XV-8 Conversions

XV-8's to the Front!

XV-8's are an older model, at least 10 years old, but they will not be changed for the new Tau Codex. This is fine with me, as the aesthetics fit the Tau ideals and it was a very good foundation for converting. There weren't a whole lot of problems with them so why redo them?


My main complaint with this suit is that it is so darn dorky looking. It is almost impossible to find any artwork anywhere depicting an XV-8 as it actually looks. Everyone elongates the torso, reduces the leg/feet size, and gives them a waist. True, these are models and only so much can be translated from imagination, but I haven't seen another model so drastically different from its artwork.

So what do we do? We fix it of course.\

Upgrading the Basic Suit

I wanted to keep the suit's overall shape and aesthetic while removing the dorky/lame parts. This was accomplished by simply extending the torso, raising the jetpack slightly, and making the hips smaller. Though simple, it can be time consuming depending on how you go about it.
I happened to have no sculpting putty when I first attempted this conversion and so the result was not as smooth and lots of plasticard shaping. The end result was ok, but not quite there.

The little green conversion monster took ahold of me and I could not stop. I cut an airsoft pellet in half to replace the existing shoulder joint and give it a wider range of motion. Then I extended the forearms and elbows with plasticard. To finish I bent one of the legs a tad farther and added a kneeplate to the other. XV-8's are extremely versatile, so they should always be magnetized. I magnetized the arms to carry the weapons underslung.

The Ultimate XV-8 Kitbash

This was first introduced to me on Advanced Tau Tactica but I can't remember exactly where. When the new XV-9 Hazard suits came out, they presented a bulkier, niftier torso to work with. Combined with the interchangeable XV-8 weapons from the other Forgeworld XV-8 variants, you have the quickest way to an awesome XV-8 for your commander. The downside: this is one expensive suit!
Two different FW suits will run you alot of money, but it may be worth it to you for an appropriately awesome looking commander.

New Codex, New Conversion

It became apparent to me after the first conversion, that I did not have the time to shape plasticard torsos and cut up XV-8 torsos every which way. Even with a jeweler's saw I couldn't get the consistency I wanted so I tried something different. The new XV-8 commander suit gave me some inspriation, and told me that it was ok for an XV-8 to have a waist. So I gave it one. I also gave it forgeworld posability for funsies.

This turned out better than I was expecting, and the conversion only took me one sitting to pull off. I simply cut away the groin pieces below the chest detailing and filled what was left of the hip socket with green stuff. I then shaped a GS joint for the actual waist piece to attach to the main body. Finally, I filed out slots in the knees to fit the forgeworld knee joint.
The waist is a piece from the forgeworld XV-9 model, as are the shin pieces and shoulder pads.
The elbow joint and forearms are from a forgeworld XV-84 model.
This would not be possible through buying every piece, but there are ways around that, and overall I'm pleased with the look. there are things I'd change, but they are minor and it's too late now. Time to mass produce!