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So I am in the process of starting an Imperial Guard army, and I would like all my veterans to have rides (i.e. chimeras), but since I'm not too fond of the chimera model (and it's all too common in my FLGS) I'd like to use something different, both to give my army flavor, and to cut down on costs. I really like the idea of Veterans riding in Hummers, so I was thinking about buying these to convert and equip as chimeras: [url]http://www.amazon.com/pcs-Box-Hummer-Scale-Yellow/dp/B003OE9L9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1357608229&sr=1-1&keywords=hummer+1%3A32

Now the Chimeras dimensions are approximately: 3.75" width X 4.75" length (without the dozer blade) X 2.00" height (variable with turret options), and these hummers I'm looking at are 6.5" long. I mostly play with friends who are fine with playing with converted models, but I don't want the hummers to make terrain (GW cityscape terrain, houses), look ridiculously small by comparison. So my question is, will the hummers break the "feel" of the game in your opinion? BTW if I go ahead and buy the hummers, I will be painting them in the same color scheme as the rest of my army (not leaving them bright red and yellow hahaha)

Also, I'm hoping you can give me suggestions/tips to make the hummers fit better into the 40K universe (i.e. conversion tips, modelling advice, etc)

Thanks in advance for your input!

If you are just playing with friends l, it shouldn't be a problem. If you're playing with me, it would depend on how cool they looked and the size difference on the table.

First off I think it's a great idea though you might want to look for military Hum-Vs rather than the civilian versions.

It's hard to say without seeing the toys next to a Chimera, but my feeling is a 1/32 Hummer will be a bit small.

As for converting them here what I did with some 1/35 vehicles I'm going to use as civilian rides.





Just added some spare Imperial hatches and front armor.

For a chimera you'll want to put on a top hatch with a gun and then model a heavy bolter or HMG in the passenger side window. Maybe up armor the wind screen too, Rhino front plates might work for that.

Good luck!


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Would this work for you?

http://www.amazon.com/Maisto-31974-HUMVEE/dp/B00000ISHM/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1357612704&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=hummer+1%3A32



It's a bit costier but already looks more military, and the dimensions look better too. The only issue might be it will look too big for the IG inside. Maybe just get one and see how it looks?

These 1/40 Hummers will look right in scale

http://www.amazon.com/Set-Hummer-Scale-Black-Yellow/dp/B003DL6ROQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1357612872&sr=1-3-fkmr1&keywords=hummer+1%3A32



But will be too small for Chimeras and too small to hold 10 IG.

Maybe you can mount two of them to a base and call that a Chimera?

It's funny, I actually have the 1/40 hummers right now, as I was able to get them online for a good price. You're spot on that the hummer is the right scale, but too small to be a chimera. The idea of 2 to a base is really cool and I might try that and see how it goes... I could put the multilaser on one and the HF on the other. The 1/40 hummers I have are the truck versions, so a gunner standing in the truck bed is not out of the question.

Y'know those 1/40 hummers might not be a bad buy for some civilian vehicles now that you mention it...

Good luck! Keep us posted.

1:35 have worked pretty well for me... I'm building some HEMMT conversions and the sizing has worked fine for me, but on a super-heavy sort of scale.

How about a stretch Hummer, to bring it close to Chimera dimensions and better match the transport capacity?

A stretch Humvee would be IMPOSSIBLE to drive on battlefield terrain!

Sweet, I used one for a battle wagon

I would have no issue playing against them at all. They would just have to be able to represent weapons and dozer blades and match the army

So my current plan is to use the 1/40 scale hummer trucks and to add a platform to the back of each (sort of similar to the baselisk).

I want to make the platform true scale, so able to actually fit 6 guardsmen models (maybe not including their bases) The thinking being that 4 guardsmen are seated within the chimera itself.

I was toying with the idea of adding heavy bolters/multilasers turrets to the platform, to represent the HB/ML that a chimera has. For a chimera with a heavy flamer, I think I will model a guardsmen sitting shotgun sticking his flamer out of his open door (pointing straight ahead) to represent the HF

Let me know what you think...
Thanks!

If you go for the 'Mad Max' look, with heavily modified/rebuilt/armoured vehicles, that gives you the perfect excuse for extending the wheelbase and body to whatever dimensions you need, and bolting on whatever armour you need.

Adding a heavy weapon 'ring' mount above the back deck is certainly the easiest way to represent a turret weapon. and yes, modelling a hull weapon via a guy sticking his weapon out his side window is good - although equally you could just bolt the hull weapon to the front bonnet.

As with any conversion for serious play, the biggest issues are making it close to the size of the standard GW model, and doing a fair job of representing the armour and weaponry - so long as you manage that, you'll get few complaints.

It looks to me like you could pretty easily take apart the die cast model shown and cut the rear half of the cabin off with a hacksaw. This might give you enough room for six figures (probably not in reality, but it would look more like it.)

A cupola ring and a gun in the windscreen, on the passenger side of the driving compartment, provide your basic weapon fit.

How about a thin running board on either side, mount 2 IG in each, and then you just have to fit two on the back?

You'd end up with something thinner and less back-heavy.

^^That could also add to the width of the vehicle to make it more similar to the actual chimera model.
And you're right I do have to figure something out to make it less back heavy....

BTW I've learned that with the front doors open, the hummer is about 3.5 inches wide just 1/4 of an inch shy of the actual width. I think Ill be able to solve the issue by making the truck bed 3.75 inches wide, possiblly with a heavy weapon and a trooper manning it on each side of the bed...

BTW thanks to everyone who has been posting!


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Once I begin conversion work, I will put up pics of the progress!

I think this is a great idea. I'd love to face them on the tabletop.

Red Knight wrote:
^^That could also add to the width of the vehicle to make it more similar to the actual chimera model.
And you're right I do have to figure something out to make it less back heavy....

BTW I've learned that with the front doors open, the hummer is about 3.5 inches wide just 1/4 of an inch shy of the actual width. I think Ill be able to solve the issue by making the truck bed 3.75 inches wide, possiblly with a heavy weapon and a trooper manning it on each side of the bed...

BTW thanks to everyone who has been posting!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Once I begin conversion work, I will put up pics of the progress!

If that's the case why not put them on bases wtih the doors open and do a mini diorama with Ig taking cover behind the doors?

Hummers are unarmoured jeeps, Chimeras are APCs with a turret. Don't have much in common. At least use the version without canvas doors.