'Sup with the lack of Tyranid models?

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Dude, I've just started out in 40k again, choosing Nids. From the models currently available I've made an army which I reckon will be pretty bad ass. It weighs in around 2,300 (I like big games, and since I'm not partial to Tournament play, usually play as big as I think I can get away with. YMMV of course, and I'm not holding myself up as any sort of benchmark) and thus far has no conversions in it. If they aren't off the peg, they aren't in my army.

So I'll tell you what I'll try to do for you. Let me know what stuff you want to include, either here or over PM, and I'll rack my brain for potential easy conversions that might help you.

**UltraPrime**

I have no problem buying two kits to make a new creature, none at all. What I do have a problem with is that I should come out of the project with two, not one and a pile for the bits box.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

That is the trick isn't it? I'm a bit more driven by 'wouldn't it be cool' conversions, and thus have a variety of largely unusable bits in my conversions tray, but yes with the Nids I will be looking into what else I can convert up from the parts left over. Is only sensible with so many options available to me.

Though I do find that some people stress over 'making it look like the picture' than just going for it. For example, my Hellpit doesn't resemble the illustration or the description, yet in the context of the Skaven, it really couldn't be anything else, being a large, gribbly, ratheaded tentacled horror. Nids of course, are slightly different!

**Sidstyler**

Flashman wrote:I have no involvement in the industry, but I can guess that it takes a lot of resources to put together a release like this one. I mean come on, Venomthrope, Hive Guard, Pyrovore, new Gargoyles, new Raveners and big arse Trygon/Mawloc. What more can you realistically want?

Models for stuff I'll actually use.

I agree, the lack of models for all that stuff is just a minor complaint for me, I still think the Tyranid book is really good. I just think it would be nice to know that something was coming...

Gutteridge wrote:
Chapterhouse wrote:

Believe me, give it 1-2 months and there will be tons of boen swords, heads, and conversion kits to make your favorite monstrous creature.

Nick

is that a hint maybe?

I'm kind of excited, kinda not...I'm really interested in seeing what Chapterhouse puts out, but it's also disappointing because I won't be able to actually use any of those parts in an official GW event.

Which I'll likely never play at because I can't afford to travel, GW told my state to "feth off" either last year or the year before, and I really don't think my local store will care.

**H.B.M.C.**

Ah-hah!

It occurred to me that there is another reason why not having official kits for all Codex entries is a bad thing (even if the release takes a while).

They could be removed from the Codex.

Say they never make a model for the Tervigon or Tyrannofex. 6 years roll by and GW releases a new Tyranid Codex. What's stopping them from removing these units from the Codex completely? They don't have models, so it's not like they're suddenly stopping production of a miniature - they're just annoying people who scratch built/converted their own and really they don't care about that.

At least with the model kits they have (besides Special Characters), there's a decent chance that your model will make it into the next Codex release. No such thing with units that don't even have kits.

**Sidstyler**

I'm also not sure how that works in tournaments, either. GW wants everything official, you have to use the official models and all their official bits etc., so how the hell do I field a harpy or a tyrannofex I made myself without my opponent arguing about it being too big, or too small, or mounted on an inappropriately-sized base, etc.?

I saw someone on another forum claim that tyrannofexes should be hierophant-sized, for example, because the vague description in the background used words like "massive" to describe it (you know, the same as every other Tyranid monstrous creature's background, but I digress...). Everyone seems to have their own ideas about how things "should" look in this game and with no official model it makes playing with them kind of difficult.

If they want to be so strict about this type of thing and make everything 100% GW in their events then they should have models for everything so I can legally play the game with no issues.

**Da Boss**

They should at least give a base size and maybe rough height guideline in the hobby section of the codex.

**malfred**

Da Boss wrote:They should at least give a base size and maybe rough height guideline in the hobby section of the codex.

