Latest posts for the thread "Would this work as a Leman hull stand in"

Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=32536

Its 1/48 scale. The site says works with 25mm to 27mm figures. As the base Leman is oversized this might fit well. The thought is to use the body/chassis, with a Leman Vanquisher turrent and modelled HB/lascannon in place of the MG turrent. While I like the Leman I was thinking of something a little more modern for my two Vanquishers, to better stand them out as different models than your standard issue Leman.

Thoughts?

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Symbio Joe — GMT

I see ne problem. Maybe a Heavy Bolter or a Lascan in the front.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

You could pintle-mount the hull-heavy weapon on the turret cupola. I don't know what you'd do for sponsons, though. And it needs a bigger gun. And More Skulls (TM). Otherwise, go for it.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

I have two FW Vanquisher turrents which has a nice, long barrelled barrel to that puppy. For the lascannon/HB option, was thinking of using clay/GS with magnets for either the hull or for a turrent cupola (akin to a Patton tank machine gun turrent).

For side sponsons I already have my remote controlled weapons with magnets-they might fit on this construct. If not adjustments could be made (I would only use sponsons in the AC list).

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

supabeast — GMT

You could probably pull something off with some 40k bits added to keep it from looking like you're just using a contemporary tank model.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

Definitely go for the coupla mounted HB/LC, it will look better than a hull mount. For the existing hull MG, I'd cover it up with a piece of plasticard for a smooth hull glacis plate (with extra armor!). I'd also scratch build some 40kerized side armor skirts to help differentiate the hull from a regular King Tiger. The left over turrets could go on top of other kits or even as turret emplacements or something.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Yes, I have a decent amount of 40K equipment kit and general equipment (bags, etc.) which would go on the tank.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

upliftingprimer — GMT

go for it. if you use the right bitz you can make it look prity good but i would go for the panzeres insted of the king tiger for the leman russ, use the tiger for the baslisk

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Are you referring to PZ III or IV? My only issue with that (good idea though), is that with a FW Vanquisher turrent, I think they would look too much like Tiger I's. (see the FW link below for the turrent). However, if you were making it follow a Leman profile much more closely that would definitely be the way to go. Having said all that, I shall review the topic before final purchase.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/s8vanq.htm
I am thinking of putting the Lascannon/HB turrent above the main hatch, if I can do it without spoiling the turrent itself.

The dimensions of the 1/48 scale are almost directly on point with a predator (slightly longer) and I have to measure it against a chimera/Leman tonight to make sure it is within the ball park.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

IMHO, PzIII's would be too short, but PzIV's would be perfect and many mid-late war variants (ie: PzIVG) come with side skirts. I also wouldn't worry about the FW turret, it is definitely distinct from any WW2 era turret, especially Tiger I's.

For the Lascannon/HB- what about replacing the co-ax stormbolter with a magnetized mount? You could then put the (better scaled) stormbolter as a pintle mount. The advantage of using a PzIV is the hull is more antiquated looking and the spare turret would look great atop a Chimera (or Predator), compared to the more modern looking King Tiger.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Posted By nyarlathotep667 on 10/26/2006 8:06 AM
IMHO, PzIII's would be too short, but PzIV's would be perfect and many mid-late war variants (ie: PzIVG) come with side skirts. I also wouldn't worry about the FW turret, it is definitely distinct from any WW2 era turret, especially Tiger I's.

For the Lascannon/HB- what about replacing the co-ax stormbolter with a magnetized mount? You could then put the (better scaled) stormbolter as a pintle mount. The advantage of using a PzIV is the hull is more antiquated looking and the spare turret would look great atop a Chimera (or Predator), compared to the more modern looking King Tiger.

Good points there. I'll think about those options as well.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

One more thing: from what I've read about the tamiya 1/48s, they do have some 'hollow' issues (the sherman, for example, needs sheet styrene over the treads, otherwise light shines right through, ruining the effect). You may want to check for similar issues. They also don't have any interiors, so if you were hoping for something like that...

Another easy way to 'russ' it up: add crew! One GW Tank commander poking his head out of the cupola would probably help immensely...

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Good idea there syr8766. I just ordered the Tiger II model above, after measuring vs. a chimera (almost directly comparable-a chimera based tank was the original idea that started this). If the size dimensions are off I can tweek it with barrel tanks and other gear and convert to a hellhound with that turrent, and of for either 1/35 size or a 1/48 PZ III or IV (depending on the difference in whats amiss).

Instead of the guy waving his bolter in the air (why would a tank commander wave a pitsol around???) I'll probably use the top part of a a valhallan HW team member (the one where he's leaning forward looking through binoculars).

Once completed I'll borrow my son's digital camera and post (you know you're old when you start asking your kids "how do you do..." .

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Update:

Well the Tamiya Tiger II (1/48 scale) came. I was hoping for something similar in dimension to a chimera.

