Category: Warhammer 40k

In my last article I reviewed 5 ancient Warhammer 40k model kits that desperately need an upgrade. Today, I want to revisit 5 ancient Warhammer 40k kits that are old as shit but still shine in the toilet bowl we like to call, Warhammer 40k 10th edition.

1. The Land Raider (2000, 2008)

There’s an old saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. The Land Raider, in it’s current form, has been in production since 2000. Eight years later plastic upgrade sprues were introduced in order to create the Redeemer and Crusader variants. This classic design still stands up to the re-scaling of the Space Marine kits we’ve seen over the past 8 years. The only real danger in losing this model to legends is if Games Workshop doubles down on their decision to make all Space Marine vehicles ‘grav’ oriented.

2. Leman Russ Battle Tank (1998, 2008)

When you’ve got it? Baby you fucking GOT IT. This tank here, this Leman Russ Battle Tank? It’s just.got.it. The kit in it’s earliest form was released way back in 1998 and saw a bit of a glow up in 2008 with some new weapon options and a more simple track design. We’ve seen the Games Workshop designers make the tanks bigger, as in the recently released Rogal Dorn Battle Tank but I believe they’d be hard pressed to come up with an idea to improve on this beauty.

3. Defiler (2003)

Mechanical crab? Check. Cannon for a chest? Check. Powered by a daemon, punished by their god’s for failure? Check. Check. Check. The Defiler, what can I say. First produced in 2003, Games Workshop hit the nail on the head with the grim-dark mechanacrab and were like ‘yeah, we’ve done it’. Rarely seen on the tables nowadays, this model kits would have the fanbois wet in their seats if released at a modern day preview event.

4. Carnifex (2005)

Another great example of Games Workshop creating a model kit and basically saying, ‘yeah this is what we want’. When the Tyranid model range went through a refresh in 2012 and 2014 basically every model in the range was replaced with modern versions EXCEPT the plastic Carnifex. The model was a slam dunk, and definitely set the tone for future Tyranid releases.

5. Piranha (2006)

For such a great looking model kit, it’s a shame that the rules never quite made them good enough to see regularly on the tabletop. No, don’t think back too long to the untouchable Piranha rules mechanic from 7th edition. The Tau Piranha kit was released way back in 2006, and despite several model range refreshes since then has remain untouched. It’s not hard to see why this is, its a novel design and could easily be something you would see on the modern Star Wars screen.

Games Workshop oversees a massive number of miniatures for their game system library. The company does it’s best to update their miniature lines but with such a large amount of kits, certain models are bound to be left behind. Some of these kits are old enough to tell you to just work harder, stop buying those Starbucks coffees, and you too can purchase a home on a single income and support your family!

Here are the top 5 oldest, non-legacy, model kits still in play for Warhammer 40k.

1. Catachan Jungle Fighters

Released way, way back in 1998 (and my personal first 40K plastic purchase) the Catachan Jungle Fighter kit has the distinction of being THEE oldest model kit still advertised and used in a current Warhammer 40K codex.

2. Chaos Space Marine Bikers

Coming in second, Chaos Bikers were released in 1999 and are the oldest models in the current Chaos Space Marine codex. The Chaos Marines got a bit of a size update years ago, but still don’t measure up to their primaris sized loyalist brothers and the bikers are even worse.

3. Land Raider

One of the most iconic models in the 40k line, the venerable Land Raider is as popular as ever in modern Space Marine armies. The latest plastic Land Raider kit was released in 2000, and at 24 years old is seemingly irreplaceable as Games Workshop attempts to phase out Space Marine tracked vehicles for their newer grav-versions.

4. Aeldari War Walkers

Released way back 2006, these 18 year old studs were released in a new two pack, ensuring that Aeldari players will be stuck with these out dated kits for years to come.

5. Tau Stealth Suits

When most of the Tau range was updated in their 7th edition update, Games Workshop seemingly forgot about the pint sized stealthy boys. Its been almost ten years since that range update and GW shows no signs in updating this iconic unit.

While these 5 model kits just happen to be the oldest currently in service, there are PLENTY of model kits that desperately need a glow up. What models do you feel GW needs to update next? Let me know in the comments.