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Some of these are current projects while others are future projects. First up, what is the best way of going about adding a chainfist and thunder hammer to a termie captain? cut the one arm off at shoulder? and what tool would you recommend i use to do this saw? What is an easy and great looking way to make a librarian biker? How do I make a lascannon with twin linked plasma gun for a razorback? Where do I find a conversion beamer and how do I go about making a master of the forge on a bike with said beamer? Are the forgeworld arms the only autocannon arms for dreadnaughts? And can someone please explain to me why it is GW doesn't include these equipment options with their models or have kits for them ect. Some of these I might be able to figure out, but I am new to the hobby and really don't want to "wreck" the models so a little expert advice is very welcome.

youuuuu really need to learn to itemize your stuff if you are going to run off a list of things.
1.) Re-arming captain: depends, if he has a power-fist, you can just take a chain sword, cut it do desired shape, cut out the bottom of the fist so it fits, and add it. As to the hammer? cut off the hand at the wrist from both source and destination, and apply it. You might have to take a wire or GS to connect base of hammer to terminator armpiit to represent power cable, bt, you don't really need that anyway.
2.) librarian biker? aren't there some grey knight power armor models with psychic hoods? That's all you really need, the rest is up to you. If you want robes, pick up some dark angel bikers. Otherwise, i've seen people who haven't batted an eyelash at a standard marine taken from a tactical box, who was painted librarian blue and given some more purity seals and a tabard to make him look bookish.
3.) twin-link plasma, If there are no plasma cannons in the kit, just buy a space marine devastator kit. You get everythnig you need, and most of the gun will be hidden inside the armored housing, so, the plasma cannon "can be set to low" to operate as twin-link plasma gun. you'll need to do some work on getting it to fit together, and probably need a pin-vise to drill out the gun if you really want it to be able to aim the gun up and down.
4.) Use the search enginge for the conversion beamer, find out what's been done, decide what you like, and replicate.
5.) Dreadnaught TLACs: Your friend is going to be the aegis defence line. Everyone ends up buying one, and using the walls in terrain or something. Alternatively, if you go to a bits site, i think venerable dreadnoughts have matching left-and-right missile launchers. Just grab those, remove the missile plates, replace with autocannons (you can buy some styrene straws of various snugly fitting widths).
6.) To make you buy other kits you don't need, the logistics and expense of trying to add more frames to kits and trying to keep the cost down, and because it's GW. This is likely to start changing soon because GW kicked a wasps nest, and it turns out it was a gian colony of psychic killer wasps that woke up every other nest in the nearby area. to learn more look up the CHS legal battle thread over in the discussions section of this forum
7.) You will only become an expert by wrecking the models. If you are absolutely terrified of wrecking models, go on kijiji or craigs list (or feebay if you get lucky) and pick up some second hand stuff on the cheap, and refurbish it. You will learn a lot from trying to restore an army.

Welcome to the hobby, and NEVER EVER BUY YOUR TOOLS FROM GW. Always get your tools and glues from an FLGS, you can end up paying more than double normal retail because GW repackages it's stuff. Knives are for cutting, files are for filing, clippers are for cliping. You CAN use the backside of your hobby knife to scrape away mold lines.... but i suggest you only do this if gentle application of the file can't solve the problem. And that, of course, means I am telling you to always remove every mold line you see, or you will be very, very, very sad.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
argh, right, also, get yourself some elastics, possibly a third hand, or something that can be used as a third hand, popsicle sticks, etc. Sometimes the models won't fit together quite right (like the odd rhino chassis that came off of an ancient mould that should have been replaced), and you'll need to force and hold the sucker together while the glue dries. The third hand will also come in handy for certain glues or when you need models to be positioned *just so*, to have the glue dry while you walk away....

1) Look at the Space Wolf terminator bits, I think they have left and right-handed hammers. You can cut the hammerhead off and replace it with a codex marine one. I'm not sure why you'd want a hammer + chainfist combo, but if it looks cool, might as well, right?

2) Either use a hobby razor saw carefully or a hobby knife to cut. Razor saw will have a kerf, so be mindful of that. Pin things back together if you can.

3) Get a SM biker model and the new librarian clampack. Swap the chestpiece out (snip off the robes), and either use greenstuff or cloth soaked in medium/glue to recreate if you want.
Backpack should look fine. That conversion is the clampack librarian model with the arms swapped out. The axe is from the Space Wolf Terminator kit!

