Why kitbash? And how? - an introduction to modifying miniatures

If you are interested in kitbashing this might be a nice place to start. I talk about the thought process behind my first kitbash (modifying Orruk Brutes from Games Workshop), and more practically how I went about kitbashing my miniatures.
Support the channel on Patreon: / 52miniatures
Some places to go get bits for miniature conversions:
www.kromlech.eu/
www.spellcrow.com/
victoriaminiatures.com/
anvilindustry.co.uk/
52 Miniatures - My tabletop gaming journey - I am by no means a miniature painting expert, or a crafting wiz. On the contrary - these videos are a collection of my initial miniature experiences. Most of the time, what you see, is me trying something for the first time. I hope these videos might be of inspirational use. Oh, and a certain basic knowledge in irony might be required by the viewer.
Follow me on instagram for regular hobby updates - @52miniatures

[@jerrywhoomst1116]

This channel deserves more attention, I hope you get love from the algorithm soon.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks for that 🙏 have a lovely weekend.

[@philgee486]

@@52Miniatures You got me from the algorithm this week so it's working, just not flooding in yet. It will come. There's a charm that comes across from your honest enthusiasm, you're fresh to the hobby (I'm 40+years in) and you're a smart guy that uses that smarts for actual thinking about what you're doing (a rarer practice than you'd think - I often tell my son that you can be a great shot, but if you don't bother to aim then it actually won't make much difference). With you, every issue you discover as you challenge yourself and approach fresh territory, isn't just overcome, it's understood, and then you explain it very well in a great conversational style that brings it to life. That's the real value of your vids, and that's why you'll rise to be a very well followed creator

[@philgee486]

Quick question, I'm about halfway through your back catalogue now and don't remember you mentioning your first name (or alternative if there's something you'd prefer to be called in conversation)? My screen name comes from the gaming email account I use to separate my hobbies from the other parts of my life and derives from an old RPG character, I'm really Phil Also as I read it back the above post is obviously very positive, and it should be, but it's honest, considered opinion and not some sort of fanboy gushing, I'm actually very discriminating ;0)

[@tokoloshgolem]

This is how the orks should have been modelled

[@52Miniatures]

Wow! Thanks!

[@MeGaShaHeS]

Kitbashing and conversions I probably my favourite part of the hobby.great vid!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks! Yes it is a lot of fun. There are so many aspects of this hobby.. jumping between painting, kitbashing, terrain building, and the actual gameplay. Wonderful

[@box2boardhobby89]

You nailed it! I loved this video. Don’t mind the rambling - we could all do with slower pace these days! I’ve shared with my students, thank you.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you, I appreciate it. Unfortunatley there's a bit less rambling in my recent videos :) But that's more to do with the current pandemic situation... I get curious, What are you teaching?

[@box2boardhobby89]

@@52Miniatures I teach in Malaysia at an International School. We have a club.

[@52Miniatures]

@@box2boardhobby89 Lovely, say hi to your students for me :)

[@warhammerworld1689]

I have never kit-bashed before but this video has inspired me to try it out. Thank you!!!👍🏻👍🏻

[@52Miniatures]

Glad to hear it WW! I truly enjoy the process.

[@idiotluggage]

I thought someone told me that Orks reproduce through spores, so they might all be one sex. Not sure. Of course, you can always put a wig on them like in Gremlins. :) Maybe the Orks painted their nipple on to confuse their enemy in battle? Thanks for sharing.

[@52Miniatures]

Yes, the origin of orcs is sort of up to us individually to decide I think. GW "orcs" are fungus based... creating their own story means they can copyright it. The original orc, the Tolkien orc, was a evil mix of races. So sort of a bit more "laboratory". I think mine are born from the big Mother orc. Maybe from eggs even?

[@OldManRogers]

@@52Miniatures I like the Mother Orc theory!!

[@OldmanModo]

These videos are always so down to earth and insightful. Love it, keep making videos bro.

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Kimodo, I appreciate it.

[@JFXBENGALS-The_P0NY-X]

You brought blight kings just to chop up into bits? Yes. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I love your humour!

