Alternative imperial guard tanks?

[YPU]

So my war-gaming buddies finally dragged my out to the local club, not officially war-hammer only tough that was the only thing I have seen there so far.

Anyhow its a friendly bunch who are not to anal about alternative models and the like. So while there we got talking about NON imperial humans, the fluff quite often mentions planets or systems inhabited by humans who are out of touch with the imperium and need to be brought back in line. Quite a few guys thought it would be a nice army to see, and soon idea's got rolling. Most agreed it would be a perfect opportunity to use the wargames factory storm-troopers, Tough I have a mind that they would do better with alternative heads, say the turbans from ramshackle. (dident there use to be non gasmask ones as well)

The tanks on the other hand were harder to decide. Actual scale models come to mind, tough something a little more sci-fi might be better. (The imperial guard after all use WWI tanks already)
I know of old crow, but have no idea how they would look like next to WF stormtroopers. Figuring out the correct tank to use as alternative is also some work, but we could manage that I am sure. (Mainly figuring how to do the hull heavy bolter it seems) I also wonder how well their VTOL's would stand up to scale.

Now all of that might be better of posted on the more GW focused forums, however I was rather curious what this far more creative forum has to say about it?

[Dr.Falkenhayn]

Hi
i dont have the Shocktroopers so no Idea how well they fit with old Crow Vehicles.But i have some Old Crow Hoover Tanks etc and they fit very well with most 28mm,even larger ones like Warzone,Infinity

A better Alternative than the Shocktroopers might be the Pig Iron Stuff,ok theyre more expensive but they have Heavy Weapon Teams,Command Squads and such Stuff

What about the Idea of a Space Pirates/Smuggler/Rebel Force?
Kallistra ,EM4 etc Minis are pretty cheap and they have a wide Range of different Models...
Just my two Cents

[CptJake]

I have an Armorcast Baneblade for sale:  http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=23772.0

It is for 40K but the styling is different than the current ones.

Otherwise, check out Solido type diecast vehicles and 1:48 models, there are a lot of posibilities that may work with a little conversion.

Jake

[elysium64]

Always good for 40K alternatives are 1/35th kits a few options.
My favourite:
Tamiya Char B1 Bis
http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/35282b1bis/0607index.htm


Emhar A7V
http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/tau/kit_tau_35106.shtml


Emhar Whippet
http://www.wwi-models.org/IM/British/whippet.html

[Inso]

This pic shows an Old Crow Glaive next to a Grymn (Space Dwarf: 22mm to the top of it's head) so I would suggest that it is a little small for standard GW sized humans:



Pig Iron have some nice large tanks and APCs:

http://www.pig-iron-productions.com/vehicles-c-8.html

If you look in their galleries, I believe they have some head-swapped WGF shocktroops too.

Fenris games have some nice wheeled vehicles:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Fenris-Games/Vehicle-kits-/_i.html?_fsub=1041047013&_sid=55776203&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Failing that, there are various Void/Kryomek vehicles available from Scotia...but they are not to everyone's taste and may be a bit small:

http://www.scotiagrendel.com/

Particularly nice is this one:

http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Products/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_42&products_id=208

And if you are feeling a little 'Saucy'...how about this beauty from Bandai (they still turn up on E-Bay and the like):

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN957471

There is also the 1/48 scale range from Tamiya that, while expensive when compared to their 1/35 scale brothers, offer a range of conversion applications.

Also, if you want to go a bit cheap, how about taking a risk on some Kitech kits from E-Bay (or elsewhere if you can find them)...they are a bit hit and miss but you can generally pick them up for less than £10-00 and they are good conversion fodder...here's a Bradley (shown with another Grymn and a 25mm GZG miniature...that is 25mm NOT 28mm):



Lots and lots of garage kits too...

[Trooper]

Just a thought but don't forget to check out some of the Ground Zero Games vehicles as well.

[answer_is_42]

http://www.pig-iron-productions.com/

Pig Iron have lots of stuff that could be of use. If I were you I'd use their infantry figures rather than Wargames Factory.

