 | This HAS to be THE most hotly expected product from Games Workshop in some time! The release of the Horus Heresy - Betrayal At Calth boxed set is not only the first 40K Horus Heresy boxed set from Games Workshop, it is also extraordinary value - especially if you've been buying the previous incarnation of these minutes from Forge World. In this review I'm going to take you through the miniatures and give you a good close look at them! + + More After The Jump + + |
~ WARNING - Potential Blur - I Am Not A Professional Photographer ~
In terms of miniatures, the Horus Heresy - Betrayal At Calth boxed set includes 30 MKIV Space marines, Catarphractii Terminators, 2 Commanders (Steloc Aethon and Kurtha Sedd), & a Contemptor Dreadnaught.
The 30 Space Marines are spaced out on sprues exactly like a Tactical Space marine set would be - pretty much down to the placement of elements on the sprue itself. More on that later...
The 30 Space Marines are spaced out on sprues exactly like a Tactical Space marine set would be - pretty much down to the placement of elements on the sprue itself. More on that later...
Steloc Aethon & Kurtha Sedd
There is one command miniature for each faction, Steloc Aethon of the Ultramarines in his Cataphractii armour, and Kurtha Sedd of the Word Bearers in his Artificer MKIV Maximus Armour.
Despite having dynamic poses, these figures differ from the other figures in the set in that their construction is very unusual. It is set to basically be single pose. Sedd in particular is especially strange.
I think we should all be very thankful the rest of the troops in this set are not similarly designed.
Despite having dynamic poses, these figures differ from the other figures in the set in that their construction is very unusual. It is set to basically be single pose. Sedd in particular is especially strange.
I think we should all be very thankful the rest of the troops in this set are not similarly designed.
Contemptor (Sor Gharax)
The mighty Contemptor, Sor Gharax, is a mixed blessing in terms of his construction - he has ball and socket shoulders which is great - but the figure it'self is very static. He is fixed at the waist, hips and knees - and even the head is moulded on. Another odd choice is for the two halves of the legs to join down the side so the mould line will be prominent once assembled. This goes against current Games Workshop thinking in terms of hiding such things.
Construction of the Contemptor is pretty simple, with the side of the dreadnought glued on and then the front section covering the join. This is smart and leads us to wonder why a similar thing wasn't done with the legs. Possible lack of room on the sprues...
It is brilliant however to have a Contemptor in plastic and I'm sure when the kit is sold separately it will be quite different and probably amazing!
Construction of the Contemptor is pretty simple, with the side of the dreadnought glued on and then the front section covering the join. This is smart and leads us to wonder why a similar thing wasn't done with the legs. Possible lack of room on the sprues...
It is brilliant however to have a Contemptor in plastic and I'm sure when the kit is sold separately it will be quite different and probably amazing!
Cataphractii Terminators
The construction of the Terminators is logical and very much like the current Terminator range.
The details on the armour are crisp and clean - similar but a bit chunkier than the Forge World versions.
The overall construction is identical with the Forge World range, with the split torso and the off separate lower leg being the only differences.
There are two weapons variants here - both dynamic:
- Close combat with Lightning Claws
- Ranged combat with Storm Bolter and Power/Chain Fist.
The heads are the same as the current Forge World range with one addition; a bald head with a mohawk!
There is also a rather awesome Heavy Flamer which is just perfect.
The details on the armour are crisp and clean - similar but a bit chunkier than the Forge World versions.
The overall construction is identical with the Forge World range, with the split torso and the off separate lower leg being the only differences.
There are two weapons variants here - both dynamic:
- Close combat with Lightning Claws
- Ranged combat with Storm Bolter and Power/Chain Fist.
The heads are the same as the current Forge World range with one addition; a bald head with a mohawk!
There is also a rather awesome Heavy Flamer which is just perfect.
Mark IV Space Marines - A Think Of Infinite Beauty!
For me, this was the selling point of the entire set - 30 MKIv plastic multi-part Space Marines.
This is the first time they have been available in plastic and the added joy of them being multi-part and multi-pose is amazing!! Think about the quality of the current 40k Tactical Space Marine boxed set, now slot MKIV armour and Horus Heresy-era weapons into the spots where the current range of weapons and armour goes - and that's what you get! They are fantastic!
This is the first time they have been available in plastic and the added joy of them being multi-part and multi-pose is amazing!! Think about the quality of the current 40k Tactical Space Marine boxed set, now slot MKIV armour and Horus Heresy-era weapons into the spots where the current range of weapons and armour goes - and that's what you get! They are fantastic!
