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.

O just came into posession of a large ammount of Imperial Guard tanks in trade for painting an army and I want to do a winter themed army. The infantry shouldn't be too hard, I have a bunch of respirators from Forge World and maybe a couple parkas for the non=helmeted chaps. I want the tanks to look like they have been retrofitted with winterization. I have done some searches online and have not come up with anything. Any suggestions of pictures? They have some engine filters on Forgeworld but I would love to see what else you guys have in mind. Pics would rock!

Painting utorial on winter armour

As for retrofitted... perhaps adding some snow plates tied to the tanks (kind of like long planks of metal that they put under the treads if the tank gets stuck in deep snow to give the tracks something to grip onto), also narrow vision slits on the periscopes to reduce snow blindness?

Maybe some extra baffles on the engines to mask the heat signature/stop snow/meltwater getting into the engine compartment and freezing it when they stop?

And a lot of tanks will probably carry lots of extra winter gear for the infantry that march with them. Perhaps some skiis and snow shoes would be pretty cool too

Shep did this awhile back with his Vostroyan army. Do a quick search in the P&M Blogs for Shep's Vostroyans and you should come up with some good inspiration.

Look up Soviet WW2 tank camouflage. There are some good pages which show different kinds of patterns that were used.

i would actually probably kit the tanks out similar to the way a Desert Rats vehicle would have looked in WW2. Lots of packs/personal gear strapped down, TOOOONNNNSSSS of fuel cans. The fuel cans because we know that in the Grimdark of the 40k universe its not winter unless its cold enough to kill you in minutes if you dont keep the tank running.

There isn't much in the way of equipment for winterization or vehicles. You might want to think about tarps, sheet metal and maybe a small motor with a hose attached. This motor and hose would be a heater to warm the engine up. Most of the winterization is for the crew.

Actually, how much weathering\winterization you do will depend on the environment your choosing for your forces. You say winter, but is it California Winter (Wet, muddy, with melty snow)? Siberia Winter (Snow, Mud, ice)? Or HOTH winter (Ice, lots and lots of ice)? How extreme the environment will determine you’re weathering effects.

I suggest that if you’re looking at a Siberian style winter, do a Yahoo Image search for German+Tank+Winter. That should yield some decent pictures of Tanks in winter camo\modifications.

In terms of effects, one of the tamiya weathering pallets has snow powder, and it's not bad for adding a frosty coating. I think the others in the pallet are soot and rust, so it's a decent buy.

Just remember one thing about winter. Unless it is a fridge all the time, winter in the field is about different degrees of mud.

Found Shep's Vostroyan repaint blog. Check it out here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/227486.page#522760

Brushthralls.com has a good article on achieving the white washed look.

Good deal.. I checked out Shep's Vostrians per your suggestions and they look good. He did a great job at making the tanks look frosty and cold to the touch. I also really like the idea of a block heater for the engine. I had an old 1968 VW bug up here in Alaska and always meant to get an oil heater for it so maybe somthing like that might look nifty even though I spose it would realisticly be mounted on the inside of the tank. How about a more robust air filter system with condensor? Then I went looking up Soviet+Tank+Winter after looking up German+Tank+Winter as per your suggestion and found an article about WW2 combant history. I had never heard of a "fascine" but I think that would look good bundled to the back of a tank. And finally the idea of putting a ski or snowshoe rack on the tanks really caught my imagination. The skis would be easy to do but snowshoes might pose a bit more modeling. Any suggestions on making tini snowshoes? After that post I started thinking about putting my Storm Troopers on Skis or atleast have them with a set on their backs. What do you think?

If you use the thin mesh netting that oranges etc come in you could sandwich it between 2 plasticard sheets cut into snow shoe shaped shapes?

Here’s a tip for doing some good winter cammo... paint the tank the original scheme greens browns etc... whatever colour you want... then give the tank a good think coat of hairspray... once this is dry spry it lightly with white, this give the tank a good winter look (as if the crew have given it a white wash for the change in weather)... once the white is dry then use an old brush dipped in water to dislodge some of the white overcoat. I weather my tanks for the SM army I’m working on so that might be some inspiration... follows the link to see my blog: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/274891.page

Little snowshoes could be made out of green stuff and can use a mesh cloth, or maybe a piece of window screen to make the woven strap pattern.

Yeah, I don't think snowshoes would be that difficult - take a look at some modern snowshoes. (Such as here: http://www.rei.com/search?query=snowshoes&button.x=0&button.y=0) Most don't have the webbing that old school snowshoes did. A little plasticard in the right shape, a little wire to form the frame and a little GS for the straps and you'd be in good shape.