The Lichborne - Kitbashing Adventures

[Rusted Boltgun]

Stunning. I keep looking at it and seeing a new detail I like. The cloth, dagger hilt, trophy heads, skull helm, the armour...

[Volgon]

@Firedrake Cordova Appreciate it, he came out great but it was definitely a grind.

 

@Rusted Boltgun Thank you! You hit on a lot of things I liked as well. The dagger is something that came out way better than I expected, both the hilt and the sheathe. I really like the sword and shield as well. They didn't photograph that well but they are quite weathered with some awesome tones and texture. 

[Grotsmasha]

What an excellently executed conversion is, with a stunning paint job to top it off.

Lovely.

[Volgon]

@Grotsmasha Thank you so much!! Everyone has been wonderful with their feedback, feels awesome to know people are enjoying my work as much as I am!

 

Been working on finishing my proxy Grimaldus project with his servitors. I'm trying to keep it undead themed to fit the rest of the force, so I've gone with using the Soulblight Gravelords Barrow Guard kit as a basis. I've completed two so far, with one left. I'm trying to keep them relatively simple and (hopefully) quicker to paint as an easier project.

 

Brazier of Gheistomantic Manifestation (10th edition name: Water from the Stoup of Elucidation, 9th: Scepter of Anointing) - I tried to base this off the "Scepter" nomenclature. The idea is that the spirit is forming from the ectoplasmic flame and clinging to the frame of the scepter. I might try a little sculpting work to better incorporate the spirit with the flame but no promises as I don't like sculpting.

 

Osseous Conduit of the Lich Undying (10th: Banner of the Emperor Victorious, 9th: Banner of Fallen Crusaders) - this was a spark of inspiration recently. My force already has the leader's personal banner bearer converted and painted up (the Icon Bearer from the Kill Team I did a while back) so I didn't want to do another "normal" banner. I got the AoS Bloodsecrator model from a mispackaged Ebay sale, so never had any ideas or intention to do anything with it, but it actually has a number of good details that fit my force. The icon specifically is really cool, just a big banner made of bone. I think it would look cool to add some bent paper clips attached between the banner and the spirit (like lightning that some people do on power weapons), as if their forces are interacting with each other, but not sure if I could pull it off very well since the surfaces are quite contoured so the connection points won't be very flush without some extra work.

 

That's it for now, but already have a plan for the last member of the trio. Just have to hope the idea works out in practice like it does in my head!

Edited October 18, 2025 by Volgon

[Teetengee]

the terminator is super sinister and imposing, well done

[Volgon]

Hey all, knocked out 2/3rds of the "servitors" for my Grimaldus proxy. Pretty happy with them, didn't want to spend endless time on them like the last few projects.

 

Stuck with a more limited palette this time to speed things up. I worked on a new recipe for black armor, going back to my old style of a weathered and chipped look. This time using metallic underpainting and then black washes and glazes on top rather than simply flat black with sponge/edge chipping. Very happy with the result, I think it's my favorite recipe so far. Came out really well on the armor especially. I did it on the black metal of the icon as well but I found it more difficult to get the same look as the armor. I think the larger and flatter areas on the armor helped in that regard.

 

Also the bases were an experiment which I think came out really well. I really like the resin bases I used on my Grimaldus and the Terminator Lord but they are imports and also just quite expensive. A while back I found the AoS Shattered Dominion line of bases. Their design is simpler but also similar to the resin bases; essentially some stone spots, and rivulets with skulls in them. Generally the rivulets look to be painted as soil (or lava? Hard to tell) and the skulls metallic but I painted them in my normal ectoplasm colors and specifically picked out the skulls with the bright colors and I think they look pretty good as alternatives. I cut some lines into the side of the base and roughed them up with sanding to try and mimic texture of stone (they were just smooth otherwise). I think I'll continue using these as "workhorse" bases and reserve resin ones for special projects.

 

[Firedrake Cordova]

They look great - I really like the dirty parchment colour on the standard, and how the pools on the base tie into the "spirit bits" whilst still being a distinctly different colour

 

Am I right in thinking that the first one is one of the new Barrow Guard models as a base?

[Volgon]

@Firedrake Cordova Cheers! You are right, the base kit is the Barrow Guard; for both of them actually. The first is the Seneschal/Champion, using the arm with the two handed mace planted in the ground. I replaced the mace head with the brazier from a Skaventide Stormcast model, and stuck a semi-assembled Spirit Host on top. I also added a sheathed sword from the banner bearer from Katakros' retinue.

