Necron Royal Court Conversions

So here is the beginning  of the conversions and I have some Work in Progress photos of them and then a couple of shots of them completed.  I will post another set of photos as they progress through painting and then when they are done I will do a video of the models so you can see the full color change paint effects.

 Here are the figures in the initial stages - as you can see you have essentially two choices for the backs of the figures from each set - the Cryptech figure choices come from the Deathmarks as they have a hood-like armor plate partially covering their head - and the Deathmark head works fine as a Cryptech head - as it is essentially a Lychguard head with one eye instead of two.  I figured that I could cobble together some bits to make the new heads look more cryptech like.  The Necron Lord figures come from the Lychguard box set and I've used some of the back plates from both the Lychguard and Triarch Praetorian figures to build up some nice and different bodies to become the Necron Lords.  Also, I've used bits from the Triarch Praetorian box to make some different bodies for the Cryptechs.

 Above we have a close up of a Cryptech figure in progress - note that the Cryptech is kind of hunched over at the waist and he has an unusually large chin - I think he has more chins than two Chinese phone books - ok, enough Austin Powers humor.

 Above we have in the center another Cryptech conversion in the making - I've used the Triarch Praetorian back on the Immortal torso - a bit of a conversion - but it gives you a nice spinal column looking hood.  Next to him and below you have a Necron Lord conversion in process.  I've added two of the Warscythe blades to the sides of his head and used one of the Triarch Praetorian heads to make a fearsome looking head-dress on a standard Triarch Praetorian torso and Immortal legs.  (note the Immortal/Deathmark legs do  not have the large hip/thigh armor plates like the Lychguard/Triarch Praetorian models).

 Here we have the close up of the Necron Lord conversions in process - note the difference between the legs of the conversion in the center from those of the model at right above.  The huge thigh guards make a noticeable difference from the legs of the Immortal.  At right we have the Triarch Praetorian torso and legs with a Lychguard spinal column and head instead of the standard models.  These simple changes make them distinct enough to become Lords.

 Another view of the workbench and the various parts and models in process of being completed.  Thes two box sets give you loads of bits for conversion purposes and they will make a very nice Royal Court for about $66 for the full ten model compliment.  Please note that I've also used some staves from another box of Lychguard which have the shields and swords options instead of the Triarch Rods of the Covenant.  So, to get the full compliment you will need some extra parts - but then again if you have build any of the Elite choices in the new codex, you should have a few extra bits hanging around to work with on these types of conversions.

 Above we have a close up of three of the Necron Lord conversions in process.  There are three Triarch Praetorian/Lychguard legs used, two Triarch torsos, one Lychguard torso, and all Lychguard heads, with Lychguard spines - which will be further modified.

 Here are the models from the back in partial conversion state - you can see the various modifications of the figures.  The two on the left are the Cryptech conversions - note that they have been bent over at the waist as far as the model will permit to give them the hunched over pose.  The Necron Lord conversions are all upright and use various bits to modify the back of the figure to make them distinct from a standard Triarch Praetorian or Lychguard model.  Use your own creativity to modify the backs of your figures to make them distinct from standard models and you should have not problems using them in games.

 Okay, time for some bits removal and conversions.  Above you can see the Cryptech conversion in process - I've removed the hilt from a sword and affixed it to the chin of the Deathmark model giving the new Cryptech a large chin protrusion - which makes him distinct and gives him an appearance similar to the GW Cryptech in Fine Cast.  I think it also gives him a bit of a stylized chin not uncommon from those of the Pharaohs of Egypt.  This is a simple conversion and theft of a bit from a model which can be done by anyone - feel free to see how it looks on your models.

 Another conversion of a Deatchmark head to create a distinct Cryptech looking head.  Here I've stolen the top of a spinal column/tail device and trimmed it up to add on a distinctive looking large chin device - not too bad and another easy conversion to make a model distinct.

 Here is the standard Deathmark sniper rifle as clipped from the spue to be used to create a Deathmark sniper model.  However, that is not how we are going to use it in this conversion - it is going to become a Cryptech rod of destruction - one of the various types you can use in the special Cryptech models - and since there are various distinct types of Cryptech - it is only fitting that they have distinct rods/staves.

 Here we see the full effect on the nearly complete Cryptech model.  The sniper barrel has been removed from the gun and drilled and pinned into place on the standard Rod of the Covenant/Warscythe hilt to make a distinct looking rod for our Cryptech.  Makes him look a bit meanacing, we will have to see how the rest of my gaming group reacts to this figure when he is fully painted and ready to hit the tabletop!

 Here are the four new Necron Lord conversions now that they are complete - sorry I didn't take more photos of them in process, but I put the camera down and just went to work last night.  On the far left we have the Lord with the special conversion head-dress and a special stave which is a custom Warscythe with a Rod of the Covenant on the other end - in game terms it is just another Warscythe, but in some of our "build a character" types of campaigns it will be something distinct and fun.  The model to the left of center in the back has a standard Warscythe with a converted bit on the weapon to make him distinct from the model at far right.  Both of these models also have large Resurrection Orbs on the top of the spinal column.  The model at right in front also wields a custom double bladed Warscythe built upon a Rod of the Covenant with two blades from the standard Warscythe.  He also has a decorative finial on his spinal column which comes from the top of a Rod of the Covenant trimmed down, filed and fitted to the top of the spine.  Makes him distinct with a bit of a Samurai banner thing going on.  We will see how he looks on the tabletop when he is all painted up and terrorizing the enemy troops!

