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So I took a break from 40K. When I went away, there were Primaris Intercessors, Reivers, Aggressors and Inceptors.

Now there are several new kinds of models out there....Vanguard, Gravis, Incursors and Infilitrators.

So, can someone help me out by telling me if I wanted to convert my own HQ models, what kits can I use for a normal Primaris Captain, a Gravis Captain and a Phobos Captain? I know the kits are not as friendly to change as the old Marine kits (Grrr). There seem to be a lot of
Primaris Lieutenants out there, can I use those for Captains and Sergeants? Or do they have special parts and markings on them? Can I just use normal kits or am I locked into having to buy the standard guys?

Thanks for any help!

I guess the easiest way to look at the Primaris is by separating their armour types:

Mk X 'standard' armour: Intercessors, Hellblasters, various other lieutenants and captains etc. Characterised by the big 'classic space marine' shin guards.

Mk X 'standard' armour (with jump pack): Suppressors. Normal primaris armour with big rockets and bouncy feet pads.

Mk X phobos armour: Reivers, Incursors, Infiltrators, various other lieutenants and maybe a captain? The /stealthy/ armour; characterised by the single big shoulder pauldron, skinny lower leg armour, and fibre bundle bits at the midriff and various other flexible areas.

Mk X gravis armour ('standard'): Aggressors and a Captain. Big, heavy armour.

Mk X gravis armour (jump pack variant): Inceptors. Big, heavy gravis armour, with big rockets on the back


... I think get getting the correct armour type is what matters. For something to be a 'Captain' or 'Lieutenant' all you need to do is make him look a bit fancier; there's no reason why you can't convert a phobos character out of any of the larger phobos armoured box sets. And likewise, there's no reason why a lieutenant model can't represent a sergeant so long as his wargear and armour is correct.

General Hobbs wrote:
So, can someone help me out by telling me if I wanted to convert my own HQ models, what kits can I use for a normal Primaris Captain

Any fancy Mk X model. Generally that means lieutenants as a base, but it could be in theory any old Intercessor if you have bits from past blinged up SM kits to make him stand out. Simplest conversion is the sword raised lieutenant with 'rifle under left arm' bit from Intercessor box, or DA one with left arm replaced with power fist.

Gravis Captain

Any gravis miniature (including ETB if you want to save a bit, then pick sergeant body as he has a lot of veteran badges). For ease of conversion, you might want to use spare terminator arms, they are about the right size. You'd just need to pick the appropriate loadout.

Phobos Captain

Same as Mk X above, just use reiver or any of the new guys as a base. He has a lot of 'techy' bits, though, plus camouflage, less so bling.

Primaris Lieutenants out there, can I use those for Captains and Sergeants? Or do they have special parts and markings on them?

Sure, they technically have special markings but these are just transfers, you're free to swap their pads for command ones and you're good to go.

And yes, all arms, pads, heads, decorative bits and such from old kits should work, unless they are truly ancient, then they might look a bit small...

Thanks for the replies and info!

I'd go with intercessors for your basic troops, and reivers for any Phobos stuff. this is because you can buy these minis in a 3 pack ETB so if you say... wanted to build 1 captain and 2 leuitenants, you can snag a ETB kit and finish off the rest of the squad.

Great idea!

You can use a Gravis Captain to make a librarian. Remove the Iron Halo and replace the gun arm with an empty arm - pointy arms preferred.

For a Chaplain, acquire a Reiver head and plug it onto an Intercessor body. Give him a mace and pistol (I got mine from a spare Betrayal at Calth chaplain) and paint him black. You can give him the Iron Halo you stole off the Gravis Captain.

For an Apothecary, a Reiver grapple makes a nifty fancy pistol and you just paint him white, though you can add bibs and bobs to make him more apothecary-ish. Reiver kits have lots of packs and such.



Captains are usually really fancy and have cloaks. For a gravis captain, I'd recommend just getting a legit one off eBay or such. They're common as dirt because they're in Dark Imperium and/or Know No Fear - and if you're collecting Primaris, those are the cheapest ways to get them, even if you don't want Death Guard stuff. The SM part of Know No Fear is cheaper than buying the multipose kits bought separately (half a box of intercessors, half a box of hellblasters and a box of Inceptors costs more than ALL of Know No Fear).

Primaris Captains in MkX (and Lieutenants) can be easily made from Intercessors with just some weapon swaps and extra bling tacked on. If you don't have much in the way of Space Marine bits, order from Forge World a MkIV close combat weapons kit that will give you most of what you might need for a lot of conversions. There is no obligation to have cloaks or fancy icons, though a captain should have an Iron Halo

Primaris Ancients needs a banner. Right now only Dark Imperium has one and it's another good purchase for cheap space marine bodies (Gravis Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Ancient, 10 Intercessors, 5 Hellblasters, 3 Inceptors) and again cheaper than buying the contents in multipart, even ignoring the rulebook and Death Guard stuff. Really, anyone starting Space Marines should just buy Dark Imperium, it really is a no brainer.

Note to mount them on 40mm bases! Most SM characters come on 40mm bases.

Thanks for another great reply!!!!! I do have the Dark Imperium box! I got lucky at a flea market a few months ago, a guy getting out of the hobby was selling Primaris stuff half off! I just didn't know how I wanted to play them. I tried Deathwatch for a while but as much as I love them, their rules just don't do it for me.

Painting wise, I always thought my Space Wolves and Imperial Fists and Black Templars were the best armies I have ever done. I think I'm going with the Fists again, just cause.

Great tips from everyone! Thanks!

General Hobbs wrote:


Great idea!

yeah I snagged a ETB intercessor box to test some colour schemes out so I had 1 intercessor painted in my chapter's colours so I snagged a 40mm base (the guy running my local GW was happy to give me a spare) and managed to make a nice looking leuitenant