Startank Holdings Ordnance Depot and Delivery Yards (SHODDY) have started production of their new Model 40,000 battle tank. SHODDY has a long but undistinguished history and has only managed to stay one step ahead of a stream of product liability claims and health and safety prosecutions over the years through frequent name changes and regular relocations. Currently based on a Forgeworld on the edge of the Imperium, the new tank is in fact a slightly updated version of the company’s first ever armoured vehicle, produced in the 1930s for use in the British Civil War (see :
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=121952.0).
Brand new SHODDY 40,000s roll off the production line.
Despite the fact that the original Mark 1 was generally considered a bit rubbish even back in 1938, the SHODDY Directors have reasons to believe that the design could be a success in the 41st Millenium. Consider:
• A gun so inaccurate its maximum effective range is only around 100m (or 72 inches at 1/56 scale) - perfectly adequate for the futuristic battlefield;
• Slow speed and frequent breakdowns - mobility is less of a concern when most battles consist of both sides lining up in front of each other within shouting distance and blasting away;
• Thin armour - Why do you need armour when you have the blessing of the Emperor/gifts of Nurgle/the benefit of Reanimation Protocols (delete as appropriate)?
• A turret so small it surely cannot accommodate both the breach of the main armament and the crew - 38,000 years after the SHODDY MK1, this is now turret design orthodoxy;
• A very reasonable price - In fact buyers can acquire 52.42 SHODDY 40,000s for the cost of one Leman Russ (at current UK prices) making it attractive to Adeptus Mechanicus bean-counters and frugal xenos invaders alike.
Grizzled old-timers kick some tyres.
I have shamelessly stolen Leadboy's idea from his VBCW thread and will shortly distribute my shipment of SHODDY 40,000s to friends and family with instructions to "40k-ify" their vehicle. At this stage I cannot guarantee that anything worthwhile will come of this exercise (none of us are proper AFV modellers and only a few of us are even technically adults), but I will keep you posted...
A new customer clearly delighted with his purchase.