A bit of modelling advice needed

[Thorvir Hrothgaard]

I just ordered 2x 15mm Zvezda KV1 Tank from Plastic Soldier Company. I'm going to sci-fi them up a bit (a larger gun for sure, and some other slight modifications). I should get them in about a week or so, hopefully.

Has anyone modded up 15mm WWII tanks, and what kind of advice could be given before I start cutting and gluing? I still want it to stay a tracked vehicle, as my Sovetski Solusian's (name still pending) technology isn't quite as advanced as others. But any other ideas I'm open to listen, eagerly.

Thanks.

[RuneCaster_Aris]

Not specifically WW2 but with any model, you should figure out what you want to do before you do it.

What I do before I model anything major is I get a black and white picture of the model in question, (being WW2, you should be able to readily find a vector image of the side profile of your specific tank) print it out, and use a colored marker to figure out what you want to add.

Going blind 9.5/10 times is a bad idea. One idea you can do: if the model is plastic, take a pin and grab it with either a pair of pliers or if your hobby knife has an adjustable blade release put it in there. Next, heat the tip of the pin with a lighter or propane flame untill it is hot, (about a 15sec hold in a lighter is usually enough). Finally, find every hard edge on the model and lightly press the pin vertically along the edge's length (ex: if the hard edge is going left to right, hold the pin up and down) melting the plastic just lightly. Do this evenly along key edges to give it a "rough" welded look.

Also, look up my post on making rope, you can easily use the technique to make exposed cables. Best of luck!

[underfire987]

interesting i am myself going to work on some German stug vechials , making them into a turrentless anti tank / troop transport vehical ( sci fi up of course).

That is a very good idea , Rune, i have been sculpting and such on alot of things with only an idea in my head of what i want or a quick sketch i will defiantly have too look at these tanks abit closer however.

I will be using green stuff though i do have plastic card that i will use for the extended roofs of the vehical it will be mainly green stuffed. i will post a pick of it once i get it done !

[inrepose]

They are not very clear but I do have some modified tanks in the background of this photo. They are Stuart M3 light tank. I bought them from Skytrex and added GZG plasma weapons and a GZG alien merc to act as a commander. You can buy them here: www.skytrex.com/page208.html?offset=20

I also added some sci-fi exhausts which are plastic bits from some old GW models. Then I did some minor greenstuff hole filling around the edge of the GZG turrets because they did not fit perfectly.

The other tanks in the photos have also had minor changes, like added plastic and extra details.

By adding bits from my old plastic and metal parts box it saved me having to do a lot of fabrication.

[Thorvir Hrothgaard]

Thanks for the replies. Robin I can't zoom in on those pics to see the details.

[twogunsblazing]

Yeah, having a bits box with lots of pieces of equipment etc is very handy in modifying vehicles etc.

Also, adding bits and pieces of plasticard in different locations to represent hatches or armour is a good way to change the look of something. Adding a small missile launcher to the turret, similar to the Bradley IFV's have is another way to give an older tank a bit of a more modern look.

[Thorvir Hrothgaard]

I have a largish bit box of GW material, mostly Fantasy though. I think I can scrounge up some nice bits that aren't too over large. Like some binoculars for rangefingers/periscopes. I'm also toying around with some images of the KV-1 kit on paint to see how my major modifications look. So far, so good. Larger, more ominous gun barrel, solid armored plate over the tracks...

[twogunsblazing]

Sounds like you're on the right track mate!

If you're looking for some gun barrels. The Combat Wombat guy does some cool looking ones, and they're cheap. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see them;

www.combatwombatminiatures.com/new_page_1.htm

[lordnth]

While getting his barrels ask Scotty about his Bits Add on Pack. bags, a stowage to add to your models.

[Thorvir Hrothgaard]

So, is 1/100 scale equal to 15mm scale? I have some Mid-Tech Humans in Full Body Armour from Khurasan and they seem a bit big next to these 1/100 or 15mm KV-1s. I am thinking that the infantry minis are actually a bit bigger than 15mm scale, but I starting to get a bit confused.

[papabees]

Oct 25, 2012 12:48:48 GMT -5 Thorvir Hrothgaard said:

So, is 1/100 scale equal to 15mm scale? I have some Mid-Tech Humans in Full Body Armour from Khurasan and they seem a bit big next to these 1/100 or 15mm KV-1s. I am thinking that the infantry minis are actually a bit bigger than 15mm scale, but I starting to get a bit confused.

Technically yes, but most companies manufacture their infantry on the large side.

[Thorvir Hrothgaard]

Well, I think I'm going with the gun barrels shown in the link by twogunsblazing, but I'm not sure which ones. I might have to order several to see how they look, then have spares leftover for a future project.

[Thorvir Hrothgaard]

Does anyone have good comparison pics of models using various combatwombat barrels. I have found some images online, but nothing really comparing one to another. Thanks.

[lordnth]

I only have use a couple of his barrels.

This one is SB8



I've also used SP3 on a DP9 walker but haven't photoed it yet.
Used LB2 on Old Crow Gradius Grav tank. Liked it so much I bought 3 more barrels. Not to have Old Crow catch up to the barrels.

What barrels you don't need I'm sure can be traded. I loved every barrel I've gotten from Combat Wombat. And I plan to use more of his barrels on some more models.

[Thorvir Hrothgaard]

I sent Combat Wombat an email with an order about three days ago, and haven't heard from him yet. Is this pretty standard?

Oh, and thanks for the pics lordnth.