The dimensions are about a half inch longer than a chimera (chassis only -final may be slightly longer). The width is about .5inch thinner than a chimera, but well within specs for a predator. Interestingly, the turrent is actually larger than a Vanquisher turrent - which surprised me to no end- so a plasticard plate is required to put the Vanq turrent on. The wheels are all equal or slightly larger than the underlying wheels in the chimera chassis so that’s perfect. The glacis plate is identical to the size on a chimera. Strangely the under chassis is die cast metal (looks like aluminum). Set up so you can motorize the bugger ?

Man there are a lot of parts though. I forgot how nice military models have gobs of parts.

So three issues:

1) GWizing this puppy. Not sure of what GW bits to put on this thing. If the model weren't perfect to begin with I could understand, but erp, its so sweet. Interestingly my idea for taking the turrent and using it for a hellhound conversion have already worked through a good deal planning stage wise.

2) lascannon/HB weapon cupola on the turrent. I have to figure out how to do that without permanently changing the Vanq turrent itself. Ironically it would be easy to adjust the Tiger turrent, because its pretty smooth on the top. Thinking a magnet (maybe, it would stick out) or maybe just a decent amount of weight on the cupola to hold it on for gaming purposes.

3) Assuming going ahead on #2, if no heavy weapon on the turrent, not sure if I should cover over the machine gun spot on the right side with some spare tread, or leave the opening but don't put in the machine gun. Both the chimera and Leman have viewports in the front so this fits with that, but not sure.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

All the Tamiya 1/48s have a cast-metal lower hull, "for added weight and realism" the ads say (funny, I didn't know I could lift a Sherman!).

I think replacing the turret will go a long way to "GW" up the tank, that being one of the most recognizable aspects to the tank. I think adding some kind of side skirt armor (as all the IG tanks have that, and it will help with the side-guns), lots of rivets, iconography, and the oversized weapons will also help. You may want to just have a HB coming out where the MG currently is in the hull as the hull mounted gun; probably easier than pintle-mounting on the turret itself.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Side armor skirt wouldn't be too difficult with plasticard. I am still thinking about the hull mount for the lascannon/HB. It has a natural well which would fit a magnet.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

I think that, while in line with GW vehicles, a LC/HB in the hull of a Tiger II isn't going to be as aesthetically pleasing as having it mounted on the turret (replacing the storm bolter co-axial mount) or on a coupla pintle mount. Both versions can be made interchangable with magnets. Personally, I think replace the storm bolter co-ax with an interchangable mount and putting a permanent pintle mounted storm bolter coupla would be the best looking one. Add crew, that giant spotlight that came with the new IG tank accessory sprue, and various stores should do it.

This is all assuming you go with the Vanquisher turret. Knowing that Tamiya's kits are indeed things of hyper detailed beauty, you might want to use the turret provided. If so, I'd just go with a coupla mounted LC/HB, definitely an IG tank commander poking his head out, the aforementioned giant spotlight and various stores, as well as custom side armor skirts. It'll be a beaut!

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

Which Vanq turret is it? Is it the gryphonne? Stygies? Vanilla (mars)? Is it possible to use part of the german turret as a 'cage' (either Extra armor or stowage) for the vanq turret, to give it a little 'oomph'?

It looks like most of the Vanq turrets have the coaxial gun mounted on the turret itself; you could lop that off and put a magnet mount for the LC/HB...Having said that, I really don't think the plastic HB would look that bad on a pintle-mount. The lascannon may be another story, though...

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

I have gryphonne and Stygies. No the Tiger turrent is a two piece (top bottom). that would be best, but the original intent was to use these Vanq turrents if at all possible, without damaging them.

Still thinking on this but its the only real issue. I am very pleased with the model itself and its scale.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

(I've gotten way too invested in this project.)

What about mounting the pintle-mount for the secondary gun in such a way that it implies the driver/2nd crewmember mans it? Or, alternatively, a remote turret of some kind?

Anyway, can't wait to see how it turns out! I'm curious as I've been contemplating tamiya's KV-1 and KV-2s as possible hellhound and Leman russ proxies for my valhallans.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Syr8766 that is how IO and a comrade here were thinking of doing. Kind of a beefed up pintle mount. Fluffwise fits as you're not firing the cannon at the same time your shooting that.

As an aside, I found Wikpedia had size dimensions on tanks. You can use that * scale to give a half decent comparison against a GW vehicle.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

General Hobbs — GMT

Did you ever make this tank? I always thought 40K translated better into 1/35 scale. Post pics if you did!

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Headhunter — GMT

1/35 is really too big, though the weapons are so oversized they look better in 1/35. 1/48 scales out better to the size of the WH vehicles.

It's not surprising you found the FW turret too small, as all the GW turrets are too small.

