Thoughts on new models and a few questions.

[mattblowers]

Firstly: I love the new models! I always say: GW makes the best models by a country mile and it isn't even close.

Leviathon starter box: I'm not typically a fan of push fit models but these went together fairly well (thanks to tip from someone here to cut an angle on the male part of the push fit). The models are all so awesome and dynamic.

Of the new models I only bought a neurolictor and deathleaper. Both are awesome models. My only complaint is that they are a bit fidly to build. The "thumb" claws especially are so fidly. I really struggled with them. And the deathleaper. OMG!! What an awesome model!! The thing is massive. Size comparison it is very similar the Yncarne. But what an awful experience building it. It took me 3 hours to build the kit. I'm no rookie. I have over 21,000 points of Tyranids all built and painted by me. I can build a Exocrine or Maleceptor in 45 minutes start to finish including flash removal. It took be so long to figure out how to fit these pieces together. I was warned by Paul Murphy that it was fidly so I took my time, but this was so difficult. It didn't make any intuitive sense and the pieces in my hand didn't match up to the picture (and no I wasn't drinking, but that is a good guess). It took so much dry fitting and the way the pieces go together allows no room for error. I am a stickler on the model fitting together well with no gaps. One example: why are the hooves (yes, the DL has split hooves, this is new) seperate pieces. It is so hard to deflash that piece without cutting yourself. The complexity of the build reminded me of Malifaux and that is not a compliment. Not sure what is going on with the new fidliness, I suspect it's a product of CAD software.

Now for the question: What do I do with my old lictors and deathleaper? Right now I am thinking of proxying for Von Leapers since the base size is correct, but the size difference might be a disadvantage.

Same for the biovores. Do I rebase the ones I have? Or buy the new ones? I am not a fan of the goblin spider army aesthetic. I think my old school biovores are now going to be used as barbgants, the base size is correct and I still love the models.

What about the old broodlords? I have 9 of those bastards (the huggy/comeatmebro! one). Since genestealers are going up in base size maybe I'll use them for a unit "sargeant" just for aesthetics and to put them on the table.

[dkng]

I’m not buying the new Lictors - old ones are still good for me. If need be I’ll rebase them from 40 to 50 mm in no time.
The Dancing Queens… I mean Neurolictors I bought two - completely new model, awesome looking, wouldnt buy them printed as the seem too delicate.
I also bought the Deathleaper and after reading your post I just can't wait to start swearing while putting him together. Must remember to warn my wife beforehand. And I know I’ll spend stupid amount of time painting it.
As for the Pyrovores I’m definitely not buying those. Waaay to expensive. I’ve already ordered 6 of them printed - costed me less than 2 from GW. Biovores - I’ll stick to old models (also have 6 of those). Call me weird but I like the sitting, retarded gorilla taking a deuce look. They’ll look ridiculous on 80 mm bases but I don’t care.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

I got the following new models:
Hormogaunts
Termagants
Death leaper
Neurolichtor
Norn assimilator


I've only built the neurolichtor thus far and love the look of the model. Also, I barely had to do any cleaning on it which was awesome.

[mattblowers]

Interested to see both your thoughts on putting together the deathleaper.

[terminatoruk]

Bought the new genestealers with the codex.

Felt the need to replace my originals (15 painted) for some reason - not intending to do the same with my Termagants...yet!!

Very cool sculpts- the upscaling is significant - nearly as tall and chunky as a primaries marine (probably a bit too big with the lore saying they are meant to be 6ft whereas they are looking more like 8ft).

Supplied on 32mm bases and arm poses make them much better playing pieces with less overhang / easier to get into base contact.

Whoever designed the sprue joins though has a sick sense of humour though - joins are in the centre of thighs, middle if arms and in the centre of concave back plates.

Little bit OOT with the tactical rocks and and ground debris - i think if I get a second kit I'll convert them to make look a bit different.

The arms and legs are all separate rather than baked into the bodies. They have little pegs for pre-determined mono poses but with a bit if thought and clipping, I think they could be re-posed fairly easily.

The overall scaling is way better overall and the resolution on features like the face is fantastic!

My only 'complaint' with the new tyranids are subtle design changes like quite raised / triangular carapace plates rather than flat plates of the older miniatures and rescaling of claws / talons - I'm not quite sure where I want to go with my collection now.

I've never had any Hormagaunts but would like some - not sure whether to get old sculpts to match my existing termagants or get new thinking of replacing my termagants eventually.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Note: I got 1 box each of terms/horms just to round out my collection to 10e numbers.

