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Sd.Kfz. 265 Panzerbefehlswagen

The Sd.Kfz. 265 Panzerbefehlswagen (light armoured command vehicle) was a German Army’s first purpose-designed armoured command vehicle; a type of armoured fighting vehicle designed to provide a tank unit commander with mobility and communications on the battlefield. A development of the Army’s first mass-produced tank, the Panzer I Ausf. A, the Sd. Kfz. 265 saw considerable action during the early years of the war, serving in Panzer units through 1942 and with other formations until late in the war.

This rare Sd.Kfz. 265 Panzerbefehlswagen is on display at Bovington.

The Sd. Kfz. 265 was based on the Panzer I Ausf. A chassis, but it had its turret removed and replaced with a superstructure that housed additional radios and other communications equipment. The superstructure was located at the rear of the vehicle, and it was designed to provide the commander with a good view of the battlefield. The Sd. Kfz. 265 was also equipped with a single 7.92mm machine gun, which was mounted in the hull.

The Sd. Kfz. 265 was crewed by three men: the commander, the driver, and the radio operator. The commander was responsible for directing the unit’s movements and for communicating with other units. The driver was responsible for driving the vehicle, and the radio operator was responsible for operating the vehicle’s communications equipment.

The Sd. Kfz. 265 was a relatively simple and inexpensive vehicle to produce, and it was well-suited for its intended role as a command tank. It was reliable and easy to maintain, and it had good mobility and range. However, it was lightly armoured and lightly armed, and it was not suitable for combat.

The Panzer I Command Tank was first used in combat during the Spanish Civil War, and it saw extensive use during the early years of World War II. It was eventually replaced by more capable command tanks, such as the Panzer III Command Tank, but it remained in service until the end of the war.

I didn’t know until some years ago that the German tanks in 1940 were painted grey and brown, I had always thought they were just grey. I personally blame Matchbox for this.

It was only after Blitzkrieg was released back in 2010 by Battlefront that I noticed the grey and brown camouflage scheme.

As recently as ten years ago the overwhelming consensus regarding early war German AFV paint schemes was that they were all painted in uniform overall panzer grey (Dunkelgrau – RAL 7021 – formerly RAL 46). However, in 2002 Tom Jentz and Hilary Doyle published an article based on primary sources stating all German vehicles at the beginning of World War II were painted in a two tone camouflage scheme of panzer grey with one third of the vehicle painted in a disruptive pattern of dark brown (Dunkelbraun – RAL 7017 – formerly RAL 45). The order to move to an overall panzer grey scheme was not signed until the end of July 1940.

Carrion Birds of Khemri

Sacred to the Nehekharan Mortuary Cult, the Carrion are vast, repulsive, vulture-like beasts entombed within the ancient crypts of many Tomb Kings. Raised from their dusty graves through foul, dark rites, these skeletal and decaying aviators soar into the sky on wide, tattered wings. Circling far above the clashing armies, they cast long, ominous shadows over the desert sands below. Driven by an eternal, unnatural hunger, these monstrous birds sweep down from the clouds not merely to feast upon the freshly slaughtered corpses left in the wake of the undead horde, but to actively hunt down the living and create new prey of their own.

Dark Angels Death Wing Land Raider Crusader

This Dark Angels Death Wing Land Raider Crusader was in the displays at Warhammer World.

Engineered to act as an unstoppable linebreaker, the Land Raider Crusader is a short-range, anti-infantry assault variant of the classic Land Raider Phobos fielded by the Space Marines and the Inquisition. Sacrificing the long-range anti-tank lascannons of the standard pattern, the Crusader replaces them with sponson-mounted Hurricane Bolters that lay down a blistering curtain of mass-reactive fire to cut down enemy defenders prior to an assault. Paired with a hull-mounted twin assault cannon and heavy frag assault launchers that pepper defensive lines as the tank closes in, the Crusader suppresses the foe with overwhelming close-range firepower while effortlessly shrugging off incoming enemy small arms fire.

Beyond its formidable anti-infantry capabilities, the Crusader’s tactical brilliance lies in its vastly expanded transport capacity. By removing the bulky las-power generators required by the standard Phobos pattern, the vehicle reclaims critical internal volume, allowing it to carry larger Space Marine squads—or bulky Terminator formations—directly into the fray. Striking at the core of enemy lines, the Land Raider Crusader smashes through defensive perimeters to disgorge its deadly transhuman cargo right into the heart of the foe, ensuring immediate and decisive victory in close-quarters engagements.

Legions Imperialis Thunderhawk Gunship

This small scale Thunderhawk gunship for Legions Imperialis (formerly for Aeronautica Imperialis) was in the display cabinets at Warhammer World.

The Thunderhawk gunship is used by the Adeptus Astartes as their primary means of deploying forces for ground combat as well as their primary source of air support. The Thunderhawk gunship is often considered the lynchpin of any Space Marine Chapter, as it is able to fulfill many combat roles. The Thunderhawk is fully capable of functioning as an orbital drop ship, a heavy ground attack gunship, or as a bomber. The aircraft is able to quickly carry Space Marine forces from orbiting starships down into the midst of a battle, while at the same time providing supporting fire against enemy ground or air targets.

