Converting Warhammer Armies
- slinkygibbongames
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
I started collecting Tyranids in 200, and almost immediately started kitbashing my models. It was great fun to just make things out of all the extra bits left on the sprue - particularly from the boxes released over 20 years ago. This transitioned into including sculpted details using greenstuff, and later more elaborate designs using multiple kits.
In this post, I'll go over some of the processes I've used, along with tips and tricks on how to improve your own conversions.
Kitbashing
Kitbashing is the process of combining model pieces together in a way that they were not originally intended to. For instance, putting Gorheads on Chaos Space Marines to create an epic Space Beastman army.
People usually kitbash once they have a good range of leftover pieces from building multiple armies. Alternatively, many people trade leftover bits, or buy them secondhand from places like eBay. For those that are really committed to kitbashing, you can combine multiple kits to make your own unique models... however, this can make an expensive hobby even more pricey.
My first kitbashing projects were Tyranids, which, let's face it, were practically made for this. They have loads of different options and segmented bodies, which can be mixed and matched across the entire range.
The biggest hurdle I've found with kitbashing is trying to find the exact piece that you need - this can result in a huge amount of time sifting through pieces and looking at pictures on the internet and still being able to find something that meets your needs. Instead, I found it helpful to think about kitbashing as more of an organic process with a mind of its own. What I like to do is get all of the pieces on the table that I think could look cool, as well as a few wads of Blu Tack, and just start experimenting with sticking stuff together. This means that the model will evolve its own shape as you try out different things, rather than going into the project with a very specific plan.
Quite often, you'll find two pieces that look great with eachother, but that don't fit perfectly. The most straightforward way to deal with this is to simply find bridging pieces, which will help fill the gaps from one piece to another. This could be a piece of Tyranid carapiece or an armored shoulder pad. If you can't find a bridging piece, you can also treat the area as "damaged", and hack into the pieces to make it look like that entire section has been blown away in battle. Alternatively, if you're feeling up to the challenge, you can always sculpt the piece yourself using greenstuff or a similar medium.
Greenstuff (Sculpting Putty)
Greenstuff is a two-part epoxy putty that is traditionally used for filling gaps, which was especially needed back in the days of metal models. However, now it is more often used as a creative medium to add custom shapes to 3D models.
An easy place to start is by adding mounds and undulations to bases, and you can even create textured impressions with bark or rock by pressing it into the surface while it's still maleable.
I started using greenstuff to fill in the gaps between the different Tyranid segments I was kitbashing. As I got more confident, I began sculpting more details, eventually getting more and more elaborate. For instance, I made a Slaaz'shi using a Hormagaunt body and head, and goblin arms. I shaved down the spikey details of the Tyranid, and used greenstuff to even out the surface, create a cape, and I even managed to sculpt some feet. (I made this model 22 years ago so be kind.)
From there, I went on to make my own dedicated sculpts, using wire and aluminium foil for the frame, which I covered in greenstuff and epoxy putty. I'd break things down into pieces and simple shapes, gradually increasing the detail in passes until achieved the effect that I wanted.
I have since found that when creating capes or banners, it's best to flatten the greenstuff inbetween two pieces of baking paper with a rolling pin, leave it for 5 minutes to firm up, use a knife to carve out the shape, and then rest it over whatever objects and Blu Tack you have lying around to let it settle into the final shape. That's how I created the wings of this Forest Dragon:
All of these techniques are very time-consuming, and make good one-off centrepieces. However, they're impractical to do on an entire army (and I know from experience, but that's another story).
Conversion Kits
Because I loved converting and loved creating armies, I wanted to make customising models easier and faster so that I could complete an entire project (I'm sure that a lot of you have an army project or two that never got finished).
As I already work in the 3D games and animation industry, it made sense to try my hand at creating 3D printable files that I could use to convert my armies. I sculpted these in Blender, which was a bit of a learning curve in and of itself, as I'd generally been using Maya.
I had already put together my Skaven from the AoS Ultimate Starter Set, but had never really been much of a fan of the Stormcast Eternals (nothing against the sculpts, I just prefer creatures to humans). I was playing a Dragonborn Paladin in D&D, and was considering making my own model for it, when I had the great/impulsive idea to convert the entire Stormcast Eternals Spearhead army into Dragonborn.
I ended up creating the 3D files with stands, so that they could all be painted separately, and then was able to simply attach them to the Warhammer models. I did this with Blu-Tack and many, many test prints to get the final designs and poses locked down, before attaching the final, painted prints using superglue, and this is the final result:
I'm really happy with how these turned out, and with how striking they look on the battlefield. Unfortunately, this didn't help when the Soulblight Gravelords wiped the floor with them on their debut.
If you'd like to try converting your own Dragonborn army, you can grab my STL files on My Mini Factory here:
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