What to do with "The Noise Marine"

[LSM]

We faithful are all familiar with the 2019 Noise Marine model, a loving update of the original 1991 Noise Marine.

Some background: in 1988's Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness, the concept of Noise Marines didn't exist. The Emperor's Children were already all about sensation, but that hadn't yet been extrapolated into Sonic Weapons or the idea that the cacophony of battle was like a drug to them.

Then in October 1991 a funny thing happens. GW has a record label (really) and puts out D-Rok's album Oblivion, which includes the song Noise Marines. At the same time, GW releases a Noise Marine model, presumably as an album tie-in, with combi-guitar and Slaanesh icon proudly displayed across their chest. Hop forward to 1995 and Jes Goodwin is sketching what we'll recognise as Noise Marines, which release for the first time alongside 1996's Codex: Chaos, and are replaced by 2002's meagre EC upgrades.

The question is: what will become of this wonderful fellow when we have an actual Noise Marine kit for the first time?

My suggestion: keep the kit around, rebranded as a new character unit. It's easy to come up with a variety of fitting auras or Leader abilities, and it's an easy way to expand the datasheet range. In a nod to their origins, I'd also put forward that the name could be changed to something like D-Rokker or Oblivion Marine.

We're so loud you wanna die
Shake it up baby don't be shy
We're so loud you wanna die
go forth and amplify

 

[Sea Dragon]

I think they will probably keep selling it like until now, as "collector" mini. Most people buy it for painting or collecting, or to add one extra flavourful noise marine to their custom units, more than to build full units with that mini (which would be preposterously expensive). We shall see eventually.

 

[Firebrand]

They could rebrand his as a kind of Noise Marine Lord, would be cool.

Meanwhile, despite having a backlog/pile of shame to be reckoned with I still want to buy and paint a third(4th including the original).... Excess, I guess...

 

[Unicronicorn]

Unfortunately it looks like they removed the Noise Marine from the store completely.
I've seen a lot of people recently use theirs as a Lord Kakophonist proxy or put it on top of a Rhino/Land Raider with speakers and deamonettes for a cool mobile concert sorta look. Plently of options, but sad that it's gone indefinitely. Might pop back up as a made-to-order model in the near future

 

[SirMoth]

I'm really sad they took it down. It is so beloved, I was sure they would make it into an official character. Unfortunately, I missed my chance at it, and they go for about $100 on Ebay now. GW would be foolish not to reintroduce it somehow (likely made to order, like Unicronicorn said).

 

[Snackelwolf]

Wizkids, the company that makes Heroclix, sells clear plastic display cases the size of a 28-32mm miniature. You could buy one of those and display this guy? Near a work computer, hobby desk, etc.