Empire Steam Cruiser - preparations

Another project for WFB in preparation; this time a warmachine for Empire. Being little disappointed by (hefty)price-to-(puny)size ratio of new Steam Tank model, I bought a bunch of necessary bits and started Project Steam-Cruiser ;-).
The list is not yet complete, but I already went back and forth over my ideas and know what I need.
So, pray to Sigmar for some free time for me...

Inquisitorial Rhino and more

Not exactly what I've promised in one of the previous posts, but maybe nice ideas.
How to make interesting Rhino for your O. Malleus or O. Xenos Inquisitor? Just put a turret on it! Below is my first attempt to make such vehicle.

Not bad, IMO.

Blogger rotated next photo for unknown reason...


The turret can be shifted to the back, if you want alternative approach, but the result is much worse...


If it works for Rhino, so what about good old Leman Russ tank?


This needs more converting, maybe some passenger compartment at the back? But what this will be?My collection reaches four pieces which gives me many options to mix Rhinos, Chimeras, Baneblades (sponson turrets)... What to choose?

Making Hydra flak tank (1)

Some months ago, when a preview of Aegis Defence Line set appeared in the Web, I've immediately thought about using its parts as a flak cannons for IG Hydra. Yeah, fast and cheap solution but also little cheap result...
To be clear, I have nothing against Forge World model and could bear the price at current euro/GBP rate, but I like alternatives also.
So, it did not take long until I bought this set:

It is produced by Warforged miniatures and I got mine from D6 Hobbies store. They are well done and details level is satisfactory for either IG or Ork army. The latter however has currently much better option from FW.

They are 18 USD per set, plus s&h, which is rather expensive if you consider necessity of turret construction.
Speaking of turret construction, it should be relatively easy using plasticard and some spare bits. Warforged Miniatures guy showed this somewhere in one post.
But, I decided to check first what Old Crow is offering:

This turret is definitely too small and will fit much better with their original armament (at the back). So, lets go for the another turret:

Second set is much more promising but only if you will stay with one pair of autocannons. If you like to use it with missiles as a Manticore, you should also check this post and the related ones at 42nd Cadian.

Full set of four cannons does not fit, which leaves me unfortunately at starting point... Seems I have to find some time and make a turret from plasticard and bits below:
These are Baneblade side plates and Hellhound back. Not expensive at all, but this time...

Simplest Rhino conversion ever

Probably everybody though about this mix for a second, but maybe nobody tried to put these parts together, as it's veeery obvious idea. I tried to do this and below are some results:

There isn't much to say - like it or not, you decide.

How to use a Steam Tank main body?

Soon (I hope), I will get the following parts of recently released plastic Steam Tank of Empire.


When looking at the complete model, this will be the non-blurred part of the vehicle from the below photo.


To be honest, I bought this bitz without clear idea what to do with them. So next, I would like to list some possibilities asking you about yours opinions.

1) Alternative turret for Baneblade/Hellhammer - will replace the original turret but not cannon.

2) Orks Battlewagon front body - will replace whole driver compartment. The second picture shows stage at which it can be mounted to the chassis. Probably mounted without the ST turret.


3) Land Raider front body replacement or, if it doesn't fit there, the main body upper extention - should be fitted to the top of the model probably without the floor. An open backside needs to be closed somehow.
4) Tzeentchian (does such word exist?) Defiler upper body replacement - as previously, a backside needs to be closed.

So, what would be your decision? Or maybe you have a better idea? Please, let me know in the comment...
PS. It seems that some unintended changes to the settings of my blog prevent all readers from commenting. Sorry for this, folks.

Steam Tank - a spanish version

Brand new plastic Steam Tank of Empire appeared recently on their website. Below you can enjoy a Spanish version of the machine. I caught it in GW store in Madrid. Btw, definitely not an Orkz Battlewagon by size...

Excuse me the (lack of) quality of last photo; I was in hurry.
Additionally, small bonus for those who prefer walkers...

Shine your lights on me, baby

The Necrons are in my opinion one of these armies which you can build relatively quickly, once you will feel an urge to expand your gaming range. At least, this is true at an average level of painting. However, the situation can be quite different if one wants to get from his models a little more than usual ...

Illuminated Necron Monolith model by Cytadela.pl:
Movie part 1, Movie part 2, Movie part 3, Movie part 4.
(The comments are in polish language but the picture shows the point.)

While I'm far* from going into the Necrons, this kind of bedside lamp is very tempting to construct.

(*) for the moment, :-)

IG rumors continued - part 2

Being initially impressed by Leman Russ variety included in approaching IG codex, I went at first rather quickly through the other vehicles news. The truth however is that variations of Chimera tank play at least equally important role in the army as the bigger brother (generally speaking; details depend on particular army composition, of course). A common chassis bind together such different-role machines like Colossus, Bane Wolf or chimera, to cite a few. For this reason, now we will have a closer look at these toys.

