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Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

The sky is the limit with conversions really, so It'd be pointless to list every cool looking customisation we've seen or made. However a lot of my projects were inspired by seeing some particular projects done by others. It could be complex greenstuff sculpting or as simple a thing as turning a tank hull backwards, but sometimes I'd see a pic and just say "Wow, reshaping that part makes the model look so much better than the stock kit" - or "why in hell didn't I think of that before!" So thought I'd start a thread for sharing such inspirations. Please post any stuff that you feel the same about. Your own projects or others, finished models or raw ideas / sketches. The emphasis for posts being innovation -altering the design and/or aesthetics of a model, and complementary kitbashing, rather than just "this conversion looks cool" (there's enough threads dedicated to cool conversions already).

Note: As a designer I'm very critical and can harp on about the flaws of miniatures, or what I consider improvements to them. I would prefix every one of my posts with "in my opinion" but it would become tiresome for all involved. We all appreciate different styles and I don't consider myself an authority on how miniatures should look. Please bear with my "passionate enthusiasm" on the subject Cheers, Seán

Here's a few to begin with:

Turning a Leman Russ Backwards. Not quite that simple, as to get the best look involves lengthening the hull, and resculpting a slope for the new hull front as well as rehoming the engines, hull weapon, etc, but the essence is turning it backwards for a much less unwieldy-looking profile, that much improves upon the aesthetics:

This particularly excellent model was called the King Russ or Golgotha assault tank and was produced and sold in limited numbers by some Eastern European gen.ius.



[Thumb - king_russ.JPG]

This message was edited 13 times. Last update was at 2022/01/30 12:37:34


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Sponsonless Predator: Someone rightly thought a World War 1 weapon layout was somewhat illogical on a 41 st century tank, and instead placed the heavy bolters coaxially and in an "AA mount" on the commanders hatch, with great results.
[Thumb - pred.JPG]

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/04/06 22:03:25


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Inspired by the sponsonless pred I took a slightly different take on it and mounted the secondary weapons in the hull and on a cupola mini-turret respectively.
[Thumb - tri_las_1.JPG]

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/02/21 02:12:36


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Stormtalon Walker: It's a testament to GW's questionable sm flyer designs when one of them looks a hundred times better on legs than with wings! Might encounter slight rules issues trying to use it on the table though....
[Thumb - img51cc551dee99c.jpg]


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Army of Two Dreadnoughts: influenced by the ballistic masks and shield from a certain co-op shooter; there are no words for how bad-ass I think these dreads are. Having the heavy weapon held in both arms gives it the feel of it moving like a giant soldier, and gets past the somewhat stiff and ponderous appearance of the basic model. Created by an excellent Finnish studio called Warhead http://www.gowarhead.com/
[Thumb - dreadnoughts.JPG]

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2015/04/10 21:52:10


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

I was looking around at all the chaplain models. Most are good, but I stumbled across this legion of the damned sergeant and figured that with a simple swap of the power axe for a crozius, he'd make a better looking chaplain than any of the proper models currently in production.
[Thumb - legion.JPG]


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in gb
Is 'Eavy Metal Calling?





UK

One of my favourite changes is the use of WOC kits with CSM. RazakelXIII's Word Bearers have to be some of the best CSM going!



 
   
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 thegreatchimp wrote:
Army of Two Dreadnoughts: influenced by the ballistic masks and shield from a certain co-op shooter; there are no words for how bad-ass I think these dreads are. Having the heavy weapon held in both arms gives it the feel of it moving like a giant soldier, and gets past the somewhat stiff and ponderous appearance of the basic model. Created by an excellent French studio called Warhead http://www.gowarhead.com/


Even though the sequels were terrible, that game will always hold a special place in my heart.

