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I know I saw a thread on this a little while ago, but I can't for the life of me find it.

My question is this: How can one convert regular tac marines to look convincing as sternguard?

Cheers in advance

There's been several lately actually but the rule of thumb is pretty much just "make 'em special."

Specifically fluff-wise it's good to make the bolters stand out at special via lots of scopes, purity seals etc.

But really, anything that makes them look unique. The goal should be that when your opponent looks at them, it's clear they aren't just regular old tacticals. How you choose to do this is really up to you.

paint their heads white.

This thread had a pretty good discussion about it.

Thank you! This is the thread I was looking at the other day, but couldn't find again....

well, you'd need scopes for their bolters, a few box-magazines like the ones on storm-bolters, studs on their shoulder pads, and a good paint scheme..

random question: where abouts in Melbourne do you live, Monkee??

What I did for my sternguard was add the scopes to the bolters and some extra purity seals.
Also, I took the ammo pouches (the ones that come in the tac squad box) and added those to the shoulder pads. My thought being that they would want to get to their special ammo quickly, and that is a very convenient spot (unless an arm gets blown off, then you're hosed).

Another special thing would be to use the beaky heads for them. Also, adding some scrollwork (the thin squiggly lines used to represent that) to their knee pads, shoulder pads, grieves, etc would make them look more veteran.

But just as everyone else said, just make them looks special.

Cheers

@ Paulguise: Do you have pics of how you did the shoulder pouches? I've been working on my own sternguard (seems to be this week's accidental theme on dakka, I swear there's at least 5 of us that first thread got moving) and I had also thought of using pouches for the special issue ammo and considered the shoulders as a sweet place for them. I had trouble getting them to fit in a way that looked natural though, so I'd love to see exactly how you placed them.

Also, I looked through your gallery to see if you had 'em in there, and you commander? You know the one I mean. All I can say is: "aw hell yes."

@Charlatan

Here are some pics of my sternguard (as they are at the moment, need painting still).







I used the small ammo pouches that are supposed to go on the hips. There were longer ones that, while cool didn't quite fit properly. Im going to be doing scroll work on the grieves and opposite shoulder to make them more veteran. I seem to be running short on purity seals otherwise those would be there too.

Hope this gives you all some ideas.

Cheers

I use Dark angels as my Stern guard( the robed ones) and customed made all there Combimelta( out of storm bolters)

You don't need scopes on the bolters or studded shoulders. I look through the hand made sternguard I can find, and I think the best way to make them look like Sternguard is to paint their heads white (red for sergeant). It just makes them stand out immediately as sternguard. Find a way to put some drum magazines onto their guns and make them a little spiffier than your standard tactical marine and I think its good.

The Commander kit has some nice bits you can use to make your Sterns look better than their compatriots. Also, Mk8 chest plates that come with tactical boxes help. You'll need to shave off the breather on most marine helmets to get the heads to fit into place, but they come out looking nice.

Yes Paint there Helmets white, add a larel to it like in a sunflower blue for the standard troop and a Red one for the sgts.

LIke i did for mind, i used DA models robed and filed and cut off the dark angel icon,
The Robes make them look more vetern like, also just add a few large ammo pouches too them.

Basicly there the only really differnet looking model in my whole army( the robes) even my Vanguard looks semi normal expect for the white helmets and blue stripping.

You could use the deathwatch marine conversion pack?

I'm not sure if anyone has said that before but hey i said it again.

I didnt think of that that would work Might have to pick up a pack of those today....