Cost Versus Results

[Julgolax]

I've seen some amazing examples of defiling space marines to create original looking Chaos Space Marines but they have all been per-squad or per-model. I've honestly never seen an entire 2000+ point chaos marine force comprised entirely of converted loyalists.

 

That isn't to say I wouldn't be willing to try it but this is going into totally virgin territory for me. (please no slaanesh puns!)

 

Using plastic card, green stuff, liquid GS, bits box (or any other site for bits), and a lot of sanding and emery boarding to get rid of imperial markings. That said, it's not going to be cheap but for a noob sculpter, painter, and complete noob to plastic card handling, can it be worth the cost for a force of really unique marines. Not to mention the possibility for true-scale chaos marines which are surprisingly rare for how much potential they have for sculpting and painting.

 

From experience or educated guess, is converting something so drastically worth the extra price in the end? Cost versus Cool... FIGHT!

[Arikel]

I don't think it's so much the monetary expense that will be a problem here, maybe you'll shell out a bit extra for bits (really maybe 2-3 chaos kits would be all you really need for bits for a regular sized force army, less if you can gs scuplt or otherwise make your own) but what you are really looking at is the extra time and personal effort required. You're likely going to need to spend 2-3 times the normal amount of time, if not more to simply get the marines into a state where you'll be able to paint them. A lot of this is boring, tedious grunt work, and sometimes difficult as well, as in you want to take off a piece of detail but have to be careful or you could ruin the whole piece and have to start over.

 

It's relatively easy to kitbash a few things or make a few unique minis, but to do this for a whole army takes a new level of dedication compared to building from the box. That's really the cost you should be considering, the extra money likely won't be overall that much compared to what you'd already be spending on a similar sized basic army, unless you are buying all custom premade parts that don't need any work (that could get pricey).

[lhg033]

you can always get away with having a recently renegade army - on that basis a few tropies here and there to make them a bit more sinister etc and scratched/defiled imperial markings would be in keeping however mutations/lavish armour changes etc wont be as apparent (maybe a few aspiring champions/characters who have been blessed by the relevant god)

 

edit: finish my train of though

 

as for cost vs cool - thats entirely subjective on your views of the models you want. its always nice ot see someone has spent that etra time on conversions and some people do run armies where everything has something done even if its just a minor kit bash. if its something you'd like to do then go for it. it will also help you improve you conversion skills by making sure oyu get a lot of practice in. maybe try with a squad first and see how you get on

[Glaeken Templaris]

im running the same type of thing with my new red corsairs. comprised mostly of salvaged kit from my bitz box and several sweet deals on old metal loyalist models (spacewolves) ive defiled plently of aquila (a few thick cits with an exacto knife) and some filing here and their plus a smattering of chaos kit ie sholderpads, weapons and the like and they are looking bad ass. add in a few older stuff if you can get them, ive got them using a salvaged pre-heresy predator (the old RT pred with the turret held on by a plastic pin lol) and will props building one of my spare rhinos into another one with the metal mk1 las cannon turret donated from a friend.

Ask about in your gaming community you might end up getting some bitz for nothing. ive managed to mooch a load of gear off mine to help my decent into madness lol.

[Julgolax]

With converting miniatures and with Chaos specifically, what would you all say is more important to the overall look of chaos marines, the marks of a patron god or the 8 pointed star of undivided? I mean, looking at pieces of artwork on the internet it seems half of the people think it should be used sparingly while the other half do whatever they can to integrate the marks of their gods into everything on their armor. I mean, compare Lord Zhufor on forgeworld to a standard chaos terminator lord. Obviously they were designed to be different but the comparison stands. I mean does it depend on how dedicated they are perhaps or is it just a matter of appeal?