Space Marine Head Upgrades

[Helbrechts_Sword_Servitor]

I liked the heads, and as I get better with painting skin, I seem to enjoy them ever more.

 

Regarding the "female" heads: as others have said, it seems to be a mix of the paintjob, and having asian phenotypes. I would love to have really asian heads, but I think there would be controversy if GW made the eye slits very narrow, so they made them with a filipino/south asian vibe.

[phandaal]

GW is just trying to expand the different modern-day racial makeups that their Space Marine line can represent. That is how some men's facial structures look. If you are familiar with that, it should be clear that these bits are not meant to be female. It is nothing deep or sneaky.

 

Edit: on second thought, let's not go there. GW are probably looking at these responses and running to hide under their cubicle desks until people stop talking about it. 

Edited 12 hours ago by phandaal

[Brother Tyler]

On 10/7/2025 at 1:18 PM, DemonGSides said:

 

Sure, but I don't think anyone is asking for chapter thematic helmets, just, y'know, access to helmets beyond just Mk X.  This sprue has a few, I'd just prefer a more even balance, or perhaps two different sets to buy; one unhelmeted, one helmeted in non-standard mk X and maybe some past mk's as well.

 

I can get behind more helmets. The main questions to support that, though, revolve around...

• What generic (i.e., non-Chapter-specific) helmets are needed across the range of Primaris/Terminator/Sternguard kits that aren't already available?
• What would the realistic quantities for those be based on common army sizes and compositions?

As far as I'm aware, all of the kits come with...

• enough helmets to give every model a generic helmet
• a few special helmets to mark out leaders, awards, and things like targeters/bionics
• a few Chapter-specific helmets to give each squad some nice flavor (for those kits that are Chapter-specific, that is)
• a few bare heads that fit the theme of the Chapter

When you say "beyond just Mk X" do you mean the earlier marks (i.e., firstborn, and not just Mk X helmets that incorporate firstborn stylings)? Or are you referring to the niche suits such as those worn by reivers, eradicators, gravis, etc.? I understand that different people will have different opinions/preferences on this, but I would expect the niche units to have far fewer special helmets and bare heads. After all, if an army typically includes only one of a type of squad, it wouldn't be cost-effective to to include a large number of helmets that are meant for that unit type. I doubt that Mk VIII and earlier helmets would ever be included in such a kit - GW simply isn't supporting these marks anymore. At best, we might see an updated Vanguard Veteran kit akin to the Sternguard Veteran kit, incorporating one or two helmets from the previous marks while adjusting the armour to Mk X.

 

On 10/7/2025 at 1:24 PM, Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf said:

The only think I would like more in this kind of sets it's independent crests for helmets, not all in a single piece. And if it's possible several extra crests and similar adorned pieces.

 

I can get behind this idea, too, sort of. The question here, though, is about quantity/distribution (i.e., how many longtitudinal and how many transverse?). Having attempted this conversion a few times, I would prefer one-piece crested helmets, but the conversion isn't so difficult to pull off that just crest bits would be objectionable.

 

On the subject of the heads that appear feminine, I think the answer to that has been provided by several previous posts - it's the paint job and not the facial structure (note, that's just my opinion). If GW had just posted pictures of unpainted plastic, or basecoated and inked heads, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Since the 'Eavy Metal team included some painting elements that resemble makeup, however, many hobbyists see femininity (whether they approve or object). You would be amazed at what a paint job/makeup can achieve (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, check out Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar ). For those who want to use any of the heads in this kit (or many of the currently available heads, for that matter - it's really the paint job that matters) for female models, whether Adeptus Astartes or other, more power to you. For those who don't, more power to you, too. Everyone is free to participate in the hobby in a manner that suits them, including assembling/painting their miniatures in a manner that reflects their views on the hobby and their emotional/psychological well-being.

 

=][=

 

And on that note that I've hidden/edited a few posts that started delving into the debate over female Adeptus Astartes, both for and against, or which created the potential for that debate to flare up here. Whether or not any of the heads is/appears feminine is a fair issue to discuss here in this topic, but we don't need to debate the issue of female Adeptus Astartes in this topic (take that to the + ADEPTUS ASTARTES + forum if you want to start that train wreck, but the staff will keep a close eye on that one and the topic will be locked as soon as it becomes problematic). And whatever your opinion on the subject, we will not be discussing the socio-political aspects of the issue, including your opinions of people based on their views on the issue, here at the B&C. Time and again we have proven that, though some individuals may be able to discuss the matter in a mature and constructive manner, too many of us are not and we collectively turn on ourselves over an issue that is far too divisive in a manner that is antithetical to our mission statement. Everyone has, and is entitled to, their own views on this and the B&C isn't the place for the inevitable flame wars that erupt around this issue.

 

From here on out, any replies in this discussion that jump into or threaten to lead to that tangent will be hidden in their entirety (instead of simply being edited as I've done with the recent few).

[Evil Eye]

I'd definitely have liked to have seen some more helmets based on pre-Primaris designs- or even, dare I say it, some new variants/alternative patterns of Mk. X helmet that aren't just a squashed Mk. IV. Variety is the spice of life and all.

[Casual Heresy]

1 hour ago, Evil Eye said:

I'd definitely have liked to have seen some more helmets based on pre-Primaris designs- or even, dare I say it, some new variants/alternative patterns of Mk. X helmet that aren't just a squashed Mk. IV. Variety is the spice of life and all.

Absolutely agree here. I actually quite like the MKX helmet design but I’m also happy to the return of random gubbinz and embellishments on helmets and other components. 
 

