Chaos Space Marines Troops (not what you're thinking about)

[Crusader Bob]

I've been thinking about starting a Chaos army from a while now. I like the idea, i like the models (mostly), i like the change of pace.

 

But here's the problem: troops, namely, the space marines. I think the models are starting (or have been from a lot) to show their age. Expecially for someone starting from zero, like i plan to do, seems daunting. 

Dark Vengeance, the new raptors, HQ units and whatnot, to me the old marines don't seem to cut it.

So i've started looking around for possibilities, pimp my marines if you will. Heads, shoulderpads, loincloths, weapons... there's a bit of everything, but i cannot find legs.

 

I don't think i want to buy 2 boxes of raptors for each troop choice, and surely i cannot fill the whole army with DV chosens, would look repetitive.

I am not capable of sculpting anything, but i can kitbash quite well. 

 

I'd appreciate some help on the matter, pointers on where to find the "right" bits, or how to update existing pieces to something near today's standard.

 

Oh, if matters, the plan is Word Bearers

[Shuggnuggath]

Bulk out with cultists. 

 

Gamewise they are probably the better option anyway.

[minionboy]

Honestly, after you've kit bashed everything else, the legs become the least problem, you can take a look at my Black Legion for example: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/278183-tdas-black-legion/

 

If you really must swap out some legs, there are actually quite a few options.  Besides the generic CSM legs, Space Wolf legs work quite well, Raptor Legs work, preheresy MK3 and MK5 make nice CSM legs, and even robed DA marine legs can fit in to some themes.

[hornywingythingy]

I think puppets war do some feral marines that would make better csm, might be worth a look.

[bjoluemblem]

Don't worry about what you want to run, flavor is more important (IMO) than what wins games. As for me, I run bulk CSMs, I don't care about competitiveness, and I love fielding CSM horde. It does win, it requires strategy that doesn't require helldrakes (Oh the horror!). As per bits, here are my thoughts:

1) If you're willing to try internet/shipping, www.leadanddice.com is your place to go. Load it up, type in "raptor legs" and you'll get all the legs you need. However, as I see you're from Italy, it'll be up to you, as most shipping is from the USA, AU, or GBR (it's a colection of ebay auctions).

2) As per other unit boxes, if If you're willing to trim/sculpt a little, a box of grey hunters delivers 10 unique legs that you won't see elsewhere. With a proper paint job, the word bearers would look a little feral, which might be ok with you. Also, some Dark Angels robes, most likely from the dark vengeance sergeant, would be fun and fluffy. Cut the head off, scrape off the aquilas, add weapons/spiky bit to flavor. Also, the possessed kit allows for many leg/backpack/torso options that can be integrated easily into any CSM force.

3) Final option is green stuff. I'm not a sculptor, so I mostly ignore this option. But imagine this-it's not super hard to take the space wolf helm that has 4 gems set in the forehead, and take little pieces of green stuff and turn them into horns breaking from the helm. It's up to your imagination. If you can justify it, don't let anybody else tell you otherwise. It makes you happy, and lets you have fun.

Final thoughts-check existing fluff. Word Bearers LOVE little cultist lapdogs, so don't be shy with those, but don't count out the CSMs either. Everything Daemons is awesome for them, the Horus Heresy books fluff that out in loving detail (Erebus is still a though). If you want to win, man, I wouldn't pick CSMs right now (baledrake spam is there, and I hate what it has done to the CSMs). If you want to run something fluffy that is fun, and awesome, this is the place to be. Dark Apostles, unmarked Sorcerers, possessed, Daemon engines, daemon allies, cultists to take the bullets for your super important Space Marines. Can't get any better than that. As per painting, that is what truly defines your army. A buddy of mine took the Assault on Black Reach boxes, and made a 5th Edition CSM army, that looked unique and flavorful and entirely Chaos because of how he painted his army. Word Bearers with flames and sigils everywhere. Just awesome. I hope you love being a part of the quasi-dark side, and have fun with it!

(Also, have you seen Kor Phaeron and Erebus? OMG )

[Crusader Bob]

I was afraid of this kind of answer, my google-fu was up to par this time.

I've checked puppetswar, but apparently their models are a bit too thin for chaos, or space marines in general (at least for me). But they have great shoulderpads.

Guess it'll be about trimming and kitbashing stuff, a little planning should be enough.

