Kitbash Space Bugs and things

[carnictis]

Hello all. I got into Tyranids years ago, during 3rd-4th Edition, but eventually dropped out. Now I'm looking for a new hobby, and thought I might as well use up all these kits I hoarded back then. And by "use up" I mean very very slowly build something once in a while and probably not ever paint it...
(also, goodness what even happened to things since then?!)

First up, a Hive Tyrant. Made out of an old Carnifex conversion that went nowhere.



The big guns each got a little scope/eyeball thingy, partly to cover the gap for the "ammo belt", partly because the Tyrant can't aim straight, but mostly because it's a cool alien feature.


And to go with the Tyrant:


A trio of Tyrant Guards, made out of a bit of everything. Warrior bodies, Hormagaunt heads, Genestealer 'hands', and big beefy shoulderpads made out of Carnifex heads. I have a LOT of those lying around.


Built these three before the Tyrant, and used the old "Alien Queen" Tyrant (which I really want to finish one day) for an idea of what size the Guards needed to be.

Of course, the Carnifex-Tyrant ended up being WAY bigger. Oh well. I suppose the Tyrant could just grab the Guards and use them as meatshields if needed.

On the flip side, he's free to aim those cannons of his without bowling over anyone.


Thanks for looking!

[carnictis]

Minor update for the Tyrant, he's got shoulder armor now. Helps aesthetically tie him to his Guards, I think.

That is 10 Carnifex heads used amongst 4 models. And I still have two full sets of the damn things!


And the next build: "Old One Eye"-type Carnifex (extra nasty claws based on Bahz' conversion):


Carnifexes are weird to pose. The base model's in an odd hunch, and the arms tend to look like they're wildly flailing about. I figured the Scything Talons would generally be kept tucked away, unfurling just as an assist; it's the Crushing Claws that are the primary weapon-limbs.


Like the original model, I wanted a big gnarly wound on the back/shoulder:


Played around with the idea that the Fex also lost an arm and was slowly regrowing it:

Though it seems rather too small, even when comparing it to fiddler crabs.



Finally, trying out an idea for an objective:

Despite having been blown apart, it turns out this Carnifex is only mostly dead...

[Overread]

Tyranid guns have long had eyes on the side of them - I love the idea of an eye on a stalk over the top moving around!

[carnictis]

Mini-nids! Made these years ago, and I'm surprised they haven't gotten lost since then. Anyways, the idea here was that these were "background" bugs, the kinds of non-aggressive little critters you'd see scurrying all over a hive doing some menial task or other. The idea ALSO was to find use for the odd half-used leftover bits.

[blackrainbow]

I love your tyrant guards, those are friggin' great. I'm a huge fan of conversion and using bits like this, keep'em coming and post the pics!

[abrahamlleida]

Those look cool!
nice job!

[crstuart]

These are freaking awesome! Your tyrant might have given me an idea for twin linked devourers instead of buying up harpy guns.

[mattblowers]

With all the shoulder pads it looks like you are making a Tyranid Blood Bowl team!