[@52Miniatures]

That kit still comes in handy every now and again!

[@theaterofthemini]

Gah I am just so happy I found your channel man, it's so well done. I LOVE kitbashing, and while I don't do it enough, I have vowed to make it a center point of my miniature hobbying. I think making even the smallest customization to an out of the box mini helps to transform it from a gaming piece to an actual tiny work of art. Thanks for your awesome content!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks :) I'm hoping to get more kit bashing done this year :)

[@theaterofthemini]

@@52Miniatures Make sure you film them ALL! ;)

[@olafolafsson2755]

lol - bought 5 brutes a few days ago to kitbash them aswell - great idea to add some blightkings pieces to them. Actually you can add anything to orks, which offers possibilities to do some rlly weird stuff. They just loot anything that they kill and use the armour and weaponery, because they dont craft their own.

[@52Miniatures]

True! When I saw the new elves coming out for Age of Sigmar My first thought was that I wanted to cut them up and stick them on my orcs :)

[@mikepeters8132]

A true plastic surgeon, my apologies for the pun I could not resist the temptation. Many thanks for your videos I get a lot of pleasure from watching and listening to your thoughts.

[@52Miniatures]

My pleasure Mike and thanks for the pun, I enjoy puns :)

[@alessiodecarolis]

Today there are a lot of options for kitbashing, I bought some PA and gears from Anvil Industry's site and are very good, plus you can mix various kind of equipment and make infinite combinations

[@52Miniatures]

True! It's getting better and better, but still mainly "40k" bits about.

[@BaijoGosum]

Good looking Orks. I appreciate all the extra bits you end up with after a few citadel kits. Thanks!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Josh! Yeah, I guess I need to buy more minis so that I get more bits :)

[@BaijoGosum]

52 Miniatures lol. That is what limits my ability to kitbash. I have all these plans for a cool communication s specialist for my Deathwatch kill team, and it will only require $90! Lol

[@Jose-ur7jz]

Thank you for your videos. They are a really big inspiration for me. The way you approach the hobby it's very similar to mine. I hope you find peace and easy doing it.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Jose. I'm having fun, and I'm glad you like the videos

[@jppyswb9172]

wonderful as always

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you so much Jakub! 😀

[@VincBej]

Great conversions man! The orruk brutes are also on my list of kits I'd like to buy in the future. I hadn't thought of really converting them, but you gave me a few cool ideas ;) To be continued then ^^

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you Vinc! I mean this set of minis is just great I think. The minis are so well sculpted and there’s so many options. Adding conversion to that and it’s a real playground.

[@emfazzise5543]

Not sure if you know this but as a tip I have a spare pot of the "glue that melts plastics" I cut some pieces of my scrap plastic sprues and mix them in this tub let it melt give it a stir throw more in if need be. Then you have some perfect gap filler for your models rather than using green stuff. Can also be used for all sorts ofother effects. 👍

[@52Miniatures]

Yeah, I've heard about that. I should give that goo a go. I'm sort of working my way through different methods. Started with Tamaya putty, tried Milliput, the green stuff. It's nice to see how all these different techniques and materials behave. Next time I'm in the hobby store I'll get an extra bottle of plastic cement and trow some sprue in it.

[@KOTEC525]

Woah! that antler headed one is really cool! A great idea!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks D! It's my favourite. With the wooden leg and all :)

[@ryanthompson6571]

Just started building these and was thinking what to do with everything going left over. These will be my first kitbash models to. Thanks for the inspiration

[@52Miniatures]

I'm glad to hear it. These minis where a blast to build and paint. I really kind of would like an army... but I think the play style might not suit me.. and I'm worried I'd get bored with the small variety of minis. A small group for skirmish games might be a thing :)

[@tylerruiz5960]

Legit thought this was Darren Latham when I seen the thumbnail lol

[@52Miniatures]

Maybe if I never ever show my painted minis I might get away with it 😂

[@boneman-calciumenjoyer8290]

The 3rd party bitssellers ladged on to 40k over fantasy, because 40k was way more popular when most of these started. A lot of the newer GW fantasy (AoS) models are also not easily convertible, which is what discourages these 3rd party bits manufacturers.