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 thegreatchimp wrote:
Army of Two Dreadnoughts: influenced by the ballistic masks and shield from a certain co-op shooter; there are no words for how bad-ass I think these dreads are. Having the heavy weapon held in both arms gives it the feel of it moving like a giant soldier, and gets past the somewhat stiff and ponderous appearance of the basic model. Created by an excellent French studio called Warhead http://www.gowarhead.com/


They are Badass looking Dreads !

I might "borrow" that !


Great idea for a Thread, I too like to convert even the basic troop type , it just does my head in if they are all the same ! Subbed !

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/04/05 23:00:07


   
Made in gb
Hollerin' Herda with Squighound Pack





UK

these are fantastic and I totally agree with the Predator and Dread conversions! subbed for the next installments!

"Skull First into WAARRGGHHH" The motto of the Savage Psykers 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

 jreilly89 wrote:

Even though the sequels were terrible, that game will always hold a special place in my heart.

I've only played the 2nd one (40th day) and though the storyline was lacking, I got a real thrill out of the action


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Thanks guys, glad it's of use to folks. Just kicking it off really -I'm sure there's a lot more experienced converters than me out there that can contribute, (whether completed projects or drawing board ideas), but I'll be happy to update the thread with any more inspirations that come to mind.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/04/05 23:59:47


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in gb
Morphing Obliterator




Medrengard

My own abaddon. Using only the weapons and hair from the original. Now he isnt so tiny, or awful looking.
[Thumb - 1428283355050.jpg]

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/04/06 01:28:24


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5000pts 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Turret swaps are a fairly obvious and common customisation, but this one would stand out (and be flaming expensive to boot): I was looking at the FW Primus Redoubt turret and thinking it'd look great on a legion fellblade. I'm not sure it'd look as well on a GW baneblade, because the roundness of the Primus would clash with the squareness of the baneblade hull.
[Thumb - primus.JPG]


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Another take on the sponsonless pred -this one is Warhead studio. As an added bonus the weapon loadout and configuration will cause quite a stir at tournaments!...and most likely a disqualification.
[Thumb - turretless pred.JPG]

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/04/06 18:21:54


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Cohesive squad poses: Modelling each squad member to make the squad look like it's doing something in particular. This is by no means a new idea, but I've seen a lot of great new takes on it.

Multi-part plastic kits allow for an impressive variety of poses. Take the space wolves pack for example.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/A1fVg3%2Bk4BL._SL1500_.jpg
5 different legs, 5 torsos, 8 or so arm variants. Great for ensuring not one of your soldiers is identical. The problem is if you go for maximum variety of poses you end up with a squad as follows:
-2 guys standing still, hefting guns one handed, with swords drawn
-1 guys walking forward hefting guns one-handed, with swords raised to strike
-2 guys standing still cradling bolters in both hands
-2 guys aiming bolters and walking forwards
-2 guys in a fairly neutral pose -arbitrary as to what they're doing
-1 sergeant standing around clenching his power fist and growling
Not that there's anything wrong with any of those poses -but what is the squad actually doing? The answer is "A little bit of everything" or "nothing in particular." And if that's what you're going for, fair enough.

But how about a squad where everyone is engaged in one or two particular actions? I don't mean posed identically -just working together. Say the front 5 guys are engaged in close combat, feet braced, swinging their blades, turned at the hip in mid strike, or leaning back parrying. Meanwhile the rear 5 are running forward, swords poised to strike, pistols aimed at enemy heads. That's an idea I had for my blood claws, and it's as simple as getting a few kits, and reserving the running legs and swinging arms from all the kits for a single squad. The result will be a much stronger sense of dynamic and action for each squad.

