Your first 40K Mini

[Bigred]

It's time to face our humble beginnings - I want to see a shot of the first (or earliest) 40K mini you ever painted. If that mini is long gone in the mists of time go with your oldest 40K paintjob you still have.

Let's see where we all started.

Here's mine:

First 40K Mini
4807
Blood Angel - RTB01 (circa 1988)

That's right, my first army is 25 years old!

Latest 40K Mini
4481
Death Guard Praetor 2013

[YourSwordisMine]

I no longer have my original 40k mini I ever painted, as it was an old plastic RT era Beakie. First army was Crimson Fists, but I didn't know I needed to seal (let alone prime) them so the paint all came off the army after only a few games... I stripped them all down and tried again, this time washing them, priming and then painting and sealing. I went with a DIY chapter at that point. Here are the only two surviving minis I have from that army

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/Yourswordismine/First%20Timers/IMG_0721_zpsd9f5a869.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/user/Yourswordismine/media/First%20Timers/IMG_0721_zpsd9f5a869.jpg.html)

Now, if you want my first mini ever painted.... Well...

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/Yourswordismine/First%20Timers/IMG_0719_zpscc86cf55.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/user/Yourswordismine/media/First%20Timers/IMG_0719_zpscc86cf55.jpg.html)

god.... the enamels....

[Bigred]

YourSwordIsMine wrote:

Now, if you want my first mini ever painted.... Well...

YOU... SHALL... NOT... PASS!!!

This thread is going to be AMAZING!

Come on people...

Eldargal, we see you slowly pushing your chair away from the computer in horror...

[ElectricPaladin]

I'm trying to remember the first 40k mini I ever painted... I think I've repainted it since then. So, do you want the first mini I ever owned with its brand new paintjob? Or should I find the oldest mini I currently have that's still in its original paintjob?

I kind of wish I had started playing this game longer ago. Some of those old beakies were awesome. Of course, to get those I'd have had to start playing at five... :D.

[StarWarsDoug]

I know these aren't the very first 40k minis I painted, but they are close. I know I painted the RTM marines, and the box of metal orks around the same time. 1987-89 era, not exactly sure when they came out originally, but I pre-ordered them from a local independent book store.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/9678117322_42b9d4ac65.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/9674886499_56e335d0a1.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3696/9674886051_4d60ed6ce2.jpg

[ElectricPaladin]

Honestly, wouldn't it be neater to have this thread be a side-by-side of our first mini and our latest mini?

[Bigred]

ElectricPaladin - go with oldest paintjob.

StarWarsDoug - OH YEAH!!! Rockin the Hex Bases! I haven't seen those in decades.

Side-by-side comparison to your latest mini is fine if the shame is too great :) (but you don't have to)

[Gotthammer]

"You're"..? Really, Red? :p


Anyways!


First miniature and his WIP doppelganger:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r314/Gotthammer/CSorcs_zpsc1a198fc.jpg

(old one's on the right)


Last minis I finished:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lPD2srZUOAo/UAB7Jrybw0I/AAAAAAAABcg/Ok1QFeNkbb0/s1600/Shepard09.jpg

[Skullchewer]

My first ever mini is loooong gone. You'll have to make do with my first completed model after I returned to the hobby.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/9679133438_8305256e1c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101320399@N06/9679133438/)
Ork Trukk (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101320399@N06/9679133438/) by Skullchewer (http://www.flickr.com/people/101320399@N06/), on Flickr
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/9675899387_9879f34713.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101320399@N06/9675899387/)
Ork Trukk (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101320399@N06/9675899387/) by Skullchewer (http://www.flickr.com/people/101320399@N06/), on Flickr

Oh and by the way; your. </thatguy>

[xilton]

Ah man, I wish I had a pic. My fist miniatures were from Ral Partha for playing d&d around 1985.

