Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi fellow Guardsmen, need some guidance.

I'm expanding my AM army (up to around 2,500 points) and decided to bulk out my Infantry by buying 5 boxes of the easy-build Cadians.

Unfortunately I realised too late that each squad needs sargeants and I don't have any Boltguns, which would be the easy swap.

Has anyone had any luck kitbashing sargeants out of these models?

My only other thought is that as I've also ordered a Heavy Weapons Squad, I could use one of the kneeling models there and create a sargeant (who would be kneeling in true cowardly fashion) and simply stick one of the easy build Cadians on the HWT base to act as the second model.

I've also bought two Russes if there's any bits in there that can help but I can't think of any.

Any advice appreciated!

If you are talking about these, then if I recall correctly, both hands and rifle are one solid piece.
If you can get your hands on some chain-sword bits, you can paint sergeant's shoulder different color so he stands out, and glue chain-sword to his hip.

You will have helmeted sarge with a rifle, and holstered chain-sword.

I honestly don't understand why those easy-build Cadians still exist. If I wanted prebuilt Cadians at $2 a model I would have plenty of choice on ebay that even come with Sgts, Vox, and special weapons. I've even seen 40 man lots for less than $1 per model. Poorly painted sure, but that's easy enough to fix when you just want to add in cheap bulk to an IG army.

But I digress. Years ago a friend who didn't know anything about Warhammer other than that I liked it gave me a box of them as a gift. I devised this method to make them useful, but I'm assuredly not the first to think of it.

My suggestion, buy another box of the easy build to round out to an even 30 along with 3 boxes of the normal Shock Troops and use the normal models to make 6 Sgts, 6 Vox, 6 special weapons (12 if you want both flamer and grenade launcher for each squad) and mix and match to make 6 ten man squads with a Sgt, Vox, and 1-2 special weapons.

Alternatively if you are short on cash or don't want another 35 troops for whatever reason, buy a single box of normal Shock Troops, use it to make 2 Sgt, 2 Vox, 2-4 special weapons as desired, and mix them into the easy build for a total of 2 ten man squads with 15 extras as replacements, filler, or conscripts if those still exist. (My most recent codex is 6th Ed and I don't remember conscripts still being a thing in there, but maybe they still are or were brought back. IDK)

Or go in the middle and get 2 Shock Troops boxes and make 4 ten man squads as before with 5 extras for replacements, etc.

The reality is that any attempt to convert the easy-build will take a lot of work to make not look like crap thanks to the big plug in their chest. More work than it's worth IMO.

I respectfully disagree.

I always figured the best way to do Cadians was these guys as your riflemen, command squad for your Sgt and Special and then a Heavy Weapon team kit for the heavy.

The basic Caidan rifleman is a lot of parts to assemble for a basic grunt and there aren't really any options other than turning the head. Better to get the command squad with all the special weapons and better poses.

So 30 guys would be something like...

1 HWT box
1 Command Squad
4 push fit dudes

Oh and to answer the original question, it's possible. If you have a set of sergeant arms cut off the chainsword and pistol hands and you should be able to fit them onto the stumps where the lasgun attaches. It won't be great but it'll work. Head swaps are more annoying because of the collar in the back.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
I respectfully disagree.

I always figured the best way to do Cadians was these guys as your riflemen, command squad for your Sgt and Special and then a Heavy Weapon team kit for the heavy.

The basic Caidan rifleman is a lot of parts to assemble for a basic grunt and there aren't really any options other than turning the head. Better to get the command squad with all the special weapons and better poses.

So 30 guys would be something like...

1 HWT box
1 Command Squad
4 push fit dudes

Oh and to answer the original question, it's possible. If you have a set of sergeant arms cut off the chainsword and pistol hands and you should be able to fit them onto the stumps where the lasgun attaches. It won't be great but it'll work. Head swaps are more annoying because of the collar in the back.

That's a fair point. It does work with the new plastic command squad. I devised this method over 7 years ago when the command squad was metal and didn't have any options.

Also, while that will work and the heads technically don't need to be changed as Sgts can (and probably should realistically) have helmets, don't forget that doing so will leave the massive plug and hole in the middle of their chest in view so it'll be a downright ugly model to boot.

P.S: Nice signature. It was true even before the Indomitus pre-order BS went down. GW is quickly becoming the EA of table top games.

Thanks, the Cadian and Catachan kits are particular bugbears of mine. I love the IG and hate that the only 2 plastic kits are missing most of the options they need.

As for the sig, man it was true from 5th edition on...