I'm not too keen on using cultists, even if they are quite fluffy for Bearers. I like space marines, and the selection of demonic machines Chaos can field. I want Maulfiends on the board, even if they are weak is fine, i'm not a competitive player. Sure i try to win the games, but i'd rather lose with a list i like than win making compromises.

So yes, bloodletters, flesh hounds, chosens, dark apostles, dragons and dinosaurs.... will be fun.

Thanks for the answers, who'd have thought traitors were so helpful?

[Ammonius]

Yeah, kitbashing is what you want to do.

I like using older marks of power armor from Forge World mixed with Warp Talon parts to convey the age of their equipment and the corruption that they have been unable to stop:

[Seleucus]

Sadly, the legs of basic CSM are the one area that GW/FW have not looked to enhance, and, apart from one or two exceptions (Kromlech's Morbid [plague] Legionnaire legs and Puppets War Barbarian Armour [complete bodies]), so has the 'aftermarket'.

 

Almost all pics, art etc for Word Bearers show fairly basic legs in line with the current available CSM or FW mark II to VI with occasional added horns etc..

 

Short of buying lots of Raptor or Possessed legs on the bitz market, , the only alternative is to follow Minionboys suggestion and use older mark legs from FW or, perhaps, some of the Exo-Lord legs from Anvil Industry and Chaosify (if there is such a word!) them.

 

How you do this depends on your skill etc.

 

The obvious items are:

 

Prayers enscribed directly to the armour.

Prayer sheets attached, primarily, to the shoulder pads, but sometimes to the legs. - Use various SM equivelents with any Imperial icon removed.

Deamon faces - use a GS mould from off the DV chosen or paint it on.

Most WB chapters at the HH had their own icon and, if you read their Wiki entry, some are still used - serrated sun; quill with blood drop on end; burning book, sceptre crowned with a skull; open hand with an eye in the palm etc.. - Most of these can easily be painted or GSed. Some examples can be seen on the Ashen Circle models at FW -

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/News/Games_Day_Preview_Three.html

[bjoluemblem]

 

Sure i try to win the games, but i'd rather lose with a list i like than win making compromises.

Amen to that! Gotta love some mechosaurs!

[Brother Ambroz]

Try these. Been considering getting some myself but they're pretty expensive. Very nice though, as are the helmets which I did purchase. Here's a link of them with GW parts and a size comparison.

[zyl-]

I believe some of the best word bearers I've seen would be here http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/150542-razs-word-bearers-army-blog/

I'm not sure what legs he used, but they are distinct, and you can easily see the green stuff work he did. I know you said you aint the best at green stuff, but sometimes it's amazing how simple it can be to get results.

[Brother Ambroz]

Raz definitely does an amazing job with Word Bearers. The legs he uses are from the Warriors of Chaos.

[MaliGn]

The best way to get better with green stuff is to practise, adding parchments and daemonic faxes to stock csm legs is quite easy, and pretty word bearersy I've put the legs from blood angels death company to good use for word bearers too, alg with obligatory use of dark angels veterans and black Templar's upgrades to enhance the whole kitbash vibe, bolters chained to your wrist? Sounds like religious zealotry to me! Don't forget to snag blingy religious items from wherever you can get them, be it dark angels, empire, vampire counts, warriors of chaos etc etc all adds to the over all feel.

 

If you are using green stuff to add detail to space marine legs, remember that if you don't like the look it's pretty easy to get the stuff back off the flat surface anyway allowing you to start over. There used to be a pretty good guide for adding csm details on the gw site, but I think it got taken down a while ago.

[RolandTHTG]

If you need just legs, Anvil Industry sells their Legs separate, in addition to complete models.
http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=77_96

[Crusader Bob]

A lot of great suggestions, thanks guys.

 

So far it seems Puppetswar is not the way to go for me, models are too thin, but i can go for helmets and pads. Anvil and Kromlech parts look good, the plain legionnaire legs are quite similar to heresy era armors, but cost a third. If i start a new army from zero it adds up fast, better keep an eye on bargains.

 

@Ammonius: that's a great model and pretty much what i'm thinking to aim for. Only with less black and more red!

[Rune Priest Ridcully]

Get the kromlech stuff from somewhere like Darksphere games? I got a pack of them from them for a good price.