Plastic Squat Force Using Mantic Forge Fathers

[fourcolorfigs]

I am looking to do a small, plastic Squat force for all editions of 40K. I have friends who play 2nd, 3rd, and all the way up to the most recent editions of the game.

I thought it might be fun to build a force using Mantic's Warpath plastics--and maybe even try Warpath too!

I have my eye on one of each of these:

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/warpath/forge-fathers/product/steel-warriors.html

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/warpath/forge-fathers/product/forge-guard-wpu.html

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/warpath/forge-fathers/product/iron-ancestor-wpu.html

Any thoughts on these? And any suggestions on an APC suitable for them?

Thanks!

[Hobby Services]

I always like the Pig Iron vehicles for not-Squats, the Ironshield being the APC version.  Thought they were out of business, but their web store still seems to be working so maybe I heard wrong?

http://www.pig-iron-productions.com/ironshield-apc-complete-kit-p-43.html

[Inso]

The Steelwarrior plastics are great but there are a few little issues with them. Here is a blog post that reviews them and highlights the issues I had:

http://insosworld.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/a-mantic-deadzone-post.html

That said, I am using converted Steelwarriors and Forgeguard in my Squat army so I certainly like them

As for APCs, It depends on what you are after. The Squats used to ride around in Space Marine Rhinos so they may be a place to look. Alternatively, the Pig Iron tanks (as mentioned) are good but are pretty big. Pig Iron changed hands and is still operating.

Other options would be:

https://puppetswar.eu/product.php?id_product=269
http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_112_117
http://shop.ramshacklegames.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6&zenid=5556a9ba6de3232e638161de38703f53 (especially the Rhebok)
http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=217_218_42
http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=217_218_59_65&sort=20a&page=5

And, of course, converting modern tank kits

[Hobby Services]

As for APCs, It depends on what you are after. The Squats used to ride around in Space Marine Rhinos so they may be a place to look. Alternatively, the Pig Iron tanks (as mentioned) are good but are pretty big. Pig Iron changed hands and is still operating.

Thanks, I was wondering about that.  Of course now I have to resist the temptation to buy some of their stuff.  Thought I'd missed that boat. 

[Inso]

Thanks, I was wondering about that.  Of course now I have to resist the temptation to buy some of their stuff.  Thought I'd missed that boat. 

As soon as I heard they were closing, I ordered a big batch of separate heads... then five minutes later discovered that the shop wasn't closing after all and that a new owner had been found and business would continue as normal... I didn't feel robbed because I would have bought the heads anyway... so it was very welcome news

[Major_Gilbear]

I am looking to do a small, plastic Squat force for all editions of 40K. I have friends who play 2nd, 3rd, and all the way up to the most recent editions of the game.

I thought it might be fun to build a force using Mantic's Warpath plastics--and maybe even try Warpath too!

[...]
Any thoughts on these? And any suggestions on an APC suitable for them?

Firstly, there are some modest bundle deals for the same models in a related game by Mantic here.

Secondly, the Kickstarter is still being fulfilled, with Wave 2 due in the next couple of months. If you are willing to wait a bit, not only will you get FF vehicles (a half-track with various weapons, an APC, and a Tank with various weapons), but Mantic will undoubtedly put up some much better bundle deals for Warpath.

Thirdly, if you want to see what vehicles look like, here they are:











Fourthly, if you plan on playing 3E 40k or later, these models will need to be proxied using either Space Marine or Imperial Guard army lists. Personally, I feel Space Marines would fit them better (more elite/fewer models, better armour, squad types that mirror the Warpath ones, etc), but both are valid options.

Finally, as an example of the sort of upcoming bundle deals that you can expect from Mantic, here is the KS page with the graphics on it. It's likely that they will change the contents to better suit the newly-funded plastic model range and the Warpath army lists, but it gives you some idea of what might be offered.

Inso is correct about the original Squats using Rhinos and such, although those are not especially cheap to buy and are about the same size as the FF tanks pictured above. Alternatively, you can of course use other suitable tank kits (Pig Iron does some cool wardroids too, which the original Squats also used), or even kitbash some using cheap kits/toys.

[Argonor]

I really like the aesthetics of those AFVs. Could well find their way to my workstation(s) at some point... 

[Hobby Services]

I really like the aesthetics of those AFVs. Could well find their way to my workstation(s) at some point... 

Ditto.  Hadn't seen those, but they're quite appealing in a vaguely silly sort of way.  You might even say they're...wait for it...riveting. 

[fourcolorfigs]

Thanks, all! Wow! Great responses!

I plan to likely play them as proxied Marines for 3rd and higher, and use the 2nd ed. Squat rules for 2nd ed.

That blog review gives me a good idea of what I am in for in the basic kit.

I think I can handle it.

Those Mantic APCs are nice, but maybe a bit exotic looking? Not sure. I need to think about them. The Pig Iron one is more of what I had envisioned. I'll keep reading this thread for more info!

[Sir_Theo]

Ramshackle games do some cool Squat suitable vehicles. 

[Bone]

  atm there are some Mantic Forge Fathers on my workbench too - in addition to the mentioned miniatures I use :
http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/deadzone/forge-fathers/product/forge-father-faction-booster-2nd-edition.html

My answer to the APC question is .......
Trilateral Union Prowler
http://www.genetmodels.com/ebbles-miniatures-2010-2011/

When I'm done with painting the dwarves I will build one from plasticcard 

[Hobby Services]

My answer to the APC question is .......
Trilateral Union Prowler
http://www.genetmodels.com/ebbles-miniatures-2010-2011/

That Despoiler over there could be a good basis for a modernized Squat Gyrocopter, maybe with the engines swapped out for something a bit more rotary-fan-ish.

Those Mantic APCs are nice, but maybe a bit exotic looking?

They might look better if you painted them to de-emphasize the "glowing eyeball" vision slits or whatever those are supposed to be.  Easy enough to do, and other than that they aren't terribly odd.  Rather like the distinctive armor style, and the Batmobile-inspired hull shape is suitably sci-fi.

EDIT:  Just dawned on me, you're Scott "Goalsystem" Pyle, aren't you?  The Mantic AFVs (glowing eyes and all) would make great "Supervillain Army" vehicles for a not-Doctor Doom/Red Skull kind of baddy, wouldn't they?  "Kneel before the legions of Iron Skull, puny heroes!"

And then the little monkey-boy alien shouted "Kamehameha!" and they all died horribly. 

[Diablo Jon]

Daemonscape do some nice stuff more 25mm than 28mm but that probably works better for squats.

http://www.daemonscape.com/contents/en-uk/d5.html

[Hat Guy]

Can highly recommend Warpath: Firefight as a rules set, great for 30-50 figure armies with some fun little rules.

[commissarmoody]

I Thought they were out of business, but their web store still seems to be working so maybe I heard wrong?

They are back in business, I was thinking of picking up some of their system scavengers