[@kk234th]

Green staff's trade name is Kneadatite. Its a plumbers putty. Which is why it's so sticky.

[@Gebunator]

When you go ork/orruk. Kitbashing just comes as part of it!

[@52Miniatures]

Quite true!! Thanks G

[@619Slipk]

The thing with green stuff is that you gotta aim for the 50/50 mix, but it's not a MUST. Of course you can't go crazy with the proportions but you can sort of manipulate it's consistency (before dried) by adding a bit more of one color and it will still dry fine. Also, I've had succes in preventing it to stick to my (non silicone) tools by brushing them with solid vaseline with an old brush

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks 6. Yeah, I think just for the sake of being "educational", in a KZbin climate, I prefer to play as safe as possible. So that's why there is a lot of 50/50 mixes and "mix well!". But I know that the parts can be varied slightly to taste. Recently I've ben very much enjoying a 50/50 mix of green stuff and milliput. But thanks!

[@ErokLobotomist]

I started out by jumping on Ebay and looking up 40k bit lots. You tend to get lots of Space Marine parts (of course), but if you buy Ork bits you tend to get parts that translate onto other models well. You can also look up Age of Sigmar bits, it's Games Workshop's Fantasy market. Green Stuff is definitely you're friend as well. I've also resorted to DAS air dry clay, and Mr. White Putty by Tamiya for crack filling and add-ons.

[@52Miniatures]

That is very good idea. Also joining some Facebook groups can be handy. There is pressious little that goes up in “eBay” here in Sweden. And import handling fees can be pretty steep sometimes. But there’re is plenty of sales going on over Facebook.

[@kharnthebetrayer1575]

Always enjoyed kit bashing. Even if it’s something small.

[@52Miniatures]

It does add a bit of personality and "sense of freedom" to break the rules of assembly.

[@Kalron9]

I want to kitbash and convert more but I get stressed about ruining something entirely. I hope my new job in which I make more money will maybe alleviate the fear of ruining an expensive model. I love your orks! I hope to do something similar one day

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks K! I hope you get to kit bash more. One trick is to buy "used" minis from ebay or if you have local facebook groups.

[@KCDarkRanger]

Fun fact, with most epoxy putties you don't actually have to do a perfect ratio, in fact changing the ratio can make the final cure harder, or more pliable. You can also mix different putties together to get different effects. Green stuff is great for cloth and paper, but bad for weapons as you can't get that crisp, smooth edge, but mix it with milliput and it becomes much firmer. I actually sculpt a lot of minis from scratch, and do a lot of conversions, so I've really gotten in the weeds, so to say.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks for the tip. I haven’t experimented to much myself, just a bit. But I’m kind of careful with my advice, not wanting to tell people they can mix putties any way they want resulting in an uncured backlash.

[@k_sinner8147]

Thanks just got into mini building and painting trying a grim dark style atm

[@52Miniatures]

Great to hear K! Welcome in to the hobby :)

[@MrMatthewPR]

You should check out thermoplastics. Green Stuff World sells the price-hiked 'Blue Stuff' but you can get the same material elsewhere. Either way, it's a great tool for kitbashing that lets you easily make a mould of small pieces and then duplicate them with actual green stuff, Milliput, or resin. Amazing if you need more of a specific part or want to bash out some damaged/modified versions without risking the original. Plus you just drop it in hot water to remelt & reuse.

[@52Miniatures]

Yeah, I've been seeing that stuff around. One day it will probably be cluttering one of my hobby drawers. And hopefully seeing some use :) Thanks for the tip!

[@MrMatthewPR]

@@52Miniatures It is really worth the little it costs. You can even dissolve sprues into a paste and make plastic parts :) I know you're a big fan of Green Stuff World and maybe over there the prices aren't too bad, but for me, I can get everything except their custom stuff much, much cheaper elsewhere. The whole company screams rip-off merchants to me. I mean they even sell the display cases for their pigments to merchants who want to sell their stock...

