Legions Imperialis – Solar Auxilia Malcador Infernus and Valdor Tank Destroyer

While we covered the Dracosan Transport and the main build of the Malcador for the Solar Auxilia, it is now time to give the Malcador Infernus and Valdor Tank Destroyer for Legions Imperialis a closer look, especially as both were just teased in plastic for full scale Horus Heresy.

This is a mixed kit, featuring two of each Malcador specialised variants for a RRP of 41 EUR.

Both tanks are named after important characters / heroes of the Imperium, the main tank and chassis itself after the Sigilite, Malcador and the tank hunter variant after Captain-General Constantin Valdor of the Legio Custodes. These variants are a usual thing and often seen with historical tanks as well, using a widly produced chassis and repurposing it to various roles needed on the battlefield, for example the PzKpfw. V Panther was build as a regular battle tank, but also as the tank destroyer variant Jagdpanther, with a hull-mounted weapon (the Allies mostly went for turret mounted tank destroyers). The Allies did similar with their battle tanks, for example the Churchill Infantry tank had a variant with a mounted flame thrower and fuel-trailer, the Churchill Crocodile, which pretty much is the template for the Malcador Infernus.With this set of four tanks, you are able to either field four detachments of one single vehicle, or two with two each (And the option to add another third per detachment), yet you can't mix them. It is either a Valdor Tank Destroyer Detachment or a Malcador Infernus Detachment. You can find their rules in the The Great Slaughter supplement for Legions Imperialis.

As usual you'll find two identical medium sized sprues, an instruction leaflet and a decal sheet for the Solar Auxilia.

Each sprue covers enough parts to build a single Malcador Infernus and Valdor. There is next to no unused space within the frame and the casting quality is superb.

The decal sheet provides you with 288 icons, covers insignia of 8 different cohorts of the Solar Auxilia in black and white, covering the same insignia in regular and inverted print;

Arkadian Janissaries, Cthonian Headhunters, Manachean Bulls, Saturnyne Rams, Lord Marshal's Own, Ash Scorpions, Bormanite Devils and The Deathless.

While both share the Malcador chassis, the pieces for each tank are differently cut and you can't mix them (beside the crew).

The Malcador Infernus is built from the bottom up, we start with the inner hull and create a L shaped base, where the weapon system is later own added to.

The hull has a huge ball joint on the back, where the fuel-trailer is added to in a later step. The massive inferno gun can be slightly tilted up and down but is otherwise in a fixed position.

As a last step, the fuel trailer is added. This one has a flexibel connection and can be angled/turned and sticks by friction. You don't necessary need to glue it stuck.

Similar steps with the Valdor Tank hunter. We create the inner hull and provide a mount the Neutron Beam Laser connects to.

As you can see, the laser can be tilted up-/downwards and is encased within the chassis, with a side sponson only on the right side of the tank.

The final details are added, like the power suppled and trench rails.

The tanks have some cargo, that I added more freely to the tanks to create more variation. Both tanks can choose between autocannon and laser cannons for the side sponsons.

Similar with the crew and bulldozer blades, to which both have access.

Here is a comparison of the various Malcador variants, that are currently available in plastic for this game. As well as a scale comparison within the Solar Auxilia range..

A few close ups of the build kits from different angles.

Conclusion

While I enjoyed the build, which went quite quick and easy, with minor hassle. The exhaust pipes of the Malcador chassis can be a bit tricky, as they have a very small surface for the glue to bond to. The units themself are very flexible and provide a quick boost of 280 points to your army. My mayor problem with this kit is the price, at 41 EUR you pay more than 10 bucks per model and they are quite smalll, you have to get at least a 20% discount to move them into a reasonable price range for my taste.

Love the design of the Valdor. Very nasty looking tank destroyer, perfect to hunt enemy heavy armour (on tracks and on armoured legs) and can not wait until the full scale Heresy model arrives in plastic.

The Horus Heresy and Legions Imperialis are brands by Games Workshop.