Whenever a big release appears on the horizon, the enterprising folks at the Warhammer World Studio start dreaming up grand visions of new dioramas.
They created a grungy slice of Necromunda for the release of Dark Uprising, and captured the space-salvaging essence of the Leagues of Votann last year. This year they’ve been hard at work designing, building, and painting a huge diorama for the release of Warhammer 40,0000: Leviathan, named Retreat From Kitzu VII.
Responding to warnings of alien-worshipping cults rising on Kitzu VII, Kayvaan Shrike leads his Raven Guard to reinforce the planet’s Imperial defenders. Upon arrival, the Space Marines discover a world already overrun by Tyranid monsters.
Determined to salvage something from the disaster, Shrike’s warriors claim bio-samples from the evolved forms of rampaging xenos. In danger of being surrounded and devoured themselves, the Space Marines stage a fighting retreat across the Celestrus macro-viaduct, even as their Stormraven extraction craft begins to lift off!
“The shape of the diorama was designed to immerse a viewer in the battle,” explains Dan, one of the team behind the project. “We extensively discussed the narrative behind the diorama, making sure there were plenty of details that hinted at the various stages of the city’s desperate defence, evacuation, and fall.”
The team is always looking for ways to speed up the process and cut down on the material needed to construct striking battles.
“Some of the Tyranids originally came from our Valedor diorama,” James adds, referencing a former display featuring the Aeldari of Craftworld Iyanden battling Hive Fleet Kraken. “When we dismantled that, we kept various parts of it – including some bio-titans – ready to be repainted and reused in a future diorama… which ended up being this one!”
“Parts of the city are made with PVC foam sheeting, upcycled from out-of-date Warhammer retail store signs,” he explains. “Like many hobbyists, we don’t like to see useful scenery materials go to waste, no matter how strange they may seem!”
Other time-saving methods include massive tubs of a Contrast mix to apply to the hundreds of Tyranids. With over 280 Termagants alone, the team had to get creative in order to finish it all.
“We hope hobbyists find lots to take inspiration from in the city, as we’ve used lots of different kits and other materials to create unique structures. Combining things in different ways has allowed us to create buildings with balconies, galleries, stairways and covered walkways, but sometimes the only way to create something of the correct size and scale is to hand build it. The bridge the Raven Guard are making a desperate escape across is largely scratch built, and the pavement was hand inscribed into the surface.”
The team are putting the finishing touches to the Retreat From Kitzu VII display right now, and it will be installed at the Warhammer World Exhibition on the 30th of June – why not pop down to Nottingham to marvel at it yourself? Find out more here.