Rothand Studios Hierotitan Conversion Kit Review

In recent years GW has really gotten into releasing dual purpose kits...  Every major plastic kit is seems can be used for two units or more.  Sadly when you build one of these builds you end up with lots of extra parts.  Not always a bad thing when you love to convert as much as I do BUT the Warsphinx kit has always annoyed me.  Until now....

I saw this Hierotitian conversion kit on a Warseer modelling log over the Christmas holiday and thought it looked really good.  I was also excited because having a set (or two) would give me a set of legs for the alternate upper body that comes with the Warsphinx kit.  I had seen a few conversions online with sculpted snake lower bodies and while that is something that I am likely to do myself (looking at my daemon armies) I wanted something that looked a little less DIY.

Anyway I contacted Rothand Studios and ordered a set of legs via email and a few short weeks later these showed up! Now it should be noted that in the picture on the left the kit has a number of extra conversion bits (hands and what they are holding most specifically) that are NOT part of this conversion kit.  That is fine.  The legs have always been the problem for me.  I hate the idea that I waste such a cool looking top half of a model.  Anyway...  On to the kit itself.

The price was good.  From memory... $30 or so with shipping (could have been less)...  The shipping was fast and the packing was good.  All very dependable and excellent.  Now to the good stuff!

The kit itself comes in four pieces:
1) lower legs
2) the groin
3) the loin cloth
4) a knee cap

You can see the parts as they arrived in my mailbox the other day.  I leaned the loin cloth on the groin for the photo because when I had it separate it it looked funny despite looking good in real life.

The casting of these models is very good with very few minor mold lines.  Lines are crisp and there is a surprising amount of detail worked into the groin wrappings and loin cloth.  It looks like a treat to paint up.

I also especially like the detail modelled onto the feet and sandals.  Very sharp and professional.  I have taken some of the bitz from the GW kit and they fit these legs like a dream.  This makes me a VERY happy camper!

To the left you can see the kit blue tac-ed together and you can see the groin section of the kit without the loin cloth.

I would estimate this kit would take literally 5 minutes to clean, assemble and glue.  Since I am time poor these days... I LOVE the idea of that!

My only gripe with the kit is I think the teeth on the kneepads look like they need more detailing.  Then again.... That is my pre painting opinion.  Looking at finished versions online I assume that will not be a problem once paint hits model.

To conclude:  This conversion kit is AMAZING!  If you play Tomb Kings...  You SHOULD BUY ONE NOW!  More small independent companies should get out there and do kits like this.

Rothand Studios...  Check them out! (They have a Kdaii kit and a new treeman kit as well as a dragon hide banner.)

Til next time gang!

P.S. Daemons coming next month!  How excited am I?!?!

Return of "The Dwellers Below" (A New Podcast Episode)

Too bad he is wearing short shorts under that!

In this K’daai sized episode The Dwellers detail some first impressions of the new Warriors of Chaos army book, and cover Australia’s biggest Warhammer tournament: CanCon. Some stupidity sprinkled throughout.

Find us on iTunes and here.

Throgg options...

I have decided to run Throgg in my warriors army as the truck loads of trolls I have would make a very solid core section (he makes trolls core)... He is strength 8 with his great weapon, has the old magical regen rule, vomits strength 5, can be a general ... etc, etc.  He is a tank.

The problem is.... What model to use?

Here is the new GW one:

Very cool and heroic and the like but he really doesn't fit the ascetic of my furry, sculpted Pac Man gribblies...   The cape especially does't work.  I suppose I could sculpt fur on the back and that could tie him in with his smaller friends BUT something about the face does't click for me...  Neither does the almost $100 price tag down here in AUS!  YUCK!

My old buddies at Miss Painting Group made this version (The one on the right):

Now I quite like this dude.  Big ugly and very similar to the book art from the last book.  Add some fur and BAMMMM!  I think he would be perfect.  Problem is that the ebay store for MPG stopped selling him and the rest of their GW like sculpts.  Wondering if legal got to them?

Which leaves me with making my own which is probably the best best bet as it would then definitely match my trolls.  Thinking about using a minotaur body as a base to sculpt on top of or maybe even an old metal stone troll...  Anyone have any ideas?

Either way I think I need to make two more troll models as pullers for the new special chariot option.

Luckily I have a pile of metal chariots ripe for conversions.

Off to think... 

B

My Feelings On The New Warriors Book

With my birthday is a few weeks off I have promised not to buy anything hobby wise as to not ruin possible presents...  sadly this includes the new Warriors of Chaos book that came out on Saturday.  Having owned several Warriors armies over the years and editions I am pretty damned excited about the possibilities available with this book.

Last night I got my first real look at the book (outside of pirate PDF's)...

First and for most I think GW fixed the most glaring problems with the book with a few small changes. Most importantly Chaos Marauders have been ridiculously underpriced since the advent of 8th ed.  I am very happy to see that they went up a few points per model and that great weapons also went up a few points.  Are they too expensive now...  Maybe by a point or two?  Are they more closely priced to what they should be?  Damned straight.  I was tired to death of seeing hordes of great weapon marauders as far as the eye could see.  Puppet... Gone!  Thank God!  Gateway... fixed? Maybe... but now I can run Tzeentch now with getting comped into next week.

Meanwhile my old list has only gone up a few points and still generally does the same things:

Sword and board marauders and warriors with MOT...  Almost the same (overall up a few points)

Knights (I run three units of 5)... Up 15 points IF I keep the ensorcelled weapons (I probably will)

Dogs:  The same BUT now I can run them with vanguard for 2 points more.  This is HUGE for my army.  My dogs always struggled to get where I needed them.  This should fix my mobility issues.

Marauder Horse...  Similar... (forgot to compare point values)

Chariots: cheaper AND now core!  SWEET! I might have to convert up some being pulled by my fury troll creatures and use them as the CRAZY special version.  T6 is awesome!

I just finished the unit of 24 trolls (sculpting that is)...  They drop 10 points per model!  I will take the loss of mutant regen and magical attacks for the lower price!  I wonder if people will be pissed if I take three units of 8?  Speaking of which... I think I need to convert a Throgg model ASAP as he is broken as all get out AND by taking him I can take trolls as core.

Sure everyone is talking about how AWESOME Chimera and Dp's are BUT I think they are going to get comp hit in the junk ASAP.  I think I might just stick with what I have...

Magic wise the lore of Tzeentch looks good but "warp flame" is silly.  Will have to play test a fair bit but the idea of giving my opponent an ever increasing ward save is they pass their T tests is kinda annoying.
Lore of Nurgle is full of buffs and hexs...  It will be the new black especially on DP's.
Slaneshi magic looks fun but once again I think this warrants some playing.

Overall I love that the book is filled with viable choices.  LOTS of list options that suit a variety of play.  I really like the new book!

The Dwellers Below Podcast got together last night to discuss this very topic.  Stay tuned for the cast itself.  I got a lot out of it.  Hope you will too....

Anyway...  Time to find my warrior case in storage...  Blah...

B