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Looking through Forge World at stuff I'll never buy (I would pay the prices, but I don't want the wait-time and don't want to work with resin), a thought occurred to me: The Alpha Pattern Leman Russ is much better looking that than the regular plastic one. So much so that I converted mine to have a similar glacis plate and lascannon arrangement, although I used plasti-card and a Cadian Lascannon. However, given that the Alpha Pattern is so much better looking (at least to me), and that GW was turning parts of the Forgeworld range into plastic kits, I figured the 5th edition of the Imperial Guard would benefit from a revamped Leman Russ kit in the Alpha style.

I agree. The alpha looks SOOOOOOOOOO much better. So less cartoony. But then, that's FW's strong suit.

Link for the lazy:
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/edelweiss.htm

I think that changing the pattern slightly would reinvigorate a kit that has been around for well over 10 years.

What's the difference between it and the regular leman russ hull? I don't see anything.

The front and rear are a little different.

The Mars hull is much better. I have one for my Russ Anihilator and I wish all my other Russes were like it.

That said, if they do release a new Russ kit for an updated Guard, I want nothing to do with it. After suffering through putting the tracks on 31 Russ Hulls (and 24 Chimera Hulls), I can't be bothered with any more Guard tanks.

BYE

Better comparison of standard russes.

Actually looks like the crew could fit inside the Mars-Pattern.

BYE

I hate to admit it to all the treadhead out there, but the difference looks negligible to me.

Yeah I mean the smaller opening for the heavy bolter looks good, but that looks like the only difference. Unless the exclusion of the exhaust pipe is another feature?

And there's the larger turret.

That's the Ryza pattern turret, which is a different kit.

The exclusion of the exhaust pipe (looks like the entire engine assembly is enclosed in the rear) is the other main feature.

stonefox: You're right. Still, it's an improvement on the "Phaeton" pattern.

stonefox wrote:Yeah I mean the smaller opening for the heavy bolter looks good, but that looks like the only difference. Unless the exclusion of the exhaust pipe is another feature?

That and the length of the entire hull is somewhat longer.

If they lowered the hull a bit (say 1.6cm) and gave it track clearance equivalent to a Rhino it'd be almost perfect.

From what I can tell, the Mars Alpha pattern is the turreted version of the Destroyer / Thunderer kit.

The Mars Alpha pattern has a *lot* of changes over the standard kit, and all for the better:
- lowered turret ring by 1/8" (or more?)
- front glacis plate
- extended rear hull

While the Mars Alpha pattern is a vast improvement over the standard kit, it's still a very flawed vehicle. The primary issue of the overall smallness and narrow, exposed tracks still aren't addressed. Also, the turret should be larger, with a narrower barrel.

The Leman Russ tank should really be redone in toto for 5th Edition. A new Leman Russ should have an overall footprint similar to a Land Raider, though keeping the hull profile down would be a good change.

I prefer the stock "old" Leman Russ.

Hope you aren't the tank commander - the gun recoil woul pulp you in an instant.