Dual Use Plagueclaw Catapult/ Warplightning Cannon Conversion Guide

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The current GW Skaven Plagueclaw Catapult/ Warplightning Cannon box allows you to make one or other of these fine warmachines (I think that was the intention anyway).

However, if you are low on Warptokens, you may want to consider this simple conversion for being able to keep this kit "Dual-use" so you can have either model in your army depending on your need.

Step 1:
Clip away the wires on the front of the Warplightning cannon. Then, attach the Plague Claw Catapult basket to the back of the WLC arm.

Your catapult/ cannon assembly will then look like this.

Step 2:
Assemble the catapult body but DO NOT GLUE THE FLOORBOARDS INTO PLACE ON THE FRAME YET.
Put the whole assembly in the frame first (there is a "tall" frame configuration and a "low" frame configuration - use the "low" one.) Make sure you don't glue the axle in place. You should be able to rotate the whole catapult/ cannon assembly around the axle freely.

Step 3:
File away a small curve in the floorboards of the frame, so that the whole cannon/ plague claw catapult unit can rotate freely.

Note how the cannon parts can now rotate past the floorboards.

Step 4:
Finally, attach the floorboards. If you do this and you DON'T GLUE THE CREW IN PLACE (I put them separately on bases) you should be able to rotate the whole arm so it is either pointing:
a.) "Forward" (towards the spikey front of the unit) in "Warplightning cannon mode" (with the PGC basket facing downwards)
OR
b.) "Backwards" in "Plagueclaw Cannon Mode" (with the PGC basket facing upwards.)

a.) Warplightning cannon mode...

b.) Plagueclaw catapult mode...

Once it is all painted up you should have something like this:

I hope that this is useful. As with my Screaming Bell/ Plague Furnace conversion I didn't have any magnets with me, so this conversion relies on a bit of clipping and filing only. I am sure there are easier ways to do this, so please add your comments below!

As I have said before...
...Clan Skryre is CUNNING yes-YES?


*Squeek*
p.s. Don't forget that I have put up a step-by-step painting guide for this model here.

Plagueclaw Catapult conversion update 2

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I managed to get some basecoats down this week on my dual-use Plagueclaw catapult/ Warplightning kit.
- Frame.
- Base.
- Crew.

Here you go...

Only time for a few photos, but I hope the next update will see us at the stage of having done some different brown basecoats (to add some variety to the wooden frame) washes and maybe highlights too...

*Squeek*

Conversion for Dual Use Plague Furnace/ Screaming Bell Kit

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Hello my fellow Warlords. This entry in the Chattering Horde is for your beady eyes only - NOT for the man things, as in this entry we will look at a relatively easy way to keep your Screaming Bell kit as "Dual Use".

As you will know, the kit contains parts for both models, but usually, people use it as one or the other. Of course, using parts located on the scavenge pile of the inter-tunnels, you could always scrounge spare parts, but why do that? Especially when even without Warlock Engineer skills or Clan Skryre ingenuity you can achieve the same end? Yes, yes, you see it now!

So how do we achieve this? Arm yourself with a craft-knive, some plastic glue and a bit of patience, and read on!

WARNING: Before anything else, just remember that you are NOT going to glue the Bell or the Plague censer axle between the two stone columns on the platform.

BELL RINGER CONVERSION:

1. Locate the Rat-ogre bell puller.
2. Carefully cut away part of the circle at the end of his chain, in a direction towards the bell puller. This cut should allow you to clip the part onto the end (axle) of the bell.

3. OPTIONAL: As you aren't going to glue the bell-ringer's chain to the axle of the Screaming Bell (you will just gently clip it on and unclip it) you may find that you may need to add a bit of weight to the bottom of the bell-ringer's platform. This is because otherwise the weight of the bell can pull the platform up in the air. I used a couple of spare bits from some Tau XV Broadside models, but I'm guessing that a couple of coins in the right place would do the trick. Image below:

4. Clip the chain onto the axle of the bell to use!

To convert the Plague Censer, there are two steps. The first is to convert the axle on the plague censer, the second is to convert the chain pulled by the Plague monk team that mans the equipment. See below some photos and more information.

 PLAGUE CENSER AXLE CONVERSION:
1. You are going to make an extension of the Plague censer axle. Take 4 parts of sprue.

2. You are going to cut two equal lengths and glue these to the Plague censer axle. They will need to be a few centimeters long and at one end be joined so that the Plague Censer swinging team can clip their chain to it (see below). You will see in the picture below that I have scored the sprue parts and added some chips. Once painted this will help these parts look more like lengths of wood.

PLAGUE MONK TEAM CONVERSION:
There are two parts to this. The first is to work on the chain. The second is to make a new platform for the Plague Monks (because the platform supplied with the kit is being used by the Rat Ogre bell ringer!)

1. As with the Rat Ogre conversion (above) we need to make sure we can easily clip the chain of the plague monk team on and off the new axle that we added above.
2. Carefully cut open the circle at the end of the chain that the Plague Monk crew are holding. The picture below will give you an idea of the size and angle of the cuts to make.

3. Using the platform that is supplied with the kit as a model in terms of size, cut a new platform for the Plague Monk crew from plasticard or any other fairly thin board/ card. You will then need to glue the monks to their new platform. Using a craftknife, score the surface of the platform so that when painted it will feel more like wood than smooth plastic. (The image below isn't ideal, but should give you an idea of this!)

You're done! Now you can exchange the Screaming Bell and Plague censer depending on your battle needs! The images below should help you see how the final pieces all go together. A few words of caution - treat these conversions with care and be careful when substituting the different parts. (The chains in particular are fragile).

Hope this is useful - go forth and be victorious!
*Squeeeeeek*