Box

The box itself has a card sleeve with the product photo over the main box, which features the artwork from Warhammer Fantasy Battle 5th Edition (the best edition, don’t @ me)

Instructions

I didn’t really need these, but it was fun to flick through the instructions, for old times’ sake. For those unaware, the last picture is of a “datafax” – every vehicle in 2nd Edition had one of these, which gave the profile, armour values, and damage charts.

Parts and Contents

The parts I received were in good condition – which I expected, as this was a still-sealed, never-been-opened box! The blister pack and transfer sheet both showed a lot of discolouration, beyond what I’d expect for the age and unopened state, and more than shows up in the pictures; I suspect at least one previous owner smoked. As I was about to assemble everything, I wasn’t concerned by this.

Mould lines weren’t really an issue on the plastic parts. There are a couple of regular problem areas on this kit – the grab rails, and the exhausts – but most other parts were fine. The metal parts had the usual assortment of metal tags and casting imperfections, but nothing out of the ordinary or problem-causing. I’ve had more issues with 2019 GW metal castings than I had with this kit.

Assembly

The original Rhino chassis, which forms the basis of the Immolator kit, is so simple and straightforward to put together. Glue the two halves of the hull together, add the hatches and track sections, and you’re pretty much done. The only thing you have to be mindful of, is some of the parts and connection points are small and/or fragile. I broke one of the top hatch handles just by holding it too tight between my forefinger and thumb, and had to carefully glue it back together before assembly. I did quite a bit more clean-up than 14 year-old me would have, to take care of gaps and mould lines. Modelling knives, clippers, and sanding blocks will be your friends if you ever have to build this kit yourself!

The metal parts of the kit were always a little annoying to work with. The tolerances and variance are much bigger in a spin-cast part than injection moulded plastic, so things don’t quite line-up or fit right. I did as best I could, with a bit of filing, bending, and using some superglue to gap fill where needed. I completely forgot to take pictures of the turret assembly!

I did allow myself a couple of nods to modernity – I added 3mm x 2mm magnets to the tracks and turret, to make transportation easier and stop the turret falling off all the time. To speed things along I used my power drill on the slowest setting, rather than my pin vice.

Finishing Up

After building the Immolator I sprayed it with with Halfords Grey Car Body primer to make sure paint would stick to the metal areas as well as the plastic. Once the primer was dry, I sprayed it with a couple of thin coats of Retributor Armour to match the rest of my Sororitas.

I knew the old Rhino kit was smaller than the current kit, but I hadn’t realised by how much until I put the Immolator next to a Razorback. It’s easily 25% smaller.

When I started opening the box for the Immolator, I was a little intimidated… mainly because I’d never find another in this good a condition if I messed up! By the end though I’d enjoyed myself so much I scoured eBay to find a retro Rhino kit to work on next!

💬 Replied to: Chris M. on Twitter

““Finally, it’s a unit of Genestealer Cults Heavy Rock Saw Acolyte Hybrids. Like the other unit, it’s a rough-but-quick “Battle Ready”™️ standard. Don’t look too close! #PaintingWarhammer #Painthammer2019 (https://t.co/YLkXoMi5Me)””

Twitter

This burst of hobby time brings my tally to 45 so far for the year, with a bunch more planned now I’m getting into a regular pattern again. /cc @JewelKnightJess

💬 Replied to: Chris M. on Twitter

““Next is the first finished unit from the #Contrast experiment Genestealer Cults – the obligatory hand flamer Acolyte Hybrids. Very rough, but more than adequate for <25 minutes per model. #PaintingWarhammer #Painthammer2019 (https://t.co/QDYq0WC7aR)”"

Twitter

Finally, it’s a unit of Genestealer Cults Heavy Rock Saw Acolyte Hybrids. Like the other unit, it’s a rough-but-quick “Battle Ready”™️ standard. Don’t look too close!

💬 Replied to: Chris M. on Twitter

““Next is Meston, Squire Primus of Ser Barriston. This was a speed paint, and I had to save it from some bad varnish frosting, so it’s slightly janky in places. #paintingwarhammer #painthammer2019 (https://t.co/OFupvlqfFA)””

Twitter

Next is the first finished unit from the experiment Genestealer Cults – the obligatory hand flamer Acolyte Hybrids. Very rough, but more than adequate for <25 minutes per model.

Quick update on my Contrast GSC… I’ve mainly the black and metal areas still to do, plus pouches,etc. I’m currently sitting at ~8.5h in total, across 54 models. Which, if my maths is right, equates to less than 10min per model 😳

All the robes and under suits painted on 50ish models in just under 2 hours. Basically looks the same as if I’d painted them Warpstone Glow, then shaded with Beil-Tan Green. So Contrast definitely cut out a step

If you’ve been following me for a while, you might remember I started a Dark Angels army at the end of 2017. I never quite finished the initial plan at the time… until this month! I was challenged to finish off a project, and this was the one I chose; painting all of the banners, the last HQ, and last squad needed to round things out to a battalion. It feels good to finish off a project – but now I’m inspired to expand it even more ? thankfully I already have a load of Oldstartes kits in the cupboard that can be used!
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I’m not getting the finish and smoothness I want with this Magus, so I think I’m going to use it as a colour scheme sketch and start over. It doesn’t help that my eyes are really struggling to focus on details today ?
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I’m not sure which version of the amazing new Abaddon model I like best: with cloak, or without. Both look amazing. Without the cloak looks more like every depiction up to now, but with the cloak feels more imposing.

Can’t remember the last time I painted an Ultramarine. Possibly 20 years ago! Experimenting with some of the techniques I’ve been learning on the @alfonso_giraldes_banshee and @thechromaticcircle painting academy Patreon. I definitely need more practice, and this needs refinement, but it was nice to have a brush in my hand after weeks of nothing but work!
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The first units of my Sororitas are complete, taking me most of the way towards that part of my 2019 hobby goals, and marking my first entries on the PaintHammer 2019 form.

As always, there’s loads I’d like to be done better on these (the white robes mainly) but finished is better than still in the WIP queue, so Im trying not to nitpick too hard!

The Imagifier will be getting her banner as soon as I find the copper foil I bought to make it.