I'll start. Space Marine Tactical Squad.

RTB01 Box of 30 marines. Shortly followed by some renegade models. And then more and more and more until after almost 30 years, I could retire on the money I have spent. lol

A Kroot

Lucarikx

Played fire warrior the game and was Inspired and went out and brought some firewarriors when tau first come out haha

AOBR was my first box. The first 40k kits I built (ie non-snap-fit) were a SM Commander and Command squad.

My first ever model that I painted was a LOTR uruk-hai beserker.

I am not sure, but I think it was either a box of Guardsmen or a set of some PA goodness

Started with daemons (fantasy player) and went from there. If you want my first true 40k stuff, it would be the Eldar I traded an Orc army for. Fantasy orcs, hence the 'c'.

Dark Vengeance limited edition, nice starter pack

The Chaos Space Marines models from Dark Vengeance set, my friend took the Dark Angels.

A box of Hormagaunts, I still have those 12 (badly) painted models.

A couple of the earliest MkVII metal Marines back in like 1992.

First set was some old RT minis someone dumped on me.

The first I bought, though, was an eldar vyper.

A box of RTB01 SM.The painjob was not great,but I loved building them.

Yarrick

Original Predator tank plus a copy of 2nd edition

2nd ed boxed set, with cardboard walls and a cardboard ork dreadnought!

Battle for Mcragge set,
The first individual model was a metal Chaos Sorcerer

First models I bought was a box of five Lizardman Saurus, so I could practice painting. That was back when they sold half-squads for next to nothing.

First 40k model was an Ork Warbike the next week.

Battle for Macragge Set. I still wish I had it... oh well, I was a stupid kid back then.

Well, I started with box set of DE and BT. The first blister was an Haemonculus and the first army was DE.

My first was two RT2 -Space Orks boxes in 1987. Loved their style/character and have been collecting orks ever since. Just started playing the game recently.

Chaos Space Marine squad and Terminator Lord. The first model I painted was the Icon Bearer with the Icon of Tzeentch.

The very first first... 3rd edition starter set with Space Marines and Dark Eldar. I have a couple of those models still on my "shelf of shame" where I put some of the most horrible models I ever hacked together back when I was first starting the hobby (as well as one potentially ok conversion for the Void Dragon C`Tan that never ended up going anywhere).

First thing I actually cared about, box of Kroot. I now know that Kroot are some of the most annoying troop models to assemble in the game. As a grade school kid...let's just say they didn't end well.

A box of guardsmen when I was a kid. Back in 4e, I think. Could not paint faces back then, so they looked sort of mutated.

But the first one that I really cared about, and that I bought with my own money, was some SoB. Actually made the faces look presentable this time around.

Dark Eldar Archon.

Pre-overhaul paint set with a combat squad of snap-fit Ultramarines. I was hyped on 40k before I got it, so it was also the most excitement I had over openning a kit. I still remember that I tried to basecoat my first mini in badab black...

My first introduction to 40K was Rouge Trader. So for me it would be the photo copy of the paper tiles we were suppose to use back then.

Nobody played, so I never gotten into it. So my first minis would be the 3rd edition Starter set.

First was a Night Lords Marine given to me by a friend

Either a bunch of dwarf slayers or a box of warriors. Can't exactly remember which it's been so long.

It was either a heavy weapons platoon or the old guard battleforce that came with the leman russ and buildings.

assault on black reach

SM battleforce and commander.

The box set of Metal Terminators Squad from RT. It had the Terminatior Captain, the Terminator Librarian, a Term Sgt, 3 Terminators with PF and Storm Bolters, 1 Terminator with Assault Cannon and Chainfist, and a Terminator with Heavy Flamer and PF.

Metal Terminator Librarian, if I can remember correctly. The one from 1989. It's older than about half of the gamers on Dakka.

Not my model, but the same model:


Either that or my first models were the plastics from Tyranid Attack, from the early 90's.

