Alternatives to Storm Trooper models

[RGilbert26]

While Im taking an involuntary month off from the hobby (long story though nothing serious), I've been going through various ideas in my head for what armies I could restart the hobby with. With regards to Imperial Guard, does anyone have any suggestions on how I could convert GW models to be Storm Troopers as I love the metal models, but would prefer not to use them.

Thanks for any help.

[Houghten]

So it's that you hate metal specifically?

I can understand that, it's hell to work with. I still prefer it to resin myself, but if you're the opposite, Forge World do some very (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Cadian_Shock_Troops/CADIAN-HOSTILE-ENVIRONMENT-COMMAND_SQUAD.html) nice (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Cadian_Shock_Troops/CADIAN-HOSTILE-ENVIRONMENT-TROOPS-CONVERSION-SET.html) Hostile (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Cadian_Shock_Troops/CADIAN-HOSTILE-ENVIRONMENT-TROOPS-MELTA-SQUAD.html) Environment (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Cadian_Shock_Troops/CADIAN-HOSTILE-ENVIRONMENT-TROOPS-PLASMA-SQUAD.html) Cadians (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Cadian_Shock_Troops/CADIAN-HOSTILE-ENVIRONMENT-TANK-CREW.html) that look appropriately stormy.

[Cpt Codpiece]

if FW is not any good (either ££$$ or looks) you could always try just using GS and a set of cadians. some plasticard rod and other tubes would make a lasgun a hot shot in no time.

masks are pretty easy to make too, just a blob of GS, flatten edges and add a bit of plastic rod for re breathers, plastic rod of different diameter for goggles.

cadian plastics already have the flak armour lines just extend them down with GS for bulked up cadians :)

[RGilbert26]

It's not that i hate metal, just that it chips and i dont use varnish as ive never gotten it to work properly.

Hadn't thought about the FW Hazard set, though money might be an issue.

Funny thing about having a month off from the hobby is you spend the time trying to come up with different ideas.

[plasticaddict]

Valkyrie door gunner bodies and heads with Cadian arms. Clip the antenna off of Cadian Vox casters for power packs, and use some wire/flexible tubing for power cables and dig through the bitz bin to give the guns a higher tech look. Granted they will have mono pose legs but they can be made to look pretty good.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

How about these (http://wargamesfactory.com/webstore/alien-suns/shock-troops-sci-fi-greatcoat-troopers)? Easy to distinguish from Cadians, but won't look too different if they have the same colour scheme.

[RGilbert26]

They look nice, though I'm trying to make sure I use as little from other sources as I can.

[pauljc]

I once did a squad of Stormies using Cadian heads and legs, SM Scout bodies and arms and options, and for weapons I used the Scout bolter arms, clipped the top half of the boltgun off, and mounted lasguns on top (with the lower halves clipped). I don't have pics, but with careful clipping and trimming, the weapons ended up looking like beefed up lasguns. I ddin't bother with power cabling, and the guns were chunky and 40Kish enough to have their own internal feeds/armour piercing capability.

With the left over Scout legs and Cadian bodies and arms, I made a squad of Vets. Cut down the Cadian shoulder guards into straight angles, and they turned out pretty nice.

With regards to varnish, have you ever considered or tried the Anti-Shine Matt Varnish from Army Painter. I used it on my Infinity models, because each one was painted to master level, with layering and and such. Most of the models have THREE sprayed layers, and you honestly cannot see any varnish sheen at all.

[fuzzbuket]

find some karskin on ebay, terrific models! and look great too (and are technically stormtroops so thatll be allowed ANYWHERE) dont know why GW stopped production :(


oh and another option is mordians, they look like stormtroops :P or cadians and put a spare shoulderpad over their helmet (judge dredd style) and add a backpack and some guitar string!

[RGilbert26]

Those are metal and I prefer the metal Storm Troopers to them. Plus GW hasn't stopped making the Karskins as you can get them online.

[Cpt Codpiece]

LOL i totally forgot about the non karskin storm troopers.

i always saw them as being replaced by the karskins, and when i imagine ST i either see those or the old plastic SS style ones.....

oohh there is an idea, just make some backpacks with a bedroll and some powercells with a plastic tube to the lasgun, then pop a beret on the guys :) they cant be argued as they 'were' official