Dr. Ruminahui's assorted conversions

[BadgersinHills]

Very nice! 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Thanks, @W.A.Rorie, @Terminatorinhell, @Brother Christopher, @Firedrake Cordova and @BadgersinHills - glad you like it.

 

Terminatorinhell, you definitely should try to do your own - its pretty easily done and doesn't really require any modification or cutting of the metal bits.  You just need to be prepared to do a little plasticard work to patch the gaps created in the assembly.  Anyway, if you should ever try your hand at this project, I hope my own attempt will prove a useful guide and that you share photos.

 

Brother Christopher, the hard part in deciding to make the switch was that I had planned out in my head how to do it one way, and needed to figure out how to do it a new way (and decide that was worth doing).  Once I figured that out, it wasn't a problem - though it helps that the revised method of doing the trim was substantially simpler than my first plan.  The only real regret was I had trimmed some details to allow how I planned to run the trim that in retrospect I needn't/shouldn't have, which I then had to either rebuilt (some bolts) or live with no longer being there (some small raised rectangles).  Even if such is noticeable now, I doubt it will be when the model is painted.

 

Firedrake Cordova - I agree the number of studs matches the GW convention (to the extent such exists) its just mine are a fair bit bigger than GW's and it makes it look a bit too busy for my liking.  Not a huge problem though, and one I can live with - the next time I do such trim (either on a rhino or another vindicator), I'll just try it the less busy way for some variety.  Your 40K journey must predate mine by a few years - I certainly remember the kit in shops, but wasn't yet into 40K when it first came out, though I might have already been playing necromunda.

[Firedrake Cordova]

I wonder if your perception of the rivet size is being affected by it being a bit of shiny metal on dull white plastic, making it quite visible? I wonder if that will change when it's got some paint on it? Just a thought.  

 

9 hours ago, Dr_Ruminahui said:

Your 40K journey must predate mine by a few years

It's possible.  I started with GW in the early 1990s after getting HeroQuest (1992? 1993?) and discovering Warhammer Fantasy (4th Ed). I didn't start with 40K until the 3rd War for Armageddon campaign brought the (super-cool!) Salamanders to the fore in 2000, although I remember some of the 40K releases from before then - the Whirlwind (have one), Vindicator (missed out), and Leman Russ Demolisher being amongst those sticking in my head, along with the Death of Lord Varlak battle report.  

Edited April 1 by Firedrake Cordova

[Dr_Ruminahui]

@Firedrake Cordova, while the pin heads themselves are quite large compared to the GW rivets, I do think they will look better when painted.  That said, I still want to try my next go at trim with less of them.

 

It sounds like we have the same entry point about the same time (my introduction to actually playing and not just admiring the rogue trader beaky box) was translating hero quest into Spanish for a schoolmate in 1993 and then running him and his pals through the scenarios in the box and a couple of my own.  First box I bought myself was 1st edition Necromunda, though I also played some Space Marine (so, pre-Epic) with a friend who bought that box.

 

Seems I got into 40K a bit earlier, as I started collecting 40K in late 2nd ed. (so, beginning in about 1998-99) when a friend bought me the Sisters of Battle codex and I started collecting those models.  So, I would have been collecting 40K at the time the Vindicator was first released, but wasn't looking at non-sisters models at that time.  I got into actually playing 40K itself in mid-2000, about a year into 3rd ed, playing the sisters models I had painted - let me tell you, the "back of the rule book army list" was the absolute worst time to play that faction, but fortunately it got much better (and interesting) when the Chapter Approved rules came out and introduced acts of faith.

 

I too have fond memories of the old White Dwarves, which I would leaf through in the shop - though mine are mostly of the old epic models, particularly the weird squat stuff.

Edited April 1 by Dr_Ruminahui

[Dr_Ruminahui]

I've now built the front shield, which means that the build is done.  Not sure where to fit it on my painting queue, but that's the next step.

 

This definitely doesn't warrant this number of pictures, but I'm going to share anyway, as I found its evolution interesting.

 

 

First was building the base structure of what I wanted.  I drew the basic curved shape I wanted on a piece of cardboard, cut it out, then used it as a template to produce the 4 curved "spars" you can see in the photo above.  This allowed me to have them, more or less, the same size or shape.

 

After cutting out the spars, I then figured out where the various horizontal "beams" would go, and cut out notches there.  All spars got one at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle - the middle one is for the bar on the front of the hull, which is the mounting point for the entire structure.  I deliberately didn't glue any of the piece to the front bar as that would make the rest of the build (and painting) more difficult.

 

 

Here is the basic frame on the front of the chasis.

 

 

I then covered the outside of the frame with thinner plasticard, starting with the back.  Here it is half done.

 

 

Front was a bit more challenging, due to its curve.  Here I used elastics to make sure it stayed against the spars while the solvent dried.

 

 

This photo and the next one are pretty unnecessary, but are here because I find them interesting.  Here is the basic form done, but with no detailing.

