Viability of re-designing the Ravager

Hey guys,

I think we all agree in that the Dark Eldar models are among the best GW has ever produced - with the exception of the official Grotesque and, in my opinion, the Ravager.
It does look Dark Eldarish (i.e. sleek and spikey), but somehow also feels to much like a Raider minus passengers plus two ammunitionless Weapons to me. While it might make sense for other vehicle platforms, like the Rhino/Razorback/Predator, or the Serpent/Falcon/Prism, they all continue having transport capability and/or need the room for ammunition.

I mean, just look at the Eldar tanks from Forge World. This is how you re-design models. They all look distinctively Eldar-y, but different enough to make them stand out.
Why is the Ravager the size of a Raider? Why does it have three guns slapped on the hull of it, while the inside - the actually usable part of the vehicle - is unused? How do they explain the extra armour points for the front and sides? Wouldn't it make much more sense to take for example the Venom chassis and slap the guns on there?
Again, the Eldar do it right. The Eldar Hornet is everything the Ravager wants to be (even and especially rules-wise).

Of course, what is done is done, but how far would you go with your conversions to make the Ravager look more like a real tank-hunter? How far would you let your opponent go, if you're not the converter-type?

EDIT:
In my opinion, speedfreeks Ravagers of his Harlequinade Macabre take a biiig step in the right direction. Changing the front part into a closed canopy not only looks good, but also gives the Ravager a distinct shape. Also, the pilot is in the front, where it makes sense, and not at the back of the craft, with all the passengers and the fat sail wiggling their bums infront of him...

I started a similar topic up a while back. In short I agree with you, but check out the link to see what your fellow forum users thought....

http://www.thedarkcity.net/t2830-ravager-design

Also, do you have pics or links for "speedfreeks Ravagers of his Harlequinade Macabre"

Oh, wow. I didn't know there was already a thread about this in existence, sorry.
Hmm, apparently then we're two of only few who dislike the Ravager design...

Click here for speedfreek's amazing Ravager.

Kinnay wrote:

Oh, wow. I didn't know there was already a thread about this in existence, sorry.
Hmm, apparently then we're two of only few who dislike the Ravager design...

Click here for speedfreek's amazing Ravager.

Thats pretty cool, I like it!

I dont dislike the Ravager design, I just think it could have been better and significantly different from the raider. The eldar hornet is awesome, I really love what they did there. Maybe some dark conversion could be applied to that...hmmmm...

Okay, as I couldn't start a discussion on this topic, how about we at least share some nice Ravager conversions then?
I found this Venom conversion from a Finnish modeller a while ago and think it could be turned into a nice Ravager.

Also, as mentioned above, speedfreeks Ravagers are amazing.
Do you guys know any other nice conversions?

And my initial question remains: Would you personally allow a converted Raider for your opponent, if it about fits the original size and dimensions?

@Levitas:
Yes, If not for the steep price, I'd be producing Hornet-Ravager Conversions left and right! It's an awesome model and I keep looking for ways to use it in a Dark Eldar Army.
Also: Great Blog you have there!

I keep hoping that FW will come out with a new Raven Fighter model that will be an even sexier equivalent to the Hornet.

Re: allowing conversions, I will always allow conversions on the tabletop. Proxies less so, because I have seen some truly lame and lazy ones. But if someone puts the effort and time into converting a model, then I think they should be applauded and allowed to use them.

I might also be disinclined to play against someone who wouldn't allow at least decent conversions.

I love to convert myself, and so I would hope that opponents will always permit me to use my models. I always try to make them a) distinct, so they cannot be confused with other units, and b) WYSIWYG, which I think is a basic courtesy.

These are aspects that I also hope to see with my opponents' own conversions, however, if the models are easy enough to identify and differentiate from other units, I am not so fussed about WYSIWIG.