Reaver Class Battle Titan from Armorcast |
So far my entries have been mostly 20mm figures, and it has been a lot of fun. But I mentioned at the tag end of my last entry that I was getting an itch to switch over to some sci-fi. Well I decided to do so in a big way (literally) with this entry. This is a Reaver class battle titan, a giant fighting machine from Games Worskhop's dystopian Warhammer 40k setting. The model is 13 and a half inches tall, from the toes to the top of the missile launcher on the top carapace. It's a big sucker!
Crew would be inside the "head" |
Obviously this is a fairly unusual war gaming model, particularly for many Challenge participants who don't know much about or care much for GW's Warhammer 40k setting. I will try to provide a little bit of background about these vehicles, this specific model and why I bothered to paint it without blathering on for too long (I hope).
Heavy laser cannon of some sort on the right arm |
In GW's Warhammer 40k setting there is always a bigger gun, so to speak, and no part of the setting embodies this more than the "Titans". They are large bipedal machines, armed with incredibly heavy and powerful armaments. Organized in pseudo-monastic formations, each pledged
to a particular "Forge World" (i.e. planet or system given over
completely to the manufacturing of arms and weapons), Titans are of
course the "killer app" of the Warhammer 40k universe. Whoever or whatever human faction or alien race
resisting the Imperium in any given conflict is unlikely to last long
against whole detachments of machines like this.
View from the top |
Titans look like killer robots, but are in fact vehicles, walkers with crews - a commander ("Princeps"), gunners and tech-types ("Moderatii") and a few unpleasant/unfortunate former humans who are essentially just installed directly into the machine ("Servitors" - yuck). This Titan, a Reaver class, is a very large fighting machine, but is actually classified as a "medium" class (!) battle titan.
These figures are just to show the size, but they are actual Titan Crew figures from GW's Rogue Trader period; I painted them years ago - now they have an actual Titan to crew! |
So how did the 1/300 combat walkers make it to the 25mm/28mm gaming tables? Well, there was a period (in the 90s, I think) when GW had issued/sold a license to a company called Armorcast to make 40k models. I was just getting into gaming at this time, and I can remember cruising their web site looking at all of these models I was sure I would never own. Armorcast had set out to make 28mm-scale versions of the super-heavy vehicles which had started to appear in GW's "Epic" game. Included among these were models of the Titans.
"Before" - this the model after it arrived via EBay |
A WIP shot of the torso and legs receiving base colour coats |
So why, all these years later, track one down and paint one up now? For starters, as some may have noted in prior Challenges, I really have a soft spot for the old GW "Rogue Trader" era and I actively collect and paint figures from that period. But a second jolt has more to do with a decision last year to dive into collecting figures for the Horus Heresy - see here for more on that.
Basic colours on the head |
More WIP - one of the weapon/arms and the shoulder carapace plates |
But as happens so often with hobby projects, it took a while to get it under the paint brush, which is why this Challenge is great. A few weeks ago Dallas finished off a giant alien walker, and he seemed likely to jump from there to painting up his Titan - hinting as much in his blog post. I suddenly felt the race was on. Having completed a long run of 20mm stuff, it was time to hit sci-fi again, and so I painted this model.
Last week - basic colours and highlighting applied, waiting for decals, weathering and other finishing touches |
Another view of the laser weapon on the left "arm" - sadly this weapon has just the slightest bend in the casting... |
No magnets on this sucker...you literally bolt it together! |
You can see the bolt in the shoulder holding the weapon in place; unscrew the bolt, and you can switch the weapon |
The decals are mostly spare ones from GW's Imperial Knight model kit, with some assorted ones coming from spare model aircraft kits. I tried to give it a little wear, but I did not weather it too much. For all of the combat action these things would see, there are casts of hundreds of mechanics who (literally) worship the thing and bring it back to snuff after every single battle. With that in mind, I mostly tried to scuff up the feet a bit, and left it at that.
Another view of the "power fist" |
In terms of using this in a "skirmish" game, well, other than perhaps an immobilised objective of sorts, it has no practical application. The statistics of the weapons reflect its stature on the battlefield, and this thing would blow away entire segments of an enemy force with every turn. To take just one example, the launcher up on the carapace is called an "apocalypse launcher". How will your infantry squad do under fire from that? Not a fun game. But a fight against another Titan? Well, that will be fun!
Cousins - the smaller model is a Reaver Titan from GW's Epic figure line... |
From Curt:
Dude, that thing is the t*ts!! (Ahem, sorry girls...)
Back when I was a fully follicled 40K dork (as opposed to the denuded 'History dork' I am today) I had one of these bad boys and a Warhound from Forge World in my collection. (Yes, almost grounds for divorce.) They were completely stupid, and as Greg says they have almost no gaming utility, but I've always loved the 'fluff' supporting them in the 40K universe and, hey, they just look so freaking cool. Greg, this Reaver looks waaay better than my stuff ever did. This is amazing!
The purple and copper paint scheme works very well and I really like the heraldry /iconography (especially on it's left leg and power fist). The only thing I would suggest is that each section should be festooned with purity seals from the Mechanicus (a bit of the quasi-religious fluff from the 40K history that I've always perversely enjoyed).
As far as gaming is concerned, I would suggest (here I go again: big mouth / no trousers) organizing a scenario where you have the Titans deployed on the floor in a good sized room. Otherwise I think they will look completely naff facing off on a typical tabletop as the scaling would be just too ridiculous.
