Drop Tank Conversion #2 - new pic 4/18

[Deleted]

Ok, so I am notorious for my lack of follow through. I'm focused for the first 80%, but manage to stretch that last 20% over a substantial period of time. As such, I have started working on my second drop tank while my first is stuck in WIP-limbo.

Anyway here's a few shots of my progress:




So far, I have:
1) lowered the hull and re-attached the engine cover and turret ring.
2) chopped the turret, including the rear compartments.
3) narrowed the hull, so that the engine is now centered.
4) re-mounted the front weapon sponson along the center-line.
5) swapped front lascannon for a heavy bolter.
6) mounted mufflers/pipes in horizontal positions.
Overall, it is smaller (lower/narrower). Compare the first pic to this one:
members.aol.com/drdresch/spacewolfs/swtank.jpg
for a better idea of how much. The weapons on the turret will probably be similar to those on a Conqueror.

Here is my idea for the grav-chutes:


I will probably move the door hinges to the top of each one.

C&C please

[Mabus]

Hmm, I like it. I would recommend using a smaller main gun, I wouldn't attempt using anything in the same league as a battle cannon. An autocannon or perhaps another Lascannon definately.

[Deleted]

The Conqueror has a lower-power cannon than the battle cannon on the standard Leman Russ. I don't have the stats for it because I don't have Imperial Armor #1, but it sounds like the right idea. It also has a coaxial assault cannon, but I would definitely skip that.

[rarves]

Are you going to add plenty of gear onto the sides? Figure the drop troops need as much gear as they can take into the field, and a tank in that case is basically a big moving shelf that conveniently is brimming with guns,

[Deleted]

Definitely. There will be as much gear as I can stick on it.

I found the stats for the Conqueror Cannon and, while I can't post them here, let's just say the range is significantly less (1/3 lower) and it has slightly worse power and AP numbers. Also, it has a coaxial stormbolter, not assault cannon. However, I'm thinking mine may get a coaxial assault cannon from a dreadnought.

[Mabus]

I'm more ceoncerned about the look of the model, I just think it's too big for a Light tank. That's just me though.......

[cobaltsentinel]

Well, we could consider this tank to be a truly "heavy drop" tank. We can just use our imagination here.

I really like the look of the tank. I especially like the placement of the exhausts. It gives the tank an aesthetic look, like it's a vehicle modified for stealthy, fast movement.

How did you do the thing with the hull-mounted heavy bolter? I've been meaning to do something similar with my demolisher (1/2 of the hull lascannon was missing from my kit....).

Keep it up!

[Commissar]

Amish man.
Well I like it.
its very cool, but not very light, its quite heavy.
But thats fine, it looks fast and sleek.

[Deleted]

Yeah, this one wasn't meant to be a "light tank" like my other one. It was meant to be a lighter variant of the Leman Russ that can be air dropped via its four grav chutes. May be a little bit of a stretch, but ...

I tried some modifications to the front of the turret that ... well, let's just say they didn't turn out so well. So, I am now scratch-building a new turret front.

All-in-all, this may end up being a prototype for another generation of drop tank.

cobaltsentinel: I just cut the heavy bolter from the side sponson mount (cylindrical part), cut the lascannon from the front hull mount and then glued the bolter to the hull mount. If you are missing half the lascannon, then you will have to figure something else out. You could cut the rings from inside the side sponson and glue them inside the hull enclosure.

[Deleted]

I was at the store yesterday and, in a moment of weakness, picked up another Leman Russ. I'm thinking that the above will be the hull form of the Forgeworld that my army (when I finish making it) comes from or gets its equipment from, much like the Mars hull form from Forgeworld. I haven't decided if all (or if any) will have grav chutes. The small one (Drop Tank #1) definitely will, but the sizes concerns posted here are probably right.

With the second Russ, I have another hull-mounted lascannon, so I think that one of the two tanks will probably be getting twin-linked lascannons on its turret. The other will get either the standard battle cannon or the Conqueror cannon.

[Deleted]

I'm working on the second #2 (Russ-based) drop tank, using the work done on the first as a guide for what and what not to do. Taking the "too heavy" comments above, my first modification is on the tread sections. You can see the new shape here:

I have a bit more work to do with plasticard and green stuff to complete the mod (the hole was necessary and will be easily repaired with GS, but looks ugly now), but you can get the general idea. I will also taper the bottom-rear of the central hull upward to fit better with the new tread sections. Overall, it should be a good first step toward making it even lighter.

You can also see the started rebuild of the turret on the first #2 drop tank. The opening is wider now, so I can put on twin-linked lascannons. That turrent may end up on the second #2 drop tank with a heavier gun on the first. If so, the first would be my army's standard Russ variant and the second would be the drop version.

[Mabus]

Cool, I really like it. Keep it up.

[Deleted]

Those are really cool conversions!

In terms of grav chutes, the airdropped tanks also had crashpan cushions on their treads to asorb most of the shock of landing. Perhaps you could incorporate this into your design?

[Deleted]

Some progress on my second #2 drop tank:







I think it is turning out much better than the first one. So much so, that I am seriously thinking of tearing the first one apart (did it with superglue, not plastic glue, so it might be possible). I took the opportunity to fix the front (the well on the front below the front bolter), which I haven't gone back to do on the first one.

It fits nicely with my little ("counts as Sentinel") drop tank:

[Deleted]

I like those very much! Very clever conversion!

[Deleted]

And then there were two:




Having inspired AddictiveWoz to create his own, very nice drop tanks, I decided that I had to update my first #2 drop tank to match the second one. I chopped the rear of the tread sections (was actually easier than I feared) and angled the lower rear hull upward. I also began modifying the second turret by chopping it. After I decide what weapon to put on it, I will complete the mod. I still need to fix that front well below the bolter on the first tank.

[Deleted]

Those are both very cool! I can see them crashing mightily down onto the battlefield.

[Mabus]

Don't tear the old model apart! I really think it's cool, don't do it! Please!

[Deleted]

mabus said:

Don't tear the old model apart! I really think it's cool, don't do it! Please!

I already did, thus the "and then there were two" post above. I cut the track section of my first Drop Tank #2 (the lighter colored plastic one shown at the start of the thread) after seeing how nice that mod looked on my second Drop Tank #2 (the darker colored plastic one). Did you think I meant the little Chimera-based one? That was Drop Tank #1. The Drop Tank #2's are Russ-based.

[Mabus]

Oh, Phew!

[Ymmot (M.I.A)]

beautiful.

I really like all these light tanks and stand in sentinels
I may have to loot the idea one of these days.

[Deleted]

they look small enough to throw at someone!

[Deleted]

crisisweekly said:

they look small enough to throw at someone!

Well ... that's kinda the idea!

[Deleted]

Like I said, I can't leave well enough alone. I wasn't totally pleased with the front end, so I took one apart (keeping the pieces in case I wanted to go back) and tried something different. I'm not done yet, but I'm liking how it is going so far:



I have all of the parts needed to make the same mods on the other one when I am done.

[Woz]

Looks good but I'm not sure of the postion of the gun. Having it that low means it's prone to damage and the tank wouldn't be able to hide behind cover (hull down) and fire.