Large model army possibilities?

[INKS]

So today I got my first Blade Champion. I was very excited to start custodes.

However after priming, I even dry brushed a lighter tone, I just can't see the details any more. I could just paint all gold and call it a day I suppose but I wanted to work on a white / creme solar watch color. I just can't easily tell where to paint. It's very frustrating.

 

So I started to think, well... maybe the model is just to small for me any longer. And to be honest I don't think of Custodes or the blade champion as a small model, there are much smaller. but it got me to thinking, if this is giving me trouble then maybe I need to move to large models or large model armies.

 

So what armies can actually be fielded with minimal or no regular sized models. Knights come to mind. Or Chaos Knights but I am not sure if you can run all tanks, or all vehicles from other factions? what are the options?

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

If you’re struggling to see detail, have you considered an vision test?

[sonsoftaurus]

Options with current models:

 

1) try a magnifier. Lots of people use them. 
 

2) try hitting the model with a wash, even something like a yellowish wash will really help make delineations pop.

 

Options for bigger models:

 

Knights/Chaos knights as you said. Space Marines probably good too, as do many options for different types of dreadnoughts and vehicles. 

[ZeroWolf]

Yeah, if you want large model armies than Knights of both varieties definitely comes to mind. After that you have nids with their big bugs. 

[INKS]

22 minutes ago, Inquisitor_Lensoven said:

If you’re struggling to see detail, have you considered an vision test?

Yes, I already know the problem with my vision.

 

 

17 minutes ago, sonsoftaurus said:

Options with current models:

 

1) try a magnifier. Lots of people use them. 
 

2) try hitting the model with a wash, even something like a yellowish wash will really help make delineations pop.

 

Options for bigger models:

 

Knights/Chaos knights as you said. Space Marines probably good too, as do many options for different types of dreadnoughts and vehicles. 

I have never used one of those magnifiers, like a hat thing? do they really work well?

7 minutes ago, ZeroWolf said:

Yeah, if you want large model armies than Knights of both varieties definitely comes to mind. After that you have nids with their big bugs. 

Big bugs, had not considered that. that might also be an option. they tend to be large

[Grotsmasha]

An alternative to Magnifiers, are simple non-prescription ready glasses, usually super cheap at a chemist. I personally use 3.5x magnification, they focus at the perfect distance to what we typically paint models at.

[INKS]

Just now, Grotsmasha said:

An alternative to Magnifiers, are simple non-prescription ready glasses, usually super cheap at a chemist. I personally use 3.5x magnification, they focus at the perfect distance to what we typically paint models at.

Well I need glasses to see, so i am not sure how that would mix

[DemonGSides]

My S/O uses a head-set magnifier that makes them look like quite the dork, but they swear by it.

[INKS]

22 minutes ago, DemonGSides said:

My S/O uses a head-set magnifier that makes them look like quite the dork, but they swear by it.

Good to know, any particular brand?

[Special Officer Doofy]

I second big bugs (tyranids). Back when I played tyranids I didn't want to paint a bunch of smaller models so I did a monster mash. Super fun and easy to paint.

[INKS]

Thanks, I will look into Nids.

I am also looking into Deamons but... well they might not be a thing any longer, well in the sense that you can run mostly large deamons.

I think beast of nurgle are likely large enough. the greater deamons, I painted 2 last year and they were large enough.

I could get away with a deamon prince probably?

the arkifane also is large

doing all chaos tanks and or forgefiend like models is a maybe...

 

[DemonGSides]

1 hour ago, INKS said:

Good to know, any particular brand?

 

The one we have is over 10 years old as I got it when I first started WH back in 7th Ed. It's something off Amazon, just make sure you get something that looks like it's comfy for your head; I hate using the thing as my big noggin doesn't rest well with it, but she doesn't find it as annoying as I do because it fits her overall better. 

[INKS]

23 minutes ago, DemonGSides said:

 

The one we have is over 10 years old as I got it when I first started WH back in 7th Ed. It's something off Amazon, just make sure you get something that looks like it's comfy for your head; I hate using the thing as my big noggin doesn't rest well with it, but she doesn't find it as annoying as I do because it fits her overall better. 

thank you I will keep this in mind when looking

[Xin Ceithan]

In addition to the ideas above and depending on your vision problem, 

I’d second magnification glasses but  it sometimes takes a bit getting used to. 
 

