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

[Hobgoblin]

Ha! Yes - that's possibly a better approach!

[Hobgoblin]

This evening, I got some Armourfast experiments underway. I also picked up a Revell Star Wars snow speeder, which fits in nicely - though I don't think it's 1:52 scale as the box claims.

The main thing with the tanks was to give them cut-down Mantic orc heavy weapons. I'm also aiming to 'widen' the hatch by fitting large shields to the curve of the hole in the turret.

I mis-assembled the first one so that it stands a bit off the ground on skeletal tracks, but I don't mind the effect: it makes it weirder and more "baroque sci-fi" - like the Mantic orcs themselves. I'm going to add a fair bit more detail to both. An idea I had is to use GW Hobbit "goblins" as crew for the Alien Imperial vehicles - specially bred runts who can fit inside smaller vehicles with much more ease than the bulky grunts. The first couple of light tanks probably won't have visible crew, but if those work out OK, I might aim for another couple, with at least one with an open hatch and a protruding crew-creature.

The Armourfast tanks fit on the standard ASQL vehicle bases (50 x 100mm) perfectly, which is another plus - leaving the wider Grendel tanks to fulfil the 75 x 100mm 'assault tank' role. So many thanks, has.been, for the Armourfast pointer!

[zemjw]

This evening, I got some Armourfast experiments underway. I also picked up a Revell Star Wars snow speeder, which fits in nicely - though I don't think it's 1:52 scale as the box claims.

It's not, it's barely 1/72. Revell play fast and loose with their "scales", but this is one of their worst claims. It does mean, unfortunately, that I just don't trust their scale values, so I'm reluctant to buy their models.

The tanks are looking good. I removed the wheels from some cheapo one, put in a bit of plasticard running from the outside edge of the track guard to the bottom of the hull, stuck a few engines on the slope and called it a grav tank. May be a bit hi-tech for Orcs, but could be something they captured and repurposed.

[Hobgoblin]

It's not, it's barely 1/72. Revell play fast and loose with their "scales", but this is one of their worst claims. It does mean, unfortunately, that I just don't trust their scale values, so I'm reluctant to buy their models.

Yup - I was all geared up to convert the crew with a headswap before I discovered they were tiny! But painting the windows rather than leaving transparent plastic will solve that problem.

The tanks are looking good. I removed the wheels from some cheapo one, put in a bit of plasticard running from the outside edge of the track guard to the bottom of the hull, stuck a few engines on the slope and called it a grav tank. May be a bit hi-tech for Orcs, but could be something they captured and repurposed.

Thanks! That's a good idea - and I'll probably steal it for another round of Armourfast tanks. The Mantic orcs are my "Alien Imperials", so hi-tech isn't a problem; although the Mantic "orx" (the old ones, now discontinued) are quite savage-looking, they appear much more advanced than GW ones - with energy weapons and power swords and so on. So a grav tank would work just fine.

[has.been]

So many thanks, has.been, for the Armourfast pointer!

You are welcome. helping each other is something that LAF does well.
I will follow your progress with interest.

[swiftnick]

Was interested in this one too.
I am about to get stuck into a big retro sci-fi project.
So on the lookout for WW2 looking tanks.

[swiftnick]

Has anybody used the Meng Toon tanks?

[Storm Wolf]

Has anybody used the Meng Toon tanks?

I believe Inso on this very forum may well have done?

Glen

[leadboy]

I've used the Meng KV2 kit, which scales well with 28mm figures
height-wise. Obviously its 'cartoony' in terms of width and length.
Hope this helps.

[zemjw]

There are some pictures of Meng Toon tanks in this thread - https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=130289.msg1651106

[swiftnick]

Thanks for that! Jury is out on them to be honest.

[swiftnick]

I have bought one of those Meng Toon tanks. Am actually quite impressed with it to be honest. Will post a picture when I make it.
Justin did you get that Russian kit?

[Hobgoblin]

Yes - it's excellent! Still to be assembled, but a perfect fit for the 75mm frontage and a fair few spare bits for other vehicles.

[swiftnick]

Much to my surprise I do like the Meng Toon King Tiger tank.
So much so have just ordered another 2.

[zemjw]

I really like their King Tiger, which I think is the one Inso used for his space dwarfs. The Sherman didn't do it for me, looked a bit too "Shermany"

The Panther looks good