Hellhound - Inferno cannon (Tmpl within 12" range, 6/4, Hvy 1) - 130 pts
Devil Dog - Melta cannon (24", 8/1, Hvy 1, melta, blast) - 120 pts
Bane Wolf - Chem cannon (Tmpl, 1/3, Hvy 1, poisoned 2+) - 130 pts
All three are 12/12/10 (F/S/R) and BS 3.

Hydra - Hdr. Autocannon (72", 7/4, Hvy 2) - 12/10/10 - 75 pts
This beast has Auto-targeting System disabling both, skimmers speedy cover saves and bikers turbo-boosting ones.

Basilisk - Earthshaker cannon (36-240", 9/3, Ord Brg 1, Large blast) - 125 pts
Medusa - Siege cannon (36", 10/2, Ord 1, Large blast) - 135 pts - can have special shells (48", 10/1, Hvy 1, blast, +D6 armor penetration, for 5 pts/model)
Colossus - Siege mortar (24-240", 6/3, Ord Brg 1, Large blast, no direct fire, no cover sv.) - 140 pts
Griffon - Grf. Heavy mortar (12-48", 6/4, Ord Brg 1, Large blast, no direct fire) - can re-roll scatter dice - 75 pts
All four are 12/10/10 and open-topped but can buy Enclosed crew compartement for 15 pts.

Manticora - 4 x Storm Eagle rocket (24-120", 10/4, Ord Brg D3, Large blast) - 12/10/10 - 160 pts

Deathstrike Missile Launcher - 1 shot fired upon (D6 + modifiers) roll equal or more than 6 (12-960", 10/1, Ord Brg 1, D3+3" special blast, no direct fire, no cover sv.) - 12/12/10 - 160 pts

At the bottom of these, there is a new plastic kit announced for Hellhound/Devil Dog/Bane Wolf (3 in 1) but we have to stick to Forge World (or scratch builds) for others.

Disclaimer: all above are web-collected unconfirmed rumors. You should refer to a copy of official IG codex once it will be available in order to play your WH40K games.

I love bizarre tanks! (IG rumors)

As said in the title, I love those bizarre tank constructions of the past, either rhomboid mothers of all of them (British Mark I - IX range), or multi-turret ones (like infamous Russian T-35). Some of them are considered successful, others failed, but this aspect is not important here. What matters is that they are protoplasts of our Land Raiders and Baneblades. In comparison, the design of Leman Russ Battle Tank can be regarded as quite modern. However, I know how much critics this poor baby take from some Abrams- and Leopard-lovers. For me, this vehicle is one of the most important ingredients in the Imperial Guards pot. Saying this, I'm grinning with glad that finally, after years of waiting, some of the Forge World variants found their place in the latest incarnation of the IG 40K codex. So, let's take a look ...
As everybody expect, all versions have BS 3. Equally common is the Wargear list consisted of Heavy bolter (HB), searchlight and smoke launchers and new Lumbering Vehicle special rule (vide infra). Any model may exchange its HB with Heavy Flamer (HF, free) or Lascannon (15 pts). Any model may take sponsons: HB or HF for 20 pts, Multi-meltas for 30 pts, Plasma Cannons for 40 pts per model, plus some additional minor upgrades.
Variants are as following:

basic Leman Russ - Battle cannon (72", 8/3, Ord 1, Large blast) - 150 pts, (F/S/R: 14/13/10)
Exterminator - Ext. Autocannon (48", 7/4, Hvy 4, Twin-linked) - 150 pts, (14/13/10)
Vanquisher - Vqs. Battle cannon (72", 8/2, Hvy 1, +D6 for armour penetr.) - 155 pts, (14/13/10)
Eradicator - Erd. Nova cannon (36", 6/4, Hvy 1, Large blast, no Cover Sv.) - 160 pts (14/13/10)
Demolisher - Dms. Siege cannon (24", 10/2, Ord 1, Large blast) - 165 pts (14/13/11)
Punisher - Pns. Gatling cannon (24", 5/-, Hvy 20) - 180 pts (14/13/11)
Executioner - Ecr. Plasma Cannon (36", 7/2, Hvy 3, Blast) - 190 pts (14/13/11)

For Lumbering Vehicle rule: if our tank moved at combat speed or was stationary, it can fire turret weapon (any type) in addition to other allowed weapons, but at cruising speed can only move D6 + 6".
As a closing remark I can remember that all this goodies come in squadrons of 1-3 tanks.
So, count your GBP carefully for FW resin sets, or (if you're patient) wait for GW plastics scheduled for late summer release.

Disclaimer: all above informations are unconfirmed rumors collected and put together from various websites over last few weeks. So, enjoy but don't hold a grudge against me, in case they are "not so precise".