"Looking for WW2 German to Sci-fi Conversions" Topic

I have ended up with a whole slew of WW2 German Riflemen in 15mm and and trying to figure out some sort of sci-fi conversion for them.

I am curious if anyone has pics or ideas of what they might have done to convert 15mm WW2 Germans to sci-fi troops. If so might you have pics and/or links.

Thanks,

-Eli

There are several ranges of sci fi figures in 28mm that seem to have strong German influence. If you are comfortable with Green stuff, you could add gas masks and some body armor-you might wind up with something like Urban War Viridian Colonial Marines:
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or Wolf Brigade troops:
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You might also advertise here and see if someone will trade you for some sci fi troops you want.

My .02

Jason

Jason,

Thanks. I am likely going to go with the Green Stuff option. I'm not sure that I can trade away a bunch of aging WW2 minis that are a bit worse for wear.

I am mainly looking for inspirational ideas or stuff that has worked for others. I may shoot for some of the German-inspired ideas used in some of the various Gundam Mangas.

-Eli

Good idea for Gundam. There are plenty of 1/35 model kits of Zeon troops that have clear WWII German influence. And many Zeon Mobile Suit conversions based on German tank armour plating and camouflage.

I have a few of the "Side Story" manga books from back in the late 80's. They have a lot of cool infantry in them with soldiers wearing long coat with armored shoulder plates and built-up chest armor and then sort of sci-fi fritz helmets.

The artist, I believe it was Kondo, really had a knack for making Gundam look gritty and and war torn. Many of his mecha had cargo and camo netting draped off of them and carrying extra kit and weapons. Not the shiny, bividly colored gunam we are used to. Mobile suits look good in ambush pattern camouflage.

-Eli

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Hi Eli

Some 'inspiration' here though most is hackneyed…

please note there are some possibly 'not safe for work' elements on these webpages.

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Figure on the left. Slovak I think, but nicely understated and very much LW/Future German:
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On/off I'm playing with Peter Pig Fallschirmjager with MP44's as I bought far too many several years ago and want to use them principally because of their weapons and helmet – to get away from the classic WW2 German one.

Master Chef sent me some Eureka Sci Fi Germans and I'm looking at conversions to give them a combination of standard German kit such as ponchos worn in conjunction with the body armour plus the occasional combat cap to replace the helmet.

I've considered Peter Pig headswops with ex-MJ Space Troopers from The Scene but want to save these for Soviets or US.

For Volksturm, am going for a more Nazi 'gimp' look. Leather 'hoods' (full face masks, notionally with spikes), basically a basrehead with deatil smoothed off – leather overcoats and Panzerfausts with protrusions on the warhead like a sea mine. I quite fancy the idea of multiple headed Panzerfausts but may be too tricky to convert in 15mm.

Cheers
Mark

ps great link Blacksmith!

Mark

All good stuff,

Perhaps I should clarify. I am not looking to turn my Germans into Wierd War Germans, but into sci-fi troopers for purely sci-fi games.

Mark,

Your conversion ideas sound both cool and a bit spooky, but then again, I like spooky. I had a really cool idea for doing some sci-fi troops using PP German LMG troopers as sci-fi troops carrying heavy hause rifles.

PP has an amazing assortment of LMG gunners carrying their weapons at port but they invariably come mixed with the prone or shoulder-firing combos as well as loaders. But I got to thinking that maybe I could convert all these spare riflemen to something similar.

-Eli

So, I started doing my conversions today. Modifying helmets and adding camo capes and shoulder pads seems to be working fine but I am really at a loss for what to do with the rifles.

I can forgive the wrong hand grip, but am wandering how to convert bolt action rifles into sci-fi weapons. I tried adding a squarish front but this is really fiddly in 15mm with grey stuff putty (the only stuff I have).

-Eli
leadpeople.blogspot.com

I supposed that emu but I thought that still the weird war link was worth enough and had many possibilities for inspiration.

Copper wire is your friend, use it to wrap cut down rifles, provide power from backpacks, etc.

Try getting a load of prints of the gun you want to convert and just go to town on them with pens and stuff until you get a design you like. Then work out how to do it in "the flesh".

Green stuff, wire, plastic rods, all of these things are cheap and effective, just let your imagination go. Metal tomato puree tubes are also very useful for cowling, straps and the like. Gatling cannons are easy enough with a few bits of plastic rod and glue. Go nuts mate, but plan it well first, that would be my tip.

I was thinking about doing a similar projet with some 20mm WW2 Germans, and I think I will approach the rifle conversions by 1) adding a length of wire to the rifle to simulate a grenade launcher or some such thing, and 2) adding a box ammo drum like the SAW has. It won't be perfect, but from tabletop distance it shoudl look pretty good.

Jason

Thanks to a ton of good tips both on and off TMP, I think I am ready to go. I have five of them converted pretty much all the way except for the guns. I also have plenty of extras so I'll be able to do a few dry runs without cutting into my supply of excess minis.

-Eli
leadpeople.blogspot.com

Just to let you all know, the minimalist approach seems to be rendering the best, easiest to do in bulk, solution.

I am cutting the rifles off a few milimeters after the left hand (thanks MArk!). However, rather than add a new barrel, something that proved a bit fiddly in 15mm, I am leaving the end of the gun flush, similar to how the Marine pulse rifles were in aliens.

I am adding shirt length of .044 plastic rod to the top of the gun to provide an advanced "Land Warrior" style site.

This has already done much to break them up from the bolt action rifles they started as. Now, all I have to do is figure out if they are going to be magazine fed (more sculpting) or if I'll run a power line to a pack or belt-mounted battery pack.

-Eli
leadpeople.blogspot.com

Powerline would be easier i suspect, though a slice of plastic rod with a trench cut in it could make for a simple drum magazine.

Here are some pictures of the progress on these conversions.

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Thanks,

-Eli