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Hi all!

just a quick question but in a few days time I will be purchasing a leman russ for my new imperial guard army, and as im undecided on which variant to choose from (from the leman russ battle tank box not leman russ demolisher) and considering tactical versatility would be a good prospect, I was wondering if when building the tank the turret base and actual turret are one piece or if they are separate. If they are separate would it be possible to magnetize the turret base and all turrets on the sprues allowing me to change whenever? has anyone done this before? also can you do the same with the sponsons?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Yep, it can be done with the main gun. I put magnets in place of the pivot points for the guns' bases where they fit in the turret; there are two versions of the base for the projectile and energy variants. I matched these with magnets in the cradles where those pivots would otherwise sit as well (kinda necessary since I replaced the part that would have rested there). The projectile variants don't need any further magnetization; just don't glue the barrel parts together. The socket they come with will hold just fine. The energy weapons required another magnet in the base front where the weapon would be glued, and one in the weapon itself.

This may be confusing without pictures.... I'll see if I can get some together for you.

Thanks I think I understand what you mean although pictures would be very helpful

Okay, I added a photo above. I don't recall which gun variants come with which kit; you can see that I have all the variants available. The magnets for the base are on both sides of the mounts.

I also glued a cross bar under the turret hatch, so I can take the tank commander out at will. The hatch hinge has a pin through it so it actually can be closed when I don't have the TC in there.

I don't think the sponson mounts really need a magnet, but I have considered putting one in the base of the socket just to be sure. I expect the sponson guns will loosen up at some point. I also tried to magnetize the 'dozer blade, but I haven't figured out a good way to made it sturdy. It will hang on, but it comes off easily. I could probably glue a metal washer in the hull and put stronger magnets in the brackets or inlay heavy steel pins in the brackets and put the magnets in the hull, but I didn't think about magnetizing the blade until after the tank hull was assembled.

ahh yes that's much clearer now

it looks easy enough so I think ill magnetize the tank similar to your method, provided I can obtain some magnets from ebay

Thanks again!

Oh, another thought I had.... I used 1/8"x1/16" (or I may have just stacked two 1/32") magnets for the pivots. The 1/32" thickness magnets will hold the gun barrel in place, but the 1/16" magnets have enough strength to hold the barrel up in the air like it should be. I think at least one of the pair for the alternate guns were a thicker magnet as well.

(About 4mm x 2mm- I dunno if the UK sellers offer the magnets in the Imperial units anymore.)