WH40K - This always happens...

... you spend a while converting or scratchbuilding something that does not exist in the production range of the game you are playing. Three weeks later, they make that kit. This always happens to people I know who put a lot more effort into their models than I do - particularly with realistic military scale models.

I was inspired by cheap pieces of hardware to use this plasterboard (drywall) screw as a 'drilly bit' on my Deff Dread and a conversion of Ghazghkhull Thraka. Sure enough, the new GW Killa Kan kits have drilly bits!

Actually these kits, and the new plastic Deff Dread, look really good - and whichever way you build them, you would have plenty of interesting bits left over for your conversions. Now I am tempted to buy them!

WH40K - Minor conversion of Ghazghkull Thraka part 2

I have added the 'drilly bit' on top of some cog shaped 'gubbins'. I also glued some old earphone cable to bits of paperclip (for strength) and placed pieces of styrene tube on the wires. These make 'power cables' to drive the drill.

On to his gun arm: I had the idea of mounting the claws that come with the original model on the fist shape. I did quickly clip a notch into the base of the claws so they would fit better. I also used the single claw from the plastic Nobs sprue, trimmed to fit. I wasn't happy that the gun barrels were large enough, and even broke them off at one point. But I have added some more styrene tubing over the original barrels to bulk them up and I think that improves the look. The barrels are in fact slightly wonky, but I don't think it will show once everything is painted. His waist has been extended by a plastic cog, and the cables from the drill have been passed through that piece and wrapped around. I haven't modified the legs at all, except to clip off the mounting peg.

I am still considering putting some sort of claws on his feet, perhaps cut from the end of a Trukk boarding plank. Also, I want to put something on his upperback/shoulders - perhaps some missiles or a sensor mount. Nothing large, but enough to use up some of the space there.

WH40K - Minor conversion of Ghazghkull Thraka

Ghazghkull Thraka is a character in Warhammer 40,000, a famous and brutal warlord for the Orks. The model is quite impressive - larger than any other ork figure, except for Deff Dreads and vehicles. He has over-the-top weapons and armour, as is appropriate for an Ork of his stature. Unfortunately, his weapon/arms are posed in an ungainly position, extended at his sides and pointing downwards. Fortunately the figure comes in pieces so he is not too difficult to rearrange.


I will be making some minor conversions to the figure to make a Mega-armoured Big Mek. I have enjoyed converting my ork figures and vehicles and think there is a heavy Mek influence in my force. On the table top he will still be played as Thraka, but with a name like OverDriver, or Da Big Spanna. It may be a while before I find a cool enough sounding name for him...




In this case, I clipped some of the power cables back a little, and I drilled and pinned at the joints so that the arms would stay on. I used the head from the plastic Warboss in the Black Reach boxed set, which is actually even bigger than Thraka's head. I also glued one of the hub pieces (actually two pieces) from an Ork bike over Thraka's jaw piece. It's now outrageously 'gobby'.


He also has a plastic cog glued to his chest as a sort of Mekboss medallion. I have since snapped that off - I want to make it more of a trophy on a chain (very '70s).

Since taking the photos, I have added a backpack fuel tank (from the Burnas and Lootas) trimmed to fit over his powerclaw. This gives me a flat surface to attach another 'screw' piece like the one on the Deff Dread. I will include some 'gears' and other bits to make it look more like machinery that is powered and driven by some sort of greasy engine. Orks are great advocates of the 'Dieselpunk' aesthetic.

I also added some plastic tubing pieces to his guns. I think the guns are a little underscaled so I might continue to add more ammunition, sight bits and gubbins to bulk them up.

I haven't decided whether to re-pose his legs. They are a solid unit, and it would be tricky but not impossible to neatly cut one off and place it at a different angle, but I don't think it would change the pose of the model much. I will add a 'belt' of plastic parts to give him a couple of millimetres extra height. Then I will decide what sort of base to put him on. Maybe something from Back2bas-ix.

Thraka as he appears for sale on the GW website.

WH40K - Idea for Ork Warboss Battlewagon

I have stalled in building and painting my Ork Battlewagons, for a couple of reasons. One is that I decided to paint the interior before completing construction, so there aren't any unpainted areas visible when the model is finished. That is enough of a reason to make the cars 'open topped' as per the game rules - so I can stop building them, paint them up and get them on the tabletop already.
So, it occurred to me that I should make a flashy Battlewagon for my Warboss - with lots of 'bling'. (Trophies, spikes, chains, enemy heads, etc). I will build this one with an open cabin, so that the Warboss miniature can stand there. I will probably included one or two of his favourite guns, and a driver figure from the Trukk model to do most of the actual driving.

WH40K - Plastic Warboss - minor additions

Some further work on the Black Reach Warboss. I added a scope from one of the Ork plastic sets - could have been the Boyz box set - I am losing track of which bits came from where! Also, I replaced the power cables with a pair cut from old headphone wires, and plugged into the grill part of an Ork Slugga.

WH40K - found a body for an Ork Stompa

I have been collecting bitz like a true Mekboss, just in case one day I have a project that requires some special part I have been saving. Case in point: I have plenty of weapons and bits that would suit an Ork Stompa - but haven't seen anything to make into the body that is more inspiring than a flowerpot. Until now that is.








I found this in Toyworld, for about $40 (Australian dollars). The body is roughly cubical, black and metal details painted on yellow plastic, and the head, arms and tracks pop out. The tracks I will probably keep, the rest of the stuff will have to make room for guns, armour and gubbinz. When? I don't know... but it's in the bitz pile now, ready for the Next Great Project.


Incidentally, while searching for pics of the WALL-E toy on the web I found this. If it isn't a battlewagon, I'm a Squig.

WH40K - Da Boss, Hisself

Meet Handy McGrab, also known as Warboss Grabba. This model is Grabba Mk II. The original is below:



The original Grabba - winner of a conversion contest at the Canberra branch of GW in 2000. First prize - The coveted Golden Squig (picture soon).