okay, as i don't have a working digital camera, i figured i'd write up this handy guide for anyone wanting to attempt a similar conversion for a truely sinister and scary looking culexus assassin
what you'll need:
bitz list;
1x culexus head (note there are 2 different heads to choose from!)
1x culexus eye
1x plastic eldar guardian sprue (for the body and some grenades)
1x 2nd edition plastic eldar arms sprue
1x inquisitor eisenhorn icon sprue
1x tomb king settra body
numerous purity seals and grenades from plastic space marine/imperial guard kits!
(PM me if you want the bitz codes!)
tools list;
clippers
hobby knife
file set
modeling saw
super glue
plastic glue
green stuff
scultping tools
pin vice
power drill
okay, so once you have all your bitz and tools assembled, start by clipping out all the plastic bitz you'll need from the various sprues; guardian torso & back thingies, 2 arms (1 left, 1 right obviously!) and clean up any unsightly mold lines on the various bits with your hobby knife and files.
assembly;
1) start by filing off any eldar'ish bits on the torso like the spirit stones and then glue the guardian torso together, including the little arial thingies on the back!
while that's drying cut settra's body in half with your modeling saw just *above* the waist. use you power drill to drill out the waist so that the guardian torso will fit snugly. file off any overtly tomb kings iconography, like the bird-skull icon on the waist. use your clippers to remove any scarabs on the model and then file down any left-over remnents.
2) pin the torso to the body. you'll need some green stuff to cover-up any gaps and re-build the waist later!
i posed the body slightly turned to the left in order to give the model a very sinister, calculating look! (IMPORTANT!!! remember that when looking at a front view of your model, you are looking at 'mirror image' so always keep that in mind!)
3) choose a pair of arms you like and glue them on in whatever pose you feel is cool-looking!
again, i chose a right arm that hangs down at the side while the left arm is held up holding a grenade! use just a little bit of green stuff to help turn the left arm slightly out from the body itself... (any plastic - green stuff bonds need the use of super glue! be carefull though as the super glue will bond almost instantly to the putty, so you won't be able to fiddle too much once the arm is on!!!)
4) pin the head to the assassin's body. note that due to the raised collar on the guardian torso, you'll need a rather long pin! just play around with the bits untill you get a decent look. don't forget to glue the culexus' eye to his head! (i almost did this - oops!)
again, you'll need to flesh-out the model's neck with some green stuff later!
i had the assassin's head looking slightly downwards and a bit to his right.
5) clean-up time! now that the basic model is assembled *and* dry! it's time to break-out the green stuff and fill any unsightly gaps!
the neck is a bit tricky. i suggest trying to find some darning/crochet tools as they have a small, rounded head making it much eaiser to get into such a tight spot. just add a little bit of putty at a time and slowly build-up the neck. don't worry too much about how smooth the putty is - you won't notice it at all as this area will be black anyways!
leave your assassin to dry.
you'll most likely need to bulk-out the waist a bit, so just take a thin roll of putty and wrap it around the waist. use your sculpting tool to smooth out and shape the model's new hips!
6) finally, almost done! time to add the final details
take the enshrined skeleton icon from eisenhorn's icon sprue and glue it over the spot where you filed off the birdskull icon on the model's front.
add a mix of guardian and imperial grenades to the model's waist as well as some purity seals.
if you have an ammo w/grenade bit from the plastic catachans (or you have friend who does!) then you can cut off the single grenade and glue it into the assassin's open hand! (if applicable).
congratulations! you now have a very evil and truely scary looking culexus assassin
all that remains is to undercoat and paint your new master-peice!
cheers!