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I'm putting together some Space Wolves after being away from the hobby for a while. Found out there are now Primaris Space Marines that are a bigger scale than the old standard tactical-type marines I'm used to. I'm trying to kit-bash some of my guys but wanted to know about size compatibility before I start buying stuff. The Google machine provided mixed results with some saying they are completely different while others saying certain parts are interchangeable (http://supermassivebeast.blogspot.com/2017/08/primaris-space-marines-proportions.html).

Can I use Primaris arms on a Standard marine and have it not look funny?

Thanks for the help!

Really depends on the model. Some of the plastic Space Marines were a bit different in size. The metal Space Marines are way smaller. The Primaris models are bigger then the previous generation of plastic Space Marines. Using tricks of perspective and painting style, most won't notice the larger arms. The best anyone can say is try it, and if it looks funny, well, now you know.

I have no idea. I have used Space Wolf heads on my Primaris marines and they look fine, though sometimes the necks need greenstuff.

I'm lead to believe that the arms are compatible, but I've never tried for myself.

One of the things that would worry me are - Pauldrons that go over the arms both because of and in addition to the Chapter Iconography upgrade packs are different for Primaris and 1.0 Marines - i.e. there's an Ultramarine upgrade pack for normal marines with special heads, molded pauldrons and swords, and there's a Primaris upgrade pack with different special heads, molded pauldrons and swords...

Edit to add - This could be a potential solution. Get one of each of the upgrade packs to dry fit, plus have bits for your kit bash

The arms are slightly longer generally speaking. They don’t look too out of proportion though. I probably wouldn’t use them on Sternguard as their pose makes them look ultra stunty, but my Deathwatch vets (which are slightly bigger than other old marines) look fine with Primaris arms.

I don't have loose bits to dry fit at the moment, but I measured the arm of an Intercessor and a Mk.III Marine (both angled and holding their bolter in front of the chest) from knuckles to elbow and they're both the same 11.5mm long.

If they are not entirely identical I'd say they are close enough. The big changes to tidy up Marine anatomy that happened to Primaris are in the torso and legs.

Breton wrote:
One of the things that would worry me are - Pauldrons that go over the arms both because of and in addition to the Chapter Iconography upgrade packs are different for Primaris and 1.0 Marines - i.e. there's an Ultramarine upgrade pack for normal marines with special heads, molded pauldrons and swords, and there's a Primaris upgrade pack with different special heads, molded pauldrons and swords...

Edit to add - This could be a potential solution. Get one of each of the upgrade packs to dry fit, plus have bits for your kit bash

Pretty sure the difference is simply in style. GW advertised shoulder pad and head compatibility between Primaris and old Marines from the start.

A related question- does the shoulder compatibility extend as far as Terminators and Gravis pads being interchangeable?

 Haighus wrote:
A related question- does the shoulder compatibility extend as far as Terminators and Gravis pads being interchangeable?

Yes.

Additional kitbashing note: Primaris and Custodes infantry models are generally compatible with each other (I've not run into an instance where they're not, but I also havent had a chance to work with every single one so dont want to make a blanket statement).

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 Haighus wrote:
A related question- does the shoulder compatibility extend as far as Terminators and Gravis pads being interchangeable?

Yes.

Useful to know, thanks!