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So I recently got 2 Eldar Hornet and am putting them together. I am not sure if I like the side fins/wings that they come with.
Part of me likes them, but part of me thinks they don't look very "Eldar" as every other Eldar, Dark Eldar and Harlquin skimmer hull is mostly 1 piece.

So here is why I am posting this in YMDC: Are the fins part of the Hull of the Hornet, or are they optional?

Hornets only have 2 HPs at AV11, so clearly not meant to be very big, yet the side fins add a bit of volume to the model. If you have never seen one in person, they are closer in size to a Grav tank than a Vyper or Venom. If I could do without the fins they would be more size-appropriate to their rules. I just don't want to leave off the fins and be considered "modeling for advantage"

 Galef wrote:
So I recently got 2 Eldar Hornet and am putting them together. I am not sure if I like the side fins/wings that they come with.
Part of me likes them, but part of me thinks they don't look very "Eldar" as every other Eldar, Dark Eldar and Harlquin skimmer hull is mostly 1 piece.

So here is why I am posting this in YMDC: Are the fins part of the Hull of the Hornet, or are they optional?

Hornets only have 2 HPs at AV11, so clearly not meant to be very big, yet the side fins add a bit of volume to the model. If you have never seen one in person, they are closer in size to a Grav tank than a Vyper or Venom. If I could do without the fins they would be more size-appropriate to their rules. I just don't want to leave off the fins and be considered "modeling for advantage"

You should probably just ask the people you play with regularly. I wouldn't care, but I know plenty of people who would. I'm inclined to think they'd be considered part of the hull in the same way that any other vehicle's wings are considered part of the hull.

Is it possible to magnetise them? That seems like it would solve the issue.

I agree with Kriswall. It depends on your groups views because some people would be fine some would call MFA.

I wouldn't take issue with it.

Although mine don't have the fins - I thought they didn't match the lines of the rest of the vehicle.

Yeah, at best I can just leave them off, but still paint them. They assemble via peg-n-slot, so I probably wouldn't even need to magnetize them. I can even trim down the peg so that the fins are more flush against the rest of the hull (instead of hanging about 1cm out)

I was going to try an use the fins for converting other models, but since I can't think of any projects right now, I'll just leave the option to keep them on or not. Most people in my area don't even know what a Hornet looks like, so this may be a none issue for me. But I'll keep the fins for the Hornets for tourneys, just in case

Thanks for the feedback guys!!

--

When the Hornet kit was first made, those things were listed as the parts for Vectored Engines.

Consequently, I didn't put them on any of my Hornets.

I'm certainly not going to change them all just because they seem to be part of the standard model now.

I feel this is no different than leaving models on their original bases.

They look like Hull to me.

They don't look like they protrude enough to make it look like you're modeling for advantage. You've got the go from me, because I agree those weird fin things are hideous.

Does it really matter either way? The fins are so tiny that I think you'd have a hard time making any argument that omitting them is giving you any meaningful advantage. It might not be allowed by the strictest interpretation of RAW, but on the scale of conversions it's pretty minor.

Yes, for reference the Hornet with fins looks like this:



I think in almost every instance where line of sight could be drawn to the fins it could also be drawn to the tail, so it should make almost zero to no difference whatsoever.

Like this?

I didn't use them as I didn't like the aesthetic as well as ease of breakage during transport. I never had an issue with anyone and I can't think of a time that the fins created such a difference for LOS.

 Massaen wrote:


Like this?

As the picture shows, the fins are purely cosmetic, and their presence, or lack, has no affect on how it plays.

 Bookwrack wrote:

 Massaen wrote:


Like this?

As the picture shows, the fins are purely cosmetic, and their presence, or lack, has no affect on how it plays.

No effect? Looks like you'd need an extra inch or two on your charge if you're coming from the direction of a fin... or an extra inch or two of range if you're shooting from the direction of a fin.

It's not a huge effect and may not impact an average game, but there IS an effect. You're making the vehicle smaller, and that always has a potential impact.

Well, you've clearly never seen a Hornet if you think that fin is 2 inches wider than the body is.

And I reiterate, those fins were originally listed as a vehicle upgrade part. WYSIWYG actually meant not putting them on.

 DarknessEternal wrote:
Well, you've clearly never seen a Hornet if you think that fin is 2 inches wider than the body is.

And I reiterate, those fins were originally listed as a vehicle upgrade part. WYSIWYG actually meant not putting them on.

You know, I misunderstood your original post when you mentioned Vectored engines. I was thinking Star Engines, which they some with standard. If that is the case, then I will not be putting them on then. Thanks!

Now what should I use those fins for now.......?

Why not cut the connecting rod and glue the fins directly to the body. A little bit of greenstuff to smooth it out and you now have the fins but they just look like part of the airframe rather than add-ons.

 DarknessEternal wrote:
Well, you've clearly never seen a Hornet if you think that fin is 2 inches wider than the body is.

And I reiterate, those fins were originally listed as a vehicle upgrade part. WYSIWYG actually meant not putting them on.

There is a currently available, current edition listing from GW that tells us this part is optional and represents an optional upgrade? I must have missed that in the most recent Army List Entry for the Hornet.

Using what was legal in a prior edition or out of date publication isn't really compelling for a discussion about the state of things today.

Also, maybe I was off a little by saying 2 inches. Maybe it's an inch. Maybe it's half an inch. It's definitely greater than zero. It's a rules impact, however small.

HIWPI... who cares? I've never actually seen one of these on the table and am never likely to. I have enough conversions in my army that it would be crazy to begrudge somebody else one. The discussion above is about RaW and not HIWPI.

The fins do add about 1" to the model on each side, But as this model is a fast skimmer with a weaker rear AV and 48" ranged hull mounted guns, it is very likely that the part of the model with (or without) the fins would be facing the enemy.

Worse case scenario, something does manage to get at that specific angle relative to the Hornet, I'll have no issue adding that extra 1" to any enemy range or charge distance if it matters

I would be fine playing you with them left off. In fact had you not pointed it out I wouldn't have even realized they were a thing.

Plus there have been conversions with much more drastic changes that are legal (like a squat Riptide or a running Wraithknight) so I don't see many people having an issue with this.

I'm happy to report that my local group wouldn't remotely care about concerns of this sort.

I wouldn't even notice they were missing and if you were kind enough to point out that the fins are supposed to be there but you haven't modelled them on because you don't like the look/lost the bits/stuck them up your nose I would thank you politely and tell you I don't mind at all. You would get major cool-player-bonus-points after this if you added whatever the length of the fins are to any charges or shots that would be measured to that part of the vehicles hull, but in my mind that isn't really necessary.