[gigasnail]

I landed an Emissary, hormagants, lictor, and deathleaper.

Prices are effing outrageous. Lictor was a single model for what should be a pack of 3's cost. Ridiculous. I nearly left all of it in the store (aside from the Emissary. It was coming home with daddy regardless of what it cost) after looking at the prices.

Models are outstanding, price is simply more than I'm willing to pay. I was going to revamp my full swarm with the new units. I may grab a unit of stealers to have the new ones, and that's probably it. I am lucky to have deep pockets and a great job, but this is a hop skip and a leap too far.

[broyston]

Was thinking of getting the Deathleaper, but not a big fan of the flesh cloak, could it be assembled without? Looking at the sprue photos the cloak is in separate bits to the tail/legs/hips. Or are there too many slots or connection points that would be exposed without it? Don't mind a bit of greenstuff work but my skills aren't that great.....

[purestrain]

Sept 15, 2023 17:40:14 GMT mattblowers said:

Interested to see both your thoughts on putting together the deathleaper.

I nearly threw it against the wall several times... I mean, why in the hell the hooves split into six peices to form together?

Also getting him to stay on his base as intended has been a minor struggle, also my DLs skin drape was a bit off before I realized it there was a gap between his leg and the body, but I shored it up a bit.

All in all 2/5. Amazing looking model, ZERO excuse for the build complications

[riverzora]

Sept 15, 2023 23:45:54 GMT purestrain said:

Sept 15, 2023 17:40:14 GMT mattblowers said:

Interested to see both your thoughts on putting together the deathleaper.

I nearly threw it against the wall several times... I mean, why in the hell the hooves split into six peices to form together?

Also getting him to stay on his base as intended has been a minor struggle, also my DLs skin drape was a bit off before I realized it there was a gap between his leg and the body, but I shored it up a bit.

All in all 2/5. Amazing looking model, ZERO excuse for the build complications

This is the complete opposite to what every other review I’ve seen has said… everyone has said how effortless it all ‘popped’ together. I’ll have to give it a go when I (eventually) get mine

[bolk]

Sept 15, 2023 22:46:20 GMT gigasnail said:

I landed an Emissary, hormagants, lictor, and deathleaper.

This was what I was thinking as well. I don't really need more Hormagaunts, but the new models are so gorgeous that I need them.

But yeah, with those prices I'll have to wait for a while. Getting my daughter back from my ex in court is expensive.

[gigasnail]

Sept 16, 2023 12:47:00 GMT bolk said:

Sept 15, 2023 22:46:20 GMT gigasnail said:

I landed an Emissary, hormagants, lictor, and deathleaper.

This was what I was thinking as well. I don't really need more Hormagaunts, but the new models are so gorgeous that I need them.

But yeah, with those prices I'll have to wait for a while. Getting my daughter back from my ex in court is expensive.

Hang in there man.

[gman25639]

I split the Leviathan box with my brother that plays Marines, so for $125 I got pretty good value. Not touching any of the other new GW kits, far too expensive. $50 for 10 Hormagaunts is obscene when I can print some for like $0.12 each. My printed Emissary and Assimilator both came out great and I look forward to painting them along with my Leviathan box and printed Gaunts. I've been eyeballing other game systems and minis and I've realized that GW is effectively the Apple of tabletop wargaming, banking on hype over their brand to justify their prices with a dash of artificial scarcity for good measure. Perry Miniatures sells boxes of historical infantry for $27 with 39 dudes in the box vs GW selling boxes of 10 Guardsmen or Gaunts for $50, that's $0.69 a mini vs $5 a mini, GW definitely has the highest quality sculpts by far but I'm not sure that 7.25x the price of competing minis is justifiable. Anyway, love the minis but they've gotten way too pricey and will be printing my own for 40k as well as trying out other systems, Turnip28 looks fun.

[infornography]

I haven't bought any GW minis that didn't come in a big box or my imperium subscription in a couple years. I still have a hell of a backlog but I've been making some progress on it lately (Almost finished with all the admech stuff I got). The prices for single models are flatly absurd though. I just hope they show up in a big box at some point and assemble something else in the mean time. It has been ages since I got a game in so I'm not too bothered by my lack of having certain options.

That said, if the Norn models had been titan scale, I'd have bit the bullet and bought one on principle.

[mattblowers]

Sept 20, 2023 12:53:34 GMT infornography said:

That said, if the Norn models had been titan scale, I'd have bit the bullet and bought one on principle.

I am disappointed that scale wise it is just a glorified tyrant.