New marine minis - poor sculpts?

[Grey Knight]

The quality of the sculpts is not what bothers me, because as any Hcore converter agrees; anything can be modified to suit any tastes.

 

What I have a problem with on a major level is the quality of the casts.

Has anyone else noticed a major drop in the quality of the plastics/ molds that GW has been using recently?

 

I don't mind spending my money to keep some good artists in work, and I certainly enjoy the hobby to no end... but it seems silly to support these artists by purchasing their work if one can't make out the detail and/ or has to spend upwards of 10 mins per mini to clean them of mold lines.

 

seconded! personally i really like most of the new minis, the chain and scrolls thing I really like. But the mold lines are becoming a HUGE problem now, especially in fidley little places, It's crazy how they just slap some stuff into the mold and go "Oh, we have a problem, ship them anyway". They've started talking about how excited they are about their new computer molding technology, but why don't they try to improve the quality o the mold instead of having all these nice minis ruined by the half assedness of the casting.

 

and not even just the plastics, because of the new detail they have on figures such as the new chappies you have to remove mold lines from tiny little ornamentations, and that just desn't work, so I sometimes end up having to file the whole thing off.

[-Q-]

I think I know your problem, Dammekos.

 

It's not the sculpts you don't like. It's the Space Marines.

Listen... this is getting out of hand.

 

Let's not start implying that anyone doesn't like Space Marines. Not even in jest. Too far. :D

[Brother Gothard]

I think what must be reiterated here is that this is all people's opinions. Non of it is wrong, and non is right.

Hmmm, nope, I'm going to have to disagree with you there, actually. MY opinion is RIGHT, everyone elses is WRONG. It's so simple :P

 

Back to reality ... when I first read this post I thought the OP was referring to the poor quality of the plastics for the new sprues - which I totally agree with.

 

(Speaking of which, was that just a production issue of the molds not being "broken in" or whatever? Did the quality increase over time? After I saw those sprues I stopped buying marines for about 6 months.)

 

But then I realised that the OP was referring to the new "look" of Marines. I'm torn between liking it and not. The new Terminator Chaplain is an amazing model, as are the new Terminators. But that's about as far as it goes for me. I'm getting seriously turned off by the "stuck on" look of all the do-dads and whats-its covering the Astartes these days.

 

BUt again, as we've discovered, all this is a matter of OPINION. If SOME people like the new stuff, then it's not BAD, just different.

[Draugr]

What I really dislike about many of the new miniatures, the chaplains for example, is the scrolls hanging down all the way to the ground. It looks silly and it is not plausible that a space marine would, or could, run around the battlefield without stumbling on them. Wonderful miniatures destroyed by this tiny detail.

[Alphz]

I personally like the new direction of adding character to the new space marines...

 

BUT i do however feel they are OVER doing it a wee bit in that aspect, and therefore ruining it a fair bit. Some of the releases are great, others are just way to busy and I can see would be real hassle to convert for all but the most experience converters.

 

The new chaos models are certainly going down a trend I am not liking, being that of a wealth of concersion possibilities, the possessed lacking alot of character (or too much?) and being metal and their Lords have (IMO) being grossly drowned in little bits and doodads and then given the most pointless weapon combinations, converting is a must but then made hideously difficult, why?

 

The jury is out on lucius, i liked him at first, but now Im abit iffy on that one.

 

To surmise I feel the problem is the inconsitency within an army, some models are left rather plain, while others are over detailed...

[Moribund the Burgermeister]

But the new Orks are great, at least! Xenos, here I come!

 

Cheers; Moribund!

[Dr Death]

Well i personally loathe most of the new models. I suppose one could argue that its just the new style route that GW have taken but i think is more than that. The models arnt badly sculpted but they were well sculpted by someone with a blind spot for composition. The new marine models simply dont have the elegance, finesse, restraint, proportion or fineness of detail that the old models had. For that reason i cant say i've been mightily impressed. In a single sentence: They just arent Jes.

 

What with the Gibbons fiasco they really needed someone with a real eye for what to loose to translate his overblown doodles into miniature form and unfourtunately they handed the range into the hands of two people who didnt- Mark Harrison and Dave Thomas. The result is models which truly are an assault on the senses to look at- things you have to squint and turn the picture every which way to finally say "this isnt just slapped together". All the "bling" just sullies the overall composition of it. I heard someone describe the new style of marines as being dropped into the sculpters bitz box covered in glue. The only metal model i think i actually like is the new Marneus Calgar because he's flipping massive enough to mean that all the extraneous golden watnotz dont blind your vision (who needs a sword hanging by their side when wearing POWERFISTS?!)