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks! In the end rip off merchants can be applied to pretty much any company selling stuff :) over here their stuff is not expensive. I like the fact that they make things available to hobbyist. Sure, you can experiment with 3 different bottles of hairspray to create “cobweb effects”... or just by their little bottle. Also they keep releasing products that just no one else is making.

[@ChrisHolman]

Orks are the best choice for kitbashing!

[@nathantinkler8250]

I just finished Kitbasting brute with flazgit together and then I found your video

[@52Miniatures]

More Brutes then :)

[@Born_Stellar]

I make all my minis unique. I built 66 poxwalkers and after the first 16 every one was modified! also made a bunch of custom weapons for the night haunt infantry!

[@52Miniatures]

Sounds lovely N!

[@jamminghaze]

its like custom attire or car it makes this miniature look bit more like what you want or someone else dont have etc reasons may vary. Different strokes for different folks. Greenstuff, is to me, bit more rubbery and handles water better. bit stickier than Milliput, also tryed mixing them, but milliput breaks easier and is harder when it hardens. Milliput hardens faster than Greenstuff. might try brown stuff, it seems even more solid than these two.

[@52Miniatures]

Brown stuff is supposedly more solid yes. Don't know if the cured result is hard like milliput or "elastic" like green stuff.

[@OldManRogers]

GW Orkz/Orruks/Orks have no females per se, the are referred to as male (ladz, boyz etc) but are actually a fungus and reproduce assexually via spores. I don't know if this has changed with Age of Sigmar, in 40k they are still spore based. They grow in sort of sacs underneath mushrooms and then dig out pretty much fully grown. As they age they get bigger although the average orc lifespan tends to be short due to war and general violence!

[@52Miniatures]

It’s so funny that they are sexless but we still have to refer to them as male. Anyway, your quite right. This is GW’s lore, their story. Tolkien’s orcs where “tortured and twisted elves” I believe. But he never could decide on the reproduction matter. I think I’ve decided that mine hatch from eggs, that comes from the great “mother orc”.

[@VikingJo5h]

was anyone else painting a space marine at the moment he was complaining about how many space marines he's seen or just me?

[@Liopot68]

My main stop in kitbashing is the price... I love Khorne berserkers (40K) but find the sculpt old and ridiculous. I could kitbash some primaris/SP with some Age of Sigmar Khorne guys, but the bill would be so high, I'd rather do something else.

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

Not sure whether you're aware, but people do sell individual parts on ebay, if you know what exactly you're looking for. Rather than buy an entire kit. I've converted undead myself and found dark elf armour useful for making vampires. Your orruks look really good, and the bare chests look much more savage than just building them as standard

[@52Miniatures]

Very true Ben! I thought I mentioned that in the video, but can't remember any more. Essentially, I didn't want to base the video on ebay finds, in case someone wanted get inspired in detail, they would know what GW kit to get. Thanks for the tip though!

[@Matt-md5yt]

I commonly seen people convert the Orruks for 40k and I been wondering if someone would do the Fantasy/AoS setting too. using Nurgle's Soldiers for them is pretty neat and it adds a unique story for the Warband/army.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks Matt. At first I was just looking for bits that would fit. But as you say, it also ads a story. Of whom they beat in battle and stuff. I’m real glad I stripped them of some of the original stuff as well, I like orcs to show a bit more skin. Like they don’t really care to much about the functionality of armor, they just ware it because it looks cool.

[@tabletoppainter7390]

It is a great channel

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you T! :)!

[@liquidtoad3910]

they look perfect. expensive orcs though in perspective. but if you have the money, go wild. great results!

[@52Miniatures]

Thank you. And I agree, I got a bit carried away. But there's is a lot of bits in the Blightkings box, probably enough to last me half an army. eBay is awesome for this as well, I just didn't want to base the video around stuff from eBay.

[@romankovbasniuk1826]

I was considering using the blightkings to kitbash my ogor mawtribes. Also considering using khorne warriors to kitbash with my skeleton warriors to make a weird lore for an ossiarch bonereaper regiment that is made up of resurrected chaos warriors. I'm curently using standard chaos warriors and skeleton warrior heads as a kitbash on that same idea. Super fun.

