Flames of War Cruiser MkI to Leman Russ conversion?

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**Frozen Ocean**

I plan to take Imperial Guard allies (Traitor Guard!) as part of my Chaos Marine army. There is only one problem - the Leman Russ. It's a great unit, really great, possibly the best Heavy Support in existence, but... it's a chibitank. I hate the model. It's so silly! Being such a good unit, though, I really must take them if I'm taking IG allies. So, I've been looking for things to convert into a Leman Russ.

EDIT: Disregard this bit, because I am silly. wrote:

Would this (the A9 Cruiser MkI from Flames of War) be suitable? Most importantly, if anyone can tell me its dimensions I would be quite thankful, because I have no idea. What I intend to do:

1 - Replace that turret/the centre bit with a viewport thing like on a Leman Russ.
2 - Replace the gun barrel with a slot + magnet for lascannon, heavy bolter, etc.
3 - Possibly replace the treads with those from the Leman Russ. This all depends on how big this model is. It would also solve the problem of...
4 - Figure out SOMETHING with sponsons.
5 - Figure out a way to make that obviously a battle cannon without giving it absurd girth, because the battle cannon is probably my biggest issue with the Leman Russ model.

I'm also pretty sure that this model is one-piece, and intend to cut off the turret and enable it to turn. Also this model is really cheap, which means I can afford to make mistakes (not a conversion genius by any means). Any suggestions for other suitable models (other than the Leman Russ itself) are welcome (it's not a price thing, it's a look thing. I haven't been successful in finding tanks that look Russy enough)!

To clarify; I don't want to proxy, I want to convert. I'm also going to cover it in Chaos iconography, of course. Thanks for reading!

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I am going to (most likely, unless some miraculous amazing model appears) be using actual Leman Russ bitz, especially for the sponsons and stuff.

**Iron Father Mac**

I'm pretty sure that these models are Extremely small compared to 40k and unlikely to be even close to the size of a leman russ.

I know most of the tanks i've seen from Flames of war only stand an inch or two high at most.

**chaos0xomega**

Uuuuummmmmmmm.... you do know Flames of War is 15mm scale, right? If that doesn't mean anything to you, then consider that 40k is heroic 28mm scale... if that still doesn't mean anything to you, the average human in heroic 28mm scale is more than twice as tall as the average human in 15mm scale, tanks would thus follow the same logic.

PS - I too hate the Leman Russ model, see the link in my sig for a 3d model I started working on years ago, I think the most up to date pics were on page 3. I'm going to get started on this again soon, hopefully coming soon to a kickstarter near you.

**sparkywtf**

chaos0xomega wrote:
Uuuuummmmmmmm.... you do know Flames of War is 15mm scale, right? If that doesn't mean anything to you, then consider that 40k is heroic 28mm scale... if that still doesn't mean anything to you, the average human in heroic 28mm scale is more than twice as tall as the average human in 15mm scale, tanks would thus follow the same logic.

PS - I too hate the Leman Russ model, see the link in my sig for a 3d model I started working on years ago, I think the most up to date pics were on page 3. I'm going to get started on this again soon, hopefully coming soon to a kickstarter near you.

Oh I hope so! I followed your build religiously

**Frozen Ocean**

I did not know that it was small! This is why I asked. I know what the scales mean

. Your tank is really cool, though. I want it. D:

Okay, so no Flames of War! What, then? Because Leman Russ is so terrible. @.@

EDIT: A serious issue with the scale is that, as you all probably know, GW vehicles are oddly proportioned. They're wider and shorter than actual tanks would be at that size, and stuff, so I can't just get a 28mm tank. Grr!

EDIT2: On note of scale, can anyone give me the actual proportions of a Leman Russ? Mostly length and width (those matter for movement speed and sponsons), because I don't care about cover (height is irrelevant, that is).

EDIT3: Okay, after much digging, I have discovered that the Leman Russ is approximately 12cm long and 8cm wide (without sponsons). The 1:48 M4 Sherman by HobbyBoss is 12.47cm long and 5.53cm wide. I don't know how I could widen it, unless I just used the chassis of the Sherman, maybe? I don't know.

**alanmckenzie**

Try 1/48 scale military models. I know the turrets are your least favourite part of the leman russ but I love this guys idea.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/496680.page

So much so that I've bought 4 of the base model.. for only £32.

Also, I never intended to put sponsons on because of the snap fire rules so they're gonna work fine. Love this look though.

**Frozen Ocean**

That is rather long, though. Hm. I will investigate further into 1:48. There has to be something! DX

EDITS 1-3: NEVERMIND

EDIT4: Time to change tactics. Instead of converting another tank to look like a Leman Russ, how about converting a Leman Russ to not look stupid?

This is a start.

EDIT5: More digging has led me to discover that a Leman Russ conversion using a Chimera chassis actually looks pretty good if done properly.

**sing your life**

Frozen Ocean wrote:

how about converting a Leman Russ to not look stupid?

What? the russ [still] looks fantastic.

Though I do like the idea of putting the chassis back to front.

**Frozen Ocean**

sing your life wrote:

What? the russ [still] looks fantastic.

Personal preference. I really don't like it! DX

sing your life wrote:

Though I do like the idea of putting the chassis back to front.

