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So I've been thinking of a cheap way to get a Venom made. Some of the best ideas I've seen involve kitbashing a raider with either a Vyper or Reaver jetbikes.

But my idea would be to just buy a Vyper and slap some plastic and greenstuff on it:



It's basically the picture from the codex drawn over a vyper hull. I really like how they describe it as more of a chariot than a full-fledged transport.

The main thing I can't visualize is how to make the engine. Thoughts?

I think you have a valid concept right there. It'll take some serious conversion skills to make it look good but if you're the bushido I think you are (from B&C) then I know you've got the skills. For the engines I think you could heat plasticard and sort of press-mold it into suitable shapes for top and bottom, the grill part could just be strips of card. I have a friend who used this technique to make a reaver titan cockpit and it worked great.

I'll keep a look out for when you start building.

Considering that's how the Venom was done in the early days of Index Astartes and the Harlequin list...

Sure, why not?

That's what I did, plastic card and GS and some left over Raider/Ravager bits.

Here's an early WIP shot.

Vyper and DE chariot base has been done.

Vyper and NEW raider bits has been done.
Vyper and old raider bits also.

A mate is borrowing a couple of my 2nd ed farseer rides (Vypers could have a fighting platform for a hero to stand on amd fight from) - which were also used as my farseer's "jetbikes" when the vyper lost the option.
It's just a couple of 40mm discs and some fairing (plasticard) with extra fins.

I can also use them as vypers, with a suitably armed model on the platform.

Look forward to seeing this finished. Nice work!

Dont put 40mm bases of the back! I made this mistake (well they werent actual 40mm bases just plasticard stencils of one) THEY ARE FAR TOO BIG!! You end up with a ridiculous overhang. Mine is just a 'Looted' vyper covered in poles and hooks to hang onto, with the turret replaced by a raider forum (looks strangely cool)... i also shoved the torment grenade launchers in the 4 holes at the Back (It is WIN in Kitbash form as the little grenade launchers fit PERFECTLY)

A quick mock-up made out of some cardboard (aka empty mini boxes).

I like the curve of the deck...but I think it may be a bit too short. A small round base hangs off the edge a bit.



On an unrelated note, I find it strange that I'm just now realizing how much these things remind me of the Vipers from Battlestar Galactica. I smell a conspiracy!

That Looks really cool, when you're done i'd love to see some templates

Good start. I agree it wants to be a little longer.

I made mine by taking a vyper, removing the turret, extending the back out with plasticard, and adding the rounded body of a tomb king chariot. reversed. I'm still considering adding footrails to the outside.

I didn't have the ambition/skills to do the turbines, but I'd love to see how you get yours to work; maybe I'll imitate!

Here's the one created by The Strange Dude. I think its probably the best design I've seen yet, and relatively simple too.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/344314.page#2483778

Looking really interesting. I wouldn't worry about fitting a base on the back really, just the feet, personally. Watching this 'un!

Been a lot of talk about Bushido joining Dakkadakka. =D

Welcome.

Mannahnin wrote:
I didn't have the ambition/skills to do the turbines, but I'd love to see how you get yours to work; maybe I'll imitate!

The turbines are what I'm most worried about. Bending the cardboard to shape was tough enough, but I'll probably have to do a lot of fiddling with the plastic. And I'm still not sure how I'm going to model the intake.


@Ketara: Yeah, I've seen quite a few conversions like that. Those designs are great, I just wanted to do something different (that didn't involve cutting a raider in half).

How about using vents off Landspeeders cut down? The outside of the housing should mask any rough edges.

Hmm, the vents above the crew? I might have to look into that.

The Strange Dude's one is awesome, it is definitely the best one I have seen so far.

Some nice concept here...

Your dread looks great, the freehands & blending are especially eye-catching!!!

Welcome to Dakka, and enjoy yourself in here!

@bushido: Might have some spare, will have a hunt. Certainly got 1.

Oh, and I bow before your painting skills!

I had some time to start cutting plastic today. I'm really excited about how this is turning out.

The rear wings are larger than I planned, but it makes it look more dangerous...so they're staying! All the better for beheading lesser beings while flying at unsafe velocities.

I really need to get around to putting my venom up. Its a similar idea.

I took the vyper, cut off the rear fins and put blades from the raider kits on.

I didn't put the back gun assembly on, and instead made a "flatbed" out of 3 planks and some plastic card.

I took some other extra peices and made hand rails on both sides. I used greenstuff to add texture to the bottom of the flatbed to make it similar to the front. Added the guns to the front of the model, one on top and one mounted underneath. All the guys at my LGS absolutely love it. I was really happy with it, save my shoddy greenstuff work to make the texture on the bottom. That still needs more work to make it really great.

edit: As a note, we choose the same joint on the rear fin to cut off the eldar part and add the blade. That join is extremely fragile. Take care when packing/moving it.

That looks really really good
well done

Very DE-like. You need to add a few trophy racks though, the illustration showed it to be full of spiky bitz.

The hull is almost finished. A little more sanding/shaving/greenstuff and it should be ready for detail work (aka blades and chains).

Have you considered using some chaos vehicle bits for spiky death maybe, and/or will you be using jeweler's chain?

Wow awesome work Bushido
Can't wait to see how this turns out, hopefully it will still look awesome compared to the GW ones that seem to be on their way!

Great work, coming along nicely.

Dude! That. Is. AWESOME!

Just the spikes on the front (like in your original design) and some sort of flooring in the back and I'd say you're good to go.

Coming along nicely. I second the suggestions for use of some spikey bits and perhaps some jeweler's chain in places.

Nice work.

@inmygravenimage: I did consider chaos bits, but they're too...angular...I guess is the word. Triangles instead of crescent shapes, in other words. I ended up using some pieces off those old DE that came in the 40k box set a couple editions ago. And yes, I'm using jewelry chain in combination with the hooks from the wych net piece.

The mini is painted black right now, but I'll post pictures when I make more progress on it...I'm trying to settle on a color scheme for this and the army as a whole.