Airfix-type tank kit suitable for sci-fi conversion?

[Hobgoblin]

This might seem like extreme laziness (and it quite possibly is!), but does anyone know offhand of any cheap tank kits that would be readily converted for sci-fi purposes and based on 75 x 100mm (or 50 x 100mm)?

This is for my 28mm Alien Squad Leader project; vehicle elements either have 50mm or 75mm frontages.

I've been looking through the dimensions of various 1/72 and 1/76 Airfix kits, but it occurred to me that someone's bound to have attempted similar things before, and there might be one kit that just works better than others.

Obviously, I'm working on the assumption that the armoured vehicles of the far future are relatively petite! I'm planning to add sci-fi guns, 28mm crew figures, etc., to alter the scale that the tanks 'read' at.

I have an old Grendel (now Scotia Grendel) tank that is so perfectly sized for this that I probably don't need to base it. But rather than order lots more resin, I'm hoping to take a cheapskate route and kitbash various other vehicles.

Any pointers much appreciated - the sheer choice in tank kits is a little blinding!

[Roo]

Not sure on dimensions but the modern Chinese tank from MENG is on my list for sci fi ish conversion fodder

[YPU]

I think you might get some use out of the ZOD/Technolog plastic sci-fi kits.

https://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2015/02/six-dollar-tanks-from-russia/

(not my blog)

there are 28mm ish ones and 15mm ish ones though neither perfectly matches the scale.

[SteveBurt]

The old Airfix JS3 is vaguely sci-fi looking already

[Ewart]

I plan on using a Rubicon 1/56 (28mm) LVT-4 or similar to sci-fi up.

https://rubiconmodels.co.uk/collections/usa-vehicles/products/280066-lvt-a-1-lvta-4-am-tank

[JollyBob]

These aren't Airfix type kits, so I expect a "bugger off, Bob" incoming, but have you seen the 3D prints from Culverin Models?

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CulverinModels?ref=usf_2020

They have a load of funky looking hard scifi vehicles, many of which seem to be based on WWII armour - a scifi Universal Carrier, anyone?

 

Fairly inexpensive, and from my experience very finely printed with next to no striations.

[has.been]

I was once given a bag of Airfix tanks by a parent. The child didn't
play with them any more, not surprised most were badly broken.
The T34s (arrived minus most wheels) were turned upside down &
converted into anti-grav. AFVs. The nicely flat underside (now the
top) made it easier to add on Sci-Fi looking bits.
Rather than Airfix (unless you too get given a bag of bits)I would
recommend Armourfast

https://armourfast.com/

Not only are they a lot cheaper, but the kits are very simple. Also
as they come two to a box, it is easier to make weird sci-fi things.
e.g. glue two turrets together (turret ring to turret ring) & turn it
on its side, voila! it is a... well whatever.

[dadlamassu]

Found on internet - Not Airfix but an ESCI JagdPanzer IV


I have converted, for a friend, the 8-wheel Armoured car, deleted the gun, turned it round, added bits and pieces as a scout car.  A bit like this one but open topped (not mine)

[Hobgoblin]

Thanks, all - this place can't be beat for advice!

YPU - I just ordered the one reviews on that blog; it looks to be exactly three inches wide and seems to come with lots of spare bits, which will be handy for conversions and scratch-builds. At a tenner all in, it looks a real bargain. So many thanks for the tip!

The other suggestions all look very useful too. I'm eventually going to need at least a dozen vehicles, and in some cases, the quickest way to get a viable army for a given list may be to go heavy on the armour. So all of these tips are extremely handy.

JollyBob - I hadn't seen those, and they look very handy indeed - and some of them are a great size. They also prompted me to look at the Scotiagrendel site again, and the vehicles there are a lot cheaper than I thought they would be. So lots to mull over!

has.been - I didn't know Armourfast; they look pretty good. No dimensions, but I can find the real stats and divide them by 72! I think most 1/72 vehicles should fit decently.

The Rubicon, Meng and JS3 suggestions all look great too.

dadlamassu - that looks a good option. Time for an initial order or two to test things out!

[YPU]

Thanks, all - this place can't be beat for advice!

YPU - I just ordered the one reviews on that blog; it looks to be exactly three inches wide and seems to come with lots of spare bits, which will be handy for conversions and scratch-builds. At a tenner all in, it looks a real bargain. So many thanks for the tip!

Glad to be of service, I've had those buggers on my mind for years but never had a specific use for them XD

[Moriarty]

I’d be tempted to have a scour on t9ebay for ‘toy tank’. Should come up with an assortment of soft plastic from China, or similar. Check out the S.H.O.D.D.Y. Thread in the Future Wars forum here.

[Hobgoblin]

I’d be tempted to have a scour on t9ebay for ‘toy tank’. Should come up with an assortment of soft plastic from China, or similar. Check out the S.H.O.D.D.Y. Thread in the Future Wars forum here.

That's a good call too - and, yes, the S.H.O.D.D.Y. thread is inspirational. I am, though, inclined to keep things to hard plastic initially because the ease of conversion with 28mm parts is so great. But as the project continues, I imagine my eyes will wander to the softer stuff!

[Elbows]

Many "historical" tanks are smaller than you'd think in real life.  Examples are 1/56 scale or 1/48 scale models can be quite small compared to what you'd expect from games like Warhammr 40K, etc.

What is your "vision" of sci-fi?  What kind of aesthetic are you looking for?  If you're doing 40K aesthetic, start with WW1 or interwar tanks, etc.

[Hobgoblin]

Many "historical" tanks are smaller than you'd think in real life.  Examples are 1/56 scale or 1/48 scale models can be quite small compared to what you'd expect from games like Warhammr 40K, etc.

That's an excellent point. I expect the Armourfast 1/72 tanks I've ordered to look relatively tiny - but I reckon I can find a role for them as lighter - perhaps unmanned - vehicles once I've added some 28mm bits and bobs. I also need some vehicles that fit on 50 x 100, with the bigger ones on 75 x 100.

I'll certainly take a look at bigger kits too, though - so thanks for the pointer! (What I really want to do is to scour the shelves of the local model shop, opening boxes and comparing frontages to 50mm and 75mm bases. But I doubt that would go down well!)

What is your "vision" of sci-fi?  What kind of aesthetic are you looking for?  If you're doing 40K aesthetic, start with WW1 or interwar tanks, etc.

Good question! The thing about Alien Squad Leader is that it has 23 army lists that cover a whole range of sci-fi tropes - from the Star Wars-y to the Wellsian and taking in all kinds of things along the way. It's much like Hordes of the Things in that you fit the figures to the troop types - only it has set army lists for the different armies.

My overriding aim is to get vehicles that fit the base sizes and then adapt them to fit in with a given army. For example, I'm using Mantic "orx"  as "Alien Imperials":



So any vehicle destined for that army will get baroque stylings and will be painted black/metallic green/glowing green. I'll probably use spare Mantic heavy weapons for the armament.

And those for the "Outlaw Gangs" list will be "orked up" in a GW sense while "Human Imperial" vehicles will use GW Imperium bits along with more practical, camouflaged paintwork. Given the difference in colour schemes and kit bashed bits, I could imagine using the same vehicle kits for different armies.

[Moriarty]

The good thing about historical models, is that you can work out the size from the vehicle dimensions and the scale - no need to lurk in model shops with bases :-)