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I mentioned in my intro that I've been experimenting with alternatives to GW's tanks, so here's an update. A while ago I visited a SM site and asked how one could possibly fit 10 Marines into a Rhino, as per the Codex? And I got no useful answers apart from that old favourite about GW armour being "Heroic" scale etc.
Now I spent a good few years working in armoured units, and while a Chieftain/Saracen/432 may be cramped, there is room for the supposed crew. So I looked around, tried various scales, and here are the results:

First, scales. You'll find discussions about this, whether 1/48, 1/35, 1/56 or 28mm are best. Really, if you think it looks right then go for it.

My current WIP is a Bradley IFV, no idea what scale, if any, but the IG tank commanders look good in the turret hatches, you really can fit 10 troops in the back, and a lick of paint to blend it into your force's colour scheme and it's all good. Found mine in UK model/toy shops retailing at £4.99. As a guide, they're about half the size of a Baneblade.

I also tried WW2 stuff, as being sufficiently primitive, 1/48 scale is about ok for IG, but too small for SM; 1/35 scale looks a bit big on IG, but my BTR's do look like they'll hold 10 guardsmen, and it's a simple enough job to fit autocannon or lascannons, for instance, in place of the weedy looking guns they come with. Look around, see what you fancy, and go for it for about the same price as GW stuff.

Somewhere along the way I learned about Old Crow Models, who make some lovely armour and trucks in resin at 28mm scale. Sadly, they look a bit small even with IG. Rather more "CVRT" than "FV432", if you get the picture? Still, they're cheap, at £9 per tank, so fielding a squadron or two won't annoy your finances too much. Old Crow also produce a bigger tank and apc in the same scale, but these are £18 or so.

Lastly, at least so far, I bought some of those horrible, cheap plastic soldiers in a £1 shop, because they had a tank with them and I wanted a set of tracks for a conversion. As usual in £1 shops, when I wanted more they'd sold out, so I turned to the internet.

And I found Toy Soldiers Depot, in the USA. Look them up, they have an amazing range of stuff: armour, scenery, buildings, as well as cheap horrible plastic soldiers. Do read their notes though, as they sell 1/72 (too small) to 1/32 (too big) figures, but the notes give you the size of each tank and you can order 1 or 100. The price? How about an average $0.99 for an IG compatible King Tiger? That's a 3-tank squadron for under a fiver!
Very friendly staff, and they'll quote for postage to UK before you pay.

If you want a Flintstones rock village, African straw huts, a cheap bridge or catapult for your WH troops, look them up. They even have my plastic Bradley's, and some nice looking Amtrac amphibians that may yet become "counts as" Griffons, or something.
Now, if I can only work out how my new camera works.....

Well, can a rhino hold ten. The answer is yes, even the old rhino kit can hold twelve. How do I know, because of a bet one day I created a rhino with ten marines, a driver and a gunner. It took a land speeder cockpit for the gunner and driver and ten tac marines with full kit. THe were crammed in there but it can be done and look good. The new kit is bigger and it can hold ten.

Hey, I fit 10 soldiers into a M1026.

You've answered 1 question, I was never sure whether or not the "10" included the driver and commander. The latest SM Codex says Rhino has only 1 crew, too. When I tried a similar bet to yours I only managed to squeeze in 8 Marines at best.

Pipboy101 wrote:

Hey, I fit 10 soldiers into a M1026.

Only 10? We got about 15 in an M997. LOL

I wanted to be able to breath and drive in the hardtop. It looked like a thrid world gun wagon with all the people and guns sticking out from everywhere.

You mean like a Trukk full of Boyz Pip?

Yep.

I wish I had kept the model. I won the bet and then sold it for a $100 USD to a guy at the store I use to play at outside of Fort Bragg, NC. Great model, painted in DA Tac colors.

I vaguely recall that 7 men could sleep on the engine deck of a M578, but that's hardly relevant to the OP.

