Hormagaunt tipping

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**Ratius**

Many of my recently assembled Hormagaunts tip over due to being front heavy. Inshort they look totally crap.
I've tried swapping arms on them but it seems at least three of the basic torsos in the box are posed so they are front loaded.
I dont want to use the coin option under the base for fear of scratching my terrain boards.
Any ideas on how to fix them?

**lotrlks**

Ratius wrote:Many of my recently assembled Hormagaunts tip over due to being front heavy. Inshort they look totally crap.
I've tried swapping arms on them but it seems at least three of the basic torsos in the box are posed so they are front loaded.
I dont want to use the coin option under the base for fear of scratching my terrain boards.
Any ideas on how to fix them?

Ye I have the same problem. Its so anoying that I started using my termagants as horma. But you could use a rock on the base

**Klogger**

The easyest way I found was to put a Canadian/American Nickle (5c) under the base, Works for pretty much anything on the small bases

**Arson Fire**

Either coin under the base, weights on top of the base (you can try to make them look like rocks or something), or you can pose the front talons touching the ground to prop the model up.

**Lord Skulk**

You could also look into gluing washers, just find some with enough weight but not so thick that there's any chance of them coming into contact with the gaming board

**Arschbombe**

I use tungsten disks. 4 or 5 of these little disks will keep you gaunts from falling over. They're small enough to fit in the spaces around the slot. Tungsten is twice the density of lead so get a lot of effect in a small space. I use these to balance my zoanthropes too, but it takes a lot more of them for that.

**Avatar 720**

Play a different army, aha!

I kid, I kid, but anything that is less than the depth of a base, and has enough weight to counter the tipping hormie, should be okay. Since they come on slot bases, two small items near the back of each side of the base should suffice, or something on the base itself (bits of sprue might be useful, and you could paint them as bits of ruin unless you have a different theme in mind for the bases).

Small rocks can be useful, and are pretty ubiquitous, too; you can also try decorating the base with spare bitz from any other armies, and have them counter the tipping at the same time.

**Phototoxin**

Wikipedia wrote:Hormagaunt tipping or Hormagaunt pushing is the purported activity of sneaking up on a sleeping, upright Hormagaunt and pushing it over for fun. As tyranids do not sleep standing up, Hormagaunt tipping is a myth.[citation needed]

According to the myth, Hormagaunt are fast-moving, quick-witted but weak-legged, and can easily be pushed over without much force, both because they have a high center of gravity, and because they sleep standing up. However, despite the widespread legend of tipping Hormagaunt , numerous Inquisitors have debunked the practice's feasibility. Hormagaunts only rest while standing up, rather than sleeping that way, and they are easily disturbed. A variety of calculations have been performed to determine if Hormagaunt tipping is physically possible.

A study led by Inquisitor Margo Lillie, a magos of xenos zoology at the University of British Columbia, Terra, concludes that Hormagaunt tipping—by a single person—is impossible. Her calculations found that it would take at least two people to apply enough force to push over a Hormagaunt if the tyranid does not react and reorient its footing. If the Hormagaunt does react, it would take at least four people to push it over, according to the results. Lillie notes that, contrary to the nature of the myth, Tyranids are well aware of their surroundings and are very difficult to sneak up on, due to excellent senses of both smell and hearing.For this reason she did not return from her expedition.

In contrast to the reality of the Hormagaunt -tipping myth, Tau do regularly sleep standing up due to a locking mechanism of their stifle joint, a trait Tyranids do not (yet) possess.

Blu-tac on the back of the base

**Lord Scythican**

For some reason I was expecting a Diorama of a Ultramarine tipping a Hormagaunt over like a mlik cow. Figured it would be one of those duel showcase dioramas for a Gold Demon Contest...

**rigeld2**

I just put washers on the bottoms of mine. It adds barely any height, and since it's only the jumping ones that are unbalanced, the added height looks good.

**theunicorn**

My hormos have been on horse bases since 2nd edition, fixes that problem.

(Some of the last of my 2nd ed models that await stripping to be repainted)

**Lord Scythican**

theunicorn wrote:My hormos have been on horse bases since 2nd edition, fixes that problem.

(Some of the last of my 2nd ed models that await stripping to be repainted)

What about base to base contact? Wouldn't the horse bases be too big and cause problems with that?

**Rented Tritium**

I don't get why people use coins. Washers cost way less than a comparable coin.

If you're worried about damaging your table, just put some of that rubber tool handle grip liquid on the bottom or some thin felt.

I just don't see a washer doing any damage that wasn't already being done by heavy metal models.

**Thunderjaw**

I don't get why people use coins. Washers cost way less than a comparable coin.

Funny you mention that... my wife once got pissed at me for using nickels... I drove to Home Depot, found the cheapest comparably sized washer (in bulk too!) I could find, then noticed that the unit cost was 5.1 cents each... before tax...

I went back to nickels.

**rigeld2**

I got a box of 100 3/8 washers for $4.83. They're heavier than anything short of a 50 cent piece (and even then I think it's close). It matches the size of the slot bases almost perfectly.

Ace Hardware 4tw.

**theunicorn**

Lord Scythican wrote:
theunicorn wrote:My hormos have been on horse bases since 2nd edition, fixes that problem.

