Searching for (non-existent) sci-fi miniatures for aliens. Welcoming suggestions.

[kristof65]

TL/DR: Looking for suggestions for some minis to represent two custom alien races. 

I'm working on finally fleshing out a custom Traveller setting that has been in the back of my mind for 20+ years now because I've found some players for it who want to get started this summer.  In this setting, there are two alien races, the K'klk and the S'sri.   Since these two alien races play prominently in the setting, it would be nice to have a handful of minis to represent them.  

Ideally, I'd be able to offer up large sums of cash to several of my favorite Reaper sculptors, and have them them put their own twist on my ideas, but since my Powerball tickets have all been a bust, that ain't happening. With Plan A down the tubes, that brings in Plan B:  give some generic descriptions to you fine folk, my current plan to represent them and then see if your collective knowledge point me to even better. 

Any format is ok - production minis in metal or plastic that I can get at retail or from online, STLs I have to download and print or even having to do simple to moderate conversions and mash-ups. 

So here are my races:

 

The K'klk

Insectoid in appearance, but more birdlike in mannerisms, and an asexual reproduction.  Most often found in groups of 4-6.   

In my mind's eye, I keep wavering between the idea of bipedal space ants to centauroid like space fleas. Ideally, just a bit smaller than human size. 

My current thinking is probably to go with some Thri-kreen fantasy minis and convert them to be holding sci-fi gear and weapons. 

I think I'm going to need anywhere from 4 to 12 minis for these guys, because they are so often found in groups, so whatever line I use has to have at least a few variants available.  

The S'sri

These guys are supposed to be alien.  Females are large and aggressive meat eaters. Males are slightly smaller, but are still larger than humans and tend to be more omnivore. Females are rarely found off world thanks to the initial K'klk-S'sri war that started because S'sri females developed a taste for eating K'klk. In fact, the literal English translation of the K'klk homeworld in the S'sri language is "buffet." 

My original sketches had them as basically Yaun-Ti with four arms, but over the years I've thought about their heads being more alien and their lower bodies being more centipede like than snake like. 

My current thinking is to figure out a conversion using the Reaper Kulathi for the upper torso/heads and finding something else from the Bones line to use for the lower half - perhaps a Bathalian Centurion or Nagendra.  I'm going to need at least 3-4 of these guys, and eventually I'll need to figure out how to create a larger looking one as a female. 


There is also a third race that I might need a single mini for. This race isn't around any more, they're an ancient race now called the "Builders" who have left ruins scattered around the galaxy.  The only reason I would want a mini for these guys is to use as sort of a "museum" piece - a rendering of what they looked like, sort of how we have renderings for dinosaurs.  All I have currently decided about this race is that I want them to be humanoid, but not just a Star Trek human with a different head. 

Hit me with your suggestions!

TIA. 



 

[Chaoswolf]

So, I agree with your idea for the K'kik. Thri-kreen popped into my head before I even got to that part of your post. If you want them a little smaller than humans, maybe see if you can find some 3D printable ones you like and scale them down a little  bit before printing. 

 

More later.

[kristof65]

25 minutes ago, Chaoswolf said:

If you want them a little smaller than humans, maybe see if you can find some 3D printable ones you like and scale them down a little  bit before printing. 

My thought as well. Just all I've found so far are fantasy ones. May have to get better with Meshmixer to convert them before printing. 

[Corsair]

Heroclix Chameleon Boy mini is cheap, might be a good starting point.

Also, the Starfinder Battles have a bunch of singles available that might be useful.

Edited March 25, 2022 by Corsair

[kristof65]

10 minutes ago, Corsair said:

Heroclix Chameleon Boy mini is cheap, might be a good starting point.

he's only the one pose, though, right? 
 

11 minutes ago, Corsair said:

Also, the Starfinder Battles have a bunch of singles available that might be useful.

Ooh - the Starfinder Shirren look promising.  Not exactly what I had in mind for the K'klk, but a definite possibility.  

