I have to admit, the Stormraven kit really kicked my butt. Maybe I was just preoccupied with things around the shop, or just tired from the night before- either way I still managed to screw it up a bit. Regardless this kit is pretty cutting edge and it’s a blast to assemble.
First off, when putting the kit together, I recommend plastic glue. I prefer Testors, with the precise applicator tip cause it puts the glue where you need it, nice and neat in small beads. Super helpful when working with a kit that has moving parts near where you have to apply glue.
You’ll start off assembling the front fuselage first. There are two moving thrusters attached to the lower fuselage area that you will want to look out for as well as the front ramp- don’t get any glue into those moving areas. Definitely use some rubber bands to keep pressure on the assembly after you get it all glued together. You want the panels set square- this kit has very tight tolerances.
Next you’ll want to put the tail section and the landing gear together. This is pretty easy- just make sure you match up the pieces with the instructions. I flipped the rear landing skids around to face forward because I didn’t like the way it looked in the instructions.
I really enjoyed assembling the cockpit area. The designers really did a good job here! Every piece is well placed and the whole thing seems really thought out.
From there it’s on to the engines and wings, and this is where things get a bit tricky. Since this is a new kit, double check EVERYthing. Conveniently the instructions reference corresponding piece numbers, so its best to work with the correctly numbered pieces at the same time (it really helps). You will want to use rubber bands again on the wings to help keep them flat while they dry.
As I was dry fitting the wing pieces together I decided that I was going to magnetize them so that vehicle would fit into a Sabol Foam tray for transport and storage. So I carefully magnetized each wing assembly to the rear tail, and also added magnets to the top intake piece that locks each wing down.
For this job I used 1/4″ magnets because I wasn’t sure what kind of force would be needed to keep the wings in place, but it turns out that was probably a little to much (besides I had to use a power drill to get that diameter hole). Looking back, I think 1/8″ magnets would have done the job just fine. Either way the wings lock in, and the Stormraven fits in a standard Sabol 4″ foam tray! There is even extra space behind it for a Dreadnought, or even a Rhino!
Overall I think Games Workshop really put a ton of detail into the Stormraven, and it definitely leaves the door open to bigger and better kits in the future I hope!
Click here to become a follower of Spikey Bits Blog. I’ll be posting up a ton of new Stormraven goodness in the near future!
Now if we can just get them to FAQ it (0-1 of course) to be used by all the Power Armors, not just the Red and Steel Flavored Space Marines!!!! -MBG
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.
