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That knight is awesome...

Hey Xan, nice looking stuff on the blog.

Have to say that knight manticore realy steals the show, great job! Hope to see it painted soon... and a whole squadron of them

Great work again! Clearly the attention to detail is greater and greater. Mold lines are bygone and everything is oozing narrative!

You should join our campaign!

I´d love to join you guys for the big campaign.

I`ve been reading throgh your stuff, and considering the tileset as a mapping option for the summer campaign.

Mold lines, my nemesis.... As far as the deeper narrative, I´m really trying to get into that this time over. So expect lot of hints from fluff, both official and fan based. Should be fun.

Oh boy! What a great looking Knight! I've really missed these guys and always wondered why GW haven't brought them on 40K tables (especially now that they're making their big kits like baneblade and stompa...). Great scratch-build.

Now you're giving me ideas...

Weeeerrll, it´s been more than two months since I did any purposeful posting here, so I think it´s time to remedy that!

I´ve been extremely busy as of late with exams and such, but they are done with now. So I have a few days (or possibly as much as two weeks), before the next time-stealing project occurs, to do some frantic modeling.

And since my Krieg boys have been lacking in the "Armored Fury" department, I decided to get started on a Leman Russ or two.

Also, I´ll be working on a battery of Heavy Mortars, and a Centaur Carrier for my command squad.

I figured that I´d tried something I saw in a wonderful blog by Bungaroo over at "That other place..." and apply Zimmerrit to my MBT´s. And since the Centaur is so small, I thought that it needed a little something extra as well. I´m doing the Zimmerrit with GS, and every last indentation is done by hand, so some irregularities are bound to occur, but so far I´m happy with it.

I´m also going to try my hand with some home made track guards and possibly some spaced armor, more on that later.


Here is a closeup of the Leman Russ, it is actually an ancient piece of kit, the first 40K tank I ever got, back in 94´ I believe. I´ve stripped most of the paint off, it had been repainted about 6-7 times and looked less than stellar when I started. As you can see, there´s still a little bit of spray primer left, the primer was incredibly hard to get rid off, it wasn´t GW stuff, but some hardcore automotive type thing...


The Russ, with Zimmerrit applied to the side. The bits on top of the Sponson will eventually be scopes. I took a close look at the tank and suddenly noticed that there is no way the gunner could know what he´s shooting at, since there are no scopes for the sponsons...


The beginning of the Zimmerrit on the front. I´ll be covering the front plate, but will leave the drivers viewpoint clear. It may however get some sort of improvement over the "hole in the hull" effect.


The Centaur, fully Zimmerrit´ed. As you can see, the Z has been applied to all vertical surfaces, but not to flat areas, since it wouldn´t help there.


The other side of the Centaur. I´ve kitted it out with HF and Multilaser, since it is likely to count as a Chimera in normal games of 40K.

Other than this, my FW air filters and trench rails arrived a few days ago, and I´m having fun getting all of it onto the Russ. More on that later also. I think I´ll need to get trench rails for all my Russes, they look very nice.

What is zimmerit?

Zimmerit is this stuff the Germans invented in WW2 to plaster all over their tanks to stop magnetic mines from being too effective.

The wierdest thing is that magnetic mines were used almost exclusively by the Wermacht.

Xanthos - I believe Tamiya (or equivalent) actually make a model zimmerit paste that comes with a little tool to apply correctly. May want to check that out?

Great work so far - I love tanks.

I'm a guy who goes for a very realistic, utilitarian approach when modeling/painting my tanks...and I never thought to notice that thee sponson gunners have no visible way of sighting targets... Now I can't look at my Russ' (Russi?) the same way anymore lol

great looking Krieg. Impressive. Need to work on mine soon.. planned to but I'm bedridden :(

As Tek said, Zimmerrit was invented by the Germans in WW2. It was a ceramic´ish material which stopped magnetic mines from working, and the lines in it made sticky bombs fall off.

I checked the Tamiya stuff fout, it looks great (and easy) but I can´t get it here. :(

@CrashUSAR: Heheh, I was pretty surprised as well, as I said, I´ve had Russes since 94´ or there abouts, and only just noticed it.

@Regnak: Thanks. The more Krieg the merrier.


At some point this weekend, I hope to have time to look at my Heavy Mortar units. They need big round bases, with some fortifications or such, so a bit of modeling is in my future I think.

I love it. If I was a tank crew I would strap everything possible to the armour just for extra protection.

All my guard tanks have spare track sections bolted on and sandbags sitting around the hatches. You can't get enough protection! Especially not with all those meltas flying around!!

LionRoar models make a great tool for adding zimmerit to scale models.
http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/prodd.asp?pid=LNRLT0016
Dragon Models distributes almost everywhere, so you may be able to get it through them. I'd suggest getting the applicators for 1/48th scale for 40k usage.

How are you adding the indentations to the greenstuff? It almost looks like you're using a fingernail.
You would be better off using the edge of a small peice of plasticard.

Ahh genius, guess your going for the realistic look then

Really cool so far, loving the attention to detail.

