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Hi All,

So with the new codex out, my son and I dusted off the Necrons and put them on the tabletop for a few games over the last couple of weeks. No surprise that on taking out the Destroyers, half of the gauss cannons had broken somewhere on the arm or arm/gun line due toone of the least robust designs in 40K (massive gun on thin arm combo - thanks GW).

As I've always thought destroyers looked a bit lame and awkward, I has an idea to convert them to something a bit more robust ratehr than simply gluing them again or pinning them etc. With new codex and new fluff (the preferred enemy hating everything bit), it got me thinking - If I was converted from a fragile biological being with a short lifespan into a skimming robot that wasn't that different from most of the androids, except faster and more durable than most of my peers and also with a better gun than most people, I don't think I'd feel that bad. I'd be pretty happy - no more walking about, no more forgetting my keys or where did I put my gauss flayer...I still have a normal arm if I want to do other stuff (what I can't imagine!), so what's the big deal?

So, how about if a destroyer was a Necrontyr warrior that expected to come out as a Lychguard or Praetorian, and he came out as a mobile gun - no "normal" body parts to speak of, just a thinking gun platform. That might miff me a bit. I might just hate it. I might just want to kill everything that reminded me I once had a normal flesh body...

So with that in mind I took a look at the destroyer model - I didn't want to get rid of them (I have about a dozen), I want them to be recognisably GW, but I want them to look better. Initially I thought about repositioning the gun, then turning the model around (the engines are already at the blunt end anyway). After that I thought the body is redundant, so just take the head directly on the body, put the gun directly with it (it's basically a hovering platform, so why turn the gun when you can just move your whole body as easily?).

That got me to here;


So what to fill the old body space with? I thought I should have some sort of Necron power source as you've these "tube" segments leading to/from it. I tried a clear green marble, but it was (a) too heavy and (b) wouldn't sit or stick well. What I needed was a plastic equivalent - having just bought the Command Barge I found exactly what I needed by the thrusters - a ball-shaped structure just the right size. This also has the advantage of tying it in nicely with the new models. A quick resin cast later and... ta-da!


So what do you guys think - only started painting ATM, but hopefully the concept comes across?

How about actualy putting the pics here for the workblocked? I was extremely interested going by the title of your thread, but then could not see your pictures as they are classed as blogs/wikki by my firm and I cannot see them.

You may find people complaining about LoS issues with these - the profile of a regular destroyer is much higher, so they're harder to hide.

Still, it's an interesting idea. The spherical power source is nice touch.

A Kvlt Ghost wrote:You may find people complaining about LoS issues with these - the profile of a regular destroyer is much higher, so they're harder to hide.

Still, it's an interesting idea. The spherical power source is nice touch.

Anyone who complains, just point them toward a kneeling or prone figure who takes up the same "space" technically, but it's down instead, then say these destroyers fold flat when in motion in atmosphere for aerodynamics. Besides, the LoS would be as much a hindrance as a help in this case as for the most part anything that can't see them they can't see either

Interesting concept, but I don't feel that fond of it. I'm hoping you are also rebuilding your entire army, not just doing a few changes here-there.

A Kvlt Ghost wrote:You may find people complaining about LoS issues with these - the profile of a regular destroyer is much higher, so they're harder to hide.

Hadn't thought of that, but if it came up I guess I'd allow some "play" in the LoS - I don't play tournaments so guess its not really an issue. Also the
height of the flying stand makes a difference - all semantics I guess...

poda_t wrote:...I'm hoping you are also rebuilding your entire army, not just doing a few changes here-there.

Why? lol

I appreciate the effort, but I wouldn't go forward with this.

alexmann wrote:

poda_t wrote:...I'm hoping you are also rebuilding your entire army, not just doing a few changes here-there.

Why? lol

because aesthetically, it would make these things stick out like sore thumbs. without some way of tieing them into the rest of the army..... the will look really out of place.

because aesthetically, it would make these things stick out like sore thumbs. without some way of tieing them into the rest of the army..... the will look really out of place.

I don't know why you think ths - they sit very nicely with the other elements of the army so far - after all it's not like they aren't 100% GW Necron pieces! Also if you look at the new Necron Doom & Night Scythe artwork, a flatter shape with central weapon is entirely in character, plus things lke the CCB and Ghost Ark/A Barge all have rear mounted engines, so I have to disagree with you on that one (just my personal view - aesthetics is always so!).

So far I've had some rather ambiguous feedback "I wouldn't go forward with this" etc, but that's just basically saying "I don't personally like this". I was hoping for some more involved feedback if possible?! Reasons, suggestions, mods etc - I'm not asking if I should do it, (as I have and won't be going back to how they were!), but am open to other suggestions...hope that doesn't sound close-minded, just what I know :-)

For me it gives them a feeling of having a lot of increased speed and mobility. If you are just playing in house with your son that might be a fun way to tweak the rules a little bit for more variety of movement and attack. Up their movement, but reduce their attack power or some such. It wouldn't hold up in any kind of tournament play but what happens at home stays at home. With the new command barge and transports you could write up some personal fluff that these are specifically modified destroyers designed to be fighter escorts.

Wow, they are nifty little conversions, keep up the good work!

I can't really seem to get them in line with the new fluff...they are supposed to be filled with an eternal hate for all living beings and those conversions look kinda funny just like a gun would stick out of their mouth.

Still, good effort.

I like them. The turning around of the old lower body entirely matches the new necron aescthetic. The new Ark and Barge kits all have engines at the back like that, the only difference being that the new ones are also coffin-shaped.

I also have previously stated my dislike for the fact that necron vehicles now need 'pilots' that are fully humanoid with 2 arms and 2 legs. Current real world technology is getting to the point of artificial legs controlled by nerve impulses, and it is not too far on from that to a point where someone with such an implant could wire it up to an electronic controller on the throttle of their car, for example. So why would a race that is almost infinitly older that the IOM need a driver on it's transports.

I know GW don't want a race where every single vehicle is immune to crew stunned/Shaken results , but the effects can be applied without having a fully limbed necron in charge of the thing. "Operating system disrupted" works just as well for either of those results and does not require a humanoid pilot.

I can easily see myself working similar conversions on all my Necrons, removing pilots from vehicles and doing something similar to my old destroyers, turning them into Tomb Blades instead. Then I shall work on more humaniod models and turn them into the JI that destroyers are now.

The looks of my detroyers and Tomb blades will differ from that in the codex, but that will be the look from the tomb world my Necrons come from, I will just have to make sure that my destroyers are suitably large to minimise arguments about LoS. What you may loose in length, you will now gain in height for example.

well it is good but it kinda lacks the color that a necron would have in my opinion.
a basic boltgun metal and black vents kinda just says "i was put together as quickly as possible"
other than the paint problem it kinda looks cool and i would use it in my army