I agree with this. Modeling guidelines and examples would convince me that this is more about the
"hobby" than about the profit margins behind the production/sale of such a model. Are there
examples in White Dwarf/Tyranid Codex/on the website? Those alone, done up with a minimum
(i.e. zero) sculpting would convince me it's about the hobby.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Examples on the Website include, from memory a Tervigon, Tyrannafex and Swarmlord.

As a general rule of thumb however I'll model it onto the largest base commonly encountered when building a gribbly. For example, my Abomination is mounted on a Chariot Base.

**Sidstyler**

IIRC, a really bad photo of a tervigon that made it hard to see what exactly had been done to the model...

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Still has a base though. And it's described as being made from a Carnifex and Stegadon kits.

**Chapterhouse**

Sidstyler wrote:
Flashman wrote:I have no involvement in the industry, but I can guess that it takes a lot of resources to put together a release like this one. I mean come on, Venomthrope, Hive Guard, Pyrovore, new Gargoyles, new Raveners and big arse Trygon/Mawloc. What more can you realistically want?

Models for stuff I'll actually use.

I agree, the lack of models for all that stuff is just a minor complaint for me, I still think the Tyranid book is really good. I just think it would be nice to know that something was coming...

Gutteridge wrote:
Chapterhouse wrote:

Believe me, give it 1-2 months and there will be tons of boen swords, heads, and conversion kits to make your favorite monstrous creature.

Nick

is that a hint maybe?

I'm kind of excited, kinda not...I'm really interested in seeing what Chapterhouse puts out, but it's also disappointing because I won't be able to actually use any of those parts in an official GW event.

Which I'll likely never play at because I can't afford to travel, GW told my state to "feth off" either last year or the year before, and I really don't think my local store will care.

I disagree, most of the model will still be a GW model, they dont have a rule where 100% has to be GW bits and models, you can use parts and kitbash from other companies, just not whole models usually. This is especially the case when there is NO GW model to use.

You should be able to use ANY model for a Drop Spore as long as it looks the part, since no model is available.

**Kurgash**

H.B.M.C. wrote:Ah-hah!

It occurred to me that there is another reason why not having official kits for all Codex entries is a bad thing (even if the release takes a while).

They could be removed from the Codex.

Say they never make a model for the Tervigon or Tyrannofex. 6 years roll by and GW releases a new Tyranid Codex. What's stopping them from removing these units from the Codex completely? They don't have models, so it's not like they're suddenly stopping production of a miniature - they're just annoying people who scratch built/converted their own and really they don't care about that.

At least with the model kits they have (besides Special Characters), there's a decent chance that your model will make it into the next Codex release. No such thing with units that don't even have kits.

The Ultramarine Tyranid Veterns had models and they got snuffed in the next codex :(

**Kanluwen**

Yes and no, Nick.

They want at least 75%(last I checked, three years ago. There's been contention that it's 90%ish now) GW product, if it's a combination of their stuff and another company's--for their "official" events. Some unofficial events use the same rules, just for the sake of cutting down on stand-in armies or half-assed armies made from random junk you have laying around.

Scratchbuilds are the exception, and I'm sure a Drop Spore is a case where they won't be annoyed so long as you at least try to make it look good. But for the most part, yeah. Any model would work, but I'm looking at using a wiffle ball and some epoxy to maybe do a mock-up Drop Spore for a friend who wants to do Tyranids.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
That was @ Chapterhouse, mind.

**Chapterhouse**

Yeah... and seeing all of our kits are just add-ons (we are planning on a kit to add to the carnifex for the big bugs) there would be no reason to ban such a model

**Kanluwen**

Yeah, but if you make a Drop Spore it's illegal!11!!

Frankly:
If you do a drop spore? Include a smaller sprue of Tyranid bits with it. Adrenal Glands, stuff like that that can be used to further Tyranid it up.

**Chapterhouse**

I dont see how that would be illegal, GW does not make a model for it so they cant stop you from using something else.

