"Who'd rather convert than have correct minis?" Topic

I wanted sword armed figs for my starship boarding actions, and I wanted them to look appropriately weird. I did not then run out and buy new figs. Instead, I took a look at what I had, and did something inaginative.

I took the orcs from Risk LOTR (Hasbro) place a little epoxy on the faces to smooth them over, painted them in metallic colors, and painted the now-smooth faces to look like glass helmet plates.

Presto, 120 figs in 4 color schemes, with no purchase at all.

How many of you like doing similar stuff, rather than have the manufacturer make something "correct"? Especially where fantasy and SF are concerned?

What's a 'correct' miniature?

I'm not sure that "rather have to convert them" is the correct wording of the concept for me, especially in 15mm scale, due to their small size. The small scale does make the process a bit easier though, since the cut seams are much harder to see (probably even more so after they are painted), after they have been glued back together.

However, there is something satisfying about having done so.

Currently, I'm working on modifying a few 15mm GZG figs to fit on G-acceleration couches for a small shuttle, or spacecraft. These are astronauts in space suits (the free-floating pose set), so they don't need a lot of conversion, e.g. just bending a bit to fit on their couches, and re-attaching an arm, and a foot, which broke off during the bending process.

The Heavy Vacc Suit "pilot" did require some major surgery, in order to remove his large backpack, since he didn't look too comfortable lying on top of that. Thankfully, I didn't suffer any accidental surgery during the process, but it was a concern.

The Light Vacc Suit "co-pilot/navigator" figure retains the much thinner, backpack, since it doesn't really interfere with the pose.

So far, they are looking pretty good.

Now I just need to clean up the flash on them, and decide on a paint scheme for their suits and helmets.

The couches are scratch-built, and look fairly decent.

I quite enjoy the satisfaction of converting the odd figure to get something personal that I need, but doing whole squads is a bit tedious

I've always preferred conversions, the hassle is getting enough of the so-and-so's finished in time! Converting, though, can be a real delight, although one must be prepared to have sadly deformed 'oops!' figures looking up at you from the bottom of the bitz box, their sightless pewter eyes silently asking; "Why me? Why??"

I must buy a lid for my bitz box…

One or two yes, an entire platoon NO!

That was my constant debate at one time . . .

* Do I have the leisure time to sculpt/convert figures?
* Or do I have the money to buy new ones?

Let's just say that what I'm really lacking these days is leisure time to sit down and play/sculpt/convert. Plus, while I'm living from hotel to hotel, there's only so many already-purchased treasures I have access to.

Dan

This is a much more complex issue. For me conversions are usually something I will do when I need one or a few of a particular miniature.

The idea of the "correct miniature" is really not as simle as it sounds. Sometimes the mini I am looking for is something very subjectively important and wouldn't really justify having a manufacturer try to make it. Sometimes it's just not a practical business decission for a company to produce what I'm looking for, so I convert.

-Eli

emu2020 "The idea of the "correct miniature" is really not as simle as it sounds. Sometimes the mini I am looking for is something very subjectively important and wouldn't really justify having a manufacturer try to make it. Sometimes it's just not a practical business decission for a company to produce what I'm looking for, so I convert."

Another major motivating force. For these figs, especially, I needed a bunch of 15mm sword wielding sf warriors, but I didn't want a 40k look, which, IMNSHO, has been done to death.

I do it all the time, since there is not much in the way of what I want in 1/72.

I don't mind having to convert miniatures to get the look I want BUT I'd much rather buy them 'purpose built' and not have to convert them.

For example, I have a large collection of Grymn from Hasslefree Miniatures and until very recently, there were no comms troopers. As a result, I had the chore of converting lots of comms troopers. Now there are comms troopers available, I am very pleased that I don't have to spend an age converting the same thing over and over again…leaving me more time for sculpting other things.

I do like to convert the odd character figure though. The personal touch makes all the difference :).

Converting is a good way to expand your skills and creativity after you've learned how to paint well. As far as "correct" miniatures goes, in fantasy and sci-fi that is really just an argument used by figure manufacturers to get you to buy their line exclusively. Up to you if you comply or not, it isn't like anyone sane will nitpick your paint job or figures as they do in Napoleonics.

I think he meant "correct" not as "official" but more so as in appropriate for the purpose you are using them for. For example, as Insomniac pointed out, he had to convert comms troopers for his Grymm until they made Grymm.

-Eli

I don't mind converting the odd figure or doing paint conversions with a bit of minor carving, but I wouldn't want to do hundreds.

My favourite conversion is a completely stupid one, a WW2 German riding as bike (made from an SHQ cart driver on an SHQ bicycle). Why on earth did I bother when you can buy these things? I needed the figure, and I had a bike and some figs in my bits box, so…. anyway, he is unique and often admired.

I'm not a great sculpter (filling gaps and minor gear is my Green-stuff limit) or painter, but converting figs is my favorite part of the hobby, even more than painting and playing. I often convert for fun and/or $-saving and/or uniqueness, even when a "correct" figure is available.

Back when I was putting together a Blood Angel Army, I did alot of converting of basic marines into veterans, assault troops, officers, etc, even though "correct" figures were available plentifully. I also have converted alot of Imperial Guard to make officers and to build troopers from leftovers.

I've probably saved 100's of bucks this way, and had alot of fun along the way. My personal view is "What's the point in having the same figs as everyone else?"

In the same vein, I'm currently converting up old CMG (Clix) figures for use in Combat Zone.

@Martin Rapier – I do this, myself. Sure I could buy it, but it's fun to try to make it and sometimes I can save myself a buck or two.

I did this very same thing for my Land Ironclads stuff. I had some of this and that laying about and cobbled it all together into some fun VSF vehicles.

-Eli

Some things just won't be made for retail sale…and those are the things I like to convert.

Like this group of survivors for my zombie games:
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Mobile Infantry on four wheelers
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Hitler's head on a robot
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15mm Dreadnoughts
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Very nice!

If it's a something I use and isn't too involved/expensive, then I'll do it.

I've converted several Infinity minis to have the weapons I needed them to have. Sometimes that's pretty simple (4-way swap between a Tiger shotgun, Ninja Sniper, Guilang, and a Nisse), and sometimes it's a little more complex (building a Wu Ming MultiRifle/Grenade Launcher).

The more annoying conversions have been the Panzerfaust and Panzershreck troops from the Eureka SciFi Germans.

For the most part, I'd rather have the *right* troops in smaller scales (15mm and smaller), but I'm much more willing to convert in 28mm.

'correct figures' are nice….but I STILL like to 'modify' and personalize/convert etc….

The closer the figure already is to what I want, obviously it's 'easier'…but sometimes it's just REALLY FUN to take a totally unrelated figure or figures…and 'cut, paste and modify' until it BECOMES what you want it to be….

Not always practical for LARGE groups of figures….but there is the 'joy' of having a 'one of a kind' figure too!!!

Slishfully,
Sgt DWW-btod

The OP confuses me… one of the reasons I do conversions is so that I can have accurate and "correct" figures.