My Aeronautica Imperialis Thunderhawk Gunship on the workbench.

Painting the Whirlwind Missile Tank

I did go out and order the new Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Whirlwind Missile Tank. This new model reflects the original conversion from 1989. The original Whirlwind was a conversion using a slottabase and plasticard for the rocket launcher. I have always preferred the original conversion to the newer versions, so it should be no surprise that I ordered one. In addition I have some doors for it already as well, on a recent visit to Warhammer World I picked up some Forge World Imperial Fists Rhino Doors. Having constructed the core of the model, the next step was the main weaponry. I primed the model of the Whirlwind Missile Tank.

I spray painted the model of the Whirlwind Missile Tank in different ways.

The main body of the Whirlwind’s Missile Tank was given a base coat of Daemonic Yellow spray from Army Painter.

Games Workshop don’t do a yellow spray and I don’t have an airbrush. I did use a paint comparison site to find a close alternative to Yriel Yellow. The Daemonic Yellow spray from Army Painter seemed like a good choice.

The weapon system had a black base coat.

Here is the base coated model.

The next stage will be shading the main body.

Casket of Souls

A dark relic of ancient vengeance, the Casket of Souls is a gilded sarcophagus bound with divine curses, within which the tormented spirits of those who incited the wrath of Nehekhara’s rulers are eternally confined.

When the Keeper of the Casket unseals its heavy lid, a blinding wave of light and countless screaming souls burst into the air, desperate to escape their endless suffering. These swirling phantoms plunge through the ranks of the Tomb Kings’ enemies, draining the life essence of their victims in a flash of unbearable agony. Those who fall do not find peace, for their own souls are instantly ensnared by the relic’s terrifying power, adding to the wailing tempest within.

‘Black Sea’ Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G

This Stug III was running at the Tank Museum’s Tankfest 26.

The ‘Black Sea’ Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) Ausf. G refers to a historically significant MIAG-assembled assault gun (chassis number 95825) that boasts a unique and documented wartime provenance. Manufactured in October 1943, the vehicle was destined to bolster the 191st Sturmgeschütz Brigade on the Crimean Peninsula but never saw combat. In November 1943, while being transported across the Black Sea aboard the German cargo steamer Santa Fé, the ship was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine and sank off the coast of Sevastopol, taking its entire cargo of armoured vehicles to the seabed. Following its discovery and recovery by divers in the late 1990s, the vehicle was acquired and meticulously restored to operational condition by The Weald Foundation. Notably, despite being built at the MIAG factory, this survivor features a cast Topfblende (sow’s head) gun mantlet—a combination previously assumed to belong strictly to Alkett-built production runs. To preserve its exact historical state at the moment of its loss, the vehicle remains finished solely in its factory-applied Dunkelgelb base coat without any camouflage or unit insignia, standing as one of the rarest fully documented StuG III Ausf. G survivors in existence.

Priming and painting the Whirlwind Missile Tank

I primed and spray painted the model of the Whirlwind Missile Tank in different ways. The main body of the Whirlwind’s Missile Tank was given a light undercoat of Wraithbone.

I then sprayed the underneath of the model with Zandri Dust to give the underneath of the model shadow.

The next step will then be a base coat of Daemonic Yellow spray from Army Painter. Games Workshop don’t do a yellow spray and I don’t have an airbrush. I did use a paint comparison site to find a close alternative to Yriel Yellow. The Daemonic Yellow spray from Army Painter seemed like a good choice.

The tracks were giving a light undercoat of Wraithbone before then giving them a spray of Mechanicus Grey.

The weapon system also had a light undercoat of Wraithbone.

The next stage for the weapon system will be a black base coat.

Here is the primed model, well without the tracks.

Space Marine Vindicator

The Vindicator is an Imperial siege tank based on the Rhino chassis used by many Space Marine Chapters that boasts the most powerful weapon of its type in the Adeptus Astartes’ standard armoury, the Demolisher Cannon. It is highly valued and can only be issued to company officers whose units have been tasked with a specific tactical requirement.

Though short-ranged, the Vindicator’s Demolisher Cannon is capable of destroying enemy armour and fortifications in a single shot. The vehicle is an essential part of any armoured spearhead that the Space Marines unleash.

There is little that can stand before a Vindicator’s pulverising fury. It is a rare Space Marine tank assault that does not employ a Vindicator in its vanguard.

Space Marine Vindicator Miniatures Gallery.

Constructing the Whirlwind Missile Tank automated multiple-missile launcher system

I did go out and order the new Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Whirlwind Missile Tank. This new model reflects the original conversion from 1989. The original Whirlwind was a conversion using a slottabase and plasticard for the rocket launcher. I have always preferred the original conversion to the newer versions, so it should be no surprise that I ordered one. In addition I have some doors for it already as well. On a recent visit to Warhammer World I picked up some Forge World Imperial Fists Rhino Doors.

Having constructed the core of the model, the next step was the main weaponry. The Whirlwind comes with an automated multiple-missile launcher system. The kit comes with an extra sprue for the launcher system.