I've started a new Kroot squad, that is not an official GW one, but utilising parts from the both the new Kroot Carnivore box set, and the Killteam box, I'm making a shotgun squad ( don't know what GW are officially calling them but that's what they look like) These first two come from the carnivore box, and both can be used as a Shaper (squad leader) but I'm using the one on the left. Did do a small conversion by adding more robes to it to help distinguish him.
These next two are standard models, the left is the grenade launcher, which is a new weapon from the carnivore box, and the one on the right is from killteam, and is one of their standard builds ( I did show this one when I originally painted my Killteam box)
These last two are both conversions, the weapons came from the killteam box, and the bodies and heads from the carnivore box.
One bonus I've found from the carnivore box is I no longer have to convert running models, or holding pistols, so that's a bonus ! LOL I think I was harsh in my previous post on lack of being able to convert, as when I started converting it was using metal miniatures, so not easy at all. I guess it was more a criticism on the plastics, and their devolution from what you used to be able to do easily, and the new this is how you build it, but as proved above it's not going to stop me converting ! LOL I still need another four models to finish the squad, so will probably get another Killteam box, as that comes with three, and only needing to convert one more. That's all for today, so until next time, stay safe, and have fun !
Cheers Dave
The conversions look great! I know a lot of folks dislike the newer GW for being less conversion friendly, but when you do make it work it looks way more intentional than the old school style that's obviously just a head and weapon swap.
ReplyDeleteThank you SD, yes with the new style plugs on the carnivore's it needs some greenstuff to fill the gaps, which also help blend the joins seamlessly, but that only works if you don't mind using greenstuff ! LOL
DeleteLots of interesting poses in these and I like them a lot.
ReplyDeleteOf the current new style Kroot, I only really have one fig and he's whatshisname from the Blackstone Fortress game. Yet to start painting the contents though looking at your blue/red scheme I am thinking it might be worth a copy? (Whenever that happens.... So many other projects to get done with first!)
Thank you Dai, when the plastic glue is melting the join, you can add a little twist here and there to make them more dynamic, or run a pin in and add some greenstuff to expand it.
DeleteI have that model, got a lot of great detail on it, got mine from ebay, as I didn't want the whole set, but it has a lot of great detail in it like the metal plate on his jaw, and missing eye. If you like the scheme , by all means use it, it's not like I'm going to copyright blue ! LOL
loving the Kroots bud, just so good
ReplyDeleteThank you Andy, I've always enjoyed working on my Kroot army, so wasn't angry when GW released new models after I'd finished it ! LOL
DeleteIf there's one thing that's true in life its that everyone looks tougher with a shotgun and these Kroot are no exception! I don't think you were too hard on your former employer either and I say that as someone who can't convert almost anything to save his life.
ReplyDeleteIn my first go around in the hobby, GW would really promote conversions of their minis in places like White Dwarf and I have no idea if they do now, (I'd assume at least a little) but its much harder to do that sort of thing now than it was back in the day if you're limiting yourself to just GW products. Its the trade off for the very dynamic and detailed sculpts they create now, I reckon, but that shift caters more to people like me than you or IRO or Wudugast, I'd wager.
Thank you Jeff, indeed a shotgun is always a hard looking cool ! LOL
DeleteBefore I left the company they had already stopped the parts mail order, which was always a strange move in my book, but it ment that if you wanted that part you had to buy the whole model, which would put a lot of people off of doing conversions, unless money wasn't an issue, these days it feels like they are only interested in people doing things their way, as they know best ! LOL I think you'll find Wudugast, and IRO would both probably agree that it will never stop us from converting ! LOL
They look really good! I have to say that, hadn't you said, I would have thought they were original models with no conversions, your work is seamless, I find it fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThank you Suber, that is high praise indeed, although it can work against you in tournaments when they score you zero for conversions, as they can't spot them ! LOL
DeleteNicely done, Dave! :-) I do like that grenade launcher!
ReplyDeleteThank you John, I went with the option to have the grenade coming out of the weapon, but may add some smoke around it to help sell the idea.
Deletelooks great! I'm unfamiliar with the original figures so can't really tell how much converting has actually occurred other than 'a lot.'
ReplyDeletebut the figures look super nice! 😁
Thank you Stewart, probably a lot less converting than other parts of the army to be honest, but all counts to having a very individual looking army ! LOL
DeleteExcellent minis, and thanks for proving that the newer plastics can be converted.
ReplyDeleteThe AoS orcs (orugs?) Quite put me off, I shall have to revisit them
Thank you misterc, to be honest plastic is the easiest to convert, even if the manufacturer doesn't want you to ! LOL Metal or resin you need more specialised tools like dremmel's or saws, where most plastic can be trimmed with a knife, and greenstuff can hide a lot ! LOL
DeleteCan't tell what you've converted so they must be good, it must be something like 20 years since I bought a GW figure, I think they're fabulous sculpts to be honest but I don't need them anymore ( I've still got plenty in the loft! )
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you Iain, I did have a brief period where I chose not to buy anymore of their product, but in the end, got what I needed to finish off armies, wouldn't be tempted to start a new one now, unless like the Night Claws, just using up old models. You should get them on ebay, if you're never going to use them ! LOL
DeleteThey all look excellent to me, Dave, and I certainly couldn't tell that you'd tinkered with any of the ensembles. I do like your palette for the Kroot too - definitely marks them out from the usual green hue.
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon, I think this colour scheme gives them a more tropical look than the green, and a little more alien. As conversions go, these were pretty simple, compared to previous ones, but still a welcome addition to my army.
DeleteExcellent team here Dave. I'm not super familiar with the individual Kroot models so I can't tell which are the untouched and which are converted simply by eye, so you're doing well there for sure. I'm always impressed with the way that you keep fleshing out these forces that only have limited models available from GW - both with kitbashes & conversions as well as your own sculpts!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you'd be interested in picking up a printer for your own personal use? Looking at this team of yours I had a quick gander for Kroot STLs and found a free KIll Team that looks decent and an open-priced set of Farstalkers - both of which I picked up for one potential day in the future when I get my resin printer running (maybe only for a couple of weeks at a time because they're so toxic!)
Thank you Azazael, the chapter approved list was a great start, and gave me the option to really go to town on conversions, then the new Killteam gave me some new weapon variants to play with, and as soon as I saw the shotgun, I knew I needed a squad of them ! LOL
DeleteA resin printer is on my wiush list at some point, as it would help with both this and other projects, but until I get one, I do keep an eye on Ebay and Etsy for models that I can just buy ! LOL