[ksbsnowowl]

3 hours ago, kristof65 said:

My current thinking is to figure out a conversion using the Reaper Kulathi for the upper torso/heads and finding something else from the Bones line to use for the lower half - perhaps a Bathalian Centurion or Nagendra.

The Bathalian figures would be too large to mesh well with the Kulathi figures. Nagendra would be much closer to an appropriate scale to mate the join point well. 

[Corsair]

7 hours ago, kristof65 said:

he's only the one pose, though, right? 
 

Ooh - the Starfinder Shirren look promising.  Not exactly what I had in mind for the K'klk, but a definite possibility.  

Yup, just the one pose on him, but I forgot the Brood minis from Heroclix, there were several, I may need to look for some myself for SG.

[Aestivalis]

For the K'klk, what about using some of the old D&D Formian Warrior miniatures? (Aberrations #22). There might be some newer Pathfinder versions, but the older ones would be Very easy to modify.

 

Not sure about the S'sri or the Builders, but there are many unique aliens from Mantic's Star Saga game, like this guy...

 

https://www.manticgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SG-Character-and-Mission-Creator-Expansion5.jpeg

 

Good luck.

[kristof65]

On 3/25/2022 at 11:13 PM, Aestivalis said:

For the K'klk, what about using some of the old D&D Formian Warrior miniatures? (Aberrations #22). There might be some newer Pathfinder versions, but the older ones would be Very easy to modify.

Gah! That formian sculpt in the D&D Minis sets is horrible.  I don't know if it's a bad sculpt, or just too much paint. 

But I had forgotten about Formian's as a possibility, and that did lead to this one in the StarFinder Battles:

 
That's not a bad option, and at $2.50 each, not a bad price.  But it does appear to be taller than a human. 

[Glitterwolf]

 

Myminifactory - Evan Carothers

Sci-fi Insectoid Aliens [Support-free]

 

[Werkrobotwerk]

On 3/25/2022 at 1:24 PM, kristof65 said:

The S'sri

These guys are supposed to be alien.  Females are large and aggressive meat eaters. Males are slightly smaller, but are still larger than humans and tend to be more omnivore. Females are rarely found off world thanks to the initial K'klk-S'sri war that started because S'sri females developed a taste for eating K'klk. In fact, the literal English translation of the K'klk homeworld in the S'sri language is "buffet." 

My original sketches had them as basically Yaun-Ti with four arms, but over the years I've thought about their heads being more alien and their lower bodies being more centipede like than snake like. 

My current thinking is to figure out a conversion using the Reaper Kulathi for the upper torso/heads and finding something else from the Bones line to use for the lower half - perhaps a Bathalian Centurion or Nagendra.  I'm going to need at least 3-4 of these guys, and eventually I'll need to figure out how to create a larger looking one as a female. 


 

have you looked at the korlaon faction from void? they're not perfect, but may be a good starting point for conversion

[kristof65]

On 3/29/2022 at 2:31 AM, Glitterwolf said:

 

Myminifactory - Evan Carothers

Sci-fi Insectoid Aliens [Support-free]

 

I had come across one sculpt of these, didn't realize there were more. Not what I was thinking, but I do like Evan's work.

 

 

On 3/30/2022 at 8:02 AM, Werkrobotwerk said:

have you looked at the korlaon faction from void? they're not perfect, but may be a good starting point for conversion

No, I had not, never heard of them. I have heard of Void, but isn't it OOP?

 

Picture isn't that clear, but I am currently trying a conversion using the Cthon and a Kulathi:

 

Had to create a gap I'm going to need to putty in order to make it "human sized".

 

[Werkrobotwerk]

7 hours ago, kristof65 said:

 

No, I had not, never heard of them. I have heard of Void, but isn't it OOP?

It has come back into print recently. Through seb games I think.

[Mad Jack]

 

 Dunno if this would work for a queen, but Epic Miniatures has a centipede queen... (It's wrapped around some plants...)

[Chaoswolf]

I like that conversion so far.