Basically...

Awhile back, a good friend offered to convert my chimera up to look like one of his because he'd done it marvellously cool, but me being a lazy sod I still havent gotten round to sending it.

Anyways the converter in mes been thinking of hacking it to pieces myself, adding a static turret and building it up a bit so its taller at the front, and then maybe adding a big dozer blade (the one from the vindicator kit).

If it works, I'm planning to do a few in the same style as Im currently building a WW2 inspired guard army, and I want them mechanised so whatever I decide, it has to be repeatable...

So come on guys, lots of replies and ideas please!

I fancy doing a chimera like THIS It looks cool IMO!

bit more clarification needed here old chap, what is it supposed to look like, since youre theme is WWII, is there a vehicle to base it on, which side is the inspiration?

Spill the beans so that we may help.

Well actually (having to give my cunning plan away now), my thinking is flipping the tank around so that the embarkation ramp is used for rapid deployment a la the landers in saving private ryan. Im then going to build up the front to incoperate a drivers 'window' and a turrety bit - and by boxing off that end I was hoping to add some enginey bits (such as the vents off the baneblade.

I dont really want to change the ramp too much - Im going to add a firing port for the heavy weapons team and remove the single door.. I'm also going to cover up the port holes on either side as there impractical but leave the top hatch open so they can fire of the top (Im hoping that the built up section at the back will give the gun a fair bit of clearance so as not to be shooting the troops sticking out).

I hope that makes things clear - I'll have a toy around in paint later that should hopeuflly make things clearer

Ahhhh

look in the IG collectors guide for Kevan Downey's diorama "Dog green three beach" should be exactly what you're looking for.

A chimera couldn't travel backwards as it does forwards, the slopes on the back track sections would make it difficult to traverse terrain, so some tweaking and inversion might be necessary.

SC

Aha!!!!! then what you are looking at is the LVT for inspiration


some cadians done in a WWII us marine pacific theatre would look the dogs!!

so the chimera needs to be doctored to look like one of these puppys in fact you could do a range of amphibian vehicles on chimera chassie with the odd russ turret for Russ equivalents!!!


also check out the photobucket account of the Mighty FitmanB
http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a301/fit...rud%20Varients/

Well I turned a Chimera into a "bradley APC":


Also , amazingly this only used up less then half the tracks and half the wheels from the Chimera kit. Because of this my next idea is to scratch build some other APC or tank, and use the remaining tracks.
I am just worried that I will have too much variation amongst my vehicles if the scratch doesn't look the same as my russ or this

ps : fixed the link posted by the great gonzo : HERE

Wow Stevix, that looks really snazzy! :) How did you make it?

DK

Thanks! ive got a log about it on 'the other site' buts its generally a normal chimera with the top-plate shortened (mid-section cut out). also on the sides I took half an inch from the outside track-plates and glued those down with the engines overtop. then over that just some plasticard with lanes carved in.
the turret is a mix of plasticard, track guards etc with the original turret in there somewhere as a base. I used gs and sprue to make a tight but moveable fit over a trackwheel which functions as the pivot for the gun (base of the heavy bolter)

Yo all, thanks for the imput - heres what came of it :D



Its not far off being finished but the side panels on the cab are proving tricky so... meh Ill figure it out and let you all see the finished product.

Im hoping to do another one of these at least, probably another four, so getting the first one right is my priority. Im starting a thread in bitz as im after the small exhausts from the Baneblade if anyone has them spare I'd be greatly appreciative.

The door IS going to be set in at an angle correct? Otherwise, excellent start, I'm watching this thread for sure.

No..

SC said that I should flip the tracks around so it has better clearance, but I figured that if it had good clearance, then theres a chance it'd get parked in front of a rock and then the door would be wedged open- I see it bashing walls in, using the shape of the tank to hold the wall up, and then the troops disgorging inside - happy times :D

I know where hes coming from, I'd angle the ramp down, it won't effect ground clearance because you arn't adding anything to the base, use the LVTP as a guide

Could I suggest making the back bit a little lower IE cut everything in line with the left hand side (the bottom of the armour where the drivers hatch is) it looks a little high IMO, great concept though.
I presume this is suposed to be amphibious, what do you have in mind to represent that.

Just thought! to get the sloping hatch bit. If you can access another Chimera upper hull cut the bac end off following the line of the triangle at the back, spin it round and bobs your uncle. no messy scratch building, immediately blends in with the hull.

ask me nicely and I can probably help you out with the extra upper hull :)

Thats the back so far so as you can see it does come out a fair way so you get the impression it does have a pretty beefy engine.

Ill have a fiddle around this week with adding the slope to the drop ramp this week. I've just figured out what you meant old guard but if I use that, then Im going to have to use it for the next one.. and the next one.. Leave it with me though - Im going to try taking measurements from the upper hull I have and going from there but dont be suprised if I email you :D

I would cut the left hand side down but it doesnt quite line up with the rim of the bolter hatch - also, that'll then have no real way of firing because it'll be too low on the tank.

Its not really supposed to be amphibious although I was influenced by landing craft. Im thinking it has two main uses. The first is the smashing in buildings and fortifications. The second is so that specialist groups like engineers and medics can be withdrawn without them having to run round the back and the tank can be moving as they embark, and it doesnt expose its weaker rear armour - the big engine lets it reverse at a decent speed (I hope that all makes sense)

this is what i came up with;

I prefer the wider version, what do you use these as, chimeras?

I made this one not much conversion work, but I think it's funny looking at my opponents when I open up with it.

yea i use them as Chimeras, the little one was my first atemp at making them.

Just thought i'd post up pictures of my Chimera conversions;



Ive also done a hellhound in this style as well.

Quite funny when i played this army at a tournament a few weeks ago and had everyone asking if they were a new Forge World kit :P

RG

Your kit is awesome as usual, the Russ turrets work well set so far back

Thanks Jase...if people want, i can put a conversion guide together.

RG

would be nice, gives an idea of an alternative to the standard chimera

I'll have a try tomorrow, once ive found the WIP pics i took.
Should i start a new thread for it, or just put it in here?

RG

So I finally put some love into my tank and its getting there...

Ladies and gents, the good land-ship 'Tityn'



I need to add more sandbags under the drivers view port, and armour the front drop ramp.



It was originally called the 'tityus' but Steve and Lukas laughed at me and being half asleep I removed the 'U' to compound the problem :( Now it is sorted, with good name. Awesomes.

Shot of the rear



Im really proud as thats my first real attemp at scratch builting, and so far I havent used a ruler at all...

Ill update you all when Ive done a bit more work, but Im hoping to have it totally built within the next few days so I can get

I do like it, I said I loved the rear haha!

The gunshield is very impressive. Keep it coming matey!

SC

TITTIES! :lol:

I gotta have a soundboard for that somewhere...

It's coming along great AD, I dread the day when I attempt to chop, screw, and lower a chimera and russ to make a new vehicle.

-scrubout

Great work so far, don't forget to drill the barrels!

Nice land ship, it'll look good with cadians as it will be like Americans on Omaha beach...

DK

So about a decade ago I had a go at a front loading tank and got about half way before giving up - I thought I'd put it up here (actually Steve asked because I said it looked a state)

now thats a nice looking tank mate!
I mite have to borrow that idea.