The Imperial Guard Tread-head thread

[Tinners]

New dead tank, will be three in total

[SDKFZ]

AGHHH, now with tracks !! Great work !

Love to see how this one turns out.

/ SDKFZ

[SSG Snuffy]

Magos Nalax considered the data-stream from the armored behemoth in front of him. This particular design originated from schematics dating back before the Terran Wars of Reunification. Scaled up to accommodate modern weaponry, it had promise. It was fast for its size, well armored, and the turret had room for adaptation to different weapon systems. And yet… there were so many dissimilarities inherent in the design: the driver sat on the left, there was no room for sponson weapons, and the interleaved road wheels promised to wear out the servo-motors of the Enginseer assigned to maintain them.

He cogitated for nearly 2.377 seconds, then fired a burst of data at the nearest attendant. “The design is inadequate and will not be reproduced; sign this one over to the Munitorium.” He turned and rolled smoothly away toward the next model. Perhaps that one would be worthy to wear the name Macharius…

So, fellow tread-heads, I’d like some advice. Some time ago, I was in a local arts & crafts store and spotted an incredible bargain: a Tamiya 1/35 Panther Tank kit on sale for less than $15! I don’t do much military modeling, and I tend to stick to 1/48 when I do, but this was such a great deal I couldn’t pass it up. I took it home and quickly discovered why it was so inexpensive: it’s a lousy model. I don’t mean that it’s historically inaccurate, or the dimensions are off or anything of that sort. Rather, the kit is designed as a sort of cross between a model and a toy. It has holes in the hull for the installation of a motor (not included), the top of the hull is designed to lift off easily to replace the batteries, and it lacks the detail level you would expect from a Tamiya kit.

So naturally, I decided to kitbash it. In terms of size it fits nicely between a Baneblade and a Russ, so I thought I’d make it a “counts-as” Macharius. I replaced the cupola with a SM hatch, added TL stubber barrels to the ball MG mount, adapted the mantlet to take two cannons, intermixed some tools from the IG vehicle sprue with the stock tools, added some track skirts, and slapped a brass-etch eagle on the front. As a gesture of solidarity, I made the cannon barrels the same length as the Panther’s 75mm gun, but I made them the same diameter as on my converted Russ tanks. I figure that way I can get away with using it as either a regular Macharius or a Vanquisher variant.

My question is: what next? I don’t think it looks bad, though certainly not up to the standard some of you display here regularly. What can I do to make it integrate more fully with standard IG vehicles? I had thought of putting a set of TL heavy bolters on the turret roof to count as the sponsons… do any of you have a better idea? I’m open to suggestions. Ha! Famous last words!

(Please excuse the lousy pics)

[SanguinaryDan]

Here's a WiP shot of the CCS Chimera in a less big butt form.

[wanderer82]

SSG Snuffy: its definitely a great start on converting the panther! Here are my thoughts on taking it to the next level:

Rivets: IG vehicles are synonymous with rivets, so throw a bunch on. Even better? Add simple plasticard shapes and 'rivet' those onto the tank, to represent thicker armor.

More Kit: load up the vehicle on random extra bits you have laying around. Fuel cans, ammo crates, bags. Remember that the crew of a tank also lives out of a tank, so throw some extra stuff on it.

Sponsons: sponsons are tough to add to a tank. Perhaps you could build them on the sides of the turret?

Cupola: it seems really high. Do you have a 25mm round base underneath the SM hatch? If so, or its some other spacer, I would recommend removing it. If the bottom of the SM hatch is the problem, just snip/cut/file it off.

Track Guards: I am having a hard time with the track guards. Honestly, they are too contemporary of a style, both for the IG vehicle identity and for the panther frame. If this is the style of track guard you use on your other tanks, then try to build up the armor elsewhere on the tank to match it in a similar pattern.

Just my random thoughts. If you listen to nothing else from my ideas, please, RIVETS.

[Getz]

SSG Snuffy. I remember that kit - it dates back to the mid 70's. It was a very good kit for it's day and will build a halfway decent Panther, but it'n not a patch on their more recent offerings...

[SSG Snuffy]

@Getz: Heh, I date back to the mid-70's myself...

This was a fair value for the money, I guess, and I'm not sorry that I bought it. I was just surprised at the differences between it and the more recent 1/48 kits that I have.

[Getz]

You should see the series of 1/35 panthers they did in the 90's - comparing them to the old kits was like day and night...

[Tinners]

Dead tanks!

[Tinners]

Not sure if this counts...doesnt have treads?

[sovietred]

Seachlight with flamer, great idea.

[commissarbob]

Given your plethora of tanks posted, I think we can let it slide. Looks good so far! Looks like it needs a lot more rivets though...

[Krzyek]

I would be very grateful, if somebody could tell me what the Leman Russ / Demolisher dimensions are. Mainly how wide the hull is (with and without the tracks).

[Ariobarzanes]

The Tracks must Flow...


Progress on the Obyekt-6 BULAT (Leman Russ MBT)

This is a W.I.P. (secon session)







And yes my friends, the sponsons are going back to the drawing board.

[SDKFZ]

Like that "new" Russ, Airobarzanes.

@ Tinners: Wheres your pics. gone, Mate ??

/ SDKFZ

[Ariobarzanes]

@SDKZ: thanks sir!!! this is my inspiration

But a compromise between G.W. esthetic and mine must be preserved.

[Rictus]

Been ages since I have looked, let alone posted in here.

I hope the rule is still anything with an AV, rather than just pure Imperial...


Looted Shadowsword...

'Da Choppa'





Looted Deathstrike...

'Deffstrike Rokkit Launcha'

[lazy.sarge]

Awesome man, just awesome

[SSG Snuffy]

The Shadowsword I could take or leave (though the details on the back are really nice), but that Deathstrike is truly awesome. Where are the treads from?

[tryanotherone]

I wonder what would happen if those gretchins attempted to launch the missile but it wouldn't detach due to a malfuction.