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I was having a sort through my bits box earlier, and noticed something, well, two points actually!

Firstly, GW supply plenty of spares in most boxes, torsos, arms, heads, but only ever enough legs to buold the number of models on the box! Now, GW being the big, money making machine that they are, could....wait for it......sell legs! They do it with weapons, they do it with other spares, so why not legs? Between £7-£10 for 5 sets of legs....bargain! I'd be up for that, I have enough spares to make a good 15-20 extra marines!

Also, I found in my spares box, I have twice the number of right arms, as I do left arms spare, now I know I don't have any "one armed" marines, so what does this mean? Are GW prejudiced against lefties? Are all marines predominantly right handed (hence more options)?

Any one else notice this with the arms?

At one point I seem to recall it was torso backs holding me back from making more marines, but it's defiantly legs these days. For the most part, it hasn't been that far out of balance. Although the box of assault marines I just picked up had twice as many bodies as legs.

The sprue with the kneeling legs (I know the dev and command squad box uses it) is supposed to make 5 guys, so if you have the spare torso, it's an extra guy.

My right arm slot in my bits box is slightly fuller then the left, so will back you up on that. By fluff, I think marines can use either hand interchangeably well. But in general, most things are set up for right handed use. Probably because most artists and sculptors are going to be right handed, and draw/work with what they know.

I know what you mean about the legs, nothing more irritating for a converter than having enough parts to build most of a marine. However, keep an eye on ebay, as leg sets come up quite frequently there, usually in the region of £5+p&p, which is not bad when you consider the use you can get from them with all the spare torsos you have. I believe the ASM box gives you 5 complete torsos, as it shares a sprue with the now-old tac box, and the dev/command squad gives you a spare set, so you can get 1 extra marine every time you buy one of each of those. Another option is to pick up the snap-fit marines (AOBR or the set of 3) and saw them in half, this is not easy but can give good results. Ebay is your best bet, though.

As for arms, there are usually less left as most of the 'options' for the left (really just the scanner/bolter at rest as I can recall) just go in the normal bolter arms, and most marine models are right-handed, so need more options for that hand. I actually wish they would do some left-handed bolter arms, I made a leftie sternguard once and it looked awesome (sadly, I lost it and have no idea how), as marines are ambidextrous fluff-wise.

There has to be something in the box that limits the amount of Marines constructed to the number pictured on the box.

If they have extra legs in the box, and extra torsos, and extra arms, they're just selling a box with 11 or 12 Space Marines, not 10.

True, I see why they limit what you get in the box, but think of the number of people that have spares, who they could generate more money from by selling legs?

 Paradigm wrote:
I made a leftie sternguard once and it looked awesome (sadly, I lost it and have no idea how), as marines are ambidextrous fluff-wise.

He probably got killed.

Statistics prove that lefties get killed far more often in wars, so much so they actually skew the longevity statistics. I read fairly recently that, altho demographic records indicated lefties died younger, much of the discrepancy was accounted for by wartime casualties, presumably from WW2, who were significantly more likely to die, prob because all the equipment is designed primarily for right-handed peeps.

(Yes, I"m a southpaw)

Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:

 Paradigm wrote:
I made a leftie sternguard once and it looked awesome (sadly, I lost it and have no idea how), as marines are ambidextrous fluff-wise.

He probably got killed.

Statistics prove that lefties get killed far more often in wars, so much so they actually skew the longevity statistics. I read fairly recently that, altho demographic records indicated lefties died younger, much of the discrepancy was accounted for by wartime casualties, presumably from WW2, who were significantly more likely to die, prob because all the equipment is designed primarily for right-handed peeps.

(Yes, I"m a southpaw)

I don't think he ever saw a game, I took him to show to some mates and lost him on the way back... And you're right about us lefties being statistically more likely to die. One of the most prevalent reasons is that early rifles were designed to eject the spent cartridge away from the right-hander, and a significant number of lefties were killed in the early First World War from being hit by their own ejecting rounds. Awkward way to go, to say the least. /random information.

The back packs are limiting as well if I remember correctly.

I don't disagree with you that GW would seem to make more money if they sell bits for all weapons and legs. However, perhaps they see the bit sellers as easier to deal with than having a separate bit business. They sell whole squads in bulk and make a profit on the whole box, versus having to have an automated bit sorter.

I've noticed that my SW sprues make quite a bit more lefties than my SM ones. In other news: Looking at my current project (5 sternguard) I've got 3 right handed with bolters, 1 left handed with plasma, 1 left handed with bolter/PS

Beard wrote:
True, I see why they limit what you get in the box, but think of the number of people that have spares, who they could generate more money from by selling legs?

Needing more legs is what forces you to buy more complete boxes.

and a significant number of lefties were killed in the early First World War from being hit by their own ejecting rounds. Awkward way to go, to say the least. /random information

I'm trying to see how that's possible, as an ejecting cartridge is hardly at lethal velocity and, sure, it's hot but it's not, like, plasmatic. Unless they were holding the weapon wrong and ejecting the round from the muzzle into their face. That can get pretty terminal pretty quick.

 Psienesis wrote:

and a significant number of lefties were killed in the early First World War from being hit by their own ejecting rounds. Awkward way to go, to say the least. /random information

I'm trying to see how that's possible, as an ejecting cartridge is hardly at lethal velocity and, sure, it's hot but it's not, like, plasmatic. Unless they were holding the weapon wrong and ejecting the round from the muzzle into their face. That can get pretty terminal pretty quick.

