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To Bare head or not to Bare head?


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The practical side of me thinks Marines should always have helmets on, even if they are in terminator armour, however the aesthetic side of me thinks a bare head makes figures like characters or sergeants look more important and make them stand out more.

 

I'm torn between giving my tribune a new bare Dark Angels FW head (one with dodgy hair style ;) ) or use one of the FW Dark Angels helmet, but then apart from the weapon he might not stand out if I do the same with a retinue of Tartaros terminators equipped with similar helms.

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If you can flufftisfy it you can do whatever you like?

Eg: the side of his helmet had been struck repeatedly by the blast of a combi bolter, the sensorium full of static and noise with no chance of system recovery, he discarded it. Using the genecrafted eyes he was given during transformation to a space marine would have to suffice

It is also worth nothing the size of the gap where the Tribune's head goes is not very big. I wanted to put a Word Bearers MKIV helmet in mine and it was much too big that only bare heads would fit in mine.

Not sure on the size of the Dark Angels heads but if they are of similar size they might not fit without a significant trim which might spoil the look of the helmet?

 

Although I personally like the Bare Headed look, especially on a Character, who in most cases will have an Iron Halo/Refractor Field - thus from a fluff perspective I would imagine this would protect him from the worst of any attacks that might take advantage of the lack of protection.

Put a helmet on the model - somewhere.

Figures that look like posing for a photo, put the helmet somewhere on the armour.

More active looking models either have their helmets on, or you could model them like they discarded because it was damaged. Put a damaged helmet on the base somewhere and possibly sculpt/paint wounds on the bare head.

Space Marines purposely running around in void hardened power armour but without a sealed helmet is just silly - unless they are Space Wolves msn-wink.gif Their acute senses are supposed to be better than what the sensors can provide.

It depends... in my Death Guard force, almost all of the Astartes have helms on, with the exception of my Praetor because he's half bionic, a Primus Medicae because reasons, and a few random Tactical Marines. I see the Legion as extremely practical and I also wanted a very unified, almost inhuman feel to them. For my Word Bearers, I have a fair few without helms... these guys are zealots and stark raving mad. It's mainly the Despoilers, because I see them almost in a World Eaters-like trance in battle. I can also see them feeling as though their faith in the Dark Gods will protect them more than any armour ever could.

I'm tempted to post video clips from all the movies and miniseries where somebody had a bad day from not having a helmet on.

 

The one that sticks in my head is from starship troopers, where Rico is adjusting the one guys helmet during a live fire exercise...with predictable results.

From a strategic perspective a helmet is far more desirable, however on the fluff side of things there is a case to be made that showing one's face in battle is integral to the Astartes persona. You see helmetless marines time and time again in the novels, art, and on the miniatures themselves. It doesn't really make too much sense to us living in the 21st century but it's a cultural thing and culture usually doesn't! Also it's way more cinematic haha
I prefer my models to have helms from a common sense point of view however, sometimes however I find its nice to have a bare head, one because there are some really nice heads out there, and two, it can be nice to paint flesh and have something different. I take this as artistic licence.

My vote? Helmets about 99% of the time. A helmet can be just as characterful as a bare head if chosen well.

 

http://i.imgur.com/fWFk0Km.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/zPlApIX.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/sZSwBzp.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/jjxaD0D.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/gO0ZdEx.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/1H2F3Hg.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/AG4U0c8.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/XxJuIpy.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/DrSF4p1.png?1

 

http://i.imgur.com/qY4qtpw.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/FHghrNt.png

 

 

And in those rare times when I do go with a bare head, I make sure to include the helmet somewhere.

 

http://i.imgur.com/0ILiR1F.png

BCK showed up to a knife fight with a battlecannon.

 

My perspectives, barring damage/malfunction or extensive bionics (to the point where a helmet just isn't feasible), that an Astartes should have his helmet on (or close by, if in a non-combat situation for example) if in full armor.

