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Nice Work! And interesting approach to personalize your Baneblade variants. I like the lore of the Havael pattern as compromise solution to fill up the ranks.
The elongated Hellhammer looks good, but personally I think it would look even better, if the first cannon segment had a larger diameter than the second, so it looks like they slide inside each other during firing to reduce recoil. The protective gun mantlet looks alre pretty cool, might even get a bit longer if you want to go for the "Saukopfblende" look of the StuG III
I posted it over in my thread, but it also fits here well and I don't want to leave Oldmate hanging as only one posting projects:
A bunch of new additions:
a trio of Rapier laser destroyer proxies. I got them 3D printed with a larger order of heads for another project as I thought they look cool. I can't seem to find the source of the file though at the moment. I seem to remember it was from some Renegade and Heretics line, as the drivers had chaos symbols in their armor that I filled with greenstuff.
Anyway, cute little thingies. A bit difficult to paint the driver, as they came as one solid piece each, but I think they make a lot of sense for the Askaris. And 4 light Lascannons should make a dent into lightly armored vehicles at least.
Next off: three further Sentinel variants
Strike 1: Minethrower Sentinel
The logic extention of my Chimera based Lamashu minethrower. Make fast anti tank mining mobile again! Lore wise that big launcher holds 4 cassettes with 4 tubes each containing 4 mines for a total complement of 64. It looks a bit big though and I have added a smaller two-cassette launcher to the printing files, which you can find here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6613504
Strike 2: Smokescreen Sentinel
Again the 3D files: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6621529 This is another variant, I dreamed up. A mobile smoke screen generator (the big thingy with the two barrels on the side) combined with a smokegrenade launcher (the smaller grenade launcher thing on the front) and a bigger than usual smokelauncherbatterei at the nose.
Last but not least: Electronic warfare sentinel:
The 3D files: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6621453 also include an approach to an advanced comm-array, but that looked just to big and to much, when I tried to fit it to the original sentinel. It's still a very crowded model, even with the smaller vox-pack from the old infantry squad. But I really liked the idea. Basically it is meant to serve as a range extender for the infantry vox-network (the Vox-pack at the side), to triangulate and scramble enemy communications (the "satelite dish" on top and on the arm on the front) and to serve as a drone port for three FPV drones on the "signal tower" (on its left side). Also note the modified Hunter Killer missile in the front which now doesn't get in the way of the door/sensors/hatches/weapons anymore. At least I never found a place on the old kit to fix the HK missile without getting in the way.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6620046
I cut out the door as I wanted to have it in an opened position so that the drone operator (from Anvil Industries, just as the drones) has just stepped out to check something. Also as a small detail it has a roman numeral "VI" instead of the two or three digit numbers of the other Sentinels indicating they are rather rare
I'm also currently working on a Destroyer Tank hunter with a strong red LED in the gun, so that you can see where it is pointing too...
the roof:
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2024/10/13 19:07:48
I missed out the last bunch of images. Dang, that Hydra looks awesome. The missiles go really well with the guns and the radar system looks very cool. Do you have a pic of the turret from the front?
Regarding the SPGs: those turrets look massive! Reminds me a bit of the PzHbz 2000, but they look even bigger. And it is a cool idea to add this Nashorn-like Tank destroyer to your more mobile turreted tank destroyers. I can totally see that thing hiding somewhere and blasting away at the first big target that comes into view. That laser should give pause even to a Superheavy tank.
Finally finished one of last years project: a destroyer tank hunter based on an upgrade kit I designed myself. It is based on the Leman Russ kit + the engine deck extension from Kromlech and 3D printed parts shown here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6548805 I also threw in some smaller bits and bobs on the side of the engine.
The special twist is, that I changed the files a little bit to get a whole all through the gun and the ball mount and let my electrically gifted wife install a powerful red, forward directed LED as well as a switch inside. The top of the tank is magnetized to change the battery if needed and the cupola is also not glued to allow access to the switch.
Here are some pics:
I don't see why not. The main problem is hiding the battery, as it is easier with a 9V block. But if I understand correctly, one might get along with a smaller one if one knows how to do it.
Nice work. What is that structure on left side of the turret-top, in the back behind the HK-missile?
Also as usual with your vehicles, excellent mudwork
currently working on a Samaritan Med-Evac vehicle. But as I have no good spot to basecoat apart outside and it is too cold and humid around here at the moment, this project will not cross the finish line until summer.
First off: as my sole remaining GW Chimera (traded the other one off to make room) has the "mid turret" assembly, I wanted to keep this style, but also wanted more "head space" for the paramedic to work in and to fit in a second stretcher. So I took the little backplate that always remains when you build a Chimera (I have 5 in my bitsbox), turned it around and glued it behind the driver compartment. Then I fixes sidewalls and a back from plasticard and found that the Valkyrie ramp I had lying around from my Skytalon made for a pretty good fitting roof.
