Tools used:
Stanley File Kit
Superglue
Hobby Drill (if you have one)
Materials needed:
Devastator Squad Sprue
Spare Torsos (from bike squad and assault squad kits)
Magnets
First, assemble your torso and legs.
Second, take your round file (or Hobby Drill) and make a starter hole on the top of the legs and underneath the torso. Next turn it around so that you are using the base of your file and make the hole larger. It so happens the diameter of the base of my file and my magnets are the same size.
Third, I dry fitted the magnet in the hole again using the base of the file to hold the magnet. Be very careful not the put the magnet in all the way in as you need to make sure the polarity of your magnets are in the correct position. Make sure the hole is deep enough so the magnet will be flush/flat with the surrounding surface.
Fourth, take the legs, place a drop of super glue into the hole, and slide the magnet into the hole. Again, use the base of your file to push the magnet into the hole. Allow the glue to dry. Then, take another magnet and place it on top of the legs as shown below.
This will ensure the polarity is correct when you glue the torso magnet in place. Take your torso and place a drop of super glue into the hole and push the torso and legs together. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, slide off the torso (do not pull as the magnet may come out). Make sure the magnet is pushed in before sliding out. Do not push the magnet in with or file or anything similar as it may go too far into the torso. Allow the glue to dry. Legs and torso should look as shown below.
Fifth, assemble the torso with the diffeent weapon options. Notice that I used some bike squad torsos. If you do, additional work will be needed as the bottom of the bike squad torso is flat and the legs are rounded on the top.
Now, you have multiple torsos you can interchange to customize your army as a Devastator Squad or as additional unit choices to add to your tactical squads.
Alot of people have asked me WHY? Several have said that it is the same as having the assembled figure which is true. But I had the spare torsos from my bike squad when I used the White Scars upgrade (2 upgrade packs plus Commander upgrade = 7 spare torsos). You also get 1 spare torso in every Tactical Squad, Veteran Squad, and Command Squad Sprues (2 Tactical plus Veteran and Command = another 4 spare torsos). That is alot of torsos with only a few legs AND you get 8 different weapon configurations in the Devatator Squad box.
I have also been asked why not mangetize the backpack only. Well, in the case of the Heavy Bolter, Las Cannon, and Plas Cannon; the arms, weapon, and backpack are attached to each other. Alone, the configuration is fragile. With the torso, they have a solid base.
I hope that this tutorial will help anyone and everyone on customizing your army.
