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So I have a decent start on my space marines and have been thinking of converting my old warhammer empire figures into 40k to save money/repurpose. Has anyone else done this? I know they would make decent quick conversions to chaos cultists but they couldn't ally with my marines. I'm thinking more along lines of a PDF force or something. Here's some thoughts and you guys tell me how/if done it or better ideas?:

Buy Astra arms and bits. Pop them on and try to paint where looks ok.
Use the Knights as rough riders.
Buy scout stuff and make more space marine scouts
Try turn the cannons/mortars to mortars?
Try make the multi barrel thing into a thunder cannon?

Any ideas or pictures would be helpful. Thank you.

Well the empire sets are all done in chainmail and robes, I'd say the best you can do is cultist with flagellants. Knights as rough riders would look out of place plus rough riders suck anyways. The mortars to mortars and thundercannon idea isnt all that bad actually.

I've done up a bunch of Inquisition stuff using Empire parts. Halberdiers with Shields for Crusaders (just paint the weapon glowy), a kitbashed Vindicare and Inquisitor. If you want to get more elaborate, then yeah, Lasgun arms should work OK on them.

I mean if they are a pdf on a fledgling world they could be farmers and medival using lasguns? Make like conscripts/militia?

What about making them neophytes? Never tried templarsbefore.

 servania wrote:
Well the empire sets are all done in chainmail and robes, I'd say the best you can do is cultist with flagellants. Knights as rough riders would look out of place plus rough riders suck anyways. The mortars to mortars and thundercannon idea isnt all that bad actually.

Catchan's have abdominal muscles so cut that they confer a 5+ save and count as flak armor.

What I'm saying is that it doesn't matter if they're in chainmail and robes, you could run them as guardsmen so long as they're properly equipped. Just say they're 'themed' in some way and you're all set.

Ok A) if the jackets that steel legion wear confer a 5+ then so would mail because I'm sorry but kevlar is useless against most weapons in the 40k universe. Keep in mind how many different types of models in flak armor there are in 40k let alone carapace armor. For all you know the guys with robes have Cadian breastplates underneath. Or are you assuming that dark angels in robes aren't wearing their power armor? Must be laundry day on The Rock. Chainmail tightly woven from fibers if plasteel would be just as tough as a flak vest but would take time to produce. Oh & for feudal looking IG please see Vostroyans. They wear breastplates not dissimilar to those worn by empire state troops so do they only get a 6+?

B) if the rest of the army has a feudal look how will knights as rough riders look out of place?

-AND-

C) rough riders aren't what they were I'll give you that, but used well they don't suck & not everyone builds an army with winning in mind but rather for fun.

I'm sorry but it seems like by splitting hairs over a crap armor save anyway, saying units that match the rest of the army but aren't 40k & that some units just "suck" you could be hampering what might be an extremely awesome army project of feudal IG & it makes you sound like a power gamer.

I for one love the idea & would be more than happy to play against it. In fact I think it should have steamtanks as russes.

I don't want to discourage a cool conversion project like this, but look at the cost and time it would take and consider selling or trading the Empire figs.

That being said I think they would make a great colorful PDF. What you said sounds great, Throw some lasguns and stuff on them, some tech bits here and there to sell the fact that the Empire has given them some hightech toys.

Maybe putting them on round bases to help sell the 'we are 40K miniatures now' thing?

Do not let the naysayers thwart you;
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Here from Dakka; http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-8049-3302_ArbitorIan%27s%203rd%20Choufleur%20Militia.html
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Additionally, I have seen a WHFB Ogre all by himself on a heavy weapon base used as an IG heavy weapon, which I think is a great idea.
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As long as you attempt to make models wysiwyg "weapon" and size wise, most do not mind, especially IF they are painted.
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I've converted Empire Riflemen to Imperial Guard in the past with weapon swaps. Humans are humans, even in the grim dark. They just need to have the right weapons.

Yea that's what I'll go with. Warhammer empire resold on eBay won't give me much honestly. Outside of a few oop models. It'd be cheaper to buy lasgun bits and heavy weapon bits and put them on I think. Yea I'd paint eventually. Run them as feudal PDFs with normal models being either support or the local military. Ally with space marines who are saving they day. It'd deff be fluff over competitive but oh well I play for fun not prizes.

I did something similar in the past for henchmen using forgeworlds empire troopers, they fit remarkably well with cadian arms:

here are my empire to guardsmen conversions

There's a killer looking army getting around at the moment that's basically zombie guardsmen. Dunno who does it though and I can't even find a picture of it now..


Anyway, here's a picture I came across a while ago. It's Brets>Guardsmen instead of Empire, but maybe it'll help stir the creative juices.

Very nice. Thank you.