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I’m looking at doing a really cool cowboy converted 40k army. I’d have head swaps with cowboy hats, ponchos on some, weapons would be wooden stocks, vehicles would look wood and iron, bases sand and cactus…..

Please help me decide with some good suggestions and advice.

Genestealer Cult: the Kellermorph is already Billy the 'Stealer.

Back in the 90's, I chopped up a box of cheap dime-store cowboys and Indians to augment the plastic hybrids that came with one of the Space Hulk expansions. When GW made the Kellermorph, it made me wonder who I met in the 90's that ended up getting a job at GW. I was stunned that anyone would have had the same idea, because it felt off the wall back in the day.

My project would only ever have been a unit- I didn't have enough plastic Space Hulk hybrids for an army, and cowboy hats on Purestrains is NOPE! I only ever finished two models- a Billy the Kid with two pistols on four arms and a Doc Holiday with three arms and a shotgun at rest as he rode a horse. I built another four-armed pistolero, this one in a poncho and a greenstuffed fu manchu, and another with a scratch-built compound bow and a Lakota War Bonnet, but I never finished painting them.

But I have ALWAYS wanted to see justice done to a GSC Cowboy army.

I'd say its a toss up between Genestealer Cults, Ad Mech and Votaan

All three have elements of cowboy/space cowboy themes here and there in the model ranges. Plus other elements that could be adapted.

 Overread wrote:
I'd say its a toss up between Genestealer Cults, Ad Mech and Votaan

All three have elements of cowboy/space cowboy themes here and there in the model ranges. Plus other elements that could be adapted.

Yeah, Sicarian gunfighters would be AWESOME.

Votan were my first thought. They've got the frontiersman thing going on, plus trench coats and such.

Back in the day, I'd have tossed out corsairs as they used to have a "brace of pistols" as a gun option, plus mounted options, etc. But those elements are mostly gone or legends now.

GSC strike me as too swarmy, but I guess you could do brood brothers and lean heavily into mounted units from the guard as horse riders.

Admech seem like a decent fit for the aesthetic you're going for, but lockstep coordination is kind of the opposite of a Hollywood cowboy.

I guess I could toss craftworld eldar out there. Lots of short-ranged dakka including of the mounted variety (windriders with shuriken catapults, shining spears, the ranger bike guys). Access to stuff like death jesters or Illic (legends) if you want a guy with a "long rifle." Lots of running around and diving for cover. Plenty of opportunities for mixing a sword in or doing hero hammer.

I just moved to Scottsdale AZ and called the local GW. Plus independent gaming store. I asked about least played armies, both votann and ad mech were what they said. I figured I’d go with one of those.

Grzzldgamer wrote:
I just moved to Scottsdale AZ and called the local GW. Plus independent gaming store. I asked about least played armies, both votann and ad mech were what they said. I figured I’d go with one of those.

I'd go for wichever one you think you can make the best conversions out of

AdMech feels like the obvious answer, and GSC could certainly work.

But have you considered cowboy ORKZ?

Ghamak has some nice Cowboy orks and others at least have Cowboy hat heads.
So, Orks would be my first answer.

Imperial Agents could work, too.

The squats. Don't even have to think about it.

I’m not much of a ork or gsc fan.

I’ll go with whatever polls the highest after 100 votes.

The heads for either votann or ad mech are numerous. Makes for easy conversions.

Kind of leaning towards Votann.

Thinking a 7th cavalry Indian wars vibe.

I like these models specifically-

Ûthar the Destined
Kahl
- one converted to look like Custer with fringed outfit
Brôkhyr Iron-master
Hernkyn Pioneers - I want to take as many of these as I can. 6,9,12,15? What’s a max?
Cthonian Beserks - using Native American heads - like to max out how many I can take here too
Kill Team: Hernkyn Yaegirs - easiest conversion with cowboy heads. These will serve as Hearthkyn Warriors
Brôkhyr Thunderkyn - cowboy hats and use cannons as their guns!

If you watch Pacific Rim, del Toro based Gipsy Danger on a Wild West gunfighter.

You can always take Knights, give them Texas Rangers or Marshals Stars for tilting shields.

And they can be errant lawmen wandering the galaxy trying to make the universe a better place.... before riding off into the sunset.

If you want a "posse" feel of massed horsemen, try Imperial Guard. you can get 62 guys on horseback. Even more if your opponent is up for Legends rules, then you can get those weird Muliki (spelling?) mounts too.

I once saw a "Mexican" themed army that did Rough Riders as banditos, Ogryn as muscley luchadors, and Huey Hog Helicopters as Valkyries.

Ad mech seems the way to go, however I only like certain models. I’m more of a theme and fun player, so could I make a decent army from these - plus these are easy to make into my cowboy theme -

Skitarii Rangers and vanguard
Marshal
Sydonian Dragoon
Serberys Sulphurhounds and Serberys Raiders(Want max amount if these)

And that’s it

What about the Sicarian? They've a wild look to them.


You might be able to get more Serberys in the army if you are open to converting. Kataphron are on 60mm rounds so you could put some Serbery's on 60mm rounds (they are on 60x35mm normally so they will easily fit); and then adapt them to be carrying a heavy weapon rather than rifles.

Kataphrons could also represent the cattle that the cowboys herd around. Pretty sure the bigger vehicles and walkers can be adapted to fit the theme as well, maybe representing covered wagons ...

GSC and Votann would best suit the romanticised ruggedness of the Cowboy/Wild West.

I saw a wonderfully done cowboy Admech army last year. She had a bunch of the cavalry obviously, but was also running a full 12 Castellan Robots with cowboy hats and fallout esque faces done on their screen heads.

A while back, I saw a cowboy-themed Emperor's Children army being built.

 Tawnis wrote:
I saw a wonderfully done cowboy Admech army last year. She had a bunch of the cavalry obviously, but was also running a full 12 Castellan Robots with cowboy hats and fallout esque faces done on their screen heads.

This one? https://www.wargamer.com/warhammer-40k/robot-cowboy-army

Can Kroot and/or votann and/or ad mech ally together?

Grzzldgamer wrote:
Can Kroot and/or votann and/or ad mech ally together?

Nope. But you could convert Kroot and Votann into servitors for an AdMech army.

I've seen a lot of cool models get "Imperialised," with wires, purity seals, and so on.

I voted Votann because of the whole "frontier of the Imperium" thing and their relatively independent spirit by 40k standards.

However, I also think Orks are very good for all sorts of wacky factions. They're low-tech and trigger-happy, and they love to wrangle squigs and other wild beasts just like cowboys do.

EDIT: Oh, just saw you're not big on orks. Never mind then.

.

Orks are the most obvious choice. Steam-powered armored stage coaches, locomotives with treads, the list is endless.