Oh so that's how you do it, well I do the same thing except, I also cut things from other sprites and put them on the thing I'm modifying, I did that for my Free Port mod.
All of my mercenaries were originally Ulm battle axe men, you should have a look because they turned out really well and I personally thing a planner look to the bandits, for instance a scale curus and leathery, plane boots and gloves.
This is my Free Port mod, check out the sprites, most are just color change and other bits from other units, quite little is my handy work.
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...b=5&o=&fpart=1