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There are currently no models from GW for Penal Legionaries, a Imperial Guard troops choice. I would assume that most people probably just paint their guardsmen different colors, like the conscript conversion from regular Cadian guardsmen to Cadian whiteshield.

I wanted something that looked a little more rugged. Something Cadian, but I want my criminals to look like criminals... not guardsmen with silly colored clothes.

Any ideas for a good conversion? Something relatively cheap, that I could do to about 20 models or so...

Have you considered westwind heads? They have quite a few nice options, and they fir pretty well with guard models.

How would the FB Flagellants work? They look ragged enough indeed.

They work better as psykers IMO

I would use Catachans add some GS to where the shoulders meets the arm and make that ragged.

Maybe pick up some empire milita and convert them?

I was thinking about using catchacans. I just didn't know how exactly to proceed from there. I was thinking about using catchacan heads and arms and weapons with cadian chests and legs...

If you want a 20 of them, pick up a Cadian and a Catachan squad! Mix and match the parts, and you'll have a rugged, bulked out angry looking squad! Can't wait to see what you do!

You could shave off the shoulder pads on the Cadian arms, and use bare heads for em. Tedious perhaps, but it might give the look you're lookin for.

Orange Catachan = Penal Legionaries.

Don't forget to add the explosive collars. It's the one thing that you never see on penal legion conversions and it's one of the obvious things that differentiates them from every other unit (fluff wise anyway).

Dakkadood wrote:Orange Catachan = Penal Legionaries.

like this -

endtransmission wrote:Don't forget to add the explosive collars. It's the one thing that you never see on penal legion conversions and it's one of the obvious things that differentiates them from every other unit (fluff wise anyway).

Are there any other fluff aspects I should be aware of? So far I have:

Orange Jumpers
Exploding Collars, ala Battle Royale (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266308/)

I think Flagellants from Warhammer fantasy with lasguns and such added would look more like guys who just got off the prison barge.

kit bashing catachan / cadian troop box sets is the way to go, also try to use bald heads, prisoners would be shaved, and bard coded / tattooed on the back of their heads as well. Try to only equip them with minimal equipment, maybe a concealed knife on a few random legionaires.