DKoK Grenadiers

The only problem with these types of threads is that they make me feel old! And I'm only 30!

Fully half my collection, maybe more, is of sculpts that are 10+ years old. Hell, I actively searched for the 2nd edition rangers for my Eldar, instead of the current ones.

The original Space Marines in metal before 40K had been published.

I also had (and still have) the original plastic Beakies and metals, and the Imperial Army metal and plastic sets from before they were changed to Imperial Guard.

Probably a lot of you guys had not been born at that time.

My brother was given a early eldar ranger, which is why we started playing.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
The original Space Marines in metal before 40K had been published.

I also had (and still have) the original plastic Beakies and metals, and the Imperial Army metal and plastic sets from before they were changed to Imperial Guard.

Probably a lot of you guys had not been born at that time.

Haha, too right. My Ultramarines actually have different tactical squads showcasing every single incarnation of plastic Space marine kit, short of the new one.

I think mine was either an Ironclad Dreadnought or a Terminator squad.

I started with AOBR along with Codex, a Predator and the SM Commander kit.
That's a way to start 40K!

Now, almost 5 years later, i am close to having a completely painted army!

A friend and I split the Dark Vengeance set. I took the Chaos side of it, mwuhahaha!

SM attack bike 2e which I painted blue. The next purchase was Warhammer 5th Ed starter (I took Bretonnia) and 40k didn't get a look-in for a good year or so after that.

Technically, half of AOBR (I wanted the book and templates). However, the loyalist scum were stuffed out of sight to make way for a 10-man Chaos Space Marine squad.

Furibundus dreadnought which is why I want another so much!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dStdK30XCgw/Tgqh5FDqB9I/AAAAAAAABK8/Re6S9ttbsgA/s1600/epic_space_marine_dreadnought_1.JPG

My very first Warhammer kit ever was a box of Chaos Beastmen, waaaay back in the day.

Wandered in to GW with my aunt as a little kid, spent hours in there mesmerized by the game tables, the models, the enthusiasm of the people inside - got an intro game, and at the end my aunt footed the bill for a box of Chaos Beastmen.

Then I learned about the different game systems and races and lore, and the rest is history.

Slugga Boyz.

I played Orks before I went CSM/Eldar.

AoBR but the first model I bought myself was Vargard Obyron FTW!!!

Tau ethereal with symbols of office. Still got him and he has lead many a victory for the greater good

Dark eldar starter set, which i gave away to focus on nids.

I bought 20 IG Cadians for $10 from someone. First full price was either a chimera or a sentinel. I cant remember.

2nd Edition, Blood Angels box set. Still have them all.

Metal necron lord with warscythe/outstretch arm

I've been trying to remember, there were a few around the same time. I think it was something lead around about 2nd ed era. I think it was a space marine but part of me is thinking genestealers. I was 5-10 years old.
The first one I bought and painted (properly) was a tactical squad about 4th ed.

The Orks in the 2nd ed box set.

Old necron battleforce, so warriors,scarabs and destroyers. Followed by the old half plastic, half metal destroyer lord. First necron model i put together and painted was a necron warrior.

A space marine tactical squad. I often used it as the vanguard in my armies so it's seen a lot of action (and sometimes failed miserably) I think I changed it's chapter twice already.

Eldar Fire Dragon, maybe a free Space Hulk Terminator I got from the store too.

These bad boys along with some random metal RT space marines.

For me was battle of macragge. The first unit was Eldar Dire Avengers

Fourteen years ago. It was one squad of Chaos Space Marines, and a Chaos Dreadnaught. I think there were other pieces, too, as I remember walking out of Games Workshop after dropping £50.00, which to a thirteen-year-old was a lot. I played one game.

Hard to think that I was heretical back then. [shudders]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh

The 2nd edition box set

Old metal Space Wolves Terminators and Dark Angel Veterans!