(Some of the last of my 2nd ed models that await stripping to be repainted)

What about base to base contact? Wouldn't the horse bases be too big and cause problems with that?

I have never had an opponent get upset about hormagaunts on horse bases, one edition they were beasts and these bases were appropriate. They are more susceptible to template weapons this way. If anyone were to get upset I would be able and willing to place standard round bases on the front on the horse bases to represent the actual position of the model.

**Ramshackle_Curtis**

Metal offcuts from sprues on metal figs glues onto the base. Or lead sheet.

**Flinty**

If you're worried about damaging your board then you could get some self adhesive felt patch things from a craft store to stick to the underside of the coin/washer. MMmmmm.. velour...

**Moartiki**

Dude really simple, with my army I put a penny underneath each one and they NEVER tip over. makes them a little heavier too, I like the feel when movin them around the table,makes them feel more valuable haha.

**Klogger**

Thunderjaw wrote:
I don't get why people use coins. Washers cost way less than a comparable coin.

Funny you mention that... my wife once got pissed at me for using nickels... I drove to Home Depot, found the cheapest comparably sized washer (in bulk too!) I could find, then noticed that the unit cost was 5.1 cents each... before tax...

I went back to nickels.

the exact same thing happened to me, I laughed so hard and slept on the couch.... totally worth it in my eyes

**Limbo**

I put small fish weights on the back of my Hormagaunts bases. Works really well, doesn't damage the table (if you're worried about that), paint covers em well and wasn't that expensive. But as mentioned above, small rocks should do it just fine, and will probably look abit more natural

Cover em with grass and you'll hardly notice em =)

**Squigsquasher**

I fill the undersides of the bases with modelling clay. Keeps them upright and doesn't damage the table.

**Ikillyou**

I have had this problem with Genestealers as well. My solution was that I cut pennies in half. Not too easy but doable. Since the bases for the gaunts and some of my genes were slotted. Cut the right way I was able to get two good pieces for two bases. After cutting them they will slide right in under the base.

It's also a lot cheaper than useing washers or weights.

Good luck which ever method you use.

**Ouze**

rigeld2 wrote:I got a box of 100 3/8 washers for $4.83. They're heavier than anything short of a 50 cent piece (and even then I think it's close). It matches the size of the slot bases almost perfectly.

Ace Hardware 4tw.

I'd just like to point out that this counts as a vote for using nickels in the bases. In my situation, gas here is $3.50 per gallon, and I'm disinclined to drive 5 miles to my hardware store to save 17 cents; and that's assuming you use each and every one of those washers in 100 bases. If you have more then 3 washers unused, it's not any savings at all.

**rigeld2**

I call the fuel useage a wash - since the hardware store is literally on my way to work every day.

And a nickel weighs far less than these washers. And yes, I plan on using all 100 washers.

**Ouze**

Do you know what they're made of? I have a defiler that is super front heavy, and I'd love to put some into the end of it so it's balanced.

**Gac666**

Lead is the best i think, cause if you make a cast from your base, you can make lead weights by pouring hot lead into it. Its easy to reshape it too, cause lead is really soft.

**tona7**

Phototoxin wrote:
Wikipedia wrote:Hormagaunt tipping or Hormagaunt pushing is the purported activity of sneaking up on a sleeping, upright Hormagaunt and pushing it over for fun. As tyranids do not sleep standing up, Hormagaunt tipping is a myth.[citation needed]

According to the myth, Hormagaunt are fast-moving, quick-witted but weak-legged, and can easily be pushed over without much force, both because they have a high center of gravity, and because they sleep standing up. However, despite the widespread legend of tipping Hormagaunt , numerous Inquisitors have debunked the practice's feasibility. Hormagaunts only rest while standing up, rather than sleeping that way, and they are easily disturbed. A variety of calculations have been performed to determine if Hormagaunt tipping is physically possible.

A study led by Inquisitor Margo Lillie, a magos of xenos zoology at the University of British Columbia, Terra, concludes that Hormagaunt tipping—by a single person—is impossible. Her calculations found that it would take at least two people to apply enough force to push over a Hormagaunt if the tyranid does not react and reorient its footing. If the Hormagaunt does react, it would take at least four people to push it over, according to the results. Lillie notes that, contrary to the nature of the myth, Tyranids are well aware of their surroundings and are very difficult to sneak up on, due to excellent senses of both smell and hearing.For this reason she did not return from her expedition.

In contrast to the reality of the Hormagaunt -tipping myth, Tau do regularly sleep standing up due to a locking mechanism of their stifle joint, a trait Tyranids do not (yet) possess.

Blu-tac on the back of the base

This was the exact image I had in my head when I first clicked onto this thread.

**Jburch**

I glue US Quarters to the bottom of my hormagant bases. Sure it gets expensive, but it has actually proven quite useful. They get the job done, and if I am ever out of cash, while I am playing a game, I can pop the quarters off and get lunch lol. It also serves as a retirement savings plan.

**rigeld2**

Ouze wrote:Do you know what they're made of? I have a defiler that is super front heavy, and I'd love to put some into the end of it so it's balanced.

Steel, I think. Not sure. Want a pic?