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.

Post some pics of what you have "proxied".
Context would be helpful.

A model is a representation of something, typically in the context of an ideal representation. In our case as wargamers, the models are the central part of the hobby whether painting or gaming. Without the models, this hobby would not exist.

From a painting and collecting perspective, there is nothing wrong at all with doing conversion work, especially if you have painted dozens or hundreds of miniatures. Converting gives you an additional creative outlet in an already creative hobby. By converting, you are making a statement that "this is my model, it is unique and one of a kind, and it is mine". It gives individuals a chance to make their mark on this great hobby and own their little piece of it. Converting is also handy if you feel burnout on a particular kind of model, giving you a chance to make something a little bit different from the other models to stand out on its own.

Gaming wise, all models are "proxies" if you want to get really technical. When you are building your army, you select the army, formations, and units based on the combination of rules and aesthetics. This collection of rules is then represented by small figurines on bases made from various materials to play the game. To represent a Tactical Marine, you use a model. To represent an Obliterator, you use a model. To represent a Warhound Titan, you use a model. Any thing can be used to "represent" the unit or model profile from the rules. Sure, there are "official" models that are sold for that purpose, but you don't have to use them.

The only time that conversions can cause an issue is if their representations are causing confusion to your opponent; such as a converted model representing a Plasma Gun wielding Space Marine is modeled with a Melta Gun. In this case, conversions can hurt your game. But any other time, they are fine. So long as they fit the scale of the game you are playing, getting close in visual profile and on the appropriate base size, then there should be no issues with using conversions in your army.

If someone takes the time to put together a cool conversion to play their army, it should be okay. I converted up a bunch of Imperial Guard Ogryns and Rough Riders back in the day because I dislike working with and painting pewter models (I still dislike it), and I have seen many people convert up alternate models simply because they did not care for the currently offered products or even as a personal challenge to accomplish. There is one guy in my area who is a MASTER of converting models and using Green Stuff; if anyone refused to play him for his model works, I would put that person on my do-not-play list.

Converting is a fun and creative outlet. I feel genuine pity to folks who refuse to give a chance to making and creating new and unique models. If you unable to spend the money, time, or effort on converting models, that is okay, just don't act elitist or snobbish. Criticizing someone else for doing what they consider to be fun only hurts feelings and fractures our wargamer community.

Here's what I have so far with the green stuff. I plan to add more, to the legs and such. After these guys I've got 5 termies, 3 bikes, chaplain to sorcerer, Chaos Lord, Aspiring Champion.

You've made some pretty cool gribble there!

If you have access to spare chaos pieces you could consider doing hand/weapon swaps to alter the silhouette of the model.

I found altering the backpacks or adding horns/spikes/etc to helmets also helped.

These guys were originally bolter marines (and the sergeant) from the DV box.

 Cleatus wrote:
Deodorant Tank from White Dwarf 95 says your friend's argument is invalid. With instructions on how to build it, no less.

Spoiler:

If your friend doesn't like your conversions, tell him that he is more than welcome to buy you the "official" models and shut up about it.

This.
This is the 40k I know and love.

Looks good to me as a chaos space marine force suffering the effects of Papa Nurgle and once you have them painted up in suitably unhealthy colours I can't see any problem in facing them across the battlefield.

Looks nurgly to me. And not too over the top either. Kudos.

 MrVulcanator wrote:
Also he says that specifically what I'm doing is lazy. He thinks that I can't do a good job. He says it's not about money but some other vague concept that I can't remember.

How are we meant to come up with a counter-argument to an argument you don't even remember?

Looking at your models, they aren't terrible, but I wouldn't say they look great either. I'd say the gold standard for a good conversion is that it should look better than the original model and yours don't achieve that in my mind. Still, everyone has to start somewhere and from what you are telling us your brother is being unreasonable (but most people can make someone arguing against them seem unreasonable when they tell the story of the argument to a third party and can't even remember what the other person said).

Miaow. If you can't say something nice... :p
They look cool to me, especially for a beginner- my first models were atrocious xD