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So, I'd like to make my Arbites army a bit more co-ed - like in all the fluff descriptions, where male and female Arbitors are both quite common. Ideally, I'd convert a couple of models and then recast to make a decent-sized female contingent to mix in with the guys. However, I'm not sure what would be a good base model for the conversions.

Here are some standard GW Arbites models - they have fatigues on, all but hidden under smooth, curved, form-fitting plates of carapace armour. There is 'striped' padding on the gloves, toes and knees, which I could easily greenstuff on. The eagle shoulder pad can easily be replicated from other models. The issue is the base model, and possibly the helmet.



Here are some art depictions of female Arbiters from GW - like the guys, the armour is pretty form-fitting, though quite heavy and durable-looking



And here are the only similar models I can find on the market - Mongoose Judge Dredd minis - but these are a bit under armoured and pin-up-ish, which doesn't really blend in well with the GW models.



So, any ideas of base models I could use for this conversion? Arms, legs, torsos??

These might work with a few conversions offcourse.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forsaken-Saint-Mary-DAG1401-Cool-Mini-or-Not-Dark-Age-28mm-Miniature-Game-BNIB-/321712461045?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae78e94f5
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forsaken-Coils-DAG1106-Cool-Mini-Not-Dark-Age-28mm-Miniature-Game-BNIB-UK-/321712392124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae78d87bc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forsaken-Warband-DAG1901-Cool-Mini-or-Not-Dark-Age-28mm-Miniature-Game-BNIB-UK-/221731450795?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a0396fab

Sisters of Battle would work as a base. Lots of dremel work and resculpting though.

Press moulding the shoulder pad will work. Getting the ribbed detail is easy GS work though.

I'd almost suggest using Scion legs as a starting point, then Eldar/Dark Eldar for the torso, and working green stuff magic from there

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
I'd almost suggest using Scion legs as a starting point, then Eldar/Dark Eldar for the torso, and working green stuff magic from there

I want to ditto that.

I feel like DA Torso with additional padding would be the best way to make it simply.

Here's my female Arbite. She's made with DE wych legs and torso, Elysian drop troop arms and a Slaanesh hellstrider head. And lots of converting obviously
I used basically the same inspiration photos as you did btw, especially the first.

tarnish wrote:These might work with a few conversions offcourse.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forsaken-Saint-Mary-DAG1401-Cool-Mini-or-Not-Dark-Age-28mm-Miniature-Game-BNIB-/321712461045?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae78e94f5
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forsaken-Coils-DAG1106-Cool-Mini-Not-Dark-Age-28mm-Miniature-Game-BNIB-UK-/321712392124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae78d87bc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forsaken-Warband-DAG1901-Cool-Mini-or-Not-Dark-Age-28mm-Miniature-Game-BNIB-UK-/221731450795?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a0396fab

That Saint Mary is a great starting point. Thanks! I'd need to Dremel off the loincloth and lose the cloak - I don't suppose you know if the cloak is a separate part??

winterdyne wrote:Sisters of Battle would work as a base. Lots of dremel work and resculpting though.
Press moulding the shoulder pad will work. Getting the ribbed detail is easy GS work though.

I did look at Sisters of Battle, but it's a colossal amount of work - so much of the models is big, triangular, block robes. There's not a single full leg or arm on any of the minis without carving away the cloth... I've actually already done some shoulder pad and head press-moulding when I made the last batch - I imagine the helmet would probably be the same size, I'd just have to re-cut the chin underneath it? But yes, I agree, the ribbed GS stuff is easy - it's just the base model that's a fether.

master of asgard wrote:Here's my female Arbite. She's made with DE wych legs and torso, Elysian drop troop arms and a Slaanesh hellstrider head. And lots of converting obviously
I used basically the same inspiration photos as you did btw, especially the first.

Brilliant conversion! Definitely need to up-armour the torso for what I'm thinking, though - is that some exposed Wych cleavage I can see there?

Also, just found this in another blog - the Shadowforge sci-fi female kit. Anyone have any experience with these? The armoured torsos look just right (though most of the rest of the kit is terrible!).

 ArbitorIan wrote:


Brilliant conversion! Definitely need to up-armour the torso for what I'm thinking, though - is that some exposed Wych cleavage I can see there?

Cheers, glad you like her. And yes, guilty as charged for the cleavage...

Victoria Miniatures has armored torsos as part of a range of female guard kits:
http://victoriaminiatures.highwire.com/product/arcadian-female-flak-torsos

Those straps/harnesses on the side might be hindering though.

I third DE bits,

Flesh can be painted to look like armour anyway, like almost some sort of exo suit underneath. Some of the DE torso's have a really nice layered plate look.