Converting Sternguard to Deathwatch

[Inquisitor Fox]

So.. the new Sternguard models are gorgeous. I've long been thinking of making a Deathwatch Kill Team armed with two heavy bolters and a sergeant with bolter and powerfist via the bits order conversion kit, but since the new Marine codex came out... I now have another idea.

 

To purchase the new metal gorgeous Sternguard models, the bits order Deathwatch conversion kit, and hacking off shoulderpads to make space to put the Deathwatch shoulders onto the metal models.

 

Now... ruleswise they're pretty close, only the Sternguard have better ammo availability.. well.. really the only thing I'd lose is the move and fire heavy bolters. Which is sad, but well.. I suppose it's doable to just have all bolter armed Deathwatch. I could use them with my Blood Ravens, or in Apocalypse, or by allying WH or DH to my Blood Ravens.

 

Where I am seeking aid is in the physical project stuff. Do you all, in your modeling experience, even think this conversion is feasible? Am I wasting my time? I think it would look completely awesome if I could pull it off... having a single Deathwatch squad with a bunch of marines makes more sense to me than Sternguard Veterans running all over all the time. It would be a great painted unit.

 

So.. in your opinion, is this idea doable?

[blood_raven_240]

I think you should definitely give it a try - you haven't got much to lose! And I'd love to see the finished squad. You're right, they'd be awesome painted! In theory it works, and if you have the skills then it should just as easily work in practice. The tricky bit will be replacing shoulder pads, but what's a conversion without a challenge. Yep, I'm 100% on you giving it a go! What you could also do, if you like... well, if there's one particular model that you don't like as much as the rest, then might I suggest a Heavy Bolter from Generic Plastic Components? I think it could be made believable and would be a nice contrast to the otherwise fully metal models.

 

I think it's a really cool idea and I'm honestly surprised that it hasn't been tried before. I can really imagine the finished piece, and let me tell you, it's looking pretty good =] I hope you can live up to my... well, I'll be honest, my hopes and expectations now. That is, if you decide to actually take on the project, which I fully emplore you to do, as it could be one that you'll be very proud of when finished. I've also noticed that, so far on the Bolter and Chainsword, you haven't posted any pictures of your own models, so it'll be you're proving grounds for all the guys and girls here.

 

If you take into consideration all that I've said then I think you'll agree that it's worth giving it a shot, as the idea hasn't been tried on here before, and all. You know what my view is on this. But I'm looking forward to following this debate... well, topic... and seeing what other people's responses are to the matter.

 

- Blood Raven.

[Commissar Molotov]

I'm doing something somewhat similar in my army - using Deathwatch for Sternguard. The Sternguard models could work with minimal conversions, but some of them have a blank pad for their Chapter symbol (which you'd be removing to replace with the Deathwatch pad) and a pad with the Crux Terminatus (which you would ideally want to remove to paint a Chapter symbol.)

[blood_raven_240]

Yep, Molotov is totally right about the shoulder pads. That's exactly what you'll be looking to do. I was wondering, by the way, during the course of the conversions will you be changing the helmets of the Space Marines in question? Perhaps just a number of them, not the lot?

 

I'd also like to say that I'm quite happy to be participating in this blog, and you've genuinely got me quite excited about the outcome of it all. Don't assume that I'm stating the facts so confidently because I'm ultra-experienced. To tell you the truth, I'm only 12, and so you should probably take in more of what the older guys say than the nonsense I come up with ;)

[Inquisitor Fox]

Age is no restriction upon good ideas or observations :)

 

I hadn't thought about the helmets yet in truth, I'm not sure I'm really happy with the conversion kit helmets with just regular space marine unhelmeted heads, but the helmets with the skull would be good additions. I would probably consider doing a head swap of those as well on at least some of the models, if not all. Head swaps are relatively simple affairs.

 

Hmm.. I had forgotten about the Crux Terminatus, but if I just remove that shoulderpad as well and use generic Space Marine Plastic ones that should be simple to achieve.

 

I'll have to see if I can swing getting the conversion kit and the Sternguard for Christmas, otherwise it may not be until a month or two that I'd be able to try it. The children's Christmas comes first after all.

