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.

I'm going to create a desert mechanized company. Lots of Chimeras. Lots! I would like some ideas for converting Chimeras. In particular, I want some inspiration for a Leman Russ alternative. I don't think they look sleek and fast enough for a fast moving desert company, so I want some beefed up, extra armoured Chimeras to form the basis for the Leman Russ. No doubt I'll use some Forgeworld parts.

Inspire me!

Consider yourself inspired

I have 2 counts-as russes based on Chimera chassis with Predator turret. I also have 3 chimeras with predator turrets and a 4th using the frogeworld hellhound turret. More pics in my gallery and Blog.

Yep, my Chimeras are similar, but I remove the gun slits in the back.

Flinty wrote:Consider yourself inspired

I have 2 counts-as russes based on Chimera chassis with Predator turret. I also have 3 chimeras with predator turrets and a 4th using the frogeworld hellhound turret. More pics in my gallery and Blog.

That's great! What did you use for the sponson mounted weapons on the side?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Death By Monkeys- I like how you have covered up the Lasgunhatches- I've always thought they were a bit naff on the Chimera- please excuse me for copying the idea

The gun ports are a "real-life" concept that the Russians used on their apc's. Didn't really translate quite right to the Chimera.

I like those camo Chimeras. It's just that the big gun strikes me as oversized.

I like the first Chimera in the first picture, but the second definitely the cannon looks too long, I think if you mounted it more to the rear of the vehicle it would work alot better.

Here is one of my chimera conversions

I'm calling this a 'counts as' Chimera. It's actually meant to be a Kommissar Kommand Kar (see the loudspeaker for shouting propaganda.)



Armoured cars are quite nice for desert warfare.

Here's mine:



More pics from different angles in the gallery.

The two main modifications were a diffferent turret and the closing of the gunports, the two wordt parts of the chimera IMO (especially the turret) .

brownpants wrote:

That's great! What did you use for the sponson mounted weapons on the side?

The Russ sponsons are just the predator sponsons. I have drilled a few holed in the sides and attach the things using short pins (i would normally megnetize such things, but the space is a bit fiddly). I also modified some to be plasma sponsons for my executioner using Sentinel plasma cannon and the Predator HB sponsons.



@ Railguns - The really long barrelled one is a Russ, rather than just a chimera. I was looking for a more contemporary look for main armament compared to the standard stubby barrel, however it was pointed out that the turret might not quite be big enough to deal with the recoil (the answer ot that criticism is, of course, that SCIENCE is the answer with inertial damping, etc )

My "count as" Chimera , 2 heavy bolters.

BTW Luna I remember you had to leave the right hand exhaust pipes on that model to support the front wheel.

I beefed up the suspension on my armoured car by using plastic card (girder) and epoxy resin on the front wheel assembly.

Epoxy resin (Araldite) is really good for making parts stronger. It's a lot tougher than Superglue though it's fiddlier to use.

Kilkrazy wrote:BTW Luna I remember you had to leave the right hand exhaust pipes on that model to support the front wheel.

I beefed up the suspension on my armoured car by using plastic card (girder) and epoxy resin on the front wheel assembly.

Epoxy resin (Araldite) is really good for making parts stronger. It's a lot tougher than Superglue though it's fiddlier to use.

Ahhh , atm im having most trouble with my sentinel ( the old armageddon metal one ) it rolled off my table
and both the legs broke at the hip area... Any tips on fixing that as well? ( its not staying together even with plastic cement )
If it still doesnt work ( letting it dry completely ) im going to trim it down and hope to find a flat even surface for the glue to work.

@Luna - Have you tried pinning the crap out of it? Even if you can cement it the area may just be too weak without reinforcement.

I have had my senti snap at the hips. Pin with a big fat pin and no problems...i would advise using one pin spanning both legs, make it longer than needed, pin and glue on legs and then cut flush to fit.

Pinning is the way to go.

If the model is polystyrene you can trim the mating surfaces flat, then drill holes about 2mm into each side and use sprue as a pin. Liquid poly cement (not the GW stuff) will fix it well.

There's a nice scene in Genshiken which demonstrates this.

For super strength pinning and for big metal models, use a metal pin and epoxy resin.

I know I've posted these pics before, and need to get new ones now they're almost finished...but here's my LRDG type chimera

What are you using as the base for your conversion?

M.

Here's a couple of my Chimera based conversions.
An Armored Car based on a Citadel Journal article from a few years ago, my Engineseer's ride, a command Chimera, a turretless engineering Chimera with mineplough, and a 'counts as' Trojan.

Thanks for all the ideas guys!

Do you think I could cope in bigger games without fielding Leman Russ (or counts as) tanks? I just think the chimera model is so much nicer. Maybe take lots of hunter killer missiles and stuff.

At present I've got plans for 3 Chimeras in my 500 points army. I will definitly steal that idea of a command Chimera with lots of ariels and stuff.

I think I'll also cover up the lasgun ports- might even have some guys sticking up out of the hatch on the back.

my Command Chimera


Based on the M577 command track

hatches that can open, both the rear hatch and the door in that hatch can open too

inside my track, command console and A/C unit take up the space
LadyLuck leads my Chimeras into battle