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 Skywave wrote:


And for all of you guys talking about old models :

This is a gorgeous army!

Tsagualsa wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
They were crap even when they first came out.

And yes, this is one of the few times I’ve been definitive about relative values on Dakka.

You’ve probably earned a badge.

Their plastic brethren managed to look even worse:

I love these guys! This kit was cool, and rather good for its time. The current plastics are also cool with their modern aesthetics. The metal ones in between… Just no.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Nice!

Also look like they might genuinely scale well with their modern iterations?

I have no actual Exocrine to compare them to, but they are more chunky than regular Tyrannofex or Maleceptor/Toxicrene (those I have)! I based them and needed bigger base to have them fit (thanks to the slug design!), they are on a 170x105mmbase.

Prometheum5 wrote:

 Skywave wrote:


And for all of you guys talking about old models :

This is a gorgeous army!

Thanks! That's only the painted part of my old models, still have some to to, plus a whole swat of models from all edition after that!

 AduroT wrote:

Tsagualsa wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
They were crap even when they first came out.

And yes, this is one of the few times I’ve been definitive about relative values on Dakka.

You’ve probably earned a badge.

Their plastic brethren managed to look even worse:

I love these guys! This kit was cool, and rather good for its time. The current plastics are also cool with their modern aesthetics. The metal ones in between… Just no.

The 3rd edition Tyranid release is a really odd spot for me.
On the one hand it set in stone some elements such as their 6 limbed form. Things that were kind of there in earlier models, but were really reinforced strongly in this release.
It also created some really iconic kits such as hormagaunts, warriors and such that have lasted the test of time really well. Indeed when I look back most of the plastics that came with that release were very solid models.

The metals I almost get a feeling were designed by a different sculptor and have a slightly different take. Not outright bad, but certainly a very different style. I was never a big fan of the beetle carny nor the way they did jaws in that edition of Tyranids. Zoanthropes did really well in that edition design wise and since then they've improved and become more brainy, but still carry that same floaty design.

It was an edition that did a lot of good for Tyranids, but I think that the 4th edition that came after was really the golden age for setting in stone big design changes and plastic models and so forth. Honestly one of the only things I miss from the 3rd edition is that raveners had much longer and more coiled tails, whilst their shift to plastic they became much shorter and almost unbalanced in design. The earlier ones felt much more snake-like and whip-coil; whilst the newer are a bit more "this is the idea of the model but its not really how it is in lore nor how it would funciton; its just easier to sculpt in plastic.

I'd actually welcome new raveners with GW's current plastic casting and cutting design work because we could see a return to long bodies and tails.

Love those old warriors, I have 12 of them.

While it's hard to see in the pics, one of the most fascinating things about the model is you can see the creature's internal organs through its ribs. At the time, that was a really mind-blowing feature, and quite interesting to paint.

 Overread wrote:


It was an edition that did a lot of good for Tyranids, but I think that the 4th edition that came after was really the golden age for setting in stone big design changes and plastic models and so forth. Honestly one of the only things I miss from the 3rd edition is that raveners had much longer and more coiled tails, whilst their shift to plastic they became much shorter and almost unbalanced in design. The earlier ones felt much more snake-like and whip-coil; whilst the newer are a bit more "this is the idea of the model but its not really how it is in lore nor how it would funciton; its just easier to sculpt in plastic.

I'd actually welcome new raveners with GW's current plastic casting and cutting design work because we could see a return to long bodies and tails.

Having built the plastic Raveners recently, I agree with that. I am used to the 3rd edition metal, so I was surprised by how stumpy they look (very short tail) and how much bigger/wider their torso are (compared to Warriors), making then look very top heavy. And that's the regular torso, those with the gun looks even bigger! One of the model is also heavily leaning forward for some reason, like they never learned from the Hormagaunts or something, makes it quite precarious to balance. They are fine models, but I do indeed prefer what they were going for in 3rd, especially the head (very narrow head and a Mawloc/Red Terror style maw that expand when open, very cool!).

 Skywave wrote:

 Overread wrote:


It was an edition that did a lot of good for Tyranids, but I think that the 4th edition that came after was really the golden age for setting in stone big design changes and plastic models and so forth. Honestly one of the only things I miss from the 3rd edition is that raveners had much longer and more coiled tails, whilst their shift to plastic they became much shorter and almost unbalanced in design. The earlier ones felt much more snake-like and whip-coil; whilst the newer are a bit more "this is the idea of the model but its not really how it is in lore nor how it would funciton; its just easier to sculpt in plastic.

I'd actually welcome new raveners with GW's current plastic casting and cutting design work because we could see a return to long bodies and tails.

Having built the plastic Raveners recently, I agree with that. I am used to the 3rd edition metal, so I was surprised by how stumpy they look (very short tail) and how much bigger/wider their torso are (compared to Warriors), making then look very top heavy. And that's the regular torso, those with the gun looks even bigger! One of the model is also heavily leaning forward for some reason, like they never learned from the Hormagaunts or something, makes it quite precarious to balance. They are fine models, but I do indeed prefer what they were going for in 3rd, especially the head (very narrow head and a Mawloc/Red Terror style maw that expand when open, very cool!).

