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Google doesn't seem to have a direct comparison between Harlequin Skyweavers (the 2-elf bikers) and Eldar Vypers. If anyone can provide a pic, that would be great, but based on some size comparisons between Skyweavers and DE Venoms, I think they are really close.

Skyweavers are at least as long as (if not longer than) Venoms, which I know first hand are the same size as Vypers. They are slimmer, but as you no longer measure to the hull of Vypers, it shouldn't be an issue.
If I could somehow covert a heavy weapon gunner on the back of the Skyweaver, could they work well as cheap Vypers? I'd also use guardian heads.

Both use the same base size too, which in 8th is what you measure to for both units now.
Thoughts?

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They're fine - very close in size.

Cool, thanx. Now I just have to figure out A) how to model the gunner without spending more on them, thus defeating the purpose and B) if I even want them in a list.

Wait, Sky Weavers are the jetbikes? I thought you meant the Vyper-esque fellas. The doubled up jetbikes would be..."eh".

 Elbows wrote:
Wait, Sky Weavers are the jetbikes? I thought you meant the Vyper-esque fellas. The doubled up jetbikes would be..."eh".

yes, the jetbikes. Vypers are also bikes now too and are on the same base as Skyweavers (which is what you measure to in 8th).
I know the Skyweavers are at least as long as a Vyper, but just not as wide/chunky.

But like I mentioned, I don't really have plans to use Vypers, I'm just hashing out a random idea that popped into my head. 1 Vyper is $30, while a Skyweaver is only $20 (box of 2 for $40)

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You only measure the base for movement and close-combat, you still use the model though for line-of-sight.

I've used the larger venom-esque one as a Vyper and it was fine, but the Skyweavers - not entirely sure. At a glance online they look quite similar, but I dunno. No personal experience with them.

They are way to skinny IMO, but if you did a good Job converting them, no one will care to much.

Really cool/Conversions will normally be allowed if they still are very close to size, has correct gear and you can tell what they are suppose to be. Vypers are about x2 fatter than the Skyweavers, and a little bit taller (without the guy on back). They are about the Size of a Venom.

I dont think you were around for it, but people was using Vypers for Venoms before the Venom had a kit, they (im 99% cure) based the Venom off the Vyper.

Starweaver or voidweaver - those are better matches.
But, if you wanted to run a nicely converted unit of skyweavers with kewl hvy wpns dudes on back, well, sure...
Still, I wouldn't do it cuz in my opinion it just wouldn't feel right, and would look wrong.

 Elbows wrote:
They're fine - very close in size.

Seconded.
I've painted both. Vypers a long time ago and 3 Skyweavers recently.

Yeah, Skyweavers are actually longer than Venoms:

A properly models gunner on the back should fix any LoS issues.

The Skyweaver is a pretty beefy jetbike--beefy enough that I think the base hull is close enough to Vyper size to not really require much (or any) modification in order to beefy up the hull itself.

The main thing is height, I think. The Vyper is a lot taller than the Skyweaver hull, what with the weapon mount. As long as the weapon/gunner sits fairly high above the hull, things will probably be OK--this could result in a lot of converting to create a firing platform in the back or a lot of cutting up and rebuilding a gunner's legs.

 Likan Wolfsheim wrote:
The main thing is height, I think. The Vyper is a lot taller than the Skyweaver hull, what with the weapon mount. As long as the weapon/gunner sits fairly high above the hull, things will probably be OK--this could result in a lot of converting to create a firing platform in the back or a lot of cutting up and rebuilding a gunner's legs.

Agreed on the level of conversion needed for the gunner. I'd basically have to scratch build a whole new seat and gun mount.
As for the height, that is a super easy fix: a taller base/flight stand.

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 Galef wrote:

 Likan Wolfsheim wrote:
The main thing is height, I think. The Vyper is a lot taller than the Skyweaver hull, what with the weapon mount. As long as the weapon/gunner sits fairly high above the hull, things will probably be OK--this could result in a lot of converting to create a firing platform in the back or a lot of cutting up and rebuilding a gunner's legs.

Agreed on the level of conversion needed for the gunner. I'd basically have to scratch build a whole new seat and gun mount.
As for the height, that is a super easy fix: a taller base/flight stand.

