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Hey guys and gals, I've restarted work on my truescale Deathwatch marine squad and I've been looking at the Inquisitor I converted to accompany them. The plasma pistol is just too big for the model and I was wondering if any smaller plasma pistol bits are out there. I've got a few of the old 2nd edition chunky ones and they don't frankly look much better. Any other ideas? Here is the model with the oversized gun in his hand.

First off, let me say that I don't think that it looks too big at all. I mean, it's a plasma pistol. Have you tried taking a look at the plasma pistol in the Cadian Command kit? That one might be a bit smaller than the marine ones.

If you're REALLY that determined to get a smaller plasma pistol, there's one that comes with one of the Imperial Guard FW upgrade kits. I think it was either the hardened veterans with shotguns, or the Cadians with respirators upgrade pack. Since FW's stuff is scaled down a little bit that might be what you're looking for.

You could also do a little surgery and clip out the section between the coils and the end. Really minimal gains though. Honestly, I think it looks great as is.

There is a smaller plasma pistols out there - MUCH smaller. But you would be looking for a plastic bit from the early-mid 90s.

Let me dig through my bits and see if I still have one laying around for reference...

The smallest one i know of is the FW one from the Krieg models shown on this page:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Death-Korps-of-Krieg/DEATH_KORPS_OF_KRIEG_INFANTRY_AND_ACCESSORIES/DEATH_KORPS_OF_KRIEG_COMMAND_UPGRADE_SET.html

Here you go:



The first is a standard marine kit bolter (at least standard as of 4th edition - I have not purchased any marine kits since then, but it seems like the scale has been stable since then.

A - This is a current era plasma pistol from a marine. I think this is the one you are already using (or very close to it).

B - This is the rounder, chunkier 2nd edition era plasma pistol that I think you were referring to. You are right - it is almost as long, and its roundness in some ways makes it seem bigger. I included a hand flamer from the same era for reference.

C - This is the one I mentioned above. As you can see, it is MUCH smaller. It is also thin. It seems even smaller in person, somehow, than this image shows. It came on a sprue of various pistols around... end of 1st/RT-era, a bit before 2nd launched? My memory is hazy. I think it came in IG command blisters during the period they did metal bodies with plastic arms. Again, it was a couple of decades ago, so memory is fuzzy.
(I included a hand flamer and auto-pistol from the same sprue, again for reference.)

@Cento: Thanks for the comparison pic. I actually test fitted the 2nd ed hand flamer and plasma pistol shortly after posting the thread! I got into 40k at the tail end of 2nd (when 3rd was already announced) so I have those bits but defintely not any RT ones. I'll have to scout around for those but the RT plasma looks to be the best fit.

@bubbles/scrunty: Thanks for the FW leads. I suspect they would be alot easier to find than RT ones on ebay. They should do nicely as well. I found an old half plasma something in my old chaos marine army bits (oblit weapon tips?) That might work as well so I'll post those later.

@barkdale: The genesis of the marines and inquisitor was as properly scaled figs for my now defunct Deathwatch rpg campaign. In the RPG, normal human bolters and plasma does not equal astartes weaponry but is generally worse due to the smaller size. I've tried to carry on that to the models themselves (hence the IG powerfist and backpack powerplant conversion). I will fully admit though that I'm the wargaming equivalent of the princess and the pea in this thread.

 warboss wrote:
@Cento: Thanks for the comparison pic. I actually test fitted the 2nd ed hand flamer and plasma pistol shortly after posting the thread! I got into 40k at the tail end of 2nd (when 3rd was already announced) so I have those bits but defintely not any RT ones. I'll have to scout around for those but the RT plasma looks to be the best fit.

I did some more sifting through my old bits organizer (quasi-organizer?) and found a couple more (also found the bolt pistol and shotgun from that group - so wee!).

Send me a PM, and I'll get one to you (I just wanted to make sure I had more, since I want to keep at least one for reference).

You, sir, are a gentleman. Thanks and pm sent! The glue is drying on my frankenplasma (will post a pic tonight) and while it is better than the original your option will in all likelihood be much more along the lines of what I want visually.

edit: and here is the promised pic along with another of the marines. Unfortunately the flash has preferentially reflected off of the pistol but the general outline and size are still visible. The frankenpistol (you can see the two parts I glued together) is still a bit too chunky for my tastes so I anxiously await my slimline RT plasma pistol!

 cento wrote:


C - This is the one I mentioned above. As you can see, it is MUCH smaller. It is also thin. It seems even smaller in person, somehow, than this image shows. It came on a sprue of various pistols around... end of 1st/RT-era, a bit before 2nd launched? My memory is hazy. I think it came in IG command blisters during the period they did metal bodies with plastic arms. Again, it was a couple of decades ago, so memory is fuzzy.
(I included a hand flamer and auto-pistol from the same sprue, again for reference.)

These weapons are from Confrontation/Necromunda. Arms and weapons for the metal Confrontation prototypes and and some metal Necromunda figs.

Tim

I got cento's package today in the mail and tried out the bits with some more pics taken. Unfortunately, I have a choice between bad pics due to flash washing out the unpainted details or a bit blurry due to the lack of flash (and longer exposure time). I opted for the latter so here are the three various options that I tried.

Largest Plasma Pistol



Medium Sized Plasma Pistol kitbash



Smallest Sized Pistol courtesy of Cento



I definitely prefer the smallest size both visually and thematically as if anyone has access to miniatured plasma tech then it would be the inquisition. Opinions?

That small Plasma Pistol definitely look the best! It just fits so well with the scale of the model, while the other ones look like they could almost be rifles.

Yup, the small one works quite well. The different style makes it pretty unique.

T

Awesome!

I am glad it went to a good home then!

Personally I like the original one. It's a pistol with the shooting power of a small sun for feths sake. The small one just looks too weeny. Anyway, glad you are satisfied OP!