It can be characterful to go bare headed (ex- the DoW3 gameplay and announcement trailers), but all it'd take is just one lucky shot to the cranium for someone to have a Bad Day.

I prefer my models to have helms from a sneer pijt of view, however, sometimes unthinking so nice to have a bare head, one because there are some really nice heads out there, and two, it can be nice to paint flesh and have something different. I take this as artistic licence.

This. I like my Marines to have helmets, but I like making my models individual, and using some bare heads through my force enables that more easily.

Warriors don't always do what is practical, some Greek hoplites would fight in just helm, bracers and shinguards not using breastplate and most definitely naked except for a cloak. Most of my marines wear helms or failing that have them attached to belt or power plant but if you want a bunch of legionairres showing off how brave they are by choosing to fight bareheaded then go for it.

 Much like what has been said before, if they're going into a firefight then I believe marines should be modelled with a lid on their heads unless situations dictates otherwise.

 

 Alternatively you could always magnetize a helmeted and bare head for your marines (would really only recommend this for either special characters or certain individuals not your whole force) so you can switch them out to represent either wounds taken or multiple characters.

HH Blood Angel Mykael (1) copy

HH Blood Angel Mykael (5) copy

 The only problem is storage for the individual heads, but its so fun to be able to switch heads between models to get different combinations.

Can't see many reasons to run my marines bareheaded.  Besides the main reason being that I can't paint faces, I like that helmets often make a statement about that marines armour and occasionally their role.  Sure, helmetless if you are making a statement or posing your marine, or better still if there's a fluffy background and you wanted him to stand out etc.

 

BCK went into overdrive with excellent examples of marines being very practical with their gear and each of them makes a bold statement about their uniqueness with what they wear.

 

PS: @BCK... any chance you could let us in on where those awesome shields might have come from please?

There's definitely something I like visually about the occasional bare-headed individual within Heresy/40k armies - although I tend to reserve this for just Sergeants in 30k. Whilst recognising the tactical benefits of a helmet, I'm sure I remember reading where someone suggested there could be a refractor field or similar protection available for those of significance, which may be a reason for going without a helm. It's a reasoning I like in a galaxy of possibility! Plus, I like the idea of it being a statement, and perhaps somewhat of a challenge to the opponent. 

 

PS: @BCK... any chance you could let us in on where those awesome shields might have come from please?

 

The first one on my custom praetor I had someone design a model for and then had them 3d printed. The second, on the bone white praetor, I made from scratch, basing it on a normal boarding shield.

 

http://i.imgur.com/bEpJkAU.png

 

The third is the from the limited edition FW boarding marine.

 

I couldn't get a helm on this tribune model unless I ended up cutting up the helm, so just going to go with the bare head from the DA FW set.

 

Do you have a Dremel? I had a similar problem with the Crimson Sons praetor when I wanted to fit a Mk. II helm inside the head space, so I took my Dremel with a grinding ball bit and made some more room in the back of that area. Here's the only clear pic I have of doing that, back before I changed him to a mace and shield.

 

http://i.imgur.com/RNufJ5B.png

 

I also had to shave down the back side of the helmet a little bit, but you can't see it once it's placed inside the armor.

Either or. Helmets are definitely more practical but you can explain it with fluff as people have said; refractor fields, lost/damaged helmets, for some of the more 'unhinged' legions/marines they might prefer the unfiltered sensations and not care about the added risk, etc.

I'm tempted to post video clips from all the movies and miniseries where somebody had a bad day from not having a helmet on.

The one that sticks in my head is from starship troopers, where Rico is adjusting the one guys helmet during a live fire exercise...with predictable results.

Palladium Games RPG on the Robotech Anime gave the first character to needlessly / heroically take off his helmet a small amount of extra XP for being in line with the cinematic feel :p

 

Personally, pro helmet. Unless it's rule of cool. Also, easier to paint....

 

Since we are on the subject, I can't wait for ADB to explain why Astartes bionics are outside their armor in Master of Mankind :)

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