[sukigod]

Heroquest orc circa 1997 and Zagstruk circa 2012.

http://bigshoota.com/cmon/before-after2.jpg

[TB0N3]

Space Marine squad from Macragge box, painted as ultras, using whatever paints I had left from my art class XD XD

48164817

[Terry Reese]

Here are some of my OOP models, they may be mixed with some newer ones, but any vet will know the difference.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l531/wolflord73/2b89_zps69aca5e8.jpg
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l531/wolflord73/d60e_zpsf42e0216.jpg
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l531/wolflord73/000_0004_zpsac92d027.jpg
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l531/wolflord73/000_0005_zps9594bf51.jpg

They are my Ice Fangs, A great company of the Space Wolves.

[Skullchewer]

Ah man, I wish I had a pic. My fist miniatures were from Ral Partha for playing d&d around 1985.

Hello fellow old timer :D


Heroquest orc circa 1997 and Zagstruk circa 2012.

Great Zagstruk.

[artmiser]

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/photopost/showfull.php?photo=3534

A while ago.

[SotonShades]

My first miniatures are somewhere in this pile;

4818

I stripped them not too long ago. These guys are almost as old though, and only marginally better painted (and have been stripped since...)

481948204821

[Coniac]

The idea i had with the white was that it could be like war paint.... and yes literally had no idea what i was doing. The one on the right isnt my newest painted one, but it is the first one i painted when i got back into the hobby.
http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y504/Chiived/459086_381594555233281_419642495_o_zps8090ee0f.jpg (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/Chiived/media/459086_381594555233281_419642495_o_zps8090ee0f.jpg .html)

[KommisarKeen]

http://i.imgur.com/yLIQA.jpg

Plastic 'zerk from the Chaos Space Marines Battleforce box. I've gotten way better at layering colors and washes since then. My detail work is still rubbish due to severe carpal tunnel and kind of crap vision.

[KrewL RaiN]

Gotta dig it up from my ooold Warpshadow.com thread lol. Both done around the same time hrmm 6ish years ago I think... I was even crazy and used greenstuff and converted right off the bat haha!

http://th06.deviantart.net/fs29/PRE/f/2008/074/1/9/Mr_T_for_Tyrant_by_KrewL_RaiN.jpg
http://th08.deviantart.net/fs26/PRE/f/2008/074/f/c/Mr_Stabbyfex_by_KrewL_RaiN.jpg

And that same scheme in the present, with massive sculpting improvement too!

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2308/iguessitsdone.jpg

[DrLove42]

Farseer

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m252/drlove42/2012-04-19091806.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/drlove42/media/2012-04-19091806.jpg.html)

He'll never be stripped or repainted even if a lot of other stuff is.

Compared to a recent Farseer....

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m252/drlove42/2012-04-19091645.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/drlove42/media/2012-04-19091645.jpg.html)

[Jams O'Donnell]

I wish so much I still had any of my old models, but my first mini was Mr. Heavy Laser here: http://www.solegends.com/citrt/c100marines-01.htm

He was painted head to toe an a very thick coat of red paint, with a terrible black smear approximately where the weapon is.

[epicwargamer]

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc401/wickedtea/AutomarinesvsTau1019.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/wickedtea/media/AutomarinesvsTau1019.jpg.html)

Yall may remember this old gem. On the left was my first model after my ex wife threw away my original army. B*&ch. On the right the later version.

[Lochie Pitt]

My First model was in the previous 40k Paint set but my oldest model is a 2nd edition space marine with a heavy bolter wish I had some pics

[Vlad78]

"You're"..? Really, Red? :p


Anyways!


First miniature and his WIP doppelganger:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r314/Gotthammer/CSorcs_zpsc1a198fc.jpg

(old one's on the right)


Last minis I finished:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lPD2srZUOAo/UAB7Jrybw0I/AAAAAAAABcg/Ok1QFeNkbb0/s1600/Shepard09.jpg


Yes Commander Shepard!!

