Getting Two Models From One Kit

We all like to get the most model for our money.  A recent trend with GW kits is a multi-kit, a kit which can make several models.  Examples include the Fire Prism/Nightspinner, Screaming Bell/Plague Furnace, and more recently the Plagueclaw Catapult/Warp Lightning Cannon.

In some cases it's easy to magnetize the two kits like the Prism/Nightspinner, or difficult to magnetize in the case of the Bell/Furnace.  But in this case with the PCC/WLC I figured I could go beyond magnetizing it and actually split the kit into two models.  There are several pieces that the kit shares to make this difficult, but with some creativity it's easy to overcome.

As you can see, I removed the Warpstone counterweight.  This is the most obvious shared part of the kit, as well as the two metallic collars for the Warpstone.  I replaced it with the head of a standard from a Plague Monk kit, some jewelry chain and an old plastic gear I found laying around.  I wrapped the chain around a brass rod, stuck the gear on then fit it in between the struts.  I don't think it would actually function in real life, but that's the beauty of Skaven creations, the more slapadash they look the better they are.  If you're wondering how it fires, and other science facts, just repeat to yourself, "It's just a game, I should really just relax."

This has nothing to do with the conversion, but I head swapped two of the crew members with Plague Monk heads.  It's run by Plague Monks, they wouldn't wear gas masks.  They embrace the plague!  I had to shave the neck a bit to make it fit, and it's slightly larger than it should be but I don't care.  It's a walking rat-man, realism is kind of a moot point.  I left the armored crew member with a gas mask, I figured he's the Skryre representative who does all the complicated runnings of the machine.

Here's a close up of the gear/chain assembly.

Now I have left over the entire cannon assembly.  I'm technically missing the support bar which is the firing arm of the catapult, but I don't think the cannon needs it aesthetically.  I just have to mount the cannon on something, convert some crew and I'm set.  I'm considering mounting it on the back of a Rat Ogre, or building a frame out of sprues.  With Fantasy 'Ard Boyz coming up I may end up taking both models which means I'd better get to work on it.  Stay tuned!

Tyranid Harpy Conversion

After months of this thing sitting on my desk it's finally done.  The most difficult part of this conversion was trying to make matching left and right venom cannons.  I'm still not satisfied with them, maybe I should have mounted them on the wings.  Oh well.  I'm not going to do any more work on it though.