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Let me say off the bat I really don't like 40k's tanks. They're too WWI looking for my taste. When I'm able to start buying kits again, I would like to actually convert some real world tanks for my Guard/ Traitor Guard. Chances are I'll probably use some Panzers. But, here's my question: what scale would be best suited for a 40k conversion? I know I've seen a few people convert things like KV-2s and Panzers into IG tanks, so I know it is possible. So, is it better to use a proper 1/48 tank kit, or would something in a bigger scale work? Or do some smaller scaled tanks work well? And, while I'm on the subject, what would be a good base for converting a Predator to look more like a proper MBT?

this' been talked to death for a while.

the trick is, double-check your resources. Look up the information for the tank dimensions, and divide by 35 or whatever scale, and compare against the normal vehicles in game. I can tell you that a 1/48 scale Leopard II or an MLRS are closer in size to apocalypse vehicles than to a land-raider. a 1/35 hetzer is on the large size, but still passable, but the next scale down at 1/48 makes it more of a replacement for IG sentinels, or a large grot tank.... Just pull up the tanks schematics and get the correct scale size. I think I used a panzer 2 at 1/35 for a while, which is about a decent size as well, a little narrow and a little longer... but about right.

Thats a 1/35 Tiger I and 1/35 Stug III (Panzer Iv chassis) with a SM and IG for comparison.

As you can see 1/35 tends to be a bit on the large size for 40k, good for super heavy maybe.

The Dakka Article on using historical vehicle kits as 40k models. Includes discussion of scale, both generally and for specific vehicles, primarily the better-known tanks of WWII.

The long and short of it is that GW's vehicles are too wide for their length. 1/35th scale kits will be the right width but long, and 1/48th scale kits will be the right length but short. There are a few very good correspondences -- the 1/35 Bradley is almost the same as the GW Land Raider, for example.

I prefere 1/35 because 40K has a general look of gigantism, and there is a wider selection of kits on the market, but the 1/48 selection is improving all the time.

Try Brigade Games, they have tanks available in 1/56 scale, which is pretty much 28mm scale.

http://www.brigadegames.com/search.asp?keyword=tank&search.x=-1192&search.y=-61&search=GO

I remember seeing once a 'tiger 1' style Leman russ someone did (either art of or an actual mini). I'll have to look around


Edit: found

OMG that 40k style tiger is immense. Can you buy that>?

 Truffle wrote:
OMG that 40k style tiger is immense. Can you buy that>?

It is awesome. However, seeing as you dont see any popping up on Dakka, Im going to say it never made it to production...the date on the artwork 2010.

Yea, it never made it any further than that, though rumors on 4chan (lol) were that it was something that CHS had looked at before the big lawsuit came down and they froze all new projects.

>implying you can trust anything you read on 4chan

potatosack wrote:
>implying you can trust anything you read on 4chan

That was that the 'lol' was about.

Refer to this article.

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

I prefere 1/35th scale models because of the wider choice and the theme in 40K of gigantism.

1/48 can fit well but often look slim compared to GW's models.

Two caveats:

1.) Real-world tanks have guns, that look ridiculously small in 40k, as all 40k tanks have battleship sized calibres. Only exception is the KV2, because its gun was so big, it didn't really work in reality

2.) This is a SciFi setting. A Chevy truck on Tatooine would spoil the illusion, so real-world tanks can spoil the SciFi feeling for everyone.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Two caveats:

1.) Real-world tanks have guns, that look ridiculously small in 40k, as all 40k tanks have battleship sized calibres. Only exception is the KV2, because its gun was so big, it didn't really work in reality

A little OT but the 152mm M-10 worked fine, the problem was the transmission in the 'The Dreadnought' and the fact the thing weighed twice as much as the heaviest contemporary tanks. Plus she was a slow bunker buster, not able to keep up with rapid advances.


Typical 1/35 scale guns that translate well to 40k are 155mm and up.

 Kroothawk wrote:
Two caveats:

1.) Real-world tanks have guns, that look ridiculously small in 40k, as all 40k tanks have battleship sized calibres. Only exception is the KV2, because its gun was so big, it didn't really work in reality

2.) This is a SciFi setting. A Chevy truck on Tatooine would spoil the illusion, so real-world tanks can spoil the SciFi feeling for everyone.

My plan was never to just slap a few Aquilas onto a Panzer and call it good. More likely I would sci-fi up the designs of the real tank using bits from the GW kits, namely turrets, plating, and very likely the tracks. My general plan would likely be to use a 1/48 Panzer III (tamiya makes one), replace the tracks and the track guards with those off of a Chimera and replace the turret either with one from the Leman Russ or one from the Predator. The Predator has a nice sci-fi look to it. I think a few plates with added here and there to the Panzer hull could probably help give it more of that Imperial Guard look.

I'm also thinking that either a Matilda or a Churchill could act as a pretty decent base for a more tank-like Predator replacement.

Oh, and that gothic Tiger, that is a thing of beauty. Maybe Maxmini will consider doing one after they do their KV-2? I'd be all over one.