[ElectricPaladin]

Here's my offering:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/53eb1c58c550a4c32b5c14bbf607675c/tumblr_mspiny63fB1rgb5qno1_1280.jpg

On the left is my oldest surviving mini, a Blood Angels librarian. On the right, we have a mini so new it isn't quite done yet: a Knights of Blood dreadnought. The funny thing is that my Blood Angels are gradually being stripped and turning into Knights of Blood. My oldest is becoming my newest. There's something kind of poetic about that.

Also, I'm glad I posted this. Man, am I ever getting better at this hobby!

[artmiser]

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/photopost/showfull.php?photo=3534


This would be one of my oldest, out of that first group of marines I painted from the plastic box set of marines. Side note oldest was a Rap Partha D&D figure, not sure where that monstrosity is hiding.

[KrewL RaiN]

I love this thread! Cool to see everyone's then and now comparison shots!

[YourSwordisMine]

then/now

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/Yourswordismine/First%20Timers/IMG_0721_zpsd9f5a869.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/user/Yourswordismine/media/First%20Timers/IMG_0721_zpsd9f5a869.jpg.html)http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/Yourswordismine/DV%20Crimson%20Slaughter/Cultists/Color%20Test/IMG_0034_zps7386d648.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/user/Yourswordismine/media/DV%20Crimson%20Slaughter/Cultists/Color%20Test/IMG_0034_zps7386d648.jpg.html)

[aurionshidhe]

Oldest surviving (I didn't get into 40k until 3rd edition so you get my 1990 Rifleman) vs. newest completed.
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac258/aurionshidhe/IMG_0460_zpsb3f9079f.jpg?t=1378503743

[Vent]

My First ever mini (I'm a late starter):

4826

My Latest squad:

4827

[MajorMcNicol]

My first real minis were old Valhallan Imperial Guardsmen. I thought painting them Black, White and Orange was a good camo scheme...

http://andygomez.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/dscf1457.jpg


Many years later, white still sucks!

http://andygomez.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/matticeariadny4.jpg

:)

[KommisarKeen]

My first real minis were old Valhallan Imperial Guardsmen. I thought painting them Black, White and Orange was a good camo scheme...

http://andygomez.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/dscf1457.jpg


What's your Valhallan army list like? Were you able to milk the Guard 'dex for all its worth? :)

[Vangrail]

Damn cant find him! Lol was a blood ravens dreadnought so sad i cant find him :( never had a proper burial!

[Baneblade]

Yes Commander Shepard!!


I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite forum on BolS

[ElectricPaladin]

I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite forum on BolS

Now I really want to know what armies Commander Shepard plays.

[Araekyus]

Ok..time to share.

Then:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79105800@N02/9691507656/

Now:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79105800@N02/9509660683/

I'm not 100% positive if this old model was used in a game back then, but it was created during the great RoC: Slaves to Darkness time period. Also did take home a prize for it at some hobby shop in a mall in Jersey back then.

[nacnudllah]

The Dark Eldar is from my 3rd ed starter when I was in 6th or 7th grade (1998/99) and the Lamenters Apothecary is from a few days ago. The Deldar guy wasn't my first 40k model, but it's the first I could find.
4829
4830

[Phaze24]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/Phaze24/Picture118.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Phaze24/media/Picture118.jpg.html)
My first army from when tau first came out!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/Phaze24/DSC00836.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Phaze24/media/DSC00836.jpg.html)
a model from my current eldar harlequins project

[MajorMcNicol]

@ Phaze - that Harlequin Avatar is seriously sweet! Impressive!

@ KommieKeen - Back when I was spending monthly allowance as often as possible on metal Valhallans, I eventually bought out my FLGS's entire collection of Valhallans (it was a limited selection), so I ended up buying any and all IG over time to create a pretty ragtag collection of uniforms: http://andygomez.wordpress.com/restoring-the-guard/


Some of my earliest minis were also the 3rd edition boxed set Space Marines - which I painted up dutifully with old Ral Partha paints and a rather large brush...
http://andygomez.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/dscf0009.jpg

Again, orange and white, blargh!