 

You can just see the difference in handling if you put any 4th ed model up against an earlier one- Tigurius is a good example. Mark Harrison said he was honoured to redo the model he had idolised as a young gamer and then he goes and completely buggers up the new one despite the fact they're even in the same pose. Helbrect could have looked fabulous, its a good model but someone decided to pull the cloak round his oversized shoulders and stick a combimelta up his arse. Its oh so nearly and i watch each marine release with the same disgust (to quote mike walker) as i do watching someone doing "something overly harsh to an andrex puppy" Because i know full bleeding well how fantastic those models could have been in the right hands.

 

Dr Death

[DOGGED]

Well I, as many on this board, have seen SMs for 15 years and running. They have improved until last (before) line. This one maybe can't better it in composibility(sp?) or converting potential. But the new marines are beautiful. They are sculptures, three dimensional illustrations. Characterful. These marines really transmit the dark side of the whole thing, as they were always suppossed to. To the skillful painter they must be a joy. They are just different. Enjoy them, or not. But they are precious. Even the dread, baroque, it gives an "old" impression. Nice.

[Terminatorinhell]

the ven dread needs a far cooler head like the normal FW head and a assault drill for the arm and the chaplains need a better sculpt

[T14]

The fact that space marines got a revamp and are now plastics is a fantastic improvement.

 

Many of my old 2nd ed minis look like weedy little midgets compared to the newer stuff.

 

I still prefer the 2nd ed powerfists over the new gargantuan equivalents, but that is what razor saws are for right?

 

Chop up the old, mix in with the new... is my motto.

 

Cheers

-t14

[Brother of Fortitude]

What I have to say is this: Whether you like the look of the sculpts or not is completly in your oppinion, but the quality of them is incresing, for instance, I loathe the new choas possesed, but they are sculpted very well. (Althoguh the lact of neck and flat hair bothers me on the scouts) I also agree with DV8 abotu how xenos are getting the short end of the stick. Look at how many marines where released for COD, 4 come to mid i think there is more (IG got an entire new army). now look that the eldar, orks, necorns, DA, and Tyranids, (we will ignore the tau b/c they had a new army just come out). 2/2/0/0/2. see a difference? I also agree that the quality od the casts is goign down (arg, BT upgrade sprue, arg!)

 

To repeat my point, the look of the minis may be bad, (in you oppinion) but the quality is not.

 

~BOF

 

P.S. take a look at the venerable IF dread, it makes it look good. (refer to Medusa V booklet)

[Artemis the hunter]

Braaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiins :tu:

[Terminatorinhell]

since im a bit new to this (only 2 years) can sum1 message me some pics of the old things?

[Tekanan]

i agree with some minis being a poor sculpt. the scouts for one, needs a neck. i'm also dissapointed with a generic scouts head. my first impression was "so all scouts have the same head? when they get upgraded to marines, how are the marines helmet gonna fit?"

 

however, i do admit that some newer minis are way cooler than older ones. i find the termi chaplain absolutely fantastic albeit the generic pose. but if you think about it, these are the poses that defines a mini. Orks have been getting really good minis recently (kommandos for example) and the eldar are absolutely fantastic so far (rangers, wraithlord).

 

sure there are some very good old marine minis, but pls do remember that they had their fare shares of poor sculpts/poses too. captain cortez anyone? (what the heck is with that pose?)

 

we also have to remember that when a mini is designed, one of the main points of consideration is how well it will look when painted. a commander being the center of your army, would definitely get priority of coolness factor over say....scouts. do you want your scouts to stand out more than a commander in your army? i guess not. so that's why i believe priority is not there to fully signify how cool scouts (as an example) can be.

 

 

what i am recently dissapointed with in regards to GW marine minis is the moulding. i've opened a few boxes to find that the moulds aren't as good as it used to be in 3rd ed, and most importantly, the colour seems lighter (hence looks cheaper quality). after awhile, i don't really mind it but this was my first impression upon opening up a box. first impressions are always important and my first impression on it was definitely not good.

[sarabando]

plastic tact squad = :) new termies = :) new scouts/snipers = :s

not having a new chaos dread for ages = >:(

[Shinohai]

the ven dread is awful, i think they attempted to make something forgeworldesque but failed. they should have just released a plastic FW version like they did with the tau. and the fact that its all metal makes it even worse. the new chaos possessed look bad, well sculpted, but hideous and not in a good way. the new chaos termie lord looks ok if i were running a tzench army but since i'm not he would look out of place. lucius the eternal is to static, its nice to finally get a model for him but its boring. also as many said the scout heads look goofy now, they all look like jay leno clone heads. my theory is they got a gaggle of new sculptors with not much texperiance or knowledge of the 40k universe. and/or one or more is related to GW top brass and can get away with crap sculpts.

