40K Online

Modeling => Conversions, Modelling and Terrain => Topic started by: Saracenar on May 6, 2009, 06:46:38 AM

Title: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Saracenar on May 6, 2009, 06:46:38 AM
Greetings everyone, as my title suggests I am here today to ask the question: how possible is it to convert regular tactical marines into Grey Knights?

So far I have tracked down the nemesis force weapon sets from GW online site, so no need for converting them. Observing the current GK models I believe I could change tac marine helmets easy enough with green stuff, and I think I have access to many a number of spare purity seals.

Now, whats a little harder: Storm Bolters. I do not really have access to any of them. I think I may have one or two in a bitz box somewhere...

So, how would you go about converting, say, regular bolters to storm bolters? Or if there's something just as accessible but easier to work on, then please tell me.

And for anyone who has already done this, please tell me how it went, and was it worth the money?
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: CallumS on May 6, 2009, 07:01:31 AM
This is probably a very stupid question, but: would it not be easier to just convert the already existent Grey Knight models?
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Saracenar on May 6, 2009, 07:08:39 AM
I want to take plastic tactical marines (which are cheaper and more numerous in box sets, and plastic ;D) and convert them into Grey Knights in power armour, instead of using the rather less numerous metal models.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: SMVaughn on May 6, 2009, 07:11:13 AM
No question is a stupid question Johan Chill. However I believe he is trying to limit his cost at purchasing and have fun modeling.

As for storm bolters... you could try combining two bolt pistols side by side and green stuffing the seams a little to hide the combination. Cut the ends of the pistols off, and replace with green stuff, or bolt gun ends.

I have never offically tried this method, hope it helps.

Cheers
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: CallumS on May 6, 2009, 07:34:59 AM
Ah, the old wallet-hammer resistance, aye? ;) Very fair call, indeed.

Quote
As for storm bolters... you could try combining two bolt pistols side by side and green stuffing the seams a little to hide the combination.

I've seen this done to great effect a few times actually; and, though maybe it's just me, I think it looks even better than the usual Stormbolters. Less chunky and generally more stylish.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Saracenar on May 6, 2009, 07:36:33 AM
Bolt pistols do sound like a good idea, however...I'm not sure if I could get 20 pistols that easily. Does anyone happen to know if they come in the tac squad box sets? If not, I may have trouble rounding up enough of them.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: SMVaughn on May 6, 2009, 07:43:40 AM
I think they do  come in the box, as I know I usually have a few left over. I do not generally use them ... as for 20 ... hmmm... could always try to cast a mold of one... then you can green stuff as many as you want... even have a couple on the hip for show... but that depends on your personal desire in acquireing them...

Could always try local Game store and offer trades for pistols or try a part order... but that ends up increasing your costs some.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: CallumS on May 6, 2009, 07:50:29 AM
Those kinds of Bitz can often be mail ordered from the Trollz as well.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Raktra (So long, I guess) on May 6, 2009, 07:50:55 AM
See if any of your friends have spare parts from Assault Marines or the Black Templars upgrade sprues. They both have numerous power weapons, bolt pistols, and the BT sprue has plenty of Grey Kngith style heads.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Raven on May 6, 2009, 09:13:21 AM
Buy the space wolves marines boxed sets instead. Theyre the standard marines, but with close combat arms. Will give you more of the parts you need to work with.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Lord of Winter and War on May 6, 2009, 09:17:18 AM
Using robbed marine bodies will help save a lot of work...You can order sets of 10 robbed marines for ~30 bucks Canadian from the GW online store (local stores can order it in you you), which is around the same as a box of any other marine 10 man set. Doesn't contain special weapons or bases however, but the former you don't need and the later you can buy in bulk.

I think there are bolt pistols with it too, or at least bolters which are easy to turn into bolt pistols.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: SkullyChaos on May 6, 2009, 02:27:21 PM
I ended up with a boat load of tac marines, and was considering the same thing.

