Sisters of Battle got their vehicle preview, but there may have been a BIGGER teaser hidden inside that 40k and Horus Heresy fans have been waiting for!
You might have been following along that the Sisters of Battle were getting a new a new Rhino added to their faction soon from the recent preview. But there may be something now that Horus Heresy fans have to look forward to coming from 40k.
Why is a Sisters Rhino a Big Deal to Warhammer Fans?
Remember the standard rhino is the MKIIIa Mars Pattern Rhino, the current plastic kit from GW that was introduced around 2002. What we do not have, that was teased extensively in the latest SoB preview, is a fully plastic Deimos Pattern Heresy era rhino.
That vehicle closely emulates the design first rhino kit from the late 1980s:
The new vehicles being designed for the Adepta Sororitas to represent the more antiquated Deimos-pattern Rhino STC. As such, they are flanked by the archetypal circular doors, adorned with the symbolic fleur-de-lys of the Adepta Sororitas.
Another feature of the Deimos-pattern Rhino chassis is that its four large exhausts are only partially clad with armour plating, if at all.
So in theory based on this Sisters preview Games Workshop now has the render to make a Deimos Pattern Rhino in what we assume would be plastic because it would be for general trade releases later in the year. In addition, they mention they modified it to have all the detailing for the Sisters as well. But what if they just decided to release the kit in the blank Astartes format?
As of right now, the Deimos pattern Rhino is actually a resin upgrade kit that fits onto a GW plastic Rhino chassis. Currently, the only way to get these are through Forge World.
Forge World Deimos Rhino Kit, Photo Via Leakycheese
The MkIC Deimos Pattern Rhino was the mainstay of the Legiones Astartes during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy.
The modern Mars Pattern Rhino also saw use during the Great Crusade, though not at the levels seen with the Deimos pattern. The Mars Pattern Rhino was more easily reproduced but had inferior environmental and secondary systems.
Rhino MkI Kit From The 1980s
Forge World’s MkIC Deimos-Pattern Rhino
Players actually have to drop $60 from Forge World for just one transport. On the flipside, GW’s Rhino are only going for about $40. Plus, as we said before, you have to keep in mind that it comes as a resin upgrade kit. Which is always a pain to work with vs. just straight plastic. If the Deimos pattern Rhinos make their way into 40k through the Sisters of Battle, Heresy Fans can get their hands on transports cheaper and much faster.
Could a Deimos Rhino Be the Beginning of More Plastic 30k?
While the Deimos pattern Rhino is just a transport at the end of the day, our wishful thinking is bringing us to the hopes of a new battle box similar to Betrayal at Calth.
You might remember GW’s limited print Box Set called Betrayal at Calth. This was loaded with goodies meant for the Horus Heresy and they were all in plastic. People could ride down to their hobby shop, grab a box and have more than enough models to count as a solid building block for Heresy. There’s never been a cheaper way to start the game than through this box. Ultimately, these boxes are harder and harder to find now and have gon up in price.
You might not remember but during a seminar at 2018’s Adepticon, the Games Workshop/Forge World team mentioned that after Malevolence, the next book would contain Dark Angels and that in 2020 all red books would be updated to include all the Legions.
With Sisters coming at the end of the year (2019/2020), with a potential new Heresy Rhino 3d render, could there be a chance of another plastic Heresy Box Set?
As they said previously, all the red books would be updated for Horus Heresy around the same time, so what better way to sell new models, than with new rules? While it’s not been confirmed, it’s definitely not outside the realm of possibility.
GW could even change things up and roll out a box with a couple of plastic Rhinos as the “featured model” inside. We know that GW is still currently producing the Horus Heresy pattern Contemptors, Terminators, Terminator Captains, Chaplains, and Marines all in plastic individually. Hopefully, we’ll see even more bundle boxes in the year to tome.
Never count out the power of 3D! Remember when GW previewed the 40k scale Warlord Titan, this little guy was spotted. Three years later, we got Titanicus!
What do you think about Sisters using an ancient Rhino pattern? Could GW partner with Forge World and make another plastic Heresy Box Set to go with a big red book release in 2020? Will you be grabbing some Sister’s Rhinos for your Heresy army? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
