" Space Marine character figure - I put the miniature size in "scare quotes" for reasons we'll explore later in the post.

Maloghurst "The Twisted" - Equerry to Horus Lupercal

Malghurst "The Twisted" - equerry to the Warmaster - figure from Forge World

In the Horus Heresy setting, the Space Marine Legions are replete with specialized officers. Whereas the Space Marine "Chapter" in the 40k setting is something of a lean, specialized organization, the Legions of 30k were a travelling military-industrial complex in space. They were huge organizations, with tens and tens of thousands of fighting Space Marines and all that would be needed to support them and go along with them. Apothecaries, techmarines, priests/psykers (in some Legions, though not all), champions, signal officers, standard bearers etc. etc. etc. on and on. Just take a look at your Legiones Astartes army list, and see all of the various "Consul" options available - it's quite a buffet to choose from!

But wait, there's more! With the huge Legion Astartes organizations, the command echelons boasted a wide assortment of flunkies as well, especially on the staffs of the Primarchs, the top commanders of the Legion. "Equerry" is one such job - I believe the word has something to do with managing horses, but the in the 30k setting, "Equerry" seems to be a sort of principal secretary, keeping an eye on things, representing the boss at meetings, following up on important matters, making sure the lattes are the correct temperature, etc. 

Plenty of Horus iconography (I mean, obviously), but you can also see the power-pack sort of device on his hip...part of the augment/movement assistance system on the custom armour.

These equerrys often make short appearances in the Horus Heresy novels from Black Library. I think Kharn was equerry to Angron - before both of them descended into total "need-blood-need-skullz" losers. Given Horus Lupercal's central role in the, well, "Horus" Heresy, his equerry is a recurring character. Maloghurst is mentioned in the early moments of the first novel, "Horus Rising", in which he is seriously injured. He recovers somewhat from these injuries - he is a Space Marine, after all - but is always a bit damaged relative to his colleagues. Thus he is named "The Twisted" - a reference to his bodily state, but also his mental ability, as he is apparently gifted in handling the petty, bitchy politics that go on between the tiresome Primarchs of 30k. Horus might turn to the Mournival for advice on strategy or the means to approach a given battle, but he would count on Maloghurst for advice on how to reply to whatever tiresome correspondence and instruction arrived from Malcador, and the latest gossip on the other Primarchs etc.

Thanks to the folks at Forge World, you can include Malgohurst on your gaming tables if you like. Since I had painted up a Horus Lupercal figure, and as I have a large collection of Sons of Horus marines already, I was quick to order Maloghust when he became available. The sculpt is lovely, very well done. There are details large and small that speak to his exalted status as top flunky - the huge icon on the standard, bedecked with the usual skulls (of course) and odd Cthonian gang markings (aka scratches) - as well as some nice batons and a ceremonial sort of blade on his back. His weapon has a retro look and feel, befitting his status as a senior veteran within the Legion. The backpack is clever, and blends several retro-yet-pre-chaos-marine style elements. Given the fate of the XVI Legion, the look is perfect.

Command batons/scroll containers on the back - you can also see more of his supplemental support system on his power pack, and on his left leg (a big of an exo-skeleton added to the leg armour).

There are also details that speak to his injuries. Some are small - one leg has some augments to the frame, there are power/blood/other fluid packs and units on the back and sides, all small signs that Maloghurst requires some support to stay in the role he has. 

The posing suggests of the figure builds on these small detail. The way he is standing implies that is takes some effort just to be upright, even with all of the gadgets. Maloghurst is leaning, slightly forward, resting a leg on some rubble, and one arm braced on the pole for stability. He is not just holding it there for all to be impressed by...he is leaning on that thing in order to manage to stand 3/4 upright...the overall pose  speaks the effort on his part just to stand there, ready to shoot someone...

"I have some feedback from Horus..."

But the best part of this figure is the sculpting and positioning of the head...normally I hate Marine figures without their helmets, but here, I have to say, the sculptors did a perfect job. His head is somewhat hunched - which would match his hunched pose - but it has the effect also of giving him a menacing, calculating expression. Note the level of his exposed eye - it is just above the rim of his neck armour, so he can observe, but the rest of his face is hidden - this just suits the character so well...watching, waiting, observing. Other details (like the icon on the standard) are much larger. But the head is somehow still the centrepiece, skulking in place, of this figure. You can see Maloghurst seeing you, but cannot see what he might be saying or thinking...this is very, very well done in my opinion. 

"Primaris" Scale Creep Coming To 30k?

