Upgrade sprue

[Malkaan Feirros]

Hi all,

 

I'm starting an Iron Hands army and i'm looking to order my first intercessors and an upgrade set. However, am I right in thinking that you would need 2 upgrade sets to have enough shoulder pads for a 10 man squad?

 

If so,  it feels like the upgrade set is prohibitively expensive to me - 2 x £15 sprues per squad almost doubles the price of the unit. I know there will be a lot of spare parts for other units but it doesn't change the fact you would have to buy A LOT of these boxes if you wanted those shoulder pads across the whole army.

 

Can anyone recommend any good alternatives if I choose not to go the upgrade set route please? Is the Forge World transfer sheet my best bet?

Edited September 30, 2019 by Malkaan Feirros

[MajorNese]

Nope, there is always 2 sprues per pack, giving you the same rate as the previous upgrade sets of UM/BA/DA.

 

Also the sprue has transfer sheets in them, so you can mark even more marines if you have no issues with mixing molded shoulder pads and transfers.

[Imren]

If I have to choose between transfer sheet and sculpted shoulder pads and insignia, I like the transfers better, they look much cooler when weathered and painted as if the insignia is chipping off (if done properly with decal softer and decal fixer, and sponge chipping of the background colour), so yes, I'd rather go with the FW decal sheet than the GW one in your situation.

 

Another option is these:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/JC4UZ7WWJ/clan-wrench-shoulder-insignia-pack?optionId=121859692

https://www.shapeways.com/product/JB7HDFP26/clan-kaargul-shoulder-insignia-pack?optionId=121856958

https://www.shapeways.com/product/R5AGCVRAJ/mech-hands-flat-vehicle-insignia-pack?optionId=122150623

 

Cheers,
imren

[Malkaan Feirros]

Ah that's awesome. Thanks so much for your quick response. I thought it would be a bizarre decision to only have 5 per pack.

 

I might hate myself down the line still (3 or 4 upgrade sets could be another unit) but I think I'm going to take the plunge.

 

The flesh is weak!

[Malkaan Feirros]

Hmmm interesting. I imagine that would look really cool!

 

I have never painted a whole army before though and i'm not sure that I could commit the extra time to the weathering unfortunately.

[Halandaar]

Bear in mind you can easily get the upgrade sets for 20-25% off RRP via third party retailers, which will make a difference if you're buying multiple sets.

[Malkaan Feirros]

I'm not having success quoting posts in my replies for some reason.

 

I have a third party not far from work who does discount so I will make sure I buy it all from there - money saved and supporting a local business is always a win.

 

I just need to decide whether to get 1) a box of intercessors 2) A Primaris Space Wolves start collecting and sell the excess or 3) Go big with Dark Imperium and convert the push fit models with the upgrade sets.

 

I'm leaning towards 1) or 2)  because I know Dark Imperium is amazing value but I think it will be overwhelming to have that many models around - remember I've never finished an army.

Edited September 30, 2019 by Malkaan Feirros

[MajorNese]

The Dark Imperium box also has the shoulder plates already molded on - you would have to cut off every left shoulder pad to fit the upgrades.

 

Besides, for IH there are quite a few better choices than are in the Dark Imperium box. Intercessors are better with stalker boltrifles (or autobolt for hordes) than with regular bolt rifles, Inceptors get no bonus from the heavy doctrine (unlike every other heavy bolter), only the hellblasters and gravis captain are really usable in that loadout.

[Halandaar]

I'm not having success quoting posts in my replies for some reason.

 

I have a third party not far from work who does discount so I will make sure I buy it all from there - money saved and supporting a local business is always a win.

 

I just need to decide whether to get 1) a box of intercessors 2) A Primaris Space Wolves start collecting and sell the excess or 3) Go big with Dark Imperium and convert the push fit models with the upgrade sets.

 

I'm leaning towards 1) or 2)  because I know Dark Imperium is amazing value but I think it will be overwhelming to have that many models around - remember I've never finished an army.

 

From what you've said, I'd steer clear of Dark Imperium. Not only will it be a lot of models, but as MajorNese mentions, some of them are non-ideal choices for Iron Hands and you'd also need to clip off a lot of shoulders to make use of the ones from the Upgrade kits.

 

I think it basically depends on whether or not you want some Aggressors; if you do, the Primaris Wolves box will be the best value and you can probably get enough back from selling the Wolfy Upgrades to pay for your IH ones. Then you can either convert the Battle Leader to something more suitable, or sell him too!

[Malkaan Feirros]

That's so helpful, thank you both! I'll definitely steer clear of Dark Imperium. I think I'll go for just the intercessors for now as I don't know enough to know whether I want Aggressors yet  (plus one unit at a time feels more manageable for me as a noob). The only units I have earmarked after the obligatory troops is Feirros, a Repulsor Executioner and maybe a couple of Redemptor Dreadnaughts.