Kitting out MKIV assault squad

[Valkyrion]

Any good options for 30-60 mkiv bolt pistols and chainswords? I think there's one of each per box of MKIV, so it's hard going trawling through bits sites to try and snag the odd one here and there!

[lansalt]

As far I know, these two sets are the only current "official" answer:

 

https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-GB/Legion-MKIV-Power-Weapons-Set

https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-GB/Legion-Phobos-Chainaxe-Set

 

Another idea : You could also mix the MkIVs with easily avaliable plastic MkV torsos and use plastic MkV-MKVII arms with 40K assault squad chainswords (they are identical to MKIV chainswords except for the handguard)

 

There's other ways, like 3d printing and the like, of course...

[Imren]

As I understand you, you want to build the plastic MkIV tactical squad with pistols and chainswords to be played as assault squad (without jump packs).

 

Here are some options:

 

https://bitsofwar.com/home/433-legionary-chain-swords.html

 

https://bitsofwar.com/prime-legionaries-armoury/1461-prime-legionaries-ccw-arms-chain-swords.html

 

https://bitsofwar.com/prime-legionaries-armoury/1462-prime-legionaries-ccw-arms-heavy-thunder-pistols.html

 

https://popgoesthemonkey.com/collections/melee-weapons/products/11x-rotosword-raider

 

https://popgoesthemonkey.com/collections/melee-weapons/products/11x-roto-longsword-brute

 

https://popgoesthemonkey.com/collections/melee-weapons/products/hallstatt-space-marine-roto-longsword-11-pack

 

https://popgoesthemonkey.com/collections/melee-weapons/products/10x-rotosword-raider-left-handed

 

https://popgoesthemonkey.com/collections/melee-weapons/products/10x-roto-longsword-hallstatt-left-handed

 

https://popgoesthemonkey.com/collections/melee-weapons/products/10x-roto-longsword-brute-left-handed

 

https://popgoesthemonkey.com/collections/weapons/products/20x-standard-m1-combat-pistols-10-l-r

[Valkyrion]

None of those options actually have the arms though, apart from 10 in the special weapons set.

The mkiv tactical squad box is designed for bolters so the arms don't work well for an assault squad

[lansalt]

That's why I instead of making the squads "pure MkIV", I suggest to make them "mixed MkV" to make things cheaper.

 

Mix the MkIV bodies with plastic MkV torsos and MkV-VII arms with chainswords from the 40k assault squad. They keep the key visual look of heresy era armour by still using MkIV helmets and the crossed power lines on the chest. This is both "historically accurate" and makes the squad members more visually variated.

 

Quick mockup:

 

[Bung]

Kromlech covered that too

https://bitsofwar.com/home/466-legionary-close-combat-weapons-arms.html

 

I have combined both in models, Kromlech arms and PgtM weapons.

[Lucien Eilam]

There are good options, and there are cheap options. Pick which one you can live with.

[LameBeard]

Unfortunately I think starting an assault squad in plastic is just really difficult and won’t be cheaper than resin.

 

If it’s truly an assault squad you want my red book doesn’t give the option to remove jump packs, but does allow some substituting out (1 in 5) for hand flamer or plasma pistol. I guess you are really thinking of despoiler squad where this is not an option. However, a few could get away with pointing / scanners / knives with the pistol holstered.

Edited July 30, 2021 by LameBeard

[Grim Dog Studios]

I just use regular plastic assault/vanguard arms with MK IV chainswords and bolt pistols off Ebay. As long as the rest of the armour is visually MK IV, I don’t think having MK VII arms matters all that much.

[Sparika]

Anyone got good references for jump packs?

[lansalt]

FW/GW doesn't sell heresy era jump packs alone.

 

This ones are 3rd party, but they look the part: https://maxminishop.com/products/iron-pattern-jump-packs-5

[LameBeard]

I like Iansalt’s idea. It’s possible to use Sanguinary Guard without the wings, but you’ll have a lot of other stuff left over. Edited July 30, 2021 by LameBeard

[Valkyrion]

Anyone got good references for jump packs?

I bought 6 mkiv boxes for £27 each and 6 sanguinary guard boxes for £24 each (total £306) from which I can make 30 assault marine bodies, 18/20 tactical marines, 5/6 missile launcher marines and 5/6 heavy bolter marines - thats a minimum of 1070 points or could even be pushed to almost 1500 points by running veteran tactical squads.....I don't think that is too bad and leaves me able to sell off the rest of the sanguinary guard sets to subsidise having to buy arms and chainswords from ebay. 

 

Buying £150 worth of models just to use the jump packs sounds nutty, but paying £300 for a 1200 point army is pretty reasonable and I bet I can actually turn a profit on the rest of the SG boxes on ebay.

[LameBeard]

Will look fantastic when it’s painted. What Legion are you running them as?

[Valkyrion]

They're being split between Blood Angels and Night Lords - to paraphrase an ork; one is bloody and brutal, the other is brutal and bloody. 

[LameBeard]

Great. So you will be able to smuggle a little bit of the Sanguinary Guard bits into Blood Angels, and that also may open up the Death Company sprue as an option for chainswords and bolt pistols (even though I am generally not a fan of “bling” on those weapons).

 

For the Night Lords remember the chaos range. The old berserker kit has a lovely chainsword with teeth down both sides and no chaos arrow, and a bolt pistol with a straight mag. The chainsword would look good on White Scars or some loyalists too. Also, combat blades are legal instead of chains words, so flensing knives could be an option, or the sword in scabbard whilst the Night Lord holds some grisly trophy in this other hand?

[Ghorgul]

There is supposedly new Horus Heresy plastic boxes coming out soon. If and when these come out, they might have bolt pistol and chain sword arms included in the box, or not. Probably not, but there is always the chance.

[Sparika]

I doubt there would be space left for that sort of arms. The mk3 is well packed already. Actually, i’m not even sure it can be that much true scaled since the packaging needs to fit 10 marines.

[lokkorex]

My suggestion would be just cutting and gluing the plastic Mk.IV Tacticals Squads arms into more Assault Squad appropriate poses.

 

As for Mk.IV Chainswords, aren't they the same as the ones in the Assault Squad box?

 

Tigrus pattern Bolt Pistols are a bit trickier, there is of course one per Mk.IV Tactical Squad box, but with some work you might be able to make the one from the Plague Marine box work as well.

[Sviox]

I had plenty of 40k variants of chainswords and bolt pistols ranging from 2nd edition to current era bits. Looks pretty good mixed together with mark IV armour (from BaC boxed set). The hardest was to find enough jump packs to even equip 10 man squad - I ended up buying Sanguinary Guard box for bits (I'm a BA collector lucky me) and found another 5 FW parts from an Internet seller.