Witchunters have access to large rolling cathedrals, which is what they use instead of titans and other large war machines.  GW has released some artwork, but has never made any kind of model for them.

So, to make a suitably impressive model so that my Order of Balefire will have a nice War Machine to field when they fight really large battles, I am designing the war machine around the following goals:
1) Needs to function as much as a religions icon as a weapon of war.
2) Needs to represent the holy trinity of bolter/flamer/meltagun.
3) Needs to avoid really large guns.

The reason for the third is because this is a war machine used for purging cities of heretics, so enormous cannons would be counter-productive as they would level the city.  This vehicle is used to de-populate a city while leaving it mostly intact, ready for millions of faithful citizens to be brought in to take their places.  I imagine three or four of these would be used to de-populate a large city in a matter of days.

Here’s the stats I’m working with as my guide:
Sisters of Battle Avernus Pattern War Cathedral
Points: 750
Speed:  Lumbering
Front Armor: 14 Side Armor: 14 Rear Armor: 14
Structure Points: 4
Weapons:  4 turrets on left side with twin-linked heavy bolters, 4 turrets on right side with twin-linked heavy bolters, 2 turrets in front with Inferno Cannons, and 2 turrets on top with twin-linked multi-meltas.
Transport Capacity: 20
Access Points: 2
Special Rules:  Grave of the Righteous and Holy Icon.

Grave of the Righteous-War Cathedrals are the final resting place for the bones of the Order’s heroes from it’s foundation, and its sacred interior halls of worship serve as a mobile tabernacle when the Order is called away to war, where all rites of veneration and purification are held.  As long as the War Cathedral remains undestroyed, all friendly sisters of battle units on the table may re-roll their faith tests.

Holy Icon-A War Cathedral adds 3 Faith Points to the players total, however, it does not benefit from the martyrdom special rule, instead, if it is ever destroyed, subtract D6 faith points from the remaining pool.  If this takes the pool to below 0, no more faith points may be generated through martyrdoms for the rest of the game.

I’ve begun construction on the war machine, so here’s some very wip pics for you guys. It’s already 4 inches longer, 4 inches wider, and twice as tall as a baneblade, and once I add in the towers, it’ll be more then three times as tall.
The two flat areas above the tracks will be where the rows of immolator turrets will go. I’ve ordered the sprues from GW mail order, but I got an email yesterday saying that they’re out of stock, so I’ll have to wait until they restock those before I can get them.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger pic.

Here’s a pic of one of my exorcists as well. The penitents/heretics hanging from the vehicles is going to be a theme for all my vehicles.

Let me know what you guys think.

Way cool

A friend of mine runs Sisters, She will go bezerk when she see this.

Update 12/18/07

Okay, the basic hull is complete at this point, so now all I have to do is wait for the bitz I ordered from GW to show up so I can put some guns and a lot more details on the thing.

The towers turned out very well, and I finished the reactor area in the rear.  I added railing to the top, and included doors so that supplicants can enter the sanctuaries on either side.  The only major component undone at this point is the front, largely because I can’t decide what to do with it, so any suggestions you guys have is welcome for that area.

Just click on a thumbnail to see a larger pic.

And, just for fun, here’s a model’s eye view:

More updates to come soon. 

Update 12/19/07

Okay, I removed the bulldozer blade on the front, and a trip to a bridal shop became quite eventful, as I was able to get some pillars for really cheap (like 50 cents each)
I think the addition of the pillars is a huge improvement.  It really increases the cathedral look, and also makes the sanctuary towers appear supported from below, and makes the middle area look less pinched.
The only problem with the pillars is that they take up room that I was planning to use for the heavy bolter turrets, but that’s okay.  Ultimately, you have to follow the design as it shapes up and be flexible.  So, I’ll follow what looks good and we’ll see where we end up.  Four Storm Bolters have been added, two on each side, taking advantage of space too small for an immolator turret to go.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger pic.

More updates to come.  Let me know what you think.

Nice work. I’m not a 40K gamer, but the vehicle certainly fits the whole Gothic/Sisters theme. It’ll be excellent when it’s finished with color on it. Will you give us a whole family army shot?

Sure, but it will be a while before everything is assembled.

Update 12/25/07

Okay, the upper levels are finally done.  I tried to get some of the Exorcist organs off of bartertown, but was unable to find a good enough deal, so I ended up making my own pair of exorcist launchers, which are similar to the ones on my Exorcists, so in the end that it probably better because it will be more consistent.

The two twin-linked multimeltas have become long-barreled multimeltas, which will give them a 36 inch range.  They were fun to make and I think look pretty darn cool.  I also added in a small promenade where an inquisitor and her accolade can view up close the slaughter visited upon those whom they have deemed unworthy to live, and an inferno cannon on each side of the promenade.

The turrets are complete except for the glass shield, which I am leaving off until after everything is painted so that the shield can remain transparent.  I normally glue my turrets in place, but this time I left them free to swivel, which will also, hopefully, make them easier to paint.

At this point, all that is left to do is add in the six twin-linked heavy bolter turrets along the lower deck and add a lot of SOB details, both of which require me to continue waiting for my bitz order to arrive.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger pic.

More updates to come.  Let me know what you think. 

Nice tank thingy. You might want to knock down the armour rating of it though, otherwise it’s just anoother suped up Land Raider. Cool looking model though.