4) I'd say start by cutting off the hand of a couple of plasmaguns from the finecast (or older metal) blisterpacks. Probably want to drill a hole through a single lascannon that comes in the kit and use some brass rod to let it rotate. Fill it in on either side with the plasma guns or make them together. Alternatively, 3d-model something that looks like you want and send it off to a place like Shapeways or a willing friend with a 3d printer. I could probably design the mount myself with copies of the parts on-hand (and I will probably do so when I get around to it)

5) I don't know.

6) I think so. The most common conversion comes from modifying the Aegis Defense Line quadguns (cutting and drilling out for the mounting holes). I have a 3d model that fits the older Assault on Black Reach dreads that I designed myself, it should work out on newer dreads (just drill the arm hole out more) https://www.shapeways.com/model/1942141/?li=aeTabs It's designed to be used with small brass tubing to form the barrels, although plastic would work too.

7) The kits are generally older than the books themselves, or there was a mismatch between available gear when the kit was designed and when the book was published. Since this is a modeling hobby with a game attached (as opposed to something like Heroclix, which is a CCG played with models), conversions (esp. if they look good) are more welcome here.

Have fun with this new hobby, and don't worry too much about "wrecking" a model. Mistakes happen.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

 poda_t wrote:
youuuuu really need to learn to itemize your stuff if you are going to run off a list of things.
Welcome to the hobby, and NEVER EVER BUY YOUR TOOLS FROM GW. Always get your tools and glues from an FLGS, you can end up paying more than double normal retail because GW repackages it's stuff. Knives are for cutting, files are for filing, clippers are for cliping. You CAN use the backside of your hobby knife to scrape away mold lines.... but i suggest you only do this if gentle application of the file can't solve the problem. And that, of course, means I am telling you to always remove every mold line you see, or you will be very, very, very sad.

Disagree, but that's because I rather like GW's new scultping tools, files and the mould line remover is very useful/convenient. Even their new knife is intelligent and works with regular blades. I haven't used their new clippers, though. The older Citadel clippers are still worth paying for, IMHO.

A pin vice is very convenient.

There is a forgeworld character that comes with a shoulder mounted conversion beamer.

I made a MotF with a conversion beamer on a bike using a centurion grav amp, lascannon barrel and wiring, radar dish from a rhino kit and a missile tip.

I've seen people just grab a necron weapon and call it done....

 poda_t wrote:
youuuuu really need to learn to itemize your stuff if you are going to run off a list of things.
1.) Re-arming captain: depends, if he has a power-fist, you can just take a chain sword, cut it do desired shape, cut out the bottom of the fist so it fits, and add it. As to the hammer? cut off the hand at the wrist from both source and destination, and apply it. You might have to take a wire or GS to connect base of hammer to terminator armpiit to represent power cable, bt, you don't really need that anyway.
2.) librarian biker? aren't there some grey knight power armor models with psychic hoods? That's all you really need, the rest is up to you. If you want robes, pick up some dark angel bikers. Otherwise, i've seen people who haven't batted an eyelash at a standard marine taken from a tactical box, who was painted librarian blue and given some more purity seals and a tabard to make him look bookish.
3.) twin-link plasma, If there are no plasma cannons in the kit, just buy a space marine devastator kit. You get everythnig you need, and most of the gun will be hidden inside the armored housing, so, the plasma cannon "can be set to low" to operate as twin-link plasma gun. you'll need to do some work on getting it to fit together, and probably need a pin-vise to drill out the gun if you really want it to be able to aim the gun up and down.
4.) Use the search enginge for the conversion beamer, find out what's been done, decide what you like, and replicate.
5.) Dreadnaught TLACs: Your friend is going to be the aegis defence line. Everyone ends up buying one, and using the walls in terrain or something. Alternatively, if you go to a bits site, i think venerable dreadnoughts have matching left-and-right missile launchers. Just grab those, remove the missile plates, replace with autocannons (you can buy some styrene straws of various snugly fitting widths).
6.) To make you buy other kits you don't need, the logistics and expense of trying to add more frames to kits and trying to keep the cost down, and because it's GW. This is likely to start changing soon because GW kicked a wasps nest, and it turns out it was a gian colony of psychic killer wasps that woke up every other nest in the nearby area. to learn more look up the CHS legal battle thread over in the discussions section of this forum
7.) You will only become an expert by wrecking the models. If you are absolutely terrified of wrecking models, go on kijiji or craigs list (or feebay if you get lucky) and pick up some second hand stuff on the cheap, and refurbish it. You will learn a lot from trying to restore an army.

