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using WWII models as astra militarum


Guardsman1275

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I had the idea of using WWII models as astra militarum models, however I ran into a problem

first here are the models I will be using 

Autocannon: http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1374

Lascannon: http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2265 this is a different scale, so I will try to find a different model.

Infantry: http://wargamesfactory.com/webstore/world-war-2/ww2-russian-infantry-28

My problem is making this look like a 40k army. While I love how the models look and think that they look a lot like Guardsmen I am not sure that my original plan of putting cadian lasgun arms on them will work. Do you think that the cadian arms will fit even though they are historical not heroic scale? If not do you think that they look enough like guardsmen to field in 40k or should I do something else?

Sounds like me with fantasy. If fantasy ever takes off here, I'm selling my actual GW models and using Roman Empire figs as my Empire army. Onagers and Scorpions as mortars and cannons. It'll be a blast.

 

Carry on and find the models that best fit what you want. It'll make painting them fun.

I wouldn't have an issue with you playing with those figures. It's probably best to talk with your play group to see if they would accept the slightly smaller models since they will be your competitors. 

 

As far as aesthetics go, you could justify the weaponry by saying that they're from a feudal world or a world that has only recently rejoined the imperium after being isolated in the warp for a time. You could say that the weapons are las-locks or some such and you're good to go. :)

how short will the minis be on guardsmen do you think? All I know is that the models on the anti tank gun are 24 mm high. No info on the wargames factory models though. Actually now that I think about it these models will be closer to scale than regular guardsmen models, as regular guardsmen are the size of a fully armoured space marine.

I like the idea because I am doing the same thing. I don't play in GW stores so the "must be GW figs"  isn't a big deal to me. Bolt action vehicles or even 1/48 scale vehicles are much smaller than their GW scale equivalents. I have a 1/48th scale panzer IV and the Wyvern model is soooo much bigger in body even though they are the same scale. It makes a 1/48 Marder II look like a clown car even though the figure models work perfectly in them. The figure size is less the height, and more the bulk. I put a crewman for a hydra standing next to a BA German and they would be almost the same height, its the difference between you standing next to another normal sized guy of a different height. No big deal there. But sheer bulkiness is astounding. Heroic and truescale are such different animals its silly. No wonder the vehicles look oddly huge, they made them so they don't look wonkily out of proportion to the troopers.

 

I will be using Bolt Action Fallshirmjagers as imperial guard Elysians. Yes they are smaller but they actually look like they might fit in the transports. Reason being is I had wanted to expand my BA force anyway and I can get away with painting a full camo army instead of two camo armies. I plan on the multitude of aircraft being painted in Luftwaffe colors from Europe along with all the non-Nazi markings.

Anyone carrying anything other than a special weapon is a lasgun guy.

MG42s and their loaders are heavy bolters

I do not plan on using missile launchers but panzershrecks are obvious

Grenade launchers are Panzerknackers

I will have to have a small group of plastics using GW melta and plasma guns and yes they will be large. I might have to order FW weapons sprues since they are slightly smaller than GWs.

Flamers are well.... flamers.

There are a lot of crew served weapons that look close enough to be analogues and obviously a mortar is a mortar.

Since I am looking at at least 7 aircraft, 3 dune buggies, and 4 sentinels I wont have massive numbers of troops but there should be at least a platoon +SWSs, two vet squads, and a CCS. I have storm troopers currently but might look into doing some SS guys as stormtroopers at a later date.

 

What kind of vehicles do you have planned?

Can you think of any WW2 vehicles that would work for Tauros Venators?

Even though the panzer 1 and 2 where light, they were not that light. I do not htink that it would keep the feel of an airborne regiment to take a tank model. As for a german model I still think that the german halftracks are the place to go.

I think I will use an SDFK 222 and simply replace the autocannon with a twin linked lascannon. Its open topped and wheeled and looks the part and played a similar part in real life. Really looking forward to the new plastic Bolt Action German Heer that just came up for pre-order. They look amazing.

Here's what a bolt action guardsman would look like, by the way...not bad, but it illustrates the difference between 28mm and 28mm heroic, I think!

med_gallery_13203_9402_181449.jpg

If you stick them on the same height base that would add 1.5 mm or 2mm.

Seeing the comparison shot I don't see an issue. It's like raising troops from Asian or Europe or Africa. There's an going to be some places (in 40k terms read planets) which have a bigger average height than others.

med_gallery_13203_9402_247040.jpg

You make a good point...the GW minis are a bit bulkier, with wrists the diameter of the bolt action miniatures' thighs, but the height is the same. The only glaring issue is that the WWII figure has a rifle the diameter of the kasrkin's backpack antenna...that GW wargear is cartoonishly oversized (as we already know from cardboard boltguns on cosplayers). I guess it's workable, the main obstacle is that the arms/hands are molded for the existing weapons, converting to GW lasguns would be a lot of work, probably with imperfect results. I mean, the rifle in the picture is pristine on the sprue, there are channels cut into the back side of the firing arm to make him cradle it like that, and his firing hand looks like a miscast on the sprue, then somehow looks spot-on when it's all put together.

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