I've successfully used 1/48 M2 Bradleys as Rhino/Predator/Razorback replacements. The only problem is the lack of side sponsons. I think the KV-1/2 would make good stand ins for the Russ for that reason. You could easily mount side sponsons on the turret sides. I'd love to see an update on this tank project.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Yes General. In fact I just finished painting yesterday. I have a few touch ups on the camo (and sealer) but all in all done. I took the idea of mounting the lascannon/heavy bolter to the gun mount and the turrent actually looks very similar to a baneblade turrent (is that co-axial?). The scale is 1/48 and works very well (also evidently is a popular scale so there is a goodly number of vehicles). Once the boy shows me how to use his digital camera I shall post some pics in comparison to a standard Leman. It all came out better than envisioned (the vanquisher turrnets go really well) and have ordered a new Tiger to build the second. The turrents will be used for a hellhound turrent and potentially a demolisher turrent-they are too good to go to waste.

Playtesting wednesday

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Headhunter — GMT

1/48 scale armor has actually only recently regained popularity. 1/35 has been the scale of choice for YEARS, but 1/72 started getting a really huge following a couple of years ago, and 1/48 has followed in it's steps. Good timing

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

General Hobbs — GMT

The only 1/48 scale armor that I have found are the Tamiya kits.....any other sites featuring them that you know of?

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

I think Dragon makes a few, and there is some Chinese company out there making 1/48 cheapy kits of BMPs and the like.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

OK. two finished Leman Russ tanks. Tanks are set on a Cityfight terrain. 1/48 scale, with FW vanquisher turrents and variants GW bits. You can see the tanker commander on the Barbara Fran for scale reference.

Thanks to Honda for taking lending his camera to take the pictures.

tanks take the field

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank001.jpg

Pic of the Alexi Constantsi

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank009.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank007.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank005.jpg

Bird's eye view http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank004-1.jpg

Pic of the Barbara Fran

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank008.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank006.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q145/jfrazell/tank/tank002.jpg

And from an opponent's view (also known as the moment you realize you're about to have a bad day)

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

Man, those things look HUGE! The turrets actually look like they fit the tank pretty well.
I'd love to see a perspective shot (i.e. next to a chimera, rhino or the like) just to get a
sense of the proportionality.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

If I can con Honda into it I will do it, else can post a bad picture for scale with my own camera (evidently when you get a camera that came from a box of cracker jacks its not the best hah hah)

In actual size its the same exact width as a Leman Russ, and approximately 2/3inch longer. The heighth (with the turrent) is the same as a Leman hull without the turrent (same height as a destroyer).

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

Cool! The turrets look so much better on that hull; just more proportional somehow.

Of course, you've done nothing to discourage me from getting a KV-1 for a Leman Russ and a KV-2 for a demolisher for my Valhallans

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Frazzled — GMT

Just verify your scale before order syr. I used Wikpedia to get the dimensions and multiple them by the scale. I've been informed a 1/36 panther has similar dimensions to the 1/48 Tiger II I used.
KV's sound excellent.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

klingsor — GMT

A hasty and incomplete list of 1/48th scale AFVs

Zhengdfu/Kitech (my spelling almost certainly way off) do modern AFVs and APCs with a common motorised lower hull which throws the sizes out a bit and four axle motorised BTRs and LAVs on a common hull. Apart from the sizes and common hulls these are great kits. Pretty cheap and not too bad detail wise. A great basis for conversions.

AFV Club. They do a Tiger I and have an M4 in the pipeline. Superb detail and cheaper than Tamiya with no metal hull.

Hobbyboss. So-so M4s, nice enough unless you are a purist and amazing T-34s and an LCM.

Tamiya. Great apart from the metal hull. Also quite expensive but very well designed and accurate ? as if we care!

Academy. Some moderns and WW II AFVs. Oddly not a good detail wise as the cheaper Zhengdfu/Kitech ones. Adequate though.

Heller/Airfix Junior. Out of production and getting hard to find but very simple snap-fix wheeled armoured cars based on French prototypes. Crude but useful.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Agamemnon2 — GMT

I think you can get away with using the Königstiger hull on this one because it's pretty much the biggest 1/48 tank model out there. Using my collection of models, I did a series of comparison shots between different model vehicles of various scales.

http://www.ageofstrife.com/gallery/Agamemnon23

As you can see, the Tiger I is too small when compared to infantry models, whereas the BT-7 is rather close to the Chimera (although the BT-7 is too ugly and ungraceful to be considered for an IG vehicle). The KV-2 is nice and beefy, but is too small for a superheavy and too large for a non-superheavy.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

Actually I think that 1/48 Tiger I would work perfectly as a stripped down Leman Russ w/no side sponsons. I do think it would need a lot of work to 40k-ize it (like double wide tracks, scratch built shürzen side skirts, modified turret, and various sci-fi touches), but scale wise it's fine. We're just too used to GW's ridiculously proportioned kits & figures.