 

The Icon Bearer is based on the Banner Bearer model from the Barrow Guard kit, replacing the banner itself with the icon from the Bloodsecrator model (removing the Khornate icon normally in the middle). The skull and the spirit coming out of it is all one section from the Spirit Hosts kit as well, replacing the helmed skull normally on the model.

[Firedrake Cordova]

There's a few bits in that list that I wouldn't have picked up on

[Volgon]

@Dr_Ruminahui requested a squad picture which I had taken but forgot to include! Here it is:

 

Still have one more to kitbash and paint up which I will base off of the Musician model from the same Barrow Guard kit.

 

I suppose I can include this one as well. Recently I got around to working some more on the Krell inspired conversion from a few months ago and am at this point:

 

I finally replaced the hammer head for the actual axe head. I swapped the shoulder pad and backpack as well but those are not set in stone. IIRC the backpack is a Chosen one with the bone spikes from the old Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon kit. They have some bones and skulls hanging from them which I think is really cool. I want to use them but they feel a bit out of place just sticking them onto a backpack and calling it a day. Probably need some more work. Also I need to figure out what to attach to the chain across his chest. Originally it was a small skull but the axe head and the arms not quite fitting onto the body means it's a little fiddly and the original decoration may not fit.

[Firedrake Cordova]

Really nice

[Vairocanum]

Wow that Krell looks awesome! The head fits in surprisingly well with the 40k bits, some bones hanging from the chest might be nice! 

[Volgon]

@Vairocanum Cheers, the head is really good! I used a really similar one for a different member of the warband (from an old Forge World Minotaurs mini, a helmed skull with a large horsetail crest) so that's a bit of a hesitation for me as I don't want to duplicate something so iconic. I think I'll go through with it anyway though, the large horns on the Krell head differentiate it a bit.

 

Quick update, I put together the last of the skeletal servitor trio. I continued the spectral design aesthetic. For this one I'm going for a "I just opened a cursed urn and am regretting it". Made the urn by hollowing out the drum included for the Musician of the squad. Will be nice to apply some of the things I learned on the first two on this project.

 

 

Edited December 16, 2025 by Volgon

[Firedrake Cordova]

That conversion works really well

 

Out of curiosity, where is the stonework base topper from?

[Volgon]

Thanks @Firedrake Cordova

 

The base topper is actually just a base, it's a 25mm Shattered Dominion one. They only come in 25mm and 32mm and I needed 28mm, so I glued a 25mm Shattered Dominion one on top of a 28mm regular base sanded flat. I used the same technique for the other two skeletons. Since the "toppers" are actually just bases, they have smoothed, beveled edges. I don't want it to look like I just stick two bases together, so I scribe lines into the side to mimic separate rocks or stones, and then apply plastic glue and hit the area with a coarse file after to add rough texture. 

 

Once painted up, they have a similar look to the resin bases that my Grimaldus and Terminator Lords are on. The design on the resin ones is a fair bit more complex, but they are also prohibitively expensive to outfit an entire army, so I had to compromise. I've decided to use resin bases for higher end models and characters, while keeping everything else on the plastic ones.

[Rusted Boltgun]

A very effective basing solution!

[Firedrake Cordova]

Ah, that's an imaginative solution.

 

I should have recognised them, given that I've got those bases!   

[Volgon]

Kitbashing adventures continue as I have started to convert some spare Sword Brethren bodies into mini-Krells. I used the same pieces as Krell to make the robes. I wasn't sure if I could fully replace the lower half of the front tabard like I did with Krell so instead I did some cutting and drilling. I could probably do more but I am wary about messing up the contours and folds of the cloth that are sculpted on. I might try sculpting some folds where the robes attach to the waist as it looks a little rough.

 

Still a fair amount to do. I mentioned this before but I'd like these guys to look more mutated than the rest of my force. Stuff like bone spikes and horns that you see on Plague Marines. Maybe actual skulls rather than helmets (though I don't think the skulls I had in mind originally will fit). My idea here is that their squad leaders are minor sorcerers/necromancers and so the regular Marines are often exposed to unholy energies.

