Jet Bikes have been popping up over the last year from all the major after market resin accessory manufacturers. And now we have one from Forge World, which frankly, is one of the worst models they have ever put out. And I love Forge World, but damn, the Scimitar Jet Bike is one ugly model. So here is a survey of available after market jet bike models for your Horus Heresy army.
Zealot Miniatures
This model is no longer available, but is noteworthy in that it is a very close copy of the image from The Horus Heresy Visions of Heresy book. And it should be viewed as the gold standard since it IS what a jet bike should like like. Not only does it replicate the image Games Workshop sanctioned, but it is freaking cool!
Forge World Scimitar Pattern Jet Bike
This is the new Scimitar Jet Bike from Forge World. It is too big, too bulky and not the least bit elegant. It looks like an 18 wheeler in space! UGH. I can't believe this got past concept stage with Forge World. A total MISS.
Inspiration - The Monopoly Car:
Blood and Skulls Industry Thunder Assault Speeder
Now THIS is what a jet bike model should look like! Tom McBride hit a home run. I will take some credit in that I didn't like his original design and asked for him to go back and make it more like the Zealot and he did. This model looks the part. Close enough to the Games Workshop image to fit right into an Imperial Heresy Army. Find them on his eBay Store.
Chapterhouse Studios Jet Bike
Chapterhouse struck out with this model BORING. The back is a dud. Just no elegance here. Available on their webpage.
Max Mini Gothic Jet Bike
A very nice model. The back is way too light and doesn't at all match the front. A bit too whimsical for me. Available on their web store.
Kromlech Shark Jet Bike
God, is this an ugly piece of crap. Total amateur hour. No imagination. Available on their eBay store.
There's also Antenocitis Workshop's jetbikes:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/werewolf-grav-bike.html
http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/vampire-grav-bike-kit.html
I used the 02 (Werewolf) for an AdMech conversion myself. Looked pretty slick.
I suspect FW were told to produce a jetbike which wasn't simply a standard SM bike (2 bolters etc) that hovers. That probably pushed them towards a more bulky design incorporating a heavy weapon.
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING in the imperium is a box. Expecting things not to be a box is just silly.
ReplyDeleteI'll agree that Tom's recent efforts are hand down the nicest ones currently available, and will be what I'll be using on the Heresy-Era Emperor's Children I have planned. The MaxMini bikes are a cool homage to the Ravenwing Biker Lord model, but as you said, the rear end is too 'light' to balance the look of the front.
ReplyDeleteBigDaddy (currently of Blight Wheel Minis) had some great jetbikes that really matched the World Eaters Visions of Heresy art, though they too are out of print.
http://hearthguard.over-blog.com/article-world-eaters-pre-heresie-jet-bike-80639791.html
I'd managed to score some way back in the day, but as I understand it they are unfortunately no longer available. Now that the FW book is stirring up more interest, I'll have to dig them out of the Closet of Doom and put 'em together!
"God, is this an ugly piece of crap. Total amateur hour. No imagination."
ReplyDeleteThat seems a tad harsh. It's your opinion which you are certainly entitled to but to say the sculptor is an amateur or has no imagination is a significant overstatement, to me at least. Would you say that to the sculptor's face?
PS. I have NO afiliation with any games company and don't know anyone who does...
The Forgeworld Bike was inspired by the RACECARS that inspired that monopoly piece. I also imagine with the CWS lawsuit in full swing. That they wanted to sculpt a jetbike that looked different from all other Jetbikes that have ever hit the market.
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the Vintage Racecar look to the new bikes. I hope they release others in different styles.
BTW you might want to check ChapterHouses's OTHER jet bike. The back is much better.
ReplyDeletehttp://chapterhousestudios.com/image/cache/data/product%20images/May%20Releases/PilumSideBolter-500x500-500x500.jpg
Also you are kind of harsh on a couple of bikes. I think you have a vision that can't see other styles being valid.
I didnt like it either. Looks way too phallic. Samael has one of the last jetbikes, it seems like a big leap from these to that. Especially being that the HH is supposed to have better and more elegant tech.
ReplyDeleteI think the Maxmini one is the best bike, small in the back and a big front seems to be the go to style for the really stylized Harleys.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Kromlech Shark bike seems crude, rough and slapped together. Almost like it was made for Orks, but hey thats Kromlech's specialty making stuff for Ork's that Ork's aren't supposed to get.
Oh and your jerk is showing :P
Settle down man, settle down, You're expecting the best stuff to come out first.
ReplyDeleteThat FW Bike is just a regular plain old jet bike for a regular old space marine, do you really think they were going to just make one and call it done?
Besides there were MANY Different variations of the Jet Bike for Imperium, wanna talk about UGLY? The World Eaters jet bike was UGLY, it was short, sutbby and had Teeth on the front, while the Emperor's Children were long and elegant.
Settle down lol.
Besides that 1st bike you posted is Legio Custodes, you really expect Forgeworld to release a Custodes Bike for Normal Marines?
Comon man... have patience.
I think you're forgetting that these are supposed to be for the Horus Heresy stuff, meaning it's supposed to be for Warhammer 30k not 40k.
ReplyDeleteThe bulky, inelegant design is deliberate and fits in with the other stuff for that period that they've released.
Of course the Dark Angel 40k jetbike is fancy, sleek and all round "nice" but it's supposed to be one of the last ones made, not one of the first.
I like the Scimitar, it reminds me of Star Wars, and that's awesome. Now your opinion with the Custodes bike is understandable, but if you look at just about all Custodes things, their off in some way.
ReplyDeleteIn my honest opinion most of what forgeworld puts out looks pretty awful. I got into 40k for the models. I think GW does a really good job with their models. I think that GW Termies are far better than FW termies. FW termies just look like wimpy larger base guys. I like the GW helmets for 40k better than any 30k helmet. I even prefer beakies to those that FW puts out. Most of FW's tanks look really really bad. I just hope that GW does not start using FW modelers because, IMO they look terrible.
ReplyDelete