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Hello and welcome to my Tyrannofex Conversion tutorial! You can also find it at my blog!: http://aliensandangels.blogspot.com/2010/12/tyrannofex-conversion.html

I don't claim that this is the best Tyrannofex conversion above the rest. If I say I do not like other Tyrannofex conversions it's simply a matter of personal taste. With that said this Tyrannofex does not follow the image in the Tyranid Codex so if that's what your looking for I apologize. I just want to give a tutorial after all my hard work because I haven't been able to find a T-Fex to my liking. Maybe this will help someone. This Tyrannofex is built from my own ideas of how I see a BS3, T6, W6 and 2+ save model. I am NOT claiming this is a completely one of a kind Tyrannofex conversion as I'm sure it will resemble some models out there. Only so much we can do with Carnifex kit bashing into a Tyrannofex

This Tyrannofex conversion is going to be modeled with a Rupture cannon mounted on his back. I see the T-Fex as a very tanky almost Riot Shield wielding Tyranid. I do not want a T-Fex with scything talons as I see his talons snapping in half after the force of firing a Rupture Cannon @ Str10. I wanted my T-Fex to be bulky and tough. After looking through a bunch of leftover bits I finally found the "bulk" and "riot-shield-esque" ideas I wanted to do and decided to finally give it a go!

(My Green stuff skills sucks so...ya... just do better than me )

Step1:
You need an empty Cash Register paper roll. You then need to carve and cut at it until it can fit on one of those Carapace that you put on a Carnifex smoothly. Assemble the Carnifex Body, Tail, and Legs standard.




Step 2:
Glue the form fitted Register Roll to a Carapace piece you'll eventually glue to the top of the Carnifex.



Step3:
I'm going to combine a bunch of steps into step 3 since they are all the same thing. This step is where we start making the barrel look like more than a Register Roll. Start finding bits from other guns, claws, trygon jaws, extra trygon bits etc. and put them on the roll. You will cover the entire Rupture cannon with green stuff. Then just start squishing the pieces into the green stuff.







Step 4:
Now glue the Carapace holding the now "be-dazzled" rupture cannon to the Carnifex body like you normally would. If you want it more of a barrage look then put green stuff under the Carapace holding the Rupture cannon first so it raises it. I like it straight since it isn't a barrage-ish type weapon.




Step 5:
Don't have a picture for this step but attach the head. Do not use the Carnifex head with antennaes. It pokes the rupture cannon. I used the one where he has the two spikey boney things coming out of his chin.

Step 6:
Get 2 arms that are holding something. Make sure they are different. A left and right arm that you can convert. I also had a buttload of extra Carapace bits so my riot-shield tank-ish looking Tyrannofex dreams were coming true! Collect them. Also get the Crushing Claws that comes with the Carnifex kit.




Step 7:
Cut the spikes off that come out of the crushing claws.



Step 8:
Cut the arms that have a left and right side you had earlier like the picture below and "link" them to the Crushing Claws arms with green stuff. I don't know how to specifically explain it but the pictures should be able to get you a good idea of what to do.




Step 9:
Glue the Carapace onto the Crushing Claws so the pointy part is facing downwards. I like to think of these as the T-Fex's "Armored Shell" biomorph! Also I placed them pointy side down because when the Tyrannofex fires his massive Rupture Cannon he shoves his arms into the ground to act like a brace from the impact while still shielding his body kind of like a riot shield. Another fun note, is it covers almost everything except his face giving him awesome protection but limiting his view, hence BS3. ROFL




Step 10:
Now glue the Crushing Claw/Carapace Shield to his body and your done! Here are some completed pictures. Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and good luck if you try it!








NEW Modified Tyrannofex: Re-did the gun with more time and more sleep. I was so tired when I was doing it the first time....

Not only is the model great, but I think this is a brilliant tutorial as well. I was a bit sceptical at first as to how big the gun on his back was, but seeing his forearms, it looks like he could anchor himself in the ground with them. Awesome model!

@Shady Pigeon: Firstly, nice name. That's awesome! Secondly, thanks Ya, to absorb such a giant blast he shoves his shields into the ground and fires his cannon. At least that's what I like to think he does.

that is one sexy converision...

and a snazzy tutorial as well...

Hat off to you my Man!

That's truly genius. Just for referrence, how what is the outside diameter of a register tape roll, just in case I have to use something else? (I am really enthusiastic about making these now)

@Bloodhorror: Thanks man

@Warpcrafter: It's about 16mm diameters.

That's AWESOME! Great tutorial.

Thanks for the kind words guys!

I added 2 more pictures. Modified the gun a bit. Like it much more now...was so tired the first time I did it I kind of botched it up

Very nice conversion, I look forward to seeing it fully painted.

actually , i kinda like the first gunn better , GREAT conversion !

Good job!

The gun is brilliant.

Overall a very nice concept, and great use of the Riot Shield carapace parts.

+1 to good ideas and great execution. I'm going to steal that shield arm idea for my own projects.

Only problem I see is that the barrel is still to smooth... which it makes it look more mechanical then organic. Otherwise, good tutorial

A great conversion, but I hate the way that (all) carnifices look as if they will 'topple over', too much weight on the front.

Mine will shove his Carapace shield like claw things into the ground and brace for impact. I would assume it would look like a very stable Leman Russ-esque tanknid when firing. It probably walks around with a hunch though since it is heavy...

Soladrin wrote:Only problem I see is that the barrel is still to smooth... which it makes it look more mechanical then organic. Otherwise, good tutorial

I agree! Why did you not like the first one?

I did not like the first one because it looked ugly after it dried and had primer all over it. If you saw it in front of you it wouldn't look as good. Those pictures hide it's ugliness

I love the idea, I think i will get a few fex kits and work on it, I think it would be a good idea to magnetize the cannon and the arms, that way you can use the model for another fex if you needed. And I liked the way the first gun looked. I would cut the carapace down from the inside and make them have more of a point, or a dull point, so they look like they come together when he goes to fire. and that it doesnt look like it will leave gaps for enemy fire to get through. Other then that it is a very beautiful model and I am going to build one!

lol this is great i would love to see more of these showing up on tables somewhere. the first couple of picture with the shield arms looked like he was trying to fly lol but looks heaps good after you painted it up

Has to be one of the best conversions i have seen.

Wow thanks guys! Love the comments. Really appreciate it. He looks great but I have to say Tfex's itself are models that need to be taken in twos or pretty much not at all. 2 shots at BS3 is so sad when they miss... :(

I love it! The gun is just WICKED! You could fit a RHINO in there!

But wouldn't it have been prefeered to have it's arms planted on the base. I hardly see how the T-fex can keep it's balance with such a huge gun

This tutorial is awesome!!! Put it into the articles section immediately!!
This article is what all true 'nid players strive for!