[Hammers]

How about Toys'RUs? A  lot of things there look compatible to me, style-wise, but cost a fraction. 

[YPU]

As much as I would agree with you guys on the WF shock troopers its was a pretty solid decision there. Everybody knew about the models and everybody wanted to try them, but never had a chance. That being said perhaps a load of pig iron heads and gear would help with creating some much needed variety. Also, their war droids might actually make for an interesting alternative sentinel. (tough making sure they have no real "Hands" should help, else somebody might expect a power fist)

For a large part we are looking for post-modern vehicles, GW imperial guard is very much WW1 style in vehicles and the group is looking for a hard sci-fi like feel for vehicles, to create the futuristic force that might be present on a renegade world.

[Predatorpt]

I've started a thread about tanks sometime ago:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=20348.msg247981#msg247981

There's a couple of options there, but I ended using M113 with Leman Russ turrets 

[YPU]

You know there are fewer "Not-GW" tanks as you would expect. I have to say I am looking more and more at model tanks.
Its true that the smaller Old Crow models are to small. But the larger ones list length and are in fact the same or longer then GW models.

In this case its not even as much a case of wanting to save on them (would be nice tough) but also that we want the entire army to look different then imperial guard, no GW bits allowed, or as few as possible at least. (vox caster perhaps)

[syr8766]

I would actually consider using the PI robots as "Heavy Weapons Platforms" or Ogryn rather than Sentinels, but that's just me.

While the Medium Old Crow tanks etc. (Like the Glaive) are smaller, they'll work in a pinch depending on what you want them to be (an Hellhound, for example), and the larger ones and the halftrack should work fine (the latter especially should tie in nicely with the WF plastics).

I'd also look at some other alternative sources, like toys, sci-fi kits etc. Unless you want them to have a different retro-sci fi feel from the regular 40k stuff...

I think some alternative heads and kit would be a great idea.

Post pics when you're done! Sounds like a fun project!

[YPU]

I was considering the alternative of them as ogryn or indeed weapon platforms indeed. However the lack of armor save on both just seems so glaring a dissimilitude.

I was considering how to work out that empty hand tough, and I thought that having them carry around a Singe shot missile (hunter killer) in that the empty hand might solve the look problem a bit. I seem to have a very clear visual on the idea in my head, your mileage may vary. Also giving them more of a cockpit window like head might help as well.

[Predatorpt]

The Old Crow's Sabre is very good:

[Major_Gilbear]

You know, the main thing that strikes me about most of the options suggested here is that I reckon you could kitbash your own quite easily...
Start with a cheap scale model or cheap-store toy, and then build a new hull and turret to fit over your cheaply purchased chassis with plasticard or foamboard, or whatever. I don't think it'd be too much more work and you'd get exactly what you want. It would probably work out cheaper too (materials-wise anyway; you'd obviously 'lose' money on the extra time it could take).

Another thing that occurs to me it that most cases GW (and in real life to some extent) bases many vehicle variants off common hulls. So if you wanted a good number of vehicles for you and your friends, you might only need to kitbash one or two hulls, and then cast them in resin. The casting route is only really worth it if you want a total of, say, 5+ vehicles though unless they are really easy to build.

I mention the kitbash and casting also as I remember a while back on Warseer that somebody made up a number of different hulls, tracks and turrets for Ork Track models. He cast them all half a dozen times or so, and then mixed-and-matched the parts to build a swarm of light vehicles for his Ork Kult of Speed. They looked very nice, simple, and it was a great idea.

Another good place to look for cheap fiddly parts for custom vehicles is Ramshackle Games - great place for wheels, tracks, etc. Curtis is often on these boards too, so if you have any queries or want something specific, maybe shoot him a PM? He's always been very kind and helpful in my experience!

Finally, Antenociti's Workshop has a grav-tank and a couple of other wheeled vehicles too... And Jed is working currently on a light tank/IFV as well I think.