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I want to use some scale military vehicles for guard vehicles wonder what scale would be good. I am think about A cromwell tank for a russ and variants. Not sure on chimeras yet. And going to use artillery with another kit for basilisks and variants.

I'm in pretty much the same boat at the moment, I've also hit on the Cromwell for the Leman Russ. At 1/35 scale a Cromwell should scale well against the Leman Russ. A 1/35 Cromwell in theory is about 181mm long, 83mm wide and 71mm tall versus the Leman Russ which is apparently 110mm long, 80mm wide and 75mm tall. So the height and width are pretty much spot on however the Cromwell is quite a bit longer.

The M7 priest and M3 Lee/Grant look like the best bets for Chimera based vehicles, the M7 is absolutely ideal for the various artillery pieces and possibly the Hydra. While the M3 should do a decent job as a Chimera or any of the Hellhound derivatives with the right conversion. Neither is quite the right shape or size (longer, taller and narrower) but the more important thing in my opinion at least is that they do look different to the Cromwell making distinguishing the two easy.

Yeah the cromwell looks pretty cool and if the gun looks to small i can had some tubing to fill in out. Starting to think about a half-track for a chimera. plastic card the top shut for transports and open for arty. Also now thinking of adding different guns to my heavy weapons squads for when i use them. So my army will look rather different. Which is my goal.

A half track would certanily standout from a tank and would indeed be easily converted.

Just need a artillery model that fits in the back. Forgot to mention that my army is themed as a xenos inquisitor's personal army.

There are plenty of decent artillery models out there to use but building a decent gun out of plastic tube might be the better bet for 40k since gun sizes are so massively exageratted.

As for the Cromwell I've actually gone out and bought one to have a play with. At 1/35 scale it is definitely the perfect size for a counts as Russ. It shouldn't really need too much work to convert, a couple of simple weapon swaps and a few details like smoke launchers will do the job.

1/35 vehicles should either end up as super heavies, or they should to be small/light vehicles for normal vehicles

1/48 is a tad smaller than 40k vehicles but are probably the best bet when it comes to tanks and stuff. Like tigers

No idea the last time this was updated, but it may help

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Scale_Model_Kits_for_40K

A part of the reason i want to use scale models is i am getting kind of unhappy with how small the vehicles in 40k are. So if they are a little over sized that is fine. Also gives me more room to toss some extra detail on them which should be alot of fun.

1.) Using historical models harms the illusion of a SciFi setting. How would you react to a US Schoolbus appearing in a Star Wars movie?
2.) Non-heroic tanks look undergunned standing next to a Leman Russ with a battleship canon in the turret (with no place to even load that thing). Even an Ork pistol has a greater calibre than a Cromwell.
3.) Nominally, 28mm scale is 1/56 with several companies making tanks in that exact scale. 1/32 is about double "scale" of 40k, called "Inquisitor scale". Actually, 40k has no consistent scale but that is another topic.

Just wondering how it harms the sci fi illusion when the imperium of man has regiments using spears and flintlocks? Also the barrels and such will be made bigger to fit the more exaggerated scale of weapons in 40k.

Those are fair points Kroothawk, however I think that with enough conversion surely those historical models could be made to fit in? Besides, all things considered, there are far more offensive things towards the SciFi setting (MLP "Mareines" spring to mind, but that's another thread entirely.)

On topic, I've been wondering about T34s as Leman Russ counts as if anyone has any experience with those kits? How does the cromwell look in regard to other 40K vehicles?

This is what a cromwell looks like. http://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/TAM00035221/product.php?kw=cromwell . Leman russ. http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod770021a

Well here's a comparison between the Cromwell I'm working on (very very WIP!), a Razorback without it's turret and a regular Space Marine. Sorry for the mobile phone photo I've not seen my camera since I moved.



Speaking personally I think it scales quite well, obviously it's quite a bit longer than a regular 40k tank but the stubbiness of the average 40k tank really really annoys me, so the extra length is no bad thing. It was a really simple job to replace the hull machinegun with a scratch built Lascannon (again WIP) and it should be an equally easy job to throw together a suitable main gun. I'm going to be building this as a Vanquisher so the gun should end up being fairly impressive. I intend to add plenty of typically 40k details to the model too, well I won't cover it with skulls but you get the idea.

Considering my infantry for this army will basically be Brits in space (old Warzone Imperial models) it should blend in really well, although alongside Cadians and the like I could see it sticking out like a sore thumb.

I like how that works scale wise.

Stonelessword wrote:I want to use some scale military vehicles for guard vehicles wonder what scale would be good. I am think about A cromwell tank for a russ and variants. Not sure on chimeras yet. And going to use artillery with another kit for basilisks and variants.

What great timing. Here you go
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/458488.page

Anyone else got opinions.

Well the biggest problem is side sponsons. I think the only real world tanks that even had them were the MkI,II, and IIIs.

So if you want to play with no side sponsons, GO FOR IT! I think converted scale models can really look great and spice up an army.

Yeah sponsons could be a problem but then i dont like them very much. So that is another plus. I have a bunch of weapos left over from the few tanks i did buy so conversions should be pretty straight forward.

SickSix wrote:Well the biggest problem is side sponsons. I think the only real world tanks that even had them were the MkI,II, and IIIs.

So if you want to play with no side sponsons, GO FOR IT! I think converted scale models can really look great and spice up an army.

You could always add them on using bits, or scratch build them.

Well I won't be using sponsons on my counts as Russes so it's not an issue. However if you did want them on the Cromwell (only tank I can really talk about ) the best apporach in my opinion would either be scratch building a large side plate to cover the wheels and attaching them to that or doing them similarly to the current predator sponsons and attaching them to the top of the track guard.

If sponsons are not required, I highly recommend the Russian KV2 Large Turret model in 1/48. It is a bit longer than the Russ, but about as wide and has a front section that will make an easy conversion point for a front mounted heavy weapon. It's very exagerated proportions also gives it a very 40k'ish look.

Here's one that has been converted a bit with 40k bits.



More pics here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/288790.page

T34 for a chimera I would say.

I've always found the T34 pretty good looking for a russ. It's what I intended to use for my ww2 russian themed guard force anyway

Using a panzer for for the normal and vanguisher russes. Going to use and kv1 or 2 for demolishers and executioners, t26 for light tanks like hellhounds.

I used an M48 Patton as a base for my Looted wagon, but I think any tank-shape would look Orky with plasticard plates and rivets all over it