"Proper use for GW Space Marines" Topic

I was having a wander round the hobby shop with my lady friend and we were lamenting the fact that the 40K stuff was just so darn expensive yet there was so much in the way of WWII 1/72 plastics and scenery. Then it occurred to me:

Given that;

1: 40K Fluff Marines are supposed to be 8 feet tall in their ceramsteel booties

and

2: 40K Space Marines look exactly the same size (albeit a bit on the tubbier side) as their 28mm counterparts;

and in mind of the facts that

3: 40K fluff is basically WWII/WWI in space
4: 40K is lethal to all known forms of wallets
5: 1/72 plastics are dirt cheap
6: Space Marines are supposed to be able to slaughter vicious aliens in their thousands yet are equivalent to 2 Imperial Guard?

Why not:

1: Mix 1/72 plastics and Space Marines
2: Tweak or use rules that reflect their toughness.

Oh and:

3: Remove all bling, cutlery and library property from their persons as it is silly

This of course must have been done before.

Contemplated, certainly.

Then you put the Marine Rhino next to a 1/72 scale military model to match your "IG", and the silly kicks in again.

Probably have to use one of these:

link

picture

With WWII tank crew upper bodies and bitz, might look convincing enough.

Or one of these in 28mm, which might work for WWWII…

picture

This makes a frightening amount of sense

Great idea-- assuming the first thing you do is throw out any rules published by GW.

There were rules for "movie Marines" that were basically Space Marines with invulnerable saves and Rending weapons; include the true scale Marine conversions, or use smaller scale models for infantry, and you could easily replicate a more "cinematic" feel.

I've been getting those new (relatively) WWII 20mm figs to use for guard. They fit in better with the fluff as being the right size.

That's one of the great things about this hobby-your able to customize it anyway you wish.However,dont expect the next guy to always agree with you.

Its always bugged me how small the space marine figures are. I think the IG figs are actually bigger. Actually it like really really bugs me.

Pictors – which 20mm WW2?

If you got plastic WWII Germans in gas masks you could use em as Death Korp as a start or Marines in Veitman as Jungle figthers of Catchan and possibly Bristish from Zulu period as Preatorians.

Valiant Miniatures 20mm WW2 figures are about the right size, they are the same size as GZG's 25mm figures.

I originally thought that my RTB01 Space Marines were true-scale 25mm, when compared to my Grenadier Traveller and Ral Partha Battletroops minis…

Ravenasri:

Actually death Korps are more WW1 germans with gasmasks & french Adrian helmets

Back when I played 40k, I used Italeri 1:72 Crimean War Russian Artillery as my Imperial Guard. Once you stick them on the same style base as the GW stuff, they look good next to the marines.

The problem is that if you want to use any other of the miniatures, they too will look huge next to the 1:72 plastics.

If you're going to cut off all the skullz and stuff, why are you buying Space Marines anyway? If 40k is just WWII is space (I thought it more similar to the Holy Roman Empire in space myself), why not just move over to WWII gaming?

"Pictors – which 20mm WW2?"

The Valiant ones.

Or one of these in 28mm, which might work for WWWII…

Actually you would want to go with 1/35 scale since they fit in good with other 40k stuff.

GZG 25mm with GW 32mm would work.

Yes I would think the GZG would better represent IG or human sized troops. Of course the Eldar are going to be true Tolkien sized space elves and the orks are going to be real brutes. Not a bad thing.

melt them down and use metal for sinker weights when goin fishing

I chased up an old comparison picture.

picture

Caeser Miniatures 20mm Modern US, Valiant 20mm British and GZG 25mm NAC Marine (With alternative Warzone plastic helmet).

I chased up another comparison picture

picture

28mm GW Imperial Guard (with Warzone head) and 25mm GZG 25mm NAC Marine (with Warzone head)….that should give a fair idea of the size difference.

melt them down and use metal for sinker weights when goin fishing

^
Honestly thought that this was going to be the first response to this thread…

that's a nice idea for WWW2 as well!
I'll take a look at some Warmachine mechs next
to my 20mm WW2…

thanks for the ideas!

Chris

Melt them down? They'd make terrible sinkers. And just buying sinkers would be cheaper than buying marines to melt down into sinkers…and now you're looking at needing casting equipment, something to properly melt them down and more. It'd be quite expensive to melt them down. /facepalm

Next. Love the idea of using 25mms next to GW's Heroic 28s for true scaling. Brilliant idea, and GZG has alot to offer in the range of possible rebels, insurgents and what-not. Could even use their troops(Due to variety) for a Great Crusade style campaign. Uniting humanity. :P
Though, the upside of being 28mm like so many other lines with various conversion parts, extra heads, etc means that you don't always have to use those lame looking GW non-helmeted heads. I for one am currently putting West Wind Productions German field cap heads on my Cadian Veterans to make them look more…."Veteran-y." (At least by cinematic standards. :P I'm sure a real vet would find ways to not only keep that helm strapped on, but up-armour it too.)