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Cool though i actually really like arms guns and torso already assembled as in the pictures.

hate fiddling and assembling like 100 Troop.

imho

Well they look pretty bad ass already

Put in an order for a probably inadvisable number of the Large bionics, been waiting for these ever since you brought out the arms

Can I ask, will all these new heroic-scale infantry kits have that "sci-fi near-to-mid-future" vibe going, or is there a chance we might see something a touch more baroque and anachronistic at some stage?

 Yodhrin wrote:
Put in an order for a probably inadvisable number of the Large bionics, been waiting for these ever since you brought out the arms

Can I ask, will all these new heroic-scale infantry kits have that "sci-fi near-to-mid-future" vibe going, or is there a chance we might see something a touch more baroque and anachronistic at some stage?

Personally, I like that they're not doing grimdark. With so many other small companies doing it, it almost feels like a dead horse to me.. Is there something specific you're hoping to see that isn't a re-tread?

I agree there are plenty of other "not guard" types already. Assuming the head is modular a headswap could probably go a long way to giving them your own character too.

If the arms and torso were one piece and the gun replaceable I'd be totally ok with that. Maybe some others with posable arms for more open poses like pointing, firing pistols etc,

From what was said on Facebook, these will be more modular than the Afterlife range. The parts breakdown will be head, torso, arms, weapon, and legs. There was also mention of the arms having a small guide peg to make assembly easier.

I personally would prefer Joel stick to the sleek sci-fi look rather than Grimdark as well. There's already a lot of very nice grimdark not-IG kits out there. No need to throw in another. But, very few companies are doing this type of sci-fi trooper. Besides, 40k need not just be grimdark. The Elysians prove quite clearly that there is room for hard sci-fi among the IG.

My biggest hope is that they won't look out of place among my Afterlife figures.

These new infantry look nice. If they're heroically scaled I might use them as Recon-styled troops for an existing force in a popular sci-fantasy game. Will there be different head options, Joel?

SInce you have a "Kevlar" type helmet there already, any chance of something like this appearing? (Perhaps even with or without the respirator that's on the two existing renders, or earpieces.)



That would make for some kick-arse scouting troops.

(Tons more examples by googling "ops core helmet" and "spec ops helmet".)

 MLaw wrote:

 Yodhrin wrote:
Put in an order for a probably inadvisable number of the Large bionics, been waiting for these ever since you brought out the arms

Can I ask, will all these new heroic-scale infantry kits have that "sci-fi near-to-mid-future" vibe going, or is there a chance we might see something a touch more baroque and anachronistic at some stage?

Personally, I like that they're not doing grimdark. With so many other small companies doing it, it almost feels like a dead horse to me.. Is there something specific you're hoping to see that isn't a re-tread?

Ancient Persian-style soldiers would be interesting, as would sci-fi Mesoamericans, maybe something with a flavour of African retrofuturism, or of pre-colonial India. Just because there are companies out there producing new versions of the tropes GW used to make doesn't mean the only real-world inspiration left is the modern "tacticool" look(which, I will point out for the benefit of others, I neither dislike nor wish Anvil to stop making). Doing non-"grimdark"(nobody asked for grimdark, by the way, "baroque and anachronistic" doesn't have to mean armour that looks like a filigree factory collapsed into the ancient burial ground beneath it) doesn't preclude a company from also doing other things, if they wish, hence why I asked if we might see something with different aesthetic at some future point.

So basically the same kind of thing that other companies do with Roman/Greek/Egyptian/Norse/Celtic designs?

I don't know what you even mean by African. It's a huge continent, after all. Kufi-style hats or Zulu hats or Fez (Not actually African, but with strong ties to colonial Africa.)

