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So, somebody just told me that AoBR marines look a little different than if you buy marines from the regular boxes. I'm not just talking about that they put together with fewer pieces, but apparently the actual minis are slightly off, like the heads are a little different size, and some of the proportions are a little different. Not noticeable from a distance, but when you look at them right next to each other, it's kind of obvious. Doubting this, I asked someone who I know has AoBR orks in an army that includes other boyz models, but he wasn't sure about this.

Are AoBR minis actually slightly different? Can someone post a picture of like two marines next to each other or something?

Different as in not as good imo.

Not as good because they are two piece minis? Good for beginners?

Calm down guys. When it comes to fillng spaces in a Space Marine army, they are fine.

I don't care about their simplicity of construction, I care here how much the same they look. If you put a AoBR marine next to a non-AoBR marine, could you tell they were from two different kits?

I'm sure the same applies to orks, but it would probably be a little tougher to tell, given the lack of uniformity in ork armies in general.

As they're single-piece figures, from the sides they've got all that entails... that is, the guns' width stretches so it merges with the chest all over, the shoulders are a bit weirdly shaped... They look fine but I'd go to a 50/50 ratio at the most of tactical squad marines vs AoBR guys.

They've got a bit more personality than regular marines, in my opinion. Lots of gubbins like satchels and seals that I see quite a few players leave off their marines.

Some of them look quite different

For example the flamer armed one I think has a completely different head not seen on any other space marine kit

But hey marines are marines imo. not all space marines are 100% carbon copies of each other. Even the ones from back then are nearly the same size as today (cept for terminators )

They're fractionally smaller than the multi-part models, and the poses (specifically the cocked heads) tend to be a bit of a giveaway when you're trying to spot them on the table... but once they're painted and on the table, they really don't look a great deal different, and if you mix them in with the regular guys they fit in fine.

I like them, personally.
Like it had been mentioned, they have some personality, some have older helmet designs, nice tactical marking shoulder pads(love those!).

I would not make an army made up from too many of them, but they definitely bring out some variety to the squad. Plus they still leave room for some coversions.

Absolutely awful. If you stand a squad next to a normal squad they look odd. They are a throwback to the days of all figs looking the same. But as a starter set for younger beginners AOBR is great. But that's what it is. That's why eBay's full of AOBR. IMO.

They look fine when mixed with other marines.

But personally, I'll never buy them (except for the ML guy, maybe). They look too... static for me, and it irks me when my marines have the same pose as everyone else's.

The only reason why you'd be able to tell them as markedly different are some of the iconography (they have this sort of cross/star with a skull on it, only in the AoBR box) the tactical arrows on their shoulders (available as separate metal pads as well, but uncommon) and their fairly static poses.

You can't actually tell them apart from other SM except that EVERYONE knows what they look like. Dimensionally they are the same.

they have some different details like helmets and greaves... but you cant pose them like you can with a regular tactical SM

3/4ths of these posts are all opinions.

Here are some FACTS:

AoBR minatures are all the same size as others. I've cut up the boyz and the nobz to rekit them with weapons, and arms from the boyz set and the nobz set both match perfectly.

My friend modded the dreadnaught arms onto his dreadnaught, and he uses aobr marines in his army. I can spot them, but that's ONLY due to the fact they look MORE DETAILED than the average marine. And even that is stretching it, usually I'm not eyeballing his army. He has no idea which boyz i've converted, unless he looks on the base for the plastic line.

Opinion:
The AoBR marines are some of the best, and the entire AoBR set is the best quality starter set GW has ever released. Buy it if you have any interest in either army. You're doing yourself a disservice by listening to other people's opinions without considering your own though.

My take on them: they're good enough to even pass as Space Wolves after filing the tactical arrow on the pauldron and add some wolf bits.

If they can achieve that, they can mix well in any marine army xD

A picture is better than a thousand words. ^^

In this photo, can you (=Ailaros) tell me wich marines come from AoBR at first sight ?
Make your own opinion, because everyone here will have his own mind.

They were very easy to pick out...the poses are static and horrible...but they do make good unit fillers

Static poses? I don't understand.
Unless you begin to chop up regular marine kit they all will look as "marine holding a bolter with both hands" standard pose.

I have no idea where the notion of variety is coming from. Conversion is a different matter entirely.

They're static poses because they're looking directly forward with their Bolter across their chest horizontally. They're also standing up straight rather than having their torsos twisted into a different direction.

I only see the Rocket kit and 2 Tac from AoBR. the shoulder Tac simple is the only give away and I use the AoBR marines.

They are the ones that look like they are statues. As far as unit fillers go, just buy regular marines at least you'll be able to sell them on if you want to.
No ones mentioned the dreadnought. What a piece of junk. IMO.

Ciaphas wrote: No ones mentioned the dreadnought. What a piece of junk.

How so? Sure it's not as detailed as the regular kit, but as with the marines, once it's painted and on the table, unless you look closely it doesn't really stand out.

Yeah, the only problem I have with the dreandought is that you can't turn the torso. It's a solid model, especially for how few pieces it comes in.

AoBR Marines are:

- Slightly short, something around 1mm, maybe less;
- Very static pose, always with the bolter crossing in front of the chest, and looking forward;
- Full of small details like grenades, purity seals and extras, all into the original sculpt;

In my opinion they are great for rank and file guys, specially if painted properly and mixed with multi part marines. I dont like the seargent and the flamer guy, but the missile launcher is great as are the bolter guys.

Use them without fear to bulk up your troops

Augustine wrote:Static poses? I don't understand.
Unless you begin to chop up regular marine kit they all will look as "marine holding a bolter with both hands" standard pose.

I have no idea where the notion of variety is coming from. Conversion is a different matter entirely.

Give me a hobby knife and a tac squad box, and not even adding bits from other kits I could make them at least 50% more dynamic than their AoBR counterparts. That's not even considered a "conversion", just variety in the way you can assemble them.

Consider my horrible first minis, all from the tac squad box:


Oh god they ARE ugly.

Also this:



Guy on the left holding a meltagun is purely from the tac squad box set, and the guy with the dropped ML too (except for the "ML" that is really a HK missile). They just need a bit of torso-twisting and imagination.

That said, I think they're good unit-fillers and they do look great, but personally I have a problem with everyone else having the same-looking minis, and shaving off the Tac Squad arrow is not worth the time or effort. They're harder to convert and customize, though it is not impossible.

Rifos wrote:They've got a bit more personality than regular marines, in my opinion. Lots of gubbins like satchels and seals that I see quite a few players leave off their marines.

Why do so many marines leave the pouches off? You get so much cool stuff with the kits I don't see why you'd leave them off. I don't see chaos marines being very "oh we need to prepare for battle with pouches" kind of guys, but for space marines and guardsmen it appeals to the army theme for me.

It creates more painting time and effort, and can make the marines look too...busy...as if there is too much on the model for it to look realistic in any way.

Y'know that big Space marine company picture they have in the codex?
I used to play
"Spot the AOBR mini"
I got quite a bit. They are easy to pick out.
I only use my squad when im taking 3 tact, which it rare unless im using them for defending, and i only use the missile launcher when im running all missile devastators.
Terminators are nice though.

I am more concerned with playing the game than painting so I source these as much as I can from bits shops.

I think there great , dont give a hoot about the posing , I can undercoat , coat and wash about 10 in about 40 mins , pick out the details and I am flying.

For a starter , thats cool , but I am more about the game.

I dont use them for character or elites, but I dont see any issue in using an entire army of them.