cheap alternative to conscripts? (IG)

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**nico22**

Hello there! I am looking for a alternative to conscripts to my guard army i just started!
anny suggestion to alternative models to buy in bulk?

manny thanks!

Nico.

**Polonius**

depending on what you use for your normal troops, I'd look to historicals. I run Praetorians, so I grabbed Boer War boers for my conscripts.

For most IG armies, WWII models would work. EOE, or Black Tree Design, have a nice range of WWII models that go on sale for 50% several times a year.

**CommanderRednaxela**

I find the Soviet soldiers from bolt action (IRRC) make decent conscripts.

**kodos**

depends on the theme of your army

historical models are cheap, and depending on the regiment, anything up from Napoleonic can work
you can use Zulu Warrios as Catachan Conscripts, British Zulu War Infantry for Praetorian Guard or WW2 Soviets in Winter Uniform for Valhallan Ice Warrior.

**nico22**

my army is a winter theme, looked around, and the Soviet Winter Infantry box from bolt action, you can get 40 minis, but would it be ok when they have ww2 rifles instead of lasguns?

**kodos**

of course, but I would use mostly submachine guns and machine guns (or as much as possible).
Some years ago Guard had the option for assault rifles having the same stats as lasguns.
and they are conscripts anyway, easier to recognise them from regular guard with the different weapons

**Captain Joystick**

It usually goes without saying, but... You aren't planning to be fielding those 3rd party minis in a GW store, yeah?

**nico22**

there is no local gw shop annywhere near where i live, only local play and tournements

**Carlson793**

Another alternative might be DreamForge Games. They have 28mm WWII US, German, and Soviet platoon boxes. Come in about half the price of Warlord games for about the same number of bodies (quarter the price with current sale). Mind you, shipping to Norway would be as much or more than the item itself.

**Marmatag**

Captain Joystick wrote:
It usually goes without saying, but... You aren't planning to be fielding those 3rd party minis in a GW store, yeah?

I've found that I like going to the GW store less and less over time.

Little things like this bug me. Or, if i show up with something I didn't get in the store, it becomes, "well why didn't you buy it here?" It's a question I shouldn't have to answer.

That said, use whatever miniatures you like as long as they're good looking conversions and you're consistent.

**David Clarke**

Chaos Cultists from Dark Vengeance either from friends with leftovers or keeping an eye on ebay auctions. Only the auto-rifle ones would be fully correct options model wise, but they are cheap and easy to sell on any you don't want.

**leopard**

the 28mm Plastic Solider Russians are probably about as cheap as it gets if you want a few weapon variations (there is a matching heavy weapons box). if all you want is basic rifles then some Napoleonic great coat infantry can net you a box of 60 or so models from Vitrix for about £25, muskets, backpacks and bayonets.

**Captain Joystick**

Marmatag wrote:
I've found that I like going to the GW store less and less over time.

Little things like this bug me. Or, if i show up with something I didn't get in the store, it becomes, "well why didn't you buy it here?" It's a question I shouldn't have to answer.

That's a whole other thread's worth of discussion, honestly. But I'd have appreciated it if someone had warned me about that before I meticulously converted an inquisitor using a warmachine model as her base when I was first starting out, so I find it prudent to warn others, just in case.

**verticalgain**

Carlson793 wrote:
Another alternative might be DreamForge Games. They have 28mm WWII US, German, and Soviet platoon boxes. Come in about half the price of Warlord games for about the same number of bodies (quarter the price with current sale). Mind you, shipping to Norway would be as much or more than the item itself.

Thanks for the link!

I've also been looking for cheap Conscripts and Ratlings, and the two boxes of German Late War Infantry I just ordered should do the trick.

60 multipose models with 25mm bases for $32 USD is great. That's around what I spend on 5 Scions.

**NivlacSupreme**

What about the £6 5 pack of GW Cadians?

**ross-128**

Carlson793 wrote:
Another alternative might be DreamForge Games. They have 28mm WWII US, German, and Soviet platoon boxes. Come in about half the price of Warlord games for about the same number of bodies (quarter the price with current sale). Mind you, shipping to Norway would be as much or more than the item itself.

Huh, their selection is pretty limited but that sure is fine for Conscripts. Some of those Eisenkern models might make good stormtroopers too, with a bit of clever painting.

**Galas**

The Eisenkern models are great both to use as Stormtroopers/Tempestus Scions or even as Space Marines with the Heavy Valkyr Troops.

I use the Heavy Valkyr Troops with female heads as my small Sisters of Battle force.

**Melissia**

I give my +1 to historicals. They're conscripts, you don't need anything super-fancy.

**Carlson793**

ross-128 wrote:
Carlson793 wrote:
Another alternative might be DreamForge Games. They have 28mm WWII US, German, and Soviet platoon boxes. Come in about half the price of Warlord games for about the same number of bodies (quarter the price with current sale). Mind you, shipping to Norway would be as much or more than the item itself.

Huh, their selection is pretty limited but that sure is fine for Conscripts. Some of those Eisenkern models might make good stormtroopers too, with a bit of clever painting.

Wait till around Thanksgiving. If they do the same sale they did last year, you'll be able to pick up a boat load of their kits for next to nothing! Last year, I grabbed 4 boxes of their 15mm WWII companies for $20. This year, I may pick up some Eisenkern.

**Kanluwen**

If you're planning on running Cadians, see if you can track down the old metal Cadians with Lasguns.

That's my option for Conscripts, personally. They're slightly smaller than the normal Cadians so it fits the fluff of Whiteshields being teenagers and the like.

**MrMoustaffa**

nico22 wrote:
my army is a winter theme, looked around, and the Soviet Winter Infantry box from bolt action, you can get 40 minis, but would it be ok when they have ww2 rifles instead of lasguns?

I would convert them to have lasguns, I did that for mine and it did the trick. Even buying lasguns from elsewhere you'll still save money.

**Darkmind**

My basic troopers are the hostile environment and regular cadians (no gas masks) with basic backpacks as conscripts. Sorry lads, we ran out of cash for your gas masks.

**Pseudomonas**

Historical miniatures are generally truescale, especially I they are plastic, so they look out of place next to GW's miniatures.

Personally I would just buy a load of second hand Cadians of Ebay.

**kodos**

Warlord Games Bolt Action models are also hero scale

**DoomMouse**

Cadians go pretty cheaply in bulk on eBay if you don't mind second hand models. I've built an IG horde of over 300 models over time, paying around 60p per cadian

**benlac**

Carlson793 wrote:
Another alternative might be DreamForge Games. They have 28mm WWII US, German, and Soviet platoon boxes. Come in about half the price of Warlord games for about the same number of bodies (quarter the price with current sale). Mind you, shipping to Norway would be as much or more than the item itself.

Those miniatures are gorgeous too. Prefer them to the conscripts.

**Pseudomonas**

kodos wrote:
Warlord Games Bolt Action models are also hero scale

Only in certain areas like hands. They are nowhere near as bad as GW though and they look noticeably smaller when compared to the likes of Cadians.