Infantry squad conversions

[pudgypants]

Hi guys!
I have brought the battleforce and I want to convert 1 squad to be veteran
To make them look cool I want to give them a really cool look (e.g a lot of conversions)
But I don't know where to start
I know I want them to look different from normal infantry squads
They will have sgt Bastonne, 2 meltas 1 plasma and both demolitions and grenadiers doctrines. I have lots (and when i say lots I mean lots) of bitz
Thanks a lot

[Peter Cooman]

Well there's million ways to do it.

First off, if it's a cadian battleforce, a quick way to do it is give the entire squad rebreathers. Give them the backpacks from the heavy weapon squads and the more battle hardened heads (the one with the scars for example). Another option is catachan heads.

[pudgypants]

Ok thanks
But where do I get catachan heads without buying the box?
Hmmm
I'll have to ask around the gaming club

[Empirespy]

Bitz sites if your mates can't help you out...

[egon]

First of all I suggest against giving them both demolitions and grenadiers. It's a waste of points that you could spend at much better things (like an entire squad of guardsmen with a GL). Also, it's kind of pointless to mix plasma and meltas. You will want to stay back and kill 2+ save critters with the plasma. With meltas (and demolitions) you want to get up close and then charge into CC (with demos).

That said, here's my advice for the actual conversions. First of all, decide what you want your bog-standard, no-nonsense grunt guardsman to look like. This will be your starting point for the veterans.
Now, what I do is that is start from the the normal grunt and then change the stuff that is different. Usually veterans are much more free to do what they want when it comes to dress regulations, gear and general appearance. After you've served for a while, you earn that privilege. Give the veterans more gear and different. Some vets might prefer to cut the sleeves of their jackets (use Catachan arms) or wear boot knives or more grenades or more ammo or bandanas instead of helmets. Some might be wounded or have scars.

Veterans can also represent units with special training. I have two veteran squads. One is armed with plasma guns and they're supposed to be the guys who are dropped behind enemy lines and stay there until the mission is done. For that they need backpacks to carry the extra ammunition, special tools, rope, etc. They wear the standard uniform of my guards but since they have carapace I've painted their body armour and helmets differently to help make it clear that they are different from standard guardsmen. A lot of them also have non-regulation gear like civilian hats and extra knives and such.
The other veteran squad is built around the idea of a SWAT/SAS entry team. They go in fast and hard, destroy stuff with meltas and then get out of Dodge. They have different uniforms than the rest of the army and they also have lots of special gear like door-breaching charges, entry tools and night vision equipment.

All of my units look a bit different from each other but you can still see that they're part of the same army. The plasma vets tie together with the standard grunts because of their uniforms and the melta vets belong because their uniformity is similar to that of main army.

Also, all of my guardsmen carry knives. Standard grunts have the standard issue bayonet/combat knife or the Catachan pattern BMF, veterans and others usually "acquire" personal weapons.

[pudgypants]

Thanks for the replies! The only reason I was going to use 1 plasma gun and 2 meltas because I strangely only have 2 melta guns in my bitz box and I swear I had more (my brother probably took them). I thought about it and instead I am either going to have 2 meltas 1flamer or 3 flamers and the demolitions doctrine. I say this as tank generals wont be bothered with a flamey unit and when they get close... Bam melta bombs and demo charges. Or 2 meltas 1 flamer and the grenadiers doctrine. Either way I will still have sgt Bastonne.
I think I will just do what you guys are saying- do some simple conversions and give em a different paint job.

[theemperor9]

Sounds cool!!!

Are you converting bastonne?

The emperor

[pudgypants]

Yeah I am converting Bastonne. I will give him a las pistol and the power sword from the command squad
I've just got to decide which head to give him.
Read the thread about him

[Shostak(AWOL)]

2 meltas and a flamer is a sound idea, I would give everyone shotguns as well, to increase their assaulty punch.

As had been said before, you can either go with the kind of 'special ops' veterans, which have better equipment or the 'grizzled' veterans, which would be heavily scarred and carrying (and wearing) non-general issuse equipment. Alternatively, you could have a combination of both types.

[pudgypants]

I'm going for the 'grizzled' veteran look shostsk because if I went for 'specialist' vets I wouldn't know what to do
And by the way they will also have lasguns because 1st rank fire 2nd rank fire is too good to pass up.
The lasguns will have silencers that I have created from green stuff. I don't know how lasguns can be silenced but it makes them look good! Also all lasguns will have scopes on them to make them look good.

[pudgypants]

How do you give veterans the special ops look?
How do you make things like entry tools and special equipment ( I'm just saying this as I saw that egon mentioned this

[egon]

Jun 19, 2012 13:21:13 GMT -5 pudgypants said:

How do you give veterans the special ops look?
How do you make things like entry tools and special equipment ( I'm just saying this as I saw that egon mentioned this

As I already mentioned:

backpacks to carry the extra ammunition, special tools, rope, etc. They wear the standard uniform of my guards but since they have carapace I've painted their body armour and helmets differently to help make it clear that they are different from standard guardsmen. A lot of them also have non-regulation gear like civilian hats and extra knives and such.

I.e. bits. Bits, bits and lots of bits. Use the search function and google to find pictures of veterans and special forces. Then apply what you think is cool.
It's that simple.

[pudgypants]

Ok thanks Egon
I have made my special ops vets!!
They all are converted a lot! I used all my bits on them
They all have clear plastic riot shields (I don't know why they would have riot shields-but they look good)
The entry tools are chainswords with lots of greenstuff
So... I was interested what have you guys done?

[Jackal-0311]

Check out Maxmini, they have allot of stuf you may be looking for.

[Vice-Shogun Himura]

berrets are the easy way to make vets, first get as many bare heads as you can get.

[pudgypants]

Are maxmini the correct size?
Just thinking of getting a few backpacks, capes and berret heads
Is 28mm the correct size?

[wulfric]

All my vets have backpacks. Regular line infantry don't. I've used a mix of backpacks from PigIron, GW heavy weapons and (will fill in when I remember)

[Vice-Shogun Himura]

Jul 12, 2012 12:02:47 GMT -5 pudgypants said:

Are maxmini the correct size?
Just thinking of getting a few backpacks, capes and berret heads
Is 28mm the correct size?

Close enough

[Jackal-0311]

It's spot on.

[pudgypants]

Ok thanks guys-sorry for the wait-was on Holiday in Scotland for two weeks

[pudgypants]

How do you use greenstuff properly? Just brought some tried... And completely failed
Anyways I am aiming to give one infantry squad a kind I beastman type squad-horns and lots of fur- Any ideas how to do it?

[Vice-Shogun Himura]

Aug 11, 2012 14:36:46 GMT -5 pudgypants said:

How do you use greenstuff properly? Just brought some tried... And completely failed
Anyways I am aiming to give one infantry squad a kind I beastman type squad-horns and lots of fur- Any ideas how to do it?

Mix and match gor bits with them. I seen that work to good effect.

[Captain Zapp Brannigan]

Any photos of the final product??