One of the nice aspects of the Infinity system is the open and accepted use of proxying models. This is likely due to the fact that Corvus Belli can’t keep every model in stock at all times and actually created more profiles for the units than they could ever produce. This can be a little frustrating when you want to use the exact model and profile you put in your army but it also allows for a high degree of flexibility in model selection.
I’ve proxied for games because units don’t exist or the specific weapon profile was never modeled but recently I’ve been looking at proxying for purely aesthetic reasons. It started with the Liberto (on the left in the image above). Angry “Fish Lizards” never really fit in with my view of Infinity and so I always avoided the unit even though it is a fantastic piece for any army that can take them.
When the Steve Garcia masterclass rolled around and we were doing a Cube Jaeger model, I normally don’t run that unit so I started thinking of what I could do with it since I usually don’t like to have a painted model that is just for display. I prefer to play with my painted dolls. It hit me that the weapons are similar and the model is different enough from “regular humans” that this could be my Liberto.
I picked up another Liberto Cube Jaeger model since Dahshat Company can use two Liberto and painted him up as shown earlier this week.
I’ve been wondering about the Kum Riders as well. Another staple unit for the Dahshat Company, these bikers have a pretty rich history. The models themselves are pretty over the top with there take on ultra aggressive biker gangs and I do like them but they didn’t necessarily fit with my models. I was kind of on the fence on whether to pick them up. Dropping another $40+ on two bikers that will take a lot of work to paint up and that I wasn’t really sold on aesthetically kept me from ever making the plunge.
When the league ended and it came time to choose from the final prize pool, there wasn’t anything in there that I was desperately wanting. I kept eyeing the Dynamo Kazak Light Cavalry box though.
I’d already done up this style of biker before with my Motorized 112 so the bikes already fit with my group and I started thinking that I could make these two work for my Kum Riders. I picked them up for my prize and got started modding them.
First thing I wanted to do was cut off that windscreen. These are highly aggressive shock troops that already have helmets. They don’t need a silly windscreen on their bikes. I knew I was also not putting all the saddle bags and assorted canisters on either. They are short range troops out to harass and break through the enemy lines. They aren’t here to go camping.
The screen came off pretty clean through careful use of my jeweler’s saw. It did get a little dicey at the end as the blade snapped right near the end of the second bike mod. A little extra work with an exacto blade finished the job. After than, I filed it down to smooth and do any final shaping.
The Dynamo’s come with a rifle strapped on one of their backs but the main profile I’ll be using for Kum Riders will be the Chain Rifle. I picked up some printed weapons a long time ago from Monstrous Makings and dug out the Chain Rifle to glue onto one of the rider’s back.
Every biker I’ve done so far has been static. Standing up, propping the bike up with one leg. The chain rifle guy I modded is actively riding so I wanted to emphasize that with a couple of tufts of green stuff to act as dirt being flung up. I also angled the bike to make for a more dramatic figure.
Everything all done on the mod side, I primed and base airbrushed the bikes and riders separately.
Even though I know they will always proxy as Kum Riders for me, I don’t think the mods I made really sold it completely so I decided to try to flex a little with some freehand.
I could have tried printing out the logo and it would show up much better but I’ll never learn if I don’t try.
Up close, it is a total mess but at table length, the effect actually works well enough, especially if you know the symbol already. Likely people won’t and will wonder wtf I have on there but I’ll know and that’ll be enough.
I went pretty simple on the riders themselves but I’m happy with the bikes. They may be unorthodox proxies for the Kum Riders but they fit in well with my Dahshat Company and they have the added bonus of being from prize support for the escalation league that pushed me to start up Dahshat in the first place.