I also use a an LED Lamp which has an in built  large fixed magnification lens in the middle. 

 

It’s quite handy for quick painting sessions  since it’s on my desk anyway

[Firedrake Cordova]

I have an OptiVisor (made by Donegan Optical), which I find helps. There are cheap clones on Amazon which are good (my mum has one with glass lenses and I honestly can't tell the difference between the lenses), but the headband having leather padding instead of plastic is nicer to wear.

 

The other option would be to use no-prescription reading glasses, which you can wear over the top of your glasses (if you've ever seen the BBC's programme "The Repair Shop" you can often see the watchmaker doing this).

 

One possible problem with larger models is a lot of them still have small details on them - there's just "more model".

[INKS]

56 minutes ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

I have an OptiVisor (made by Donegan Optical), which I find helps. There are cheap clones on Amazon which are good (my mum has one with glass lenses and I honestly can't tell the difference between the lenses), but the headband having leather padding instead of plastic is nicer to wear.

 

The other option would be to use no-prescription reading glasses, which you can wear over the top of your glasses (if you've ever seen the BBC's programme "The Repair Shop" you can often see the watchmaker doing this).

 

One possible problem with larger models is a lot of them still have small details on them - there's just "more model".

thanks, I will try to look into this.

1 hour ago, Xin Ceithan said:

In addition to the ideas above and depending on your vision problem, 

I’d second magnification glasses but  it sometimes takes a bit getting used to. 
 

I also use a an LED Lamp which has an in built  large fixed magnification lens in the middle. 

 

It’s quite handy for quick painting sessions  since it’s on my desk anyway

Yeah, I will look into something like that as well as glasses or something. I have a nice lamp, it just doesn't have a magnifyer on it

[Arikel]

Guard tank army perhaps. With the new detachments there are some you could run with no infantry at all.

[INKS]

I will have to look into this when more information is available. many many years ago. 3rd? maybe I did have a tank army

[Tawnis]

Most armies have a big stompy stuff version of themselves that can be run, though some are stronger than others. 
 

- Admech technically have the Castellan Robots (which really need a second datasheet before Cybernetica even gets in the ballpark of viability) but for a fluffy list, you could probably toss in some dunecrawlers and stuff to keep it big and chunky and round out the list. 

- Guard have the good old tank spam. 

- Grey Knights have DreadKnight Spam, though you will prbably need to mix in a few infantry since that only gets you to around 1200pts IIRC. 

- Imperial Knights, are well, obviously a choice. They can also ally in a Freeblade to other armies that might be short on big units
- Space Marines have lots of big Dreadnaughts and tanks to choose form and the Ironstorm Detachment makes great use of them. 

- CSM have the Soulfroged Warpack focusing on Deamon Vechiles and Vashtoor. 
- Daemons proper probably won't be around much longer as their own thing, but there's enough big stuff in Death Gaurd, and possibly Thousand Sons to make them work when combined. 
- Chaos Knights are still knights.

 

- Aeldari will almost certainly have a Wraith focused detachment in their upcoming Codex if you don't think the Wraith Guard are too small.
- Necrons have a fair few big units from C'Tan and Monoliths to the big Canoptek stuff like Wraiths, Spiders, and Doomstalkers. 
- Orks have the Dread Mob detachment for all their stompy mechs, which I haven't played against yet, but I've heard nothing but fun things about. 
- Tau have their big battlesuits if you're into that. 

- Tyranids have lots of giant stompy monsters, more than most factions. While crusher stampede isn't the strongest, it's still a lot of fun to just fill the board with big bugs. 

[INKS]

I am kinda of looking at Bugs right now. Crusher stampede might not be the top list for them but it's still fairly competitive and all the units are large.

I had considered Deamons, and like a monster mash but they still need some small guys, or normal sized guys. and they might be going away.

all tanks is maybe a possibility? I have not seen the rules for this yet

I am not sure if wraithguard are too small. maybe not?