[@52Miniatures]

I was looking at chaos warriors when I set out with this kitbash but I was concerned they where to “solid” for my specific need. I mainly was looking for bits of worn armor... and the blightkings set shure was full of that. Love the sound of your idea, great work.

[@romankovbasniuk1826]

@@52Miniatures I agree that the standard warriors are far too static for the purposes of kitbashing without literally tearing them apart. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you kitbash your orruks! I'm looking forward to seeing how they turn out, as well as other kitbashes, should you want to do them 😁

[@52Miniatures]

Yeah, they did seem kind of a “solid” sculpt... if you want to see the finished orcs check out my video about “random color schemes”. 🙌

[@Steff_kjns]

The only fantasy themed bits I could find was just loose Age of Sigmar bits. Still a quite nice selection but lots of them are sold out, as not many stores sell them.

[@52Miniatures]

Cool. What kind of bits are they?

[@Steff_kjns]

@@52Miniatures megabitzshop.com/warhammer-fantasy-bits Basically just all Age of Sigmar models, sold as seperate bits. Especially comes in handy if you don't want to buy an entire pack, just to use the head/torso/accessoires from 1 model. I was thinking about converting a sylvaneth model I have with a snake tail, so I just buy one or two Melusai tails instead of spending 40 euros for the entire pack. Unfortunately some really cool stuff is sold out, as to be expected

[@52Miniatures]

@@Steff_kjns Ok! Well that's pretty cool! As you said a lot is sold out, but still. Thanks

[@mscandlex]

Loved the quality and the video in general and maybe you just need to have a piece of paper with the points you wish to discuss in your videos to avoid rambling on xD

[@52Miniatures]

Well thanks! Yeah, the rambling. It’s my big selling point 😂 And of all my qualities, rambling is probably what I do best. And this video is actually me using a sort of script... imagine what it’s like without :) but thanks for the tip!

[@mscandlex]

@@52Miniatures I still enjoyed every minute of that ramble x) And the models looks totally awesome with all those bits you added. Now I'll head out to binge watch the rest of your vids lol

[@52Miniatures]

Excellent! I’m glad to hear you like the minis. They will return a couple of times in a few vids. Painting them and whatnot. Have a great day!

[@sunsolstar]

I don't think I have build a space marine following the instructions in the last 10 years I do not only kit bash them I true scale them too, all of them

[@52Miniatures]

Sounds like fun S :)

[@sunsolstar]

@@52Miniatures totally fun, completely agree with your point of view, you are welcome to check my KZbin channel, I have a few short videos of conversion.

[@ODonnchadhaBrian]

Are you saying there is something wrong with Spacemarines?

[@52Miniatures]

I can't remember? Did I? I think Space Marines are generally not my cup of tea... but then again... I thought the same of the Stormcast.. and here I am with a full army.

[@ODonnchadhaBrian]

@@52Miniatures you didn't actually say but you seemed to have a strong opinion. I'm not a huge fan of them personally but yet I seem to have two spacemarine armies 🙄

[@Darthvirus1992]

Really? noone? Then I have to do it... So: Kilo is greek, not latin ;) But otherwise great video!

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks D! At least definitely sure its not Swedish :)

[@Sarkhamy]

Aren't orks a fungus so theyre all sexless?

[@52Miniatures]

GW’s orc concept yes :) but I figure we can all make up our own concepts.

[@evanmc.7557]

Orks are an fungus thus not being a mammal would not have nipples

[@52Miniatures]

Ah yes, the GW ones are I believe. The tolkien ones are bred in vats or something. I think I've decided that mine are hatched from eggs that come from the great mother orc. But that means no nipples too I think..?

[@longle88]

Khilioi is Greek

[@52Miniatures]

I stand corrected!

[@Fo0tie]

As far as I know, orks have no gender/sex.

[@52Miniatures]

Yeah, the GW one are apparently fungus? And the tolkien ones are kind of a magicy mix of races. I think mine come from the eggs of the great mother orc.

[@andreasdesigns]

You ramble too much.

[@52Miniatures]

Thanks, its one of my talents