GW do have some kits that do this already to a certain extent -like the leaping poses of Sanguinary Guard, or running Khorne Berserkers, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. Check out a few of these:








[Thumb - cohesion_1.JPG]

[Thumb - cohesion_2.jpg]

This message was edited 8 times. Last update was at 2015/04/15 22:09:24


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Squad aiming and firing. The models are Black Ops Exo Lords from Anvil Industries.
[Thumb - cohesion_3.jpg]


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

My own development of the "squad cohesion" idea was to have a squad firing in unison at a mid distance target(s). The entire first rank is crouched, aiming and firing, with the rear rank standing and firing over their heads. The sergeant is directing their fire. 1 marine is reloading and another tossing a grenade, for the sake of a bit of variety. That's the trick I find -creating unison but not repetition. Subtle changes in pose also help with this.
[Thumb - IMG_0211.JPG]

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2017/12/06 23:09:37


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

This squad are scouring for the enemy, The front rank of is walking forward cautiously. They have their weapons trained to the front as well as to either flank, covering the terrain they're going into, because they're not sure where the enemy is, whilst Sergeant McWolf checks his scanner. The rear rank are holding back, observing for them, chatting on the radio, but ready to support their fellows with a sniper rifle, SAW and medkit. Three of the squad have their blades drawn -They're anticipating possible close combat.

This illustrates that you don't even have to have all the models doing the same action, just model them with regard to how they're interacting with one another and thier surroundings, and you'll still have a cohesive look.
[Thumb - IMG_9847.JPG]

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/04/07 14:04:10


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in gb
Stealthy Grot Snipa





 jreilly89 wrote:
 thegreatchimp wrote:
Army of Two Dreadnoughts: influenced by the ballistic masks and shield from a certain co-op shooter; there are no words for how bad-ass I think these dreads are. Having the heavy weapon held in both arms gives it the feel of it moving like a giant soldier, and gets past the somewhat stiff and ponderous appearance of the basic model. Created by an excellent French studio called Warhead http://www.gowarhead.com/


Even though the sequels were terrible, that game will always hold a special place in my heart.


Me and my brother powered through it in a weekend and returned it for a full refund good play through only one issue.....
Don't boost someone up a ledge, have them get downed, because he cant pull you up and you cant get him up ahaha oh we laughed hard at that failure.

But loving the dreads, might have to make a couple killakanz in the style of.

Continuing the 'game' inspired theme;
Based upon the 'slimeknights' from the 'Dragon Quest series' - My DeffDred

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/04/07 11:26:32


Favourite Game: When your Warboss on bike wrecks 3 vehicles simply by HoW - especially when his bike is a custom monowheel.

 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Solar Shock wrote:

Based upon the 'slimeknights' from the 'Dragon Quest series' - My DeffDred
Excellent take on a dread! Looking forward to seeing it painted. What model did you use for the giant squig?

I let the dogs out 
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Talking about making a small change to a model to improve on the looks, my first thought from my own experience was the Wave Serpent.

While I did make many changes to the stock model, some just for my own reasons (mostly being different), I did make several changes to bring parts of the model in-line with what I expected.

The main change I made was to finish off the nose of the thing.
The only reason I can think of for why the designer would create a sleek, streamlined body and then just cut the point of the nose off, in front of the cockpit, and leave it square (with an odd overhang), would be just to save a bit of plastic...

So I just continued on the lines of the hull and completed the nose. I don't see why you would not do that and leave it cut off, as it is on the stock model.

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Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

 Dr H wrote:
So I just continued on the lines of the hull and completed the nose. I don't see why you would not do that and leave it cut off, as it is on the stock model.


I agree. I also think it emphasises the downsloping cockpit better. An improvement to be sure. I'm liking that glossy blue paint job too.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/04/07 22:36:54


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in gb
Stealthy Grot Snipa





 thegreatchimp wrote:
Solar Shock wrote:

Based upon the 'slimeknights' from the 'Dragon Quest series' - My DeffDred
Excellent take on a dread! Looking forward to seeing it painted. What model did you use for the giant squig?


I sculpted the squig from scratch So i'll take that as a huge compliment I just used a wooden ball as the claw, then did the teeth, followed by lips and face (building outwards basically), finishing with the flesh. Initially had going to be a bike in the style of the 'dog thingy ma bob, from the mario games on N64'.

