Tyranid Warrior to Hive Guard conversion

[dwez]

A quick Google search will bring up plenty of examples of Tyranid Warrior/Hive Guard Conversion. When a box of 3 warriors costs £25 and 1 Hive Guard is £15.50 straight from GW you can see why this conversion is appealing. Take into account you can get them cheaper from independent stockists and bitz suppliers for the components you need and you can make those Warriors deliver more than the basic 1 Hive Guard per box of 3 which is still a saving.

I got a bitz selection off ebay that had two donor warriors and some other odds and sods so decided to do my own take on the Tyranid Warrior/Hive Guard Conversion.

First you'll need a Carnifex Crushing Claw and need to do this:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3kzaBCRmRY/T4QTwuxdk9I/AAAAAAAACTI/u5uHzJHUGK8/s320/083-P1050275.JPG

Then you will need to split the claw tip like so:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg4yJjtxNKo/T4QTyA48iUI/AAAAAAAACTY/AEero759YCs/s320/085-P1050277.JPG

Then mount the claw to the top of the Warrior, thus:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSUQnpDSEQQ/T4QT1_Kl4mI/AAAAAAAACT4/oXLhjjrApIE/s320/089-P1050281.JPG

You'll also need to trim the tail down a bit, more detailed instructions on my blog. (http://40kaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/nids-part-32-tyranid-warrior-to-hive.html)

[dwez]

So next you'll need to make an Impaler Cannon. You can do it cheaper than this and just use a Venom Cannon, and add some Flesh Hook spikes to the tips and it's done. No one in their right mind would be needing Venom Cannons so it's simple. Except aside from the talon underneath they are butt ugly and I want something a little meaty, if a little more costly in the real world. So to make my Impaler Cannon you will need the aforementioned Venom Cannon, Warrior Flesh Hooks and also a Carnifex/Hive Tyrant Stranglethorn Cannon.

You will need to cut the two weapons up like so:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D6s0TboLoEc/T4QT3kHbeBI/AAAAAAAACUI/4MH783VJKc4/s320/090-P1050282.JPG

Glue them back together with the flesh hooks and instant Impaler Cannon:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r94RG_90eoo/T4QT3-ckiRI/AAAAAAAACUM/5HK23W_4WXQ/s320/091-P1050283.JPG

I used a donor Termagant head, but you could just as easily use a spare Genestealer one too:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N5kMXQ1-pgg/T4QT8humrpI/AAAAAAAACU8/VA6QCMtkHFs/s320/097-P1050289.JPG

[dwez]

With everything in place I think its a pretty close match to the Finecast original, but costs less and has more variation in the possible poses.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dof2XUXRQDA/T4QT_c8sy4I/AAAAAAAACVc/ax_VeOkoU3Q/s1600/101-P1050293.JPG

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m730029a_99060106061_TyranidHiveGuard1_445x319.jpg

More detailed instructions on the blog. (http://40kaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/nids-part-33-tyranid-warrior-to-hive.html)

[mot666]

thats actually really nice. pity i already coughed up for six of the buggers. the metal ones fall appart so easy too... they're all in bits atm.

[ElectricPaladin]

Very, very clever. I approve. Well done.

This is inspiring me to get off my but and turn some gun drones into sniper drones already...

[PalinMoonstride]

You just showed me my next project. Great job!

[Anggul]

I must admit that I wasn't expecting much when I saw the title, but this is pretty darn good, very well done!

[Kawauso]

That is one really slick conversion.
Well done!

I wish I could get over my hatred of Tyranid guns enough to use them. :( Would certainly help shore up some weaknesses my army has.

[dwez]

Thanks guys, the second one had extra armour plates on the chest from the Termagant upgrade sprue. I liked them so much a painted another set and stuck them on the first Hive Guard so he wasn't lacking in the extra Toughness Hive Guard have and looked just a little less like Warriors. Here's a teaser pic from a forthcoming blog post:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jizKYay4H3M/T4QUhRHpNfI/AAAAAAAACZw/yqcC4dAHZOM/s720/136-P1050331.JPG

[turiya64]

I really like the extra armor on the chest. It should make them nice and bulky

[Sinsinatus]

Ingenious! I was wondering how you were going to bulk them up for that hulking guard look.

(Now where did I leave those spare Carnifex claws - mumble, mumble...)

[dwez]

Halfway through the painting process and perhaps they're beginning to make a little more sense now, whay do you think?

Big gun
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGzQ8AbXaRg/T4QUSIEkPVI/AAAAAAAACYY/vwASqkxl_Xs/s1600/125-P1050317.JPG

Left side view
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmKeKNY-qeQ/T4QUYOT3vRI/AAAAAAAACY8/jQgztFN27r8/s1600/129-P1050321.JPG

Here's a side-by-side comparison of my Hive Guard and a Warrior.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lEfeZCPuFeo/T4QUaWeDwoI/AAAAAAAACZM/ixnb9G8gOyg/s1600/131-P1050323.JPG

[Meph]

Good stuff, I especially like the addition of the little spots on the carapace. That's a nice touch.

[isotope99]

Looks good, much better painted

I'd have left off the tube on top of the gun and green stuffed over the eyes I think.

[dwez]

Both got finished

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWdpVaCkLvE/T56HDEJY8mI/AAAAAAAACnM/mUYlBHc75yE/s1600/12-P1050343.JPG

And I've another two on the way

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GsEDbZ5zMTA/T-MGZLSMppI/AAAAAAAADcs/Q5fExlf3yZk/s720/hive%2520%25282%2529.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uuBVPjFLNx4/T-MGZNrHr3I/AAAAAAAADcw/3IsNWGHaC0k/s720/hive%2520%25283%2529.jpg

Not to mention this b1tch

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-16kLcY8qFaM/T-MGj1Q6duI/AAAAAAAADfY/ZAnTXY5JDwQ/s720/tervigon%2520%25289%2529.jpg

[Chris Copeland]

Wow. I saw the title of this thread and thought to myself, "Really? How good could it be?" You've shown me, mate! Well done!