It'd certainly be an interesting experiment, but like the Frostgrave gnolls, it'd also be easy for people who like the concept in theory to not like a specific execution. I think an additional couple of difficulties are that things like Persian and Zulu and Samoan visuals don't resonate as much to the main audience as the ones that GW have built up over the last 20-30 years, not in general to the main western culture as much as Roman/Greek/Egyptian/Norse/Celtic/"Tacticool" imagery. That and a lack of distinctive metal armour styles as well. (I hate those persian "smurf" hats, but that's just me). I'd love to see some sci-fi armour with Māori-style "carving" in it, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.

Yodhrin - Sorry if my post came across as an attack.. what you asked for is what I think most people see as code for grimdark.. so.. I wasn't meaning that as an insult so much as I seem to have just misunderstood the question.
I do sense that you got peeved at the use of grimdark in reference to what you were asking for (and presumably like). I also notice that you seemed to be taking a jab back with "tacti-cool" .. but let's stop right there. Near future sci-fi or anything based on modern tactical gear (which many of my marine friends just call "work clothes") isn't the same thing as perpetual WW2 in space. I asked what you were looking for to try and understand what you were asking for. The reason I did that was to understand your request not to be a dick. The ideas you started your post with were cool.. and very specific. I don't think either of those are what anyone would have guessed based solely on your initial request.

 MLaw wrote:
Yodhrin - Sorry if my post came across as an attack.. what you asked for is what I think most people see as code for grimdark.. so.. I wasn't meaning that as an insult so much as I seem to have just misunderstood the question.
I do sense that you got peeved at the use of grimdark in reference to what you were asking for (and presumably like). I also notice that you seemed to be taking a jab back with "tacti-cool" .. but let's stop right there. Near future sci-fi or anything based on modern tactical gear (which many of my marine friends just call "work clothes") isn't the same thing as perpetual WW2 in space. I asked what you were looking for to try and understand what you were asking for. The reason I did that was to understand your request not to be a dick. The ideas you started your post with were cool.. and very specific. I don't think either of those are what anyone would have guessed based solely on your initial request.

Which was rather why I used a more general description rather than just listing cool but specific ideas

I hadn't realised "tacticool" was derogatory in a general sense, I just thought it referred to tactical gear in a slightly OTT/action-movie style and was meant as an insult when used to refer to actual official forces that are supposed to be tactical in a more reserved, professional way, no slight was intended.

 Azazelx wrote:
So basically the same kind of thing that other companies do with Roman/Greek/Egyptian/Norse/Celtic designs?

If by "basically the same" you mean "blend sci-fi with historical cultures or elements of them", sure. But one historical cultural reference is not the same as another, and it would be nice to see something other than yet more WW2/modern-but-with-lasers/Roman/Greek/Egyptian/Norse/Celtic designs. Again, Anvil does the tactical/modern-but-with-lasers style very well, I'm not suggesting they stop or even delay such things, just asking if they intend to branch out a bit at any point in the future.

I don't know what you even mean by African. It's a huge continent, after all. Kufi-style hats or Zulu hats or Fez (Not actually African, but with strong ties to colonial Africa.)

African retrofuturism, a subset of the sci-fi genre Afrofuturism. So in answer to your implied question; all of those, and more. And maybe even more than just hats

It'd certainly be an interesting experiment, but like the Frostgrave gnolls, it'd also be easy for people who like the concept in theory to not like a specific execution. I think an additional couple of difficulties are that things like Persian and Zulu and Samoan visuals don't resonate as much to the main audience as the ones that GW have built up over the last 20-30 years, not in general to the main western culture as much as Roman/Greek/Egyptian/Norse/Celtic/"Tacticool" imagery. That and a lack of distinctive metal armour styles as well. (I hate those persian "smurf" hats, but that's just me). I'd love to see some sci-fi armour with Māori-style "carving" in it, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.

That's a non-argument though isn't it, because it can apply to any specific execution of any aesthetic in any context. As for resonance, I think you'd be surprised, "history nerd" and "wargamer" overlap pretty heavily on the Venn diagram of geeky pursuits. It's also a little difficult to tell either way if any specific aesthetic would be popular, given none of the ones I listed as examples are catered to currently, but there's evidently at least some demand for such things because, well, this conversation is happening.

