A tip for doing the stormtroopers.
Basecoat them in white, and then apply a clear glossy varnish.
Then do the black parts.  If you get any black where you don't want it, it will wipe off extremely well with just a moist paper towel (or often just your finger.)  Just make sure to do another coat of varnish after doing the black right away, before you start playing with the minis, as the paint will scrape off the minis easier than if it was just on primer (of course, that's the whole point.)

I generally don't use my actual gameboxes for games like this, since they tend to get out-grown so quickly, and the boxes tend to get mangled in transit all over the place.  
 
Either I'll get an entirely separate and complete system or else (as I'm planning to do for IA) I'll use the gamebox plus another solution (such as this card box), so that the gamebox will hold the minis and tiles and a small Plano box for the tokens/dice, and then this separate box will hold my cards.  Think long-term; this box will be very useful as your collection grows.

I have them all ordered as on pre-order.  I very much hope they all come in at the same time.  I believe with X-Wing waves, they come in at the same time, so I would be surprised if they don't.

Not exactly news, as most people know their copies are coming soon, if they don't already have them, but the FFG "Upcoming" page officially updated Imperial Assault to "Shipping Now".

I have them all ordered as on pre-order.  I very much hope they all come in at the same time.  I believe with X-Wing waves, they come in at the same time, so I would be surprised if they don't.

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=5263

Not exactly news, as most people know their copies are coming soon, if they don't already have them, but the FFG "Upcoming" page officially updated Imperial Assault to "Shipping Now".

Not exactly news, as most people know their copies are coming soon, if they don't already have them, but the FFG "Upcoming" page officially updated Imperial Assault to "Shipping Now".

Not exactly news, as most people know their copies are coming soon, if they don't already have them, but the FFG "Upcoming" page officially updated Imperial Assault to "Shipping Now".

Not exactly news, as most people know their copies are coming soon, if they don't already have them, but the FFG "Upcoming" page officially updated Imperial Assault to "Shipping Now".

I've heard the same thing about washing.  I haven't done it and have never had issues, but hey, it doesn't take much time to do it to protect your investment.

Ask, and you shall receive!
 

 
Here are a couple of basic tips for getting the labels to work really well:
--search for "star wars imperial assault logo" on Google (in the image tab) to find the pic/label that you want
--use packing tape, rather than the 1/2-inch classroom tape that everyone has.  Packing tape will require only 2 strips (and therefore look much better), and it will also protect your label from scratches and other damage
 

Thanks for the tip - that box looks perfect - just ordered one, and should probably arrive around the same time the game does!

X-Wing and Imperial Assault both use the same size of cards (needing Yellow and Green sleeves).  For X-Wing I found that the "Plano 23780-00 Deep Stowaway Box" is simply PERFECT.  It's at a really low price on Amazon right now too, at $11.58.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010XFKF6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
So I've ordered one just now to use for my Imperial Assault Cards.
 

 
This box is perfectly sized for these cards!
--On the right side you see 4 slots where the bigger cards can lay on their sides (with sleeves), without touching the lid when it closes.  Each of the dividers between those sections can be removed if you choose.
--To the left of those are the smaller cards (which IA has a lot of), which fit perfectly, especially when they're sleeved.  In fact, you can see that the cards are leaning over...if you stick your finger in to the bottom of one of those sections and push the bottom of the cards so that they're standing upright, the cards will rise up to about 1/8 of an inch above the divider wall, which makes it easy to remove the stack of cards.  And the width of the slots is just right, too; it's not so tight that the cards won't sit straight, but it's not so loose that the cards bounce around a lot.  
 
One of the difficult things with storing FFG games like this (Descent, X-Wing, Arkham, etc) is keeping all of the different cards separated and organized...but as you can see, this box is ideal.  I've never had a hard time storing X-Wing cards since I found this box.  I expect that it'll be the same for Imperial Assault.

First-purchaser problems...

https://www.facebook.com/Meeplemart/photos/a.443303795715375.97695.442548315790923/812725098773241/?type=1&permPage=1
 
According to Meeplemart in Toronto, it will be arriving Monday evening.

Here's a good tutorial on the "Dip" method 
http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/43744/dip-method-step-step-guide-painting-miniatures
You can use wood stain for the dip, or you can use the Army Painter "dip" as well.  Both work just about the same way.

It is a way for beginners to get into painting and get good results.  Worked great for me when I got into painting a few years ago.

I agree... unfortunately "should be" and "is" so rarely are the same.

I agree... unfortunately "should be" and "is" so rarely are the same.

On Amazon.com, it's being sold by a Marketplace seller, so the release date is just put on there by that seller - it is not official from FFG.  Either way, Amazon (and the marketplace seller) are just retailers who know just as much (or just as little) as all the other retailers.

What, no love for Lando?  We need him too. 

What, no love for Lando?  We need him too. 

3 player skirmishes can be done really well, if the missions are done correctly.
 
For instance, if there are 3 players, A,B,C, and player A's mission is to assassinate a certain figure of player B, or take something from player B, or take over player B's base, but player B has to do the same to player C, and player C has to do the same to player A, then that can work extremely well.  Everyone is attacking one person while defending against the other.  Ganging up tends to not work so well (if A and B gang up on C, then B is just going to win, so A is not going to want to do that.)

Yeah, I'm just super excited about this game.  If I say I "can't wait", it's the excitement talking, it's not that I'm disgruntled or upset about anything.

And it's fun trying to find out where things are at, tracking down photos of boxes at warehouses, checking with retailers to see if they have any news, etc.  It's an outlet for all the Star Wars: Imperial Assault energy I have right now!

Yeah, I'm just super excited about this game.  If I say I "can't wait", it's the excitement talking, it's not that I'm disgruntled or upset about anything.

And it's fun trying to find out where things are at, tracking down photos of boxes at warehouses, checking with retailers to see if they have any news, etc.  It's an outlet for all the Star Wars: Imperial Assault energy I have right now!