(This post end’s WHITE MAN’S MINIS’ four-part Tyranid article)
Magnets
Most of the Carnifex's components have been magnetized to allow for swapping
The Carnifex is a brilliant model with a huge range of options in the kit. If you’re the kind of 40k player who loves to mess around with different army lists, making a magnetized Carnifex might be a good idea. After all, nobody likes playing proxy models and buying multiple Carnifexes gets expensive. Simply buy rare earth magnets in several sizes. I used 1/8″ dia. x 1/32″ thick for smaller bitz and 1/4″ dia. x 1/32″ thick for the arms (bought online from kjmagnetics.com). To attach magnets a hole was drilled with a pin vise and enlarged with a hobby knife. Then the magnet was glued in place and, where it was visible, it was smoothed over with greenstuff. Using this method the head, carapace, arms, back, and tail were magnetized.
Even with a magnetized Carnifex converted parts are possible. You could build an integrated bioweapon into a magnetic carapace plate, for example. I had an extra head and the leftover tentacles from a Spore Mine, so I made a head with tendrils. Perhaps this could count as an Acid Maw or, if the tendrils sting like a jellyfish, it could count as being Tusked.
Magnetics can definitely be worth their time and, with large plastic models, aren’t at all intimidating. May be worth a look!
Inspiration
Some of the things you’ll see on my models – the clawed feet on the Devilfex, the tongue on the Sniperfex, the long legs on the leaping Warriors – were inspired by other hobbyists (particular shout out to the great members of the Tyranid forum Warpshadow!). Whenever I’m browsing Warhammer models online I save particularly inspirational pictures to a folder. Then they’re always handy when I want to refer back to that one cool idea I saw a month ago, or if I’m working on a conversion and want to browse for inspiration. Sometimes the best ideas come from art as well as models. Here’s some excellent ideas based on the old Epic/Armorcast bio-titans, for those of you extremely old Tyranid fans who may recognize them. Times change, and some people feel that the old slugs just don’t cut it any more.
Mike Fleming (Warpshadow member Snapdragon) envisioned an Exocrine-like Tyranid with a weapon so highly developed that it’s supported by its own legs and is still quite an individual creature.
Warren Beattie (Warpshadow member Vermis) updated the ancient Haruspex, a close-combat monster, to resemble a scorpion. The pincers and Spine Banks of the original are present, but the overall design is much sleeker and more ferocious. It’s easy to envision this beast tearing into a Leman Russ battle tank!
Games Workshop sometimes publishes concept artwork for their models. This art is a great way to see how ideas evolve and contains tons of ideas which – while not used on official models – can be included in your own conversions. Here’s some examples of Broodlord head concepts which you might want to borrow from. This is less than a third of the designs they considered, so there’s tons of inspiration available for those willing to look. Check out the GW website and see if you can find any artwork for your army of choice.
Other inspiration could come from your favorite animals or movie monsters. How about a “Nidzilla” army where every monstrous creature is designed after a Godzilla monster? Even more outrageous, I once did an extremely quick Photoshop to get an idea of what my favorite animal – the Giant Anteater – would look like if it were assimilated by the Tyranids. Just fool around and have fun with whatever you do.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article inspired you either to get back to work on your Tyranids or – if by some crazy quirk of nature you don’t play Tyranids – to start up an army of your own. I’m in the process of brainstorming a Tyranid-versus-Catachan ambush diorama, designing a Genestealer Cult for Necromunda, making a full set of Tyranid terrain and fighting the urge to pick up a Tyranid fleet for Battlefleet Gothic – not to mention an Epic force!
If you haven’t already, at least pick up a Carnifex. Solely for display purposes, of course. Maybe a few minor conversions. After you’ve built it you can decide where you want to go from there…