Do you build all the models in the box?

[Lathe Biosas]

I've been building Custodes lately and I realized I won't need the other 3 Sentinel Sodality models for my army...

 

But I own the parts, should I go ahead and build them, just in case?

[techsoldaten]

No one can tell you what to do with your models. You do what's best for you.

For complete models I'm not planning to use, I keep them NOS because sometimes they are useful to trade. 

For models that don't fit in my current army list, I usually paint them. Points and editions change, you never know what you might need in the future.

[Lathe Biosas]

That's an excellent point. I'm not even sure what the points will be.

 

I'll just build them. It's only a few extra models. 

 

Thank you.

[Grotsmasha]

Additionally, you could use them as conversion fodder. Make a character model or something

[Lathe Biosas]

That's a good idea too, since I just realized I can't build the second unit like I want. There's only one Vexilla per box.

[Rogue]

Personally, I enjoy the process of building and painting, so I almost always end up painting all the models in the box (or eBay trade, or whatever), even if it does take a few years to get there.

 

I'd offer the view that there's no rush. Play games with the rest of the models, see what works, what you might try differently or want more of, and then see if those three spares can fill that gap - an alternate weapon build you've come to prefer, reinforcements you a unit you use a lot and want more of, or something else again (kit bashing an extra standard or leader model, for example). 

 

Edited Sunday at 03:07 PM by Rogue
Abhor the spelling error, burn the typo.

[Griefbringer]

28 minutes ago, Lathe Biosas said:

That's a good idea too, since I just realized I can't build the second unit like I want. There's only one Vexilla per box.

 

I was going to ask how difficult would it be to build your own standard instead, but then I looked at how the Sentinel Sodality one looks like - it is certainly a bit beyond what I could build from the contents of my bits box (or even with good old cocktail sticks and paper approach). Then again, won't standards feel a bit too common if every third dude is bearing one of them?

 

As for myself, with plastic figures from a box I will build as many as I have a specific use at the moment. Possible leftovers are either left on sprue with other bits, or (if storage space is tight) clipped off from the sprue to the bits box. Eventually they will find their way into reinforcements or conversion fodder - or possibly swapped for something else (this works best if they are on sprue with enough other bits left).

[Borbarad]

Mostly no; i put spare parts (even full models) into a bitz-box. This has come in handy several times, especially at edition changes; as it enables me to change or bulid an additional model i didn't think i needed. Sometimes i need to print an extra set of limbs or what not.

[Grotsmasha]

10 hours ago, Lathe Biosas said:

That's a good idea too, since I just realized I can't build the second unit like I want. There's only one Vexilla per box.

 

Having looked at the kit online, you could grab a shield from the old Custodes (if you have any unused), flatten of the gun of the one handed Guardian spear and make a Vexilla from those. Much cheaper than a whole second kit.

[roryokane]

Yes, but that's because I tend to buy lots of basic space marines and some tanks and dreads for the joy of assembling them.

[Xenith]

Sometimes I don't build any of the models from a box! 

[Lathe Biosas]

1 hour ago, Xenith said:

Sometimes I don't build any of the models from a box! 

 

I do not like them, hobby man.

I will not build them, if I can.

 

Would you build them with a fox?

I would not build them with a fox!

 

Would you build them in a box?

I would not build them in a box!

 

Would you build them with a brush?

I would not build them in a rush!

 

Would you scrape off every line?

I would not scrape them, coarse or fine!

 

Would you bond them with some glue?

I will not glue them, old or new!

 

Would you paint them on the sprue?

I would not paint them, red or blue!

 

"But look!" cried out the hobby man.

"Just try one sprue, I know you can!"

 

He pushed a cutter in my hand,

The sharpest tool in all the land.

 

I took a piece, I clipped it free.

The plastic snapped so easily!

 

A little scrape, a touch of glue,

The torso fit, the legs did too!

 

A little snip upon the sprue,

And suddenly the model grew!

 

A tiny dab of plastic cement,

I finally knew where the evening went!

 

A shoulder pad, a tiny sword,

I sat in joy, no longer bored!

 

Say! I do like to build this kit!

I like it, every single bit!

 

I'll build them now with any fox!

I'll build all models in the box!

 

I'll build them fast, I'll build them slow,

I'll build them all and watch them grow!

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

My own thoughts are, until you have some idea as to how you might use them, keeping them unbuilt has more value.  As noted, you don't need them now and you aren't sure how you might need them in the future.  Points cost, wargear options, and possible units they can be converted into (ie - new units or new options may come out that provide a new use for the models) can come out.  Generally, you will be better placed to pivot the unit into whatever new direction you might need for it if they are unbuilt - its easier to cut off weapons and limbs and obtain realistic poses for the new loadout if the model isn't built yet.

 

That said, as soon as such a use comes to mind, go and build them for that use.

 

BTW, your "Green Eggs and Warhammer" poem is hilarious.

[Griefbringer]

4 hours ago, Dr_Ruminahui said:

Generally, you will be better placed to pivot the unit into whatever new direction you might need for it if they are unbuilt - its easier to cut off weapons and limbs and obtain realistic poses for the new loadout if the model isn't built yet.

 

Having spent a fair amount of time over the years removing arms, weapons, heads, accessories etc. from completely built plastic models to replace them with new parts that had come available from subsequently released plastic kits, I can whole-heartedly agree with this!

[WBRBloom]

I just realised that I haven't really built any 'new' kits in a while. My newest models are the GSC Combat Patrol box, that has a ton of configurations for the units, to be taken into account, and I've only built 1/3 of it.

 

In general yes, I used to. Although the majority of my CSM models were in 10s, so you simply had to decide which loadout you wanted them to have, since most of the people were using all of them back in the day, the worst thing that could happen was that you might have ended with a few spare torsos, heads, arms and weapon choices, especially if you decided to use some of them (5, if memory serves) to make a unit of possessed chaos space marines.

 

Specifically, I remember what a pain it was to get your hands on more than one assault weapon for CSM per box, other than one plasma gun or one heavy bolter, a your heavy choice. You had to either buy extra, metal, models in a blister that came with special weapons, flamer for example, or to have a friend who played space marines and ask them to give you any of his unused meltas/flamers (as I did).

 

I never worried too much about WYSIWYG rules anyway, as I rarely played in big tournaments, and I loved conversions and 'counts as'.