Primaris arms – any with boltguns?

[apologist]

I like to back-convert my marines, using Primaris models to make more old-fashioned marines. It's a relatively straightforward process, except for the boltguns. I've tried a number of methods, from chopping down Intercessor boltrifles to carving out hands (as shown below), but I'm wondering if any new releases might make my job quicker or easier. 

 

Of those that I have tried:

• Intercessor hands are moulded onto the front of the boltrifle (annoyingly, often right across where I need to make the otherwise simple cut).
• Reiver arms are usable, as the bolt carbines are close in size to boltguns anyway – but their right pauldron is larger than Tacticus, making more work to trim or replace.
• Gravis arms tend to be too large for my purposes.

 

I'm not so familiar with newer multipart kits. Do you know if there are any newer Tacticus or Phobos kits that have left arms with empty hands? 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

... and as a bonus question, since it's not really worth making a new topic just for it, are there any sources of Mark VII heads on sale these days? Never thought it'd happen, but I've run out!

 

Edited September 1, 2023 by apologist

[Cadmus Tyro]

I’m about to start work on some Astral claws tactical marines, so I’ve been debating the same thing. There’s a few options I’ve tried, each with their own challenges. 
 

1) removal of hand from the bolt carbine: 

 

 

These are truescale MK2,using original boltcarbine arms and hands, with added cut down Mk3 Vambraces. The issue with this method is the time it takes to cut the hand out, and the grip position being too far forward on short boltguns  as per the Phobos pictured.

 

2) use Primaris right arm and a firstborn left arm: 

 

 

Surprisingly this method doesn’t look too bad, this is perhaps because of the relative over scaling of first born hands and arms, meaning the scale isn’t too far off Primaris, especially if you use the more extended arm poses. 
 

3) reiver boltguns, I’m yet to trial this but it was my plan for the astral claws tactical squads. I have used a few reiver arms in the past and like you, have found the larger right pad to be problematic, although it’s not too challenging to cut it down. 
 

I had wondered about cutting the reiver arm just above the elbow and using a corresponding intercessor upper arm. The challenge here would be selecting the correct arm, but there should be some allowances for rotation around the elbow joint and upper arm. I used a similar principal converting Mk7 assault arms to Mk 3 and it worked well.

4) this is theoretical rather than practical. The Mk7 kit had open hands on the left arm which are easy to remove. Perhaps just source some old Mk7 and remove the left hand…..

With regard to supply of Mk7, I’m using my old collection of poorly painted miniatures, breaking and stripping them down using Biostrip (cannot recommend this product enough). Looking at Troll trader, they have ample Mk7 ten man tac squads that are poorly built and painted for £5-7. Personally I would buy a squad this way, break it down and strip it. You would then have ample back packs and arms, much cheaper than bits stores. 

 

Hope that gets the cogs turning. 
 

Cadmus 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 1, 2023 by Cadmus Tyro

[Grotsmasha]

As the hand that grips the gun grip is such a minor, out of sight part of the model, I'd give serious consideration to 3D printing the hands and swapping them onto the Intercessor wrists.

ALSO, I have a bag of bits that contains a ton of heads, I'll count how many mkVII's I have

[LostTemplar]

I used intercessor arms, and cut away the bolt rifle from the trigger hand,while leaving the hand.

 

For the other arm, the best option was to cut the regular space marine hand and fit on a paired intercessor arm

[Xenith]

On 9/1/2023 at 10:06 AM, apologist said:

Do you know if there are any newer Tacticus or Phobos kits that have left arms with empty hands?

 

As a hand is a hand, unless in mk3 or such, could you use empty mk4 or mk7 hands to put on ends of the primaris arms? I'm sure there are loads lying around from people that have made things other than tactical squads with the mk4/7 sets. 

[LostTemplar]

I believe the new Desolators have left hands with open palms.