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.

So, while packing away some stuff last night, I ran across the partially-ruined carcass of my old leman russ demolisher. I affectionally took it out and considered for a moment how I could refurbish it to make a new tank out of it. After only a moment I realised that I was at a total loss. The Leman Russ chassis is unconquerably ugly.

With the sponsons on it, it has a square (well, diamond) shaped profile from the top and a nearly rectangular profile from the side. It has all the interest, intrigue, and modeling opportunities of a rubix cube or a half-pint milk carton.

Has someone else been able to make russes look nice? The only thing I've seen come even vaguely close is designs that use camoflaged paint schemes to hide how ugly the model itself is. Is there a paint scheme style or a conversion out there that is able to salvage this, or should I just stop whining (or go back to modeling russes on chimera chassis)?

I like it a lot. I like the way it seems to be getting ahead of itself, being perched agressively forward on its menacing treads. It's iconic. Chimeras look tame by comparison (although I really like them, too).

Ailaros wrote:So, while packing away some stuff last night, I ran across the partially-ruined carcass of my old leman russ demolisher. I affectionally took it out and considered for a moment how I could refurbish it to make a new tank out of it. After only a moment I realised that I was at a total loss. The Leman Russ chassis is unconquerably ugly.

With the sponsons on it, it has a square (well, diamond) shaped profile from the top and a nearly rectangular profile from the side. It has all the interest, intrigue, and modeling opportunities of a rubix cube or a half-pint milk carton.

Has someone else been able to make russes look nice? The only thing I've seen come even vaguely close is designs that use camoflaged paint schemes to hide how ugly the model itself is. Is there a paint scheme style or a conversion out there that is able to salvage this, or should I just stop whining (or go back to modeling russes on chimera chassis)?

All comes down to taste, I personally like the Russ chassis. Sans sponsons. With sponsons the thing is just terrificly ugly.

Tanks aren't supposed to be pretty. But you're right, the Russ is pretty darn ugly.

I'd continue modeling them on the Chimera chassis if you dislike them so much. Your tank conversions looks pretty good.

They're supposed to be ugly.

I quite like the Leman Russ, it's very typically Imperial in it's poor design and unimaginative boxy characteristic.

I do agree however, the standard Leman Russ without any modifications is plain, boring and somewhat ugly.

However, the Mars Alpha hull for the Leman Russ makes the tank look a bit more realistic, it's larger, more detailed and actually looks like it might fit a crew inside it.

Here's one of my Leman Russes using the alternate hull.

I'm pretty sure prettiness is the main design concern of fictional tanks. The Leman Russ fails magnificently by this standard. It looks like everything a tank should not be.

The Leopard II, on the other hand, was clearly designed by horny tread-heads.

Ailaros wrote:

It has all the interest, intrigue, and modeling opportunities of a rubix cube or a half-pint milk carton.

Firstly, I'd say Rubix cubes are very interesting and intriguing. And secondly, I once had this idea in which you'd have a rubix cube as some sort of Daemon prison, and when it was completed it would open and release some sort of gribbly hellish nightmare imprisoned within. I quickly scrapped the idea when I realised that not everyone can complete Rubix cubes as easily as me. All it takes is some practice..

I digress, I totally agree with you, I feel Leman Russ's are really quite dated. Chimera chassis look so much better.

I think the Russ is meant to be a tribute to the T-34. Ugly, Utilitarian, mass produced and all it does is win wars.

Hmm, I like the T-34 as well . . .

I think its hideous, which prompted me to begin the (as of yet still unfinished) design that you can see if you click the link in my signature.

I find it rather "beautifully ugly" in the same way that a Russian KV-2 is and am rather fond of it.

Im really a big fan of classic 40K designs for the most part and am not keen on GW "improving" iconic vehicle models.

For instance while the new Hellhound is a fine model, I much prefer the old style hellhound which just looks very gritty and has an ugly charm to it.

Same for the killa kans and Deff dreds tbh: I want stompy piston legs not human-type legs with knees,etc. Same reason I'm not a fan of the FW Mega-Dread which looks like a reject Decepticon more than an ork construct.

Keep Imperium vehicles (especially IG) gritty, and unrefined.

If you want fancy/pretty go play Eldar or tau.

Manchu wrote:Hmm, I like the T-34 as well . . .

Me too. Pretty tanks are for heretical Eldar. We humans will turn up the muck with our treads thank you.

chaos0xomega wrote:I think its hideous, which prompted me to begin the (as of yet still unfinished) design that you can see if you click the link in my signature.

I don't want Abhrams tanks for the IG.

Snarky wrote:I quite like the Leman Russ, it's very typically Imperial in it's poor design and unimaginative boxy characteristic.

Lol. I guess I hadn't thought of it that way.

