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AdMech Kit Bashing


Carlson793

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The TLDR version:
Show off your AdMech kit bashing!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

One of the big issues for me as an AdMech player is the same-ness of our forces. Between Cult and Skitarii, we have 9 kits to represent 14 different units (16 units if you include Secutarii). Since our units also tend to have a unified marking scheme within an army, can be kinda tough to differentiate between a Ranger and a Vanguard - only the weapon load outs change, and for opponents new to AdMech, or with aging eyes, that's no difference at all.

One advantage we have is, with most AdMech kits representing two units, we tend to have a good deal of usable bits left over after assembling a squad. Now, we could hit eBay and buy the parts we need for a second squad from various parts vendors, but that still gives us a rather blah tabletop presence (especially with all the mono-pose bodies we have).

So, I've decided to try and branch out with my AdMech, reusing my available bits with available third party bits to end up with a unique tabletop look. I started this with ETL V entry, which featured FW Castellax Automata counting Kastellans (sporting third party heads), and four different Datasmiths from three different companies.

FW Castellax Automata and GW Kastellans sporting Wargame Exclusive heads.

gallery_80588_12007_144092.jpg

(L to R) Hitech Tech Master Baltazar (w GW Tech-Priest Dominus gun arm), Hitech Salvo IX, GW Kastellan Robots Datasmith, Wargame Exclusive Heresy Hunter Female Inquisitor Mechanicum

gallery_80588_12007_153893.jpg

But now I've gotten to the point that I want to make good use of all those Skitarii Ranger bits I have (even though the Ranger tabletop niche is very narrow). Well, I've been a fan of Victoria Miniatures stuff for a while though, even though I've purchased very little (as most of her stuff is geared towards the IG player). But then I realized the Tannenburg stuff coming out of her studio, with their greatcoats, had a similar feel to Skitarii with their cloaks. So, a quick purchase of Dress Uniform Torsos (male and female), and Greatcoat Legs (again, a mix of female and male, standing and kneeling), a little test fitting...

And that's when I noticed how narrow the female torsos were compared to the male torsos, too narrow in fact to use the paired Ranger gun arms. Started going through my Ranger bits, and only had enough solo arms left to make maybe three female figures. If only I had a bunch of arms for Skitarii holding two different things...

...like the Secutarii Hoplites that I had in the craft closet, waiting for assembly! Small bit of modification work and I'm now sitting on two proof of concept for Victoria Miniatures Skitarii Rangers and Secutarii Hoplites. Only sad things are 1) you have to trim away the collar on the torsos so they can take GW/FW Skitarii heads and 2) because they are more 'femininely proportioned', Skitarii arms look a bit gorilla-like on the female torsos.

gallery_80588_12007_527320.jpg

gallery_80588_12007_832067.jpg

So, what have you used to create unique looking AdMech units?

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Those are awesome! Great work indeed.

 

I can't quite manage to post pictures here from

My phone, but I have a bunch of kitbashes up on my Facebook page in my sig if anyone is interested enough.

Nice stuff there. Really like your Grav Destroyer conversion.

 

 

 

15977565_627992344068904_160118065142792

 

 

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Wow, LOVE those alternative kastelan heads!!

 

also the alternate domiinus/preist options are awesome...

 

with the availability and possible usefulness of adding celestine to our forces too...id been thinking this morning about how to convert her to a more 'counts as celestine' but with a more admech feel.....think that mech inquisitor lady could be a good start for the gemini twins.

 

 

@majorneese

 

do you happen to have a rear shot of those kataphron conversions? Are the rangers just stood behind the tread unit? Think i much prefer these to the standard 'big body' ones and would like to give em a go

 

 

 

some awesome ideas/data for thought on this thread, still early on in my admech army, but definately going to start incorporating some of these ideas

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do you happen to have a rear shot of those kataphron conversions? Are the rangers just stood behind the tread unit? Think i much prefer these to the standard 'big body' ones and would like to give em a go

Nope, don't have a rear shot. Would be useless anyway, with the cloak hiding everything. The ranger just stands behind the tread unit, didn't modify any of those two parts. Only added the cadian grenade launcher arms and HWS shield, and modified the grav cannon. Not fixing it on an arm mount needs something else in that place, IIRC I cut away the back part to use as mount base.

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I have so many things i could show off.
My Tech-priestess Lady of House Cydonia is propably the thing to show though.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f250/supreme_martian_overlord/IMG_0008.jpg

Finecast tomb king head, body and bowl from the Lahmian coven throne, then lots of dark eldar bits and a couple plastic cogs.
Painting came up nicely too.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f250/supreme_martian_overlord/DSCF0019_1.jpg

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Glad you like it. I've never actually played Dark Souls, but i hear people say it's good.

