New Plastic Venerable Dreadnought

Next to the iconic space marine in power armour, perhaps the most recognizable, representatively '40K' image of the hobby is that of the dreadnought, the lumbering, towering, two-legged engine of mechanized, armoured fury that has been a constant in Imperial armies since the days of Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader V1. There have been good dreadnought kits (virtually all of the pewter versions of the present, familiar 'square sarcophagus' design, which pushed metal-model construction about as far as it could go), bad dreadnought kits (virtually all of the 'rounded' designs which preceded the above, and which looked clumsier and more primitive than ork versions of the same era) and ugly dreadnought kits (the inexplicably insectoid, four-armed 'Space Crusade' designs, though 'strange' is probably a fairer description than overtly ugly). As Citadel have increasingly converted to plastics, dreadnought kits have gone from strength to strength, from the standard multipart/multiarm dread to the 'Assault on Black Reach' snapfit dread to the awesome Ironclad dread.

But the brand-new, all-plastic Venerable Dreadnought kit represents a new standard, for this line of iconic models.

Molded in the familiar Citadel high-quality hard styrene, the new kit packs some 75 pieces onto the sprue, all of them rife with detail and cast virtually flash free. The details catch the eye initially--there are rivets, aquila, skulls, terminator- and battle-honours and scrollwork all over the parts--but what quickly becomes more impressive is the amount of customization sculptors Colin Grayson and Tom Walton have incorporated into their design: this Venerable Dreadnought has not only the expected multiple plastic weapon arms (including, for the first time, an all-plastic plasma cannon and an anthropomorphic power fist like those seen in 'Hours Heresy' artwork) and a wealth of accessory options--it has *seven* different sarcophagus shapes and four additional front armour plate designs.

The sarcophagus varieties particularly impressed me: the gothic breastplate/helmet/arch look familiar from various Forge World resin dreadnought options and the previous metal VenDread is there in two versions (and three helmets!), and these will no doubt prove popular design choices--but there are also two 'flat front' looks which echo the traditional dreadnought faces in more ornate style, both of which can be built with or without visors depending on whether the constructor wishes the entombed space marine to be visible...and the model can even be built *without* a front plate at all, with the dreadnought's operator exposed head-and-torso (an especially appealing option for those whose chapters dictate different colours for personal armour and vehicles, such as my Void Phantoms, though it has an undeniably disturbing, 'chaotic' look which will form the basis for many a Renegade conversion, I suspect).

The multiple weapon arms can be built modularly two ways: if a hobbyist finds one of the three shoulder guard designs especially preferable he can affix those permanently then 'slot in' the chosen gun from game-to-game, or if he wants certain arm accessories (ammo hopper, power pack, etc) to match the chosen gun arm, there are sufficient housings to allow whole arm switches on an as-needed basis.

And the Venerable Dreadnought kit is compatible with the other three current Citadel plastic dreadnoughts, for even more modularization.

Games Workshop has treated the 'dreadnought among dreadnoughts' with deserving respect through the release of this new plastic kit. Virtually every space marine commander, when going to war on the tabletop, takes a dreadnought along; now none of them need look quite the same.
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Fifth Edition Boxed Set Incoming!

With the Rulebook for Warhammer 40,000 Fifth Edition arriving in July, Games Workshop has released first official word of the companion starter V5 Boxed Set, to follow in September.

The new starter box will reflect many of the 'back-to-its-origins' qualities evident in Fifth Edition rules, by pitting the antagonists available in the very first Warhammer 40K 'big box' version of the game, the 1992 Second Edition, as the iconic Space Marines battle the Orks. The contents of this edition will put all previous 40K boxes to shame, however, with its model count--and *every* model in the box will be a newly-tooled, 'click-together' style version, designed to increase ease of assembly for players new to the game and the hobby, yet be indistinguishable once put together and fielded on a tabletop from the multi-part models available in add-on squad boxes. Ork players, already revelling in one of the best-received new codices in years, will get a new Ork Warboss, five new Ork Nobs, a unit of Ork Boyz and three new plastic Deth Koptas; Space Marine players will counter with a new Space Marine Commander figure, five elite Space Marine Terminators, the essential Tactical Squad, and an iconic Dreadnought!

