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I've been getting back into things and I notice that biker commanders are popular and would like to make one myself. A shield and a fist on a bike I think will be the equipment. I'm just wondering how you can make a good looking marine commander that fits well on the bike? I have 3 old bikes, the legs and bodies are very, well, static and boring. So what bits would be good to base it on? How do you make your guy and his bike look lordly enough?

A guy I played with in DC converted his to be getting off the bike and I really like the outcome:

Put him in an attack bike side car, like an ancient roman general rocking up in his chariot. Having a static driver doesn't matter then, he can be stood or whatever

that's actually a pretty cool idea kitch. would people complain about the bike being bigger then it should be (like he's supposed to be on a single bike)? Having a buddy drive him around would make it much easier to have an impressive looking commander.

I actually used the Dark Vengeance models because I'm cheap. Cut the head out of the Sergeant, carefully of course so the hood is still intact, then add the Company Master head. Very nice winged helmet right there. Then I had an old Powerfist from a Commander and after some clever cutting and Green Stuff it works pretty well on the Chainsword arm. Other weapons would be easier of course.

I'd be surprised if people minded as you're really just giving them a bigger target to hit / making it harder for you to block los to him. Besides who cares anyway, this is your hobby, do what makes you happy and forget those that'd get in the way of your personal enjoyment

How I did mine:

Biker legs, right arm
Multi-part captain's torso, backpack, Ultramarine shoulder pad, chainsword
Head from the new Vanguard box
Helmet crest, right shoulder, from sternguard box
Bike front and banner pole from the DA accessory sprue.

Here's mine. Captain Corvalius of the Iron Knights Third Company.



It's a sanguinary guard head to give him an Iron halo (blood drop removed). I made the model before the Shield Ubiquitous codex came out.

There's a grey knight storm bolter on the far side. I run this as the "Primarch's Wrath" relic.

If I was making one now I would consider the forgeworld outrider bike


http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space_Marine-Infantry-and-Accessories/LEGION_MKIV_OUTRIDER_SQUADRON.html

ColonelFaz good idea - another would be to use the jetbike as it makes the captain stand out even further, ala Sammael.

So the newer bikes have a rounded spot on top of their legs so any space marine torsos would fit right? I have the old ones, with flat spot on the top of legs to put the torso and head (which are a single piece).

I was thinking the commander, sternguard and vanguard veteran boxes would have some nice pieces and after seeing biker commanders I think I have a few good ideas. Time to gather bits!

What level of kit bashing skills do you have?

I think for most marine bike CM

Get the Raven wing bike parts for the cool winged front with the mini iron halo is a Great way to make em look different off the bat.

Sternguard Torsos look great as character parts. The old one is flat so you will need to ether fill the torso bottom with green stuff or make a bump on the old legs.

I would totally put the shield on his back or mount it to the front of his bike some how.

As well if you are going Iron hands, you can always have a shield arm, and then give him part of a servo harness to use as a power first on his back pack which i think looks bitchin.

Basically what the others said - just find cool parts and combine them.

For my bike commander, I started by stealing a head from one of the dark angels captains from the dark vengeance set (got him for like $1 on ebay) . I used a back pack, that I put an extra aquilla on I think, etc.

There are a lot of great ravenwing bits that are really good for this sort of thing - but don't forget to just look at the parts you might have.

For example, the aquilla symbol that goes on the front of a rhino? that you can add to a backpack, or a banner, etc.

have fun with it!