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So I'm looking to get some WW2 vehicle models to use as parts on my ork vehicles.

But I have no idea what scale 40k is in
(1:6, 1:48, 1:76) etc

Also while on the topic of WW2 kitbashing. Do you think WW2 infantry weapons would look out of place with my orks (they're blood axes. So the fact they're using non ork weapons wouldn't be a problem. But would they look too old for 40k?)

It's supposedly 1/48 but because everything is big "herioc scale" in 40k 1/35 seems to fit better.

Personally, I don't think it looks right. I've seen all manner of kits "looted" by orks, ww2 tanks right up to super cars. The aesthetics don't seem to work, and it inevitably looks like a model kit was covered in glue and dropped in a bits box. I'm not saying it's impossible to get right, I just haven't seen a good example yet.

 JamesY wrote:
Personally, I don't think it looks right. I've seen all manner of kits "looted" by orks, ww2 tanks right up to super cars. The aesthetics don't seem to work, and it inevitably looks like a model kit was covered in glue and dropped in a bits box. I'm not saying it's impossible to get right, I just haven't seen a good example yet.

I'm not planning to just orkify existing models, I'm using them for useful weapons and armour plates etc.. to stick on my models

 Gunzhard wrote:
It's supposedly 1/48 but because everything is big "herioc scale" in 40k 1/35 seems to fit better.

28/30-ish mm is closer to 1:56 than 1:48.

But yes, for the most part 1:35 works better for kit-bashing. Weapons will still mostly be too small, and 'human'-sized things like seats will be too big, though.

Can these threads all be combined somehow? You're asking tiny variations of the same question in all of them.

40k scale is basically a chibi version of something between 1/56 and 1/48. By chibi version I mean you might match the height/length with something between 1/48 and 1.56, but you won't match the bulk, and it runs through their entire range, their infantry models are chunky, their weapons are chunky, their heads and hands are extra chunky and their vehicles are chunky.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 insaniak wrote:
But yes, for the most part 1:35 works better for kit-bashing. Weapons will still mostly be too small, and 'human'-sized things like seats will be too big, though.

Really? I actually thought my 1/32 scale aircraft seats were probably closest to a 40k scale seat, maybe a touch oversized. Certainly the 1/48 seats seem too small.

I guess it depends what you're putting in them though, 1/48 might work for an Elf but it's too small for GW's wide stumpy humans.

Yeah I won't make this mistake again. Should have just asked in one post

Especially for smaller grade vehicles, 1/35 is actually fitting.

I've got a pair of 1/35 SDKFZ 222's that I'm going to make as Tauros Assault Vehicles - I ordered some extra stowage for them as well, and it arrived first. I was worried about scale until the actual vehicles showed up. See for yourself, it seems to work.

Sauragnmon wrote:
Especially for smaller grade vehicles, 1/35 is actually fitting.

It really depends on the vehicle, and what you want to do with it.

I have a 1:48 Sherman kit floating around in the dungeon somewhere that I bought to try turning into a Leman Russ. It's pretty much bang on for height and length, but is narrower by the track width of the Russ... I had planned to get around this with spaced armour on the sides, but never got around to building the thing.

And, of course, the weapons are tiny compared to actual Russ weapons, so that would have needed some work.

So that there is a car model kit I used for 40k for my orks, as you can see its about the same size as the older rhino model. I have used quite a few WW2 models in the past, but you certainly need to suppliment them with WH parts to make it work right. The car is 1/35th scale. which seems to work best with WH.

Warboss Grimdakka wrote:
So I'm looking to get some WW2 vehicle models to use as parts on my ork vehicles.

But I have no idea what scale 40k is in
(1:6, 1:48, 1:76) etc

Also while on the topic of WW2 kitbashing. Do you think WW2 infantry weapons would look out of place with my orks (they're blood axes. So the fact they're using non ork weapons wouldn't be a problem. But would they look too old for 40k?)

The big thing to bear in mind is that 40K vehicles are much more square than real tanks, trucks, etc.

So if you get 1/48 which is technically about the closest scale you'll find that vehicles are about the right length but weedy in terms of width and height. 1/35 vehicles will be about the right width and height but really long.

 Scott-S6 wrote:

Warboss Grimdakka wrote:
So I'm looking to get some WW2 vehicle models to use as parts on my ork vehicles.

But I have no idea what scale 40k is in
(1:6, 1:48, 1:76) etc

Also while on the topic of WW2 kitbashing. Do you think WW2 infantry weapons would look out of place with my orks (they're blood axes. So the fact they're using non ork weapons wouldn't be a problem. But would they look too old for 40k?)

The big thing to bear in mind is that 40K vehicles are much more square than real tanks, trucks, etc.

So if you get 1/48 which is technically about the closest scale you'll find that vehicles are about the right length but weedy in terms of width and height. 1/35 vehicles will be about the right width and height but really long.

Yeah, if you want to cut and shut a 1/35 vehicle to shorten it, it'll often come out about right.

But I always find the details on real world vehicle models too fine (which is realistic of course!) for 40k where details are big and chunky. Whenever I see a real life model in 40k it just looks wrong, the ones that I like are the ones that take inspiration from historical sources rather than just adapting actual historical models.

Though sometimes with Orks you can throw enough random plates and junk on them to bulk them up so only the silhouette of the original vehicle remains, and sometimes that looks good.