Honestly, I think those should be on bigger bases, as it is they are already in danger of spilling out of their base.

Edit, I think the metal 4th edition ones where the best.

 Altruizine wrote:

Tsagualsa wrote:

As for the 'alien' - DMT machine elves or whatever are all fine and dandy, but let's not forget that this stuff here is intended to be a range of game-pieces first and foremost; 'these are the fast ones', 'these are tough' and 'this one has a huge killy gun' is something that should be legible even if you're not that familiar with the range, and the pieces need to be facile to assemble and paint for the average gamer. That severely limits how alien these aliens can be, and is a necessity for the wider health of the game and the range.

No, I'm fine with that. I don't *want* the models to look alien, I like the 4th through 10th aesthetic, dino-beetles with cleavers and machine pistols growing out of their hands, who throw down with the chainsaw space knights and bodyglove elves that populate the rest of the setting. I just want people to stop describing every detail they enjoy on a Tyranid model "alien" when it's not accurate from an informed POV.

OK, I'm intrigued. Altruizine, can you give some visual examples (from paintings, drawings, comics, movies, whatever source you like, as long as it's visual, not textual) of aliens that you think it's appropriate to describe as alien?

So after another more thorough look through the big Leviathan book there are some very noticeable absences from the Tyranid range that appear in none of the photos.

No Genestealers, not even in the GSC sections.
No Warriors (save the new winged prime)
No Trygon, or Mawloc.
No hormagaunts.
No gargoyles.
No bio/pyrovores.
No Carnifex.

I also spotted a couple of other unknown artwork monsters. A very large looking what could be described as a “fat heirophant” and another picture that matches the one posted yesterday of a much larger hive tyrant looking monster with bigger shoulder pads, this time with some kind of bio cannon. I’d post pics but have no idea how to do it.

New Gargoyles and Trygons I would see as weird as those are relatively new.

Yeah I’d be surprised to see them redone. But they are conspicuous by their absence.

For being the big bad of the edition, good pics of the range are hard to find.

I wonder how much is just “focus on the new kits” and not “don’t leak stuff”

Going to be an interesting bit of time until the codex drops. Or we get more leaks.

Yeah GW has gone hard with not allowing leaks - to be fair about 1 day after they showed the new models in Leviathan there were 3D print versions of them on sale. So yeah I can see GW being as cagey as heck these days.

That said I suspect some of the absent models are just absent through choice rather than because they are getting new kits. Some, eg stealers, could just be as much as "new base size".

We'll have to wait and see how things turn out.

 General Kroll wrote:
So after another more thorough look through the big Leviathan book there are some very noticeable absences from the Tyranid range that appear in none of the photos.

No Genestealers, not even in the GSC sections.
No Warriors (save the new winged prime)
No Trygon, or Mawloc.
No hormagaunts.
No gargoyles.
No bio/pyrovores.
No Carnifex.

I also spotted a couple of other unknown artwork monsters. A very large looking what could be described as a “fat heirophant” and another picture that matches the one posted yesterday of a much larger hive tyrant looking monster with bigger shoulder pads, this time with some kind of bio cannon. I’d post pics but have no idea how to do it.

The prize for the battle of Oghram is listed as having a cash value of £1000 as part of the T&Cs, so I think a lot of people are going to be surprised about how big a range refresh this.

Hormagants + Termagants + Neurogants + Barbgaunts (assuming the later get multi-part kits, potentially with weapon options) would be 4x£30 for £120

Lictors + Pyro + Biovores are probably going to sit at the £40 mark, so perhaps another £120

Warriors are likely a similar price point, with running assault legs or static ranged ones - lets say two kits - £80

Screamer Killers, Thornbacks and regular Carnifex probably sitting at the old dreadnought £40 for one model slot. Perhaps another £120 if Thornbacks are split out like the Screamer Killers are.

Deathleaper is £37.50

Norn Emmisarry sounds like it's a £100 Lord of War set.

Add a £35 codex and £95 start collecting and we're still looking for around £300 worth of kits...

With marines getting supposedly something similar I almost wonder if there's a Thunderhawk on the horizon.
(Codex, dice, combat patrol. Multipart Pyreblasters, Standard and Assault terminators, perhaps veteran/command squad terminators. Terminator chaplain. Updated scouts, updated scout character, scout bikes, scout transport to replace the Storm. Full option ranged dread. Multipart Sternguard, jump pack assault squad, vanguard vets, jump pack captain, Lt, chaplain. One or two more Devastator replacements? £850ish is 20ish £40 sets and that feels like a fairly complete list of marine updates and still feels a fair way off. But this is the nid thread!)

I will say that I just built my first Carnifexes ever. They are from an old collection so I can't speak to the current condition of the molds, but it's a fantastic kit that's still a lot of fun to build and tinker with.