"Techpriest, we need a vehicle that is so tall that it's impossible to be hull down, with non-sloping armor for ease of penetration, with a turret that's so small nobody could ever fit in it, be so front-heavy it could never pass over trenches, and be wider than it is long to provide the optimum firing pattern for incoming fire."

"What color would you like it in, sir?"

"Whatever color goes best with something that looks like a lumbering cube."

As for your tank in particular, it's what I'm talking about. You can salvage it somewhat with a camo scheme, but is that the only way?

Lonecoon wrote:I'd continue modeling them on the Chimera chassis if you dislike them so much. Your tank conversions looks pretty good.

I also think my conversions, while not necessarily well-executed, look more like a real tank than a russ would.

For those of you who don't know, my most recent attempt was this guy for an LR Exterminator:



The problem would be, how could I ever add sponsons on the off-chance that I wanted them?

The sponsons are a bit stupid looking but they still look pretty cool. Without sponsons and with one of those FW ryza pattern hulls and turrets it looks very cool and almost realistic.

CT GAMER wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:I think its hideous, which prompted me to begin the (as of yet still unfinished) design that you can see if you click the link in my signature.

I don't want Abhrams tanks for the IG.

Okay, whatevs. Some people like their tanks to look like bricks, others want something that looks plausible and is abit more sleek. Except my design doesn't look anything at all like an abrams.

If you really want pretty tanks, play Space Marines, Eldar, or Tau.

There are some Leman Russ stand ins, like the ever famous "Ragnarok" pattern from Epic Armageddon.

Ailaros wrote:

Snarky wrote:I quite like the Leman Russ, it's very typically Imperial in it's poor design and unimaginative boxy characteristic.

Lol. I guess I hadn't thought of it that way.

"Techpriest, we need a vehicle that is so tall that it's impossible to be hull down, with non-sloping armor for ease of penetration, with a turret that's so small nobody could ever fit in it, be so front-heavy it could never pass over trenches, and be wider than it is long to provide the optimum firing pattern for incoming fire."

"What color would you like it in, sir?"

"Whatever color goes best with something that looks like a lumbering cube."

That's why the Imperium's awesome man! Not to mention this is in an age where everyone else's tanks fly.

With sponsons on it I don't think the LR model is too horrendous- especially when comparing it to the armor available to MEQs~ EVERYTHING IS A GODDAMN BOX

Breotan wrote:If you really want pretty tanks, play Space Marines . . .

raised eyebrow . . .

no, they're definitely ugly but sometimes that has a bit of charm via nostalgia (unfortunately NOT true in regards to the storm raven). there have been a few conversion ideas updating the kit to something newer or simply different over the past few years.

secret weapon used to make a conversion kit but i didn't see them offering it anymore the last time i was on their site.



other nice ones include making the kit look more like a baneblade like this homebrew plasticard version...



or more updated like a marine tank like this kit that used to be for sale...



both types involve either a lot of hobby work (which from your WIP threads you'd have no problem with) or some cash to buy the kits. hope those help the creative juices to flow!

The magna pattern one (the last set of images you posted) is actually a pretty nifty kit. A guy I play with regularly happens to own one. I actually kinda like it, although it still looks goofy.

chaos0xomega wrote:

Okay, whatevs. Some people like their tanks to look like bricks, others want something that looks plausible and is abit more sleek. Except my design doesn't look anything at all like an abrams.

Your design is to Abrams as Leman Russ is to Brick...

Really Ailaros it all comes down to personal taste, I don't think its the preetiest tank to come from the IG but if you think, its easily manufactourable and so thats why they are the way they are.

yeah, it's pretty cool but i think stylistically i'd still prefer the old manned sponsons more. i personally like there to be a difference in the tech used by various imperial forces with the IG getting by with arcane workarounds and marines getting the more modern look. the kit above (combined with some of the old sponsons) would have the general level of detail a new GW kit would have but the style of the old (best of both worlds IMHO).

if i were redoing my guard army (3rd edition), i'd still hunt around for the metal melta/plasma gunners or get the FW resin versions. they actually have to wear a backpack to power their guns as opposed to marines who just plug and play via their armor's USB port! same thing with the heavy weapons... guardsmen have a team and tripod while the marines get a backpack portable version. i would like a REAL update of the IG tanks as long as it kept with the theme i described above.

Yeah sort of an ugly tank. Also way to tall in my opinion.

I really like how ugly it is. It just looks brutal, heavy, and nasty. It's meant to look like a World War I tank, and it succeeds in that.

Well, that's kind of my point, though. It's not ugly in a good way, like an overlord tank, it's ugly in a bad way like the modelers were sloppy and careless and didn't have a strong sense of what they wanted when they made the model in the first place.