"If GW released an updated box of Beakie Marines..." Topic

Would you get any, and if so how many?

Opened a box I hadn't seen in yonks, and it contained a bag of about eighty plastic Beakie marines I had painted waaaay back in the day. I only ever played RT40k, then promptly switched to WHFB. But I loved those models.

Nostalgia led me thinking that if GW released an updated version, i.e. scaled to whatever it is they do now, I'd probably pick up some for fun. I'm surprised that the evil empire hasn't done this already…or have they, and I wasn't paying attention?

The new tactical squad has the parts (head and chestpiece) to complete 2x MK 6 "beaky" in it.

They are also available on Forgeworld with the older weapons

link

My nostalgia gland says I'd buy into that McWong.

I'd love to recreate my Blood Drinkers from back in the day.

Still got mine…about 40 of them. Moved on from RT to 40k 2nd ed. and no further.

Amen, brother!

Almost looks tempting…

ditto

Yep, I'd be all in for that too.

I'm not interested in 2 beakies per sprue, I would want a box of thirty of them. Do they have the classic shoulder pads?

I can still remember feeling giddy seeing them in the flesh for the first time. While I left GW gaming long ago, I'll give them the credit of starting me down the path of wargaming (I discovered the Skarloc's Wood Elf Archers box set not long after, which locked me into wargaming).

Anyone know the best way to strip paint of these old plastic figures? Simple green or boil them?

"Would you get any…?"

I would not

I'd be all over a box of 30 new parts to make a box of beakies. The new tactical box does include all the parts for a few beakie marines, and a few extra. There are two beakie helmets, two mk 6 chests, one blank shoulder pad and one spiked shoulder pad, and 4 sets of mk 6 legs. The only thing missing is an original style backpack (though the new packs don't look all that different).

I still think GW lost an opportunity during the 25 year anniversary to release an all beakie box to go with the Crimson Fist marine they released.

But I don't work at GW so…

If you buy a few of the boxes and then scour the internet bitz sites, Forgeworld, and Ebay, you can come up with enough parts to do it yourself, but it's no fun.

That original boxed set is what got me into wargaming in the first place, so the cover art and those models (painted badly with toothpicks and Testors gloss model paints) will always hold a special place in my heart.

@McWong73,
Simple Green should do. I go one better and put the Simple Green in an ultrasonic cleaner. It works fantastic!

When I did a new Space Marine army maybe 6 years ago, I used all the womble heads on the veteran squad.

Good times.

The BIG thing about the original box of beakies was what you got for the price !! A bargain. Will we see those days again ?

I'd prefer a box of MK IV helmets

cost an arm and a leg to have nothing but Mark IV helmets since theres only 2-3 in total in plastic, the rest only through FW

Nostalgia factor would have me buying some but only if they were similarly pose able to the original beakies. Most of the newer GW marines seem rather stiff compared to the RTB01 figures.

If only they were still $19.00 USD for 30 minis. Not to mention 3 Rhinos for $19.00 USD. Ahhh, memories.

My nostalgia gland says I'd buy into that McWong.

Hahaha!

I don't think the original beakies were very posable. No more than the current, and slightly less. Original legs came in two stiff poses, not the 5 or more now. Chest pieces today are slightly more posable as you can rotate them on the ball and socket shape easier. Beakie arms came moulded with pads on and in only a few arm poses. New models have more arm options and different pads.

I love the original beakies for nostalgia, but I don't miss the models.

YMMV of course.

…released a box of beakie marines…

They'd still be $40 USD (or more) for 10 and I still wouldn't be interested. I don't play 40k anymore and I've got enough GW stuff in the to-be-painted bin to keep me busy for ever.

The conversion parts for Beakies have been available for some time now and some folks have done beakie armies. Forgeworld has whole beakie squads as seen here: link

It's an interesting price-per fig analysis though.
Plastic Beakies in late 80's were $0.66 USD each.
Plastic Marine today is $4 USD each.
Forge World Beakie is about $7.50 USD each

Meh. The MKVI pattern 'Corvus' (aka 'Beakie' or 'Heckle & Jeckle') armor was fine when it was the only game in town with 1st Edition and the cheap RTB01 boxset, but I don't prefer them any more than later MKVII 'Aquila' and MKVIII 'Errant' power armors.

GW actually mixed in elements of earlier armors in their newer SM box sets, like the MKV 'Heresy' and MKIV 'Maximus' patterns, allowing you to make hybrids like mixing MKIV helmets with later mark armor and vice versa.

I remember someone had a box of those same original marines unopened for over $3,000 USD on ebay.

8)

I have two unopened boxes …

I remember someone had a box of those same original marines unopened for over $3,000 USD USD on ebay.

Which is only slightly more than you'd pay GW for a re-release…

The beaks look like a place to collect puke (every helmet with its own air sickness bag). While I appreciate nostalgia, they don't do much for me personally.

The beaks look like a place to collect puke (every helmet with its own air sickness bag). While I appreciate nostalgia, they don't do much for me personally.

Bite yer tongue!

Personally, I just grab "broken" lots for $1 USD or less a fig and put beakie head on 'em. Probably wouldn't pay GW retail for 'em, but there are number of other bird conversions I could do (have a handful waiting for that now).

Dead on Heckle and Jeckle marines.

Magpies have white breasts, but all black heads. Them's penguins.

I have my old ones.

I believe those in the picture above are the dreaded Space Wombles whose patriarch was Great Uncle Bulgaria Russ.

LOL!

Forgeworld already do it.

link

If they released a box of 30 of them that box would cost around $150. USD

Thing is the fanboyz would buy them.

I really … don't like them. sorry. :-)

Funny thing about Beakies, it always seems to me that folks really like them or dislike them, not much middle ground. I am firmly in the like them camp and have about ninety of them. They always looked a little off to me but with a bit of modifying they are still favorites of mine. I cut the feet back so they are not so ridiculously long, put 2nd ED backpacks on them(much more detailed).I also added kit to them like the small ammo packs and grenades from 5 TH ED, and cut the ammo magazines from the bolters,moved them back toward the trigger guards, and added shoulder straps to the bolters.The last thing was to shave and smooth the studded shoulder pads as the castings on those parts was kind of crummy. As for poses, the tan plastic is very nice, and easy to work with so re-posing was easy. Drilled the bolter barrels out and all in all they make lovely figures. :)
I also did about forty more beakies out of the 5TH ED multi- part marines by trading parts with a bunch of other guys who thought they didn't care for beakies….until they saw mine… LOL. Only problem for me with the 5Th Ed troops is GW did not make a chest plate with the "Y" cables so I used the "X" cables or "clean" chests since that was the closest I could get.
Any way Beakies are all good in my book.

Well back when they first came out they had far better looking Missile Launchers.

The current Missile Launchers look horrible.

Which is why I do not give any of my Marines that weapon.

I totally agree on the missile launcher. Forgeworld released a pack of old style heavy weapons that includes that original style magazine fed missile launcher. I have one, and it looks great with the new plastic beakie parts.

My entire 40K Crimson fist army is a beakie force. I also used chest pieces that do not have the eagle on them. They have a very throwback feel to them with a modern touch. I also use the original Land Raider in my force.

I would not be interested in beakies, but MkVIIIs?

Heck to the YES!!!11!!!

I would not say no to the old style missile launcher though.