Space Marine Tactical Squad - what are these holes in the backpacks?

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**Oriphus**

I have the space marine battleforce, and I noticed in the sprues for the tactical squads there's 2 backpacks per sprue that have holes in the back where normally you'd see a skull or a vent. What is this hole for? Is something supposed to go in it? Is it supposed to be covered? I don't seem to have any pieces that would go in the holes and I can't find any examples of what it's supposed to look like in the end.

Thanks in advance,
Oriphus

**MechaEmperor7000**

you'll have to give us a pic because I cant seem to recall ever seeing a piece like that o.0 Maybe you got a bad cast.

**Blitza da warboy**

This happened to me once with an aussalt squad but not with a tactical squad. I assume its a manufactoring error.

**Luco**

Does it go clear through it? They have little holes in the top portion but nothing should go through entirely. Pics would help determine if its an error though.

**cadbren**

There's only three types I recall, the skull, the vent, and the blank one.
Sounds like a casting error if the blank ones have holes in them, I came across four sprues once from two different boxes that all had the same piece missing on them.

**romeo.lima**

I've had the same problem. I just covered them up with purity seals and various other bitz.

**chromedog**

A few tactical squad boxes have had this issue.
It's a bad production batch. Not enough plastic was injected into the mould for that run (each time).

Take the box and the sprue back to a GW (or otherwise get in touch with them) and you will probably get fresh ones.

**Ma55ter_fett**

I've had this happen, I just cover them with random BT icons.

**Oriphus**

Is there any sort of putty or filler I can just stuff in the hole and then file down? Or I suppose I can use the spare packs from my assult squad that I didn't use and use those instead. Still kind of stinks! I have 8 packs with holes in total.

**Gunzhard**

Blitza da warboy wrote:This happened to me once with an aussalt squad but not with a tactical squad. I assume its a manufactoring error.

This is exactly what happened to me, with 2 assault squads. I called GW and they sent me 2 sets of backpacks.

**porkuslime**

ditto. I got a box of tacticals that had both sets of packs with the dual holes.. called em up, and they sent me 10 more backpacks..

It would have been NICE to get a new tactical squad, though.. lol

**Oriphus**

I might try calling GW and see what they say. Would I have needed to have purchased the battleforce on their website? I don't think I have my receipt, as it's been about 8 months.

Oriphus

**stompydakka**

Oriphus wrote:Is there any sort of putty or filler I can just stuff in the hole and then file down? Or I suppose I can use the spare packs from my assult squad that I didn't use and use those instead. Still kind of stinks! I have 8 packs with holes in total.

use Green Stuff.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Green stuff is the go-to fixit for modeling.

**Oriphus**

Here's a photo for those interested. What's odd is the holes in the pack look perfect - like they were intentional.

**winterdyne**

That's a casting fault.

**Fosner1703**

lol, Never seen that before.

**Battle Brother Lucifer**

Happens to me every tac squad box

**Draglide12**

I believe the problem is a casting error but the holes are semi-intentional. You can buy boxes of 3 tac marines that have holes like that for a glue free secure to the marine. AOBR uses this too so i believe all of the moulds simply share the same cast and sometimes the holes don't get filled.

**Oriphus**

battle Brother Lucifer wrote:Happens to me every tac squad box

So do you get new packs from GW or just improvise? I'm anxious to put my minis together and I'm willing to spend $10 on "green stuff" if A) I can find it locally and B) it will do the job. Otherwise I'll call GW but I'm not sure if they need a proof of purchase or not.

Thank you EVERYONE for your comments and help on this!

**Draglide12**

Seems like a common enough problem that GW wouldn't give you much grief (if any) about sending you replacment packs. The place where you buy your minis probably sells green stuff as well. If you're desperate to get them done quickly then glue will actually fill the holes pretty well if you're careful. I also had some like this but I never bothered fixing them because it was only 2 and after i painted them you couldn't tell.

**The Ghoma**

The tactical box comes with a ton of bits. Simply use something to cover it up, like a purity seal, an ammo pouch, ect.

**Emperors_Champion**

They are just sink holes, as already stated its rare but GW are more than aware it happens, so much so that the issue of sink holes is addressed in their "How to" books.

Its no big conspiracy or anything, just drop them an e-mail and I'm sure they'll send you replacements. Either that or just fill them or cover them.

**cadbren**

For squads with a missile launcher, I'd cover the hole with those three missiles bundled together. Either give the pack to the marine with the ML or give to another marine in the squad to represent a marine carrying extra ammo for the ML.

**Draglide12**

Just politely ask for more from GW and you'll be obliged. Hopefully if enough people tell them the problem will be fixed.

**Oriphus**

Thanks all - much appreciated. I'll work on my scouts first and try to contact GW and see if they'll make it right. Sounds like they'd rather send out $.10 worth of plactic as opposed to losing a customer that dumps all his money on their wares.

**TQSplinter**

Iv'e had experience with GW before and theyre really understanding about things if its genuinely their fault

**MechaEmperor7000**

That hole is not suppose to be there. Ring them up and they will send you new packs. I once got 24 berserkers, all of which had exploded backpacks (i.e: it looks like someone shoved dynamite into the moulds and blew them up before casting my pieces) and all of them looked uniformed. I ringed up GW and got 24 new replacements in 3 days, no fuss or questions asked.

On a semi-related note, I bought Settra once and was missing the cape. Apparently someone in GW filled out the wrong form, because when the replacement came in the mail a week later, I got a whole new Settra model, chariot and all! And the original model I bought was also on sale for only 20 bucks (normally 50 CAD) so I effectively got 2 settras for less than a quarter of the price.