I think it was due to being hit in the eye and similar from holding the gun in the 'wrong' hand, and I imagine poor training may have played a part. The gun was designed to eject over the right shoulder of a right hander, so for a leftie it goes the same way but can hit them in the head if not careful. That said, I have very little practical experience when it comes to shooting, so I may be entirely wrong on how it happened, but I'm pretty sure on the fact itself.

While no rifleman, I did shoot a bolt-action .22 at summer camp a number of years ago as a lefty. Working the bolt was awkward at best. Not from getting hit by spent brass, but shifting position and fumbling with it. I can imagine how rough that would be while under fire, or trying to correct my aim between shots.

To try to bring this slightly back on topic, I think most bolters are designed for ambidextrous fire. I know I've kitbashed a number of lefites in my forces. A few even use one in each hand.

 Paradigm wrote:

Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:

 Paradigm wrote:
I made a leftie sternguard once and it looked awesome (sadly, I lost it and have no idea how), as marines are ambidextrous fluff-wise.

He probably got killed.

Statistics prove that lefties get killed far more often in wars, so much so they actually skew the longevity statistics. I read fairly recently that, altho demographic records indicated lefties died younger, much of the discrepancy was accounted for by wartime casualties, presumably from WW2, who were significantly more likely to die, prob because all the equipment is designed primarily for right-handed peeps.

(Yes, I"m a southpaw)

I don't think he ever saw a game, I took him to show to some mates and lost him on the way back... And you're right about us lefties being statistically more likely to die. One of the most prevalent reasons is that early rifles were designed to eject the spent cartridge away from the right-hander, and a significant number of lefties were killed in the early First World War from being hit by their own ejecting rounds. Awkward way to go, to say the least. /random information.

Having fired both ww2 and modern weapons I can't see how you die directly from a spent cartridge, how ever hot they maybe, as I've had a fews friend eject rounds down my collar, they are far from lethal. I think it's more likly to be due to weapons jams, distraction and general awkwardness that would get them shot when they needed to be the one doing the shooting.

On topic I've snipped plenty of legs down the middle and made extra bionics to strap on to make them go further, it's one of the things I buy a few of from bitz shops now and then.

 Zognob Gorgoff wrote:

Having fired both ww2 and modern weapons I can't see how you die directly from a spent cartridge, how ever hot they maybe, as I've had a fews friend eject rounds down my collar, they are far from lethal. I think it's more likly to be due to weapons jams, distraction and general awkwardness that would get them shot when they needed to be the one doing the shooting.

On topic I've snipped plenty of legs down the middle and made extra bionics to strap on to make them go further, it's one of the things I buy a few of from bitz shops now and then.

From what I read (I had a quick google, couldn't find recent references) it was indeed that; simply being less efficient, and slower, will have a statistically significant effect.

Anyway, this thread has reminded me that we have at least five Ork torsos we can use - slugger in the left hand, converted big shoota in the right. And some vice versa...now to find some legs...

I'm throwing the flag on people being killed by ejected shell casings.

I've been struck, more times than I can count, by ejected shell casings. The worst thing that happened to me was a flash burn when one got caught in my chin strap and it was so cold that my face was numb and I didn't feel it burning me at first.

If we're talking WWI, then we're talking about bolt action rifles, which are only ejecting casings with the force that the human arm can pull the bolt back with. And it's an object weighing around 180 grams, at most. How much energy is that possibly going to transfer upon striking a person?

Tell this too my fire warriors.

always extra leg bits, bajilion arms but only enough torso and backpacks for 12 fire warriors. (the sprue comes with 4 bodies each but 5 legs if i recall.

It's totally on purpose. Just like how almost all the marines are right handed. Not all, just most.

For me, I need marine backs. Not the back packs ( I have MORE than enough of those ) - the actual back pieces. They only ship 10 of those. I tried combining two fronts once... Wasn't pretty. Ended up turning that into a chaos guy.

Of course GW could sell extra legs and backs. But they won't. For them its better to get you to buy another tac squad then just parts.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:
I'm throwing the flag on people being killed by ejected shell casings.

I've been struck, more times than I can count, by ejected shell casings. The worst thing that happened to me was a flash burn when one got caught in my chin strap and it was so cold that my face was numb and I didn't feel it burning me at first.

If we're talking WWI, then we're talking about bolt action rifles, which are only ejecting casings with the force that the human arm can pull the bolt back with. And it's an object weighing around 180 grams, at most. How much energy is that possibly going to transfer upon striking a person?

you were not hit by this :p


Anyway i use 3th suppliers for legs and arms on another note, i have a zillion chestpieces but not back for it.

Note: tau are limited by torsos, guard by legs, if you collect both, you can make a nice little crossover force from your bits box (plenty spare guard heads and lasgun arms too)

it depends on the race as to what theyre missing, but i think it is usually legs. I know Tau are one of the few oddballs that are short on torsos.

Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:

 Paradigm wrote:
I made a leftie sternguard once and it looked awesome (sadly, I lost it and have no idea how), as marines are ambidextrous fluff-wise.

He probably got killed.

Statistics prove that lefties get killed far more often in wars, so much so they actually skew the longevity statistics. I read fairly recently that, altho demographic records indicated lefties died younger, much of the discrepancy was accounted for by wartime casualties, presumably from WW2, who were significantly more likely to die, prob because all the equipment is designed primarily for right-handed peeps.

(Yes, I"m a southpaw)

I know a leftie who fired a right-handed SA80, and the bolt moved back when he fired (as it does) and knocked his tooth out...

Why was he biting the receiver?