Thanks for the tip Nowlan, I´ll check them out.

As for how I´m doing the indentations, I´m using a modeling tool, the indentations do push onto each other, but the tool is quite flat...

I actually rather like that it´s similar but not identical to the WW2 method. Specially seeing as there were several different styles used, even back then.

Yeah, I´ll be going for realism with my tanks, as much as possible.
I´ll have to wait and see whether I can get into super realism territory with weathering powders, dirt and debris and such.

It would be fun, but it´s also VERY time consuming as far as I can see.

Yeah, the germans had different patterns for each type of tank, but there are different attachments for the tool for each.

Oooh, nice! The site only showed two different attachments, so I wasn´t sure.

Their system looks sensible as well, using a roller to apply the main pattern. I´d need to use a much softer product than GS though, I don´t think GS will hold indentations that shallow, it would probably just smush out of the way instead...

But you´ve definitely given me some food for thought.

In other news, I finished track guards for one side of the Russ last night, and will be working on the other side today. So the project moves forwards.

Looking great the Zimmerit really gives the tank an interesting texture may have to try that at some point.

Thanks Llamahead, I´m quite happy with how it turned out myself

Update Time!

Over the last week I have been working away at the Russ steadily, and I´m now at a point where I can see an end to it. I´ve completed the track guard main construction on both sides, still need rivets and details but so far so good. I´m quite happy with the look, tried to go for something similar to GW´s, but with a bit of streamlining.


As you can see here, its basically two layers of plasticard over 3mm angle plastic. Most of the irregularities in the basic design go away once detail work is added.


And here is the look after struts have been added, this is the stage I´m at currently, no rivets yet... Also, the viewports for the sponson gunner has had more work done.


Here are the trench rails, fixed onto the back of the tank. They needed an extra bit to be able to attach to the tank, so I constructed a plasticard add on. It also needs rivets


The air filters from FW really help the look of the tank, it looks much more "combat ready" now. The trouble is, that after seeing this, I think I´ll need to add them to all my Leman Russ tanks.


I switched the hull Lascannon for a Krieg one, for two reasons. Firstly to fit with the look, and secondly because the old school Russ LC looks horrible, way too clunky. It´s not entirely done yet, but looking better.


And finally, a look at the turret, with HS attached. This will be one of my Squadron command tanks, so It´s getting some nice aerials, and will receive some extra paintwork as well.

I´m still working away on those Heavy Mortars. I´ve gotten one of them quite close to finished, but I can´t find bases in appropriate sizes here, so I´ll need to do some more scratchbuilding for that. Argh..... Also, the first few colors have gone onto the Centaur, I´ll be aiming for a paintjob that matches my Chimeras, but without Camo since it´s a command vehicle and not a "extended duty" ride.

I can't wait to see it painted, I'm sure it will look awesome.

Hey all, a long overdue update is here.

This week, I´ve been busy on a project for m FLGS, which is now done and dusted. So to celebrate, I dragged all my various IG tanks for the Krieg force out, and lined them up for you guys to see.


And here they are! Of the Leman Russ tanks, only the Vanquisher and Demolisher have their finalized turrets. The others will be getting FW turrets with my next order from them, now that I´ve finally gotten to test that all the bits work for what I want to do.
The Chimera´s and Sentinels are actually finished, as the only vehicles of the army. The Centaur is getting painted at the moment.


As for the Centaur, I think the Zimmerrit is working out nicely. After seeing the third Vraks book I am torn about how to arm it. I need to figure out if it will get a Heavy Stubber and Meltagun, or if I should arm it with Chimera style weapons...


Here´s a closer look at the tracks, they´ve gotten the most work so far, and are looking nice and rusted. the next step for them is muddin´. This Centaur will function as the Company Liaison´s vehicle, and has the same Squadron markings as the Commanders Russ will have.


And here´s another tank that you may have seen before. I had to restart the Zimmerrit on it after trying a different method, and finding out I liked it better... It is closing on readiness to receive paint!


In this shot you can see how the new pattern looks. I actually used plasticard in a pin vice to create a new tool for the job. And it ended up working so well that I redid the rest of this tank in the same way.


And now for something completely different! This is the squadron commander for the first squadron of my tank company. I´ve adapted some extra armor plates from FW to fit on the sides, to give the tank a bit more detail than the "rank and file" tanks.

The tank has also received the same air filters as the Demolisher, but will not get trench rails, since it will not be on the front line as much as the demolisher.


The extra armor plates have some battle damage, and I´ll be picking out individual pieces here and there in another color to show that they´ve been replaced in the field.


And as a final image, here is blue squadron lined up, with squadron markings applied. Lots of work still to do on these..

I have started a search for old school Russ tanks, since I´m not a huge fan of the new side armor that GW has made. Had a bit of luck speaking with PrOtOCoN, who had one lying about that he has mailed to me. I´m looking forward to seeing what shape it is in, and deciding what changes and modifications to make to it. More on that when it arrives.

