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I've been wondering for many years why GW hasn't put out a plastic Squiggoth for the Orks. Not necessarily the huge, Gargantuan Squiggoth, but something like the smaller FW version. The unit itself is iconic, not too long ago they brought out the more feral Beast Snagga boys, and I'm sure a lot of Ork players would buy it up.

Are there other "this is obvious, why no model yet" holes out there?

There are loads of obvious holes in armies. Heck Tyranids are only fairly recently getting hero models for hero units revealed in 4th edition; and technically Old One Eye hasn't had his own model since 3rd edition (it's just be a few select parts from the plastic carny kit).

You even get things like the Necron Destroyers and Destroyer Lord which are the only core units that didn't get an update with their big range refresh. They are even still rocking the old green plastic tubes in their guns.


Honestly the Squiggoth is pretty easy to see why its not a thing. Whilst its iconic it's also a big outlier - Orks are known for loads of ramshackle vehicles; mechs and titans far more than big beasts with weapons on them. For the longest time they've not even had the Boar Riders as a unit either.

So you've this whole army built around machines and then at the top end there's a massive Squiggoth. It stands out; plus its a huge model so that's a big mould cost for plastics.


Beastsnaggers could well be GW's way to start working toward a squiggoth model because it creates a design language of orks on beasts in 40K that they can carry forward toward "Ok so orks on a BIG beast model" like the squiggoth. Helping create a unified design language and then a market demand for a super big £100-150 plastic kit that will sell in large numbers.

 cuda1179 wrote:
I've been wondering for many years why GW hasn't put out a plastic Squiggoth for the Orks. Not necessarily the huge, Gargantuan Squiggoth, but something like the smaller FW version. The unit itself is iconic, not too long ago they brought out the more feral Beast Snagga boys, and I'm sure a lot of Ork players would buy it up.

Are there other "this is obvious, why no model yet" holes out there?

I'm fairly sure the kilrig was GW's shot at a plastic squiggoth. In my opinion they have failed, it's the model I like least in the entire range.

 Overread wrote:
There are loads of obvious holes in armies. Heck Tyranids are only fairly recently getting hero models for hero units revealed in 4th edition; and technically Old One Eye hasn't had his own model since 3rd edition (it's just be a few select parts from the plastic carny kit).

You even get things like the Necron Destroyers and Destroyer Lord which are the only core units that didn't get an update with their big range refresh. They are even still rocking the old green plastic tubes in their guns.


Honestly the Squiggoth is pretty easy to see why its not a thing. Whilst its iconic it's also a big outlier - Orks are known for loads of ramshackle vehicles; mechs and titans far more than big beasts with weapons on them. For the longest time they've not even had the Boar Riders as a unit either.

So you've this whole army built around machines and then at the top end there's a massive Squiggoth. It stands out; plus its a huge model so that's a big mould cost for plastics.


Beastsnaggers could well be GW's way to start working toward a squiggoth model because it creates a design language of orks on beasts in 40K that they can carry forward toward "Ok so orks on a BIG beast model" like the squiggoth. Helping create a unified design language and then a market demand for a super big £100-150 plastic kit that will sell in large numbers.

Pretty much this. Anything not a Space Marine is starved for plastic and has rationed releases. Squiggoth just was unlucky (and, as Jidmah says, the Kill Rig has taken much of its niche, unfortunately).

Because we got the Hasbro Kill Rig instead.

OMG, I totally forget about the Killrig, and for good reason. I honestly wouldn't mind if people proxied a small squiggoth for one.

One of the problems is that Squig, short for Squiggly Beast, was originally a very broad category. Like say, Bird could describe a number of species, but not so broad as animals compared to plants say.

Hence in 1st edition, there’s all sorts of Squigs described, from tiny Buzzer Squigs to Squigs the equivalent of Main Battle Tanks.

And the illustrations showed a wide variety of body plans.

Since then? When people say Squig, they almost certainly think of Cave Squigs. The bounding, two legged, red gobs wiv attitude of WHFB fame. And that’s the image that’s come to define Squigs.

Even for a sad old git like me? The Squiggoths have never really felt like Squigs. It’s not their size. It’s that they’re “just” oversized, scaly Rhinos and Mammoths. They don’t seem Squiggy enough.

The Killrig isn’t perfect, but at least its beast of burden Looks Like A Squig.

Squighog Boyz are for me a superior looking cavalry to Boarboyz. They perform much the same function (it’s not the Ork that’s the really dangerous bit), but look more the part.

So it’s not to say there’s no design space for an actual Squiggoth, where the structure is strapped on to the beast rather than merely towed. Just that the existing FW design just doesn’t read as a Squig.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

The Killrig isn’t perfect, but at least its beast of burden Looks Like A Squig.

It looks like a rhino. It looks nothing like one of your cave squig squigs. The squiggoth model is (/are) far less generic designs.

I interpret 40k boarz used by boarboyz as probably a hairy form of squighog for colder climates. This is still consistent with the old 3rd edition feral ork lore too, because orks change the local ecosystem, so them conveniently finding lots of foul-tempered boarz to ride in their immediate vicinity is consistent with those boarz being a type of squig- the orks don't need to be particularly cognizant of that being the origin.

 Lord Damocles wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

The Killrig isn’t perfect, but at least its beast of burden Looks Like A Squig.

It looks like a rhino. It looks nothing like one of your cave squig squigs. The squiggoth model is (/are) far less generic designs.

I don’t agree.

The Killrig Squig has four legs and a big head. And that’s about all it shares with a Rhino. Its head blade isn’t a horn, but something nailed to it. It has a thick and quite long tail. Also a much bigger gob all filled with pointy teeths.

The Forgeworld Squiggoth is considerably closer to a Rhino. It looks ponderous but not incapable of getting up to a fair clip. It has actual natural horns. And its tail whilst much longer and thicker is held in posture closer to a Rhino.

Now. I’m not criticising the FW model, it is a gorgeous piece. But it still doesn’t read as a Squig. Some form of Orky beast? Sure, but not a Squig.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Haighus wrote:
I interpret 40k boarz used by boarboyz as probably a hairy form of squighog for colder climates. This is still consistent with the old 3rd edition feral ork lore too, because orks change the local ecosystem, so them conveniently finding lots of foul-tempered boarz to ride in their immediate vicinity is consistent with those boarz being a type of squig- the orks don't need to be particularly cognizant of that being the origin.

This is a yea from me! And I’d quite like a shaggy, hairy, almost Abyssinian Wire Haired Tripe Hound look to the Squighogs.

I have 10 Boarboys and a mounted Warboss I've never used. I haven't played ANY game in quite some time, but if I ever did bring them out they'd be count-as Squighog Boyz.

As for what a "squig" actually is? IDK, do we consider Gretchen to be "Orks"? I mean, they are clearly more goblin like, but I still say they are part of the main race.

IDK if it's still the same, but in the old fluff any/all ork, gretchin, squig contains ALL the genetic material needed to spawn any/all of the other types and sub-types. I see them all as one race, even if some are considered "animals". With that much variation, perhaps all the different species that aren't sentient are just "squigs" in the eyes of the Orks.

IIRC the squiggoths were basically dinosaurs with a howdah and were not that hard to scratch build.

With more plastic competition and more 3D printing GW had moved towards more distinctive designs so I can see them deciding that the Kill Rig, that guy riding a land shark, or that thing with 2 squiggs jumping over each other are stronger directions to go in.