Warhammer 40.000 – Dark Angels Deathwing Terminators / Knights / Command Squad

The Wrath of the Soul Forge King Box features a Dark Angel miniaturers set, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and which I actually had on the table in 2013 (!). For this reason, I'm giving the review an HD update, have adapted the pictures to the new format and adjusted the text in the appropriate places. Apart from that, it's "Throwback" today with the Deathwing Terminators, which can also be built as knights or a commando squad.

The multi unit box set, from which one of the above mentioned three units can be built, contains parts for 5 terminators as well as a companion and costs 50 Euros (the set has thus only become 5 EUR / 10% more expensive since the release). Besides a multi-page building instruction, 3 medium sized sprues, 5x 40mm round bases and one 25mm round base are included. Also included is the generic Space Marine decal sheet (for which there is actually no use, as the miniatures have no free areas on their shoulder armour or banners to attach them).

As already mentioned, the individual parts are spread over 3 sprues, in which, in addition to the core parts, there are a great many additional options and accessories for the miniatures.

The casting quality is high, with clear and sharply cast details. Games Workshop had raised the bar again in 2013 and can still compete with the current range with the set today - possibly with the exception of the difference in size to the Primaris / newer models. The combination of casting quality and experience with the injection moulding technique skilfully avoids the disadvantages of the missing undercuts. If you compare this kit with, for example, the Space Wolves Terminators or Grey Knights, you will notice that they have gone the extra mile. Mould lines are almost non-existent or so skilfully placed at the corners of the minatures that only the places where the parts are fixed in the casting frame need to be reworked with a file or a cutter.

The sprues are so filled with additional parts that your bitzbox gets a good supply. For example, the alternative chest plates, head and weapon options and equipment bits.

Each terminator is built from the following parts; head, torso back and chest plate, legs, right weapon arm without hand, right weapon hand (in that case with storm bolter alternate thunder hammer/mace), left weapon arm (power fist or storm shield) and shoulder armour.

Deathwing terminators and knights can already be seen on the box, so we will mix a bit of parts in this review and show what other possibilities there are when assembling. The cowls / robes are simply too wwell-made to be used only for the knights, which is why sergeants or other models (also other chapters such as Black Templar) also deserve these parts. Let's start by gluing the legs onto bases, besides the regular 40mm base, we have a Tabletop Art Crystal Tech base on the left and in the middle a Sci-Fi base from a supplier that is unfortunately no longer available.

From left to right we build two terminator sergeants and a terminator with plasma cannon. The individual parts, even the chest plates with the cowls, allow quite dynamic poses and leave enough possibilities to make even the "standard" Terminator look like a small character model.

Besides the Cyclone missile launcher, the box also contains 3 heavy weapons, an assault cannon, a plasma cannon and a heavy flamethrower. The picture on the right shows the comparison between the "new" assault cannon (one-piece casting) and the one from the Dark Angels additional casting frame / veteran box.

The new Deathwing terminators also come in for size comparison. First of all the 3 built terminators, next to it the companion from the sprue in comparison with the guardian in the darkness / helmet wearer from Azrael (classic model). Of course, no comparison with a regular Space Marine should be missing here. As a bonus, a comparison picture on the far right, with one of the Terminators from the Storm of Retribution box. At that time there were no Primaris, so unfortunately we have to do without the comparison, but the Wrath of the Soul Forge promo pictures show it quite often.

For a final comparison, here is another close-up. Here you can see the increased level of detail of the multipart box. In the middle picture you can see a small history of the plastic terminators, starting on the left with the first plastic terminator from the 1st generation Space Hulk box (1989), there next to a plastic miniature from the 2nd edition of Space Hulk (1996) which were later also available as a re-cut as a box of 5. In the middle a multi-piece Terminator with e-claws (circa 2006), a Deathwing Terminator from the Storm of Retribution set and the most modern reincarnation from the Deathwing box. On the far right, another shot with the Guardians in the dark.

The finished models can be seen here again from several angles, which really shows how successfully the undercuts have been implemented by dividing up the individual parts.

Based on the Terminators in robes, other Chapters or units can be realised as well. With a few Bitz from the Grey Knight boxes, convincing Inquisitors can be created that can compete with the regular character models (in this case Belial).

Conclusion

The Deathwing box is very comprehensive and offers numerous options for the built squad but also as a bitz resource for Dark Angels and other Space Marine armies with a gothic / gloomy scheme. While in 2013 the 45 EUR price band was quite an bold statement compared to the regular Terminator boxes (which were 35 EUR), over time 40-50 EUR for the squads of 5 has become established and taking inflation into account this has even remained very moderately under the radar of price increases. Due to the bit density of the set, you can go a long way with the individual parts and thus also bring generic terminators, character models and other Space Marine models (meanwhile the multitude of Primaris units) much closer to the Dark Angels theme than is possible, for example, with the small upgrade casting frame. Due to the beefy design of the parts, they should also be suitable for conversions and extensions to the Gravis Armour.

Technically, the box is on a par even after 10 years and Games Workshop clearly shows here what their market leadership is based on - more extensive plastic kits. High casting quality, fine details but often unfortunately also a debatable price-performance ratio.

Warhammer 40,000 is a brand by Games Workshop.

The reviewed product item was provided by the manufacturer