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I don't know about you, but I tend to find that Trygons aren't really too bright. It's like they have no sense of survival at all, usually opting to stand around shouting while krak missiles zoom towards their slack-jawed faces. I mean just look at this guy...



He has a goddamn Skyshield to hide behind and still insists on jumping around like that. This Land Raider crew can't believe their luck.




This week I adopted a new Trygon from eBay, and was determined to help him reach his future prey with as few lascannon holes as possible. The poor guy had been through a bit of a rough time, and needed some considerable cleaning up after being lathered with cheap, brittle poly cement. i took this opportunity to make him a little stealthier. Well, as stealthy as you can make a giant house-sized snake thing.

The first step was a small surgical incision to remove the final three tail segments on the main torso, like so:


I also clipped the final segment on the middle part of the tail. This gave me alot more flexibility in reassembling everything. This next image shows how that is done, using paperclips to pin the parts into place. U-shaped pieces help to keep everything attached to the main base securely.




With the glue dried and the frame holding firmly enough, it's time to add in the missing tail segments with greenstuff. It's worth pointing out that the last part of the assembly was to (re-)attach the limbs. This let me position them to look best for the new pose.



Job done! Our new Trygon is far less prone to being hit by stray missiles, lasers or low-flying dakkajets.

Wouldnt this be modeling for advantage?

on another note though, il admit, it looks a lot less slowed than the existing example. nice job

doc1234 wrote:Wouldnt this be modeling for advantage?

on another note though, il admit, it looks a lot less slowed than the existing example. nice job

Pretty much textbook modelling for advantage. It's like modelling snipers lying down, or the "Crouching-fex".

Does look cool though.

Carnage43 wrote:

doc1234 wrote:Wouldnt this be modeling for advantage?

on another note though, il admit, it looks a lot less slowed than the existing example. nice job

Pretty much textbook modelling for advantage. It's like modelling snipers lying down, or the "Crouching-fex".

Does look cool though.

arnt their a few sniper models laying prone sold that way anyway? same as the crouching legs done with SM kits.

also, i now want to see this crouching-fex, because in my head, its awesomely hilarious...

The rules say you cant target tails, horns, wings. This model is "modeled for disadvantage" it is elevated by a tail that is not target-able . This gets it more on scale with other MCs and is similar to the forward leaning ravener models in relationship to the upright raveners.

Yeah... I'm sorry. Modeling like this just to get cover saves is pretty lame. Like making a bunch of long fangs laying prone. This goes beyond grots counts as IG which is fun and flavorful. This is just for rules advantage. I would not play someone running these... And I am a Nid player.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

theunicorn wrote:The rules say you cant target tails, horns, wings. This model is "modeled for disadvantage" it is elevated by a tail that is not target-able . This gets it more on scale with other MCs and is similar to the forward leaning ravener models in relationship to the upright raveners.

I am just not with you on this. Trygons are taller than other MC's... Fact of life. Would you let me field a tau sniper drone size model that counts as a vendetta?

Rabid Ferret wrote:Yeah... I'm sorry. Modeling like this just to get cover saves is pretty lame. Like making a bunch of long fangs laying prone. This goes beyond grots counts as IG which is fun and flavorful. This is just for rules advantage. I would not play someone running these... And I am a Nid player.

You really need to chill out a bit. This is hardly the same thing. Not only is leaning forward an accurate portrayal of how they move, there's a literally a picture of this exact pose on page 50 in the codex. This isn't a lame attempt to gain a cover save, it's meant to make the model look more dynamic. The original mono-pose of the kit is silly to begin with - can you imagine this standing straight up in the same way?

I could see your point if it was modelled with just a head and claws emerging from the ground - that's cheesy as hell. But this thing is still the same size and dimensions as a Terivgon and just as easy to hit. I can't think of a more reasonable comaparison for a T6 W6 MC than another T6 W6 MC...

Forgive my ignorance, I don't play against Tyranids, but can't you deep strike?? if you're model's going to appear from anywhere, why do you need to hide him?

But it is good to see a new pose. Good modelling!

wow, you guys really need to calm down. I'm sorry but these look really cool and I found the whole post pretty funny. well done xttz ^.^

for the record, I WOULD play against these because they look fantastic, rather than getting butthurt over a few lost cover saves

I don't care if it's moddeling for advantage. It's cool!

xttz wrote:I don't know about you, but I tend to find that Trygons aren't really too bright. It's like they have no sense of survival at all, usually opting to stand around shouting while krak missiles zoom towards their slack-jawed faces. I mean just look at this guy...

He has a goddamn Skyshield to hide behind and still insists on jumping around like that. This Land Raider crew can't believe their luck.

This week I adopted a new Trygon from eBay, and was determined to help him reach his future prey with as few lascannon holes as possible.

Job done! Our new Trygon is far less prone to being hit by stray missiles, lasers or low-flying dakkajets.

xttz wrote: This isn't a lame attempt to gain a cover save, it's meant to make the model look more dynamic. The original mono-pose of the kit is silly to begin with - can you imagine this standing straight up in the same way?

