opinion on 6th edition flyers: Thunderbolt heavy fighter

[Watchmaster]

Since flyers get more important in the 6th edition (or at least some think they are), I wanted to hear some opinions on the Thunderbolt heavy fighter from Forgeworld.

besides it is a lovely model Forgeworld created (of course!), is it usable?

I compare it to the Vendetta:
two twinlinked autocannons and a twinlinked lascannon plus the option of four bombs or hellstrike missiles makes it more versatile then the Vendetta Gunship I belive. the Vendetta is a pure tank hunter with three twinlinked lascannons. the autocannons and bombs make the Thunderbolt better against infantry and light vehicles.

but AV12 of the Vendetta is better, cheaper by 50 points and has transport capacity.

so?

[Radium]

The vendetta is plain better. The thunderbolt is more awesome though!

[ehlijen]

The forgeworld flyers were all assigned points cost under the old AA rules, which saw AA weapons cost significantly more and reduced all AA attack ranges by 12", in addition to the snapfire penalty.

At its current points cost, no its not competitive. The increased access to quad flak and introduction of hullpoints hurt it bad.

It's still very cool though.

[Watchmaster]

maybe this will change with the release of the Imperial Armour Aeronautica end of this week? I hope so...but I think not significantly.

[Radium]

I'm guessing the new IA will only update the flyers to the new rules (adding vector dancer and strafing and such to some models), while only slightly adjusting the points costs.

[boogle]

You can make the Vendetta slightly more versatile by swapping out the Lascannons for Hellfury's but then it's not as good as the Valkyrie.

as for the Thunderbolt - do you like the model? If so then go for it

[Formerly Wu]

The Thunderbolt's main advantage over the Vendetta is clarity of purpose. While it lacks the Vendetta's punch, it also doesn't need to spend time dropping into hover mode to unload passengers, and can instead focus on its anti-air role (at which it is quite good, if not quite Vendetta-level).

That said, barring changes in IA:A, it is pretty overcosted. Scuttlebutt has it that it's getting upped to AV11, but who knows.

I'm definitely getting one once I have the budget for it. Ignoring pure efficiency, it's a much cooler dogfighter than the Vendetta can ever hope to be.

[Watchmaster]

a good point.

yes, I do like the model and I always wanted to have one for my Armoured battlegroup.
i have a Vanquisher and a Deatroyer, three lascannons, which will do the tank hunter job well, I believe. so, a Thunderbolt is the better AA support.

[boogle]

Indeed, get yourself a copt of AI when it comes out and see if it fits better with the new rules

[Shamana]

I compare it to the Vendetta:?

That's the problem, really. The Vendetta was good in 5th, and in 6th the combination of its previous rules and flier status makes it extremely powerful. Compared to it, very few things are worth its points. We will see how the AI book addresses it, but unless the Vendetta (and to a lesser amount the Valkyrie) is nerfed, pretty much anything has to be buffed to compare to it.

[Watchmaster]

....and it is ordered! together with the IA Aeronatica. my consideration was: since I field a siege army, air transport isn´t that important, the Hades can do the job as well and you have the chance to do severe damage with it (and the engineers can move, shoot and assault normally). So adding four bombs to a template-packes army...more is better! Just ignoring the rules, it is a must have model of a fighter!

At least I get the attention of the others if you field a flyer something not being a Vakyrie or kitbashed Vendetta. I am pretty sure it gets the supersonic special rule, hover mode isn´t a thing a heavy fighter has.

[Watchmaster]

can somebody give me the size of the Thunderbolt? (in cm or mm)
there are no sizes on FW homepage and nothing found by google...thanks!

[A.T.]

can somebody give me the size of the Thunderbolt? (in cm or mm)

Wingspan 11", length 10" - going by an old thread, don't have one to hand.

[Watchmaster]

thanks. what would be important to me is the height, too, so I know how to transport it to games

[A.T.]

thanks. what would be important to me is the height, too, so I know how to transport it to games

With the model on a flat surface the tail was just over 8cm off the table.
25cm long, 28cm wingspan.

[Dangersaurus]

The only issue with Thunderbolts is if you arm them with bombs. You'll need an Apocalyptic Barrage template to properly use them as it currently stands. Hopefully Aeronautica gives them a more '40k-approved' armament.

[Watchmaster]

With the model on a flat surface the tail was just over 8cm off the table.
25cm long, 28cm wingspan.

many thanks A.T., that will help!

[Treadhead_1st]

What also might be worth bearing in mind, given the theme of your army, is the new Forgeworld flyer coming out, the Avenger - it's nose cannon is absolutely brutal against other flyers, and it sports a twin-linked Lascannon, and I believe it will get hardpoints for bombs/missiles as well. I personally don't think it is as good-looking as the Thunderbolt (or the Lightning, for that matter - that is one sleek aircraft), but it could complement a couple, and your army, nicely.

[tu33y]

the avenger is a great design... i also liked it when it was the Naboo N1 Starfighter!

lol

i LOVE the thunderbolt, it looks chunky, mean and VERY IG. the hot rod bits on the nose, everything.

i just cannot afford it- however i am holding out for a plastic one as that is a rumour that pops up once every six months. maybe more likely with the avenger being the same price point?

[Watchmaster]

What also might be worth bearing in mind, given the theme of your army, is the new Forgeworld flyer coming out, the Avenger - it's nose cannon is absolutely brutal against other flyers, and it sports a twin-linked Lascannon, and I believe it will get hardpoints for bombs/missiles as well

FW gave the Avenger only 2 HP...I dunno why. It can be armed pretty heavily, but I think it is shot down quite fast because its hullpoints and the fact, that your enemy will really dislike the Bolt cannon. that will make it target no.1