In the Mechanicus background there is an ancient order of Mechanicus Assassins called the Sisters of Cydonia aka the Cydonian Sisterhood  Found in the Black Library pieces:

The Kaban Project, Mechanicum and Zero Day Exploit all by Graham McNeil



So i decided to make one from Dark Eldar pieces and the servo skull from the Tempestus Scions and handy bits.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f250/supreme_martian_overlord/DSCF0007-3.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f250/supreme_martian_overlord/DSCF0003-2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f250/supreme_martian_overlord/DSCF00042-1.jpg

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Here's some ongoing bashing-and-building that I'm doing for my Dark Mechanicus. Being a long time Chaos builder/painter I was looking for an excuse to start a Dark Mechanicus army for a while. To that end I've started an army lead by a Heretek Magus from Imperial Armour 13. The plan is to bash lots of Skitarii and Mechanicus bits into other kits (Guard and Genestealer Cults, primarily) to create a Dark Mechanicus Militia.

 

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/SubtleDiscord/2016%20WIP%20Photos/Dark_Mechanicus_Kytan_12.jpg

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/SubtleDiscord/2016%20WIP%20Photos/Dark_Mechanicus_Kytan_11.jpg

 

This is the start of one of the larger projects I'm doing for this army, a Kytan Daemon Engine that's being altered to be more of a Dark Mechanicus construct. Still much to do, but I'm quite pleased with the progress so far. It will be getting combat weapons on the arms when I can finally sit down and get working on it again. This project should proceed quickly once I have time in the spring.

 

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/SubtleDiscord/2017%20WIP%20Photos/Dark_Mechanicus_01.jpg

 

Over the winter break I got a very small amount of time to dabble with some Mechanicus kits. I've started a bit modest, bashing bits mostly from within the Mechanicus line. For this force, since it's built with the IA13 R&H rules, I'll be using the Skitarii Rangers/Vanguard kit to make the Command Squad and maybe other elite units; for this army list the Vanguard models are just too well equipped to represent rank-and-file troops. With these, I'm just exploring some bashed with some CC weapons for a change and creating a more traditional specialist weapon like the Meltagun.

 

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/SubtleDiscord/2017%20WIP%20Photos/Dark_Mechanicus_02.jpg

 

I also wanted to make a few Rogue Psykers for the collection that would easily fit the theme without needing to doing anything too elaborate. With a bit of bashing I was able to come up with this solution; a close combat weapon in one hand and the other free to project psychic forces, with a little Dark Mech... assistance. I call them Augmented/Enhanced Electro-kinetics; latent psykers that have been 'overclocked' to focus the talent. The build is a little limited by the pose that each set of arms holds, so a bit of planning is good to find combinations that don't look odd. I even have a solution for when they'll be inevitably possessed, but that's a conversion for another time.

 

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/SubtleDiscord/2017%20WIP%20Photos/Dark_Mechanicus_03.jpg

 

This force will be using Kataphron Servitors for counts-as Rapier Weapon Batteries (Kataphron Laser Destroyer weapon system still WIP) because they're almost too perfect for the role. However, Rapier Batteries and other artillery in a R&H lists have separate crew that require some models. Sooo, I took the bits left over from the Kataphron kit, and I bashed them together with the GSC Neophyte Hybrids to create some suitable Rapier Battery crew.

 

The problem is... where I thought some small bit of scrap code was activated to start me on this path to creating a counts-as Dark Mechanicus army, working with the bits has activated some much deeper imperative to start a proper Mechanicus force. I'm completely happy with this R&H Dark Mechanicus force, and it will continue on its own path. However, I've been unable to resist the urge to expand the project to include another Dark Mechanicus forced based on the proper rules. After dabbling with several kits that had so much wargear that I could only represent a fraction of, in a very limp counts-as fashion, I really had no choice.

 

So, this will be just the beginning; I've already started stockpiling my resources, and the cogs are in motion for much more. Many pieces are already in place to start projects ranging from small bashes and builds to some really monstrous creations. With my expanded plans, I'm sooooo looking forward to this. Spring can't get here fast enough. It's gonna' be awesome.

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Some nice conversions there.

MajorNese, 13 barrels of Martian Hell?

Subtle Discord, stunning!

A.T. where are the multi barrel guns on your Kastelans from?

I’ll throw in my Dwarf Mechanicus from last year, I have since started painting them but have no pictures of that yet.

Pictures all in spoiler tags as I don’t know how to resize them.

The entire army

gallery_29932_11602_330507.jpg

Tec-priests

gallery_29932_11602_155557.jpg

gallery_29932_11602_244930.jpg

Kastelans

gallery_29932_11602_217452.jpg

gallery_29932_11602_148085.jpg

Skitarii, Vangard and Renagers

gallery_29932_11602_222040.jpg

gallery_29932_11602_317116.jpg

Destroyers and Breachers

gallery_29932_11602_228342.jpg

gallery_29932_11602_194537.jpg

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http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/SubtleDiscord/2017%20WIP%20Photos/Dark_Mechanicus_03.jpg

 

This force will be using Kataphron Servitors for counts-as Rapier Weapon Batteries (Kataphron Laser Destroyer weapon system still WIP) because they're almost too perfect for the role. However, Rapier Batteries and other artillery in a R&H lists have separate crew that require some models. Sooo, I took the bits left over from the Kataphron kit, and I bashed them together with the GSC Neophyte Hybrids to create some suitable Rapier Battery crew.

