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So a lot of people use Melta Bikers, but how have you modeled them?

The models I have are already assembled with the combi-bolters.

I suppose since theyre tank-hunting (so most likely on Krak) the loss of the attacks wouldn't matter so much as you can only use one grenade, but what has everyone else been doing with theirs?

Should I just stick a melta in between the guns? strap a Melta on his back and just say "The combis have been replaced"? Or just drop the ccw and take one less attack as no biggie...

Whattdya think?

I modelled some for a friend. They were 1-handing the bikes and holding the Meltas in a sort of 'ready' fashion.

One guy had the butt of the Melta resting on the chassis and holding the grip in his off-hand, so like he can just quickly remove his hand from the handlebars, grab the end of the gun, move it up, and take a shot.

The other had it in the typical bada** resting it against the shoulder sort of way. you know the look I mean.

I feel like pictures would help here, but I have none and am at work :(


edit; I think I may have misinterpreted. I thought this was a modelling question, then I saw it was in Tactics.

I guess it depends on what you think you'll miss more, an extra bolter hit or two, or a few extra chainsword strikes.

Personally, I'd go with swapping out the bolter. The only reason to swap out the chainsword is if you want to stay out of close combat, dancing around and harassing stuff with shooting. Bikes seems to be kind of expensive for such a sideline role (and let's be honest, the amount of damage you'll do with bolters is likely rather low), and their speed allows them to be a decent close combat unit in a rules set that otherwise hates close combat.

If you look at old SM bikes they have a one armed option you could copy. I have my Chaos bikes with twin meltas. One i modelled one handed, and the other i modelled in place of the second bolter in the chassis

U could glue a 3-d hand with melta and claim that they've just mutated a bit.

Personally I replaced the bolters. First of all, if I'm not wrong, you can't shoot both at the same time, even with bikes.
On the other hand it is possible to shoot the melta and then use the extra attack on the same turn. Yes, the bolter is twin-linked and fires 2 shots, but most of the time you'll end up being more dangerous with the melta anyway, even against infantry.

That said, I feel the Chaos Bikers perform better when you close to a vehicle, blow it up and then charge its crew (or the nearest unit if it's not a transport). I don't see them as a skirmish unit that fires and run.


For what regards modelling, I feel there are many options. With mine, I just did not glue the bolters, placing some leftovers bits taken from here or there. In one case I savaged part of a Nurgle Icon, on the other one I cut part of those chains with skulls at both ends that you find in the Chaos vehicles sprue, so that I have one skull in place of each bolter. I placed the melta in one hand, with the other hand holding the handle, trying to give the look of firing while steering.

I just put the melta in the hands of the model or strap it onto the back of the bike. Most of my bikes are heavily converted in other ways, I don't want to be dealing with what gun is mounted on the front.

 koooaei wrote:
U could glue a 3-d hand with melta and claim that they've just mutated a bit.

That is the reason i chose chaos space marines. Some of my marines have a 3rd leg!