Favourite Game: When your Warboss on bike wrecks 3 vehicles simply by HoW - especially when his bike is a custom monowheel.

 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

The tall dreadnought: I've always liked the dreadnought model. I had one of the 2nd edition metal ones and it just had more character than any of the tanks I owned at the time. I might be unusual in that I actually prefer the aesthetics of the basic dreadnought to the FW Contemptor...with one exception -those stubby legs that in reality would only allow it to shuffle at best. A fair few people had the idea of giving them a proper set of pins, and when I saw these I knew I'd never be happy with fielding the stock model. Some of these converisons involve simply lengthening the legs, others incorporate the chicken-leg design seen in sentinels. All are awesome.

[Thumb - tall_dread_1.JPG]

[Thumb - tall_dread_2.JPG]

[Thumb - tall_dread_3.JPG]

[Thumb - tall_dread_4.JPG]

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2015/04/10 08:59:24


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







 thegreatchimp wrote:
 Dr H wrote:
So I just continued on the lines of the hull and completed the nose. I don't see why you would not do that and leave it cut off, as it is on the stock model.


I agree. I also think it emphasises the downsloping cockpit better. An improvement to be sure. I'm liking that glossy blue paint job too.
Indeed, it's almost bird-like. Thanks.

That paint-job was harder than it looks (and harder than it should have been); Grey shaded undercoat, metallic blue, and then a few layers of green interference paint, with a gloss coat. There was a lot of work getting the effect as good as I could.

Yeah, I don't like the legs on the stock dreadnought. I will be changing them on any I get in the future.

Mastodon: @DrH@warhammer.social
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

 Paradigm wrote:
One of my favourite changes is the use of WOC kits with CSM. RazakelXIII's Word Bearers have to be some of the best CSM going!

You certainly can't go wrong mixing those 2 kits! Incidently both CSM's and Warriors of Chaos parts ad a good feral touch to space wolves too, once the iconography is removed.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
tomcat31 wrote:
My own abaddon. Using only the weapons and hair from the original. Now he isnt so tiny, or awful looking.
Of all the minis GW need to update, it's a mystery that they haven't gotten around to Abbadon by now. He is after all the "main bad guy." Good job man

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2015/04/10 21:55:12


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Another answer to the dreadnought's questionable locomotion is to give it more legs. Love or hate space wolves, you've got to admire the stance of this thing, christened the "dognaught." It's a shame the GW design team couldn't have given us something novel like this, instead of Murder McMurderfang and his awful-looking head.
[Thumb - dognaught.JPG]

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/04/10 12:12:55


I let the dogs out 
   
Made in gb
Stealthy Grot Snipa





That's one sweet looking dreadnaught. Feel like im in the same boat as you chimp, love dreadnaughts, but they really do have some poor designs.... not to mention, sucking balls in game (orks). I have the option to field a army of dreads, but just nothing rules wise backs up that choice

Favourite Game: When your Warboss on bike wrecks 3 vehicles simply by HoW - especially when his bike is a custom monowheel.

 
   
Made in ie
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





Dublin

Solar Shock wrote:
That's one sweet looking dreadnaught. Feel like im in the same boat as you chimp, love dreadnaughts, but they really do have some poor designs.... not to mention, sucking balls in game (orks). I have the option to field a army of dreads, but just nothing rules wise backs up that choice
Indeed. I'll be running one because I like it, but they've been back-benched for sure. With the exception of the rifleman. Can only hope dreads will be promoted with some beneficial rule changes in the next edition.

I let the dogs out 
   
Made in ie
Norn Queen






Dublin, Ireland

Wow, some great stuff in here. That dreadnought dog is great!!


Dman137 wrote:
goobs is all you guys will ever be

By 1-irt: Still as long as Hissy keeps showing up this is one of the most entertaining threads ever.

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