 Stormonu wrote:
Love those old warriors, I have 12 of them.

While it's hard to see in the pics, one of the most fascinating things about the model is you can see the creature's internal organs through its ribs. At the time, that was a really mind-blowing feature, and quite interesting to paint.

I remember this feature, very much ahead of their time in being plastic, multi pose and having that layered structure the
At we are so used to now. Back then they were like nothing else. Especially when compared to the spacemarine scouts you got with them in advanced space crusade. Monopose chunky horrors in comparison. I loved them but could never go on with that game though.

You should see Insectum's legion of OG Tyranid Warriors. They're impressive.

 Sotahullu wrote:
New Gargoyles and Trygons I would see as weird as those are relatively new.

Gargoyles are plain ugly though. With those oversized heads and weapon arms it never was a good kit and should be updated ASAP, relatively new or not.

 Talking Banana wrote:

 Altruizine wrote:

Tsagualsa wrote:

As for the 'alien' - DMT machine elves or whatever are all fine and dandy, but let's not forget that this stuff here is intended to be a range of game-pieces first and foremost; 'these are the fast ones', 'these are tough' and 'this one has a huge killy gun' is something that should be legible even if you're not that familiar with the range, and the pieces need to be facile to assemble and paint for the average gamer. That severely limits how alien these aliens can be, and is a necessity for the wider health of the game and the range.

No, I'm fine with that. I don't *want* the models to look alien, I like the 4th through 10th aesthetic, dino-beetles with cleavers and machine pistols growing out of their hands, who throw down with the chainsaw space knights and bodyglove elves that populate the rest of the setting. I just want people to stop describing every detail they enjoy on a Tyranid model "alien" when it's not accurate from an informed POV.

OK, I'm intrigued. Altruizine, can you give some visual examples (from paintings, drawings, comics, movies, whatever source you like, as long as it's visual, not textual) of aliens that you think it's appropriate to describe as alien?

"Must be visual" kind of makes the exercise self-defeating. However, there are definitely examples of things that come far closer to the descriptor than anything in the Tyranid range (including widely-known artists and some of the direct inspirations for Tyranids). Giger, Esher, Beksinski, the Codex Seraphinius, all sorts of psychedelic art/art people made after an psilocybin/LSD/DMT experience.

Where did those pods come from?

They are carnifex heads

 Tyran wrote:
They are carnifex heads

One on the left is partially from OOE if I see it correctly?

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
You should see Insectum's legion of OG Tyranid Warriors. They're impressive.

I have been summoned. I LOVE those old Warriors! I have 70-80 painted, and more to go, still. The dream is to make a "Battle Company" of Tyranid Warriors to face off against my Company of Marines. . .

 Skywave wrote:


And for all of you guys talking about old models :

That's a gorgeous army! I'd still like to either find one of those old Exocrines, or sculpt something similar up to print.

That army is a testament to how ahead of their time those old nids were. They still look the part with a lovely paint job on them, even next to their modern cousins. Bravo.

 Insectum7 wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
You should see Insectum's legion of OG Tyranid Warriors. They're impressive.

I have been summoned. I LOVE those old Warriors! I have 70-80 painted, and more to go, still. The dream is to make a "Battle Company" of Tyranid Warriors to face off against my Company of Marines. . .

Spoiler:

 Skywave wrote:


And for all of you guys talking about old models :

That's a gorgeous army! I'd still like to either find one of those old Exocrines, or sculpt something similar up to print.

Good Lord! I feel for the IG army that is about to be consumed by this swarm.

 Insectum7 wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
You should see Insectum's legion of OG Tyranid Warriors. They're impressive.

I have been summoned. I LOVE those old Warriors! I have 70-80 painted, and more to go, still. The dream is to make a "Battle Company" of Tyranid Warriors to face off against my Company of Marines. . .

Spoiler:

 Skywave wrote:


And for all of you guys talking about old models :

That's a gorgeous army! I'd still like to either find one of those old Exocrines, or sculpt something similar up to print.

I love your army! I remember seeing some of the progress on the "all Warriors army you had going on Quite a feat to have that many, and well painted! My measly 15-or-so old Warriors look quite insufficient compared to the force you have

And thanks for the kind words! I waited for deals on eBay to grab those Armorcast, so it was just a matter of being patient!

I think I'm the only one who likes the metal warriors and 3e Grinfex.

Three Gaunts into the Leviathan box, these things go together like a DREAM. Also portioned up into nice 3/4 models to a sprue which gives me an excuse to stop for a cuppa 😂

For anyone who's yet to build them: When doing the Reapers, put both legs on first, then the smaller claws, then the big ones.

It's much easier to fully push the legs into place without the smaller claws preventing you from gripping things properly.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
For anyone who's yet to build them: When doing the Reapers, put both legs on first, then the smaller claws, then the big ones.

It's much easier to fully push the legs into place without the smaller claws preventing you from gripping things properly.

And even simpler with those kits is to cut off the pegs and use glue thus limiting the gaps