Review: Rogal Dorn Battle Tank & Cadian Heavy Weapon Squad

Attention, Guardsmen, this is not a drill! Games Workshop releases a host of new Cadian kits this week, and in this review, we take a closer look at the exciting new Rogal Dorn battle tank, as well as the new Cadian Heavy Weapon Squad.

The new Astra Militarum models, along with the new codex and models originally only available in the Cadia stands army set, will be available for preorder starting Saturday, January 21, 2023, and go on sale one week after.

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank review

The Rogal Dorn Battle Tank has three large sprues, an assembly guide, and also has a brand-new Imperial Guard vehicle transfer sheet.

The Rogal Dorn features a modernised design language with slightly curved armour plates, similar to the new Sentinel. Compared to old Imperial tanks like the Chimera and Leman Russ, some details like mudchutes and rivet placement have been carried over, but in direct comparison the difference is clear. The tank takes inspiration from more modern real world tanks, and, as the first Imperial vehicle ever, even has a visible suspension system. For some reason, the underside of the model isn’t closed, so there is a big open hollow space, fortunately not visible unless you turn the model upside-down. Size-wise it’s bigger and bulkier than a Leman Russ, but not as massive as say a Primaris Repulsor and much smaller than a Baneblade.

The Rogal Dorn is an impressively designed kit with a lot of options and optional bitz. Both the battlecannons and the oppressor cannon have their own mount, and can be exchanged without magnets as they push-fit into the turret. The two hatches can be assembled closed or open with crew members peeking out. You can even place a gunner on the back of the turret to operate the heavy stubber. 5 different heads are included, but unfortunately, the crew members all wear Cadian uniforms, so for other regiments, you have to assemble the tank with closed hatches or hope for an upgrade set down the road. You have the choice of placing a searchlight or one of two sensor units on the turret (all compatible with the new Sentinel’s hardpoints), as well as extra ammo and cartridges for the stubber.

For the front, you have the choice between a hull-mounted Castigator gatling cannon or pulveriser cannon, as well as two heavy stubbers, meltaguns or headlights, if you don’t want any extra weapons. The weapons are all push-fit and really don’t require magnets. You can choose to remove the side skirts to expose the wheels and/or add optional track guards on top. You can also add optional side sponsons with either heavy bolters or multi-meltas, each mounting a smoke launcher on top.

And then we have all the optional stowage and equipment pieces. There are five small canisters that can be combined in multiple ways (compatible with the stowage tray of the new Sentinel), a hubcap, two spare track links, a tow rope, a large wrench, a bunch of tools, plus three more pieces of equipment, pouches, and crates. Wow.

Last but not least, we have the brand-new Astra Militarum vehicle transfer sheet. In addition to loads of generic decals, specific icons for Cadians, Catachans, Steel Legion, Valhallans, Mordians, Vostroyans, Tallarns, and Death Korps of Krieg are included! Really awesome.

Overall, the new Rogal Dorn Battle Tank should satisfy all treadheads with its variability and authentic design. It’s a bit of a shame that its rounded armour plates mean that it doesn’t blend that well into existing collections (although this may well be what Games Workshop wanted).

Astra Militarum Heavy Weapon Squad review

The box contains three Cadian heavy weapon teams on two medium sprues, three 50mm bases (instead of 60mm bases), an assembly guide, and the new Cadian decal sheet, which you already know from Cadia stands army set.

The assembly instructions are a bit confusing, but I’ll summarise what you can build from this kit: Each of the heavy weapons (heavy bolter, autocannon, lascannon, missile launcher, and mortar) is included thrice. Heavy bolter, lascannon, and autocannon all share the same tripod builds. Mortar and missile launcher only use the bipod parts, but share a part of the tube. So what you could do is assemble either a lascannons, heavy bolters or autocannons squad, then you would still have the missile launcher arms left to put on your other Cadian models (without the bipods though).

You also get six kneeling bodies, with the same flat shoulders and ball joint heads like the other new Cadian kits, five helmeted heads, and two Sergeant heads with caps, one masculine and one feminine. There are various gesticulating and operating arms, amongst them two arms/arm pairs with binoculars. Unlike the old kit, you can also build a sergeant with the capped heads and shoulder badge, as well as a vox operator. Neat.

Overall, I am really impressed with how Games Workshop managed to squeeze all weapon options thrice into the kit, plus super many extra bitz. On top of that, the variety of poses is amazing, and the models make fantastic little mini-dioramas.

Cadian Shock Troops, Cadian Command Squad, and Sentinel review

Along with the Rogal Dorn and Heavy Weapon Squad, this weekend also has the Cadian Shock Troops Squad, Cadian Command Squad, and the new Sentinel on preorder. We reviewed these kits in our Cadia stands! army set review:

Value

The Rogal Dorn is priced at £55 / 70€ and the Heavy Weapon Squad at £30 / 40€. That’s not that bad by current standards, unlike the new character models – Lord Solarius Leontus costs how much? And Ursula Creed is more expensive than a Primaris Space Marine character?

As always, you can save extra at our partner shops: Wayland Games, Element Games, Firestorm Games, and Taschengelddieb. Your purchase through our links supports Tale of Painters at no extra cost to you, and nets you a discount of up to 20% off RRP: