Maximizing Astra Milatrium Heavy Weapon Kit

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**Dynas**

So the box says it has 3 of each weapons, mortar, heavy bokter, missile, launcher, Lascsnnon, autocannon. But I only get 3 bodies? If I get a regular cadian infantry box set with that would I be able to kit bash and make all the heavy weapons?

**Oppl**

Yes. Cadian kits are exceptionally modular, same as the Space Marines. The only slight issue is that Guardsmen squads are all standing upright, and most of the heavy weapons are designed to be used by kneeling models. Missile Launchers work standing, and you can make the secondary model for each weapon team standing to pad out the kneeling legs among the actual gunners. If that makes sense?

**FrozenDwarf**

taken from a simmilar topic on a old thread i made.
it helped me, maybe it will help you.

Kommissar Kel wrote:
Stretching a hwt kit:

What you get: 1 of each weapon, but only 1 tripod and 1 bipod. 2 kneeling guardsmen. 2 small sections of sandbags. Spare ammo for each weapon. 1 large base. Various arms for the non-giunner guardsmen.

How to stretch it(will also require an infantry box): you don't really need 2 guardsmen on the base: boom 2 gunners. You do not need the bipod for the missile launcher and any non-running legs in the infantry box will provide a gunner for the missiles. Mortar requires the bipod but a standing model can be used just as well as a kneeling model. That is 2 down. Autocannon looks best on the tripod and using a kneeling model with the paddle-trigger arms(hey its a build-as directed model) lascannon has a cable and power-pack, power pack has buttons, a kneeling model using the pointing arm from the non-gunner can be positiined next to the pack and as if he were about to push on of the buttons, you will just need a way to mount the lascannon at the same height as the tripod, or on the tripod and working ot a solution for the Autocannon(either case I suggest sprue-brick wall or a sand bag on a mound). Now for the heavy bolter(this is fun); there are a pair of running legs in the infantry box that are too close together and have a single contact point with the base. These legs are rubbish for a standing/running guardsman, but great for a prone one. There is also both a flamer and a grenade launcher in the infantry box; you are not going to be using both. Trim the gun from the arm, trim the strap flush. The handle-arm for the gun will be used as-is. Assemble the torso and legs without a base, the back of the heavy bolter goes on the specialgun trimmed arm as if it had a single handle. Sand-bags or sprue-brick wall goes on the base, heavy bolter on arm gets rested or nested on bag/wall, torso and legs get set into arm and specialgun handel arm then gets connected to both torso and bolter as a side-mounted foregrip. Then find a naturalish angle for the head: boom; Prone heavy bolter gunner.

In all cases you will need extra bases for all the gunners, and you should build up the rest of the base enough to provide ample visibility and play with that as "counts as model" for both you and your opponent's los; inform opponent of this pregame and rule of cool will take away arguments.

**PossumCraft**

You get six bodies, as a heavy weapons team is two guys.

**leopard**

I got some extra bases when I was building IG, the push fit guardsmen are fine for padding squads out so I borrowed a few others.

six kneeling figures became six gunners, six standing models became the "second man", on separate bases that sit on the 60mm to use as wound markers.

I also robbed the backpacks to give to veterans.

The kits as noted are exceedingly modular and reward such kit bashing

went with the combinations you have:

1 bipod, give this to a mortar, the missile launcher can be shoulder mounted on a standing model
1 tripod, give to the laser cannon, the auto cannon looks better on a small wheeled platform anyway (like the Ork Kannon)

**Sauragnmon**

You can source extra kneeling legs or models on Ebay from a number of reliable sellers.

As said previously, the bipod goes to the mortar, the missile launcher doesn't look horrible in the hands of a standing model.

Take your pick for the tripod, be it the Autocannon or the Lascannon - you can also source extra tripods if you want, or a seller like Anvil Industries -.http://anvilindustry.co.uk - has a number of alternate mounting options for heavy weapons in their Regiments line.

**Dynas**

Thanks all! I was looking at Kromlech kneeling legs or other ebay suppliers. Same with the tripods. There are a few ebay bits online. I like the idea of using the window ledge as well.

I like the idea of the spotters standing on all the teams. I will definitely do that.

Mortar uses Bipod standing guy, 1x standing spotter
Missile Launcher standing guy w/ 1x standing spotter
Lascannon uses Tripod, kneeling guy, 1x standing spotter
Autocannon w/ bits of sandbacks/rubble etc, kneeling guy, 1x standing spotter

That about right?

**greatbigtree**

Yup!

If you want to be adventurous, you can cut down the heavy bolters to make "man portable" weapons without tripods.

I did this for a Harker conversion.

**JmOz01**

For what it is worth, I intend to pick up some of the Victorian Miniatures Beastmeen, and give each one one of the heavy weapons and mount them on a 60mm base to use as my heavy weapons teams for inside units...

**Captain Brown**

Here are ways to use regular Guardsmen to make more Heavy Weapons Teams.

Two Guardsmen moving a Missile Launcher.

Heavy Bolter

Heavy Bolter on the move. Set-ups like this free up firing arms as well.

Heavy Bolter all prone with the legs from the Tank Accessory Sprue and some standing legs.

Here is three Heavy Bolter teams with only one crouching Imperial Guardsman.

Or for the Autocannon, a trooper swapping out the ammo drum.

Hope that helps,

CB

**greatbigtree**

Captain Brown, those are excellent!

**Jadenim**

I used Victoria miniatures heavy weapons carriages for the lascannon and the auto cannon, with the tripod and gun shield for the heavy bolter, standing missile launchers and bipod mortar.

https://victoriaminiatures.com/collections/artillery/products/gun-carriage

I also got some extra kneeling legs from there; the one thing I ran out of was the trigger arms, but you can get those from the vehicles (or Valkyrie door gunners).

https://victoriaminiatures.com/collections/legs/products/arcadian-legs-kneeling-male

**Captain Brown**

greatbigtree wrote:
Captain Brown, those are excellent!

Thanks greatbigtree.

Cheers,

CB

**foisty-moisty**

Captain Brown, would you be able to get some more pics of the autocannon reloader please? It's a fantastic model!

p.s. sorry for reviving this thread everyone!

**Captain Brown**

foisty-moisty wrote:
Captain Brown, would you be able to get some more pics of the autocannon reloader please? It's a fantastic model!

p.s. sorry for reviving this thread everyone!

Certainly foisty-moisty.

Here are two teams I built using parts like the calling/holding binoculars hand with another arm with it's hand removed, for the other hand I used the one that is presented for holding a Lasgun to throw a grenade. For long arms it was a straight arm for a mortar loader with a replacement hand. I just imagined the pushing down of the clip into the AutoCanon.

Here is a second team.

Cheers,

CB

**Dynas**

Oh wow. Nice pose. I may have to steal that one.

**foisty-moisty**

Thank you so much Captain Brown!!

**Dynas**

Another question.

HW team kit says you can build 3 of each kit. So you get 3x HB, ML, AC, Lascannon, Mortar.
You also get 6 kneeling guys.

So thats 3*5= 15 HW teams, 2 guys each = 30 total guys

If I want to build out the rest I would need 24 more Infantry guys correct. I know some of the bipods and gunshields, bases, etc...

I plan to do some posing with sandbags, have them carrying the weapons, etc...

Is my math right, I plan to pick up some extra infantry boxes to build all the heavy weapons so I can have 3 of each one.

**Captain Brown**

Yes, and you also need some of the larger 60mm round bases.

Cheers,

CB