Maloghurst on the right, and "Legion Centurion" model on the left. Both are ostensibly wearing Mark III power armour. Remember - the Maloghurst sculpt is also hunched over...

There is something else very notable on this figure (in addition to the magnificent sculpting). He is f***ing huge. Now, there are variables...Maloghurst is an important named character in the Legion, and he's carrying the Warmaster's official standard, so he is going to look ominous...but at the end of the day he is a Space Marine wearing Mark III power armour - customized, yes - but Mark III. And he is notably larger than other Mark III models - even with his hunched posture. What might be happening here?

One should not over-interpret the data...it's just one figure, and he is a special character after all. Space Marines can be extra huge, and naturally the Warmaster would have some big chap to be his "equerry", would he not? You would not hand your official Legion icon to some trainee fresh out of the vat.

And yet. And yet. We have all seen what is happening with the Space Marines over on the "40k side of the shop" - the new Primaris size figures, introduced a few years ago with the 8th edition of the 40k game, are squeezing out the older line of plastic figures. While a dumb storyline has been contrived to allow the two sizes of Marine to coexist on gaming tables, we can all see the plain intent. This is happening at a gradual pace, to be sure, but it is happening. The days of the older plastics and the now-lesser scale are surely numbered. Will a such re-sizing be inflicted on the Horus Heresy figure range?

Here we see a Legion Praetor figure join the assemblage...this is a figure wearing Cataphractii terminator armour...Maloghurst is still notably larger...

No doubt any 30k fan out there will have seen the leaked photos purporting to come from a new set of plastic kits for the Horus Heresy. These emerged over the summer, and folks are quite excited by the implied possibilities. I know I am! "Beakie" Marines! In plastic! It's about f*cking time! 

The photos are accompanied, as these things often are, by all sorts of rumours. What will be plastic, what will not, will there be a new edition etc. there are many vague hints. But one rumour that stands out to me is that the new Marine models included will be "Primaris" sized. Now, it is still just a rumour, and I find you really can't tell from the photos - but given what is happening with the 40k "Primaris" marines, it is a rumour that feels credible to me. 

Maloghurst next to a Primaris Hellblaster from my 40k Raven Guard...the hunch on Malogurst makes the exact comparison tricky, but I would say they appear to be the same "size".

Anyway, the Maloghurst figure was released right around the time the leaked photos appeared online...and then when you see how big the figure is, well, it lends even more credence to the rumours...Maloghurst is as large as a Primaris-sized Marine model, and much bigger than the existing Heresy figures. Maybe it is just a one-off? I am thinking not. But at the end of the day, GW has officially said nothing about this (at least that I have seen)...so I guess we'll just have to wait and see. 

Thanks for reading - happy painting and gaming everyone!

Assault Marines for 30k Space Wolves

Assault Marines in Mark IV armour for the VI Legion.

No surprise here - some more 30k painting to share in this post. Since the spring, I have been on quite the 30k painting jag. With a few exceptions, I have been working on 30k stuff - some new, others things which have been lying around for over a year (or years). I think I have been inspired, in part, by rumours of a new plastic set coming for the Horus Heresy, but it has also just been fun to root around in my pile of 30k stuff and to keep adding to the painted part of the collection. Here are some reinforcements for the VI Legion Astartes, the "Space Wolves". This is an assault squad wearing Mark IV armour. The figures are resin sculpts from Forge World.

Close up view of the squad commander.

Nothing like a huge hammer to sort things out up close!

The assault squad is a classic Space Marine unit - troops equipped with short-range pistols, grenades and close-combat weapons, using their jump packs to "hop" across the battlefield in order to settle matters up close and personal. It's kind of silly - and so it fits very well into the Horus Heresy! I do love it, and it is the sort of tactical approach that suits the "character" of most the the Space Marine Legions in the Horus Heresy setting. Certainly the dreaded Vylka Fenryka of the VI Legion would consider any sort of tactics involving mass use of chain swords to be a worthwhile battlefield application. I had not yet painted an assault squad for any loyalists in my collection, so I thought these guys would do well with The Rout.

Two of the marines - one carrying a plasma pistol. The embossed shoulder pauldrons are from Forge World.

In the GW's "Age of Darkness" rules for the Horus Heresy, the Assault Squad counts as a core troop selection for your detachment. The squads are 10 strong, can be expanded in size, including as many as 20 marines (no half measures in 30k!). The basic assault marine carries a bolt pistol, a chain sword, and grenades. You can also select from limited special weapon options to alter/improve the short range firepower impact (you will see a few plasma pistols mixed in with the group here). The officer also has the option of upgrading his close combat weapon - I opted for a "thunder hammer" for him because...well, I like the look, and it seems like the sort of silly thing a Space Wolf marine would love to use.