Welcome to the hobby, and NEVER EVER BUY YOUR TOOLS FROM GW. Always get your tools and glues from an FLGS, you can end up paying more than double normal retail because GW repackages it's stuff. Knives are for cutting, files are for filing, clippers are for cliping. You CAN use the backside of your hobby knife to scrape away mold lines.... but i suggest you only do this if gentle application of the file can't solve the problem. And that, of course, means I am telling you to always remove every mold line you see, or you will be very, very, very sad.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
argh, right, also, get yourself some elastics, possibly a third hand, or something that can be used as a third hand, popsicle sticks, etc. Sometimes the models won't fit together quite right (like the odd rhino chassis that came off of an ancient mould that should have been replaced), and you'll need to force and hold the sucker together while the glue dries. The third hand will also come in handy for certain glues or when you need models to be positioned *just so*, to have the glue dry while you walk away....

You are absolutely correct I really should have itemized rather than focus on grammar. My post is definitely not fun to read. I didn't know about the grey knights libby I will have to check that out. I might be what I need (they have an awesome look to them too). I am looking into the other stuff as well. Tools well the only gw tools id ever consider buying would be the sprue cutters and the seam scrapper just because they are around the same price point as other comparable tools. I have some files (army painter) sprue cutters (squadron) and an xacto knife. thank you for the help.

nono, not the GK librarian, I feel like most GK power armor models should have a psychic hood, I'm not actually sure since i don't play GK and haven't played 40k in a while. All you need is that plate that has that... i think....... but then all of their weapons are also fancier, and then you get the extra models, so, you can also make multiple different librarians with different weapons. Magnetizing is fun, but annoying, often I'd just deal with the convenience of another model with a different loadout.

LoH wrote:
1) Look at the Space Wolf terminator bits, I think they have left and right-handed hammers. You can cut the hammerhead off and replace it with a codex marine one. I'm not sure why you'd want a hammer + chainfist combo, but if it looks cool, might as well, right?

2) Either use a hobby razor saw carefully or a hobby knife to cut. Razor saw will have a kerf, so be mindful of that. Pin things back together if you can.

3) Get a SM biker model and the new librarian clampack. Swap the chestpiece out (snip off the robes), and either use greenstuff or cloth soaked in medium/glue to recreate if you want.
Backpack should look fine. That conversion is the clampack librarian model with the arms swapped out. The axe is from the Space Wolf Terminator kit!

4) I'd say start by cutting off the hand of a couple of plasmaguns from the finecast (or older metal) blisterpacks. Probably want to drill a hole through a single lascannon that comes in the kit and use some brass rod to let it rotate. Fill it in on either side with the plasma guns or make them together. Alternatively, 3d-model something that looks like you want and send it off to a place like Shapeways or a willing friend with a 3d printer. I could probably design the mount myself with copies of the parts on-hand (and I will probably do so when I get around to it)

5) I don't know.

6) I think so. The most common conversion comes from modifying the Aegis Defense Line quadguns (cutting and drilling out for the mounting holes). I have a 3d model that fits the older Assault on Black Reach dreads that I designed myself, it should work out on newer dreads (just drill the arm hole out more) https://www.shapeways.com/model/1942141/?li=aeTabs It's designed to be used with small brass tubing to form the barrels, although plastic would work too.

7) The kits are generally older than the books themselves, or there was a mismatch between available gear when the kit was designed and when the book was published. Since this is a modeling hobby with a game attached (as opposed to something like Heroclix, which is a CCG played with models), conversions (esp. if they look good) are more welcome here.

Have fun with this new hobby, and don't worry too much about "wrecking" a model. Mistakes happen.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

 poda_t wrote:
youuuuu really need to learn to itemize your stuff if you are going to run off a list of things.
Welcome to the hobby, and NEVER EVER BUY YOUR TOOLS FROM GW. Always get your tools and glues from an FLGS, you can end up paying more than double normal retail because GW repackages it's stuff. Knives are for cutting, files are for filing, clippers are for cliping. You CAN use the backside of your hobby knife to scrape away mold lines.... but i suggest you only do this if gentle application of the file can't solve the problem. And that, of course, means I am telling you to always remove every mold line you see, or you will be very, very, very sad.

Disagree, but that's because I rather like GW's new scultping tools, files and the mould line remover is very useful/convenient. Even their new knife is intelligent and works with regular blades. I haven't used their new clippers, though. The older Citadel clippers are still worth paying for, IMHO.

A pin vice is very convenient.

I want a chainfist/TH combo because as Raukaan I have a Gorgon's chain and this combo gives me an extra attack and reliable vehicle which I need a lot of in my local gaming group. Plus it does look awesome (and I have less than stellar results paired with lightning claws). I will check out the rest of the stuff. This may be a stupid question, but what is a clampack.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Tarthenal wrote:
There is a forgeworld character that comes with a shoulder mounted conversion beamer.