It is a great idea, as the metal ones are expensive, but I didn't think my GS skills were up to it to try and make those helmets.
If you have the skill, you could cast your own though.
That was the major thing holding me back from attempting this.

As for bodies, Dark Angel vets, or BT models could work very well, and cut down on the amount of work needed to do it. (as Killersquid said)

You can definitely get bolt pistols off of just about any sprue. I have ~10 - 15 in my bitz box from scouts, assault marines and CSM tac squads. I am going to use them to make storm bolter's for my SM army. Seems a very easy conversion.

Also, you wouldn't necessarily need the GW NFW arms, as I think it would be cooler to have more swords/axes/maces etc. as NFW. Who said they HAVE to be halberds?
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Lord of Winter and War on May 6, 2009, 02:48:57 PM

Also, you wouldn't necessarily need the GW NFW arms

It does however, make it that much more convincing.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: SkullyChaos on May 6, 2009, 03:28:06 PM
The shoulder pads.. yes
the weapons... no.
I maintain that I would like a NF axe as a weapon...
but thats just my personal preference...
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Lord of Winter and War on May 6, 2009, 03:46:58 PM

I maintain that I would like a NF axe as a weapon...


That is fine, You like like them in any form you want. But I feel that if your trying to make something, look like something else it's not, it's best to go with what people expect from Grey Knights. When people think grey knight weapons, they don't think axes. They think glaves. Thus, if your converted greyknights have the glaves and the rest of the arm-bitz then they will have a much more familiar presence to  what grey knights are.

When you see a marine with an axe, it means absolutely nothing, expect maybe Khorne Berserkers or such nonsense. It could work if you already have the 'actual' grey knights, as you have the rest of the model already there for people to recognize. When your going from scratch, it's best to not make the work harder for you in the creation of a representation of a grey knight.

Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Lucky_Jackal on May 6, 2009, 03:50:06 PM
Instead of tactical marines you could make them from assault marines not using the jump packs. Then you could have a bunch of running Grey knights and have 10/20 bolt pistols come right with the base modles. The other 10 pistols you'd be on your own to find.

A bits web sight such as Bitskingdom would probably be a good place to get them.

(Sadly Assault Marines are $25 for 5. So these you whould want to get from TheWarstore, Bitskingdom, discount web sight of your choice to cheep down your coats.
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Saracenar on May 7, 2009, 02:08:06 AM
Hmm, some very interesting suggestions have come up. I have considered assault marines, but due to their cost have discounted them. Those 10 robed marines, I am not sure where to find them on the site, but I would prefer for them to come with special weapons, to use for something else I am working on. So for now they are discounted too.

I did, however, stumble across the plastic Dark Angels Veterans set. They are plenty cheap for me, and would come with some nice looking options/weapons. I really like the looks of the robes.

However, one problem springs to mind here: I cannot really paint clothes/fabrics that well. A minor setback.

In any case, at the moment the veterans + nemesis force weapons seem the best way to go for me. Looking at the picture on the GW site, it looks like the top left-most Veteran is holding a storm bolter.

Can anyone inform me what you get on the Dark Angels Veterans sprue (if this is allowed)?
Title: Re: Converting Tactical Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Lord of Winter and War on May 7, 2009, 08:40:53 AM

Can anyone inform me what you get on the Dark Angels Veterans sprue (if this is allowed)?

this picture should tell you everything there is in the box.

(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.games-workshop.com%2FMEDIA_CustomProductCatalog%2Fm2070126_99120101060_DAChapterUpgrade_445x319.jpg&hash=6b250df35e3834ba8cb557b882c7a23b3b1ee9a4)


Plus two more marines, plasma pistols, meltagun, flamer, plasmagun.
Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Lucky_Jackal on May 7, 2009, 03:39:37 PM
What about the Black Templar Sword brothers? Don't they come with a bunch of pistols and Special weapons?
Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Saracenar on May 7, 2009, 05:06:29 PM
I had a look at the sword brothers, but I think I liked the Veterans more. Thanks Killersquid, thats exactly what I was looking for.
Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Raktra (So long, I guess) on May 7, 2009, 05:28:57 PM
What about the Black Templar Sword brothers? Don't they come with a bunch of pistols and Special weapons?
They're metal though. And those Lightning Claws (while being equipped on the sexiest Black Templar model EVER...) don't come off easy. Nor are they cheap ;)
Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Lucky_Jackal on May 7, 2009, 09:52:21 PM
Turns out I was thinking of the Black Templar Upgrade Spruce.

