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I am building an Astra Militarum force and am purchasing leman russ tanks, with the aim of having them all magnetised at once, so that I can run all variants (likely as a comission job)

I am planning on having 2 for tank commanders and 3 others to use as general tanks.

Would there be any point in buying more or should that do for tournament points level play?

technically, you can run up to 21 leman russes this edition, in addition to tank commanders... but yeah, what you mention here is probably fine unless you wanna go all in on tank spam

It is going to be difficult to fit more than 5 in your list.

They come in 2 kits Vanilla or Demolisher with the sub variants split between the kits.

Dorn tanks are also good, but their fat ass is limitedin the number of lanes wide enoughfor them to move through.

Tank commanders can only take orders from lord solar.

Vanilla Russ tanks are the best without orders.

There are a lot of good ways to build a heavy tank list. You'll have to experiment to see what works best for you.

 schadenfreude wrote:
It is going to be difficult to fit more than 5 in your list.

They come in 2 kits Vanilla or Demolisher with the sub variants split between the kits.

Dorn tanks are also good, but their fat ass is limitedin the number of lanes wide enoughfor them to move through.

Tank commanders can only take orders from lord solar.

Vanilla Russ tanks are the best without orders.

There are a lot of good ways to build a heavy tank list. You'll have to experiment to see what works best for you.

as of a couple years ago, there's only the one kit, and you get the sprues for both versions in the same box

Q: how many russes?

A: Yes.

If you want to take a fluffy approach, you'd want two Tank Commanders - one would be the Tank Company Commander and the other would be a Tank Commissar - and then three troops of three other tanks, for a full company of 10 plus the Commissar...

Or on a smaller scale a Tank Commander to represent the troop CO and two tanks to make a tank troop.

In your suggested format of 2 TCs and 3 standard, I think that seems fine. I'd probably try and squeeze in a sixth tank so each TC has a unit of two standard tanks to accompany them, but that's just me.

Over the years I've built up a number of Russes
- 3x Regular
- 2x Executioner
- 2x Demolisher
- 1x Vanquisher

I actually can't remember the last time I had to use more than 4. It's nice to run loads but I think 5 would be plenty for 99% of list ideas.

On a side note I picked up a 3D printed turret from eBay a while back, £15 but came with all Russ weapons and spaces for magentisation. I don't think they're available anymore but worth keeping an eye out for them as they're brilliant if you want to keep changing weapons.

I know it's a bit excessive, but I play 5 to 8 tanks.
2 demolishers with flamethroughers, one exterminator (Lascannon and plasma), 2 vanquishers are my solid core, and then I add on as needed. I also got 2 Malcadors as counts-as rogal dorn.
I like to run sentinels for the accuracy buff and keep at least one infantry with a mortar in the backline for the Strategem that gives extra AP. The issue with a high amount of tanks is the lack of infantry to bubble wrap and hold objectives.

Edit:
I also bought the Russ tanks in the new box containing all turrets. So without magnetizing each tank has two turret options. I find that the regular battle canon works best in a combined arms approach: soften up the target with the exterminator and Strategem providing +2 AP, so hitting at -3 AP 3D takes care of most elite infantry pretty reliably.
Also if you get the solar auxilia tanks, you can assemble the turret so that you can exchange the gun without glueing or magnets, the parts just hold together via friction (especially after primed). I found out after only after building two already but as I just love the vanquisher gun on the new models I don't mind.

 Valkyrie wrote:
...On a side note I picked up a 3D printed turret from eBay a while back, £15 but came with all Russ weapons and spaces for magentisation. I don't think they're available anymore but worth keeping an eye out for them as they're brilliant if you want to keep changing weapons.

Side note to the side note: If you're talking about a dedicated seller, and the seller is the one I think you're talking about, they got resurrected at Elrik's Hobbies. There are also a decent selection of third-party Russ turrets available at Victoria Miniatures and Kromlech.

 waefre_1 wrote:

 Valkyrie wrote:
...On a side note I picked up a 3D printed turret from eBay a while back, £15 but came with all Russ weapons and spaces for magentisation. I don't think they're available anymore but worth keeping an eye out for them as they're brilliant if you want to keep changing weapons.

Side note to the side note: If you're talking about a dedicated seller, and the seller is the one I think you're talking about, they got resurrected at Elrik's Hobbies. There are also a decent selection of third-party Russ turrets available at Victoria Miniatures and Kromlech.

I think this was more like it. Not sure if it's the same bloke but glad to see they're still available, albeit a bit more expensive than before.