I did look as CSM last night, you can get away with all tanks / deamon monster type list. no idea how good or not it is. but this is possible,

the others I am not so sure on. I appreciate your input as always. very helpful

 

Wanted to add with the CSM list, I wanted to add in and use 1-2 Heldrakes. Which I know aren't very good but even fitting them in a list is tough. lol

 

Chaos looked something like this:

Char1: 1x Vashtorr the Arkifane (): Warlord, Vashtorr's claw, Vashtorr's hammer

2x Obliterators (): 2 with Crushing fists, Fleshmetal guns
1x Chaos Vindicator (): Armoured tracks, Demolisher cannon, Havoc launcher, Combi-weapon
1x Forgefiend (): 2x Ectoplasma cannon, Armoured limbs, Ectoplasma cannon
1x Forgefiend (): 2x Ectoplasma cannon, Armoured limbs, Ectoplasma cannon
1x Forgefiend (): 2x Ectoplasma cannon, Armoured limbs, Ectoplasma cannon
1x Heldrake (): Heldrake claws, Hades autocannon
1x Heldrake (): Heldrake claws, Hades autocannon
1x Maulerfiend (): Maulerfiend fists, Lasher tendrils
1x Maulerfiend (): Maulerfiend fists, Lasher tendrils
1x Venomcrawler (): 2x Excruciator cannon, Soulflayer tendrils and claws
1x Venomcrawler (): 2x Excruciator cannon, Soulflayer tendrils and claws

 

Oblits should be big enough? I kinda added them because they come with the crawlers. I dunno.

 

Nids looks something like this:

 

Char1: 1x The Swarmlord (): Warlord, Bone Sabres, Synaptic Pulse

1x Biovores (): Chitin-barbed Limbs, Spore Mine Launcher
1x Lictor (): Lictor Claws and Talons
1x Lictor (): Lictor Claws and Talons
1x Lictor (): Lictor Claws and Talons
1x Exocrine (): Bio-plasmic Cannon, Powerful Limbs
1x Exocrine (): Bio-plasmic Cannon, Powerful Limbs
1x Maleceptor (): Massive Scything Talons, Psychic Overload
1x Norn Emissary (): Monstrous rending claws, Monstrous scything talons, Psychic tendril
1x Norn Emissary (): Monstrous rending claws, Monstrous scything talons, Psychic tendril
1x Tyrannofex (): Powerful Limbs, Stinger Salvoes, Rupture Cannon
1x Tyrannofex (: Powerful Limbs, Stinger Salvoes, Rupture Cannon
1x Tyrannofex (: Powerful Limbs, Stinger Salvoes, Rupture Cannon

 

Again.. Lictors should be large enough?

[Rusted Boltgun]

I also have a magnifier lamp like @Xin Ceithan. Mine is 3x and I'm pretty sure that when I was researching them, I read that around that is the sweet spot for magnification - avoid the cheap lamps that say 10x as they tend to distort the image.

 

I'm already a glasses wearer so the magnifying lamp has been invaluable.

 

I'd link mine but it has been discontinued.

I was at a course last weekend where someone had one by Daylight. I have seen influencer endorsements for them but they aren't cheap.

 

Bugs could be good fun to play and don't require edge highlighting, etc to look great (to my knackered old eyes).

[INKS]

5 minutes ago, Rusted Boltgun said:

I also have a magnifier lamp like @Xin Ceithan. Mine is 3x and I'm pretty sure that when I was researching them, I read that around that is the sweet spot for magnification - avoid the cheap lamps that say 10x as they tend to distort the image.

 

I'm already a glasses wearer so the magnifying lamp has been invaluable.

 

I'd link mine but it has been discontinued.

I was at a course last weekend where someone had one by Daylight. I have seen influencer endorsements for them but they aren't cheap.

 

Bugs could be good fun to play and don't require edge highlighting, etc to look great (to my knackered old eyes).

Thank you, I have put it on the list of things to look into and add to my painting needs.

[ZeroWolf]

Definitely agree with the joys of painting Tyranids, I'm not brilliant by any stretch of the word and I'm quite happy with how mine turned out 

[INKS]

8 minutes ago, ZeroWolf said:

Definitely agree with the joys of painting Tyranids, I'm not brilliant by any stretch of the word and I'm quite happy with how mine turned out 

how did you find painting the large guys verse some of the regular sized or smaller guys?

how were they to build?

[Doghouse]

I've found these work quite well, the added advantage of a small light on things likes these make it easier too and they come with multiple strength lenses. Lots of different brands but all do the same job.

 

 

My eyesight getting poorer with age has been a real motivation killer for me. As I'm not really a gamer these days I've considered third party counts as stl models that I can print at a larger scale.