Penal Legion conversion

[caimheul]

Hi all,

So I find myself wanting to do something that will stand out more than the oft used catachan models for penal legionaries. My original idea was an off shoot of my plan to use the handguns from empire handgunners as shotgun vets, but once I got the box and looked at the way the models are set up, an arm swap might be a bit more work than I'm completely comfortable with. So instead I'm thinking of making them either chem penal legionaries (with injector rigs) or using Kroot mercenaries with a human sergeant to "keep the filthy xenos in line". I was wondering what people thought about each idea and if they had any suggestions as to modeling chem injector rigs or sanctioned xenos? I'm using pig iron militia heads and cadian bodies if that has any effect on suggestions re: chem rigs.

[vulpine]

Kroot- Yeah, I like the idia of kroot, I'd convert them to hve lasguns instea of throwing the models in. The Sargent could even have a krooty head peace (-note for later, Krotook without rider for Ogryns?)

Converted Cadians - yeah sounds good, I use pigiron heads on some models and they are prefect good heads. For piping use guitar wire, It's flexible and bradded so when painted lks like corrugated piping.

One last note victorialamb.com does a penel legion conversion kit for $18 (Around £12) and includes 9 penals and a schaffier looking charictor (note the silence of the lambs lector head!)

Hope this helps.

[egon]

I would be very interested in seeing Kroots as legioneers. I've been toying with the same idea myself since I have a box of Kroots that I haven't done anything with in about eight years. You could even keep the original Kroot rifles, IMO they fit all their different abilities; more shooty for the Assault 2 power and lots of blades for the extra attack one.

I would keep the rider on the Krootox if you're using it as an Ogryn though. That way you have the "intelligence" of an Ogryn and someone capable of actually firing the gun.

[BG. Foster]

I was going to make the victoria lamb suggestion.

[caimheul]

Mar 30, 2012 2:50:07 GMT -5 vulpine said:

Kroot- Yeah, I like the idia of kroot, I'd convert them to hve lasguns instea of throwing the models in. The Sargent could even have a krooty head peace (-note for later, Krotook without rider for Ogryns?)

Converted Cadians - yeah sounds good, I use pigiron heads on some models and they are prefect good heads. For piping use guitar wire, It's flexible and bradded so when painted lks like corrugated piping.

One last note victorialamb.com does a penel legion conversion kit for $18 (Around £12) and includes 9 penals and a schaffier looking charictor (note the silence of the lambs lector head!)

Hope this helps.

Kroot - I was considering (won't know until I would actually get the models) cutting the charge packs off of lasguns and attaching them to the Kroot rifles to try to convey that they have the stat line of a lasgun/that their rifles were converted to make it easier to find ammunition while working for fringe elements of the empire. To show they are "sanctioned xenos" working for a rogue trader or desperate colonel I am thinking of painting the regimental symbol over one half of the Kroot's face.

Converted Cadians - Guitar wire sounds like a great idea for the tubing, although that still leaves me unsure how to model the part of the chem injector rig where the chemicals are stored. I have considered modifying the vox caster backpack by removing the antennae, but that seems a bit big.

Victorialamb does have some nice stuff (highlander guardsman!) but I'm looking for an alternative to the explosive collar.
Edit: I also notice that the laser rifles on Victorialamb resemble Kroot rifles... at least shows that the Kroot rifles can pass for lasguns!

[emptyhat]

Cut a flamer tank in half sand down the skull, replace it with a diamond of thin plasticard, and paint a chemical hazzard sign on it.

[Empirespy]

Kroot can be used for anything.

[vulpine]

All I mean About the kroot is if your going to use them, make them imperial looking. I think just throwing them in is poo... So imperial euipment on the belts, Cadian style flack vesta, lasguns etc . It has to be so anyone who sees that squadaway from your army says "oh kroot... Wait a min they don't look normal to me... They have..."...etc

[caimheul]

I agree wholeheartedly that simply sticking them in is a bit of a cheat , especially as I've decided to go with Kroot carnivores for my penal legionaries with an IG custodian. It doesn't seem to hard to make Cadian torsos fit Kroot bodies (have to saw off the bottom of the Kroot torso and attach them to the Cadian torso to make the length right), and looking at the sprue it should be easy enough for me to fit the magazines removed from lasguns just in front of the trigger guard of the Kroot rifles after smoothing out the ridges. I can also use the heavy weapons team backpacks and some spare aquila I have to IG them up a bit more) and this gives me to opportunity to model and paint some Kroot. It also has the added benefit of making my infiltrators stand out a bit upon entering the battlefield. In the old Cron dex I used Flayed Ones the same way I plan to use the Penal Legionaries, infiltrating to attack the enemy's heavy weapons or as sacrificial troops drawing enemy fire. Standing out on the table as I think modified Kroot will in my army would better draw attention than modified guardsman!

[egon]

Yeah, well obviously the kroots need some sort of markings showing that they are serving the Imperium. I just don't think you need to change their very iconic weapons.

Giving them Imperial gear such as backpacks, canteens etc however is something you should definatly do however. Looking forwards to seeing the finished models.

[vulpine]

If you get the flack jackets to fit they would look FAB. Possibly explosive collars?

[caimheul]

I don't think I'll go with explosive collars, as the idea is they are mercenaries treated as disposable troops, not Kroot being forced to serve the guard. Additionally, I was planning to make them "sanctioned xenos" (it's from the rogue trader rpg to allow for the creation of Kroot and Ork characters who can [as long as they are escorted by a human] actually survive setting foot on a human planet) by painting the regimental symbol that will be on my IG's shoulder(s) on one half of their face... but we'll see how that goes!

Edit: The reason behind changing their weaponry is that the statline of a Kroot rifle is a boltgun, not a lasgun. The conversion would just be to (hopefully) avoid that complaint, so then I just have to deal with the argument about the statline being different!

[vulpine]

Actualy mate my story 'the mutant within' (nice plug Vulpine) is kind of about a 'none standard' regiment facing prejudice. Althoght it's about a mutant regiment not xenos.

Here's what I would do...
If forced - collars.
If a Merc unit I think each individual would have 'private' equipment. So perhaps some have standard kroot riffles, some might have las guns, shotguns, puls riffles (Mebs) autoguns and such but (on Avrage they all count as lasguns and so in rules would be fine) Some with flack armour some without. Eye patches, imperial backpacks and bionic arms... Kind of veteran squad.

I think they will then look very individual and not be confused with kroot.

A quick note on the kroot riffle, it's almost identical to the lasgun apart from the strength. The strength increase is only due to Tau technology, brought out of the Tau empire and the means to maintain the wepons to maximum would Posinly make the guns S3 (identical to a lasgun).