Hi, I am new around here. I started playing Epic Scale when I was in my early teens with Adeptus Titanicus. I gave up shortly after Epic 40k came out due to RL and a dirth of people to play with and money. I found Net epic and was re-inspired to play again now that my sons are getting into the over 10 age range and my new fiancee has expressed interest in playing. So enough intro.

Coming back I still have all of my figs, which amount to a very large Imperial Guard, Marine and Titan force, and a small ork force. I am trying to start a Tyranid Army but the eBay prices on the OOP armies are enough to cause me coronary issues. After doing a good bit of reading around this board, I have poured over every working site in the Proxy thread and have come up with the following as a planned Proxy list based on Netepic 4.1 / Space Marine 2nd Ed.

Troops
Gargoyle -- DRM Leapers -- http://www.darkrealmminiatures.co.uk/st ... =25&page=1
Genestealer -- DRM Worker -- http://www.darkrealmminiatures.co.uk/st ... =25&page=1
Hormagaunt -- DRM Vampire Beast -- http://www.darkrealmminiatures.co.uk/st ... =25&page=1
Lictor -- Ironwind Roach Spirit -- http://ironwindmetals.com/catalog/produ ... ts_id=5752
Termagant -- DRM Critters/defenders -- http://www.darkrealmminiatures.co.uk/st ... =25&page=1
Zoanthrope -- 15mm.co.uk "The Alien" -- http://www.15mm.co.uk/GA14.htm

Zoats -- ??
Devourer Swarm -- CH Worms -- https://www.commandhorizon.com/?cat=16

Synapse/Brood Units
Dominatrix -- SG 25mm Hybrid Breeder -- http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/i ... cts_id=787
Hive Tyrant -- SG 25mm Broodmaster -- http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/i ... cts_id=796
Harridan -- ??
Tyranid Warrior -- DRM Claw Beasts -- http://www.darkrealmminiatures.co.uk/st ... =25&page=1

Vehicles
Carnifex -- DRM Medium Beasts -- http://www.darkrealmminiatures.co.uk/st ... php?cat=27
Dactylis -- Conversions Based on (1, 2, 3)
Haruspex -- Conversions Based on (1, 2, 3)
Malefactor -- Conversions Based on (1, 2, 3)
Trygon -- SG 25mm Hybrid Hydra -- http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/i ... cts_id=792

Heavy Artillery
Biovore -- Conversions Based on (1, 2, 3)

Anti-aircraft
Exocrine -- Conversions Based on (1, 2, 3)

Fliers
Mycetic Spores -- 15mm.co.uk Doom Spores -- http://www.15mm.co.uk/HOF46_Creegan_Doom_Spores.htm

Bio-Titans
Hierodule -- ??
Hierophant -- ??


These seem like suitable platforms to begin Conversions

1 CH Worm Tanks https://www.commandhorizon.com/?cat=16
2 CH Worm Tanks https://www.commandhorizon.com/?p=142
3 CH Worm Tanks https://www.commandhorizon.com/?p=139

These Models Struck My interest as well

DRM Malcore Beasts http://www.darkrealmminiatures.co.uk/st ... =25&page=1
GZG Bugs http://www.groundzerogames.co.uk/store1 ... on&next=20
GZG 15mm IXX Warriors http://www.groundzerogames.co.uk/store1 ... on&next=20
Entomolian Alliance Vehicles http://www.mondayknight.com/Miniature%2 ... Index.html
15mm.co.uk Flesharons http://www.15mm.co.uk/LB029_Flesharons.htm
SG 25mm stinger Hybrids http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/i ... cts_id=614
SG 25mm Kyromek line http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/i ... =3_113_119
SG 25mm Void 1.1 line http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/i ... Path=59_68

the Red ?? mean I haven;t a clue what to proxy in or convert, aside form that I do not have my heart set on any fig as any proxy, so suggestions are needed and welcome. Also I am looking for a relatively inexpensive source of Tyranid-y Bits for conversions too.