First set I purchased was the 3rd ed boxed set with the horrible Dark Eldar Sculpts, still have a few of those marines and the terrain bits kicking around in the bits box. Might be time to give them a proper Crimson Fists paint job

 Instinctual wrote:
First set I purchased was the 3rd ed boxed set with the horrible Dark Eldar Sculpts, still have a few of those marines and the terrain bits kicking around in the bits box. Might be time to give them a proper Crimson Fists paint job

Same. First models assembled were those chunky Space Marines and static Dark Eldar. Still have all the terrain sitting around too. Totally worth it. Still have my first White Dwarf magazine too!

 MWHistorian wrote:
These bad boys along with some random metal RT space marines.

Wow! That brings back some fond memories. That makes me want to start fielding some Crimson Fists of my own. In the MkVI
Corvus power armor. Good times man.

I still remember it. It took me 3 months to save up enough for it, and even then, I had to get my parents to pay the taxes (I'm still not very good at figuring out purchase totals, especially when adding taxes in, but fortunately these days I use my debit card for pretty much all my purchases, and I have maintained a balance sufficient to cover anything I would ordinarily purchase. And since I stopped needing more WH40k stuff to flesh out my main armies for the most part, I've had a steadily growing balance).

It was a box of Dire Avengers back in 3rd edition. The ones with the metal heads and metal Exarch arms. I selected them based purely on their looks. At the time, I was fresh out of MageKnight, figured WH40k worked the same way (I'm lucky I didn't pick up a box of Fantasy stuff by mistake!), so I figured that the rules would be included with the models and that they'd come pre-assembled and pre-painted (Not everyone reads boxes thoroughly, and admittedly I was 13 years old). When I got home, I discovered that all I'd gotten was the models on sprues and instructions on assembly. Fortunately, in previous years I'd enjoyed building and painting model airplanes - I even did a very nice paintjob on a WW2 bomber once - so I did have some experience with building plastic models, and had an assortment of paints and some model glue.

However, I neglected the need for superglue when gluing metal pieces onto models, but with enough plastic glue, I managed to get them to stay - probably through enough plastic glue from repeated gluing attempts to fill in the gaps between metal and plastic. I remember painting them with Regal Blue, Skull White, Ice Blue, and Fiery Orange, but I have a very vague memory of first painting them with the Testors paints I had at home at the time. My paint job was sloppy, typical of a rather unskilled kid with poor vision, using only sunlight and a single size and shape paintbrush. But I enjoyed seeing them painted and enjoyed fielding them on the table.

I was lucky. The friends of a friend who got me into the game (entirely through a chance meeting at the local gaming room, where I was spoiling for a MageKnight game and discovered my friend playing WH40k with his friends) were willing to let me join in with them in multiplayer games, and they were sporting enough to save their main bulk of firepower for the people with more than a single squad of models, who knew the rules, who had their own Codex and had read the main rulebook. They saved me for last, which I appreciated and had great fun just playing, even though I never won - and to this day, have never won a WH40k game against someone who wasn't either my younger brother or my mom, including a game during a tournament against a Tyranids player, even younger than I, who'd shown up with about 600 points of models less than what was needed for the tournament, and against whom I saw the opportunity for an easy victory, and thus said no when he asked nicely if I wouldn't mind dropping some of my stuff to make it a fair fight. (in short, I got my butt handed to me on a platter).

Ahh, the days of blissful ignorance, when I thought my Marines' flamers worked like Burnaz after playing against an Ork player who used Burnaz.

The 2nd Edition boxed set although the models I used in actual games were several blisters of metal Marines bought during the great lead sale.

A bunch of Warlock blisters together with a bunch of Farseer blisters and a box of Guardians. Was dead set on Ulthwé back then. Since that time one of the Farseers still hasn't been stripped of his horrible, horrible, paint job (YELLOW belt pouch!?) another Farseer has had his spear-arm broken. The model for Eldrad was one of them, don't think he was separate from the others back then.

I bought the second edition box with a buddy one summer prior to third's release. We were a bit underwhelmed.

Four ork boys.FIRST models were the moria goblin paint set.