 

 

And here it is with the "trim" done.  I pondered for a while whether to leave it like this, or whether to put rivets.  Oh, and you can see the "bolter" half of the pintle combi-bolter sitting beside it - it and the combi-weapon portion (the flamer) are magnetized and swappable.  The guy in the cupola has one of the new bare heads from the Emperor's Children Infractors/Tormentors box.

 

 

And here is it finished, with rivets.  I decided to go fewer rivets than the trim, and quite like the look.   The back has trim, but no rivets.

 

 

And from straight on.  Despite my efforts, the gun port in the shield is not even with the gun, though that's really only visible from straight on.  Not exactly sure what happened, as I measured carefully, but I suspect its the downside of not affixing it to the front of the tank as I built it.

 

Anyway, pretty happy with it (and the build as a whole), but I must say I don't enjoy doing the internal structural bit very much - way too much thinking, planning and measuring for my tastes.

 

 

[W.A.Rorie]

Wow great build

 

[The Pounder]

Loving the dozer blade, well worth the work you’ve put in!

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

That's a hell of a labour of love. Fantastic work. Really evokes the old school vibe perfectly.

[Rusted Boltgun]

Love the use of Cardboard Aided Design on that very heavy duty plow.

Annoying as it was, the extra work will help with the curved sheet.

The rivets are nicely spaced out on it though I didn't think there were too many on the side panels.

Overall, a really nice heavy duty model, looking forward to seeing it painted!

[Brother Christopher]

On 4/6/2026 at 8:47 PM, Dr_Ruminahui said:

This definitely doesn't warrant this number of pictures, but I'm going to share anyway, as I found its evolution interesting.

 

It kind of does. It's fun to have this level of insight into these kinds of projects. The shield turned out great; it's on the bulky side of things but fits well with the chunky tank behind it. The metal Vindi has a level of raw brutality in its shapes, and seeing it combined with the larger Rhino chassis and all the added bits only reinforces this. 

 

I also find it impressive that you designed it yourself.

 

One thing I'd perhaps recommend that you think about is adding the 'teeth' along the bottom edge of the blade (typical of the older Imperial aesthetic, vide the modern Vindicator kit, Leman Russ or Chimera dozer blade).

[Bonehead]

I was sure I posted on this already. Regardless, it's looking very good indeed so far, Doctor!

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Thanks, @W.A.Rorie, @The Pounder, @BrotherCaptainArkhan, @Rusted Boltgun, @Brother Christopher and @Bonehead - I'm glad you all like it. 

 

BrotherCaptainArkhan, I agree - I'm really happy how I was able to update the old kit while still keeping it still looking like the old model.  At first I was concerned about how high up the "box" that the cuppola rests on was, as I had to boost it even higher than it sat on the old model to get the geometries to work, but at the end of the day I think that helped preserve the old school look.  I was also considering not putting on the front shield/dozer for the same reason, but happily I think my build both fits the old look and the new, so I'm happy with it.

 

Rusted Boltgun, the cardboard template was indeed a big help - cutting the thicker card that I used for the spars is a bit of a pain, and being able to have a consistent yardstick made out of a stiff but more cutable material was a huge help in getting them to have close to the same shape (some additional shaving was required, particularly the pieces that weren't cut from the edge of the plasticard sheet).  I like the contrast between the multiple rivets on the hull and the fewer rivets on the plow, though logically the distribution should be reversed and I'll probably try it that way should I chaosify and 40k-ize the 30K model.

 

Brother Christopher, I don't think the build itself is particularly impressive, as its a pretty simple shape.  That said, I think its pretty effective in kind of a brutal way, which is fitting for the model even if the thickness at the bottom doesn't make much practical sense.  I had planned to put "teeth" at the bottom, as I had the IG/AM bulldozer sitting on my desk the whole time (and had originally considered simply modifying one of those - happy I didn't, as that would have been both more difficult and less effective, I think) but as I got to the end of the build, I decided I didn't have any good plans for getting the right shape to the teeth (and lacked the energy to try) and thinking it looked fine without, I decided not to.  Maybe something for me to try for the 30K model.

 

Bonehead, you had posted in my Heretic Astartes forum thread.  Unfortunately, there isn't really a good way to get wider audience feedback (from folks like Brother Christopher, who isn't yet an chaos collector) while also not hollowing out participation in the army subforum.  As such, I kind of try to ride both horses by posting it in both.  Not the ideal answer to that dilemma, but the best I can come up with.  Regardless, I appreciate both feebacks. 

Edited Thursday at 04:27 PM by Dr_Ruminahui

[Jhadzaan]

I like it! It makes for an intimidating sight. Certainly would think twice about putting any models in front of it. My Tau would get mushed!

Edited Thursday at 05:46 PM by Jhadzaan

[calgar101]

Love it! Definitely imposing! Great skills and well done. A Vindicator isn't complete without a dozer blade and yours is very impressive.