I'm sure the 1/48 KV-2 would also make a great Leman Russ stand in, also without side sponsons. I wonder if there is a T-28 in 1/48 scale, that ugly (kinda) useless tank would be even better AND it has five turrets (Russians + pre WW2 = lots of not so great vehicles, until the T-34 that is).

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

syr8766 — GMT

I've only seen T-28s and t-35s in 1/35 scale. 1/48 as a scale for armor, especially WWII, is really only coming into it's own in the last year or so...

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

upliftingprimer — GMT

Any idea where I could get a good model of a Brukenlegepanzer Biber got a 1/72 from REVELL (way too small) but I want a bigger one

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Agamemnon2 — GMT

Posted By nyarlathotep667 on 01/18/2007 11:22 AM
Actually I think that 1/48 Tiger I would work perfectly as a stripped down Leman Russ w/no side sponsons. I do think it would need a lot of work to 40k-ize it (like double wide tracks, scratch built shürzen side skirts, modified turret, and various sci-fi touches), but scale wise it's fine. We're just too used to GW's ridiculously proportioned kits & figures.

If you're proposing doing that much scratch-building, I wouldn't recommend using the Tamiya kit as a base, since it's not particularly cheap (You can get a 1/35 Tiger cheaper than a 1/48). Also, the metal chassis makes making a completely new suspension like what you propose very difficult since the swingarms are moulded to the hull pan.

The Tiger also has the problem of being instantly recognizeable. Personally, I'd much rather to use something that's not quite as well-known.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

nyarlathotep667 — GMT

Wait, I'd swear they're cheaper than GW kits! This evening I swung by the local Hobbytown USA and was ogling the Tamiya kits, the 1/48 Tiger and what nots were all $30 or less and I bet they could be found cheaper on the internet. Those are the same ones with the metal hulls, right?

Speaking of the metal hills, quite right about that. The good thing is while the running gear of the various AFV's is relatively recognizable, once one starts muddling around with the the hull's profile, adding skirts, reactive armor or other such stuff and puts on new turrets it gets looking like it's own thing than some WW2 tank with GW bitz tacked on. Especially when it's something as instantly recognizable as a Tiger, though jfrazell did good using the Tiger II hull with those FW turrets.

Back in the day one of the craziest conversions I ever saw was nearly two decades ago where someone smashed together a Sturmgeshutz, a M3 Lee and I don't know what else into this awesome Ork battlewagon. I also have seen a whole slew of conversions that used fruimodel (or some other company's) metal individual linked Tiger tracks attached to otherwise scratch built hulls that looked more akin to the APC in aliens than any AFV I've ever seen. Wonderful stuff. Can only imagine how many hundreds of hours he spent putting those tracks together though.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

Agamemnon2 — GMT

At this point, I've pretty sure there are full resin kits out there that are cheaper than GW.

The recognatiability issue is one that I can't really answer. I've spent so much time with WW2 tank kits by now that I can easily recognize parts. It's all to do with pattern recognition, some people do it easily, some don't. Your mileage may vary.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

klingsor — GMT

The Revell Biber bridgelayer is huge for a 1/72nd scale kit so the bridge and mechanism might possibly be usable. I have one but it is lost somewhere in the attic so I cannot measure it.
Failing that you could steal this from a 1/35th kit: surprisingly you can buy these in plastic as well as resin.

ICM
IT-28 WWII Soviet Bridgelayer Tank
A big ugly vehicle on the multi-turreted T-28 chassis. Once you steal the bridge the chassis looks very Guard in style.

Dragon
Bruekenleger IV B (Panzer IV Ausf.B Bridgelayer) Alas not out yet and sure to be relatively expensive ? ie. nearly the price of a GW kit. Also probably very accurate and relatively fragile.

Alternatives
There are numerous bridge kits out there from Dapol, Peco and numerous other manufacturers. Very possibly one of the German makers does one, I saw a catalogue from one once that had about 10 pages of bridges alone. Thee is bound to be one that is suitable. When it comes to girders and things some of the ancient Dapol crane and other model railway kits might be useful shortcuts. One at least of their crane booms has tapering side pieces that might be spot on but you would need at least two and possibly four of the crane kits to get enough pieces which starts to mount up despite the low individual price of the kits.

You can get truss beams in various sizes but these do not taper. Good for the launcher though if not the bridge side pieces.

I had been thinking about scratch building one with solid sides rather than lattice ones to put on a Chimera chassis, I know there are pictures of one on a GW website. This would not be very hard unless you wanted it workable. What I had thought of doing was to make two bridges, one folded and one extended.

RE: Would this work as a Leman hull stand in

ancientsociety — GMT

I've always wanted to use the French Char B1 Bis as a LR stand-in

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=35282