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So, I was thinking about crafting a Dark Eldar Talos Pain Engine or Chronos Parasite Engine. I wanted a unique one, though, and I was considering buying a Wraithlord and tricking him out with spikes, blades, chains, and appropriate representations of the proper Engine equipment.

Would you find that to be an acceptable conversion, or is it a bridge too far?

As long as it has roughly the same profile and is WYSIWYG I say go ahead.

As a former voleenteer to helped out tourny organizers, I say just put it on the proper sized base.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat470008a&prodId=prod1590002

In my experience as long as you do this, then their should no no problems and less sticking points for argument. As long as it's on the proper base for that unit, and looks correct on that base it should be fine.

Another rule of thumb for stuff like this. It's always better to step up in base size, then use a smaller one. Generally speaking larger bases are a disadvantage in 40k. (That's why you get silliness like people trying to use old school metal termies that use the smaller 25mm bases.) It's annoying how many people did that in the hay-day of 5th's tourney scene....

So I'd say you could even use the 60mm base that comes with the wraithlord just fine since it's ever so slightly larger then the large flying stand. In all honesty alot of people will glue the flight stand base ontop of a 60mm base to make it easier to base the model to match the rest of their army.

The poll says Wraithknight, the OP says Wraithlord, which is it?

 Krellnus wrote:
The poll says Wraithknight, the OP says Wraithlord, which is it?

I assume he means Wraithlord, since that''s a prety common conversion in all honesty before the pain engine kit was released.

If he is going to do a wraithknight, then I'm sure his opponent won't have any problem making his pain engine into a giant bullseye for lascannons...

Wraithlord. Fixed.

If it looks good it's cool. Nice conversions and paintjobs are always a pleasure to see.

Even if it doesn't look too cool I'd be OK with it as long as a) I'm told what it is and b) you don't have Eldar allies with normal Wraithlords to confuse me.

Most players would have no problem with it. I know I wouldn't mind at all.
However, you will always find someone who will have a fit so I would discuss it with your locals who you will actually be facing.

Go for it man. The more converted the model the better. So long as you have your "?? Engine" written down with its stat line, war gear, special rules, and options taken. No one should care what the model looks like, as long as it is clearly detailed what it has, can do, for the points used to purchase it.