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I'm wanting to get into 30K on the cheap, a lot of us are just going to run their marine armies, however since I like one I'll have to buy in. Now I know forgeworld is expensive so that is out, but I thought what about the normal tac box. My question that I cannot answer is how much of that box is old enough? By that I mean how many of the bits would be useable for the horus heresy era?

The Tactical Squad box has the bits to make maybe 3-4 HH-era armour-accurate Marines as it is, maybe more if you can convert things like Knee/Shoulder Pads to the approriate Marks.

Odd as it sounds, by the time you have enough parts to do 30k Marines properly from the Tactical Squad box, you'll end up spending more than you would on the comparative Forge World minis.

The best option for saving some cash on HH minis is to check out Kromlech's Legionnaire stuff and Anvil's Exo-Lords line. While they'll still run you about £20 for a squad of 5, about the same as FW, that does at least include guns for the squad and shipping may well be cheaper as well. It's not perfect, but it's more cost-effective that trying to convert from plastics.

Do you have links? EDIT: Specifically as to what for which mk of armor.

Anvil:
http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/Exo-Lords

Kromlech:
http://bitsofwar.com/18-superhumans

And for reference, here's what a 'HH' Marine can look like built from Anvil parts:


EDIT: Just saw you're looking for specific Marks.

For MkIII, which is the easiest to do (not that it'll be spot-on, but close enough as makes no odds)

Legs:
http://bitsofwar.com/home/62-space-legionary-legs.html
http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/Exo-Lords/Medieval-Running-Legs
Torso:
http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/Exo-Lords/Torsos-and-Power-Plants/Medieval-Torso

Arms:
http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/Exo-Lords/Arms-and-Bionics/Medieval-Rifle-Arms


Heads:
http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/Exo-Lords/Heads-helmets-crests/Grill-Heads

Power Packs:
http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/Exo-Lords/Torsos-and-Power-Plants/Compact-Fusion-Plant

I feel for iron warriors the csm box kit bashed with the fw marines works better. Most of the Armour in the box looks like mkv heresy Armour. But getting size 5 and 8 studs from tinky train group you can easily add the correct studs to make all of it unmistakably heresy Armour.

The csm backpacks are correct for 30k as their depicted in the hh books.

adding studs to modren Armour is a easy way to convert heresy Armour. But the modren backpack isn't quite right. Check out my gallery for ideas.

Another option for the studs is nail art beads, they are dirt cheap.

Rumour is that GW in the next few months are going to release some Horus Heresy plastics (i.e. a mix of armour types), so best holding fire until then tbh.

I've heard that suggestions for April/May are likely releases.

That said, Anvil Industries are pretty good third party wise. I've used their squad upgrades for my Forgeworld Iron Armour units in the past and they don't look bad.

Eustace_Wooster wrote:
Rumour is that GW in the next few months are going to release some Horus Heresy plastics (i.e. a mix of armour types), so best holding fire until then tbh.

I've heard that suggestions for April/May are likely releases.

That said, Anvil Industries are pretty good third party wise. I've used their squad upgrades for my Forgeworld Iron Armour units in the past and they don't look bad.

Honestly I was going to wait till about then anyways before I started, just wanted a backup plan in case that rumor proves false.