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1:48 is a good fit, but it also matters what tank you are using. I converted a 1:48 KV2 into a Leman Russ and it is a little narrower, but good length and height and still has that over exaggerated feel with its big turret.

GW scale is whatever GW wants it to be for that specific model.

 Harriticus wrote:
GW scale is whatever GW wants it to be for that specific model.

Yes. Many of their models are off scale. Usually they are smaller to keep down costs. I think the Valkyrie is the only thing that actually has the size to transport what it says it can transport. And it's massive.

http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=76&zenid=f7c88e2f5e2232f845a38593c5007b64

This model was made with Warhammer players in mind so scale shouldn't be an issue however you're going to need a turret so I reccomend looking at Old Crow Miniature's turrets

as for artillery, I say model it with some sort of missile launcher and say it fires dumb missiles

Too bad that kit is $60.

The KV-2 is a good point, as is the Hummel

or Brummbar

But for 40K, a shorter, bigger barrel is more in line. So stuff like earlier Panzer IV and StuG III. "Assault gun" is probably what you're after.

 TheLionOfTheForest wrote:
Too bad that kit is $60.

without the turret its $30; just buy a third party turret from old crow which is like $5

I do like the model, however you can find full military tank kits for ~$25.

http://z4.invisionfree.com/Boot_Camp/index.php?

http://z11.invisionfree.com/Work_In_Progress/index.php?showforum=5

Take a look here for ideas.

Old Crow are seriously thinning out their catalogue and there is no more e-commerce function on the site (so it all has to be done through emails and paypal and stuff) because Jez got himself a job on a big-time hollyweird movie and had to cut back on his hobby.

A shame (it's only a Tom Cruise movie), really, as I have a pathological dislike of paypal and there is a lot of stuff on that catalogue I really liked but can no longer get (for the small amount of stuff I would use ebay and paypal for, it's just not worth setting up an account)

the 1/35 m3 and m5 stuarts and m8 gun carriers are the best to uses as i have used them to create 2 leman russes and a griffion


Automatically Appended Next Post:
the 1/35 m3 and m5 stuarts and m8 gun carriers are the best to uses as i have used them to create 2 leman russes and a griffion

To the OP

Back in the days of the Vehicle Design Rules. I made quite a few custom tanks. One thing I noticed though is 40K tanks tend to be wider than real tanks. If you feel confident in converting you may want to consider cutting the tank in half, length wise and setting the two halves wider apart. This instantly gives a more 40Kish feel and help to curb the um-hah’ing of people not happy with proxies. All you have to do after is add some eagles and skulls
As mentioned before. Converting does not always work out cheaper.

Just my 2 cent
Cheers Vim

Late to the party, but I have found that 1/48 scale heavy tank kits tend to work in 40k, as do 1/35 scale light and medium tank kits. The biggest issue is the scale of your guns, which will look fiddly compared to those mounted on GW models unless you replace them.

To the op.1/48 is what i've always been recommended to use.I have a half track and have just bought a boatcar for my Catachans to use.I paint rather than game so i look for vehicles that have a little theme going on.If you are gaming,as long as your opponent understands what the vehicle is representing then there should be no problem as far as i'm concerned.
Obviously if you have modelled for advantage then your opponent may not be too happy.Anyway i hope i have been helpful.

Ooh useful thread........saved for further reference

Have a look at this thread. I think these look pretty cool. Bought some myself for a future ig project;

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/496680.page

*Deleted*

.... did not notice how old this thread was.

Hmm, nor me. Apologies. I'll leave that link there for reference anyway.

Im a big fan of the ACADEMY models. all 1:48 and dirty cheap. only be aware that the tracks are a pain to assemlbe.
here are a few of my DKOK models:




the GW sponsons fit perfectly on the sides of the KV2 turret. easy to magnetize too





im in the process of building cross shaped gun platforms to mount the big howitzer and the 6 barreld turrent from this 'hydra'


all in all a lot fun to build something different.

Best of luck to your friend! Looks like there are some fantastic ideas and amazing conversions out there already to inspire them. Ultimately this is going to be a matter of the proportions your friend feels comfortable with. A German 88mm cannon is going to look pretty slender compared to a Vanquisher, and might be more suitable as a counts-as lascannon. Generally speaking it looks like the 1:35 scale models can work, but you'll need to patch in GW weapons (or convincing substitutes) to pull it off. This is reflected in some of the better conversions above, particularly the KV-2 / Demolisher and T-34 / Hellhound above...

Having said that, I was too stingy to buy the vehicle upgrade kits for my Leman Russes, and substituted with a 1/35th Scale Academy US Machine Gun set. The Ma Deuce (M2) at 1/35th looks pretty slender compared to the GW heavy stubber but it's hard to doubt what it's doing there and what it represents.

 HiveFleetCollossus wrote:
Quick question: Does anybody know the scale size for 40k tanks? Specifically Imperial Guard ones? My buddy is looking for some basilisks or artillery tanks for cheap, and there are tons of great looking model tanks from hobby shops. What scale size should he look for?

Would something like this fit in size wise?
http://www.artistichobbies.com/proddetail.php?prod=TRP324

What about this?
http://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/AFV00035031/product.php?s=0&t=2&u=9&era=5,6

Thanks!

I have used numerous 1/35 scale models for my forces through the years. All the vehicles in my chaos renegades army are 1/35 scale. Japanese chi- ha tanks as chimeras, and japanese type 90 SPG as a basilisk (all tamiya kits). Also have some italian M13/39 tanks converted into the 3 different hellhound variants and my leman russ is a sherman M4 and my leman russ vanquisher is an isreali super sherman.

My earlier IG army had all 1/35 scale german armor for its vehicles. A brumbar does a good turn as a griffon, and any of a multitude of self propeled guns can fill in as a basilisk. I had a hornisse 88mm self propelled gun on a panzer IV chassis as mine.

The 1/35 scale tanks are a hair big, but look like REAL tanks without the stupidly massive GW gun barrels like on the basilisk. This will give you opponent a little advantage in targeting them, but they will look better on the table. Games workshop's minis around closer to around a 1/40 or so scale, so 1/48 is way too small and 1/35 is a little too big. The massive availability of different kits in 1/35 scale, though, makes up for it and most of the models are vastly more detailed than any of GW's armor kits. Tamiya, Academy, Dragon and Testor's all make decently detailed kits. Best part is for some of them, especially dragon kits, for the same price as a GW leman russ kit you can get a tank that looks more like a real tank, has photoetched parts and often turned aluminum gun barrels as well. Only warning is to stay away from modern main battle tanks as they tend to be alot bigger and really look off next to the GW vehicles. WWII tanks and vehicles were a bit smaller, so OK. Though more modern battle tanks can make a good basis for a superheavy in your army.

Skriker


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 SkaerKrow wrote:
The biggest issue is the scale of your guns, which will look fiddly compared to those mounted on GW models unless you replace them.

I consider this to actually be a bit of a bonus as those big barreled leman russ cannon just look ludicrous.

Skriker

a few of the lindberg modles are perfect size theres a nazi armoured motor car thats perfect scale as well as the russian BMP-1, literaly fits great with IG minis I have lying around, the kit is closer to 1/38 than 1/45 or 1/35 10 -20 a pop the motor car is still made the bmp I think is not but is still very easily findable on ebay