Do you have a lot of Necron bits lying around like I did? You may have a beautiful conversion waiting for you right around the corner!
A few years back when the plastic Wraith models first came out I tinkered around with the parts for a little while. Until it just hit me, and I turned them upside down and created something new.
I liked to call it the Canoptek Scorpion!
Canoptek Scorpion Conversion
Of course, there’s no real Canoptek Scorpion with stats so I use them for my Spyder models.
You can, of course, use them for whatever really, however, their “footprint” is just a little too big to mount to a 40mm base for using as Wraiths.
Canoptek Scorpion Parts List
- Dark Eldar Talos Tail
- One Necron Canoptek Wraith Sprue
- Optional Necron Spyder Head
Building the Carapace
You can pretty much see what I did with this model in the picture above. I basically just reversed the curve of the Wraith model and made their “belly” the top of the model. I also made some baby scorpion models to use as scarabs out of some spare Necron parts I had lying around to go with whole Spyder counts-as theme I have in my army as well.
First off you need to cut down the two armor plates that normally go on the top of the model, as shown.
They need these cuts to be able to reverse their angle and go from curving around the back to curving around the front of the model.
Then, just start building the Wraith as normal attaching the sections of its torso together. As you can see, what is normally the “belly” of the Wraith is now the “top”.
I also started adding sets of legs at this point so the assembly would hold itself together as it got built up. This also helps to counterweight the tail as you attach it.
Next, you can add the armor plates that normally go on the back of the model to what is now the top of the model. If you cut them down carefully, they should fit right over what is now the top of the model as they are mirror images meant to go on the old top of the model (which is now the bottom).
Just keep building up the back of the model adding sections and armor plates. Here, I also added a spare Spyder head I had to the front of the model to check the proportions.
Attaching the Tail
Next, just clip the little nub off the Talos tail and glue it flush to the socket where the Wraith tail would normally go. By now, the glue from the legs should be dry and the model should be able to hold the weight of the tail.
Just plug and play the rest of the parts into the correct sockets as pictured above. Don’t forget to add the middle set of legs!
That’s pretty much it. You can play around with the angle of everything to simulate motion and such. But the basics of the assembly is done. I made a few with their claws opened wide, and some more in a guarded position like above.
Honestly, it seemed to take way more time just trimming and deflashing all the bits to make it, than actually assembling it!
Check out the entire How-To video for making this Canoptek Scorpion!
What do you think about the Canoptek Scorpion? Are you going to convert some Wraiths into these guys? What other Necron conversions have you done before? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