On the discussion of scale (As I have no experience cramming lots of big men into a vehicle ) I've seen 1/48 vehicles with 1/35 accessories seem to match into 40k pretty well, sort of like how heroic scale infantry have huge hands & heads, give the vehicles huge doors/hatches & guns.

cakefool wrote:On the discussion of scale (As I have no experience cramming lots of big men into a vehicle ) I've seen 1/48 vehicles with 1/35 accessories seem to match into 40k pretty well, sort of like how heroic scale infantry have huge hands & heads, give the vehicles huge doors/hatches & guns.

Exactly, and if you want a guardsman digging, for example, 1/35 looks like a spade while 1/48 is equivalent to an entrenching tool. My main aim in this article/ army build is to show that you can build a good (non GW) army relatively cheaply, then use your bitz box to blend them in with GW models. While some of us adults can afford GW prices, the kids can't; if I can give a kid a $9/£5 Amtrac, some plasticard and glue, and perhaps some spare rhino doors/ heavy bolters/ icons etc, I'm thinking his or her imagination can come up with something pretty presentable. May not be allowed in tournaments and GW centres, but so what?

Pipboy101 wrote:Yep.

I wish I had kept the model. I won the bet and then sold it for a $100 USD to a guy at the store I use to play at outside of Fort Bragg, NC. Great model, painted in DA Tac colors.

Would that store be the hobbit? my dad was stationed there for a while.

Finally finished painting /converting my cheapo stuff from Toy Soldiers Depot, see pics in gallery under my tag; if you want prices, contact Gerardo at TSD, very helpful outfit, or just Google them. Enjoy...

For pics try http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/user/22272-IG%20GENERAL.html

More on scales: I just got some Airfix 1/32 scale 105mm light guns via e-bay. These apparently date from the 70's, some go for ridiculous prices ( what is it with the weirdos who keep toys, sorry, accurate scale models, in the original box to add "value"?) but I got some at sensible (eg £3.50) prices.
The odd thing is, in searching for a cheapo Basilisk replacement I've now got a 3-gun battery with barrels exactly Basilisk size, for a fraction of the cost. Yes, I know 105's are towed guns, but how often do you move a Basilisk per game anyway?
Pics to follow.

Heh if your really into this type of stuff take a look at the cardstock 40k sites it's simple and good fun. My ham fisted attempt at a Chimera may not be awesome but it's mine and I built it from scratch for less than a £1's worth of parts!

An update on more alternatives to GW's rather expensive armour, pics to follow, honest:

Firstly, SKIF Models in Ukraine. From their website I bought an assortment of 1/35 BTR152 APCs. Ideal for Guard, suitably mean looking, covered in rivets/ boltheads, and patently big enough for a 10 man squad. Swap out the puny weaponry for Autocannons/heavy bolters and you're good to go.
SKIF also do a lovely mineplough that fits nicely on the front of a Chimera or Russ, for about £6 direct.

Talking of mineploughs, MIG Productions do a Soviet mine roller in resin/metal at 1/35 scale--bought from e-bay about £8, still under construction as the metal chains are a pain with bad eyesight...

Ebay again, and dragging up memories of childhood diecast tanks, I found Lone Star bren carriers. Absolutely basic metal toy tank, nothing to break, and ideally scaled for your favourite IG Regiment as proxy Salamanders. These models are long out of production, go for pocket money prices, and have 3 seats. I've used Sentinel drivers from The Bitz Store as these fit perfectly and are holding "tillers" to steer the thing. Add a heavy weapon and a vox, they're good for recce or command, or just transport for your heavy weapons team.

Seen the GW Deathstrike and thought "meh"?
An Airfix 1/72 Bloodhound missile and launcher fits perfect in the back of a Chimera (leave the roof off though!)

Want a different version? Try Toy Soldiers Depot, who currently have some cheap plastic Lance lookalikes for under $2.00. They also have some impressive Marx 155 guns that'll make pretty towed Medusas, or use to convert a Basilisk? Price about $6.

Finally, Amera pastic mouldings--absolutely wonderful vac-form accessories: trenches, bunkers, buildings--look them up and be surprised.

Keep shopping around, folks, and let me know of your bargains.