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I have a few tac squad bits left over enough to make like ~12-15 full marines. I also have bits from death company and several other weapons.
Im just curious about to how to go about doing the conversions into sternguard?

The easy way is just a paintjob. For a codex chapter, this is white helmets and shoulder trim. Other chapters use diferent ways to denote vet status.

The harder way is to put a lot of custom bits on each guy. All those purity seals, pouches, spare gear, etc. In an ideal world each marine would have a crux terminus, or some other way to denote the earning of such. Custom shoulder pads and bolters would also be nice.

I have loads and loads of war gear bits. I don't think I have any crux shoulder pads but I have some death company bits. White pads with shaded wings maybe?

I'm guessing you have BA, so use the extra DC bitz and if you want to custom make some combi weapons, there are a few how to's online (basically mix a bolter with a melta pistol/meltagun or flamer etc). Also, the Sanguinary Guard box set has the sweet wrist mounted bolters that I've used for some special characters and could be used to give a little something extra to you Sternguard.

Extra Bling, gold trim, paint their helmets a different color... anything to distinguish them as veterans.

Vets are usually from the First Company, and have gold trim (?)
As mentioned, white helmets for Ultramarines and others.

I used the Dark Angels Veterans box, as I didn't like the mono-pose Finecast packs. Anything to stand out a bit.

But, get the most gaudy bits, the spare purity seals, and bling them up.

Here are mine.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-53375-22969_My%20Completed%20Sternguard%20Vet%20Squad.html
Just be sure to trick out the bolters, Scopes are nice for this.

Well, I'm sure there are some ways to do this. Another option would be to use robed DA Veterans.

However you like...mine have scopes on their bolters, spare bits such as pouches and various scrolls and seals on their armour, and the slightly fancier-looking bolt pistol holsters.

If you have another army (preferably Xeno or heretic), you could use bits like heads or whatever as trophys. If you don't, then you could try asking a friend for some spares.
But yeah, the easiest way would be just to paint them special.

Seriously, just use a bunch of blingy bits, different magazines for their bolters (Stormbolter mags and IG grenade launcher drums work) and some interesting paintwork that distinguishes them. Here's some of mine:

My sternguard are simply regular tactical marines with a 'reverse' paint scheme to normal. In addition, i painted their boltguns a different colour to highlight they are filled with special ammo. I was a bit thin on decent bling parts so I kept them for the sergeant. They do the job nicely, it's obvious to everyone that they are elites.

There's also this; http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440160a&prodId=prod1710018a

One of the new advance orders.

If only they'd straightened the claws for the promo picture. Shoddy.

It lists the parts as "finely detailed resin" but doesn't stamp it as Finecast.

Also, this kit can be used for any other unit or character. There's nothing particularly "sternguardy" about this, but they get to use everything in it.
The heave flamer is nice, but the Tacticals would get given that.

Back on topic, one thing that often makes Sternguard stand out is the combi-weapons.
They get them cheap, and get to keep their main benefit, the ammo types.
So, to make yout spare Tactical models look more like Sternguards, throw combi-bolters at them.

Paint them with different colours on things like the helmet and try to get your hands on some combi-weapons and those studded shoulder pads

I used the FW Mk2 armour for mine (rare heirlooms and all that) along with the bolters with the big, boxy magazines. Oh, and the chain bayonets!

Extra gold on the trim and they're done.

I ordered 10 Crux Terminatus pads from Battlewagon Bits, the ones from the Command Squad box. Slapped one on each guy, represents their 1st Company Vets. Then I pimped out their bolters. Used scope bits, and attached bayonets.



I'm just seeing a red X, but you can go here to see an image of them.

http://www.bluetablepainting.com/view_image.php?imgID=65051

The "Ferrox" pattern bolter from FW are also nice.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space_Marine-Infantry-and-Accessories/SPACE_MARINE_BOLTER_UMBRA_FERROX_X10.html

Bolters with scopes, large mags and optional bayonet or chain bayonets for extra meaness.

Thats what i was thinking of, 2 squads of iron armour or crusade armour and ferrox bolters, does add up a bit though

Also when i made my Vanguard Vets i used alot from the command squaf sprue.