Simple ideas to improve the existing Russ, My Basic Russ Modifications Tutorial

[Psypath]

I hope you get some ideas and may find this helpful. If you have other ideas please add them on.

I like the Imperial Guard vehicles. However the Russ needs help. The turret is way to small to load and fire the gun. So my solution is to use the existing turret and build a larger cover over it. Also I like to have removable sponsons. My solution is to add a side armor plate under which I hide magnets to hold the sponsons on. In addition the front weapon should be interchangeable and the barrel of the gun longer.



Here’s how I built it.

Russ turret with top and bottom plate. The bottom plate is cutout to rap around the existing russ turret with sprue piece to hold it in place.

The side armor has sprue added to thicken it to hold magnets.



Before the side armor is added I have a small piece of card to fill in the gap on the side



Then the side armor glues on. The small piece and the bottom holds the weight on the sponson along with the magnets.



See the barrel is cut and extended. The top and bottom plates are glued together on three sides.



I use this metal file to sand down the extra plastic. Works great but be careful as it cut plastic very easily.



Once it is clipped and filed down, the next pieces are glued on.



Then I clip and file it down to give me a nice smooth turret. Also no the front weapon mount for the bolter or lascannon. I cut the lascannon off and plasticard over it and then drill hole for a magnet. So either spare sponson bolter or heavy weapon sprue lascannon can attach to the Russ.

Now I can detail it any way I want.

[soup_alex]

Sweet

Can this be stickied, please? I'd love to be able to come back to it when my Infantry get some Armour support.


[edit: what grade of file do you use on plasticard, Psy?]

This post has been edited by soup_alex on Oct 11 2006, 12:32 PM

[Kuf_Spawn]

Nice Tutorial Psy, Ive been wanting to know how to convet tanks and now I do. Thanks man for this.

[Panzergraf]

This method is very similar to how I build my Tiger turrets

Very good tutorial, I'll make this a stickie.

[Psypath]

Hi all,

Finally had time to finish the the two russes. Note the sponson attach over the handles.







Psy

[ChaosBerzeker]

That makes the Russ look MUCH better. Good work.

[Major Speirs]

I wish I'd read this before I made my two Russes. Brilliant tutorial, those who (unlike myself) have seen this before they built their armour are going to be at a very high advantage.

[Dragon Master]

Psypath, have you thought of doing an exterminator with style turret?

[Psypath]

Hi,

I've done the mods on all russ styles. See my executioner and demolisher:





Psy

[soup_alex]

The Demolisher looks really nasty. Something I wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley late at night, etc. etc.

N.B. The extra-long lascannon looks a little out of place on that hull, though - sticking out at an angle under the Demo cannon. Just my 1.88p

[Dragon Master]

Sweet looking exterminator.

Now I have to figure out how to make the one I got to look like this.

[Lone Commissar]

The turret looks a bit big in my opinion.

[Zalthis]

Wow, I love the work

Can I just ask, what are you extending the barrel with?

[Psypath]

I extended the barrel with plastic tubing. About the same diameter as the russ barrel.

[Zalthis]

kk, thankee.