Superheavy tank conversions

33 posts · Oct 23 2003 to Oct 28 2003

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:45:48 -0700

Subject: Superheavy tank conversions

Hello all,

So a buddy of mine and I are gearing up for a SG2 game and decided to build up
forces from scratch using conventional vehicle conversions and
modern infantry mixed with some sci-fi models.  We are playing in 15mm.

My question is this, what is the biggest plastic tank model I can convert from
and stay within the conventional vehicles scaling for SG2.
I am thinking of converting some T-80s into heavy grav tanks and have
looked at 1/76 and 1/72 scale tanks.  HO would be good too but is very
hard to find. Thoughts?

Eli

From: Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@h...>

Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:56:07 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

> --- staremu <star_emu@hotmail.com> wrote:

> My question is this, what is the biggest plastic

I can't comment on what's appropriate, but if you're looking for HO and are in
the US, try looking in model railroading shops for the Rocco line of HO
military models.

From: damosan@c...

Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 20:14:57 -0400

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

> On Thursday, Oct 23, 2003, at 19:45 US/Eastern, staremu wrote:

> Â

I haven't done too much gaming in the 20mm scale (which is pretty darn close
to the scales you mention) but I have been slowly building a
collection of vehicles and minis whenever I go to a con -- they seem
big enough to use without any real problems.

That and you just can't beat the price. You can get tanks for around $5 a pop.

Damo

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 21:13:32 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

My concern is just makign sure things aren't overly large. I mean isn't Class
5 bigger than most current day vehicles?

Eli
[quoted original message omitted]

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 08:40:37 +0100

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

> My concern is just makign sure things aren't overly large. I mean

Yes, Class 5 is HUGE.... most present-day tanks would be class 3-4 at
most. I'd say that 1/72 or 1/76 kits would do well as class-5 in 15mm.

Jon (GZG)

> Eli
Hrastar
> __________________________________

From: Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@h...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 08:09:54 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

They have an entire line of moderns, from APC's and armored cars to MBT's. You
should be able to find something.

> --- staremu <star_emu@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 09:20:52 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Good to know. Looke like my Manchurian Economic Coalition (MEC) will soon
be getting some grav tanks courtesy of some converted 1/72 t-80's or
t-90's
if I can find one in 1/72 (not likely).

Eli
[quoted original message omitted]

From: Michael Brown <mwbrown@s...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 09:56:24 -0700

Subject: RE: Superheavy tank conversions

Actually, you should have a good chance of finding  1/72 scale kit.  Try
ESCI or Hasegawa.

Michael Brown

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:24:19 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Who has a complete line?

heh, your local store? I haven't checked mine.

Eli

From: Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@h...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:34:22 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Rocco is the name of the company. They're German, IIRC. They're not kits,
they're designed as railroad scenery I think, they have little wheels on the
inderside, and are mostly assebled already, with the exception of detailed
parts. As models, they leave a lot to be desired, but as toys or a starting
point for gaming minis, they should be great. I mostly see WWII stuff and NATO
by them, but I am sure they have a Soviet line.

> --- staremu <star_emu@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: McClure, Kent <kent.mcclure@l...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:38:01 -0700

Subject: RE: Superheavy tank conversions

I don't think that either ESCI or Hasegawa produce anything beyond a
T-62.  But Revell of Germany does have two versions of the T-80.  In
fact, Revell has a very nice collection of "modern" tanks, including LeClercs,
Challengers, Merkavas, and Abrahms. Trumpeter is supposed to be doing some
small scale tanks in the future, but I don't know if they're modern or not.

Kent M. McClure "Yeah, tactics. The most basic tactic of all, Mr.Yamamoto.
Every kindergartner knows it. You always win by running away." Lt. Cmdr Justy
Ueki Tylor, Captain of the UPSF Soyokaze from Irresponsible Captain Tylor,
              episode 13 - Strategy.....Tactics...or the Lack Thereof

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 11:54:16 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

They carry these at your local store? My local shops have diddly for Roco. I
have loved their stuff since I was a kit with a thing for war toys. Now
that am I grown-up with a thing for war toys, can't find them anywhere.

