Building The Kit

 

It’s time to get building. Or it was, before I wrote this article. It’s not time to get building now, because well, they’re already built. And before anyone panics, yes I did go back and drill out the barrels. I just hadn’t when I took this photo post assembly.

 

The first thing I realized, as I went through clipping the sprue, was how tiny the pieces were in actuality. The sprue mating points on some of the thinner pieces actually wrap around the model to two sides, which meant some extra clipping to clean up. It makes sense that these points, which would have no issues on larger models, would interact differently at this scale.

 

The initial assembly of the torso was not too troublesome, and dropping in the top carapace of the knight was extremely satisfying. However, when it comes time to attach your choice of Heavy Stubber / Meltagun on the upper carapace hardpoint, make sure to read and re-read the correct option for which knight you want to build. I actually left this step (step 4) to the very last to ensure I wasn’t accidentally invalidating the WYSIWYG of my models. Though, anyone who wants to give you trouble about a meltagun vs stubber at this scale (or even at larger scales frankly) should probably take a minute to think about the life choices that have lead them to this moment.

 

Configuration Choices

 

Speaking of configurations, it’s important to note something that I discovered as I was clipping the sprues and laying out parts for the builds. I had initially thought that the sprues contained sufficient parts to build three of the same knight models for your Knight Banner unit.

 

Unfortunately, however, that the kit does not include sufficient ranged weaponry to build three of the same Knight configurations. You’re stuck with one of each of the main armaments:

 

• One Rapid-Fire Battlecannon (Knight Paladin)
• One Thermal cannon (Knight Errant)
• One Questoris-Avenger Gatling Cannon (Knight Warden)

 

They do at least provide ample opportunities to use Thunderstrike gauntlets. In fact, should you be so inclined you could make a trio of pugilistically inclined Knight Gallants, ready to play rock-em-sock-em heretics (or loyalists, I won’t judge… but the Emperor will!) you are well catered for.

 

There are enough Reaper chainblades for those who prefer to slice and dice over making fist sized holes in things to equip any combination of valid Knights. If you were hoping to double up though, you’re out of luck. (Yes, technically speaking dual Reapers is not a supported knight configuration but it should be)

 

One thing to note, with how the point values stand right now, opting for Thunderstrike Gauntlets adds extra points to the models. This also applies to the rocket pods that are optional attachments to the models.

 

The shoulder mount points for each of the two selected weapon systems are fairly flexible in terms of position, allowing for out of the box pitch, roll and yaw. I opted to lock in a glued position rather than magnetizing, since my only real option would be switching between Knight X and Knight Gallant. The best point for magnetization is likely at the torso sidewall and shoulder joint. This would remove some of the motion ability for pitch and all of the yaw, but it’s the tradeoff for flexible roll. The elbow joint above the weapon mount is far too thin to magnetize, in my opinion (and with my skill, and magnet selection) but if you’re brave enough there’s a way to get that yaw back if only on the weapon.

 

Speaking of which, it’s also good to note that the ranged weapons are all biased towards being on the right side. If you wanted to make a Sinister Knight Paladin, you can do it, but the ranged weapon will have an oddly positioned and angled ballistic shield.

 

Limitations – Out of the Box

 

Now that the weapons discussion is out of the way, it’s time to channel ZZ-Top and ask the eternal question “She got legs? And she knows how to use them?”

 

Sadly, while she does in fact “got legs” knowing how to use them is another thing altogether. As I feared, the lower torso hub piece is locked to specific poses with set legs. You can easily modify the posing by shaving the mating surface back with sandpaper or a hobby knife, but you’ll have to be careful to ensure that you don’t end up with a Knight Pisa (forever leaning into the fight against heretics). It’s also important to note, that the banner that hangs between the knight legs attaches to both the lower torso and both legs so when you modify your leg posing you might have to get the greenstuff out to make new linkages for the banner (or do away with the leg mating points altogether)

 

I decided that for this first batch of Knights (and there will likely be more, if for no other reason that I want them to decorate, *ahem* defend, my work desk) I would stick with roughly original posing. They were all suitably dynamic and stood up well on their own before being glued down. I just wish I could have set them to a run, or other aggressive posing.

 

Final Thoughts

 

All in all, it was a very fun little kit to assemble. For something this tiny, I was expecting a far more fiddly assembly process, but what I got was a polished and relatively pain-free experience. My only real gripes revolve around the monopose leg sets, with single piece legs (just give us rounded ball joints for hips, I want my knights to be dead sprinting like my Kastelans!) and the lack of flexibility in armament options.

 

Now, the next stop is painting. God-Emperor help us all.

 

*HONK*