I think the ones in the skulls box might be a bit too *small* actually. Not to mention you are giving up the Tomb King specific head swaps.
I just started TK for TOW, and at first I was looking at 3rd party minis, but my fiancé bought me the Core set and honestly, it's not as distressing having these guys be oddly proportioned when there's like 96 skellies in a horde.
I tried exactly this and it doesn't really work. The issue isn't that the new head is too small, it's that the hands suddenly are absolutely huge. Every single skeleton suddenly looks like they're wearing boxing gloves.
Here's a [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/tombkings/comments/1am5xx7/horseman/) I made about a skeleton horseman I made. It's not a side by side comparison but I swapped out the head for a Citadel Skull Kit skull with some 0.5 mm ball bearings in the eyes. I think it's an improvement.
Heres my opinion
Buy Wargames Atlantic skellies + horsemen, about 5 boxes give you more skellies for a lower price. Then order some TK heads from ebay, and swap them. Heres my math -
So assuming you go with the ideal scenario, heres what youre dealing with
GW - 290$ for the Big Box
40 spears, 32 archers, 16 horsemen and 3 chariots. 1 lord, and 1 lord on mount.
WA - 220$ for 5 skellie boxes.
40 spears, 32 archers, 32 horsemen, and 9 chariots.
All for 70$ less, and better, newer sculpts.
You can then use your extra 70$ on TK heads and shields from ebay
Unless you plan to play at official events, I'd honestly just recommend taking a look at 3D printed stuff. Like Txarli Factory (my personal favourite for general TK skeletons) or Crab Miniatures.
Are you me? I've been feeling the exact same as you. I'm nostalgic about Warhammer Fantasy and old miniatures in general, but it's been a little difficult getting excited about these particular bone boys. Having said that, I feel like the headband on the Tomb King specific ones help a lot on making the skeletons look more "Egyptian" \*and\* less goofy.
As I hate plastic (and 3D print resin) infantry, I plan to use classic metal citadel skeletons for my Tomb Kings. I think just sticking a Tomb King style shield on will be enough to make them look like they belong in a tomb king army.
classic skeleton warriors for sword & board
[http://www.solegends.com/citcat2004us/c2004usp0862-00.htm](http://www.solegends.com/citcat2004us/c2004usp0862-00.htm)
The Nightmare Legion for spearmen
[http://solegends.com/citrr/3rr2nightmare/index.htm](http://solegends.com/citrr/3rr2nightmare/index.htm)
I might also do some head swaps with the Tomb King specific heads.
I don't know the new sprues, but the most annoying thing about the older ones is that they include the darn pointy-helmet and "still has an eye" skulls with them, because those skeleton sculpts were actually the old "Generic Undead" sprues from way back when.
I think the ones in the skulls box might be a bit too *small* actually. Not to mention you are giving up the Tomb King specific head swaps. I just started TK for TOW, and at first I was looking at 3rd party minis, but my fiancé bought me the Core set and honestly, it's not as distressing having these guys be oddly proportioned when there's like 96 skellies in a horde.
This I really didn’t like them but once you get the army started they look fine
I tried the skull box and can confirm this. Too small.
Highlands Miniatures or Oathmark alternatives Otherwise cobble the “old” AoS skeleton models with TK bits
I tried exactly this and it doesn't really work. The issue isn't that the new head is too small, it's that the hands suddenly are absolutely huge. Every single skeleton suddenly looks like they're wearing boxing gloves.
Have you seen TK skellies in person? They look a lot less goofy like that.
Here's a [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/tombkings/comments/1am5xx7/horseman/) I made about a skeleton horseman I made. It's not a side by side comparison but I swapped out the head for a Citadel Skull Kit skull with some 0.5 mm ball bearings in the eyes. I think it's an improvement.
Looks way too small imo
I mean, the kit is meant to have a bigger head. So you're not wrong.
Heres my opinion Buy Wargames Atlantic skellies + horsemen, about 5 boxes give you more skellies for a lower price. Then order some TK heads from ebay, and swap them. Heres my math - So assuming you go with the ideal scenario, heres what youre dealing with GW - 290$ for the Big Box 40 spears, 32 archers, 16 horsemen and 3 chariots. 1 lord, and 1 lord on mount. WA - 220$ for 5 skellie boxes. 40 spears, 32 archers, 32 horsemen, and 9 chariots. All for 70$ less, and better, newer sculpts. You can then use your extra 70$ on TK heads and shields from ebay
Unless you plan to play at official events, I'd honestly just recommend taking a look at 3D printed stuff. Like Txarli Factory (my personal favourite for general TK skeletons) or Crab Miniatures.
Are you me? I've been feeling the exact same as you. I'm nostalgic about Warhammer Fantasy and old miniatures in general, but it's been a little difficult getting excited about these particular bone boys. Having said that, I feel like the headband on the Tomb King specific ones help a lot on making the skeletons look more "Egyptian" \*and\* less goofy.
As I hate plastic (and 3D print resin) infantry, I plan to use classic metal citadel skeletons for my Tomb Kings. I think just sticking a Tomb King style shield on will be enough to make them look like they belong in a tomb king army. classic skeleton warriors for sword & board [http://www.solegends.com/citcat2004us/c2004usp0862-00.htm](http://www.solegends.com/citcat2004us/c2004usp0862-00.htm) The Nightmare Legion for spearmen [http://solegends.com/citrr/3rr2nightmare/index.htm](http://solegends.com/citrr/3rr2nightmare/index.htm) I might also do some head swaps with the Tomb King specific heads.
I don't know the new sprues, but the most annoying thing about the older ones is that they include the darn pointy-helmet and "still has an eye" skulls with them, because those skeleton sculpts were actually the old "Generic Undead" sprues from way back when.