When a Conversion Just Doesn’t Feel Right
You had so much potential, but you just came out goofy, kid. You peaked in my mind … or did you?
Not every conversion is a hit, and I think that’s okay. Today, I want to share a model that didn’t come together the way I had thought it would in my mind. Meet my Plague Marine Champion, who was heavily inspired by the Bulwark from Space Marine II. I aimed to make a crab claw-style power fist/ shield-bearing version of the archetype. I was hoping for a hulking, imposing figure, but... the result feels more "stumpy" and awkward than scary.
So why did this happen if I had the bits and the inspiration? I didn’t take enough time to dry-fit the parts and really plan the pose. I skipped one of the most important steps—making sure everything looked right before gluing. The model feels a bit unbalanced with short legs and a body that doesn’t flow together in the way I’d hoped. He doesn’t feel like he could realistically move. I think I can improve this by extending the legs to give him more height and a better stance.
Lessons Learned (or relearned as a returning plastic scraper):
Execution vs. Concept: Sometimes, the idea in your head doesn’t translate perfectly into reality. This is where mock-ups or sketches can help visualize the finished product before you dive in. My best conversions and all of my large-scale conversions started in my sketchbook while in meetings or while rummaging through my bits box.
Dry Fit Everything: It’s tempting to get into the glue right away, but taking the time to dry fit and ensure the proportions are correct can save a lot of headaches later.
Check the Pose: Before committing, I should have checked how the model looked from multiple angles to ensure it felt dynamic but not awkward. Really - I need to go buy some more blue tac so I can concept my poses and see the vision in plastic.
I'd love to get your thoughts! What would you change to make this guy look less awkward? How can I improve him? Is extending the legs the right call, or are there other adjustments I could make?
Feel free to comment below with suggestions or feedback—I’m open to all ideas! Let me know on Instagram if you cannot comment here. I am getting mixed reports!
