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Bitz connoisseurs, help me out. I'm looking for Rogue Trader era styled Eldar Guardian helmets, the type they wore when the armour was still mesh-based. What would be a closest match from existing 40K plastic bitz? Doesn't matter if it's Drukhari, Harlie or whatever, just looking for a closest match. Currently, a Howling Banshee helmet is the best I can think of myself, and it's not really an exact match by any means..

Here's a reference from old RT illustration. IIRC these type of helmets were on the vintage Eldar metal miniatures, from the very first until the guardians become a plastic kit (or were they in use even then?)

Thanks in advance for any hints/links!

They still have those on viper/falcon/old bike spures?

Edit to answer my own question:

Vyper gunner is a little different.

It looks like GW is no longer selling the bike autarch, which was the last remaining old biker. Who do still have that head.

Falcon pilots look to be sans helmet

In case 3d printing or buying 3d is an option:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1209500498/space-elf-heads-oldskool-28mm-miniatures?click_key=0a2ddd4961e8101505cb3c1db859561d2aa8a79d%3A1209500498&click_sum=5615c3ad&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=eldar+heads&ref=sr_gallery-1-30&organic_search_click=1&from_search=1

I don't think that there is an existing kit that still includes that helmet style, unfortunately. The old bikes are no longer in use since the new shining spear kit was released, and the vyper has a bare head on the pilot and the more modern looking helm on the gunner.

I'd say that the stls suggested by privateer4hire are your best bet.

Thanks a bunch for the replies!

3D printng is not an option unfortunately, but buying ready prints might be..

So you are saying there used to be some plastic head with this particular helm, but it's a kit that is OOP? If so, which one is it? I can still try looking for it on ebay, some OOP items regularly pop up if you're patient..

thanks

EDIT: Vyper gunner helm might not be an exact match, but it's pretty darn good! I like it more than the 3D one linked tbh, the 3D print sculpt looks too "simple" in terms of detail level, if that makes sense..

Now, just a matter of sourcing 10 of those Vyper gunner heads

Old school bikes, replaced at the start of 6th with the modern windrider kit. The last holdout that I though was still in print was the bike autarch, which came with the old pastic bike. I think he got range rotated out though.

 Nevelon wrote:


Old school bikes, replaced at the start of 6th with the modern windrider kit. The last holdout that I though was still in print was the bike autarch, which came with the old pastic bike. I think he got range rotated out though.

Hold up! That's the kit I need! What year was this in production? Does anyone know? (6th edition, around 2012?ish)

Any chance of a macro view of one of the rider helms?

I believe those guys came out in '95 or '96.

The 2nd Ed Eldar Codex (which I started with) came out in '94 and there were metal jetbikes in the photos. They also didn't have a model for the Vyper when the Codex came out. I remember the plastic jet bikes being readily available when the Vyper was unveiled as a brand new kit.

I’ll have to double check the dates when I’m out of work tonight. Those were the bikes I used when rebooting my eldar back in June of 2013, so at least that long. New bikes might have been in 7th.

I’ve still got one on sprue, will grab a pic later. Torso/head is all one piece IIRC.

 Nevelon wrote:
I’ll have to double check the dates when I’m out of work tonight. Those were the bikes I used when rebooting my eldar back in June of 2013, so at least that long. New bikes might have been in 7th.

I’ve still got one on sprue, will grab a pic later. Torso/head is all one piece IIRC.

Cheers man! I found one mint kit from a scalper so can get the collection going.. I should have 10 heads within the year

I'll gladly trade the rest of the bikes for those rider torsos (only the helmeted, mind), I'm going to have 3 spare bikes on sprue.. PM if interested in a trade

The sprue I have is stamped 1994 So that’s when production started (or there about)




Checking back in my blog, I was reviewing the new codex that dropped with the modern bikes at the end of April 2015. So about 21 years of active service as a straight bike kit (and closer to 28 as the autarch’s ride)

In addition to the normal bike box at the time there was one with an alternate pilot and gun to make a shuricain cannon bike, as well as the bike autarch. I never had either of these, and just kitbashed my 2 cannon bikes. But eldar players of a certain vintage would have spare torsos from kits they made those out of. My spares are from kitbashing a jetseer and autarch (later out of spare Dire Avenger bits)

I think the bike autarch was still in print even overlapping with the new shining spears, but was quietly taken out of circulation within the last year. Because honestly, if you want a bike autarch, get the shining spear kit. It has everything you need and is going to look 150% better then a hybrid kit on the old bike base.

--

I have no clue how hard/expensive it would be to mail bits across the Atlantic. I don’t really need more old bikes (the new ones are so much better. If you can’t source parts more locally/economically, let me know and I’ll see what I can do, at least with my 2 spares.

I have quite a few of these bikes and riders as bits, could probably scrape together a fair few of the torsos. Unfortunately, I currently don't have the spare funds to send them across to Finland.

How many are you after in total? Was it 10?

Here's a few pics of the biker head/torso in relation to the old metal RT guardians and also a pic including the late 2nd edition plastic, monopose, two piece guardian which is probably worth looking for, too. Just for good measure, there's some spellcrow proxies, too. Not the same, obviously, but an option perhaps.

Edit: Yep, after a quick search, I found a little bag with eight more of the biker heads and torsos, all sprayed black.

Oh, that's very kind of you! PM sent. The spellcrow head are interesting but the grille is too different from the original, it doesn't convey that wonky 2000AD-inspired feel of the og helm

If anyone reading this in the Helsinki area wants NOS jetbikes from this 1994-2015 kit, PM me

Big Ups sirs