Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi All,

I’m new to 40k and have had to take some short cuts in order to build up an army. Some of the models are just too expensive for me so I’ve been looking at "proxy models."
Has anyone one else converted real world armor models into Imperial Guard armor? Specifically I’m looking at the French Le SOMUA S35 and the Char B1 bis: both of which are available in 1/35 scale. Any ideas on how I could make them appear more IG like?

I’m going for a slightly “steam punk-ish” look since the infantry for my army is converted from ACW troops. Think Hood's Texas Brigade with lasguns and chain swords and Mordian artillery support.

Thanks!
Jeff

Perhaps some pics of the models you want to use? (it'll help if we have something to compare to )

To make it more IG like.... lots of rivets i guess.

Im not too sure how to get pictures in here, and Im really afraid of copyright infringment of I do.
But I can give you some links that show the tanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somua_S35

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_B1

These two show some good pics of the tanks I want to use. The Somua is my personal favorite of the two. I was thinking of using regular Leman turrets.

Thanks!

Jeff

Char B1 is what the Malcador tank is clearly based off.

I've made a bunch of boilers up out of parts from other kits, and fitted them to my tanks to give them a retro-steam-punk kind of feel.

Usage of lots of bronze metallics also works here.

I was thinking of using Leman turrets, but Im not sure is somthing more would help.

Hmm , IG would definitely need more armor plate and rivets ( if ur using those tanks )

chromedog wrote:Char B1 is what the Malcador tank is clearly based off.

I disagree. I see nothing in the Malcador that suggests Char. Bis. The Malcador is firmly based in WWI tank design. Look at any of the early British tanks.
Even the early midwar period tanks might be referenced in the design.

I think the British Mk. VI turret looks more like it lent design influence to the Malcador's:





Plus, the angles of the WWI tank's tread design were created specifically for trench crossing. In WWII (and the tanks that were built leading up to it), tanks
were created for overland, rugged terrain, not for crossing 3-6 foot wide trenches. Take a look at this pic of the US Mk.VIII (Or, Liberty) tank tread design:



Compare the shape to that of the Malcador. Note how there is far more emphasis towards the rear. The front of the tread system is a short, sharp upward
slant while the back is a long gradual slope with a sharp u-turn at the end. The Malcador is designed the same way, albeit with sharper angles. This, as I mentioned
before is atypical of the trench-crossing needs the designers had in mind at the time.




The trench rails on the back smack of the Renault FT-17:





The Malcador, just like everything else designed in the Death Korps of Kreig flavor, have their roots FIRMLY embedded in WWI-era concepts.



Ghidorah

I got to see a Mark VIII at Fort Meade, those things are surprisignly roomy on the inside.

1/35 shermans and Lees are the right size for Lemans Russ.

I disagree. I see nothing in the Malcador that suggests Char. Bis.

I agree. However, FWIW, "char" is French for tank, and "bis" is latin for "second" or in this case something like "mk2." The real identifying name here is "B1."

Calling it the Char Bis is sorta like calling a Challenger II MBT a "Two Main Battle Tank."

The problem with real tanks, is that compared to 40K tanks, they tend to look very fine and flimsy, especially in the guns. The little 37mm guns that were around pre-WWII look ridiculous compared to the types of tubes you see on a Leman Russ.

Honestly, I think the best use for a tank kit is for a basic frame, and treads. The B1 might be a good starting point, but from there, I'd start making up some Standard Template Construct looking styrene sheet. But that won't save you any money...

Let Nexus 6 inspire you: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/239912.page

In any case, make sure the scale is right. 1/35 scale tanks tend to be a bit big for 40K. Only the smallest ones (light tanks) typically work. The B1 will probably be a bit too big.

First off, welcome to the Guard!

The Russ draws alot of influence from French tanks (just with slightly different proportions). Some of the Original Epic scale LR's (before the plastic kit we all know and love came out) looked like Frenchies from about 2 feet away. You should have no problem with getting them to work with your IG army LOOKS wise. Where you might run into a sticking point is when you play 40k outside of "friendly" games. Some people are real sticklers for it needing to be real GW models. Then again, if you put some work into the paintjob, do some conversions, and make it look cool; most people will not care that its not "official" GW.

Trumpeter makes a line of French Tank kits that does not seem to be too badly priced, but they are still around $20 each (some are 40+). I have not seen these kits reviewed anywhere yet, but you can probably go to some military modeling websites and look around for someone talking about them. I suggest missing-lynx.com as they have allot of good modeling info there.

A little digging at Amazon.com revealed the following tank (I searched using the following terms; French, Tank, Model):
http://www.amazon.com/35-French-39-Tank-37mm/dp/B000BMWXHK/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1243258021&sr=8-9
it is going for $20 + shipping and should work for a LR.

http://www.amazon.com/35-French-39-Tank-37mm/dp/B000BMWXHU/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1243258733&sr=8-16
$21+ shipping and would make an amazing basilisk.

If you want your guard to surrender on the first turn, then yeah, go ahead use french tanks.

John wrote:If you want your guard to surrender on the first turn, then yeah, go ahead use french tanks.

Is that joke still going, its so laboured by now Id of thought people would of given up with it.

its like when people still find Chuck Norris jokes funny!

Never mind the historical inaccuracies of such a joke, maybe its because im a history student but it always annoys me what a bad rap the french get in the second world war considering the social economic and political factors that all lead to France being in no position to fight a war when she was dragged into it.

Then the failure of the Maginot line because of Belgium.

/rant off

Thanks for all the feedback. After reading through, here is what I’ve decided on:
Using the French SOMUA S35, I would like to give it a regular Leman turret and sponson guns with plenty of other bits (eagles, tool box, etc.) added on for good measure. I also think I might add the Leman engine exhausts and such.
I found a 1/35 scale model that is pretty cheap, and the model measures out to 6x5x3. It will be longer than a Leman, but otherwise about the same. I also think it offers an excellent base for conversion into Hellhound.
Again, thanks for the feedback.

Thanks,

Jeff

Yeah, GW modeled the Imperial armor pretty obviously on WWI tanks...here are some more ref shots just because...

IG tanks Versus "real" tanks

huge rivet
HUGE and short turret gun.
Imperium iconography
Hull mount Heavy bolter
SKULLS!!!!!11!

Add those 5 element properly, and you should have a tank that screams IG

combo wrote:Then the failure of the Maginot line because of Belgium.

OMG!!! You just made me laugh like a madmonster. "Because of Belgium"... That's a good one.
wooo...

/dries eyes



Ghidorah
who snorted while laughing. This is not good when you breath bolts of electricity for weapons...