Legal Conversions: what if you can't do > 50%?

[Blackraine]

I'm trying to come up with a version of Temple Flameguard that looks more like Daughters of the Flame. I've got an idea for the sculpts for the bodies, and they're clearly unique from the Daughters (they're not running, they're wearing armor and helmets that leave the mouth and nose open, but still have the cool cross thing over the eyes that the TFG have), but I'm running into that > 50% rule, where more than 50% of the model must be the original model. The problem here is, of course, that the Temple Flameguard body is one solid chunk... you either use all of it, or none of it, and if you use none of it (as I'm wanting to do for the conversion) you're not using > 50% of the original model. About all I actually intend to use of the original model is the spear and shield. I'd probably use more if there was more I *could* use, but I'm not very good at whittling on metal, so I don't think I could get away with chopping it in half and trimming it down to be the appropriate size for a female (well... I could probably do it once or twice, but it'd be a lot of work to do an entire unit like that without casting the whittled pieces, and even then we're getting into dodgy territory about what makes the original model the original model since what I'd be doing would amount to a resculpt that just happened to use the original as raw materials).

So, I guess the question is, what would you do? Should I just have the originals on-hand in case someone has a problem with it, and I can just switch them out before the game starts? Will I get penalized somehow (or worse, disqualified) if I do that at a major event (like, say, Gencon Qualifiers or Masters)?

[Mod_Plarzoid]

Will the models be immediately recognizable as TFG? While the 50% rule is a great benchmark, TOs have the freedom to allow conversions anyway.

If you use TFG spears and shields, which are very well known, I doubt you'll run into any problems. Obviously, defer to the TOs judgement, and have a backup list that doesn't use them, or have original models on standby.

My personal rule of thumb has always been: if you put the model in my hand, and I can correctly guess the model it represents, you're fine.

[Blackraine]

Sounds good to me... there's only one unit in the Protectorate that uses Spears and Shields (and I will, specifically, be using the TFG ones) so hopefully it won't be a problem. And if it is, like you say, I'll have a unit of the real thing on hand to replace them with.

[Wishing]

I don't think you would get penalised in any way by anything to do with conversions. The worst that could happen is that you would not be allowed to use the models. As such, make sure to have the real flameguard to hand. Then you can use your daughter-proxies if the TO lets you, or use the original models if they don't. You don't lose anything either way.