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Tyranid Gargoyles on the Cheap

Posted by Ranillon on 20. August 2009 18:16

As I mentioned before one of the appeals of Gen Con is the huge dealers' room -- and the great deals you often can get there. One place was selling the plastic miniatures of the now defunct Mongoose Starship Troopers game for a song. This included the bug "Hoppers" squad which are essentially the same idea as Tyranid Gargoyles. Seeing this gave me an idea...

The result you see in the pictures above is what you get when you mix Tyranid gaunts with a few choice bits from the "Hopper" box sets. Even the base is from the latter, although it matches exactly those that Games Workshop uses. It makes for a more insectoid sort of flyer than the bat winged GW versions, but either fits the basic Tyranid theme. Best of all, for the cost of around $60 (and a fair bit of work) you get 15 complete gargoyles. The price for a similar amount of metal gargoyles from GW would be $120. 50% off is a pretty good deal if you ask me.

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Comments: 7

Filed Under: Painting

Tags:

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Comments (7) -

shadowvast said,

These look GOOD!! now make like 100 of 'em!!!!! We can use them in our bug hunt!!

Ranillon said,

Sorry, but even I don't like Tyranids that much. Even at the $5 a pop cost of the Trooper Bug sets at Gen Con that would still be $165 just for that (you get 3 "Hoppers" per box)! Getting enough Gaunt bits would be just as much.

So, I think 15 should do pretty well.

AbusePuppy said,

Another good option is building them out of the Gaunt boxes. The Hormagaunt "leaping" bodies can easily be fitted with Fleshborers, and the small scything talons, fitted into the first arm slot, make good wing struts to which you can attach a "membrane" consisting of treated-and-painted paper or whatever other wing material you want. Re-jointing the legs a bit also helps to make it look more like it's in flight.

Obviously this method involves a bit of work, but it ends up looking pretty good and being no more expensive than regular our other troops (although it does mandate making a certain number of Gaunts, assuming you want to make use of the other half of the bodies in the box.)

shadowvast said,

Excellent idea puppy!!! *wanders off with mental gears grinding*....

Ranillon said,

That's sounds like a pretty good idea, Puppy. My only worry would be the durability of the wings -- just how well would they last over time?