Weapons
The main armament of any Space Marine is the Bolter - and to my personal absolute joy the Bolter included here is my favourite - the Tigrus patter Bolter. I think the most attractive of the Bolters, this set gives you enough for each man and they are brilliantly done. Not as super-crisp as the Forge World versions but still very well moulded. Awesome.
There are also (amazingly) enough bolt pistols and combat knives for every Marine. Although specified in the rules, you do not currently get enough of either in any other kit! The combat knives are much larger than the current knives, but look great!
There are also special weapons including either a Bolt Pistol or Plasma Pistol for the sergeant, as well as a Heavy Bolter, Missile Launcher, Flamer and Melta - all Heresy -era! This is a bitz box dream!!
The main armament of any Space Marine is the Bolter - and to my personal absolute joy the Bolter included here is my favourite - the Tigrus patter Bolter. I think the most attractive of the Bolters, this set gives you enough for each man and they are brilliantly done. Not as super-crisp as the Forge World versions but still very well moulded. Awesome.
There are also (amazingly) enough bolt pistols and combat knives for every Marine. Although specified in the rules, you do not currently get enough of either in any other kit! The combat knives are much larger than the current knives, but look great!
There are also special weapons including either a Bolt Pistol or Plasma Pistol for the sergeant, as well as a Heavy Bolter, Missile Launcher, Flamer and Melta - all Heresy -era! This is a bitz box dream!!
Armour
It's not just the weapons that deserve our attention - the exquisite Mark IV Space Marine armour is... well it's a revelation! (Insert chorus of angels here... not Dark Angels obviously, they're far too morose)
The legs are in pretty good position (would have loved a running one) with some also having added studs as Heresy-era armour did have.
The helmets come in two main designs; vertical or horizontal air vents. There is of course the odd one with an ocular enhancer or the sergeant's crest and either double or single mask pipes.
The arms are in the current Tactical Boxed Set pose, but in the more protected MKIV style.
The chests vary slightly also, as do the shoulder pads. The backpacks come in 3 different styles.
It's not just the weapons that deserve our attention - the exquisite Mark IV Space Marine armour is... well it's a revelation! (Insert chorus of angels here... not Dark Angels obviously, they're far too morose)
The legs are in pretty good position (would have loved a running one) with some also having added studs as Heresy-era armour did have.
The helmets come in two main designs; vertical or horizontal air vents. There is of course the odd one with an ocular enhancer or the sergeant's crest and either double or single mask pipes.
The arms are in the current Tactical Boxed Set pose, but in the more protected MKIV style.
The chests vary slightly also, as do the shoulder pads. The backpacks come in 3 different styles.
Forge World vs. Games Workshop Mark IV Space marines
Forge World currently produce two MKIV Space Marine Tactical sets (though one has just gone out of production) so how do Games Workshop's MK IV's compare to Forge World's?
In a word - well!
The Forge World ones as re just amazing - they are so fine, in fact they are much thinner than other marks of armour - almost making the Marines look like Eldar in comparison to say, MK III. I like the look personally, but Games Workshop have fixed that a bit by keeping the overall aesthetic but making them just that little bit chunkier. You can see below on the greaves especially.
In a word - well!
The Forge World ones as re just amazing - they are so fine, in fact they are much thinner than other marks of armour - almost making the Marines look like Eldar in comparison to say, MK III. I like the look personally, but Games Workshop have fixed that a bit by keeping the overall aesthetic but making them just that little bit chunkier. You can see below on the greaves especially.
The helmets are also very similar - more so than other plastic MK IV helmets we have seen before. The nose is almost exactly the same - not as thin or long by the smallest margin. In fact the whole head is oh-so-slightly rounder. Still my favourite helmet by far! That Forge World one is spectacular!
Lastly. the torso is all-but identical in size. I only have the Assault to compare to, but size-wise it's a match!
Decal Sheet
It's a little hard to make out the decal sheet when it's in colour on a screeen, but here it is in black and white so you can see what you get... All that delicious script!!
Verdict
If you like MK IV Space Marines or you want to add some bits to your army... then buy this box.
The price is going up in the next few weeks, so get your hands on it now!
It's good value for what you get.
I'm really happy with the purchase - glad I didn't buy two out of excitement - but glad I bought one!
-
Oh... and if you hadn't seen enough - here's our video review!
The price is going up in the next few weeks, so get your hands on it now!
It's good value for what you get.
I'm really happy with the purchase - glad I didn't buy two out of excitement - but glad I bought one!
-
Oh... and if you hadn't seen enough - here's our video review!
RSS Feed