Converting Reivers to Vanguard Veterans

[L30n1d4s]

Like many Frater here on B&C, I have all kinds of ideas of how GW can change Reivers to make them a competitive unit, but as it stands right now they really don't seem to seem to have a home in competitive play.

 

 

Since the models are so amazing (definitely the coolest "commando" looking Marines to date, IMHO), I was thinking about potentially converting a bunch of Reivers, specifically turning them into JP Vanguard Veterans (Storm Shield/Lightning Claw, Master-crafted Lightning Claw on the Sgt) for an assault based Salamanders Successor Chapter (Born Heroes, Whirlwind of Rage... these traits along with the Salamander Strats for +1 to Wound and +1 Strength/Double Damage on to wound rolls of 6 really amp up Vanguard Vet damage in my testing, so far).

 

 

Anyone have any experience with converting Reivers already (or even better, pictures of this)? My initial thought is to just strap a standard Assault Marine Jump Pack to a Reiver body, then replace the Pistol/Knife with a Storm Shield and Lightning Claw, but I am not certain yet if this is the best way to go. A more streamlined Jump Pack, like the own that Shrike comes with or the ones Suppressors use, would seem to go better with the Reiver aesthetic, but I am not sure how to economically get enough of these to equip up to 10 models of "Vanguard Reivers."

 

 

Anyone out there have any thoughts or advice on how to do this? Any brethren out there with lots of Reiver conversion experience who is willing to share with the rest of us?

[TheNewman]

No actual experience here (to my regret) but for all practical purposes the Reiver's Grav Shute bits are so visually similar to the Suppressor's backpack that you could almost get away with just doing the weapon swap.

 

The leg jets wouldn't hurt anything, I'm not sure how I'd go about producing 20 of them though.

[Debauchery101]

Get the mono thruster packs and throw grav chute fins on the smaller exhausts. You can chop off the small square vents or chop off the round vents on normal packs then attach to calves Edited November 21, 2020 by Debauchery101

[Debauchery101]

I used suppressors. You should check out Kayvaan Shrikes primaris model for phobos jump troop ideas

 

[Mandragola]

My idea, which is pretty expensive, is to put suppressor backpacks and the gubbins from the lower leg (carefully removed) onto Phobos bodies. I think the Van Saar shields would look good on VVs. I'd try and make light-weight lightning claws from a couple of Reiver knife blades.

 

I think this is going to stay as just an idea for now. My Crimson Fists don't particularly want VVs anyway. In theory I think I could get a few of the start collecting sets and sell the infiltrators and eliminators, so it might not be too insanely expensive, overall.

[Debauchery101]

I used some assault intercessors in a similar youre thinking for reivers

[War of the Eagle]

I did exactly that with mine.

 

[Bryan Blaire]

If you have any spare Lightning Claws bits left from the Mk4 armor kits, you could also use those split into two to make pairs of lighter Lightning Claws that can sit on Reiver hands, without using the heavier power fist appearances.

[tentagil]

Hoping to get mine done over the holiday. I used the straight Reiver legs and torso, adding some grenades, waist packs and knives/sheaths from their sprue and from the Incursor/Infiltrator sprue. I used the lightning claws from the Vanguard Veteran kit, which fit really well without any modification, I honestly think the scale is perfect for Primaris. To give one a Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield I took some Reiver arms and cut the wrists so I could glue on the Vanguard Vet hands/weapons. Added beakies, and then I am actually going to use the Vanguard Vet jump packs because I like the classic boxy look. I'm swapping out Shrike's for one as well.

[TheNewman]

If you have any spare Lightning Claws bits left from the Mk4 armor kits, you could also use those split into two to make pairs of lighter Lightning Claws that can sit on Reiver hands, without using the heavier power fist appearances.

Now that's a good idea. The Tartaros terminator kit would be even better for that; there are 10 lightning claw bits and five Chain Fist bits as well.

[Bryan Blaire]

The Tartaros terminator kit would be even better for that; there are 10 lightning claw bits and five Chain Fist bits as well.

Good call! I don't know why I tend to forget about the Tartaros kit, even though I've got a squad of them sitting up in the display cabinet.

 

Personally, I think I'd set them up with three blades per hand (if it will fit), instead of just two, but that would net you less guys outfitted, and probably just plays to my preference for Wolverine over X23. :lol:

[TheNewman]

It would look more like Kavaan Shrike that way. Three probably wouldn't fit comfortably though, the claw bits are quite a bit wider that a Reiver's forearm.

[Carcosa]

Thanks for the idea with the claws from the mk4 and Tartaros set. Definitely going to try that.

[dakkamasta]

I'm planning on doing this conversion for my custom Raven Guard successor chapter. I plan to run them with a lightning claw/chainsword combo using the combat blades from the reiver kit to count as the chainsword and these cool lightning claws from Kromlech:

 

https://bitsofwar.com/home/449-legionary-vibro-talons-left-arms.html 

 

I like the look of these much more to go with the Reiver style.

 

As for the jump packs, I wanted to use the Sanguinary Guard ones but I'm having trouble sourcing the bits, so I might just go with regular assault marine ones since they still look really good on the reiver bodies, as shown above.

[Jaipii]

This is my take for my Raven Guard Vanguard Veterans. I am using Assault Intercessor bodies (ETB from Indomitus box) with bits from the Vanguard Veteran box. The Assault Intercessors have really nice dynamic poses and the bits from Firstborn Vanguard Veterans fit real nice.

# I have pinned the arms and Jump pack into place.

# I have clipped and filed/sanded the big gun holster away and used my hobby knife to remove parts of the collar and kneepads.

[Debauchery101]

This is my take for my Raven Guard Vanguard Veterans. I am using Assault Intercessor bodies (ETB from Indomitus box) with bits from the Vanguard Veteran box. The Assault Intercessors have really nice dynamic poses and the bits from Firstborn Vanguard Veterans fit real nice.

# I have pinned the arms and Jump pack into place.

# I have clipped and filed/sanded the big gun holster away and used my hobby knife to remove parts of the collar and kneepads.

I love the poses and used some for autobolter intercessors and Vanguard vets/suppresors

[Jaipii]

Those assault bolter Intercessors.. Beautiful.

[Debauchery101]

Those assault bolter Intercessors.. Beautiful.

thanks!

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

I used the Reiver LT and a regular Reiver body to make up two smash captains for my RG (Same thought as VVs). I have tons of leftover jump packs and will be doing more SS/LC models up with them as well.
 

 

 

[TheNewman]

I can take or leave the jump pack, but dat shield tho.

 

On a broader level, this is exactly what I saw coming when Fristborn went to W2; people converting Primaris Marines to use as Firstborn veterans and characters.

[Mandragola]

I've been converting primaris to Firstborn since the start of 8th, making Scouts and scout bikers out of Reivers. Quite a bit of work for a 55 point unit (in 8th).

 

 

I really like both the suppressor and dark fury-based models here. Both are very successful conversions. And adding the weapons and pack straight out of the VV set works really well too.

 

Don't know if I'll make any of these, as to be honest vanguard vets aren't very high up the list of things my Crimson Fists want, but if I do I've got tons of ideas now.