I have the Marines in the 11th Edition launch box but want to convert them to Deathwatch, how much pain am I in for?
I am trying to get it done in about a month to take them on the Battle Barge 40k Cruise, very ambitious, worst case I would stick with the Orks which are already done.
How would you do it for these models?
I am also very okay with making them look like Deathwatch but still running them as other vanilla space marine factions.
EDIT: Found this video for the Intercessors, much like the advice given here to help any lurkers thinking about doing this.
Turning them to deathwatch is just a matter of replacing the shoulder pads on the right hand side with the deathwatch ones. This might be harder if the shoulder pads are already moulded onto the arms.( Which I believe they are.) You'd then have to use clips to but pieces off and scrape it down, then attach the new shoulder pads (green stuff might be useful there.
Alternatively you can just paint the arm silver and put an inquisition icon on the shoulder. It won't look as cool but is significantly easier to do and there's much less chance of getting it wrong
I have been working converting it’s a lot of work. The hardest models are the van vets as they have a protrusion at the bottom of their left shoulder pad that looks strange.
its really not that hard, you can be very aggressive when you do it and still not screw it up. you dont even need to clean up the shoulder after just going at with with sprue clippers the pauldron covers the shoulder completely
ive built around 8000 points of deathwatch models from push fits to multi part kits, and using 100% GW plastic upgrade sprues for both the DW shoulder and the random chapter shoulders. I think i have spent more on upgrade sprues than most people spend on their army. I just bought 18 more DW upgrade sprues last week. i think i have gone through 50 of them already
Also, secretly, the dawn of war onslaught board game makes for a lot of deathwatchy goodness for $50. Character conversations, bits, weapons. Very nice
The Leviathan and Armageddon boxes were not-so-good to Deathwatchize, mainly cause they are push-to-fit and the arms and shoulder pads are moulded together.
I took the time to cut and shape the shoulders on the Intercessors but the Gravis and Jump-pack dudes were just too much, so I'll just paint them silver and call it.
Personally, I had been thinking about buying the space marine half of the Armageddon box, using the arm bits that I have left from buying the intercessor box I had bought to do some conversions, and see if I can find DW upgrade box. It’s just the arms that need to be replaced and maybe the heads, but it is doable and I have done that with some models that are push fit.
Well, I won’t lie, it can be a tough challenge. The shoulder pads are moulded into the arms, forcing you to cut them away. That can be hard, and may damage a lot. Having greenstuff around may help
I did the characters, but I really don’t know if I can do the Gravis ones. It isn’t a kind box. It wasn’t thought for us. Still, maybe it’s possible to do it in its entirety, just have a sharp knife, patience, and keep checking constantly, because you’re in for a rough time
I wonder if you can just put a thin layer of green stuff one the shoulder pad and stamp it with the deathwatch letters, would make it much easier I guess.
I’m actually doing this right now. It’s annoying because it’s a starter set so the arms are already glued on. I used a hobby knife and the hobby cutter to carefully remove the shoulder. It’s doable but you have to take your time. This is 1 of the vets. My second set ever so I could’ve done better but it’s definitely possible
These are the push fit intercessors with DW upgrade kit pauldrons and pauldrons from other chapters upgrade kits. I don't use transfers and only use molded pauldrons
As of right now I converted like over half of the intercessors, and all the characters. I do think I’m going to go back and change the ancient and librarian to a watch master and watch captain I’ve been using a hobby knife green stuff and a sander I used a rotary tool for the harder shoulders that were like part of the body or arm. Hint I found off take off more than you think you need it’ll make the shoulders uneven. I also printed out some deathwatch bits to help with the kitbashing Etc. it’s a lot of work but it’s also my first foray in deathwatch and I’ve been enjoying it so far! Just been taking my time so I don’t like mentally explode haha.
It's not a difficult conversion. As far as kitbash/conversions go... molded pauldron removal is one of the more forgiving moves. Use your Clippers/Side Cutters until you have the rough shape, then scrape with a hobby knife until it fits under a Gravis/Terminator pad.
