my DIY marines use only BT and DA bodies, crusade helmets and company champion and deathwatch shoulder pads, so ive had to use battlewagon bits quite a lot. a termie squad im putting together at the moment uses spears and shields, and for the shields i decided to give them all the thunder hammer sergeant one, and no one i knew wanted to give theirs away and there was no way i was going to buy 5 boxes of termies just to get the shields!
its a great way of customising an army, and while not exactly cheap, you will get only the bits you require
edit: i rarelt finish my own armies! i spend so much time painting commisio narmies that when it comes to my own, i spend ages converting and by the time i get to painting the army ive lost interest! dont worry, just do what you like, the accomplishment of completing a full army (especially a converted one) is something you cant really put a value on |