BLOG

Hey guys

I managed to get a deeper look into the upcoming White Dwarf which obviously showcases the new SM stuff. I promised not to take any pictures and since my possible future early insight into WD depends on it – I won’t
Take it as you wish, but this isn’t salt – this is what exactly is coming

BOOKS:
– Codex: Space Marines with a very nice picture of badass looking Space Marine (probably best C:SM cover so far)
– confirmed the 7 limited versions
– none showed in WD, all mentioned obviously as mail-order only
– small Apocalypse Warzone will also be released (unsure if it’s digital only or not) – Damnos (see the BL book “Fall of Damnos” – basicly Necrons vs. Ultramarines)

PLASTIC KITS:

Space Marine Captain & Space Marine Librarian (2 separate clamp-packs)
– not to confuse with multi-part customisable Space Marines Commander set which should stay around
– those are like Cadre Fireblade, Aspiring Champion etc… 1 pose, plastic
– Captain has Cato Sicarius-like helmet and lots of bling, has a very similar pose to Captain from AOBR, Power Sword and Combi-Grav
– Librarian has beard (a lot of SM beards + bald heads in this release) and a skull-cap thingy wihich makes him look a bit like… Merlin
– Librarian also has a power staff (or whatever you call that) held horizontally, and one ugly herub-like servitor cupid (creepy stuff)

Reclusiam Command Squad
– not sure if this replaces SM Command Squad kit
– contains the mentioned SM Command Squad (don’t see any changes here), a plastic Chaplain and… Razorback – all for 55£
– this definetly isn’t the prettiest Chaplain model out there but it has some nice bitz, nice big skully Crozius and 2 heads – one bald with Kano-like face implant and the other is a skull helmet (looks a bit iffy)
– he also has purity seals with massive ribbons/parchments blown by the wind

Sternguard Veterans
– A W E S O M E!
– all the best elements fromt heir old metal versions, long loincloths, tons of bling, ornaments on helmets and armor, seems to have lot of bitz
– finally we get plastic versions of combi-weapons, all seem to be here including the new Combi-Grav
– nice new plastic Heavy Flamer and Heavy Bolter (version with drum-mag)
– badass heads and poses (yap, another bald head with beard)
– sergeant has a “roman-mohawk” on his helmet (not the Sicarius one, other way around)
– 5 models in box

Vanguard Veterans
– slightly less bling then their on-foot veteran brothers
– nice ornaments on chainswords and power sword (relic/master-crafted versions?)
– mohawk head for sarge (like Lord Executioner, perhaps it’s a trend for jump-packers?)
– some nice aquila markings on jump packs
– awesome power-sword / relic blade
– not as jaw dropping as Sternguards, sadly
– 5 models in box

(NEW) Tactical Squad
– 10 models, price increased slightly (we could have seen that coming, couldn’t we?)
– not many changes here, will nicely mix with bits from old kit
– major addition is more head variants and new Grav-Gun and Grav-Pistol
– some new ornaments on backpacks and shoulder pads (not all, just few bits to make some difference among marines)
– interesting bits: Auspex is back! (but DA heralded that already), set of bolter/arms during reload (looks cool), badass Combi-Flamer, nice new (smaller) Power Fist
– I would suggest buying a box of Tactical Squad that’s currently in sale before next month (it’ll surely be gone by then) to have a wider array of bits (unless you already have tons of them)

Now let’s clear some rumors regarding new vehicles:
– NO new rhino kit, still the same, old, badly cast chassis with massive holes after you glue it  (
– NO new versions of Razorback / Predator / Whirlwind – all stays the same apparently
– NO sign of Rhino-variants (but perhaps they just differ rule-wise)
– NO “Big Walker” – forget about Dreadknight / Riptide / Wraithknight counterpart for SM :((
– NO new Skimmers / Flyers (especially no sign of one that was mentioned in rumours recently)
– NO new Bikes, Landriders or Dreadnaughts 
– basicly, unless I mention it as a kit above or below – it’s not getting any update / remake / new model

Stalker / Hunter
– the rumored dual-kit AA tank
– lots of new parts, side armor is massive and has some kind of pistons that seem to be pinning it to the ground
– front plate is also different from other vehicles on Rhino-chassis: Stalker / Hunter has one that looks a bit Heresy-era with a “bumper” that looks similarly to the one Landspeeder has (that belt-of-cubes bumper thing)

– Stalker is the one with dual 3-barrel autocannon-like guns, it also has a nice radar dish, really badass look
– it’s described as rapid-firing AA (guess it’s SM version of IG Hydra)
– now here’s big thing: it’s not twin-link! those are TWO SEPARATE guns that are mentioned to be able to shoot at TWO SEPARATE targets

– Hunter is the one that looks like that vintage SM Hunter tank – one massive AA turret barrel
– shoots “Skyspear Rockets” but no details on special rules here

Centurion Devastator Squad / Centurion Assault Squad
– the “Big Suits” everyone is talking about, apparently they are this release’s big spotlight
– Devastators are Heavy Support (duh!) and Assaults are… Fast Attack (what did you expect?)
– come in plastic kits, 3 models per box
– they really look like if the exoskelton is worn ON the Power Armour – their heads look super tiny
– they remind me more of power loader that Ripley piloted in Aliens movie than “child of contemptor and dread” as someone described
– they all seem to have same weapon in each hand and something mounted on the chest
– the Devastator options displayed contained Lascannons and Heavy Bolters
– the Assault options were Breaching Drills (like that arm FW’s Siege Dread has) with Stormbolters(?) attached, no other arm option shown
– the “chest weapon” apparently gave us choice of : frag lanuchers, mini-hurricane bolter (?!) and some rockets (chest mounted Typhoon ML?)
– it will take some time getting used to those models on battlefield but with their bulky simplicity they will surely be canon part of fluff in few years

That’s all I remember. Hope it will give you some idea / clear some things up
Cheers!.

Awwweeesoooome sauce. Art Link.