Then I went to the interior and build some stretchers and patients from spare parts. Also used some Sentinen Flamer flasks which will be Oxygen later on, connected to some breather masks.
In the front I made a door to the driver compartment from the Chimera doors, added some cool looking devices from the Valkyrie kit on top and a big screen from some Rhino-part (I think), linked to the wall by a thick "cable" part from an Anvil-Heavy gunner arms set that I didn't use
The free side also got a healthy collection of parts from the bits box.
and last but not least a look inside to get a feeling of how cramped/spacious everything is:
I still have to build a little seat, maybe with crash webbing for the paramedic.
Of course a whole Chimera just for two casualties doesn't make a lot of sense. So I imagine this more as a mobile emergency surgery or the like. Something to fix the soldiers up enough that you can throw them unto a truck-bed and drive them back the lines.
I already ordered another Valkyrie ramp as well as a turret and add-on track armor for another Chimera that I want to build as command chimera in a similar style, as commanders also need their space. Let's see how that turns out.
Cool work Oldmate! I never considered gun ports in the front. Do you know if that was ever done on real world vehicles? Also the rails to brace weapons on are a cool detail. As usual I have a lot of respect for all the though you put into your conversions regarding what would work on such vehicles and what the soldiers using them would come up with.
The tiny hunter killer missile on the left turret looks cute. I had to think of the "ex-wife" missile Justin Hammer offered in Iron Man 2 to upgrade Warmachine.
The wheel arrangement reminds me a lot of the Panzer IV, but I guess there were british tanks that used similar setups. Out of a lack of knowledge: why would one want the drive sprockets in the front on an IFV?
Edit: Yeah, my 3000th post... junior officer reporting!
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/03/08 13:42:53
That does look pretty amazing. Is it intended to be able to direct fire too?
Also it might be personal taste, but have you considered a massive muzzle brake? Maybe like the one from the Panzerhaubitze 2000?
Spoiler:
I am currently working on an Octo (technically a Deca...) Blade and my wife is wiring it up with some LEDs. I will post some pics, but I think its more sensible to do so, when there is something to see.
I'm currently working on an Octoblade, or more precisely a Decablade as I'm constructing two additional variants. Here is some work in progress:
"Laserblade":
basically just your standard Baneblade with a pure laser armament. Because Lasers are cool and it makes a lot of sense for my regiment to stick to one source of ammunition or in this case energy. Getting rid of the Ammo-Storage in the Baneblade for an additional generator/Capacitator array to power all the lasers. The coaxial lascannon is from the Valkyrie kit, the main Lascannon as well as the Twin Multilasers in the fron turret and the heavy lascutter in the Demolisher Cannon are 3D prints. The Main laser and the search light have LEDs. And of course I have twin multilasers for the Sponsons, that I'll add later
"Missileblade"
basically 1.5 superstructures glued together with a custom made 3D printed roof housing lots of vertical launch cells. The smaller ones containing 4x Hunter Killer missiles, the bigger ones either 4x Skyspear AA or one big Manticore Missile each. Some pieces didn't fit together the way I thought they would, so I had to cut, file down and milliput a lot of stuff, but overall the endresult looks interesting.
I'll keep you posted when it is finished...
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/05/11 20:12:35
First a modified Taurox truck. I technically like the model also with the roof, but I wanted something... different and also didn't want to waste the details inside. So I build it open topped and without the backplate, so that my guys can quickly jump in and out. This way I find it looks a lot more like a simple transport truck than like a special forces vehicle. I also played around with a paint scheme from the excellent 3rd edition Catachan Codex to test it for my Baneblade project. I grew very fond of it. It's a mix of Vallejo Dark green and Citadel Zamesi Desert with Abadan Black stripes in between.
Also the finished Medevac Chimera whose building process I posted a while ago:
For its name on the side I used an Online translator to try and write "Schweizer" in N'Ko Skript from Guinea. It's meant as a respectful nod to Albert Schweitzer (forgot the second "t" while translating, but whatever), a french-german philosopher, theologist, organ musician and pacifist who is most famous for later studying medicine to open up a hospital in rural Gabun together with his wife Helene to fight against curable diseases in that region. Pretty amazing person. I read a book he wrote about his time in Africa and am currently reading a collection of his sermons which are also pretty good, if you are interested in christian theology.
Finished a Command Chimera I have been working on for far too long.