Okay you've got me confused here, first you say the modelling is to make him easier to hide, and harder to shoot (thus get cover saves, block line of sight etc), then it has nothing to do with cover saves, but making the model more dynamic? have to agree with Rabid Ferret about the modelling for advantage here...

But to be honoust: I wouldn't mind playing against this model, as it does look cool! Nicely executed conversion! I understand your wish to have some differently posed Trygons, specially if you've got three in an army...

Requiem wrote:

xttz wrote:I don't know about you, but I tend to find that Trygons aren't really too bright. It's like they have no sense of survival at all, usually opting to stand around shouting while krak missiles zoom towards their slack-jawed faces. I mean just look at this guy...

He has a goddamn Skyshield to hide behind and still insists on jumping around like that. This Land Raider crew can't believe their luck.

This week I adopted a new Trygon from eBay, and was determined to help him reach his future prey with as few lascannon holes as possible.

Job done! Our new Trygon is far less prone to being hit by stray missiles, lasers or low-flying dakkajets.

xttz wrote: This isn't a lame attempt to gain a cover save, it's meant to make the model look more dynamic. The original mono-pose of the kit is silly to begin with - can you imagine this standing straight up in the same way?

Okay you've got me confused here, first you say the modelling is to make him easier to hide, and harder to shoot (thus get cover saves, block line of sight etc), then it has nothing to do with cover saves, but making the model more dynamic? have to agree with Rabid Ferret about the modelling for advantage here...

But to be honoust: I wouldn't mind playing against this model, as it does look cool! Nicely executed conversion! I understand your wish to have some differently posed Trygons, specially if you've got three in an army...

I think he meant it as, at the moment, the trygon looks like it's just sitting around waiting for said missiles and dakkajets to hit it but after the conversion it looks likes it's moving around

DPBellathrom wrote:

I think he meant it as, at the moment, the trygon looks like it's just sitting around waiting for said missiles and dakkajets to hit it but after the conversion it looks likes it's moving around

I don't think so. The first bit of bolded text by requiem shows pure intent of grabbing as much cover as possible. xttz says in his original post that it's meant to grab as move cover saves as he can, all under the guise of cool modeling, dynamic poses!

It's the same if I modeled all my gaurdsmen on kneeling legs. They'd be dynamic! They'd be really cool models! They'd be modeled for advantage! As is this. Very well executed, no doubt.

Very good modeling, for sure. Shame to see such talent used for nefarious purposes.

And if it was for pure aesthetic purposes, I suppose there would be no problem with us measure to where a normal trygon would actually be standing if a game was played.

This is a very nice conversion and does help make the army appear more dynamic. If i hadn't seen this post and got the chance to play versus an army with a trygon posed like that i would have no problem. However, it's obvious from the OP's first paragraph this was done for a cover save/LoS advantage, so i would have to insist any shooting done at it would be treated like shooting at a normal one. Next time you model for advantage, don't admit it lol.

Looks awesom! Make sure to post pictures when he is all painted up

You might also try an embossing heat gun to 'soften' the plastic. You can then bend or twist it onto a different angle of attack.

Beautiful pain jobs on the others. Mawlocs appear to be the better choice though. Your experience?

hivepdktyrant wrote:You might also try an embossing heat gun to 'soften' the plastic. You can then bend or twist it onto a different angle of attack.

Beautiful pain jobs on the others. Mawlocs appear to be the better choice though. Your experience?

Thanks I should get this 3rd one primed and started tonight, ready for Sunday's Planetstrike game. Three Trygons able to charge as they arrive? Yes please!

As for Mawlocs, I find them more of a niche weapon. Sure the burrow attack will counter some things well, but to use it they need to leave the board for a turn in addition to waiting to come on in the first place. That means you only get to use it 2-3 times in a game max (probably 2) - if you take it off the board for 2+ turns. The rest of the time it's just a poor man's Trygon. Less WS, half the attacks and no shooting attack or Synapse option. Between this and the voluntary absence needed to do another burrow attack, you're paying 80% of the points for less than 50% of the model.

What can't model a slithering serpent style monstrous creature...slithering? lol

Point being any realistic (funny term for 40k I know) plausable pose for a mini that is well constructed I have no problem with.

To me modelling for advantage means adding 6" to gun barrels. Oversized bases on models with area of affect powers, etc.

Cover is only 5+ guys! Noone freak out. It'll all be alright.

I'm sorry but it looks awesome and I would play against it with no problems. Damn, so now it only takes a three-story building to hide the gigantic model. I suppose I must put my Eldar Jetbikes on the tallest flying stems that GW produces, as well, for otherwise I am modelling for advantage by having them fly too close to the ground.

