Modifications to Genestealers (Type 1 & Type 2)

Genestealers come in two very rigid poses. For variety, I modified mine. The basic technique is pretty simple. I cut the extremity at a joint that will glue back together well, such as the edge of plates or between skin folds. I reposition the extremity as desired, then re-affix it, usually with plastic glue, but sometimes with pins and cyanoacrylate glue. Putty was used for gaps as needed. The tricky part was finding a way to safely and securely brace the model while cutting. I used a block of wood rather than a large flat cutting mat. This allowed me to exploit the corners and edges of the block readily.

Type 1 - Straight Tail (ST) Genestealers

Repositioning limbs on the same models - no parts were swapped between models for the following 6 models. They were just cut, trimmed, and/or repositioned.

The standard "straight tail" (ST) Genestealer.

ST Modification #1: Cut off head and all four arms (rear arms at elbows and shoulders, front arms at shoulders only) and repositioned/rotated to make it look like it is getting back up to speed. It's hard to see in this pic, but there is no tongue sticking out on this one, I cleared out it's mouth. It looks different, but not amazing. I think the risk of damaging the model in a serious fashion is too great for the effect achieved.

ST Modification #2: Clipped rear arms at elbows, rotated them back as if preparing to strike. Snipped off a chunk off the tail and rotated it to point to the right.

ST Modification #3: Clipped left arm at elbow and shoulder, right arm at elbow, and positioned both to be more pendulous as if in a loping/leaping stance.	ST Modification #4: Cut off head and all four arms (both left arms cut at elbows and shoulders, both right arms cut only at elbows) and repositioned to give an appearance of a change of direction/attack.

ST Modification #5: Clipped both lower arms at elbows and shoulders, and positioned both as if creature is about to use its lower arms to counterbalance a leap onto someone or something.

Type 2 - Left Tail (LT) Genestealers

Repositioning limbs on the same models - no parts were swapped between models for the following 6 models. They were just cut, trimmed, and/or repositioned.

The standard "straight tail" (LT) Genestealer.	LT Modification #1: Clipped LU arm and RL arm at shoulder, LL arm at elbow and shoulder. Went for flurry of attacks appearance.

LT Modification #2: Both left arms clipped at shoulders and rotated slightly such that both upper arms appear to be engaging a target while the Rending Claws ready for a strike.

LT Modification #3: I wanted to have at least one pose in which a GS was reaching forward with just its Rending Claws, so I clipped the RU arm at the shoulder and rotated it up out of the way. I clipped both lower arms at the elbows and shoulders but I could not simply re-glue them and accomplish the forward extension I wanted, so I pinned them in place and then used Kneadatite blue-white putty to fill in the joints. I cut simple skin folds into the putty for aesthetic continuity. I also cut off and repositioned the index finger of his left Rending Claw (normally it arches back).

LT Modification #4: Simple changes here just for the sake of variety. I cut the LL arm at the elbow and rotated it down slightly. I clipped off the end of the tail and rotated it downward a little too.

LT Modification #5: This is one of my favorites. I clipped off the head and clipped of the arms at the shoulders I trimmed and re-glued the left arm so that it was extended off to the left. Then I rotated the head to face in the same direction and glued it back on. The rest of the arms were rotated down to achieve a low loping posture. The two right arms required pinning and putty to accomplish the look properly.