Eli

From: Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@h...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 12:13:06 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

The gaming store doesn't, but the local Toy & Hobby store has quite a few,
including a Leopard II, but I don't know about Sov otr if they order. I'm on
my lunch break, I'll take a mosey down there.

> --- staremu <star_emu@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 12:25:23 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

I think I should take this moment to say how much this list rocks. I have got
to say it is very rare to find a list that is this helpful and layed back.

Eli

From: Alderfek@a...

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 15:36:47 -0400

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Wal-Mart carries the Corgi WW2 vehicle line and the T34 makes for great
super-size tank conversions

http://www.3000toys.com/catalog/item_detail.asp?itemfind=CORGICS90060

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 12:48:27 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

You've done this?  I'd love to see it if it's been done.  T-34s are
everywhere but the body featurees always struck me as waaaaayyy to WW2 for
converting to sci-fi.

Eli

From: Alderfek@a...

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 15:52:03 -0400

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

In a message dated 10/24/2003 3:48:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> star_emu@hotmail.com writes:

> You've done this? I'd love to see it if it's been done. T-34s are

I'll see if I can find them this weekend. I popped off the old turret and
replaced it with 2 turrets from a BF GROPOS tank. That and some
sheet styrene made it come out quite Bolo-ish :)

From: Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@h...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 13:17:01 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

As compared to, say, most GW stuff, which makes WWI tanks look modern....

Anyway, back to the issue at hand. I checked the hobby store. They had a bunch
of Roco, as well as some HO stuff similar to Roco by companies called Premo
(Not made by them, imported from eastern
Europe), Trident, and PReiser, as well as 1/72 stuff
from Revell, Hasegawa, and Matchbox. No Modern
Sov/Russian, but lots of WW2 stuff all sides,
including sov, as well as modern western bloc.

So anyway, I asked to see their catalog, and it turns
out Roco does NOT make modern Soviet/former Soviet
(apparently the gulags and collectives don't make for popular model
railroading scenery....). However, Both Trident and a company called Boley DO.
You'll find them in most hobby stores' HO railroading catalogs under Military
(Back of the book).

> --- staremu <star_emu@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Allan Goodall <agoodall@a...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 15:23:13 -0500

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

> On 24 Oct 2003 at 13:17, Brian B wrote:

> Anyway, back to the issue at hand. I checked the

That's right, Premo is made in Russia. However it is distributed by Roco and
it is the same scale as Roco. They are really good quality
vehicles. It just so happens that I have 5 T34/76s, 3 T34/85s and 1
SU100 on auction on eBay right now (I've decided not to go into 15mm Eastern
Front; I'm keeping my Roco American and German stuff for Italian campaign
action).

> So anyway, I asked to see their catalog, and it turns

That's right, they don't. I have an older catalogue around here
_somewhere_. Their modern German and U.S. stuff is good for
modification, though.

From: Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@h...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 13:35:31 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

> --- Allan Goodall <agoodall@hyperbear.com> wrote:

> That's right, Premo is made in Russia. However it is

Yeah, it seemed like good stuff.

> That's right, they don't. I have an older catalogue

U huh. I'm drooling over their Leo II A5......

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 13:47:21 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Thanks for your time. I'll keep those names in mind when I got to my local
shop.

Eli

From: Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@h...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 13:56:06 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Y'Welcome.

> --- staremu <star_emu@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 14:51:52 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Well, looks like Revell T-80BVs until somebody makes a 1/72 T-90.  the
T-90
hasa more angled sci-fi look whilestill lookign like a Soviet tank.  I
can always make and A or B model when somebody does.

Here's the stats for it if anyone is interested...