For points? Well, I think we can safely say that the mass of this thing is easily the equivalent of six 28mm vehicles. So let's go with 90 points with another 10 for the hand-painted heraldry and sheer scale of the thing.
A great addition to your collection Greg!
That was unexpected, to say the least! Great work on this massive project, Greg - well done indeed!
ReplyDeleteWTF!!! And I thought I was mad.... Stunning stuff...
ReplyDeleteAnd I think anything that needs t be bolted together deserves double points!
DeleteJesus I just wet my self.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are sooooo impressed and so am I for that matter
Ian
Any positive comment (what else!!) would be an understatement....!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteProof size DOES matter after all! Goodness Greg this is something else. I love all the Mechanicum touches you have thrown in and especially the old RT crew. Absolutely stunning. One of the best entries to date!
ReplyDeleteTo use the expression before WTF - "Gordon Bennett". Brilliant
ReplyDeleteThis. Is. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteAdeptus Titanicus was my first GW game, and I've been getting back into collecting old Epic scale armies (my own version of "Oldhammer"), but this is a whole other level of EPIC.
My own Amorcast titan story: back when my friends and I were getting into 40K, my friend (who has always been a "bigger is better" kind of guy) blew his entire initial starter army fund on an Armorcast Phantom Titan. We all oohed and ahhed over the contents of the bag, and then he realized just how insane he had been to buy it and returned it for the store for credit. :)
It would be a real scream to see a 28mm-scale Adeptus Titanicus game played out on a gymnasium floor. Just a suggestion for down the line, once your local arms race has led you to collect several more titans...
That is a very impressive rendering of Imperial Might!
ReplyDeleteThe mechanium touches are very nice. Fantastic effort!
Huge. Massive. What a beast. Thanks for sharing this one. It's entries like this that make the challenge so good. Cheers
ReplyDeleteNot much you can really say about that post and that 28mm model!
ReplyDeleteNow, that's what I call an entry!
ReplyDeleteSuperb work Greg :)
Greg, the "but I'm not certain of the origin of the one on the left." miniature is from the the 1989 catalog, he's called 401107 Servitor. He's found with the Imperial Guard Adeptus Mechanicus models.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1991 catalog, he's labeled as Servitor with Wrench. He was never seen again.
Thats a terrific titan, I give you 200 Baconfat points.
Geez, and a Baconfat Point in today's market has to be worth, what now? At least 5 normal points? High praise indeed! :)
DeleteI'm taking these Baconfat points to the bank - with the state of the Canadian Dollar, I know they will come in handy.
DeleteThat is as unexpected as it is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone - I'm glad folks enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fantastic. And Bonkers. Count me in as another one with fond memories of the original Adeptus Titanicus/Epic games and all the cards and Gubbins that went with them. Great paint job on such a big model.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted a titan, but could never afford on when young. But seeing yours I have started to want one all over again. Curse you sir, curse you!
ReplyDeleteI'm just piling on here, but that is off the hook! Totally impractical and totally awesome!
ReplyDeleteWell, that's truly a huge entry! Great work on a completely unpractical model. That's enthusiasm...
ReplyDeleteThat's immense, such a beast! I didn't know Armourcast did a reaver. Great job of it.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I drooled for hours over the pictures of the Armorcast titans when they were first coming out but never had the money to get one. Very jealous especially with all of the extra work you put in on the details.
ReplyDeleteThis is simply fantastic, a legend coming tho The Challenge!!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic building and painting work!!!
If there was a prize for "Maddest Gamer," I think you'd win HANDS DOWN!! Especially, considering the old "crew" and Mechanicus figures included.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, cracking good stuff, Greg! It will be interesting to see that monster in play! I always did like the Reaver best, out of the Titans, and I like the Armorcast better than Forgeworld (looks more like the old Titanicus model!)
Well done!
Thanks Kevin. To be fair, however, both Curt and Dallas should be lead contenders in the "Maddest Gamer" category. :)
DeleteMaddest Gamer it should be a category... and this would certainly be a top contender.
ReplyDeleteAstounding! I've got these in Epic 6mm scale, this is madness!! Great work!
ReplyDeleteThe shoulder armor is possitioned way to high up and is also way to level and the head is to low attached to the body. The upper legs are weird and not high-tech at all. The paint is nice but the free hand is a bit to messy. Nice overall but not smashing (But that's just my opinion)
ReplyDeleteRiiight. Well, I'd say thanks for your opinion, but strangely, like you, I'm not feeling very generous today, so I'll take a pass. From looking at the comments above, its seems that well over 20 people seem to love the work, so I think we'll go with the majority on this one.
Delete*too
DeleteCurt, you beat me to it. I'm not feeling very generous today either, and I think it's really bad form to come onto a post that's nearly a year old, crap all over someone else's hard work, and then hide behind the tired old saw of "that's just my opinion."
I'll just point out to MrSandor that the Armorcast design was based on the original design for the Reaver Titan (seen at the links below), so if he has a problem with positioning of the head, shoulder guards, or leg design, he should really get in a time machine and take that up with Games Workshop and Armorcast's sculptors, not with the person for whom this was clearly a labor of love. "(But that's just my opinion[.])"
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pmahU6jjar4/UryD7WVVanI/AAAAAAAAPgo/a1AB7_4WNVQ/s1600/C360_2013-12-26-13-59-08-848.jpg
http://taran.pagesperso-orange.fr/images/vehicules/tit_ordre_stromlord.jpg