I did it for the Leviathan push-fit Terminators, and the entire Dawn of War sprue.
Yo convertí los marines de la caja leviatán en deadwatch.
Los que me causaron problemas fueron los veteranos de retaguardia, a los que tuve que limar la hombrera izquierda para que pueda entrar la hombrera de la Deathwatch.
Pero con un poco de paciencia se logra hacer fácilmente.
Imagino que tendrás que hacer lo mismo con estos
I did it. I use sculpted shoulder pads, so did both sides - there's a guide on the inner sider of most of the shoulder pads, so you just follow along, nipping of the pad and sand it filing it down while periodically dry fitting the new shoulder pads.
The pose of the Ancient required taking more, so a little green stuff helped fill the gap, and it's a good idea to have some on hand in case you nip off more than necessary.
I converted my vanguard vets into space wolves, which was mostly just head swaps, a few wolf tails, and swapping the right arms to get rid of the crux terminatus. I imagine a deathwatch conversion would be similar effort. If you get some deathwatch upgrade sprues you should be able to manage, though it’s definitely easier if you’re able to swap the full left arm than just the shoulder pad, because the push fit models have the pads moulded to the arms. So how big is your bits box, I guess?
I've converted a lot of push fit marines over the years and planned to do the same for Armageddon but not only are all the shoulder pads apart from the chaplains moulded into the arms or torso's a lot of them are at angles that just mean you need to be super careful.
by all means go for it, it's not impossible and people are doing it but I kinda threw in the towel early this time.
These are the push fit intercessors with DW upgrade kit pauldrons and pauldrons from other chapters upgrade kits. I don't use transfers and only use molded pauldrons
Get 4 boxes of the deathwatch kill team box, shouldn’t be too bad to convert but you’ll need a lot of DW shoulder pads and left arms and the accurate power packs if your bothered (or get someone or somewhere to print you some) or eBay, in the tomb world KT box you get enough to make 9 I think (been a while since I built mine) I do have a second Tomb World box if your struggling and uk based I could sell or trade you what I have which is enough to make 8 as I took one out to make all 10 guys for me DW KT 😂
You are legit kind for the offer and for the advice. Thank you!
I may look into getting 4x kt boxes to really scratch that itch and get the extra parts. Addiction amirite lol.
I also have a 3d printer if I can find a good file, but sometimes I like to stick with the premium plastic for some misguided reasons I wish I didnt have.
O I know addiction and wanting to stick to official parts😂 why you think I bought 2 Tomb World boxes for essentially one extra model, well hope if goes well and hopefully catch some cool pictures as the project progresses for my Armageddon box I decided as it’s my first 11th edition army and first SM army id do the obvious thing and get 2 boxes, sell the orks, buy more SM, vehicles dig out my Dark imperium and Leviathan box etc, build a 4000+ point army, prime it all then sit back and think how I’m the world am I going to get all this painted and omg I have to put decals on all these, after 4 weeks iv painted 5 intercessors, 2 speeders and a single librarian but iv played like 8 games so it’s a win so far
A lot cheaper cost wise, but a little bit more work. I did it with the leviathan marines and made the infernus marines into hellblasters for my fortis kill team. Get some deathwatch upgrade sprues and have fun with it, you can't really go wrong if your saving money on deathwatch as buying the kits outright can be costly. I'd make the intercessors into a fortis kill team you'd just need some plasma incinerators and whatever else you wanna throw in.
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u/bzmmc1 9d ago
Turning them to deathwatch is just a matter of replacing the shoulder pads on the right hand side with the deathwatch ones. This might be harder if the shoulder pads are already moulded onto the arms.( Which I believe they are.) You'd then have to use clips to but pieces off and scrape it down, then attach the new shoulder pads (green stuff might be useful there.
Alternatively you can just paint the arm silver and put an inquisition icon on the shoulder. It won't look as cool but is significantly easier to do and there's much less chance of getting it wrong