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Why the hate for glow rods?


Beatnik cryptek

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Miniature painting relies on creating the illusion that the figure is not small, but far away. This involves forcing the contrast and painting on artificial areas of shading and highlighting. The green rods inhibit the painter's ability to do so, and as a result, even the most beautifully-painted figures that use them have something 'off' about them visually.

 

Nothing inherently wrong with them, but they're a bit gimmicky.

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I think it just comes down to preference mostly, in addition to the feel of acrylic v. painted looking different I'll add that not all gauss weapons use the rods and that also perturbed me when it came time to choose. If I have to paint some I would paint them all for coherency.

 

I have seen dozens of Necron armies using variously coloured acrylic rods so it can't be that hated.

 

They look out of place and dated. There is a reason why GW haven't used them in any new kits since 3rd edition.

GW even replaced most of them with the 5th edition release (basically what we have today), all examples of Gauss have sculpted versions except the Monolith's flux arc.

Edited by NTaW
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When they first came out it was like "Wow this is so cool,it's not been done before!"...and it was, i recall i went and bought 3-4 different coloured rods from Plastruct to differentiate my squads...Red ,Blue, Green... it was great back then...but so was "Green flock and Goblin green base rims"... :ermm:

It was simply a matter of Model Fashion...some things are in and after a while it's not the new black anymore...kinda a bit painters/Modelers snobbery :laugh.:

If you really want to use the rods then go for it...i took mine out cause i'd had them like that for years and wanted a revamp/refresh on my army and sometimes with necrons the easiest way to make em look new or different is to change the look of the weapons (honestly we don't have much else unless we want to do full on conversion work :sweat: )

Example -

med_gallery_9146_583_732617.jpg

Cheers, Mithril

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Plus, maybe it's just me but it seems like mine are always just a touch too short and the muzzle ends up leaning at a weird angle.

 

 

Errr :ermm: that's a personal problem best not discussed here...:laugh.:  jk.

 

some of my rods were actually too long and made the front focuser lean forward (as seen above slightly)

 

Mithril

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There is a definite inconsistency in the lengths that makes the front of Warrior weapons a pain at times. It was easier to deal with for Destroyers but I think I can get away with more since I paint my rods and don't care much if glue gets on or clouds the acrylic.

 

EDIT: Wow if these existed as I started collecting I would have bought enough for an army since one of my main reasons for painting was that not all gauss had the same look.

 

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/683951523/gauss-monolith-power-rods-set-of-27?ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-1

Edited by NTaW
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I don’t mind the look of them, but they are bothersome to leave off for painting. Their absence makes the front part of the weapon sit awkwardly, since there’s no real slot to position it. I don’t love or hate them, but I do wish there was an official GW orange or blue rod too, just for more choice.

 

If they ever updated the warrior kit to do away with that awful cheekbone nub, then I’d imagine they’d get new weapons too.

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... Mithril, I'm going to steel that idea. I have a bunch of 2nd hand warriors on whom to try that. Thanks! :)

 

And yes, back then it was the bees knees. Lots of people used (online) other colours. I couldnt find any, so didnt bother with the (then new) warriors. Would have liked them in blue or red, myself. Ah well. There must be a reason why I have so much metal warriors... :)

 

IIRC they dulled when glued, and/or when they got varnished.So they were not THAT easy.

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