With multipart kits (like they're showing) that's still a possibility. I don't want to name drop other companies.. but there are a few others out there blending sci-fi and say.. Roman Centurion helmets (and not in a Space Marine type of way really). There are others with tribal helmets or Egyptians as well.. and I do mean with sci-fi elements not just historical copy/paste.

So, I think there.. yeah.. you've got options to just find those parts and use them with the modular bits as needed. Having torsos or arms or legs that match would definitely be cool.. don't get me wrong, but there are a few places where some historical copy/paste can help out (all those plastic multipart historicals).

I know that's not optimal. My freakin Killzone army is sitting in bins because of how expensive it is to order all your stuff from 10 different companies.. but man.. compared to the 90s and Y2k.. it's a candy land! You can currently build most if not all of all those crazy IG armies from the old BRB or IG codex or whatever it was (going to look for the picture).

EDIT: Also.. I don't actually play 40k anymore really.. so my interest in the multipart kits is probably automatically different from yours

EDIT2:
Found it! (images spoilered)

I know there's a bigger version of that image out there. I've never noticed the guy on the far left end of the second row from the top. Dude looks like a Cobra Snow Serpent. Okay, I don't know of any companies that make cold weather troops that don't look like WWII Russians. Joel, it would be beyond awesome if you made a regiment that looks like high tech Snow Serpents.

wow, where's this from and what year was it published? They have a krieger there, bottom right

 Yodhrin wrote:


African retrofuturism, a subset of the sci-fi genre Afrofuturism. So in answer to your implied question; all of those, and more. And maybe even more than just hats

Speaking of Afrofuturism, how about Afro-Grimdark? Mingati: an East African Knight Titan Project

The idea of seeking out more 'non-Western' influences in scifi might be a very cool approach, but I do hope it will be a bit more subtle than mere 'Africa in space' or 'Astro Asians' or whatever...

How about a poll on possible concepts and influences, this way Joel could understand what the demand is and "maybe" integrate this into his range.

Realistically you have to look at this from a business point of view though it is what sales at the end of the day, there are many things I would love to see created in the miniature market however what I like maybe not be to the greater interest.

The other thing to remember is a lot of sales are based on models being used as proxies, hence the similarities of releases in the market are based on this format.

You have to be careful to produce something different but not so much so that it will alienate your custom base, personally I would like to see more diversity in the Game world.

There is whole world of influences out there to draw from, races and cultures could be integrated into the design.

One thing I would love to see released is rebel type miniatures, low armoured wearing basic fatigues however I can't see this being a great seller and would be complicated to produce in kit form due to the need of variation.

So realistically I can't ever see this happening, so I understand the feeling of wanting something but likely it ain't going to happen.

Wow, the new converted model is insanely awesome:

http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/Conversion-Corner/Elite-Grenadier




You should just make models like that and cast them (minus the brass bits that folks can get from GW / FW). That would be really hard to resist!!

That is a pretty good conversion, it's the first one I've seen in the conversion corner not exclusively using Anvil bits

Other than the brass etch, purity seal and gun front (Kromlech Thunder Pistol?), it's all Anvil to be fair.

Awesome conversion, I'm really digging how you're really encouraging people to convert.

That is awesome! Is there gonna be a full retinue to accompany it...?

MacMuckles wrote:
wow, where's this from and what year was it published? They have a krieger there, bottom right

It's from one of the old Guard Codex - around '99 I think.

New double handed power axes are excellent. Just used 5 of them on some Libby conversions and as usual Anvil Industries didn't disappoint.

Got my order last week. Everything cast wonderfully. I'm hoping to get a review of them of some sort done in the next couple of weeks. Probably around Easter.

And agreed - that's a kick arse conversion.

 MLaw wrote:
More on the upcoming infantry.

Hey Joel, really looking forward to these new regiments bits! Love these concept pics, especially the stock on the laser weapon in the bottom pic - so cool!

