Zuyong Invincibles - conversion/proxy suggestions requested

[H1ghlander]

I'm seriously considering making a 100-pt 'Invincible Army' list, for two reasons. 1) I'm interested in playing the sectorial when AF drops, 2) I'd like to paint some power armor (currently play ), 3) it will give me a second force that a friend can play in a 'try it out' game.

I would like to have two Zuyong Invincibles (ZI) with combi rifles, but the only ZI sculpt is with the HMG. This wouldn't be an issue, but I'm pretty sure I will require an HMG-toting ZI when I expand the force.

Here are my options as I see them. Please feel free to provide advice, or make further suggestions.
1) Convert (A). Chop out the HMG and replace it with something else. I would likely use HM sci-fi smgs as combi rifles. Another option would be to get the spitfire from the Spec Ops pack, as there is no ZI spitfire profile. However, if I did this, my OCD particular-ness would want me to do this for all/most other combi rifles. Also, trying to readjust the left hand could be a real PITA (MarcoSkoll I am not).
2) Convert (B). Leave the HMG as-is, and when I need an actual HMG ZI, find a bigger gun...
3) Proxy. Any suggestions? I looked through the mini catalogue, but didn't find any that were close the the ZI. I would consider going out-of-range, but I'm really particular about having cohesive aesthetics, both intra-army, and model to model (if supposed to be the same thing).

Thanks

[Section9]

There is a Wu Ming with a combi+E/Mitter in the box set, you could check with Cho's split box to get them individually. Wu Ming boarding shotgun is in the ISS starter.

You could also try to chase down the old Invincible models.

[H1ghlander]

Use Wu Ming as stand-ins? Hmmm… Thanks for the idea.

[Section9]

I have 4 of the old Invincibles, plus ... 5 or 6 Wu Ming lurking around. Problem is that the Wu Ming are significantly shorter than the Zuyong. The old Invincibles aren't much taller than the Wu Ming, but they are a bit taller. The Wu Ming boarding shotgun is in a particularly deep horse stance, he's not as short as he looks.

Old Invincible multirifle:

There's also an Invincible HMG somewhere, but CMON doesn't have a picture of that one online.

And apparently Cool Mini or Not has a few of the Wu Ming shotgun blister left in stock, if you don't want to pester Cho.

The difference between a Yu Jing multi and combi is the top rail and the length of the 'can' at the end of the muzzle. If you cut the rail off and cut the can down to about 3mm long, then cross-drill it like a bolter muzzle, that's a combi. I've done the reverse conversion a couple times, too.

[H1ghlander]

Thanks for the pic. I *really* like the new sculpt, so I think I'm going to try for a weapon swap. Unless something better comes up, I'm planning on using the sci-fi SMGs from Hasslefree. They may be bit short, but I think they fit the Yu Jing look to a tea.

[jherazob]

Just as general information, those are Hasslefree's version of the Seburo C26A used in Stand Alone Complex to go with their Not-Motoko. I have that sprue but still haven't figured out how to replace the big gun she carries in the plain metal version for one of these, the original hand is molded over the big gun and these come without an arm. I imagine you'd run into the same problem when giving these to your YuJing, so when you solve it let us all know

[Mob of Blondes]

Just as general information, those are Hasslefree's version of the Seburo C26A used in Stand Alone Complex to go with their Not-Motoko. I have that sprue but still haven't figured out how to replace the big gun she carries in the plain metal version for one of these, the original hand is molded over the big gun and these come without an arm. I imagine you'd run into the same problem when giving these to your YuJing, so when you solve it let us all know

From to
"destroy" the weapon, keeping the hand and grip, then "destroy" the grip in the weapon until it fits the arm. Worst case is you have to keep the old buttstock if the zone is tricky. Hard to see with those pictures.

[H1ghlander]

Replacing the grip I'm not so concerned about (my basic approach was likely to be what MoB suggested). However, depending on the widths of the hand guards, there may be a significant gap between the left hand and the guard of the SMG. Depending on how the model goes together, I may try to modify it so the left hand is down, resting on a wall or some such.

@jherazob - you have a sprue of those SMGs, correct? Whats the width of the grip and hand guard?

Can anyone give me the width of the hand guard, and the grip-to-guard distance of the HMG?

EDIT: maybe an easier approach - does anyone have 3 or 4 combi/multi-rifles they're willing to send my way? That way I could potentially cut the HMG just before the grip, and swap on a rifle receiver/barrel...

[Section9]

EDIT: maybe an easier approach - does anyone have 3 or 4 combi/multi-rifles they're willing to send my way? That way I could potentially cut the HMG just before the grip, and swap on a rifle receiver/barrel...

Judging from the new Tokusetsu doc's combi-rifle and the Zuyong's HMG, the combi actually is a bit wider than the HMG back at the pistol grip, a half-mm or so, just enough to be visible. The HMG's front grip is about that same amount wider than the foregrip of the combi, but if you do a good job hacking the HMG out of the hand you can just bend the hand into a tighter curve. Or you can resculpt the off-hand, it's amazingly easy to sculpt a new hand around a firearm.

If you don't mind getting an old, fat combi, the Ninja comes with a loose combirifle. Otherwise, I'd just use Hasslefree's Tomoko SMG. It's about the same size as the new combirifle.

[H1ghlander]

Half a millimeter doesn't sound too bad - I'll stick with the SMGs. Thanks for all the advice!