Above we have the five Cryptech models - the standard GW Cryptech in Fine Cast is center and you can see that with the other models mixed in they all look sufficiently like a Cryptech to make them a fine Royal Court for my Necron army - all that remains is to get them painted up and based to take the field against my opponents.  I hope that those of you who are wondering what to do to create a Royal Court will find some inspirations here and you will take your own creative license from these models to create your distinct Royal Court - as the only way the rest of the Royal Court is going to come out will be Fine Cast - this is a very cost effective and nice method of making your own and it is all tournament legal (if that is your thing!).  You may notice that there are two models missing - and the explanation is that they were already converted, assembled, primed and painted and featured in the color photos of my Necron army in the prior posts - I needed them ASAP for a game to add to my standard squads and give them a bit of a punch since running standard warriors under the new codex requires a few modifications of your standard old-codex army to make them a bit more resilient.  I hope you all enjoyed this mini tutorial on conversions.  It's my first - so enjoy.

Necrons Resurgent - some of the new Necron models

So, my first tournament ready army was a Necron army which I built nearly 12 years ago after the first codex had been released.  It wasn't my first choice of army as I had started with Space Marines and had begun painting them in 1987 while in college.  I began the Necron army when friends of mine encouraged me to paint up an army to go to tournaments with them.  I was reluctant and told them I could not finish my Space Marine army in time for the next tournament.  They suggested that I build a different army - they told me what they thought I could get done, and suggested Necrons as they were relatively new, and they had a simple paint scheme.  I agreed and figured out a paint scheme - so I started them.  With the release of the new codex, I have updated my army with some of the new figures and painted them in a similar style.  My tournament army has been retired for years now, but I brought them out for special occasions to show them off, but they lacked flavor.  Winning wasn't everything, playability and character was missing.  So the new codex is both welcome to some degree and distressing in another degree. However, the painting of the new figures has been enjoyable as well as finishing a cast-away Monolith rescued from the scrap heap and donated to my cause.  It was missing all of the clear green parts except for the portal.  I finished it up and made some necessary repairs, sanded, puttied and converted it into the form it currently takes.  It looks pretty good.  So, enjoy the photos:

 Above is one of the original figures I painted for the tournament army after I converted him.  He is a Destroyer Lord and I converted him to have a Warscythe which was made to look like Darth Maul's light sabre - and it looks quite good.  It is difficult to photograph the figures because of the chameleon chrome color changing paint.  He turns about 5 colors as you rotate him along with the decals which stand out in gold.  The model, while cool, has been one of the less effective in my army - mainly due to horrible die rolls.

 Here is a good look at the new Lychguard models which have also been painted in the chameleon chrome paint like the rest of the army.  There are several types of paint used on the army, all of them are slightly different in color combinations to make different color changes.  You have to have an airbrush to apply these paints and make them look good.  Patience and a bit of luck helps too!

 I especially like this photograph of this model which I have converted into a Necron Lord to lead my troop choices from the Royal Court.  It is essentially a Triarch Praetorian converted with parts to make the weapon into a special Warscythe and I've added some bling to him as well as the rest of the army.  He changes colors from a light green, to gold, to red as you rotate him with blue orbs on his array on his back, and neon green highlights on his armor and weapon.  Makes him fun to use as people bob up and down to enhance the color change effects.

 Here is another example of a Necron Lord conversion from a Triarch Praetorian model  - I've again converted a special weapon for him, given him a Ressurection Orb on a stick (or as it has been called his "Death Rattle").  Again, he changes colors from a gold, to green, to blue, to purple with neon green highlights which really stand out on his weapon and on his body.  He has also been fun to run - he also has some bling on him which you can barely see in the photo right above his head.  The Bling is Swarovski crystals which are 3mm size crystals with flat backs which were added to the figures to separate squads and add a bit more sparkle to them.  They stand out quite well on the table top.

 Here is the new Necron Overlord with two of the Lychguard.  I've equipped him with a Resurrection Orb and a Warscythe.  He is painted in a deep purple, blue, orange, gold chameleon chrome paint with highlights which are green and he has gold trim on his head dress and his cloak.  He is quite striking when viewed as he changes colors.

Again, here are some of the old Necrons - the original Warriors painted in their standard gold-green chameleon paint with purple trim and jewels.  The lord is a conversion as well - I've added a Necron Destroyer head to the body of the original lead Necron Lord, together with one of the Destroyer spinal columns.  He carries a Staff of Light and has silver highlights with purple detailing on his head dress and collar.  The unit he leads has been one of my most successful - they have never lost an assault (admittedly under the old rules!), and have done exceptionally well in shooting over their tournament career.  I doubt they will be so successful under the new rules as they have lost quite a bit of their former punch.  Still, they are fun and enjoyable to play!

Here is the rescued Monolith complete with Bling and all lit up for you to enjoy.  The Monolith sits upon a CD which has become the base of the model.  It hovers just over the head of the models of the warriors it transports.  The Monolith is lit up with a new crystal in the center and is also in color changing paint.  The green rods you see were from my bits box from the Heavy Destroyers who did not need all four of them for their weapons.  There is bling on each corner and the Necron emerging from the portal is a Destroyer body which has been cut sideways with a saw and fit into place after it was painted.  The body came from a leftover body from one of the Destroyer Lords for my army.

I hope you enjoy the photos and have a Happy New Year!