Each will include additional bonus models (including new playable terrain pieces), dice, templates and all of the V5 essentials, as well.

The rulebook which will come with this starter box will be a condensed form of the stand-alone hardcover rulebook, available in July. It is described as abridged, but fully-playable in conjunction with a given Army Codex.

This frankly-spectacular box of forty-first millennium goodness will be available from your local stockist in September 2008, with an anticipated on-the-shelf retail price of US$60...a price which makes the contents look even more spectacular.

Two nearly-500-point starter armies and all the essentials for about sixty bucks: the fall looks to belong to the grim darkness of the far future. Place your order for one of the first batch of V5 Boxed Sets from your favorite Stockist.

New Citadel Paint System: A Hand Flamer of Your Own!

Games Workshop will release the most comprehensive hobby painting system in their history with the new Citadel Paint System this summer. If you have a comfort level with the Primers, Protective Coats, Foundation Paint and Citadel Paint colour ranges already available, you will find those items still available; to them, GW will add a specially-designed and fully-compatible Citadel Washes range, to add depth and highlights to your models...and the tool which will facilitate all of it is the new Citadel Spray Brush, designed to worth with each of these paint lines with as much ease as possible--and to look like a Warhammer 40,000 Hand Flamer, in the process (that would be a 'close combat weapon' variant to those who aren't Rogue Trader or V2 grognards).

The Spray Brush *should not* be viewed as an airbrush, and will not be marketed as one. Although the technical principles are the same, airbrushes allow a vast range of painting functions and capabilities (at a considerably greater price and level of complication). The Citadel Spray Brush should, rather, be viewed as a 'base-coating brush,' an implement to deliver primer coats and basic-colour base coats to squads, regiments and other numerically large blocks of models, quickly and efficiently. To that end, mixing instructions for every kind of paint in the various Citadel ranges will be included with the brush...and as they are all acrylics, the mixing medium remains, simply, water. The nozzle on the Spray Brush will also have discreet settings that will allow modelers to 'set' the amount of paint coverage they want at pre-determined levels; and the Spray Brush can be connected directly to a compressor, if the hobbyist chooses (or has access to), but can just as easily be operated by easily-connectable cans of GW Propellant. Feel free to insert whatever smart comment about Games Workshop now literally selling hobbyists 'hot air' if you'd like...but grand hobby comedy aside, the idea behind the Spray Brush, the ranges of paints, and the compatibly-designed propellant cans is to provide access to a tool like this--which can be of tremendous benefit to a hobby for which painting large numbers of models is a critical component--to the vast majority of hobbyists who are not adept with, or even comfortable around, a more-sophisticated tool like a higher-line airbrush. It is an intermediate step from brush painting exclusively to mastering single- or double-action full-feature airbrushes.

And, of course, at the end of the day...it is also a 1:1 scale Hand Flamer of your very own. What hobbyist doesn't secretly want that?

40K Fifth Edition Incoming...

The grim darkness of the far future...is closer than you think.

Warhammer 40,000 will see a new edition--the fifth rules set for Games Workshop's popular gothic science fiction miniatures wargame--in July, 2008, with the release of the updated rulebook in hardcover. This edition will be back-compatible with in-print army codex books and existing miniatures, to insure a smooth transition for hobbyists.

In addition to the hardcover rulebook, which will be a regularly stocked item, GW will make the V5 rules available in two special editions, available *only* at the time of the new game's release. The Collector's Edition will feature a multi-fold slipcase, a genuine purity-seal embossed cover, and will be printed in strictly-limited numbers worldwide. The Gamer's Edition will be a package including the regular hardcover rulebook along with special edition templates and an advance release of the new movement and action markers, all in a special 'ammunition crate' with foam inserts, which can subsequently be used for figure storage or transport, etc. Hobbyists interested in these special editions should pre-order from their regular stockists; as with similar special edition releases in past, they will be available in only limited numbers and when gone will not be re-released.