 

The problem is... where I thought some small bit of scrap code was activated to start me on this path to creating a counts-as Dark Mechanicus army, working with the bits has activated some much deeper imperative to start a proper Mechanicus force. I'm completely happy with this R&H Dark Mechanicus force, and it will continue on its own path. However, I've been unable to resist the urge to expand the project to include another Dark Mechanicus forced based on the proper rules. After dabbling with several kits that had so much wargear that I could only represent a fraction of, in a very limp counts-as fashion, I really had no choice.

 

So, this will be just the beginning; I've already started stockpiling my resources, and the cogs are in motion for much more. Many pieces are already in place to start projects ranging from small bashes and builds to some really monstrous creations. With my expanded plans, I'm sooooo looking forward to this. Spring can't get here fast enough. It's gonna' be awesome.

 

I will absolutely be stealing the idea for your rapier crew to use as servitors. They look great! 

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I've been working a bit with the Electropriest/Flagellant conversion. I think I'd like to do more, but with a box of Skitarii, some Imperial Guard (Catachans) or Empire-y state troops (or the hunters) to give them a slightly more varied feel still. I like what I've done so far though, even if they look more than a bit slapdash. They're fun to convert, and have me in all sorts of mental contortions where Inq28 might go...

 

As said, currently it's only Flagellants and Electropriests as the basis.

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/poZkFzll.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lz6GGTvl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cm7ajaal.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/xp2Wtjrl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Z9DLYYVl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/j5rBbdzl.jpg

 
NB: sort-of a cross post, ish, from the Genoguards plog.
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  • 4 weeks later...

Anvil Industry and 40k are like chocolate and peanut butter. wub.gif

Those are amazing bits. I especially like the dude on the right (top pic) with all the bionic servo arms and stuff. I'd love to see these with a coat of paint! yes.gif

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here's a few of my conversions and 3rd party models.

Starting off with a small conversion, I basically gave this guy a Machinator Array for Horus Heresy 30k, which has a flamer and an inferno pistol on it. Clipped a couple of the clamps off and attached some flamer and inferno pistol bits. Stole the idea from winters seo.

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_185912855_zps4uu1wwsa.jpg

Next is my Admech Coteaz conversion. Headswap, and switched the hammer for a cog axe from one of those metal 3rd or 4th edition techpriest engineseers.

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190036487_HDR_zps5nxinbla.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190030335_HDR_zpssds5qq1n.jpg

I honestly have no idea what I did this headswap for, I just really liked this model from Anvil Industries and wanted to put a Ranger head on it. I'll use it for something eventually.

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190237533_zpsq1tiyxqa.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190151368_HDR_zpsb68ciggy.jpg

Not a conversion, but I love this 3rd party model from wargameexclusive. I use her for my Archmagos Reductor, armed with Cyber Familiar, Machinator Array, Abeyant, and a Master-Crafted Photon Thruster. I did add some things to the base for her weaponry and to spice up the model a bit.

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190529686_HDR_zpssoikkzrr.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190346976_HDR_zps1bxtfovv.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190437560_HDR_zpsmmbbhxci.jpg

Here's a conversion of a metal techpriest, the sword originally had a full blade, but it broke and I thought it looked kinda cool. Some kind of cool backstory about a broken sword that still works? Why not? I often run him as an Admech Inquisitor.

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190701613_HDR_zpskqeqek4c.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190629182_HDR_zpsnkmxyjr9.jpg

These guys are Secutarii Peltasts are conversions, mainly Anvil Industry parts, I think they're called Gothic Void Troopers? Anvil has such cool stuff.

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190742279_HDR_zpsh4v96kct.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190833777_HDR_zpscjf2uflx.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190809772_HDR_zps6mtovbcz.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190748942_HDR_zpsqajvkjze.jpg

These two Alphas aren't conversions, love these models from wargame exclusive though. I use them as my Alphas for War Convocation.

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190908354_HDR_zpsm8wlxpte.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_190933115_HDR_zpsmklnmbhl.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_191040990_HDR_zpsvzuelkdp.jpg

Tramp stamp! biggrin.png

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_191055048_HDR_zps1pehj5md.jpg

Here's what I'm working on next, a Vanguard Alpha with Power Sword and Archmagos Cawl's new toy the Quantum Annihilator-

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_191119925_zpswdvy6ki2.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah238/ultimentra1/Admech%20Conversions/IMG_20170305_191133349_zps1sd3lve0.jpg

I can't wait to see if Forgeworld comes out with a kit for the Secutarii Axiarch. I really hope the Axiarch makes in to Cyraxus too, always wanted a cool Skitarii HQ.

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