Horus Heresy – Solar Auxilia Medusa and Basilisk
While we're waiting for the release of the Malcador Variants of Infernus and Valdor in Horus Heresy scale, we fill the gap with the Basilik / Medusa kit for the Solar Auxilia today - in a double feature. Because not only do we cover this one in Horus Heresy scale of 32mm, we do also have you covered for Legions Imperialis today in this review of the Medusa and Basilisk Battery.
During the civil war of the Horus Heresy, the Leman Russ was the work horse of the Imperial warmachine and used as a chassis to build various variants and derivations, for different purposes, like the self-propelled-gun variants, we talk about today. The chimera chassis, which was developed later would take over some of the variants, therefore the Basilisk in 40k looks different than 30k. And with the Solar Auxilia Leman Russ plastic kit we have the chance to see these as new full plastic sets and not resin or hybrid set.
Games Workshop repurposes some of the sprues to cover these variants, we see this today with the Medusa and Basilisk, where the track sections and parts of the hull are re-used, and we will see this with the Malcador later this week. But let us open up the box and see, what is inside.
Legions Imperialis – Solar Auxilia Stormhammers
In case you are looking for something heavier than a Baneblade, there is an option for the Solar Auxilia in Legions Imperialis - the Stormhammers.
Like the other super-heavy squadrons, this boxed set covers two vehicles as well, both are build as Stormhammers. This set of two sprues is available at a RRP of 41 EURs / 31,50 GBP.
Initially this tank was build as a massive anti-infantry tank during the Great Crusade and fulfilled this task reliably against the Orks and later during the civil war. And even 10.000 years later, this tank pattern is still in service, just not with the Solar Auxilia but Astra Militarum. While there are different variants and armaments for the vehicle, within Legions Imperialis it has only the option between multi-laser or lascannon sponsons.
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.
Legions Imperialis – Solar Auxilia Dracosan Transport Detachment
As we have covered the Legions Imperialis transporters for the other forces, like the Rhinos for Legiones Astartes or Triaros for Mechanicum, it is now time to take a closer look upon the Dracosan for the Solar Auxilia.
We have already reviewed the Dracosan for Horus Heresy on this blog, so it is a neat addition to cover the smaller epic scale kit as well.
Adeptus Titanicus – Legio Astraman Ad Arma Pt. XV
The bases for all of the remaining Legio Astraman were designed, just two more miniatures to build - the Warhound Scout Titans. I looked upon the once I already build, three of them, unfortunately with fixed weaponry. Something that I want to take care of with these two and add further variation.
I used some of the traitor panels and removed the additional spikes / stylized chaos stars, and as I wanted more dynamic poses, I cut the aligners from the hip sections for a more flexible position on my warhounds.
Adeptus Titanicus – Legio Astraman Ad Arma Pt. XIV
The base building continues, and I pick up where I left off last time with Part XIII, but added to further bases to cover the base design for the two Warhound Scout Titans.
I started with the base for the Warmaster, where I used the Falchion wreck as a primary piece for the base design. I cut down the tracks, to lower the height of the tank's silhouette.
Adeptus Titanicus – Legio Astraman Ad Arma Pt. XIII
We're now in the post-Battle for Uulda part of this series and it is time to complete the Legio Astraman project. We're having for the main titan legio four (+maybe two further) models left;
- Warmaster Titan
- Warbringer Titan
- 2 Dire Wolves Heavy Scout Titans
- and maybe 2 further Warhounds Scout Titans to cover the new weapon options for both AT/LI, and magnetise them this time around
As I'd like to cover the bases first, and I already built the Warmaster with a slightly raised leg, so he could stomp on something.
The idea was to recreate something that I did with one of the Warlord Titans (this one will be used with Legio Magna, so the similar pose doesn't bother me within Legio Astraman), and have him stand upon a lower terrain piece or upon a (super) heavy vehicle.
Legions Imperialis – Mechanicum Triaros Squadron
Within the Mechanicum Battle Group for Legions Imperialis are not only infantry and walkers, but an armoured transport vehicle as well - the Triaros Armoured Conveyor as a squadron of four. We even recently covered the 32mm variant plastic kit from the Horus Heresy range on here as well.
Currently only available as part of the Mechanicum Battle Group the Triaros Squadron will be available as a set of its own shortly. As usual we get two identical sprues, the instructions are part of the combined booklet and at least as part of the Battle Group it does not come with decals. But this was the case with any of the vehicle kits from the Legiones Astartes or Solar Auxilia, and if you ask me the icon on the side doors of the Triaros shown above are decals as well, so we might see these in a later release.
Legions Imperialis – Mechanicum Thanatar Siege-Automata
Another kit that we just recently build in full scale of Horus Heresy, the Mechanicum Thanatar Siege-Automata. And while the larger brother is currently "just" available as the Thanatar Cavas Siege Automata, the new sprue as part of the Mechanicum Battle Group covers both, the Cavas and Calix Siege Automata.
Availability currently limited to the Battle Group, we will see this box of 8 of the Thanatar Siege-Automata somewhere in the close future at a RRP of 41 EUR, covering two identical sprues and eight bases with 32mm diameter.
Legions Imperialis – Mechanicum Battle Automata
In between the regular Mechanicum Infantry and the largest of the Siege Automata are various classes of Battle Automata the (Dark) Mechanicum can muster, and that is another new set as part of the Mechanicum Battle Group.
This set combines five different Battle Automata, with the first time we've seen the Arlatax Battle-Automata and small versions of the Castellax, Domitar and Vorax Battle-Automata as well as the Vultarax Strato-Automata.
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