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I've been planning to build my slowly growing BA army into a fluffier connfiguration lately. This lead me to skimming IA books and I now want to incorporate more mechanized units into my army. So, what's fluffier for marines in this regard than drop pods, tarantulas and flying transports? Nothing! So went ahead and bought some tarantulas to get started, 2 with HBs and one Lascannon, so three altogether.

Having just prepped the first tarantula for assembly (hate cutting & filing resin btw! ffs), I started thinking about in-game functionality. Since they are resin, superglue is obviously my choice when it comes to putting these together.. But the build is a bit awkward? I feel like the legs will break off pretty easily unless I base these.

So, should I base these or do you reckon they'll be robust enough without basing? And if I do base em, what base size yall think would be most appropriate?

Bonus question - If I buy a land raider crusader upgrade sprue, will I be able to make an Assault Cannon turret for the FW platforms? I wont be gluing the turrets down anyway, so I could hopefully just swap the turrets to fit my list loadouts. The connector is a bit different than the plain ring on a rhino top, so I reckon I'd have to scratchbuild some kind of fitting ring for the AC turret in any case, right?

(and just for the record, when I say "fluffy BA" I am referring to my own version of BA - no mephistons, no sanguinary guard, emphasis on DC, chaplains, dreads and meq. I fell in love with BA in 1st ed Space Hulk, none of this space vampire and nipple armour fetishes for me pls )

I wouldnt worry about it, mine isnt based and has given me zero problems. Granted I havent dropped it yet.... I might pin any that I add in the future.

Thanks for your input.

I was thinking about this some more and remembered I have a bunch of oldschool "thin" 60mm bases I bought from a blowout sale as they were discontinued. I think I'm going to base them with those, so the profile will still be rather low, but it will offer some added protection. Just in case. These models are too expensive/hard to replace to risk losing parts for. I'm sure they could do OK without the bases otherwise, but I dont really use a proper mini carrying case when I go to games, I just pack everything into a cardboard box or my aluminium flightl case, and I've already had some damage occur in transit even with my all-plastic models.

60mm will be too small. 80mm minimum to avoid hanging off the edge.

 sockwithaticket wrote:
60mm will be too small. 80mm minimum to avoid hanging off the edge.

Aargh! looks like you are right. Just tried a 60mm base, too small indeed. I hope GW sells 80mm

I am now thinking I am going to get an AC turret to test with the tarantula base. Locking ring DIY job aside, Just tested the tarantula base with a whirlwind missile stack, and IMO they fit together well visually:

I have the resin AC guns and they look great. also it's a kickass backfield support unit. normally drop a tac squad with it.

need to get a couple missle pods with my next FW order.

the forgeworld AC guns are discontinued now, right?

I kitbashed a bit more and realized I don't need/want the crusader upgrade style AC turret after all. Looks wrong without the Machine Spirit logis engine compartment and the cannons clumped together like that. Reckon if I just magnetize a set of spare Assault Cannons to the side ports (also magnetize the resin HBs & LCs!) they'll look way nicer. BTW, Autocannons aren't a viable option? Shame, they'd look badass!

Well if you have plan for base for example: turret that landed on someone its gonna look great! But even without them you can work with them because they are turrets

ok, got the bases finally. Still wouldnt quite fit so I made the turret "stand upright". This might end up looking decent!