This month, staffer Adam has some more conversion ideas to add to their ever-increasing army project, using Games Workshop™ Veteran Guardsmen™
This time I decided to work on some more specialised troops, and hit upon the idea to create a sapper engineer team, decked out with as many destructive tools as was possible! The entire team was first given field caps to set them apart from any regular infantry. Unfortunately, the Veteran Guardsmen™ neck joint is substantially thinner than the new Cadian™ bodies, so some modification of the joint was necessary before the heads would fit snugly.
The Bangalore, wire cutters and fatigue arms were perfect for this running pose, bringing up some barrier breaching equipment, and the addition of a bergen backpack with entrenching tools completed the story of this miniature nicely - He has everything he needs to destroy any barbed wire line!
This sapper has got some dynamite sticks in a bundle (and plenty more in his backpack!), that can be placed at the foot of any troublesome artillery emplacement, thrown into the window of an irksome building, or strapped to the hull of an abandoned vehicle, to make sure it's not going to be useful as anything beyond scrap iron! His flare gun is primed and ready to call in airborne reinforcements, a timely supply drop, or to illuminate no-mans-land for the rest of his team.
My next sapper has little time for the subtle care needed to prime a satchel charge, or deploy a Bangalore torpedo. He prefers the immediate and effective option of a 40mm grenade, launched from the barrel of his trusty M79!
When all else fails, there's always an ordinance barrage to crack an unbreachable bunker complex. This Wireless Radio operator shouts over the cacophony of the battlefield to call in a pinpoint strike, and obliterate any hardened defensive structure that the other engineers can't break. I used the male PMC/Militia heavy weapons arms for the binoculars/range finder and radio handset.
The second squad I wanted to build was an elite infantry squad that could stand-in for a Tempestus Scions™ team. For the elite look I wanted, I decided early on that they would need some ornate shoulder pads, selecting the Eagle and Renaissance pauldrons for the purpose. Add to that the Cavalry helmets, which include a lot of characterful faces and extra ornate detailing, which helps elevate these veterans above the rank-and-file troops.
The squad's commanding officer was given a Mega-Powered Punch Fist from the Officer Upgrade Sprue, an Ion pistol and the fanciest hat from the Cavalry Helmets - The last being of critical importance for any self-respecting officer!
The squad's gunner is hefting the Heavy Phase Repeater into battle, with our fatigue arms once again fitting perfectly on the veteran's torso. He's also sporting the most impressive facial hair of the group. I really like the stern, no-nonsense demeanour that this combination lends to the figure. Definitely not someone to mess with!
The other veterans are equipped with Phase Lance Specialist Weapons, power packs, and complimentary specialist weapon arms. I'm very thankful that the Veteran Guardsmen don't come with backpacks pre-attached to their torsos, as it makes this kind of arm/weapon swap really easy!
That's all for this week! What do you think of the conversions shown here, and are there any other kits you think would be suitable for showcasing?
What would you use to upgrade your rank-and-file to elite officer status?
(Plastic parts shown are made by Games Workshop®️ and are used for example purposes only, this post is not associated with or endorsed by GW in any way)