Give me some extra face pipes, holes instead of slits on faceplates, scanner/camera doohickeys sticking out of the side. Anything that moves the armour design from ‘ functional but mass produced’ back to ‘this is a priceless relic customised to its wearer and the generations that came before him’. 

[DemonGSides]

4 hours ago, Brother Tyler said:

I can get behind more helmets. The main questions to support that, though, revolve around...

• What generic (i.e., non-Chapter-specific) helmets are needed across the range of Primaris/Terminator/Sternguard kits that aren't already available?
• What would the realistic quantities for those be based on common army sizes and compositions?

As far as I'm aware, all of the kits come with...

• enough helmets to give every model a generic helmet
• a few special helmets to mark out leaders, awards, and things like targeters/bionics
• a few Chapter-specific helmets to give each squad some nice flavor (for those kits that are Chapter-specific, that is)
• a few bare heads that fit the theme of the Chapter

When you say "beyond just Mk X" do you mean the earlier marks (i.e., firstborn, and not just Mk X helmets that incorporate firstborn stylings)? Or are you referring to the niche suits such as those worn by reivers, eradicators, gravis, etc.? I understand that different people will have different opinions/preferences on this, but I would expect the niche units to have far fewer special helmets and bare heads. After all, if an army typically includes only one of a type of squad, it wouldn't be cost-effective to to include a large number of helmets that are meant for that unit type. I doubt that Mk VIII and earlier helmets would ever be included in such a kit - GW simply isn't supporting these marks anymore. At best, we might see an updated Vanguard Veteran kit akin to the Sternguard Veteran kit, incorporating one or two helmets from the previous marks while adjusting the armour to Mk X.

 

I said it right in that post; chapter agnostic non MkX helmets.  Those are sorely lacking from a force that used to have access to a few different types of helmets before 8th edition.  That's all I really want; all your other stuff is just getting wrapped up in something I'm not talking about so I'm not going to bother getting too into it; I think there is room for fancier/different helmets for Gravis/Phobos, but regular helmets fit them fine too so just make due.

Not all kits come with anything more than a single helmet to denote a sgt character for Primaris stuff.  Many don't come with anything BUT standard MkX.  It's the Veteran and more recent kits that have some variety, but the entire point of my post was it would be nice if they did a "Faces of the Space Marines" pack and a "Helmets of the Space Marines" pack.  If the point of an upgrade sprue is to add visual distinction, I wouldn't want them to have the same type of helmets as the regular kits, as, we all know, you bought the kit already and have those helmets.  Give us some more knightly looking helmets to splash around, some laurels, some more bionic eyed helmets.

 

I didn't say I expect it would happen or that I think it will happen.  Just that it'd be cool, just like having sets of weapons would be cool, or sets of jump packs to buy would be cool.  Wishful thinking.  And they are absolutely still interested in those old marks, the recent Sternguard kit showing that they see the value and this kit that this very thread is talking about featuring helmets from older marks of armor.  I'm not sure where the thought comes that GW isn't interested in the older marks; everything over the past 3 years has shown quite the opposite, that they're definitely realizing not only that people LIKE the classical types of armor, and they're pivoting to provide that even to 40k.

Edited 6 hours ago by DemonGSides

[Arikel]

For helmets I would appreciate simply more variety. A sprue with 5 of each mark including variations with some targeters, bionics, plumes and crests would be wicked cool. I especially would like to see more helms with 3 studs above the forehead and more helms with the “knight” type face plates. An easy way to get them would be appreciated. 

 

you could easily get a small sprue of 30-50 helmets, depending on which marks are covered in the set.

[DemonGSides]

1 minute ago, Arikel said:

For helmets I would appreciate simply more variety. A sprue with 5 of each mark including variations with some targeters, bionics, plumes and crests would be wicked cool. I especially would like to see more helms with 3 studs above the forehead and more helms with the “knight” type face plates. An easy way to get them would be appreciated. 

 

you could easily get a small sprue of 30-50 helmets, depending on which marks are covered in the set.

 

Yeah something like this is exactly what I'm envisioning.

Hell you could even just take what's on this new set and multiply them out a few times each and split the other heads into it's own kit with an expanded selection for different half helm/rebreather type heads, and that'd be a pretty sweet couple of products that would appeal to a lot of different hobbyists.

[Sgt.Sangha]

One thing what I wish we got would have been some moustaches and maybr a few top notes like the old white scar biker upgrades, hrck rvrn fafnir raans bare head can be a great tie in for like a space tartars/mongol look

[SvenIronhand]

2 hours ago, Sgt.Sangha said:

One thing what I wish we got would have been some moustaches and maybr a few top notes like the old white scar biker upgrades, hrck rvrn fafnir raans bare head can be a great tie in for like a space tartars/mongol look

Hell, give us an oseledets head!

[beefeb]

On 10/6/2025 at 11:04 PM, Nephaston said:

 

Storm Speeders have the same helmets Suppressors have, which feature a little extra mouth cover and piping which reminds me of a flattened parrot beak.

 

 

 

which is a lovely little practical design piece....the extra cover at the front to reduce wind drag on the helm that a grill would otherwise catch and jostle the head around or force it back....nice, practical little design piece by the sculptor.

[Rhavien]

11 minutes ago, beefeb said:

 

 

which is a lovely little practical design piece....the extra cover at the front to reduce wind drag on the helm that a grill would otherwise catch and jostle the head around or force it back....nice, practical little design piece by the sculptor.

I think you mean by the genius of Belasarius Cawl 

 

Also my brain interpreted the helmet as a biiig pouting mouth and I cannot unsee it anymore...