As for prone snipers and figures- lots of people used to do that. It was always ruled that when being shot at they counted as if they were standing upright; that the pose was just for coolness sake, as you can get all sorts of "official" models kneeling or lying down.

bsohi wrote:

DPBellathrom wrote:

I think he meant it as, at the moment, the trygon looks like it's just sitting around waiting for said missiles and dakkajets to hit it but after the conversion it looks likes it's moving around

I don't think so. The first bit of bolded text by requiem shows pure intent of grabbing as much cover as possible. xttz says in his original post that it's meant to grab as move cover saves as he can, all under the guise of cool modeling, dynamic poses!

It's the same if I modeled all my gaurdsmen on kneeling legs. They'd be dynamic! They'd be really cool models! They'd be modeled for advantage! As is this. Very well executed, no doubt.

Very good modeling, for sure. Shame to see such talent used for nefarious purposes.

And if it was for pure aesthetic purposes, I suppose there would be no problem with us measure to where a normal trygon would actually be standing if a game was played.

i agree. at first you talk about surviveability and how you have a perfectly good landing pad to hide behind (you would get a 5+ cover save anyway from 25% being hidden btw), but then you speak of how it looks more dynamic and just to show how the model moves. well is it for rules or is it for fluff?

regardless, this is modeling to your advantage imo. besides, your model is WAY off the base now. there is a reason why the flyrant is up on its tail, there is a reason land speeders are on clear bases with poles, there is a reason why a trygon and a zoanthrope are so damned tall. why not have your hormagaunts standing straight up? arms dont count remember so you can have them take up as little or as much space as you want then. the landing gear on my stormraven is out, does that mean it doesnt need the base at all?

you want to bend the rules a little? get an old rhino, theyre at least a quarter inch lower.

I don't think he was trying to get cover on purpose, you guys just interpreted it that way.

I thought of it as the Trygon being a stupid animal it is and just stands up and asks to be shot at.

It looks cooler too, if you are so stingy about cover saves then just count it as if it was standing tall when actually playing the game

I like all three of the poses shown, from the typical to the extremely hunched "racing" look. But to get the best of both worlds without people flipping: I'd go with the slightly hunched pose. Only a tad shorter with a great "SURPRISE!!!" pose on whatever poor model he pops up next to!

xttz wrote:

Rabid Ferret wrote:Yeah... I'm sorry. Modeling like this just to get cover saves is pretty lame. Like making a bunch of long fangs laying prone. This goes beyond grots counts as IG which is fun and flavorful. This is just for rules advantage. I would not play someone running these... And I am a Nid player.

You really need to chill out a bit. This is hardly the same thing. Not only is leaning forward an accurate portrayal of how they move, there's a literally a picture of this exact pose on page 50 in the codex. This isn't a lame attempt to gain a cover save, it's meant to make the model look more dynamic. The original mono-pose of the kit is silly to begin with - can you imagine this standing straight up in the same way?

I could see your point if it was modelled with just a head and claws emerging from the ground - that's cheesy as hell. But this thing is still the same size and dimensions as a Terivgon and just as easy to hit. I can't think of a more reasonable comaparison for a T6 W6 MC than another T6 W6 MC...

I am not sure what part of my post made you think I was not calm.

You said you did not do this to get cover saves, but instead to get a dynamic pose. Would you let someone draw LoS to it according to its standard pose? If you play it like the model was designed I see no problem. It was you wording in the first post that made it seem like modeling to get advantage shenanigans was your intent.

I don't really see where this is not modelling for advantage. Especially the whole photomontage showing how coverless and vulnerable a stock trygon can be.

Nice try...

Technically you can still see the carapace over the Landing Pad so they can still get shot at. Artistically though, very very nice

I wouldn't mind playing against this model. Even if its modeling for advantage the majority of cover on a battlefield wouldn't even totally obscure it

I don't know much about the creature though (no experience with Tyranids) so I don't know what advantage it would be getting from a cover save

And besides... it's just such a really cool model. This is terrific work!

Wow.... this just shows how stupid 40k is.. Glad i left it.. Whats wrong with modeling it just the way you like it, being prone, standing on its head whatever and just using the original model for LoF purposes?

And by the way, i think it looks good.

Jacobshepard wrote:I wouldn't mind playing against this model. Even if its modeling for advantage the majority of cover on a battlefield wouldn't even totally obscure it

I don't know much about the creature though (no experience with Tyranids) so I don't know what advantage it would be getting from a cover save

And besides... it's just such a really cool model. This is terrific work!

Considering almost no Tyranid has an invulnerable save and most troop nids have 5+ saves, cover is a necessity for success. Hence the reason we are called MFA on this model.

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:

Jacobshepard wrote:I wouldn't mind playing against this model. Even if its modeling for advantage the majority of cover on a battlefield wouldn't even totally obscure it

I don't know much about the creature though (no experience with Tyranids) so I don't know what advantage it would be getting from a cover save

And besides... it's just such a really cool model. This is terrific work!

Considering almost no Tyranid has an invulnerable save and most troop nids have 5+ saves, cover is a necessity for success. Hence the reason we are called MFA on this model.

Got ya. As I said I have no experience with Tyranids so I always appreciate the knowledge