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Thanks to everyone who made suggestions, but the thread is now complete; see my last post for detail.

Necrons do have a reputation (from what ive read) as an easy army to paint.

Even found a comment about how it takes all of a few minutes to get a decent tabletop level on them. Prime, dip in paint, paint the eyes and attach the green bit for the gauss gun. Done

You could go Nids, I imagine they are easy to paint.

Orks might be a good bet, they're big models, easy to put together.
My experience of necrons is that they are quite tricky and constently fall apart (could be the GW glue I was using) but I've only assembled warriors, immortals and lychguard.

Necrons are easy to assemble and paint, they can just be a little fragile.

Definitely consult a doctor/gp about that muscle pain though. Even if its only something minor, you cant treat it if you dont know what it is.

Hope its nothing major and good luck

You could try Blood Angels.

25 Death Company would be your small models. After that, you just need 11 Dreadnoughts and you're done.

The problem with 'Nids and Orks is that they have a lot of spiky or small detail, such as Teef, Engine radiators or in the case of 'Nids, their ribcage and layered chitin.

The orks especially have plenty of smaller bits that are spiky or difficult to fiddle with for me; I should know, I have about 500 points of unmade orks in my bitz box.

Orks are out as I don't get on with them, but 'Nids are double-out because my partner is starting a Tyranid army.

As for the other suggestions; Blood Angels Dread Company could be pretty cool, but maybe a bit cheesy.

Lastly; It's not the painting that's the problem; it's the clearing of flash, removing mould lines and gluing. Holding small bitz between my left index finger and thumb is excruciating.
I can blutack a model onto the end of a dowel for painting so no problems there.

I don't know why vanilla marines haven't been mentioned yet, as they're simple to put together and the basic models are very smooth and shouldn't trouble your digits too much.

Also, try out those cheap basic troops that most armies have:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440273a&prodId=prod1630084

You shouldn't have to spend too much time cleaning up those types of models, all you need to do is file the mould lines and clip in their weapon. There's just one long mould line for each of them that needs cleaning really, so it suits you down to the ground. Shouldn't be too bad on your thumb.

There are two other types of models that I would suggest too, finecast and metal models.

Finecast is VERY fragile, and the models usually only come with what you need. There aren't usually many extras. So what you're getting is a very light model that will require very little work on your part. Ideal for easing the pressure on your thumb.

Lastly, there's metal models. As I look to the right of my desk, I noticed that my metal plaguebearers are all single models without any extra pieces that need to be glued on. All they need is the mould lines to be trimmed. Unfortunately, being made out of metal, they are significantly heavier than plastic or resin and you'll have to think of a way to file them down without using your left hand.

Lastly, I strongly suggest seeing a doctor about your hand because that isn't normal. And if you find out that you actually have some sort of condition (arthritis, perhaps?), then it's only going to get worse without treatment.

a fat guy wrote:
I don't know why vanilla marines haven't been mentioned yet, as they're simple to put together and the basic models are very smooth and shouldn't trouble your digits too much.

Also, try out those cheap basic troops that most armies have:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440273a&prodId=prod1630084

You shouldn't have to spend too much time cleaning up those types of models, all you need to do is file the mould lines and clip in their weapon. There's just one long mould line for each of them that needs cleaning really, so it suits you down to the ground. Shouldn't be too bad on your thumb.

There are two other types of models that I would suggest too, finecast and metal models.

Finecast is VERY fragile, and the models usually only come with what you need. There aren't usually many extras. So what you're getting is a very light model that will require very little work on your part. Ideal for easing the pressure on your thumb.

Lastly, there's metal models. As I look to the right of my desk, I noticed that my metal plaguebearers are all single models without any extra pieces that need to be glued on. All they need is the mould lines to be trimmed. Unfortunately, being made out of metal, they are significantly heavier than plastic or resin and you'll have to think of a way to file them down without using your left hand.

Lastly, I strongly suggest seeing a doctor about your hand because that isn't normal. And if you find out that you actually have some sort of condition (arthritis, perhaps?), then it's only going to get worse without treatment.

Yeah, I intend to mention it with my next doctor's visit. Arthritis runs in my family, so it could be- it does seem to be located on a joint.

The snap-fit miniatures would be excellent for filling out squads;

As for Finecast, they'd be fine, if not for my love of customizing my HQs (I also never use Special Characters, ever). I think the most important part, really, is that the bulk of the army should be in lower numbers and easier to assemble.
As that is, the following are my current considerations;

Necrons
Space Marines (Any Codex)

Still Necrons look like they would be easier to assemble than even space marines. Less fiddly bits? (Shoulder pads are a PITA for me!)

Not Necrons, unless you want to use the classic metals. Necron Warriors are horrible to try and glue together, especially since the torsos and the legs just don't stick without drooping horrible unless you hold them in place for ten minutes plus (which will be a problem for you).

Can I recommend Sisters of Battle? The painting can be a little fiddly if you want to pick out every single little detail, but you can just drybrush over them to get a basic effect that looks good, or even use the chip highlighting method (paint them with basic block colours, then put them in a tin and shake them, before spray-varnishing).

