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Starting Space Marine painter here, so I've been thinking about space marine scouts buuuuutttt.... Rules wise people apparently don't like the fact they're an elite option (which given how big that list is for marines and how many elites you need I understand). Models wise...... Nyeheheheheee they are ugly!!! I think the two things I don't like about them are that they're bulky, and their heads are derpy. Which brings me to the problem, I would like to convert them, but I also want them to look like young warriors who have yet to become full fledged marines. I know Ive seen people use Scions and Palanites. I might use bits from either group, but I still want them to look like scouts without buying the actual models. I know greenstuff will have to be used for cloaks, I don't mind that (although I'm going for a more melee oriented build).

So know any good, cheap, efficient, and accurate solutions to my problem?

The great thing about scouts is that they are probably the easiest proxy units in the space marine range.

Essentially, you can use any modern soldier looking folks (bonus points for having some kind of rifle as opposed to an assault rifle or laser-gun) then maybe stick a cloak on them, paint them with your colors, and you are done!

I personally have gotten some good use out of the Wargames Atlantic range, with some space marine conversion bits swapped in for good measure. I've also seen bolt action (but they are a bit smaller,) and a few others.

I totally agree with you that the official scout models are derpy as heck, and so I would heartily and enthusiastically encourage you to go 3rd party :-)

I went the other way and used Reivers. for my kill team scouts with missile launcher and sniper rifle. Just left off the backpacks and added cloak and gubbinz.

All of my Scouts are the metals from the late 90's. Imo they are vastly superior to the subsequent plastics. They're definitely "accurate". As for cost? I ebay'ed for mine, so the price varied quite a bit.

. . .
Edit: You know I poked around the interwebs a bit and found this page where it looks like someone had used the plastic Scouts and just headswapped them with Scion heads and added backpacks, and Imo they look pretty nice. So maybe the plastic GW scouts with some 3rd party parts can work for oyu.
https://mcmattilaminis.wordpress.com/2020/05/01/revelators-scout-squad/

 Flinty wrote:
I went the other way and used Reivers. for my kill team scouts with missile launcher and sniper rifle. Just left off the backpacks and added cloak and gubbinz.

Dude! These are amazing! AND a great use of the amazing Reiver models!

 Flinty wrote:
I went the other way and used Reivers. for my kill team scouts with missile launcher and sniper rifle. Just left off the backpacks and added cloak and gubbinz.

Oh now those are beautiful! Might think about that when I go out shopping again. I know that Anvil Industries has some good bits so I can look there as well.

Thanks guys. They were a fun build, and camo schemes are very forgiving

I kitbashed scouts out of palanite enforcers from the neceomunda range.

OSJS's Truescale Space Sharks also use Palanite enforcers as a base, but I think they do a good job of looking like Scouts: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/60/776725.page

Pete the Wargamer also does truescale/Primaris, and combined Goliath legs with Phobos armour torsos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ7w0d_1Q7Q