[Skullchewer]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/Phaze24/DSC00836.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Phaze24/media/DSC00836.jpg.html)
a model from my current eldar harlequins project

So pretty!

[Dlatrex]

I'm a relative newbie to the hobby, so my oldest models only go back to 4th edtion ~2007. To get me to join them, my roomates at the time bought the Battle for Maccrage box, and then hid genestealers all over my room. I was finding them for the next week.

This is one of those first genestealers still sporting his original paint

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/9719489484_738c25fae0_b.jpg


And him hanging out with more recently painted bugs. You can see in this second photo that when I wanted to add the feeder tendrils bio-morph I added some chopped up postal twine (!!) to his mouth.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/9716255415_21e8a066e1_b.jpg

[The Madman]

My first miniatures were the snap-fit marines from 40k starter paint set back in 2001 (ish). I painted one of each of the chapters that were on the back (Dark Angels, Blood Angels, Ultramarines, Imperial Fists and Black Templars) though a few months later I have £100 worth of Tyranids that I painted Chaos black with Blood red carapace with the thickest coats of paints ever.

[Necron2.0]

I only started playing 40K maybe five years ago.

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/132/e/8/necron_destroyer_in_profile_by_necron2_0-d3g6m11.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/057/9/f/necron_destroy_with_skull_one_by_necron2_0-d3ahsc4.jpg
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/057/9/b/necron_warriors_by_necron2_0-d3ahr8y.jpg

[sukigod]

Very nicely done freehand there. I like he tinting on the metals as well. Sweet.

[Dlatrex]

I only started playing 40K maybe five years ago.

If that is your first foray into miniature painting, that is some fantastic talent you have there! Love the look of the these guys.

[Necron2.0]

Thanks both of you. No, I've only been playing for about 5 years but I've been painting minis (off and on) for about 30 years, although only seriously (as in with any thought to making them look good) since probably 1997.

Actually this was one of the first minis I every painted after getting serious about it (it's an old Ral Partha):

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/photopost/data/574/medium/IG_objective.JPG

I guess posting that isn't technically off topic ... I currently use it as an IG objective marker.

[Cap'nSmurfs]

I'll bite. Unfortunately I don't have my very first model with me, but I do have a Space Marine I painted when I was 12, and a Space Marine I painted when... well, the other day.

14 years' difference:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/Lyckantropen/001_zps2d25276c.jpg

[daboarder]

Started when I was 12

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss2/daboarder/1a54f9f1-0dff-48cf-bb35-5b2b5654e1c9_zps63bf761c.jpg

Here's the last thing I finished. I've come a long way in 13 years

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss2/daboarder/cbafbc41-a518-41e6-a69c-8c8dc117286c_zps61c0ecd4.jpg

[Darren Richardson]

wow there are some great improvements made in many peoples painting over the years, sadly I don't have any of my old heroquest figures I painted up back in 1991-92, the first ones I ever painted were the figures that came in the Advanced Heroquest paintset GW brought out back then, my first 40K was the RTB01 figures, I had the smaller box they released of them around that time, damn they were poorly painted to what I can do these days, though sadly I'm nowhere near as good as the painter of that Eldar Harly!

[Veteran Sergeant]

[QUOTE=Phaze24]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/Phaze24/DSC00836.jpg
Good lord.

That's super cool.

Fortunately my oldest models were paint stripped or lost. I think I painted my first one as a kid with some spare Testors enamel, lol.

[kellyj]

My very first was stolen (along with the rest of the Army).
But here is a progression since then:
Sisters Exorcist (or a Whirlwind):
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Exorcist1rttop.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Exorcist1rttop.jpg.html)
Siege Drednought
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/SiegeDred1.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/SiegeDred1.jpg.html)
Terminator Libby
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/TermiLibbyFront2.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/TermiLibbyFront2.jpg.html)
Melta gunner on a Land Raider
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Samurai%20Knights/LRMeltafinal1.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Samurai%20Knights/LRMeltafinal1.jpg.html)