 

The loadouts are not final, as I'm not really sure where these guys will fit in my force. Currently I'm leaning towards them as battleline (specifically, the Initiates in a Crusader Squad). My current idea is:

• Sword Brother Squad leader - a necromancer
• 5x Initiates - the kitbashes in this post
• 4x Neophytes - Barrow guard or Deathrattle skeletons

Lorewise, I'm thinking that the warband employs "Crusader" Squads as heavy assault/line breakers. The "neophytes" are sent forward as undead chaff, while the marines follow behind in heavier power armor (hence using the Sword Brethren kit) as they are the speartip. I like the idea, and I love the Sword Brethren kit, just not 100% on whether I want to use it as the basis for battleline squads rather than a more elite unit. I've been considering the Plague Marine kit, as they look pretty chonky which is what I'm after, and they also have a large selection of sculpts which is quite nice. They look like a fair bit of work to de-Nurgle, though, and I'd want to give them gorgets somehow (either by sculpting or using donor models, or a combination).

 

[Vairocanum]

Those are looking awesome, the sword brethren bodies really fit them! 

[Volgon]

@Vairocanum Thanks much, I adore the Sword Brethren kit! By far my favorite sculpts (if the CSM Havocs had more dynamic poses they would be in the running but alas).

 

Lots of updates today! Finally finished my Grimaldus proxy, all 3 servitors completed:

 

Learned a lot on this little project! I found a new recipe for weathered black armor which I really like, definitely plan on reusing it in the future. Just the weathering in general on all the metals came out great. Not sure if it will replace the black recipe I had been on my recent few character conversions but we will see. More practice on ghosts is always good, and glad to see the new basing scheme in action. I will definitely continue using it. 

 

Also iterated on the kitbashes from my previous post. Added some accessories and some bone growths thanks to a few donor Poxwalkers. Also am of two minds on the power fist pose: something more passive but menacing or a more action oriented pose aiming a pistol.

[Volgon]

The hobby bug continues to bite! This is a project I started sometime last year but didn't move on with it until now. It's been on my mind lately so I think will be my next painting project.

 

In my mind he's a Night Lords Praetor. I feel like the specific models I use for the core of the build don't give much of a Heresy vibe, so I'm thinking Late Heresy/Scouring, or maybe Artificer Armor? I scribed lines and sculpted stitches to turn the robe from cloth into flayed skin; looks rough right now but should come together once painted.

 

A bit of lore I'm brewing up: he is a bitter arbiter, weighing the scales of the soul. I wanted him to have a headsman vibe, hence the executioner's style sword, and the engraving on the flat of the blade fits into the arbiter motif. I was considering removing all the purity seal type strips decorating his armor but I'm going to turn them into twisted oaths of moment: his "hit list" so to speak of targets. I'll paint up some text and then decorate it with red X's or circles on his prime targets/ones he's gotten, hopefully should look really cool. Also need to fill in the Chaos star on the strip of skin on the backpack, assuming I keep that piece attached. 

[Vairocanum]

I personally prefer the shooting pose for the power fist guy, the Night Lords praetor looks very nice as well with the mix of parts!

[The Pounder]

I love everything about this thread!

 

Your troops have an Ethereal and otherworldly feel.

 

Great mix of bitz and a top notch paint scheme to boot!

 

Keep them coming at this standard!

[Volgon]

@Vairocanum@The Pounder ty ty! The ethereal/undead feel is definitely intentional, so good to see it's coming through!

 

I've continued to iterate and experiment with some basic Marine designs. I am overall quite happy with using the Sword Brethren bodies as I previously posted, but I wanted to explore more options. One design cue I like is found on a few models: torsos with a rib cage design over which an armor plate is placed. You can find it on the Judiciar, Indomitus Chaplain, and most recently the Execrator models to see what I'm talking about. Luckily the design was simple, and I was able to recreate it pretty easily with some sculpting. It should be easy to replicate across a squad. I used one of the bodies from the Crusader Squad and mocked it up:

 

I think it looks pretty good overall. I'm trying out a Flawless Blade arm; normally I stay away from exposed flesh for this army but the Flawless Blade arms in particular are very bony, so I think I could actually paint them up to look like skeletal hands which could be cool. Might have to try a tester first though.

 

The torso needs something more though, it's too bare for my tastes. I made an attempt at sculpting a larger gorget (something similar in design to the Sword Brethren one) but I couldn't really get it to work so scrapped it for now, but I will probably try again. Other options could be DIY amulets with jeweler's chain and small trophies like skulls or bones. I could probably sculpt some Chaos trim around the edge of the upper most chest plate. I'm kind of blanking on more thematic options at the moment though; not really interested in going for a utilitarian look with just rivets or blank plates, so I'll have to look around for inspiration.