I made a MotF with a conversion beamer on a bike using a centurion grav amp, lascannon barrel and wiring, radar dish from a rhino kit and a missile tip.

Forgeworld models are too expensive to be cutting up imo. Your conversion beamer idea sounds good though.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 poda_t wrote:
nono, not the GK librarian, I feel like most GK power armor models should have a psychic hood, I'm not actually sure since i don't play GK and haven't played 40k in a while. All you need is that plate that has that... i think....... but then all of their weapons are also fancier, and then you get the extra models, so, you can also make multiple different librarians with different weapons. Magnetizing is fun, but annoying, often I'd just deal with the convenience of another model with a different loadout.

I love model kits that result in extra bits. More than once the extras have saved me from having to buy another kit. After looking over some grey knights I just might have to start an army of them after a while. They look absolutely amazing.

hahaha, careful, you can also have too much fun with dark angels: usually the bike squadsons come with upgrade frames that have matched pairs of tank icons. Clip off the left wing on one of the icons and the right wing on the other, you can glue the icons onto the normal space marine bike fairings and you instantly have a veteran squad bike:


Honestly, think about how you want your army to look. There's a lot you can do. Like, if you bought a venerable dreadnought, If I remember correctly, they have extra leg greaves (either way, again, dark angels come with extras, for conversion, so you can get spare leg greaves for dreadnoughts by playind dark angels.....) and dreadnought leg greaves can be used instead of terminator shoulder pads on terminators.... Boom, instant cataphract lookalikes. The possibilities for conversion are endless. If you think of a concept, an army, etc. and tell us more about that, the help we offer can be much better targetted at what you want.

I might be overthinking the SM Libby Biker a bit. I Think I can use a Ravenwing bike squad sergeant and file off the Dark Angels symbols. I can then use a power maul as the force staff or something like it. if I decide to get really fancy I can get into some basic molding and mold my tigurius staff and his shoulder design. Not that I have any experience in molding lol. I need to learn that in the future sometime anyway. I want to mold my web exclusive space marine captain shoulderpad and backpack for my future hqs with iron halos. I have a addiction to building Chapter Masters and Captains.

force staff/weapon aint too hard. You can just get styrene straw reinforced with wire (paperclip) and for the weapon bit, you can use a fancy bit: there are any number of different kinds of either Iron Halos or squad honor markings you can use to top the staff, or if you don't use the vehicle icons, there's a good aquilla in there that if you cut the wing off the one side, glue it on the other, you have a fancy psyker blade or whatever. your options are endless.

A clampack is a small package that holds like one sprue. It gets its name from the fact that the two sides of the plastic close around the sprue like a clam.

This the the model that I was talking about: http://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Space-Marine-Librarian

The Space Wolf Wolf Pack kit has some nice swords that make decent-looking force swords and axes.

i wouldn't bother with the gw sprue clippers, they suck. the blades are too thick, and the tips bend easily. i dropped mine on the garage floor, and the ends of the blades bent. meanwhile, the pair i picked up at hobby lobby have much thinner blades, and work just fine, even if the handles aren't as comfortably grippable...
hmm... maybe if gw's clippers didn't have two pounds of rubber on the handles, the blades wouldn't have gone so outta whack when it hit the floor...

LoH wrote:
A clampack is a small package that holds like one sprue. It gets its name from the fact that the two sides of the plastic close around the sprue like a clam.

This the the model that I was talking about: http://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Space-Marine-Librarian

The Space Wolf Wolf Pack kit has some nice swords that make decent-looking force swords and axes.

That one is good too. Got to like the demonic cupid.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 poda_t wrote:
force staff/weapon aint too hard. You can just get styrene straw reinforced with wire (paperclip) and for the weapon bit, you can use a fancy bit: there are any number of different kinds of either Iron Halos or squad honor markings you can use to top the staff, or if you don't use the vehicle icons, there's a good aquilla in there that if you cut the wing off the one side, glue it on the other, you have a fancy psyker blade or whatever. your options are endless.

This is a good idea too.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

morpheuschild wrote:
i wouldn't bother with the gw sprue clippers, they suck. the blades are too thick, and the tips bend easily. i dropped mine on the garage floor, and the ends of the blades bent. meanwhile, the pair i picked up at hobby lobby have much thinner blades, and work just fine, even if the handles aren't as comfortably grippable...
hmm... maybe if gw's clippers didn't have two pounds of rubber on the handles, the blades wouldn't have gone so outta whack when it hit the floor...

I do have clippers but if I were to get another pair it would be the new ones. They are about the same price as sprue cutters made by others as well. But that won't happen unless something happens to my squadron sprue clippers.