I´ve been adding copper wire antennas to all the tanks today, another piece of added realism, compared to the fat plastic antennae the tanks come with. I´ll also add flags to each tank as it gets squadron colors.

I am loving this, and that is an imaginative way of using the chimera spaced armour

Thanks, I originally bought it for a Chimera, but never liked the way it looked. But after searching my bits box for appropriate conversion bits to complete the Vanquisher, I decided to give it a shot.

I may use it for another tank or two, but I want to keep it a bit rare in the force.

At the moment I´m trying to decide on a tank for the unit´s Commissar. He´ll be driving a Russ, and I´ll use the Pask rules in normal 40K games.

So what do you guys think, he´ll be BS4, would the Exterminator be the best shot, 2 twinlinked AC? I kinda like the idea of the gatling Russ also, it has a certain Commissar vibe to it..
Or something else entirely?

Well exterminator has a good vibe to it, although i would love to see a punisher with knight comander pask at the helm, seriously though i might consider a nova eradicator, the bs might be useful

Very nice looking armour. That zimmerit gives your tanks completely new and great looking personal look.

@Young Logan: Nova Eradicator might be just the thing for him, to try something a bit rarer, also the no cover bit is nice.

But Exterminator..... It does have a ring to it. Plus, the FW Exterminator turret looks ace!

@Xenon: Thanks. I think the Z. gives them a bit more background. It sort of looks like they are actual tanks, now that different patterns actually have a bit different hulls.

My plan is for all the close assault tanks to have Z. and trench rails, while the command tanks will have plating. "Grunt" tanks will have bare hulls.

The Centaurs will also have Zimmerit, though some may also get extra armor applied. We´ll see.

Oh, and I may add some camo netting to them, but I need to find some proper looking type of netting first.

I did some testing last night, with Vallejo´s washes, specifically the Sepia Shade. It goes on beautifully, more like a filter than an actual wash, and gives a very nice worn effect to the tanks.
I believe I´ll be needing a few bottles of it for these guys.


On a completely different note, I also spoke to Forgeworld yesterday, and asked them about the missing tanks on their website.
It turns out that they´re retooling their moulds at the moment, to fit the new russ chassis.
Since they are doing this in steps, some of the stuff will be taken down over the summer, and put up again two-three weeks later.
Apparently they already did the Krieg turrets, and are now doing the hulls. So I must wait.....

Yeah go with the twin autocannons, the only reason i suggested otherwise is that everybody does that

Go with the gatling turret! I built one this weekend out of 3mm rod and and 10mm pipe and it fits perfect into the base of the normal battle cannon mount.
You've got to love throwing down 20 dice at a time

Xanthos wrote:Oooh, nice! The site only showed two different attachments, so I wasn´t sure.

Their system looks sensible as well, using a roller to apply the main pattern. I´d need to use a much softer product than GS though, I don´t think GS will hold indentations that shallow, it would probably just smush out of the way instead...

But you´ve definitely given me some food for thought.

I've read quite a few guides for doing zimmerit on scale armor, and a lot of them have reccomended using Squadron Modeling Putty (Green, not white).

@Young_Logan: True, many people seem to end up using the Autocannon thing, I myself really like the name, and I´ll by modifying the shooty bits a lot, so at least it will look slightly different than the rest.

@BLACKHAND: The gatling turret is so cool, but I just saw that another Krieg modeller has done it very well already, so I need to find my own way with this.. The 20dice thing is hilarious, even if range is sometimes an issue. Have you got images of the tank on Dakka?

@Nowlan: Thanks for the tip! I looked at them, and they seem to be faster drying than I´d like... Have you worked with them yourself? Hmm.... I really want to test some new materials here, I´ll see if I end up taking the plunge.


Anyways, with that it´s on to a little update:

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend in Iceland some days ago, and he informed me that he had gotten a lot of IG stuff on the cheap, from a guy who used to play traitor guard. He had no use for many of the things, and kindly offered to send me a Leman Russ that was part of the trade. And on thursday, I found this on my doorstep:


An exciting package, with foreign writing on the top! Interesting...

The box contained the aforementioned tank, which was almost mint condition. However all the eagle bits had been filed off, and there was some interesting positioning of certain things.






As you can see from these images, the paintjob is not bad as such, but it is very basic. The good news is that the tank wasn´t primed, so the paint should come off with no problems.

And therefore, it goes in the gunk!



It´ll need to sit for a few days, but should come out nice and clean (hopefully).

In other news, I got some more detail work done on my Vanquisher. It is beginning to take shape, many of the more important markings are on, I am sticking with my "no transfers" policy, so everything is freehand.


Here she is, from the front. I still need to clean up the markings, and add the tank´s name along the hull side, and on the turret.


The company number. 4th Tank company.


And the Regimental marking. Krieg 143rd. It needs some major cleanup, but the position and shape of the text I´m pretty happy with.


The side armor has had some work done as well. I´ve picked out a few squares of the aromr with a lighter color, to show replaced armor panels that have not been painted in yet.


And finally, a shot of the rear of the tank, showing the beginning rust and dust work.