Space marine Tactical Squad New Sprue Breakdown 2013

All Games Workshop miniatures © Games Workshop 2003. All rights reserved. 

So here it is - the new Space Marine Tactical Squad is out - along with all the other Space Marine stuff - and we've got our hands on it to break down for you... just for you! Not because I wanted them...

~ WARNING - I am not a photographer, so expect dodgy pictures below ~

So here we go - September 7th 2013, and Australia is technically the first place to have the new games Workshop Space Marine Tactical boxed set on sale.
Below you will find some of the new bits that stood out to me - some a surprise, some exactly what we had expected

Legs

Interesting split here. The amount of MKVI legs is interesting and the inclusion of the MKIV legs maybe points the the possible inclusion of earlier Marks in their sets in the future.

MKVII

MKVI

MKVI

MKVII

MKVII

The MKIV legs compared to the Forge World MKIV legs

MKVII

MKVI

MKVI

MKVII

Helmets

Interesting cross section, of heads. Nice to see 3 bare heads and a new type of respirator. I do wonder if that respirator also goes with a new type of helmet though...
Like the legs, lots of studs, and a newer shape of respirator on the MKVII helmets with leads me to wonder if they are meant to be MKVIII of just a different pattern...

What seems like a Raven Guard MKVI helmet by the horizontal rather than vertical ventilators

Notice the different grill shapes. I wonder if the two on the right are supposed to be MKVIII helmets?

Nice selection of bare heads this time. The first one is interesting and isn't disimilar to the ones produced by Victoria Miniatures. The second one is pretty standard and possibly just a retooling. The third one harks back to the original Space Marine scouts!

The Victoria Miniatures heads are not dissimilar. If you haven't tried her products, click on the pic to check them out.

Shoulder pads and torsos

The chests all seem to be retooled. Very crisp and nice. The MKVIII torso (not pictured) has a new collar which fits the MKVII helmets better too.

Firstly we have an Iron Halo (left) and I wonder if the other three are MKVIII shoulder pads. Nice little skull on the 2nd one, aquila on the 3rd and a little jewel on the 3rd (right) Incidentally, notice the bullet casing on the 1st one? They are hanging from many items.

All the torsos are pretty standard, but retooled by the look of them. The Mk VI (left) is very crisp and this skull with wreath (right) is very interesting I think.

Backpacks

These are the bits that are a revelation to me - they have some really interesting details on them

Now have a look at this. Top left has the newer horizontal ventilation holes. Top middle seems to be a Dark Angels, but has some really interesting vertical ventilation holes, almost like an earlier mark of armour... Top right has what seems to be exposed wires, maybe Iron Hands. Bottom left is your standard backpack released in the last plastic boxed set with horizontal ventilation holes, but less that the one above and to it's left. Bottom right is the standard backpack introduced with the MKVII Space Marines when those minis were released in lead back in the late 90s

Weapons

The Grav-weapons were the real unknown here, and they look pretty nice, but the combi-weapons look just great! Really impressive and something that I think will sell the kit!

The new Grav weapons. The pistol is quite cute and really could be mistaken for a las-pistol or needler (remember those?). The gun is bigger than I thought and an interesting new challenge...

Horrible pic - sorry! The new combi weapons - a Deathwatch modeller's dream! Top left: Melta Top right: Plasma Bottom left: Flamer Bottom right: Grav-thingy I can imagine the bolter attachment fetching a pretty penny on ebay, as every man and his dog will want to play with these! Impressive stuff...

In conclusion, if you have the older box, it's nothing super-new.
The retooling is nice and crisp though and they have squeezed a lot on the sprues (3 in total).
As far as bits goes, this has a lot to it.
Look, I don't have to sell you on this - they're Marines! If you want them, you will buy them BUT what I can say, is that Games Workshop have done a very nice job,
We don't really lose anything, and gain quite a bit in return.

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In this artcile, you would have seen my reference to MKVIII Space Marines - THIS (right) is supposedly a MKVIII Space Marine by the master himself, Jes Goodwin.

For some reason they haven't been mass produced by Games Workshop, and the ones that have seem to vary - but this is the definitive picture by Jes Goodwin.