Wow.... uh.... man, this is having to go back a ways...

.... probably some Ork Boyz. Goffs, I think? Maybe not. Maybe just regular Orks. Or maybe it was some Space Marines? This would have been in 1991-ish... maybe '89 or '90.

Non-Starterset would be either a box of Eldar Guardians or a Space Marine Tacti Squad. Has been about 2 years ago and I already forgot.

A tau devilfish.

A buddy of mine sold me an old one, I used it for a cool looking vehicle in my science fiction RPG gaming.

Of course, he then said "hey, you want to read the rules on this thing?"

I said "nah, I have no interest in 40k, and have not played fantasy in over 20 years".

He said "well, you might like their fluff, so you can you know, describe the race that makes them, etc.".

Oh man, first hit is free...the rest as we say, is history.

 EVIL INC wrote:
RTB01 Box of 30 marines.

This. A mate bought orks.

Followed by several blisters of eldar ("Space elves") including musicians and standard bearers.

 EVIL INC wrote:
RTB01 Box of 30 marines. Shortly followed by some renegade models. And then more and more and more until after almost 30 years, I could retire on the money I have spent. lol

Copycat! same as me, but i also bought the space orks boxed set and too many other GW stuff!

The 20 Pack of Cadian Imperial Guardsmen.

A single little Leman Russ Tank.



I haven't changed him since I built him, except his name of course. he is now the Longsword.

Five man Space Marine Assault Squad turned to Blood Angels.

I'll never forget the day I entered the money-consuming spiral that is 40k lol


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Thokt wrote:
I bought the second edition box with a buddy one summer prior to third's release. We were a bit underwhelmed.

If only they released something similar to this, except with updated armies and terrain. And I mean not just the starter set, but Battleforces too.

Necron's Battleforce, so that means 5 immortals, Ghost ark, 20 warriors and 5 scarabs. Yes, I'm a recent player

I think it was the second ed starter set - came with marines and nids in it.

A blister pack of Squat Adventurers like this guy

2x space marine tactical squads and one scout squad for my first ever BT crusader squad... Relatively new to the hobby as i can see squats etc...

I had a WHFB Chaos Warrior and a Space Marine from the paint starter set they did around 1997. I seem to remember having a box of six IG Storm Troopers in the very early days too, might have bought those on that day too.

As a complete novice of the hobby, naturally I wanted to paint the Marine is a member of the Legion of the Damned.

SM tactical squad.

Completely fethed up the paintjob, and gave them all terribad options.

However, I consider my true start to 40k to be when I converted to chaos, and that was with a Daemon Prince (multi part plastic version).

10 GKTs...and they're still kicking @ss.

My first WH 40k model was the Emperor's Champion model for my Black Templars in 2008.

Sameal in finecast.

i bought dark vengeance and a paint kit that came with some dark angels at the same time (half off!)
the first model i assembled and painted was joe, a dark angel from the paint kit.
he is now the champion of my CSM squad and has turned all his fellow marines to nurgle warship.
(he was my first assembly, painted model and conversion)
he is much prettier now. nicer paint, cleaned him up really nicely

This was my first model set. Has to be like ... 16 or 17 years ago . I paid 50 DM which is around 20-25 Euro today .

Prior to that i did some revell stuff ... was expecting a lot of work and was a little disappointed when the tank was built after ~1h

Two boxes of guardsmen, a company command, and three chimeras.

 Mywik wrote:

Spoiler:

This was my first model set. Has to be like ... 16 or 17 years ago . I paid 50 DM which is around 20-25 Euro today .

Prior to that i did some revell stuff ... was expecting a lot of work and was a little disappointed when the tank was built after ~1h

Wow, so the Leman Russ has never changed, then?

I guess another way to look at it is, years ago, when Games Workshop were making 'statue' metal Space Marines, and brightly coloured jester Orcs they were making a decent looking Main Battle Tank.