Can i make a suggestion? As much as i love beret wearing troopers would you consider making a patrol cap type head at all? Something like the one Poncho wears in Predator? I think that could look pretty good on the armoured torsos.

Cheers!

I am so stoked about the regiment releases can't wait to see them printed up, how about some officers poses as well ?

Blurgggh!!

Sorry for the lack of updates everyone,
Father Nurgle blessed me with a great migraine/virus combo which totally wrecked me for the past 10 days. Today is the first time I've even been able to look at a screen for more than 2 minutes, but at least I can say I am on the mend.

As I can now look at a screen, I'm back to (fairly light) work, SALUTE in just a few weeks time wont prepare for itself, and I now have even less time to get everything done.

Thanks for all feedback and I will try to reply to all in order of posting-

@Mlaw - Any prone legs will have matching prone torsos, heads and arms, I dont think it would work any other way!

@Desubot - I dont like fiddly assembly either - the entire new Regiments range will have "keyed" joints which slot in to place (but can still be rotated) to make fixing parts on a doddle, similarly, rifles will have a slot key so they attached onto the hand/stock nice and straight.

The aim is maximum choise with the modular parts, but intelligent design, so that clean up, preparation and assembly is a easy as possible.

@Yodhrin and others on the design style of the range modern/Grimdark etc

- I plan to do a few different styles, I'll start with the modern/near future/sci-fi blend, but plan some more interesting kits as well. WW1/2 style trench infantry are definitely a high priority.
-I agree there are lots of different alternate sci-miniatures kits out there already, but I am confident ours will be cheaper and better than many, so its worth competing for a slice of the market even where we are making something similar to an existing style.

regarding taking inspiration from different cultures - its certainly something I'll be drawing from, roman legionaire style armour, with a laser rifle, I think would look amazing for example, but wouldnt necessarily have to be used to represent "space romans" as the roman style helmet could be swapped for something more generic.

I would also love to do sci-fi styled Samurai at some point, but as some of you have pointed out, there are already quite a few options out there which could be integrated with our stuff as the base kit.

As all the kits will be modular, it will be possible to blend elements together to make all sorts of combinations, and the number of possible combos will only expand as the range gets larger over time.

We have really hit our stride at Anvil with the digital design and printing process, and its now much faster to create new sprues of bits components.


Regarding SCALE - these will be more heroic than our afterlife figures, so slightly bulkier legs and arms, slight larger heads and guns, this doesn't necessarily preclude them being used in AFTERLIFE however - it depends on an individuals tolerance for scale variations.

@Azazelx - You are not the first to ask for an Ops Core variant, and dont worry, it will be part of the first wave of parts

@VikingChild - I'll certainly look at patrol caps, thanks for the suggestion.

@LDD - Yes there will be officer conversion sprues to go with the base kits.

I'm hoping to get some new renders up within a week or so, and I was hoping to launch the new range by the end of this month, but I think with my illness, I'll be aiming to release the first kits at SALUTE (April 16th)

-----------

The new Conversion corner - I'm glad you guys like it, we've decided to branch out a bit and

A. incorporation parts from other companies, so long as the majority is Anvil.
B. encourage contributions from you guys - so if you've got a great quality conversion made mostly with our parts, get in touch, if we feature it, you'll nab a £15 voucher!


I think thats enough typing for now..

Cheers!

Damn I loose out to Salute again is there any way to order the new kits at the same time of Salute ?

Conversion corner is a great idea - I actually think to set new standards allowing parts from other manufactures as well. Good job.

First mini painted from my Afterlife collection. I'm sort of biased but these really are the most detailed and best cast miniatures I've come across in a long time. For me they fill a niche I hadn't realised existed, somewhere between Infinity miniatures for detail and Hasslefree for cool design factor.

I have about 40 Afterlife miniatures to work through this year but look forward to seeing it progress as the year(s) go on. Great range in place to build upon.