 Furyou Miko wrote:
Not Necrons, unless you want to use the classic metals. Necron Warriors are horrible to try and glue together, especially since the torsos and the legs just don't stick without drooping horrible unless you hold them in place for ten minutes plus (which will be a problem for you).

Can I recommend Sisters of Battle? The painting can be a little fiddly if you want to pick out every single little detail, but you can just drybrush over them to get a basic effect that looks good, or even use the chip highlighting method (paint them with basic block colours, then put them in a tin and shake them, before spray-varnishing).

Could I not use a rubber band or my right hand to hold the glued parts together? ;P

The wide open stance of warriors would probably make them super easy to clean up at least.

Edit;

As for sisters of battle; they have my favourite vehicle (Forgeworld Repressor), but I have bad, bad memories of working with metal minis back in 3rd. I'm not a fan.
Also, metals tend to cost more.
Lastly, I'm not that fond of an all female, religious zealot army.

I would have to agree with the recomendation to skip the Necrons if your hands are giving you trouble right now. While the figures might be large, your basic infantry are quite spindely where the connection points are, it could end up being quite painful.

I would suggest, if your after large model, low model count sort of armys, Look in to any variety of Terminator armys, Dark Angels DeathWing, Grey Knights Paladins, Or Space Wolves Wolf Guard.

Grey knights can fill a 2000 pt list with 25 models.

 stratassj wrote:
I would have to agree with the recomendation to skip the Necrons if your hands are giving you trouble right now. While the figures might be large, your basic infantry are quite spindely where the connection points are, it could end up being quite painful.

I would suggest, if your after large model, low model count sort of armys, Look in to any variety of Terminator armys, Dark Angels DeathWing, Grey Knights Paladins, Or Space Wolves Wolf Guard.

How many of those require special characters?
As I mentioned in one of my posts I never use special characters.

Secondly, the amount of surface detail packed onto the miniatures is the biggest hurdle for me. Things like Grey Knight paladins or Wolf Guard Terminators are absolutely plastered with tiny details that I have to spend a long time cleaning up.

It's not just size, but size versus complexity.

Alright, so that then drops those from the running aswell. You could still do a grey knight terminator (not Paladin) list, without the requirements of running special characters. I haven't seen their figures in person though, so im not fully sure if they have alot of clean up work needed or not.

If your really set on Necrons, my suggestion would be to skip the Warriors and go for Immortals in your troops slot instead. They are slightly bigger models, and higher points cost, to help keep the over all count lower. Then fill out the rest of your force with other larger figures, Stalkers, Scythes, Wraiths, Monolith?

Another possibility, though granted this isn't codex bound, and i do not know if your local area allows the use of forgeworld lists or not. IG Armored Company. Tanks for your HQ, Tanks for your Troops, Tanks for everything that you want. Competative? Not really. Fun? Oh yeah.

 stratassj wrote:
Alright, so that then drops those from the running aswell. You could still do a grey knight terminator (not Paladin) list, without the requirements of running special characters. I haven't seen their figures in person though, so im not fully sure if they have alot of clean up work needed or not.

If your really set on Necrons, my suggestion would be to skip the Warriors and go for Immortals in your troops slot instead. They are slightly bigger models, and higher points cost, to help keep the over all count lower. Then fill out the rest of your force with other larger figures, Stalkers, Scythes, Wraiths, Monolith?

Another possibility, though granted this isn't codex bound, and i do not know if your local area allows the use of forgeworld lists or not. IG Armored Company. Tanks for your HQ, Tanks for your Troops, Tanks for everything that you want. Competative? Not really. Fun? Oh yeah.

I'd love to do an armoured company; but it personally feels weird to field an army with no troops. How do they clear buildings and hold objectives; what about terrain that tanks can't get into. Darn me and my sensibility.

Regardless, I have to stay no to Grey Knights; Fluff-wise they are nowhere near customizable enough an army for me to be interested in them at all; They only come in one flavour- silver. I need my army to follow my design and written background and GK don't bend well to that. Repainting GKs just makes me feel cheesy.


I think it's a toss-up between a Blood Angels Death Company heavy on dreadnoughts, or a Necron force.
I still think that the stance and simplicity of Necrons may offset the spindly nature of some models.

Edit: My FLGS likes people using ForgeWorld kit.

Have you thought about using a model vice? This might help you out with securing the model in place while using your good hand to attach bits.

Arkadies wrote:
Have you thought about using a model vice? This might help you out with securing the model in place while using your good hand to attach bits.

it's a potential solution indeed; but I think it could potentially be quite uncomfortable. I like to handle things manually, hehe.

So....

No orks (too many small bits)
No Tyranids (team partner uses them)
No Grey Knights
No Sisters of Battle
No 'all-metal' armies (too expensive and hard to clean up)

You really seem to want to do Necrons, but I can tell you from experience that their spindly little arms and legs make assembling them quite finicky. Also, given that their entire bodies are quite smooth, you really have to clean off the mold lines or they are quite visible.