[blood_raven_240]

Thanks. I'm glad you don't see it as a restriction. That's kind of you =]

 

Anyway, I'm logging out in... well, now, actually... but I'll play catch-up with the topic when I return. Consider it bookmarked, if there's anything you want my opinion on (if I'm not being to big-headed right now), then I'd be more than happy to get a PM from you =]

 

Good Luck, and for now - Blood Raven.

[Commissar Molotov]

Hmm.. I had forgotten about the Crux Terminatus, but if I just remove that shoulderpad as well and use generic Space Marine Plastic ones that should be simple to achieve.

 

That's what I would've suggested. It should work out relatively well.

[Inquisitor Fox]

After some closer inspection, it appears that most all of the Sternguard helmets already have a skull on the forehead, so I don't think I'd even have to do a head swap unless I wanted the targeter thingies on the side of the helmet. Doing a swap to give the sergeant an unhelmeted head may look good though and help pick him out. I'm left with an unnecessary combi-melta guy for what I consider an anti-infantry unit, so he may have to go or be traded/swapped with other players. Of course, I could keep him around but it seems like un-needed points that wont really get used much at all.

 

Edit: Though the conversion kit helmets have an Inquisitorial I on the forehead... so I may do all the head swaps after all. I'll keep thinking about the project and seeing how feasible it is for me to do.

[Commissar Molotov]

After some closer inspection, it appears that most all of the Sternguard helmets already have a skull on the forehead, so I don't think I'd even have to do a head swap unless I wanted the targeter thingies on the side of the helmet.

 

Well, the Iron Skull is the award given to Squad Sergeants - that said, four of the five Marines in the Sternguard box have the Iron skull. The Marine with the combi-weapon (you get the choice between -plasma and -melta in the box) has a gem on his helmet instead of the Iron Skull.

[Pork Chop Express]

Hey all,

 

I have actually made these kinds conversions for my own deathwatch kill team. Not with the sternguard, but with other similiar metal models, i.e, the metal veterans. I have also done this with my wolves as I am a big fan of using sculpted shoulder pads where ever possible and maintaining uniformity. The easiest way to do this is to use a dremel or similiar rotary type tool. Basically, you grind down the original pad until it looks similiar in size to the bare plastic marine arm from a regular sprue. You can then glue on whatever shoulderpad you want. This can be done with metal minis or plastic devastator arms for the heavy bolters.

 

This works well to replace heads as well, you just grind it out until you have a recess big enough to fit the new head. Be careful that the tool does not get away from you as you can damage other parts of the mini that you would prefer to keep whole. Trust me on this one... :P

 

I have tried a jeweler's saw for head swaps in order to save the head for other projects, but this is not as precise and tends to destroy more of the model than you intend to. In my opinion, the saw is much more clumsy and you're better off not saving the head any way. Just my experience. Let me know what you think. I could post some pics perhaps if you would like to see how it looks.

[march10k]

Ugh...the thought of grinding down those shoulder pads makes my head hurt...but it'll look pretty sweet when it's done. I put a deathwatch head and shoulder pad on a veteran sergeant (robed), it looks pretty sweet, I think I'll just sprinkle the rest randomly into my tactical squads for flavor, no rules involved.

[Pork Chop Express]

Ugh...the thought of grinding down those shoulder pads makes my head hurt...but it'll look pretty sweet when it's done. I put a deathwatch head and shoulder pad on a veteran sergeant (robed), it looks pretty sweet, I think I'll just sprinkle the rest randomly into my tactical squads for flavor, no rules involved.

 

Grinding down a shoulder pad is not as bad as it sounds ;) It can get messy with the filings that come from it, but in the end it produces very precise results. The rotary tool does all the work and you actually apply little to no pressure. You start off with a larger bit to whittle down the bulk, then move to the smaller bit once you're ready to mold the "new" shoulder. I would post some pics if I could figure out how to do it... :huh:

[Inquisitor Fox]

I think I'll have to see if my dad still has a dremel... that would be much slicker. It's comforting knowing that someone else has done something similar! I was really hoping of a method besides messy work with a saw and greenstuff, and somehow forgot dremels existed :)

 

My current predicament involves actually figuring out what to do with the one 'wasted' model with the combi-weapon.. I was actually considering having zero combi-weapons in order to save points for other goodies... and wasting a slot on say, a heavy bolter, while being a fluffy Deathwatch weapon.. well.. the Sternguard rules make it not as useful. Maybe I could trade the model with someone for a regular Sternguard or something.