Greetings fellow wargamers! Today I present to you a Tyranid Malanthrope we converted on a budget using a Hive Tyrant Kit, a few extras (notably the head from a Venomthrope).
We use venomthropes all the time for our
Doom of Malantai conversions, and as such we have tons of left over
heads and
lash whips.
The actual conversion is fairly straightforward. Building the basic flyrant from the tyrant kit, minus the wings. Glue 3 sets of scything talons (raveners or mawloc talons would also fit nicely here) into the three slots for arms and legs. Add in the head from the venomthrope (or a standard Tyrant head with some sculpted on tentacles). In the above case, I actually created an extended cranium by using a tyrant head, then sheering off the face - sheering off the back half of the venomthrope head, and then merging the two, puttying over the gap.
Finally, apply some green/grey stuff venomous sacs along the carapace to hide your work. For these sacs, I just go for something organize looking and bulbous, with plenty of nodules along the edges, fixing to burst at any moment (when you paint them, apply a heavy gloss such as
Ardcoat to get that wet, waxy look like the egg sacs from any sci-fi alien style genre film)
For my money, I find it is often better to buy a entire kit rather than the bits from a bits vendor. Case in point, hormagaunts! I'm always in need of the scything talons from this kit, for a variety of chaotic conversions. The Hormagaunt bodies themselves make great termagants is you just apply all those spare spinefists or fleshborers you have lying around! The hormagaunts are much more dynamically posed than traditional termagants, and look great on the tabletop! Short on gaunts?
Pick up a box from Spikey Bits! Is it perfect? No. Is it as nice? No. But on a budget, you can build this for about 30% less than the FW model, and since they are completely made from GW bits they are tournament friendly! Plus, I like the dynamic post of the tyrant tail over the 'looming' pose of the FW model, to be quite honest. Much more imposing.
The great thing about Malanthropes is that they can be fielded in groups of three! So you can rock a brood of three of these for 330 points, just marginally more than a big HQ choice. Malanthropes are fleet, which is rare for a MC, and at 110 points they are the cheapest monstrous creature I would argue in all of 40k! For about the same price as a suped up Prime, I can have impact hits, smash attacks, and AP 2! Can't beat that!
For those just tuning into this blog, my name is Caleb and I am a conversion artist for hire! If you are interested in commissioning a model, contact me at calebfilm@yahoo.com. We offer a full range of services from custom conversions, painting, terrain, consignment (for your old must get rid of models), and more!
And until then, PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!
A comparision shot with a Forgeworld malanthrope.
jdj
