Titan Prototypes and old rarities

I thought it was worth looking back at some of the prototype Titans, out of production models and now rare oddities that have long gone from the Forge World catalogue.

The REAVER Titan prototype was unveiled as a work in progress at Games Day 2007.

Game changing bomb shell as Forge World unveils its largest resin Imperial Titan model! Even though its since been eclipsed some what by its larger newer relatives, the Warbringer and Warlord its still a very impressive model 16 years layer!

Some really interesting big differences between the prototype that Will Hayes was still working on at this point, compared to the one that saw general release.

When I purchased my 1st Reaver I was intrigued by the plate above the head with the cog detail on, its a nice panel that once the model is fully built, that piece of armour almost vanishes from view entirely under the thick larger over hanging carapace armour.

It makes sense here looking at the prototype that it was once going to be a big cut back of the top carapace allowing that cog panel to be fully visible.

Shown next to the Warhound, which was the Lucius pattern, available at the time. Sadly by now long out of production.

Really loving the way the arms was attached, theres elements to the prototype concept that i prefer over the final one!!

So much work must have gone into this by this point. Showing its detailed interior off. So much was changed around the leg armour, leg piston housing and toes for the production model. I really love its chonky feet here too!!

I do prefer the final carapace we got with the final production model though!

In awe of what Will Hayes managed to achieve with this model, especially looking back and remembering this was sculpted by hand, it was years before CAD designing was a thing. It's a privilege to look at the workmanship and ideas and the thought process that went into a model that so many of us still love to this day.

It makes me a little sad that Games Workshop no longer show off their Work In Progress models, or allow you to meet these incredibly talented artists at Games Days, (now Warhammer Fest) It was awesome to meet the human personality that exists behind the big corporate machine!

Its also one of the main reasons I'm so very much against recasts and 3D printed versions of Wills work, (legalities of IP theft aside) its because look how much thought and effort that went into this gorgeous sculpt. A labour of love for sure. I can't imagine how proud of it the sculptor is!

For nostalgia reasons a FW newsletter from early 2008, this huge resin monster goes on pre order! Yes I got this Newsletter, no I never thought I'd ever be lucky enough to own one!!! Its part of Reaver Titan history.

Forge World Newsletter #194

News of the big new Titan.

Hi There,

The great announcement this Newsletter is the arrival of the mighty Reaver Titan for pre-order. Much anticipated since we first showed a prototype of the model back at Games Day UK last year, this huge model kit is now finished and available to order. It’s caused quite a stir while previewed at our recent events, having garnered lots of excited interest (and its fair share of “ooos” and “aaahs,”) and here it is at last for everyone to see in full!

Thanks

Alan Bligh

The Mars Pattern Reaver Titan

The long awaited Reaver, designed by Will Hayes, is a fantastic model which is not only impressively huge, it`s also highly detailed, and comes complete with a full set of crew and a numbered certificate. You can find plenty of pictures of this extraordinary model, including interior detail shots Here on our website, with two examples painted in the colours of the Warp Runners by Phil Stutchinskas and the War Griffons Legion by Stuart Witter.

This huge model is a veritable goliath of the battlefield weighing in at well over twice the weight of a Warhound Titan, and standing at 400mm (approx) 16” high and 255mm (approx) 10” from shoulder to shoulder!

As well as being a truly imposing presence on the battlefield, it is, as you would expect from a Battle Titan, a terrifying opponent in gaming terms, and you can find experimental trial rules for the Titan for your Apocalypse games here. With lots of firepower and great durability thanks to its structure points and void shields, we’ve had it taking on multiple Scout Titans during play test and wiping the floor with slews of lesser super heavies! As well as dominating the tabletop, the Reaver would also make a stunning display model for collectors and a great painting project for hobbyists and gamers alike.

Ordering
The Reaver Titan is available in three weapons combinations, each features the carapace mounted Apocalypse Missile Launcher, and it is available either with a Gatling Blaster and Turbo Laser Blaster, or with two Gatling Blasters or two Turbo Laser Blasters.
The Reaver Titan is available to pre order now with shipping from the 26th of May. However if you want a Reaver as soon as possible, we recommend you order soon, as we will only be making a few of these large and complex models each week.