Ready for action on the gaming table...hopefully someday soon...

The jump packs worn by the Mark IV marines are pretty large - and yet quite small, almost compact, compared to the other variants out there.

If you are in North America, these figures are very, very hard to find right now. Forge World's supply of the figures has become quite constricted, and most of the Horus Heresy models in Forge World's web store tend to be listed as "out of stock" or even "no longer available". Reasons include supply and production disruptions stemming from anti-COVID health measures (understandable - which industry hasn't been hit hard by these problems?) and also murkier rumours and nonsense tied to the ongoing evolution of the opaque relationship between the Forge World studio and GW itself - which owns Forge World, but sort of...doesn't, or something? Whatever...bottom line, hard to get these in North America, but they are still available in the UK. So my thanks to Jamie M, for helping me get these figures!

Chainswords revving, pistols charged and/or loaded, ready for action!

Thanks for reading! I hope folks are managing to enjoy their summer. I look forward to sharing some more 30k stuff soon - although something new is coming which may knock my brushes back toward historical subjects by the fall...we'll see. Cheers!

Battlefleet Gothic Ordnance and Light Cruiser

I finished a set of ordnance markers for Battlefleet Gothic. In the game there is an entire phase dedicated to launching torpedoes, breaching pods, fighters, bombers and for space marines, Thunderhawk gunships. These allow you to land spacemarines on enemy ships and they proceed to wreak havoc all over the ship. All the models are from Vanguard Miniatures cast in pewter and they have excellent detail. I especially like the not-thunderhawks. I also added a light cruiser to the Imperial fleet. The model is also from Vanguard and comes with various weapon options including gun batteries, lances and fighter hangers. I magnetized for maximum customization!

I have plans to paint up some more fighter and bomber stands and add a 2nd strike cruiser to the space marine fleet. Thanks for visiting!

Star Wars Legion Rebel Veterans

Well, I suppose it was somewhat inevitable that if one of the Conscripts got into a new Star Wars miniatures game (DAVE V.), I would also eventually get sucked in. I managed to avoid the Imperial Assault quicksand but the Legion models are just so nice I had to take the plunge.

 

The major hurdle I felt in jumping into Legion was the question of scale. Years back, I'd amassed a fairly sizeable collection of the WotC "Star Wars Miniature Battles" pre-painted soft-plastic figures and Conscript Towers saw A LOT of games played with these models. Then along came Imperial Assault in a slightly larger scale, ensuring that no mixing between the WotC models and FFG models could occur, and this helped me resist assimilation.

But now we have Star Wars Legion and the models are soooooo nice that it's practically impossible to resist picking some up, if only just to paint and admire.

I've decided that this is what I'm doing with this project. Conscript Dave V. has amassed a very impressive and comprehensive collection and I can't wait for him to put on a game or two for us. One thing that Dave's very into is the third-party 3D printed model producers, and I made the mistake of taking a troll on eBay a couple weeks ago for Legion 3D prints. I found a really lovely set of Han, Luke and Leia all in their Hoth garb and bought it, and of course thought it would be irresponsible not to also buy some Hoth Rebels to support them. So here we are.

The Rebel Veterans set consists of seven infantry models, including one shown here with a CM-0/93 blaster, and one crewing a tripod-mounted Mark II Medium Blaster. The rest carry A-280 blaster rifles.

There's even a Sullustan Rebel Veteran! Since there's already a "Nien Nunb" and "Ten Nunb", maybe this guy is "Elephen Nunb"? Dunno, but it's cool that FFG are introducing some diversity into the Rebel forces.

The models are cast in a soft-ish plastic that caused me some worry. This will be immediately understood by anyone familiar with the bendy garbage from Warlord Games. Fortunately the FFG models aren't too soft or bendy - they're not as hard as injection-molded plastic models from, say, Games Workshop, but are close.

 

The models assemble very easily and the sculpting is top-notch. Really nice.

There were just a couple of bendy muzzles that resisted hot-water straightening but fortunately they aren't too noticeable.

The section leader is really a great model too. I love the screen-accurate moustache as well.

I really like this set and will probably paint more Rebels for Hoth battles. One of the cool things about the Legion Rebel troop assortment is that even the basic troopers or even Commandos will fit into a Hoth environment by just painting their uniforms in similar colours. The Rebels were a bit of a rag-tag bunch after all, and not everybody need look the same.

So there we go... maybe some snowy Imperials next...?