Similarly to the Samaritan above, I did this Chimera Setup with the Valkyrie-door roof. I spiced it up with a radio-dish I had lying around and a part from the Manticore-set I didn't need because I build that as a Deathstrike in the middle of the roof. The extra side armour as well as the turret are from Blood and Skulls industry. I wanted the command vehicle to look like it got some special upgrades. The decals on the sides are a combination of the black panther I recently got for my jungle force and some laurels-in fist I had on a tank-decal sheet from GW.
Here a closer look at the turret loadouts that came with the Blood and Skulls kit:
great work. A whole while back I did a similar sentinel, after being inspired by the exact pics you posted here from the Dakka Galery. I meanwhile sold it, but it was a very fun idea. So thanks for that.
Victoria turret works well on the armored car. I was a bit sceptic at First if the turret would be too round, but it looks nice.
The Sentinaught is also a great idea. I don't love the new kit either, but your variant looks cool. Especially the version with double heavy bolter. But it will blow through those ammo boxer like nothing... have you considered ammo-belts?
Finally finished my Decablade project. It was quite a slog, but after about a year I passed the finish line. It was fun too, especially as my wife helped to step it up with some LEDs and I came up with two personal homebrewy variants. I won't show all of the classical 8, just some favorites.
1. Laserblade "Matuku"
It's basically "just" a Baneblade with a pure laser armament. Makes a lot of sense for my regiment as their planet (and system) isn't really good at producing cannons and heavy guns, but exceptional with las-weaponry. So they mixed up the Baneblade design a little bit, replaced the ammo-storage with some heavy capacitators and akkumulators and switched all the heavy bolters for Multilasers, the Main Gun for a heavy lascannon, the coaxial autogun for a fast firing light lascannon (from the Valkyrie set) and the hull Demolisher for a heavy, short ranged lascutter that can bring down fortifications. I would assume that concept isn't even that outlandish, just uncommon and therefore no tech-heresy. As the weaponry overall should tactically work the same as the classical loadout I'll just call it "Baneblade - Thoth pattern".
Also you can see the LEDs my wife attached for the front lights, the search light and the main Lascannon. Here it is in the dark
And here are some details up close:
A: turret roof with LED-searchlight B: main Lasweaponry C: shrine and LED backlights, D: sponson lasweaponry
In pic A you can see my attempt on painting it's name "Matuku" in a made up Maori Skript. Matuku is an Ogre-like monster of Maori folklore which I found fitting for such a well armed Lord of war.
2.: another new variant, that I decided to call the Hellsword. I'm not completely sure on the naming conventions, but I assume "Sword" are self propelled artillery pieces and the "Hell" prefix is pretty unoccupied right now with only the Hellhammer. I also found some conversion with an Apocalypse missile launcher with the name which fitted. It's Maori-name means "Tamatoa" after the big, shiny crab from Disneys Vaiana that I find hilarious.
It's basically 1.5 Superstructures glued together with a custom printed roof housing several vertical launch cells. 18x big ones and 12 smaller ones. Each big one is intended to house either ONE Manticore/Shieldbreaker/Pilum-AA/Firestorm missile or FOUR Skyspear AA-missiles or NINE long range hunter killer anti tank missiles. Each small nacelle holds 4 normal hunter killer missiles or a short ranged AA-frag missile for small, swarming flyers.
It doesn't have a huge targeting array right now so it would need input from other units. But it can fire one hell of a barrage if it wants to as well as being relatively flexible as it can be outfitted for different assignments. I personally find the idea of kitting it out with 90% AA-missiles the most interesting. That should give even a Manta something to worry about if it could face a barrage of 18 heavy pillum missiles while its drones are shredded by a hail of frag missiles.
3.: a classic: the Shadowsword. It's name means "Pele" - a hawaiian vulcano godess.
I took some inspiration from the user kabaakaba (thanks for that) and drybrushed the tip of the gun with blueish, turquoise and purple metal colors to make it distinct from my usual "burned metal" approach using washes. I like the result. Also it too got a special LED. I can't really make a foto that does it justice, but my wife managed to do it in a way that there is a little switch on the right side (you can see it just beside the big 3). If you push it down, the red LED powers up to 100% and than slowly fades out, which gives the impression of a very heavy lasershot (and is incredibly cool).
4. the good old Stormlord
I magnetized the gunshields for the firing deck too, which wasn't easy, but worth the trouble.
And finally some impressions of the cabling for those interested:
[spoiler]
cabling of the turret
left: wires from the LED in the gun, middle: wires go through a hole in the turret front, right: wires can be attached to battery
Cabling of the superstructure
left: cables from the LED in the gun with sockets, right: inside of the superstructure. Cables attach to sockets. The brown "barrel" has something to do with the light-sequence I mentioned
hull-cabling
you can see how the cables go into the sides for the front lights and to the back for the backlights
[/spoiler]
I put it in spoilers as I posted it in my own threat, but I thought it also would fit nicely here for reference.
