Eversor/Xenos beast conversion project

[Just_Me]

Hey all, I've been thinking for a while about the idea of using a controlled Xenos beast as a counts-as Eversor Assassin (in my Witch Hunters counts-as Ordos Xenos army no-less). I think it works rather well as the Eversor has a number of rules which fit very well both literally and conceptually with the "beast" idea; Beast style movement, poisoned attacks, "poisoned" ranged attack, exploding death (control collar/failsafe device?).

I tabled the idea for a while due to other projects, both inside and outside the hobby, but now I'm revisiting it. The issue is finding a good base model to use, I'm thinking something feline or canine in basic form, preferably with well defined musculature, that I can modify and convert into a suitably alien feel. I have some vague plans on where I want the model to go, inspired by things like the fauna of Avatar and The Wildlife of Star Wars book, but I find it hard to plan out conversions in detail until I can really see what my starting point will be. I'm hoping my fellow hobbyists can recommend a model or range or even a simple toy that would fit well (scale wise) with GW models. I throw the question to all of you for help and advice, and eagerly await your feedback.

[Proximus]

First of all, the general idea is awesome! Go for it!

How? Dunno. The problem I see here is that it would have to fit on a small base, which doesn`t give you much room. To really make it look beastlike it would have to move on at least four legs.

[Drew da Destroya]

Some type of Raptor-looking thing could work on a small base... 2 legs, but still looking dangerous.

Or a Bird of some sort?Although it doesn't actually fly...

[miteyheroes]

Hmm...

Dark Eldar Warpbeast? High Elf Chariot Lion? Dark Elf Cold One? Lizardman Cold One? Beasts Razorgor?

[Lerra]

You could have it crawling up a piece of ruins - that way it could be larger and still fit on a small base. Or just go with a larger base - I doubt people will mind too much for a single model, especially if it looks cool enough.

[Just_Me]

How? Dunno. The problem I see here is that it would have to fit on a small base, which doesn`t give you much room. To really make it look beastlike it would have to move on at least four legs.

Hmm... I don't think that it would really make much of a difference if I used a larger sized base, say a terminator base? As I recall there is no problem with using a larger base as long as it isn't a dramatic scenic base that would give it unusual LOS advantages.

And in this case even that isn't a big deal, giving it more LOS is more advantageous to my opponent as shooting isn't really what this unit is good at anyway. Plus, I also have a couple of units of Kroot mercenaries in the army anyway, and I intend to eventually add a Deathwatch Killteam (the old pdf) and Inquisition Valkyries from (Imperial Armour II) as well, so the base on the Eversor counts-as would be the least of my problems...

[lobster-overlord]

Check out the Ratskins from Necromunda. The Caller has a beast that is a giant rat skeleton that could work as a good base for this.
The first thing I thought when I read this thread was "Brotherhood of the Wolf" movie from a few years back. Not the best movie, but a good source based (VERY loosely) on a real beast, where they put a twist on why it's there. Your assassin beast would seem to fit the look/ feel of it, and The Caller's beast evokes the same images for me.

John M>

[Proximus]

Right, the base size really isn`t that important. I guess i had the image of an eversor in mind - what impresses me about that guy is that he is so dangerous, but yet so tiny compared to most other things on the tabletop.

I also thought of a model that might serve your purpose - remember these green insect-like creature in Star Wars Episode 2 in the arena fighting scene? I even got two of these things lying araound here (from Hero Clix or something like that). It`s also got a pretty long neck, lot of space to model some kind of control collar on.

Greetz, Proxy

[miteyheroes]

The first thing I thought when I read this thread was "Brotherhood of the Wolf" movie from a few years back. Not the best movie, but a good source based (VERY loosely) on a real beast, where they put a twist on why it's there. Your assassin beast would seem to fit the look/ feel of it, and The Caller's beast evokes the same images for me.

Oh yes, or the Mordheim Thing In The Woods is a similar beast with an even scarier feel.

[Just_Me]

I've been poking around over the last day or so and I think I've found this (http://www.miniaturemarket.com/inc/sdetail/399612) model from the horrorclix range as a base for the project. It should be about the right size, and it's the right general form, and perhaps the biggest advantage it will have is being cheap enough that if I mess up, or it doesn't turn out the way I hope then I'm not out more than a few bucks... :p