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I've always really liked the Imperial Guard Basilisks and their Earthshaker cannons, but recently I've began thinking about modelling a static platform for them to fire from instead of the tank they're normally attached to. I see that Forgeworld ( I think ) used to make a model for the base, and with what looks like basically the gun and crew platform itself lifted directly from the Basilisk kit. ( Is it? And if so, would this mean I could buy a Basilisk kit, or just the gun and platform FROM the kit, and use this to build on top of a base? )




So what I'm wondering is, has anyone ever tried making their own Earthshaker emplacement, and if so, what did you use for the base? I'd love to hear your suggestions and if anyone out there has attempted making one, please let me know how it went!

Maybe look to some historical artillery kits for a base. It would appear that FW no longer sell their Earthshaker emplacement.

That's a great idea actually, never thought about that. I don't really know much about any historical games so if anyone knows of any that would more or less match the scale of 40k then let me know! Although I suppose just about anything could work depending on how big or little I would want the base to be.

Here's the FW one if you can afford it:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Astra_Militarum_Emplacements/HEAVY_ARTILLERY_CARRIAGE_WITH_EARTHSHAKER_CANNON.html

Other than that, what I'd do if the sprues allow it is this:
Buy Basilisk kit and plasticard
Build Bassie as Chimera, so leaving off the gun and deck for the back end of a Chimera (I assume the kit is like the Rhino one and includes this)
Build the emplacement from plasticard, stick the gun on top of that.

 Paradigm wrote:
Here's the FW one if you can afford it:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Astra_Militarum_Emplacements/HEAVY_ARTILLERY_CARRIAGE_WITH_EARTHSHAKER_CANNON.html

Yeah not only is that atrociously expensive, it's pretty much not what I'm looking for. I'm aiming to get as close as I can to the pictures I posted. But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

 Paradigm wrote:

Other than that, what I'd do if the sprues allow it is this:
Buy Basilisk kit and plasticard
Build Bassie as Chimera, so leaving off the gun and deck for the back end of a Chimera (I assume the kit is like the Rhino one and includes this)
Build the emplacement from plasticard, stick the gun on top of that.

This is probably more along the lines of what I'll have to attempt. Looking at some of the historical stuff, it seems like the emplacement bases for stuff like Flak 88's aren't quite " bulky " enough for what I'm aiming for, so I may have to attempt some sort of plasticard contraption.

Buy a basilisk kit & build a salamander scout which means a basi minus the gun & deck (because they're just cool, & a basi doesn't come with a full chimera) then build the earthshaker as normal including deck. Glue this down to a plastic pill bottle cap. Buy some plastic clothespins & disassemble 2. Glue them in an X pattern to the pill bottle cap. If you happen to have any spare bases glue them to the clothespins as feet. In fact deconstructed old style heroclix dials are great for this (use the bottom, inner, dial).

If you're looking at historical kits I'd suggest a 150mm gun (at least 150mm) and 1:35 scale, like a German sFH18. If you go this route, they tend to have a TON of parts, and I'd just leave them off.

Russian 203mm b4? Be one big gun but guard never did not go big on the artillary.

 Red_Starrise wrote:
Buy a basilisk kit & build a salamander scout which means a basi minus the gun & deck (because they're just cool, & a basi doesn't come with a full chimera) then build the earthshaker as normal including deck. Glue this down to a plastic pill bottle cap. Buy some plastic clothespins & disassemble 2. Glue them in an X pattern to the pill bottle cap. If you happen to have any spare bases glue them to the clothespins as feet. In fact deconstructed old style heroclix dials are great for this (use the bottom, inner, dial).

[img]http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/5/13/612631_sm-Apocalypse%2C%20Armor%2C%20Army%2C%20Artillery%2C%20Astra%20Militarum%2C%20Guard%2C%20I.g.%2C%20Infantry.JPG" border="0" />

[/img]

Red Starrises idea is similar to what I did. Used plastic clothes pins in an "X" pattern with some platform details. I use IG without weapons as crewmen.

NOW the next part is ... use the chassis and some plasticcard and build an Armageddon pattern Medusa. I used some noisemakers from a party supply store for the cannons , you could use appropriately sized ink pens and make Basilisks giving you twice the firepower.

Click on the image and you can access my gallery, there is a picture of my Earthshakers in there.

I have a spare Earthshaker cannon in my bits box, and have considered doing something similar.

Scratch building a full cruciform gun carriage would be quite a bit of work. A much simpler modelling project would be to represent a permanent concrete/plasteel emplacement, where the gun is simply bolted to a base behind cover, often as part of some larger fort or defensive line (e.g. some of GW's Wall of Martyrs terrain). Depends whether you're just wanting a display model or something to game with though...

Wouldn't be all that hard tbh. If basis weren't so hard to come by for a good price on eBay I'd do one up & a trojan (heh) to pull it but it's just not worth it when the steel legion have a greater need for enclosed & mobile field guns vs towed or stationary ones. As I rarely play 40k anymore & won't give gw my $ I only build what is thematic for my army now as a labor of love.

Yeah, I'd go of something like this....

https://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/trumpeter-135-soviet-122mm-m19311937-m1931-wheel-1/

or...

http://www.jachobbies.com/product.sc;jsessionid=992D1D905A208ECD8F9D0315A6EE9D2E.m1plqscsfapp05?productId=1155&categoryId=12

And use guardsmen as crew.