It may come to that! Although there is definitely some doing to be done to the battle cannon.

EDIT: Dakka user Flinty shortened the crew compartment and added Predator turret and sponsons. It looks pretty damn good.

Okay, I'm doing this. Not entirely sure about the Predator bitz (definitely not using the sponsons), but we'll see. Now all I need to do is figure out a way to deal with the battle cannon...

**sing your life**

Frozen Ocean wrote:
sing your life wrote:

What? the russ [still] looks fantastic.

Personal preference. I really don't like it! DX

You could give some reasons

....

**Kanluwen**

Frozen Ocean wrote:
sing your life wrote:

What? the russ [still] looks fantastic.

Personal preference. I really don't like it! DX

sing your life wrote:

Though I do like the idea of putting the chassis back to front.

It may come to that! Although there is definitely some doing to be done to the battle cannon.

EDIT: Dakka user Flinty shortened the crew compartment and added Predator turret and sponsons. It looks pretty damn good.

Flinty used a Chimera, not a Leman Russ.

**Frozen Ocean**

Kanluwen wrote:

Flinty used a Chimera, not a Leman Russ.

I know, I'm talking about the Chimera.

sing your life wrote:reasons

It's a big fat chibitank. The battle cannon (which just so happens to be basically the best weapon) is enormous, but not in a "this is a big gun" sort of way. The sponsons are cool, which is why they are the only part I am going to use on a Chimera conversion.

**sing your life**

Frozen Ocean wrote:

sing your life wrote:reasons

It's a big fat chibitank. The battle cannon (which just so happens to be basically the best weapon) is enormous, but not in a "this is a big gun" sort of way. The sponsons are cool, which is why they are the only part I am going to use on a Chimera conversion.

Well the conversions you made look just as "big fat chibitank [sic]" as the original [IMHAUIO].

**Frozen Ocean**

I didn't make those.

**Flinty**

I was going to suggest using the chimefa chassis but someone got there first

I found that the chimera/predator mix gives a lower but wider looking tank compared to the traditional Russ sillhouette. The battlecannon ended up a bit big perhaps, but the dimensions are more like modern tank guns, I.e. long and slender rather than stubby and fat.

**SoloFalcon1138**

If you are really determined to make a WWII rank into a Leman Russ, see if Bolt Action has the tank you're looking for.

**Frozen Ocean**

Flinty wrote:
I was going to suggest using the chimefa chassis but someone got there first I found that the chimera/predator mix gives a lower but wider looking tank compared to the traditional Russ sillhouette. The battlecannon ended up a bit big perhaps, but the dimensions are more like modern tank guns, I.e. long and slender rather than stubby and fat.

You're the one who convinced me! I'd thought of it, but I didn't think it'd look good. It never occurred to me to shorten the back and use a Pred turret. The photos of yours that I posted are what sold me on the idea, because it looks so good! Still, though, I'm thinking of using the Predator autocannon and beefing it up a little (as well as adding bands and a muzzle brake like the battle cannon's).

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:If you are really determined to make a WWII rank into a Leman Russ, see if Bolt Action has the tank you're looking for.

I'm not! I was just looking for alternatives. Other than the Chimera, I really can't think of any 40k vehicles that would be suitable. A backwards Rhino might work, but it'd be awkward. I really just wanted an alternative, any alternative, to the Leman Russ model! Other mini ranges tend not to have anything similar, if they even have vehicles at all. That's why I was looking at WWII tanks!

EDIT: Flinty, when I said "find a way to deal with the battlecannon", I wasn't saying that there was anything wrong with yours! Just clarifying >.>

**IceBayPaint**

Here's a little something I have been working on.
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**Flinty**

@Frozen Ocean - Its fine, No insult taken. Everyone has their own aesthetic preferences after all

To be honest I onyl ended up with that battlecannon design because I had a couple of pens that size I could Cut up

Using the normal Predator autocannon as a starting point sounds good as well.

**Deathklaat**

If you are still keen on your first idea of using the A9 then you should look at this:

Bolt action has a whole bunch of 28mm WWII tanks that you could use as a basis for your conversion.

i think this Churchill would be a better start as it is larger and already has that big derpy gun look the Leman Russ has.

**tomcat31**

Try looking at dragon models range of 1:35 scale tanks. Some of them are just begging to be 40k'd up.

**cygnnus**

Or what about Copplestone Casting? Their Mk IX Beast, Vickers Indepenent, or Type C might work a treat... I personally really like the Mk III medium, but I suspect it'd be smallish.

Valete,

JohnS

**Frozen Ocean**

IceBayPaint - I'm not thoroughly familiar with IG kits. What is that? A Chimera chassis with extended-to-fit Leman Russ tracks with a Rhino troop door? Your plasticard (?) work is quite nice.

Deathklaat - As I said, I just wanted any alternative to the Leman Russ. However, since I only get three of them (not including double force org), it might be a good idea to convert from different bases to make them all unique. This is why the concept of "patterns" is so delicious. Do you happen to know the dimensions of the Bolt-Action A9? The big derpy gun is exactly what I want to avoid, also!

tomcat31 and cygnnus - I'll check it out! As said above, making every Russ unique would be cool, so something I could grab from those ranges would be pretty sweet. Thanks, guys!