**Mr. Burning**

Chapterhouse wrote:I dont see how that would be illegal, GW does not make a model for it so they cant stop you from using something else.

I think this affects 'official' tournaments more than anything else. If photos are submitted to GW and/or they use them or promotional purposes they want to ensure that their product is on display and not other companies. the rules sort of just stick with other TO's for simplicities sake.

Scratchbuilds are fine, I think.

**Kanluwen**

Chapterhouse wrote:I dont see how that would be illegal, GW does not make a model for it so they cant stop you from using something else.

I thought the "!11!!" conveyed the inherent sarcasm in the post. Or the

did.

Either way, it was a smarmy remark intended to show that it might be construed as "illegal" in a few tournament organizer's eyes, but that's really all.

**Norn King**

Yorick_of_Tau wrote:My little bro got the new codex:nids this weekend, and reading through it I couldn't help but notice how many dudes there were without models. Almost all of the big bugs were model-less: Harpies, Tyrannofex, the Swarmlord, and some others. Is GW going to make these models eventually, or will we have to buy them from Forge World? And of course, it seems like all the units without models are the really huge ones that are hard to convert.

One hopefull note: I did see this picture on the GW site, with what looks like a Tyrannofex in the background.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/blogPost.jsp?aId=7300010a

One unhopefull note: This article tells how to convert models like the Swarmlord and Tyrannofex. Yes, it does say you have to buy four Hive Tyrants if you want four boneswords.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/blogPost.jsp?aId=8000023a

I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty sure that GW's crazy if it expects us to pay $200 to convert one model.

who cares the trygon makes up for that. if you put the trygon and fex' kits toghether you could make a pretty sweet convesion.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
And what do they expect us do do with the Doom of Malan'tai?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

just get a fex and trygon kit you could make somehting pretty sweet

**Sidstyler**

Chapterhouse wrote:I dont see how that would be illegal, GW does not make a model for it so they cant stop you from using something else.

But if you do make a model for it then GW will pull the rules for it, a la Blood Bowl.

**H.B.M.C.**

If they don't make a model for it they'll probably pull the rules anyway; doesn't hurt them at all.

**chaplaingrabthar**

Kurgash wrote:The Ultramarine Tyranid Veterns had models and they got snuffed in the next codex :(

Yeah, but you could use them as Sternguard/Vanguard though..

**Kingsley**

I think a Tyrannic War Veteran is actually shown in the Codex as an example Sternguard model.

**Sidstyler**

Exactly, your veterans can still get plenty of use, so it's not really the best example...though I wouldn't doubt that's the worst that a Space Marine player has ever had to endure. "OH NO! There aren't any specific rules for this specific type of veteran with Tyranid bits on him! What the hell do I doooo?!"

The Squat players weep for you.

**kamakazepanda**

personnally i dont mind converting but i would like it if they had something better for the swarmlord like a conversion pack or something

**generalgrog**

So anyway, I haven't seen much in the way of 'step by step" how to's on converting T-fex's, Tervigons, etc.etc..

The GW Swarmlord,T-fex was about the only one that I've seen that was 1/2 way decent looking. (IMO obviously) But they didn't really give a step by step guide(granted the swarmlord was basically a hive tyrant with 4 bone swords)

My search-fu has been quite inadequte in this endevour.

GG

**Aduro**

You should check my thread over in the P&M Blogs, I just finished painting my T-Fex. Granted, it looks nothing like the picture in the codex, because I hate the way it looks in that picture, but still...

**Krellnus**

If you want a relatively easy warrior bonesword conversion check this thread out:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/275833.page#1281649
I personally am pleased that there are so many conversion opportunities in the new codex, my modeling side wants me to start a tyranid army...

**1317**

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2009/10/7/57344_md-Tyranids%2C%20Warhammer%2040%2C000%2C%20Work%20In%20Progress.JPG

Mieotic spore sack £15 from forgeworld, this one sculped from £3.00 milliput and a toothpick on a 40mm base easy converting