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I own both and they are pretty similar.

both models are pretty much equal in size but the Jetbike it's a bit more fat (like half an inch) at the sides due the larger wings and a bit beefy at the middle due the raised cockpit and the rear gunner.

If you model the gunner in an upstanding position it should be roughly similar in size.

No good conversion ever starts with "I wanna save $10 per model"

Dont do it.

Edit: Just compared the skyweavers to starweavers. The skyweavers are a good inch shorter. Also the model doesnt have the correct heigth. Dont do it.

I own three out of four models involved in this discussion: actual Vipers, Skyweavers and Starweaver/Voidweaver.

Skyweavers are exact match in lenght for Vipers, but Vipers are a lot chunkier and almost half as wide as Skyweavers.

Starweavers/Voidweavers are pretty much twice as big - you can fit a second Viper perpendicularily at the back and still be within Starweaver silhouette.

Judging from your photo Galef, Venoms are exact match for pilot cabin and nose, but much wider at the back and chunkier overall than Vipers.

The easiest conversion that comes to mind would be to mount second weapon on the rear arch in a Voidweaveresque manner and have a side-saddled gunner operating it. All you need is seating legs and scratch build counterweight for the gun housing and some back support for the gunner (in a form of a guard rail perhaps?). But as said by Morkphoiz, that is one forced conversion altogether...

nou wrote:
The easiest conversion that comes to mind would be to mount second weapon on the rear arch in a Voidweaveresque manner and have a side-saddled gunner operating it. All you need is seating legs and scratch build counterweight for the gun housing and some back support for the gunner (in a form of a guard rail perhaps?). But as said by Morkphoiz, that is one forced conversion altogether...

When you buy a Star/Voidweaver kit and build it as a Starweaver, you're left with most of the bits needed to do this: the cloak-wearing gunner and the back-facing shuriken cannon (on which you can easily mount a CWE heavy weapon instead of a shuricannon).
You would still need to build some kind of platform for the gunner, and a pillar to mount the heavy weapon on top.
There's a leftover bit that you get when building a hemlock, which is the plate with two fins that goes right behind a crimson hunter's canopy. I guess this could be mounted on the Skyweaver's backseat, to create the needed platform for the gunner. That would also beef-up the model a bit. Many bits (like heavy weapon barrels or wraith units' back fins) could be used to get an eldary-looking pillar.

Morkphoiz wrote:
No good conversion ever starts with "I wanna save $10 per model".

For most people, I'd agree with you. However, some of my most successful conversions have come from the need to save money.
"Necessity is the mother of invention" or something like that.

Not to boast, but 90% of the models I've every built/owned (which is in the thousands by now) have been conversions of some sort and I have been called the "MacGyver of 40K"
I like to take cheap plastic kit X and modify the models to represent expensive metal/finecast kit Y, then sell them for a price in between.
I get to have fun modeling and sell something for more than it cost me, while the buyer gets a deal and unique models for their collection. Win/win
Examples of my work are linked in my signature below.

I can generally figure out how to make something work, but I like to have confirmation that the premise is sound first (which it sounds like this could work)
Still not sure if I'm going to go forward with this, but it's nice to have some ideas for a new project once all my current projects are finished.

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Morkphoiz wrote:
No good conversion ever starts with "I wanna save $10 per model"

Dont do it.

Edit: Just compared the skyweavers to starweavers. The skyweavers are a good inch shorter. Also the model doesnt have the correct heigth. Dont do it.

Lies, some conversions are made to SAVE money.

I made 2 Warp Hunters and 2 Hornets for 110$ USD
https://imgur.com/yYkAmrL

I made 40 Grotesques from AOS Ogres b.c 24$ per 1 Mono-pose model is stupid when you play with units 3-10 sizes (and since 7th 20 was good). 40$ per 6 Guys instead of 150$
https://imgur.com/OMzqfhO

I converted Crypt Horrors from AOS into Claw Fiends.. Again they are 25$ for a single pose model 50$ for 3 instead of 75$
https://imgur.com/k3uLbh0

I made my Prince, 2 Archons, 3 Barons from 1 box of Corsair Dark Elfs
https://imgur.com/mTC5e76

I can go on and on, i have 10+ units in Nids i did the same for and much more for DE, Eldar, etc...

I think the key is the effort needed to make the conversion work. If the only reason is to save money, it probably won't look great.
But if you are "trading" money for effort spent, than you can get some really cool things done.

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