Help locating bits and substitutes for some RT 40k Imperial Guard & Squat stuff

[Yuber Okami]

Hi! Recently a member of this forum sold me a RT-era 40k army. As summer (almost the only time in the year in which I can paint) is approaching I've been looking for some bits but so far I've not had much luck. Let me show you:

Imperial Guard

- Hunting lances: I have only been able to locate something similar in Shapeways, but a price of 1€ per lance (without an arm) seemed abusive to say the least.

- Plasma rifles and jet packs for an assault platoon. I'm particularly looking for something similar to the ones depicted in classic illustrations like this ones:


or this ones



- I'm also looking for old-style rhinos but I think nowadays one could cost me the same as a new car (a real one, not a scale model). Maybe I should try to locate a template and make one myself?

Squats

- I'm looking for 3 exoarmours on foot (or something similar, unlike Mantic's Forgefather Heavy Armour). I located something for 3d printing but somehow the printers I visited asked me 12 € for each of them (in 28mm scale). BTW, if you know of cheaper 3d printers in Europe let me know.

[twrchtrwyth]

These are similarish to the first type of jump pack.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-backpacks-p-294.html

These are similarish to the second type of jump pack.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-jump-packs-ver-1-p-293.html

I like these too.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-jump-packs-ver-2-p-297.html

You might be able to convert these into something suitable for a hunting lance, bit pricey maybe.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-doublesaw-weapons-p-328.html

Plasma rifles-ish.
https://www.spellcrow.com/plasma-rapid-weapon-p-145.html

[Mr Tough Guy]

Victoria Miniatures has some arms with hunting lances:
https://victoriaminiatures.com/collections/female-arms/products/rough-rider-arms-x5

as well as plasmarifles:
https://victoriaminiatures.com/collections/weapons/products/plasma-rifle-x5

No idea how well they would fit on RT Imperial guards though, I assume they're all sized to match current Imperial guard plastics, so they might be a bit big.

[Citizen Sade]

Uscarl Miniatures make a small range of Space Dwarves sculpted by Kev Adams which feature separate arms and weapons. I understand that these arms were designed to also fit the armless Rogue Trader era Squats. Also that the original GW arms were used for both Squats and Guard models back in the day.

The Uscarl weapon range includes special and heavy weapons (including a plasma gun) as well as more standard weapons. Worth checking out, perhaps?

[twrchtrwyth]

Also that the original GW arms were used for both Squats and Guard models back in the day.

The squats had a different arm sprue to the Imperial Guard.

[Overrevdsquat]

The closest reasonably available squat exo eggs that I've found are from Wereweevil - a one man operation on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/119252611833981/

There are other squats in exo around, but they tend to be grittier and more mantic.

[3 fingers]

Could you convert some M113 into passable rhino's say they are a variant?.

[Yuber Okami]

The closest reasonably available squat exo eggs that I've found are from Wereweevil - a one man operation on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/119252611833981/

There are other squats in exo around, but they tend to be grittier and more mantic.

Those ones look promising! I'll try to contact him (I'll need to be accepted in the FB group anyway)

[Yuber Okami]

Could you convert some M113 into passable rhino's say they are a variant?.

It's the basis but I fear it'd take me too long to make such a conversion.

Uscarl Miniatures make a small range of Space Dwarves sculpted by Kev Adams which feature separate arms and weapons. I understand that these arms were designed to also fit the armless Rogue Trader era Squats. Also that the original GW arms were used for both Squats and Guard models back in the day.

The Uscarl weapon range includes special and heavy weapons (including a plasma gun) as well as more standard weapons. Worth checking out, perhaps?

The RT plastic guards had giant heads and hands so no problem that way. But being 7€ per miniature is a bit out of my league.

These are similarish to the first type of jump pack.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-backpacks-p-294.html

These are similarish to the second type of jump pack.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-jump-packs-ver-1-p-293.html

I like these too.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-jump-packs-ver-2-p-297.html

You might be able to convert these into something suitable for a hunting lance, bit pricey maybe.
https://www.spellcrow.com/space-knights-doublesaw-weapons-p-328.html

Plasma rifles-ish.
https://www.spellcrow.com/plasma-rapid-weapon-p-145.html

Aside from the lances, everything else seems perfect!

[chantyam the 2nd]

Old school style Imp Guard try Mad Robot Miniatures “Grognard” range includes the old “tube” las rifle and they have resin lance heads that you add to the end of a length of brass rod

[meyerc13]

I love the Victoria Miniatures bits, and really like the Bugler arms for Rough Rider command squads, but the hunting lances didn't work for me.  The arms are in scale, but the lances being cast in such thin resin didn't hold up.  Dropped a couple the first time I played them, and they shattered (my fault, not the lances).  After that the unbroken ones were in a case in my basement and next time I took them out most of the lances had warped into drastic curves.  No idea why that happened... the basement is humid but definitely no temperature extremes.

I think the Mad Robot idea of using metal rods is a better idea.  I broke plenty of the original Games Workshop lances too back in the day, so both Plastic and Resin seem less than ideal.  Wood might work too, so I'm sure you could use the Victoria arms if you use a pin vice to drill through the hand and lance head and replace the resin lance itself with something more sturdy.

As for Rhinos, they aren't as expensive as the original plastic Predators or Land Raiders, but they aren't cheap and the price has been going up.  A year ago you could find them on ebay new in box for $50US, but now they are going for updwards of $70US new in box.  You have to remember that they were produced all the way into 3rd Edition (and it is the third edition boxes that people seem to overlook and can be found for these prices).  Look at the exhaust pipes to tell whether they are the old design or the new design.  Also, don't just search for Rhinos, but also the plastic/metal predators, whirlwinds, razorbacks, and the Sisters of Battle Immolator.

[Yuber Okami]

Now that's quite interesting advice. Mad Robot seems fine (perfect in fact) but I'm European so shipping rates may skyrocket. A pity they don't have an European distributor.

PS: the Immolator is based on the original Rhino?