(https://www.40konline.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.games-workshop.com%2FMEDIA_CustomProductCatalog%2Fm1252504_99120101043_BTupgradespruemain_873x627.jpg&hash=935e1c8a48a808a04a6968485880a90c1a94c461)

Sadly that spruce is $30 a pop, doesn't come with the bits to make full marines, and the pistols are covered in chains. Meaning there not ideal for making into storm bolters.

Judging from here:
http://store.miniwargaming.com/product/warhammer-40k-black-templars-chapter-upgrade.html (http://store.miniwargaming.com/product/warhammer-40k-black-templars-chapter-upgrade.html)

You get 10 pistols and 2 of each special weapon?

I think the Assault Mariens may be your best base.


Edit:
Battle Wagon Bits
Assault marien Pistols (http://www.thewarstore.com/product27021.html)

Scout Pistols (http://www.thewarstore.com/product27117.html)

You could get 10 Marines pistols to make the 1st 5 storm bolters. Then using left over hands make the next 5 from cheaper scout bolt pistols.

The other option:
http://www.thewarstore.com/product27033.html (http://www.thewarstore.com/product27033.html)

Get 10 Termi storm bolters, get 10 assault marine pistols.


Just some more ideals/choices. counts on how much time/money you want to spend.

Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Saracenar on May 8, 2009, 03:45:25 AM
It would be nice if I could get storm bolters on regular arms...still, I think my best option are the veterans, I only really want to start with 5 Grey Knights anyway. Upgrade sprues don't seem to have everything I want, and have a lot of things I don't.
Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: O.I.C. on May 8, 2009, 11:41:59 AM


 hate to throw this out there.. but if you used a few things on those spruze.. you could easly trade what you didnt need for the parts your looking for..there seems to be no short supply of people wanting SOMETHING off those spruzes..but not wanting to buy the whole thing for every thing they dont..much like you... maybe find someone esle interested in some of the stuff in them...and go in on a box..spilt the costs..

 also..have you tryed green stuff molding? lil stuff like the GK shoulder pads would be easy and cost effective enough. also lots and lots of green stuff purity seals..( if you cant green stuff them yourself..they too are easly molded.)

 also.. i have used the bolt pistle to make arm mounted stormbolters..works great!

 good luck..and get us some pics man!!!

 OIC
Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Raven on May 8, 2009, 05:47:18 PM
I'll repeat myself...


SPACE WOLVES (http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat1400014&prodId=prod1110021)


Comes with the parts to make 10 basic marines with pistol and CCW, plus an upgrade sprue.

I cant imagine theres a box with better prospects for what you want to do.
Title: Re: Converting Some Sort of Plastic Marines to Grey Knights
Post by: Saracenar on May 8, 2009, 07:01:33 PM
@O.I.C: I have plenty of purity seals at my disposal, so I won't need to mould or green stuff them. I have looked at the upgrade sprues, but I don't think I'd make my money out of it. Unfortunately, no one plays Black Templars that I know, and I'm not sure how useful these bits would be to anyone else.

I have seen green stuff moulding attempted, but failed. I'm not sure I'd be up to it since I have never actually used green stuff before. I have very limited funds to work with, too, and I'd rather not be buying the shoulder pads, I'm sure purity seals and other things I can scrounge up will be suitable. Yes, I will try to have some picks up, but I will not be starting this project for at least another month.

@Raven: I did look at the Space Wovles too, but I'm not sure they're what I want either. The Dark Angels veterans are really appealing to me, I love the robes and hoods :) Thanks for the suggestions though guys.