The main conversion project to transform the plastic Cadians into Skitarii is the hoods. I use greenstuff putty and a sculpting tool to make the hoods. Also using greenstuff, I added some rags and other wrappings on the models to show how the troops are attempting to combat the cold.

The first step is to find a suitable head to sculpt the hood over. Try to use heads which don’t already have helmets or pony tails/ top knots. If you can’t avoid it cut the protruding bits off. Mix up the two parts of your greenstuff in equal amounts and remember to use a lubricant on your sculpting tool (water or vaseline are good for this). After the head is glued to the body, sculpt two small lumps of greenstuff on the sides of the face like in picture 1. This is left to dry for a few hours and will help you achieve the desired “cowl” shape later.

Find a pre-existing model with similar hood for reference and put a second thin layer of greenstuff over the head and smooth with your sculpting tool until it looks like picture 2. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt fails, keep practicing until you are happy.

As well as Bionic limbs I wanted to have sensory links and power cables implanted on the Skitarii. The best material for this is electric guitar wound strings (0.38-0.52 gauge to be exact). Cut off the required length and bend into the shape you want. Be warned though as your clippers will get notches in them. I now have a special pair I keep just for clipping guitar strings.

No not the Lasguns themselves! (as some of you heretics call them). Underslung torches help the Skitarii fight in the dark ice caverns. For these I simply used Scopes from the Space Marine tactical sprue.

To represent the Cyber-enhancement the Skitarii use I used two main components: Both sets of Iron Hands bolter arm sprues and the Pit Slave Chief shotgun arm from a classic Necromunda model.