Necron Tomb Stalker Conversion to Catachan Devil

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**Grass4hopper**

I just saw Forge World's Nercon Tomb Stalker model and instantly thought 'That's perfect for converting into a Catachan Devil'. I'd have to sand down the back spikes, rework the front claws/scythes, and generally round the edges/greenstuff it to give a more organic look; but I think it's do-able even with my meager skills.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuff/NECRON-TOMB-STALKER.html

I've wanted to convert/scratch build a Catachan Devil even since I first saw them in the fluff. If I even build my Tyranids army I've have this stand in for another creature.

What do you think?

**Ghost in the Darkness**

What's a Catachan Devil?

**Hyenajoe**

Ghost in the Darkness wrote:What's a Catachan Devil?

The most fearsome creature in the 40k universe. It would eat a bloodthirster for breakfast.

@Grass4hopper: great idea! the Tomb Stalker is quite close to the shape of a Catachan devil, I guess with GS and tyranid parts to hide the most mechanical parts, you'd be able to do something great!

**SagesStone**

Ghost in the Darkness wrote:What's a Catachan Devil?

Basically a predator on Catachan.

**Mr Nobody**

Picture a giant Tyranid centipede with big teeth, sharp claws and a thick shell.

Conversion would be difficult, but well worth it.

**Regnak**

This might be of some use to you good sir:
http://terreurjaune.unblog.fr/2009/05/09/diable-de-harkya-catachan-devil-experience/

Not mine, just had it bookmarked

**Inanimate**

You're going to need a bucket of putty.

**Clang**

Seems an awfully expensive conversion base, since you'd be covering it all up. But copying the body shape to create a Devil is a good idea.

**Grass4hopper**

@ Clang: Yes it is pretty expensive, but it's not that much more than the larger Tyranids model. Before I saw the Tomb Stalker I spend a lot of time searching the net for a centipede figure/model to convert. All of the figures I found were more expensive and/or would have required way more conversion.

@ Regnak: Thanks for the link. I don't understand french, but the pics are good enough where I think I can figure most of it out. Do you know where the black & white picture (of the CD) is from? Is it official fluff or fan art?

I was planning on basing the final design on the second pic on the Wikia page: http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Catachan_Devil

Detail wise I think the major conversion points would be:
1. removing the spikes along the backplates
2. cutting off the gauss cannons, the claws they're attached to look to be the right size
3. attaching the antenna to the mini-claw bay the mouth to form the scythes (I'd have to reposition and lengthen the whole arm)
4. lots & lots & lots of filing and greenstuff to finish the face, body and legs
5. scratch building a tail w/ Tyranids bits for the stinger

I'm pretty much brand new to converting and 40K (specific) modeling, but I love an insane challenge

EDIT: Yeah after looking at the artwork and the model I realized there's more work involved than I thought

But I'm still going to do it.

**Clang**

The other thing i noticed about the Stalker is that it's only three basic different parts - the head segment, the body segment which is repeated many times, and a tail segment, each connected by what I presume is a simple ball/socket joint to allow any required overall body pose. So if you can build one body segment then replicate it (e.g. by casting it or copying the same pattern) that speeds up the modelling considerably.

At least, that's how i'd build such a beasty.

I also recommend using something like Tyranid hormagant claws to make the legs/claws on each segment - that would save a lot of work.

**Grass4hopper**

EDIT: So I did some quick research about this pic. Long store short after translating the text from the site Regnak suggested, and it says this pic is "drawn by Jess Goodwin and published in the Tyranid codex."

So my question is which is the most recent representation of the Catachan Devil

This pic:

OR, this pic

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:CatachanDevil.jpg

I want to my Devil to be as close as possible to the most recent GW art.

**shasolenzabi**

I recall seeing a Tombstalker made from Trygon parts.That would be closer to the Catachan Devil.

**MechaEmperor7000**

Grass4hopper wrote:Does anyone know the origin of the this Catachan Devil pic, specifically is it Official Art or Fan Art?

I want to my Devil to be as close as possible to the most recent GW art.

That is the official art. it appeared in the 4th Ed nid codex with the Catachan Devil as the caption.

**Grass4hopper**

Thank you MechaEmperor7000. Do you know when this pic was released:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:CatachanDevil.jpg

**MechaEmperor7000**

I think I saw that once on Creature Feature in the old GW website around 5 years ago. However it looks like a preliminary sketch for the above pic.

In Creature Feature, there existed two types of Catachan Devils, an Adult and Juvenile. The one from Lexicanum, fluff wise, might be a Juvenile one, and has yet to grow a hardened carapace.

EDIT: It might also be a non-Catachan breed, since they are apparently not exclusive to Catachan despite the name.

**Soladrin**

You people do know these aren't actually that big? They are only a bit bigger then a man (go read DeathWorld if you don't believe me)

**Grass4hopper**

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
I think I saw that once on Creature Feature in the old GW website around 5 years ago. However it looks like a preliminary sketch for the above pic.

I see, thanks for the info. Then I guess I'm going to probably just try to scratch build a model based off the image in the Nid Codex. It's significantly different than the older images, and there's no point in using a Tomb Stalker if I'm going to have to heavy covert every part of the (expensive) model.

Soladrin wrote:
You people do know these aren't actually that big? They are only a bit bigger then a man (go read DeathWorld if you don't believe me)

The only fluff I've seen describes them as:
"A fully grown adult can have up to thirty sets of legs, reaching up to thirty metres in length, reaching the size of a land train."
Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition)

What the generally description in "Death World"?

Does it specify they're "full grown adults"?

**Soladrin**

Literal qoute from page 273 (imperial guard omnibus)

"It was an old one too. A big one. Big and nasty. At least twenty pairs of legs"

And he's surviving and even besting it through guerilla warfare and single combat, it's never suggested to be bigger then about 2 times his size.