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I recently got my hands on my first LRBT. And I'm sat painting and I think to myself "besides new guns the russ has pretty much stayed the same since it was released iirc". Therefore it's stood up well to the test of time as new techniques eclipse the old. And, as I often do in my quiet contemplations, I got distracted thinking about those models that have really stood time's test well. For example, Ghazghkull is getting old now and even with finecast he looked identical, and awesome IMO. I'm sure there are others but that was the one that I thought of.

So I thought I'd ask; are there any models or sculpts that are "getting on a bit" yet still look awesome today? And on a similar note, are there any new releases that will still be fondly used and loved in 5 or 10yrs time?

Oldie but goodies? I still like a lot of the old metal guard models. Some of them are silly, and some of them are shockingly poorly sculpted, but then you see a 200-model army composed of minis like this:



And it's like... yeah.

They could release a lot of the old ranges in finecast as single resin models, and I'd be tempted to buy them. They generally just need a little bit of touch up (in the case of the above, getting one of the current range of chainswords rather than the tiny old ones), and they'd be perfect.

As for new models that will stay classy for a long time, I've got to put GKTs near the top, even if they aren't strictly speaking, all that new anymore. Also, I bet this guy becomes a sought-after commodity in a few years as it becomes rarer:

Classic.

The Mordian Iron Guard ooze class, all the way to the basic troopers.

I also think that for modern sculpts, the Space Hulk Terminators (agile-looking Terminators?!) and the Dark Vengeance Librarian are some of the coolest yet out of GW, with reallt evocative poses.

I think eldar jetbikes have done rather well for themselves.

I have a feeling the new space marine range will be around for a very long time. Really solid kits coming out with lots of interchangeable bits and customization options. I've recently bought two boxes of tac marines and vanguard vets and not only do they look great, there are hundreds of options for swapping bits etc. Really enjoying them.

 Flinty wrote:
I think eldar jetbikes have done rather well for themselves.

Seriously? They look like they're wearing Klan hoods. The bikes themselves are great but the riders are terrible. Luckily, they're easy to replace with normal Guardian heads and torsos!

An old favourite of mine, managed to pick up a few on release and have some still in original blister, they're slowly climbing in value too, may cash in soon.

Wow these look really sharp, normally when I see older models that are painted on ebay they look like total garbage, I thought maybe the paints were different now a days or something, they also look far less detailed than these, anyone able to explain to me why?

The old metal IGuard, Cadians, Steel Legion and Mordians especially, are light years better than the plastics have ever been. They'll always be among the best models GW ever put out.

The old daemonettes and the old nurglings are far better than their replacements. If anything, they've gotten better with time rather than become dated.

Maugan Ra? I remember an "oldest GW model still in production" thread a while ago, and the Phoenix Lords were on it. So if anyone's stood the test of time, he has.

Niexist wrote:
Wow these look really sharp, normally when I see older models that are painted on ebay they look like total garbage, I thought maybe the paints were different now a days or something, they also look far less detailed than these, anyone able to explain to me why?

old minis on ebay usually have old paintjobs...
when people start painting they usually slap the glue and paint on pretty thick, thus flooding a lot of the fine detail...

older paints are just as good now, as they were 20 years ago...
i still use some GW paints i bought in 1990...
P3 paints from 2004 are still just as good today, and were a step forward in their time, with a fine liquid pigment and funky shades...
this made them better for thinning than paints with powdered pigment, and gave alternate tones to other brands out there...
what it didn't do, was cause everyone to stop using their Vallejo, GW, Reaper, or other brands...

there are now many more tools in the shed than ever, but nothing in modelling hasn't been around, for the most part, for my entire nearly 30 years in the hobby...
some people just can't, or don't care to, paint well, especially when they are just starting out...

cheers
jah

Maugan Ra? Hell yeah. I bought my figure of him about 12 years ago just for coolness sake, when all I had was an Ultramarines army.

I believe that Nagash the Sorcerer and Doomrider may be some of the better models that GW has made. They still look damn good on the table.

I'll second the old Guard lines; Steel Legion, Mordians and Valhallans still look very good, and really wouldn't need much to be re-released; improve the scale of their weapons (they're rather on the chunky side) and a little more fine detail, and they'd be golden.

cadians and catachans haven't aged half as well, though old pre-redesign cadians look pretty swell.

Muagan ra definitely.... I'm utterly shocked by the detail.

Noise marines get an honorable mention as a model that'll be popular 10 years down the line.... the old nurglings for sure.
The dreadnought models will be around for another edition or 2 of the game.

Also, gorka morka ork boys.... those are freaking awesome... wish they were still n print.. I would play orks again in a heartbeat

Depends what you mean by old, I guess.

There aren't a lot of 2nd edition or older sculpts still floating around, but the aforementioned eldar jetbikes have held up surprisingly well (as did the now OOP rangers, warlocks, and farseer). The basic falcon hull is a touch under detailed now, but is still a fine kit. Warp Spiders aren't terrible, and are ancient. Nearly the full 2nd edition IG line (heavy bolters and autocannons aside) have aged very well. I'm quite fond of my praetorians in particular.



In terms of models over a decade old, there plenty of models still in production that rock. The non-kasrkin stormtroopers are sweet, the Greater daemons have held up really well, and even kits like the basic landraider is almost 15 years old at this point.

Other 3rd edition models that are still sweet: Metal Tau stealth suits, kroot, Necron warriors, basic dreadnought, rhino/predator, hammerhead, metal Grey Knight Terminators, and nearly all of the 3rd edition characters (Logan, Dante, Mad Dok, Creed/Kell, Yarrik, C'tan, Aunshi, and Abbadon).

Polonius wrote:warlocks

Oh, that's a good one too.

The new warlocks look fantastic, but the old warlocks... well, they're still better than a fair bit of stuff that GW has put out in the last couple of years.

I mean...



... yup. I'd still rather have that than any of the CSM models from the dark vengeance box.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod810031a

I think that's about the only old model that I have.

It's funny that you'd mention the LRBT as a model that's stood the test of time when it isn't even the best LRBT model GW has produced. The FW Mars Alpha pattern variants are much better, and the plastic parts are clearly the weakest part of the kit.

This guy is, even in failcast, superior to the new plastic Grey Knights and will stay that way for a long time.




And one of my favourite GW miniatures of all time painted much better than the 'eavy metal team could: