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I found this site, Build40k.com, where they have templates on how to make a variety of tanks for a few 40k armies. They seem to be pretty detailed with the designs on them and all. Has anyone ever built anything from there and if so, how well did they look. Now, are these models usable not only in a friendly game, but in a tournament also.

Scratch builds normally cannot be used at Games workshop events. However over the years I have seen them. There is no hard and fast rule as where you can use them, so make them look good and you 'll have a greater chance of using them.

GW's official rule is >50% GW parts, though typically if you throw in enough actual 40k bits no one is going to count.

Also a good enough model will almost always be accepted, as long as it is obviously thematically 40k. And obviously WWII era tank likely wont be accepted at most tournys no matter how well it is done. But if it has obviously been build specifically for 40k and is well done it will usually be accepted.

I only use this method only for apoc and ONLY if the model is forgeworld. The GW that I play apoc games at encourge conversions/hobby part of the game, so its acceptable for scratch built in that sense, but if your going to make rhinos and other tanks and use them in tournaments at GW.....you might want to rethink that one....

You should check out my gallery, I have a warhound I made that I use at my GW.

Poked around the site a bit, and it seems like they've just hosted a number of the templates that have been floating around the net for a few years, now. In that case, lots of people have built them, including many folks on Dakka. I personally have a few scratchbuilds in various stages of completion based on jsvironfurnace's designs.

As with any hobby-related undertaking, the skill and dedication of the hobbyist is what is really going to determine the quality of the result. Some of the templates are more or less detailed, some are more or less accurate in terms of scale and proportions, etc. but it all really comes down to the hobbyist. Unskilled hands can turn the most meticulous design into a cardstock monstrosity, while skilled ones can take the roughest template, bend it to their will, then super-detail the thing until it gives FW models a run for their money.

So, will they look good? Depends on you. If assembled solely as per the templates, even the most accurate work will yield a plain and probably less than attractive model, rather obviously built from the same group of templates that so many hobbyists have discovered over their modeling careers.

Acceptability depends entirely on the group/location in question. GW stores have specific policies that are supposed to be enforced at all times. Independent clubs and stores are likely to be more lenient, especially during open/friendly play. When in doubt, check with your opponent/TO beforehand - just don't be shocked if you're snubbed.

The most crucial element in determining usability is something Tri hit on earlier - The Rule of Cool. It's quite simple, really - the cooler a model looks, the more likely people are to let you use it. There are certain things for which scratchbuilds are widely accepted, like superheavies/titans in Apocalypse. If you want to scratchbuild regular codex models, you're best off using them as conversion fodder - it ups the cool factor (and, thereby, the acceptability) while simultaneously masking the knockoff at its core.

How about scratchbuilt units that are not made via template but your own interpretation of the unit (let's say I made a drilling pod instead of a drop pod)? Let's say the said unit is also done well. Ist it possible to use it on GW tournaments?

Every Tourny has its rules on proxy vehicles, its really a TO call. I don't use proxy vehicles in tourney's, only in friendly play. But GW can be anal about the rules say your force must be what is it 60% or more GW product. I say play what you brought if your tight on funds to buy GW stuff like me, my ork force has all its vehicles scratch built from old school templates 1st and 2nd edition and they all look very nice.

For friendly games at your LGS it should be fine, but thats up to the shop & your opponents. Where I game people really enjoy my scratchbuilds but then I go all out on them rather than just slap something together. Also, for vehicles that are either forgeworld & as such more than I can afford or there either are no models for or are no decent models it's great. For example, I'm scratchbuilding MKI rhinos for my wife's sisters since the old models are too small & the conversion packs are more than I'd like to pay for parts. To date in my current armies I field the following scratchbuilds: 3 repressor-esque razorbacks, 1 damocles rhino, 1 warhound titan, 1 ragnarok (leman russ battle tank), 2 dreadnought drop pod, 1 deathstorm drop pod. I have plans to add the following: 3 MKI rhinos, 2 Baal predators on MKI chassis, 1 MKI Immolator, 1 MKI land raider, 1 Mars pattern warhound, 1 IF super heavy fellblade.

Take a look at my galleries you'll see some of them: http://s184.photobucket.com/albums/x84/red_starrise/40K/

heartserenade wrote:How about scratchbuilt units that are not made via template but your own interpretation of the unit (let's say I made a drilling pod instead of a drop pod)? Let's say the said unit is also done well. Ist it possible to use it on GW tournaments?

These, I imagine, would be far more widely accepted, as they fall more or less under the "no available model" category (Hades Breaching Drills are IG transports, not SM drop pods, so they don't count ). Again, things A) made well and B) made for cool, fluffy reasons are better received than poor imitations of existing and not prohibitively expensive (I'm looking at you, FW titans) products meant solely to save cash, but not given sufficient attention to slip seamlessly into the 40K aesthetic. Whether it would fly at a GW tournament, I couldn't say, but it would have a ridiculously good shot compared to a cardboard and popsicle stick Rhino.

Well, you would be hard-pressed to field a TWC unit that's not either scratchbuilt or made up of third party sources (which I doubt would fly in a GW tourney).

heartserenade wrote:Well, you would be hard-pressed to field a TWC unit that's not either scratchbuilt or made up of third party sources (which I doubt would fly in a GW tourney).

Yeah, unless you wanna buy multiples of Canis Wolfborn (if ever there was an uglier model to have to make a squad out of).

Or use lions on the High Elf Chariot box.