Sorry for the Book, and Thanks in Advance

Madmagician

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MadMagician
Epic Tyranids

The lighter infantry stuff is well-sourced I think (good job!), but I'd probably suggest using the plastic WH40k models as a basis for the bulk of your conversions for the following:

Dominatrix
Dactylis
Haruspex
Malefactor
Trygon
Biovore
Exocrine
Hierodule
Hierophant
Harridan
Vituperator

The biggest models (Dominatrix, Titan-equivalents, Vituperator) can be bashed from 40k Tyranid Warriors, and the smaller ones bashed from regular Gaunts and/or Rippers (which you get one of on every 'Nid sprue). Rippers can also be used as the basis of Raveners.

If you search these boards, you can see many such excellent conversions based on those plastics. A Tyranid Battleforce is generally reckoned to the be the best and most economical way to get all the 40k 'Nids you'll need for your force. Shop around online though, as the Battleforce can be had for substantial savings over GWs sticker price.

Bored at work, so I've gone through the current 'Nid beasts (as I'm aware of them, anyway) and provided suggestions for each:

Hive Tyrant = Buy these from EBay. They are common and if you're patient you'll get a good price. Most Ebay shops overprice them by around 2-4 times, but a blister should cost you no more than £4 / $6. Alternatively, Space Demon Assault Warriors from Khurasan Miniatures would work well.
Tyranid Warrior = Command Horizon Centaur Infantry
Genestealer = Dark Realm Miniatures Vampire Beasts
Termagant = Dark Realm Miniatures Worker Bearsts? Dunno, these are hard to find proxies for!
Hormagaunt = Dark Realm Miniatures Worker Beasts
Gargoyle = Dark Realm Miniatures Leapers
Ravener = 40k Rippers perhaps with some putty/plastic claws added?
Lictor = Khurasan Miniatures Pelagic Dominate Mantis Stalker Bioweapons
Carnifex = Dark Realm Miniatures Claw Beasts
Zoanthrope = Khurasan Miniatures Space Demon Infiltrators with the legs and arms removed.
Biovore = Khurasan Miniatures Space Demon Nymphs with a little gun added to its back (fleshborers from 40k 'Gaunts could work well perhaps?).
Dominatrix = Buy these from EBay. They are common and if you're patient you'll get a good price. Most Ebay shops overprice them by around 2-4 times, but a single model should cost you no more than £4 / $6 (or ask in the Trade forums here). Alternatively, a Space Demon Queen from Khurasan Miniatures would work well.
Dactylis = WH40k 'Gaunt with a back-mounted Barbed Strangler.
Haruspex = WH40k 'Gaunt with Crushing Claws.
Malefactor = WH40k 'Gaunt with smaller talons/claws, feeder tentacle head and tentacle forelimbs?
Trygon = Plastic 'Gaunt model with scything claws and a putty tail like this.
Exocrine = WH40k 'Gaunt with two Devourers.
Hierodule = Plastic 'Gaunt model with scything claws and some putty, like this (scroll to bottom).
Hierophant = Khurasan Miniatures Space Demon Colossus with guns or Scything Talons from a 40k Tryanid Warrior.
Hydraphant = Khurasan Miniatures Feral Giant Parasachnid, Ogre Beetle with guns or Scything Talons from a 40k Tryanid Warrior.
Harridan = 40k Gargoyles perhaps with some putty/plastic claws added instead of the gun?
Vituperator = A 40k Tyranid Warrior with bigger wings like these?
Mieotic Spore Sacks = A pack of 40k Tyranid spore mines from here?

Anyway, I hope that lot helps you! I've tried to pick stuff wherever possible that is:

1) A good likeness of it's WH40k counterpart.

2) A reasonable size. These won't be properly in scale to each other compared to their WH40k equivalents, but they should look good for Epic and be clear what they are.

3) Cheap, or at least affordable!