 Tower75 wrote:

 Mywik wrote:

Spoiler:

This was my first model set. Has to be like ... 16 or 17 years ago . I paid 50 DM which is around 20-25 Euro today .

Prior to that i did some revell stuff ... was expecting a lot of work and was a little disappointed when the tank was built after ~1h

Wow, so the Leman Russ has never changed, then?

I guess another way to look at it is, years ago, when Games Workshop were making 'statue' metal Space Marines, and brightly coloured jester Orcs they were making a decent looking Main Battle Tank.

Dayum.

I've currently got a bit of a mental (not literal) hard-on for IG tanks, and I'm saving up for a bunch of them, and this has slapped me with a double whammy of nostalgia and that "Ooohh pretty!" feeling

The six pound pack with 3 space marines.

 wolfmaster1234 wrote:
The six pound pack with 3 space marines.

How on earth do 3 space marines weigh six pounds!? Is this what the earlier edition space marines usually weighed (well... that is if they were earlier edition)

well their pixies in Armour, a standard pix marine weighs 1.5 pounds but the third was a bit chubby.
Seriously though I meant £6 but pressing shift requires determination.

 wolfmaster1234 wrote:
well their pixies in Armour, a standard pix marine weighs 1.5 pounds but the third was a bit chubby.
Seriously though I meant £6 but pressing shift requires determination.

Ohhhhh...English money...would have never made that connection.

 wolfmaster1234 wrote:
well their pixies in Armour, a standard pix marine weighs 1.5 pounds but the third was a bit chubby.
Seriously though I meant £6 but pressing shift requires determination.

Aaaaaaaand I'm an idiot again.
I really have to try to notice these things better. Sorry.

Showing my age here, but my first was Thrugg Bullneck's Space Ork Raiders (the original metal ork box set). I remember pre-ordering it from an old comic shop in town and waiting impatiently for it to arrive.

Man most of those old ork sculpts were bad LOL

Im a young'n to 40k so my first was a Tyranid Tervigon when it first came out, first painted too lol. Before I knew what shades and Inks were.

Fire warriors.

I believe my first set of models was a Hellhound flame tank and some Catachan Snipers. This was after White Dwarf ran a big issue on Catachans back in 1998 or so, and a friend dragged the magazine to school and showed me all the jungle eye candy.

First models I ever got was the 3.5 ed (I think) Black Templar vs Dark Eldar kit. So presumably the first model I ever made was a basic tactical marine.

First model I painted was also probably one of those terribly built marines. I believe my original scheme was Black Templar but with gold instead of white... gak it was badly painted haha. I still have that original landspeeder preserved to remind me of my shame.

I think my first actually purchased kit was a set of tactical marines or a squad of assault marines. I can't remember.

- VardenV2

My first 40k minis were the little 5 man plastic marine starter set, couple plastic bikes, and a few Dark Angel vets. Circa 1999. Haven't seen them since then just about, but I believe they're piled in with my Lizardmen army, and Skaven Mordheim war band from the same era. Wish I could find them.

space marine bike I still own it nine years on

 Thokt wrote:
I bought the second edition box with a buddy one summer prior to third's release. We were a bit underwhelmed.

I remember getting that Box set when it first came out. You got alot for the money. I got it to continue my burgeoning SM army and provide an opposing force for my SM.

Metal Farseer w spear
His bad paint job was a reminder to slow down, in future and since then I learnt my lesson

AoBR, followed almost immediately by more of the troops from the same set parted out by Ebay resellers. I knew I wanted models, liked both armies, and the price point was low enough that I could afford to jump in with both feet.

A box of eldar guardians when they came in 20's without a support battery.

Another old git here with the RTB01. I might have picked up some lead blister packs first, but that was so long ago, the details have been lost in time.

I've got RT, 2nd, 3rd, and Battle of Macragge marines in my tac squads still on active duty. I never picked up AoBR or the DV box, so am missing those eras of marines. While I do have some of the new trace bases, they might never see use as a full 10 man tac squad.