Assembly Notes
Warhammer 40,000 was my first endeavor into multi-component
miniatures as well as my first experience with plastic miniatures.
It opened my eyes to both.
Why these pages?
I found it annnoying and frustrating when I bought my Tyranid
models and they contained no instructions for assembly or even
a guide to the sprue and blister
contents. So I have kept a log of my assembly travails for
fellow Hive Minds to benefit from.
- Always read the entire procedure first
- If you are a minor, always seek adult supervision
- Always choose safety over speed
Use Pictures!
You should look up pictures of the model in the Tyranid Codex
as well as keep the box the model came in close by. The picture
on the cover of the box and the pictures in the Codex will help
guide you as to the intended posture and appearance, which can
be very helpful, even if you want to convert the model.
Why multi-component?
There is a good reason to create model from multiple compnents.
Molding is generally performed along a given plane, so a mold
cannot create somce curving undercut features. The more pieces
a miniature is broken down into, the more of the original detail
is preserved. So, if you want the miniature to look good, you
should be happy about the multiple components. If that is not
enoug to convince you, then try to convert an army of one-piece
minis into an army with various action poses and you will see
another advantage to a multi-component miniature, easier modification
and conversion.
Why plastic?
I assume it is not only cheaper, but the technology is already
well established due to plastic kits, meaning that the miniatures
hobby can now tap into and benefit from an inheritance of knowledge
and equipment already in existence. I find plastic easier to
clean up and I like the weld-like joints I can easily make with
plastic cement.
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