4) Easy to make / convert, with no rare parts that are hard to source.

5) From a limited range of models to encourage a more consistent look. All the WH40k plastic 'Nid kits come with lots of spikes and armour plates, etc. too, so adding these to the various monstrous creatures throughout the army will also help them all look like they are from a shared gene pool.

Please do let us know what you end up doing, and please share some pix of your (eventual) army with us when you're done!

I like the Creegen Spores ... How tall are they ?

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Big thanks for the suggestions! I am going to most likely place an order for some of this very soon, so I need to go back to the drawing board as far as conversions go, but that's OK. I will try to post size comparison pics as soon as I get things in. But for Fair Warning, I will be out of the USA for a few weeks of September so It may be closer to October before I post anything else.

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MadMagician
Epic Tyranids

I have ordered about 60% of the army. With some of the Minis I wanted to have them in hand before making the larger buying decisions ('gants vs 'gaunts, Dominatrix, etc.). With some creative bitz casting in resin and a good bit of Putty and inspiration, this should be a fun project!

I believe I will start a "blog" post on this, but I typically fail at maintaining one. We shall see!

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MadMagician
Epic Tyranids

Major Gilbear: a nice proxy list.

The Pendraken aliens are fairly nice as well: the 'runner' bugs might work for genestealers, while the mid-sized make good raveners or Zoanthropes.

The problem with DRM's worker/vampire beasts is that they are nearly indistinguishable from each other -- I've proxied them for hormies and the critters/defenders for termies.

This was my first set of orders, I wanted to get a feel for the DRM minis and KM Minis before jumping in any further. I am also continuing to look for good deals for the Warriors and 'gaunts. If there is a second number, it is the remaining packs to buy

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MadMagician
Epic Tyranids

I'm *really* looking forward to this! Especially as 'Nids are quite popular, but the models are like gold dust. Therefore having a cool list where everything is obvious and easily available would be a great thing to see.

I'll be ready to offer encouragement and suggestions to help you in your painting log!

The only concern with that proxy list would be scales. The Hierodule and Trygon are a good deal larger so fit the gaunt conversion very well but the assault spawn really need to be smaller. The 40k rippers are also a little on the large side for Raveners, a better if more fiddly version uses greenstuff tails on epic hormagaunts (but then Hormagaunts are the problem). The Space Demon queen also looks a little small, the Dominatrix should be somewhere around Hydraphant size.

Major, thanks and your encouragement will be greatly appreciated as I will be pushing my skill level with many of the conversions. I still need to decide on a scheme, right now I am leaning toward the current white/purple style but using a greenish yellow. However, I may go for an old school Epic Hive War look.

Ark, I am a bit concerned about scale, but I may be limited in my options. I will post lots of pictures of size comparisons. Also, I was never a fan of the original 'trix model, so I am going to do a bit of re-thinking it, possibly with space demon neck/head, 'nid Warrior legs and back, putty body and 'stealer claws. I still need to get my hands on all of this before I make my final decisions.

What I have purchased is not all that is available on the market, so there are still other options (especially if Scotia Grendel gets their site back up). With all of that said, I have always felt that Epic erred on the side of small with most of their non troops, so a bit big may be just fine.

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MadMagician
Epic Tyranids

Thanks for all of the list, all. I've placed an order for a fairly sizable force off the list above. I'll keep you updated as it arrives, and I start work.

Thanks for this and I've indeed ordered some DRM stuff to fill in for the gaunts and other tiny troops. For the other stuff I'm using another range which I will reveal once all the painting and converting is done. What I'm really not fond of is most of the original epic tyranid range. Tomato chuckers as artillery? Bacon's figure at the base of the crucifixion* as the Dominatrix? Khorne Berzerkers with whips as Tyrants? And then slugs, slugs everywhere! Not a fan but luckily the mutations of the hive fleet do give some leeway to customise an army.

* - http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/portraiture/bacon/central_figure.jpg

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