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Greetings earthlings,

I have recently acquired some fab skaven stuff and I'm interested in kit busting/converting (what's the correct terminology?) my clanrats.

I have a set of clanrat models and some green stuff, what can I do to make them appear more rattish and unique? I've tried having a browse on the net but I can't find much stuff on skaven mods.

I'm also a rookie at this and have no idea what I'm doing, I've been going about 2 months with Black Templars and sort of getting the painting down but I have a lot to learn.

I'm also using watered down acrylic paints cos citadel cost a fortune, I can get quite similar colours but it is more difficult imho.

I submit myself to the horny rat and the superior knowledge of the forum. What do you chaps and chapesses propose?





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Here's a humble pic of one of my rat babies:



As aforesaid, I'm just starting out so have a lot to learn and I still need to do the skin and hair properly. I found some metallic paint though which I think looks quite cool for armour. What else could I do to him? I am, of course, open to any tips for painting etc.

Skaven are really a unique army and their models are quite cool. I think a few different colors in the wash department to set those recesses into shadow, then some simple drybrush highlights and you are done. Depends on your level of skill (and patience) whether you want to layer and blend colors for the skin, but I never really had the patience, so just color, wash, highlight and looks tabletop great.

You also might consider a simple design on the shields and totally in their world (like Orcs) to have something crude, but hand drawn.

Good luck!

I don't think that Skaven Clanrats need converting or kitbashing (I believe that is the term you are looking for) to become exciting - the models are quite good as they are. Also, one of the reasons that players rarely convert Clanrats is because they are a horde army. You don't want to convert dozens of them.

What you can do without converting is to find all the sculpts available. Skaven Clanrats come in multipart kits and easy to build versions from Island of Blood/Spire of Dawn boxed sets. Both sets feature some unique parts. Also, you can sort the models into armoured Clanrats and non-armoured Slaves. To keep painting interesting, you don't have to paint every model identically. Skaven can have different skin, fur and clothing colours within the same unit and still look coherent if you paint weapons, armour and base in the same way. If you are new to the hobby, you could take this as an opportunity to test different painting techniques. I think Contrast paints should work nicely on Skaven, for example.

Clanrat models come in small number of parts which makes converting by kit bashing quite difficult. If you want to make them unique and different from other players' Skaven, easiest way to do so is come up with unique colour scheme and basing theme. You can draw inspiration from Skaven Clans or theme basing ideas from different Mortal Realms. If you decide to go Skryre, you could use Adeptus Mechanicus parts for conversion and basing for example. Or if you go Moulder, you could use more tiny rats on the bases. Skulls are always a solid addition to bases.

I'm not sure which clan to go with yet, maybe Verminous. I like the idea of clan inspired mods. Do clan Eshin have clanrats or are they restricted to gutter and night runners?

Eshin does have clanrats and slaves, they just look pretty much like everyone else's clanrats and slaves. Slaves are dirty and downtrodden no matter which clan they're in, and Eshin clanrats might wear darker colors than other clans but that's about it.

You're going to be painting scores if not hundreds of these wee buggers. Make sure you're comfortable with your color scheme.

Me 2 cents on the painting.
1 - Acrylic paint is ok, I would recommend to invest in a MATT varnish to seal finished painted models, because paint wont stick very well and might come off just by holding minis. At least with a light coat of varnish minor bumps should not be an issue.
Before varnishing a mini, test it on a test model (army men) to know exactly what it will look like.

2 - Citadel paint pots are expensive, however I would still recommend getting 5 paints from any miniatures maker. Get you favorite version of Yellow, Blue, Red and then Black and White
Because miniature paints are high in pigment and will make you happier painting with them. You can mix your 5 primary paints into almost any color, AND! with your other acrylic paints you should have a good painting set of basics with your acrylics for everything else.
Over time your paint collection will grow, when on the budget, buy paint pots slowly over time, one here 2 there, a year later you'll have 10 new specialty paints that will last for a long time.

I want to share a conversion that was very eazy and fun for me to get started with.
It was a simple weapon conversion. wanted something unique for great weapons

I did a simple but effective conversion for me dwarfs,
0- chopped off top part of the Axe head off
0- glued in a longer top portion that was cut from plastic.
No green stuff or sculpting was needed,

0- chopped off top part of the Axe head off
0- chopped off the Axe head off
0- glued in longer piece of plastic and attached halfed axe head to the end.

Hope this finds you in inspiration for your own conversions of nitiness!

Mothsniper - now those are proper axes for Dwarfs!!

I have the D&D adventure paint set but I seem to be going through the paint fairly quickly even with a wet pallette. Some guy on facebook made some capes so I might give that a go. Those dwarves look awesome, may try changing the weapons too.

I'll keep you guys updated with his the project goes, unfortunately work commitments are getting in the way. I need a new job so I can concentrate on my hobby.