All-Plastic Space Marine Devastator Box Set

Devastators have historically been among the coolest models in power armour since the earliest days of Citadel miniatures. In fact, one of my favorite models which still sees the table when I get out my Void Phantoms space marines is the original plastic RTB-01 space marine with missile launcher; one of the first space marines I ever painted was the V2 space marine with missile launcher that came in that boxed set; and the V3 space marine lascannoneer always finds its way onto my list of favorite models. Devastators and I go way back...and I know I am not alone in my fondness for power armoured superheroes carrying the biggest guns Warhammer 40,000 has to offer.

So when GW offers new Devastator models--I'm interested, and I know I am not alone.

The new all-plastic Space Marine Devastator Squad box set reaches retailer shelves this month, and I do not think anyone will be disappointed. Quite a few people (especially Dark Angels players) may already have seen the new models, as they are components of some DA army boxes which have been released (and almost immediately sold out); feel free to share your opinions, as well.

The first thing which bears positive mention is the price: the existing metal-and-plastic Devastator Squad box set retailed for US$45, with individual Devs in blisters selling for ten bucks; the new all-plastic Devastator Squad box set retails for US$30 (a commendable price point GWUS has been trying to hit with their small squad--5 and 6 figure-type--box sets, even with pewter components). This is a very competitive price.

What is even more impressive, however, is what the hobbyist will find inside: three full sprues, absolutely jammed with parts (GW has begun using a more modern dual-injection process which allows for greater compression of parts on sprues, and it really shows with these). There are sufficient parts to build the traditional Devastator Sgt and four heavy weapons specialists, of course--but the hobbyist can choose from among *eight* complete heavy weapons included in the box (2 each of lascannon, plasma cannon and heavy bolter, plus a multimelta and a missile launcher), and an alternate sixth 'kneeling' set of legs, among other things. Add numerous extra details (four servo skulls, multiple weapons kit-outs for the sergeant, alternate heads, pouches, holsters, purity seals, tabards, etc and the sprues are a treasure trove for the hobbyist looking to customize his space marines, to make them his own.

A particularly cool feature which will distinguish this Dev Sergeant from his predecessors is a complete backpack-mounted sensor array. One can even simulate the traditional Dev Sergeant 'pointing thataway' pose (though you will have to use the included powerfist to do it this time around).

The question 'why bother with going 'all-plastic' when the existing plastic-with-pewter weapons Devs are so well done' can be fairly asked. The above paragraphs provide most of the answer: a significant reduction in retail price and the inclusion of lots of 'space mariney' extras on new sprues are excellent reasons of themselves. GW has gone some further than that, however, by customizing the sculpts even more than the plastic-and-pewter combination miniatures allowed; in addition to the long-asked-for kneeling marine option already mentioned, each heavy weapon variant has its own specialized backpack with brand new details (like the missile launcher marine's backpack-mounted autoloading arm, a tiny but tremendously-cool extra). And of course the advantage plastic has over pewter in ease of converting means I anticipate seeing some vibrant, more action-oriented poses among Devastator models in the future.

If you treasure your existing heavy weapon trooper models (from either iteration, the V2 shoulder-carriers or the V3 low-slung types), the models you can build with the new all-plastic Devastator sprues will provide the kind of variety which will complement your existing models. If you haven't opted to try the potent combination of man-portable heavy weapons and the staying power of supermen in power armour, the new Devastators box set will give you compelling reasons to make this a first time.

This is a terrific box set of models which I expect will make players of space marines (and Inquisitors who like their allies in power armour) very happy.

Let your retailer of choice know you want them ASAP.