You could do, as you mentioned, a Dread heavy Blood Angels list (or heck, two meks and a dread/killa kan heavy ork army).

However, if you don't want to deal with a lot of fiddly bits, why not use the 'snap fit' models from the Battle for Macragge (the last starter box)? Heck, you could get a couple of those and have power armored marines, terminator armored marines, and some dreads. You could use them as Blood Angels, or as a 'regular' chapter.

Rustgob wrote:


Yeah, I intend to mention it with my next doctor's visit. Arthritis runs in my family, so it could be- it does seem to be located on a joint.

Definitely do. Turns out I've developed osteoarthritis on a couple of my finger joints and I am only 33. It can and does happen. About 10% of the population starts getting osteo in their early 30s. I just developed it a few weeks ago and it has rapidly gotten worse :/

You will probably want to get an X-Ray or MRI done on the joint in question to see if it is osteo. Also get an arthritis panel done to rule out rheumatoid arthritis while you are at it.

Grey knight's. Extremely low model count, model's are bigger than most marines, so easier to work with.

Well, there are a few choices here:
DW Terminators, GK Paladins, Ork Nobs (on bikes), RW Bikers, IG mech army.

I'd second the bike army - large, easy to hold models with big flat surfaces. Ravenwing probably have more decoration, normal SMs are a lot plainer.

Da Butcha wrote:
So....

No orks (too many small bits)
No Tyranids (team partner uses them)
No Grey Knights
No Sisters of Battle
No 'all-metal' armies (too expensive and hard to clean up)

You really seem to want to do Necrons, but I can tell you from experience that their spindly little arms and legs make assembling them quite finicky. Also, given that their entire bodies are quite smooth, you really have to clean off the mold lines or they are quite visible.

You could do, as you mentioned, a Dread heavy Blood Angels list (or heck, two meks and a dread/killa kan heavy ork army).

However, if you don't want to deal with a lot of fiddly bits, why not use the 'snap fit' models from the Battle for Macragge (the last starter box)? Heck, you could get a couple of those and have power armored marines, terminator armored marines, and some dreads. You could use them as Blood Angels, or as a 'regular' chapter.

Realistically, I'm only outrightly saying No to Grey Knights, Deathwing-ish armies (that require special characters; because I do not use them) and Imperial guard.

Grey Knights because of their inflexibility for background writing and customization.
Deathwing/Loganwing .etc because I never use special characters.
Imperial guard because of how tiny the models are.


Here are the army/builds I've been considering;

Blood Angels Dreadwing
Vanillamarine Bike Force
Dark Angels Mechanised
Ork Dread Mob (I.A.)
Necrons

The reason I seem so adamant about Necrons is because I believe that size is a bigger factor than difficulty when it comes to the joint pain I keep having. Cleaning up clomplex models or assembling spindly models is absolutely no issue, gluing is easy. The issue is when I have to hold a small part (Like a guardsman's head, arm or chest-piece) in order to scrape away the mould lines. Space marines are better, but backpacks, shoulder pads and heads give me trouble.

If necrons have larger but more spindly pieces I could perhaps hold their legs steady via the feet to clean those up .etc.

Perhaps if I summarise my issue a bit more, it would be more helpful;

I can:
Assemble difficult models of any size for gluing.
Paint perfectly Fine.

I cannot:
Grip tiny components for long.


One thing I have considered is perhaps assembling the model with only minimal cleaning, then when they are set , using blu-tac or similar to stick it to a table and then cleaning off the visible lines, to save myself the discomfort.

I do appreciate the help, by the way. I'm just trying to really question everything so I'm sure I'll enjoy building,painting and playing with whatever I build.
Thanks!

Necron warrior heads are attached to the sprue in the most ridiculous place, I found them very awkward to clean up, but apart from that and the difficulty in getting them to stay glued together, they're not that bad.

ahh-hmmm...

Saim-Hann.

People mention bike armies and no one mentions Saim-Hann?

low model count
lots of flat surfaces
lots of customization with the Seer Council on Jetbikes

You want low model count and large?

How about:
Demon/CSM

2 Lord of Change
3 DP w Wings
----
1 DP w Wings
1 Helldrake

7 Models now you just have to get 3 troop choices to fill it out... You have 7 fliers.

Also want to agree with everyone stating that Necrons are a PAIN to assemble. The Ghost Ark/Doomsday Ark is probably the most complex/pain in the @$$ model I have ever put together. Even when you finish the thing is crooked as all heck. You have to be very careful when you put the spines together to get them all in the same order/direction.

And then when your done you have to paint it!

Necron have a lot of small bits especially arms and some models(lychguard possibly others) you need to install a neck(incredibly tiny) in.

You should be fine though as most models just have 1 tiny arm and head.

Try doing what i do, get a wad of sticky tack (the stuff for putting posters on the wall, it looks like blue or yellow silly putty) and put it on top of an old paint pot. you then place the model on the sticky tack and hold the paint pot. you still get the mobility of having the model in your hand, but you are instead gripping a round object instead of pinching!