[Bloodthirster90]

I too agree that the Vn Dread is a bit crap. and being metal only makes it worse. But the jump-pack chaplain, that's an awesome model, if I may say so. I cant describe why I like it, but it does look cool.

[Some Muppet]

@ Dammekkos: is there somthing wrong with your sight??

 

the old chaplins were rubbish as are the librarians. tycho and dante are some of my least favoutite models ever made (but not as silly as the new possed - village people eat your heart out!)

 

the maranus calgar boxed set is GREAT and much better that the old model (he actually looks special now) and the new termies are exelent.

 

the only bad SM models they have made are the scouts

 

I think they have some new sculpters though, and count yourself lucky, look at the WFB wood elf lord on great eagle, im sure glad my army didn't get landed with that monstrosity

 

then again i have only been in the hobby a few years.

 

i think people are blinded by nostalgia

 

(btw all the above is IMO)

[Captain Ixion]

Well, i like most of the new stuff. Sure, there are some disadvances at some new figures (Termies are to tall in my eyes), but in general i like the new "Bling". It gives the minis more character. But about taste you cant discuss.

 

Ixion

[Dammekkos]

@ Dammekkos: is there somthing wrong with your sight??

 

the old chaplins were rubbish as are the librarians. tycho and dante are some of my least favoutite models ever made (but not as silly as the new possed - village people eat your heart out!)

 

the maranus calgar boxed set is GREAT and much better that the old model (he actually looks special now) and the new termies are exelent.

 

the only bad SM models they have made are the scouts

 

I think they have some new sculpters though, and count yourself lucky, look at the WFB wood elf lord on great eagle, im sure glad my army didn't get landed with that monstrosity

 

then again i have only been in the hobby a few years.

 

i think people are blinded by nostalgia

 

(btw all the above is IMO)

 

As far as I know my vision is ok, but I haven't been tested for a few years. I don't think I mentioned the Dante model, but I agree, it's not great (mainly because of the little feet, this is the only marine they ever did like this). What's so bad about the Tycho mini then?

[Kastellan Kong]

Oh can I post too? It's been a while so I don't know exactly how to do it but here goes: New Dread = What were you thinking you silly, silly man! Come here and I'll slap you!...

 

Most other stuff - pretty neat. But then again I convert most of my characters and stuff anyway so I usually don't end up buying them.

 

Also I agree with everyone about everything :D

[Tekanan]

i actually like tycho and especially dante models. they were simple, yet signifies what a miniature is all about. and i just find dante's armour one of the best looking power armour out there.

 

Some Muppet, i don't think people are blinded by nostalgia. it's their own preference on whether they like the mini or not. i admit that there are minis that are just really good looking, that also managed to win alot of people's hearts, and some no.

 

there are also some the direct opposite of that statement. as an example, lemartes and cortez. i've seen people actually fall in love with these minis. i'm not saying that these are bad minis/sculpt, but in general alot of people do not like them (i'm one of them).

 

during the 2nd/3rd ed, we actually saw some really nice models produced. one of the models i really liked in those days were the metal assault squad sergeant with a left power fist and i absolutely loved the devastator squad sergeant with the right pointy powerfist.

 

 

sorry for being off-topic. =)

[I shall tear your flesh]

I have never had a problem with mould lines before, until I opened the new space marine tactical box set. They are everywhere! Over the helmet, over the top of the legs and back again! Its very annoying. :D

[Penguin of Death]

Was going to say all my recent purchases had been fine and that the new Terminators were especially good until I look at my new marines last night, some of the sprues non only had awful mould lines but were slightly mis-aligned, especially noticable on the ribbed grips under the bolter barrels where the ribbing doesn't remotely match up either side of the join

[mellr0]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that i think the venerable dreadnought looks awesome. This is because of 1 reason:

it is huge and nasty. Dont get me wrong, i dont like tassles hanging from every pore of a marine, dangly metal bitties falling off, silly little wingies covering every smooth surface, or even a big daft imperial sign.

 

What ilove about that little lump of metal is that it says to me that it is venerable, important, and if you piss it off, it will stomp on you. these 3 things are missing from the original plastic dreddy.

I can also see limitless conversion idea's for it. The sheer scale of the model screams "Convert!!"

 

Calgar has a fantastic new pose and his blind, minus one or two tassels, looks pretty tasteful, although his bodygaurd look pretty boring.

as for the rest of the models?

 

Nurgle daemon prince: makes the old daemon prince look like a stick figure. its way cool.

new biovore: Actually looks vicious now

possessed space marines: They are possessed, not gay throwaways from "The Thing". They suck.

Terminator chaos lord: Yup, its ok, bit uncharacterful, but good if you want to buy something that is quick. looks ok

lucius model: like it, very much like the drawing, although it does seem a touch static.

all new ork stuff: perfectly on time. the green fools need a revamp.