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The galaxy is vast, and you'd think somewhere at least some old out of the way planets or forgeworlds would still be producing older versions of armor, perhaps because lack of contact, or something. My question is, is there any reason why older versions of armor aren't produced, and are they still being produced in some limited capacity?

Generally older marks are phased out e.g. some marks had overheating issues, mark III was very cumbersome due to the frontal extra ablative armour, etc. But no reason why they would not still be produced depending on STC patterns available to the relevant production facility.

I think mark V is no longer produced as this was a stop-gap mark produced during the Heresy out of sub-standard components and hasty need to replenish losses.

 NoiseMarine with Tinnitus wrote:
Generally older marks are phased out e.g. some marks had overheating issues, mark III was very cumbersome due to the frontal extra ablative armour, etc. But no reason why they would not still be produced depending on STC patterns available to the relevant production facility.

I think mark V is no longer produced as this was a stop-gap mark produced during the Heresy out of sub-standard components and hasty need to replenish losses.

You are correct about the Mk V, it wasn't officially designated a Mark until after the Heresy (the Corvus Armour was originally named the Mark V during production, only retroactively named the Mk6 after the contribution of the Heresy suits was formally recognised and named a mark). You are also right in that they are no longer produced, and in fact, due to being, in nature, a collection of spare parts (think Fallout 4 PA with various sections of different marks), they were pretty much all broken up to be used as repair parts, with only a few suits remaining as ceremonial or dress attire.

 NoiseMarine with Tinnitus wrote:
But no reason why they would not still be produced depending on STC patterns available to the relevant production facility.

If a Forgeworld has the patterns, sure, but seeing as the VII and VIII are supposed to be the streamlined easy-to-make versions it's probably only when there's a specific reason to build older versions. A Chapter owed a few favors (or offering a few favors) would surely have their request for such a thing taken seriously - a Mk IV or VI suit (or parts for older ones) may be more expensive and work intensive than throwing more Mk VII at them, but easier than giving them a new Landraider or TDA.

The original armour fluff article stated that since the Heresy Space Marine chapters have mostly taken over production of their own equipment, I don't believe it's been explicitly reiterated since in regards to power armour but Forge World certainly appear to still be operating upon that idea - the Badab War books mention several chapters possessing rarer patterns of armour (ie: Iron Hands & Red Scorpions and MkIV) because *they* can produce them, not because they are connected to a Forge World that can.

 Gashrog wrote:
The original armour fluff article stated that since the Heresy Space Marine chapters have mostly taken over production of their own equipment, I don't believe it's been explicitly reiterated since in regards to power armour but Forge World certainly appear to still be operating upon that idea - the Badab War books mention several chapters possessing rarer patterns of armour (ie: Iron Hands & Red Scorpions and MkIV) because *they* can produce them, not because they are connected to a Forge World that can.

Space marines are not spending their days making power armour
They have Forge World's they "look after" which creates marks for them.

Also, was it MkVI or another model which was actually "too good" and thus "too expensive" as to be continued with? I thought one of the earlier marks was prohibitively expensive/hard to produce and was therefore replaced by a streamlined, and easier (and arguably as effective) later model.

PS: I will produce a veritable "Squeeee!" if a MkVI kit/squad/box/game is ever produced.

 Rippy wrote:

 Gashrog wrote:
The original armour fluff article stated that since the Heresy Space Marine chapters have mostly taken over production of their own equipment, I don't believe it's been explicitly reiterated since in regards to power armour but Forge World certainly appear to still be operating upon that idea - the Badab War books mention several chapters possessing rarer patterns of armour (ie: Iron Hands & Red Scorpions and MkIV) because *they* can produce them, not because they are connected to a Forge World that can.

Space marines are not spending their days making power armour
They have Forge World's they "look after" which creates marks for them.

Never heard of Techmarines?

"Each Chapter has its own weapon shops, foundries and artisans. Some Chapters honour long-standing agreements with forge worlds that supply them with starships and weapons which the Techmarines subsequently modify to meet their own requirements. This practice varies from Chapter to Chapter." ~ Index Astartes: Techmarines

"Not all Chapters have the facility to make every vehicle they require.. / ..So some Space Marine chapters have ties to nearby Forge Worlds and can draw on these in times of need" ~ Imperial Armour volume 2 Second Edition pg.12

 Elbows wrote:
Also, was it MkVI or another model which was actually "too good" and thus "too expensive" as to be continued with? I thought one of the earlier marks was prohibitively expensive/hard to produce and was therefore replaced by a streamlined, and easier (and arguably as effective) later model.

Mark IV:

"..The Space Marine armourers had hardly got used to the new armour and many were as yet unable to maintain it properly let alone duplicate it as it was originally intended.
With the Mark 4 newly in service the need for large numbers of spares had not been anticipated, so that suits quickly became unusable due to quite minor battle damage. It was soon found that the new and rather specialised materials used in the construction of the Mark 4 were unavailable locally and this increasingly became a problem as Chapters moved from battle-zone to battle-zone ... Production of Mark 4 ceased and a new type of armour as designed almost literally overnight. This was the Mark 5 or Heresy Suit." ~ White Dwarf 129/Rogue Trader Compilation/Index Astartes Apocrypha (This was before Gav Thorp decided to pull a Matt Ward and urinate over the existence of Mark 5 for no good reason in Deliverance Lost)

Mark VI was the exact opposite according to said article: "In fact, so effective was the Mark 6 that both types continued in service thereafter and many Chapters chose to continue with their old armour rather than adopt Mark 7."

 Gashrog wrote:
Never heard of Techmarines?

Techmarines aren't usually very numerous - for example the Blood Angels Armory has 35 of them (and 105 servitors). These guys are supposed to keep the battlegear of 1,000 marines in working order, as well as the entire armory, vehicle pool and spacecrafts. At least one techmarine (if not two) would be deployed with every task force to keep everything working on campaign. One would imagine they have little spare time as it is.

I'm sure an experienced one can produce a suit of PA if the Chapter has the pattern, but that requires a good reason. Surely they'd more often build spare parts for old suits?

Thanks, Gash. That's exactly what I think of - MkIV, got it!