New Catalogue

In the next few days Forge World will be releasing its new 2008 catalogue. If you would like a copy of the catalogue (which is free regardless of wherever you are in the world), please get in touch with us at our catalogue request email address at forgeworldcatreq@games-workshop.co.uk or give a ring and we’ll take your address details and get you one sent out.

Fast forward to 2015

Forge World Newsletter #442 - New Reaver Titan Weapons

The Reaver is a Battle Titan protected by thick adamantine armour, powerful void shields and bearing devestating weapons. Two weapons such weapons in the arsenal of the Titan Legions are the Reaver Titan Volcano Cannon and the Reaver Titan Chainfist.

The Reaver Titan Volcano Cannon is the largest weapon that the Titan's frame can support. This colossal cannon can unleash a beam of destructive energy detonating into a huge explosion at the point of impact.

As effective at breaching fortifications and strong points as it is at rending Warmachines and enemy Titans and Gargants of the savage Ork empires, the Reaver Titan Chainfist brutal close assault weapon composed of contra-rotating teeth surrounded by a powerful disrupting energy field.

These two titan weapons are multi-part resin kits that can be used for either the left or right arms on the Reaver Titan and Chaos Reaver Titan Body kits. These weapons can be used in both Horus Heresy games and standard games of Warhammer 40,000, rules for using Reaver titans can be found in The Horus Heresy Book One – Betrayal, Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse and Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - War Machines of the Lost and the Damned.

This is a complete resin kit. It is available to pre-order now and will be despatched from Friday 13th February.

Weirdly, the Reaver Chainfist wasn't available for long, and the Reaver Volcano was later totally redesigned and re-released when the Warbringer came out at the end of 2018 so this version wasn't around for all that long at all.

WARHOUNDS:

Enjoying having a look back at the history of Titans:

Pics of a Mars Pattern WARHOUND Titan, once again sculpted by Will Hayes, on display Games Day 2004

And on display at Games Day 2005.

I personally prefer the curvy look of the Mars Pattern Warhound over the earlier blockier Lucius, however I really did love the character of the Lucius, with its different configurations, I remember talking to someone at Forge World when the Lucius disappeared from sale, and the helpful sales person basically confirmed that the Mars was out selling it by 8:1. The increased popularity of the Mars Pattern and the relatively limited warehouse space available was the death knell of the Lucius. Now in huge demand since going OOP. As much as I do prefer the Mars Pattern if the Lucius Patterns was available today I would buy them. 100%

Lucius Pattern Warhound on display at Games Day.

Lucius "Wolf" class WARHOUND Titan.

Lucius "Jackal" class Warhound Titan. Yes they did different heads for them.

In 2015, Forge World dropped the mic on something I honestly thought was something we could only dream about, a A Warlord Titan in 28mm / Warhammer 40k scale!!

So much going on with this Prototype, a head we've never seen before, or again since! The armour plates on the Belicosa are a different shape.

Quite like the extra carapace armour, reminds me of the beetle backed varients we had in the original Adeptus Titanicus '88!

The finished Warlord studio model!

Hidden in plain sight at Warhammer World is this peculiar Warlord Titan. The eagle eyed amongst us will spot a lot of differences between it and the final production model!

The shoulder armour, lacking its cog detail, the armour on the Belicosa Volcano cannon is totally different and the chest plate is actually flat though hard to photograph. Is it the original prototype painted up?

Unveiled at Warhammer Fest 2016, the Sunfury Plasma Annihilator, Arioch Power Claw and Lucius pattern Warlord Head, now sadly out of production since the pandemic.

The LUCIUS pattern Warlord Head came with two Princeps, seated and Standing that was included. Although not my personal favourite head varient, it's one of those I wish was still available. Remembered fondly.

Vigilus Open Day November 2018 a new type of Titan was unleashed!

Once again sculpted by Will Hayes, (pictured with his creation) the Warbringer Nemesis Titan stepped/stomped into the light!

They also had the stunning studio model on display in the colours of Legio Fureans painted by the awesome Giuseppe Chiafele, who absolutely nailed this paint job. I've seen it in the flesh a few times and always seem to spot something new that I love on it.

If anyone from GW ever reads this, this is what open days and events should be about!!!

September 2020. The Warbringer saw two updates.

The Delta head (now also sadly OOP)

And the carapace Volcano cannon option.

I also think it's worth adding here, some of the Knight prototypes and work in progress reveals from old GW games day and Forge World open day events.