A long time ago in the midst of the rise of “Zillanids” I started my Tyranid army. One of the things I wanted to do was make my bugs look different that anyone elses. I had seen some people convert their Canifexes by mounting them on their short shaft of a tail, and remove the legs.
I really liked that look, but thought I could do better than that. I wanted them coming up out of the water like they would have done during their first contact battle on Tyran Prime. So I scowered the Internets and my bits catalogs and came up with the old High Elf Dragon body, the one that is curvy and looks like Trogdor.
From there I had to plane down the bottom of the body to a flush surface to fit on the base. Then I added the standard Carnifex nipple to the top of this assembly, so I could connect the Carnifex torso to the HE Dragon torso.
Now for those bug fanatics out there don’t worry- I also added a third set of appendages (for a total of six) to the model to keep the fluff and synergy intact. To finish off the model, I added extended carapace bits down the back of its spine to make the two pieces cohesive, and work together.
Fortunately I had magnetized the weapon arms, so now all I have to do is paint up some new arms and hit the base up with some water effects and it’s done.
What kinda of Tyranid conversions would you like to see come out during this re-release?
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 Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 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 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
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.