Type 35 "Dragon" Heavy Gravitic Tank

Mobility Type: Grav Size Class: 5 Armor Class: 5
Weapons:                           1 x turret-mounted HKP/5
                                          1 x coaxial HEL/1
                                          1 x GMS/H
                                          2 x remote pintle-mounted SAWs
linked to a PDFC
                                          Enhanced fire-control for all
weapons Crew: 3 (driver, gunner, commander) Equipment: Enhanced ECM, smoke
dischargers, PDC, PDFC, AIDC

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Mark Sykes <tardis@b...>

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 17:23:37 +1000

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Check out the modern soviet AFV kits in 1/72 at:

www.nkrmodels.com.au

The owner imports and sells at good prices, while providing good postal
service.

Basic website but that keeps his overheads down.

cheers

MarkS

From: Allan Goodall <agoodall@a...>

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 09:42:57 -0500

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

> On 24 Oct 2003 at 13:35, Brian B wrote:

> U huh. I'm drooling over their Leo II A5......

I have four of those that I removed the bottom from and smoothed out to
convert to grav tanks. I wish, now, I'd left them alone so that I
could just keep them as tracked sci-fi tanks. I need to get to work
modifying these and the other Roco vehicles I have.

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 08:38:33 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

This brings up a question that has been milling about in my mind since I
conceived of this project. How are people modelling grav drives? Alan has
mentioned the flat-bottom effect but this include fillign the track
wells usually. I am wondering what others have done.

I myself and thinking of doing something that will maintain the shape of a
tracked tank but be obviously some other form of drive. My thought is to sort
of make a pair of "grav impellers" that fit in much like tracks. This will
likely take the form of tubular constructs with something interesting at
either end (can you tell it's a vague idea). I'll have to have the actual
models in front of me before I can consider actual materials and form.

Eli

From: KH.Ranitzsch@t... (K.H.Ranitzsch)

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 21:25:34 +0200

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Brian Burger <yh728@v...>

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 22:50:11 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

I did a superheavy conversion in 15mm using the modern Japanese MBT - I
think they call it the M90 or similar?

It looks a lot like an Abrams or Leo, anyway, just different enough to be
noticed. I shortened the gun, added some bits to the top of the turret, and
gave it an SF paintjob. (black & grey) I left the tracks on.

Picture here, halfway down the page in the Irregular Miniatures review:
http://wind.prohosting.com/~warbard/sg2figures.html

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 23:18:41 -0700

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

I have played with this tank at NorWesCon a few years back as well as the
Marders.  It was fun.  As I am building Grav-Tanks I want to do
somethign different and I kind of like the really long barrel on the Soviet
tanks.

Eli
[quoted original message omitted]

From: Allan Goodall <agoodall@a...>

Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 11:27:28 -0600

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

> On 25 Oct 2003 at 8:38, staremu wrote:

> This brings up a question that has been milling about in my mind since

What I did with a couple of Marders was make plastic card bits and fill in the
track wells that way. I created a side piece that sloped down at an angle and
touched the central part of the Roco model (behind the track wells). I then
cut two triangular pieces, one front and one back, to fill in the front and
back of the well. It worked okay, but it's fairly time consuming so I've only
done three vehicles so far. I really need to do more, but haven't had the
chance.

From: Foxx Travis <lordkalvin2002@y...>

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 10:45:07 -0800 (PST)

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Try this outfit:

http://www.russianscalemodels.com/forum.asp?id=332

They claim to have 1/72 scale T-90's (two types).

> --- staremu <star_emu@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Eli Arndt <emu2020@c...>

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 18:20:26 -0800

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

I looked and found no listing of T-90s in 1/72nd.  I did find t-90s in
1/43
but they seem pretty pricey too.

Eli

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Popeyesays@a...

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 22:13:30 EST

Subject: Re: Superheavy tank conversions

Check out toy stores, dollar stores and Wal-Marts and see what toy tanks
you
might find - some of them are startlingly cheap, and very useab le. They
are easy to modify. In Star Grunt almost all of my vehicles came from dollar
stores and wal mart., repainting and the bits box can change them
dramatically.