leoparden Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Are there any good resources/references for adding details to 30k/40k tanks (such as stowage, maintenance equipment, cammo-netting, variant addons/gubbins, additional sight ports/lenses, cabling and so on)? If there are good historical/modern resources/references these are also welcome. A little background for my query is as follows - I have recently picked up the sprue cutter, scalpel and glue again after a "short" hiatus*. To get some "big wins" I'm focusing on tanks first, specifically Leman Russ variants, Malcador variants along with a few Aurox and Carnodons to come. However, as I'm building the bigger tanks I'm considering some additional detailing to break up the sameness and add some storytelling between the individual tanks. Yet at the same time I'd like for the additions to make some sense functionally (even though I know that 30/40k tanks don't necessarily make sense to begin with). Honestly I think I need to learn more about tanks in general but if that's the case then maybe I need a good starting point instead of aimlessly wandering the world wide web. The resources I have so far but are not fully satisfied with are: - Imperial Armour Masterclass volume 1 - Imperial Armour Masterclass volume 2 - How to paint citadel tanks - More Scratchbuilding Masterclass I also fondly watched the Night Shift video when he decided to go down a non-historical route (even if he tackles the base tank specifically instead of "adding") *Short being a couple of years. // Leoparden Evil Eye 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Eye Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 I would definitely advise looking at general armour modelling guides and magazines! For reference material I'd suggest looking at interwar tanks; the period was filled with weird and wacky designs as the tank was still very new as a concept, and everyone was trying to see what worked and what didn't, and the combination of lots of time to develop things with no actual battlefield experience to prove what worked and what didn't resulted in some very...interesting concepts. A lot of 40K's more iconic tanks, especially for the Guard, draw quite heavily from the end of WW1 and the 20s to 30s for design cues, notably riveted construction, flat sides, funny weapon positions (notably the use of hull-mounted secondary weapons and sponsons) and often quite rhomboidal shapes. They were also mostly hand-made, as mass-production was only just becoming a thing, which somewhat fits with 40K's schizo-tech. Firedrake Cordova, Dr_Ruminahui, Xenith and 1 other 4 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/#findComment-6091400 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Tyler Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 You might also check out: Fine Scale Modeler's collection of guides for assembling and painting tanks Osprey Publishing's modelling guides (U.K. | U.S.) Scalecrafted.com's tank modeling guide Tank Magus's blog about modeling tanks (there are links to more useful information at the bottom) Firedrake Cordova, Grotsmasha, leoparden and 1 other 3 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/#findComment-6091416 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firedrake Cordova Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 I think even looking at scale modellers, most of the resources are going to focus on painting and weathering the vehicle (e.g. Scratchmod's book and Vallejo's step-by-step tutorials). Maybe look at what companies like Tamiya make for scale models, and images of tanks from WWII? Although I think there's an argument that some of the things you mention would be carried internally to prevent loss or snagging? Dr_Ruminahui and leoparden 2 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/#findComment-6091527 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bung Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 To be honest, the Imperial Armour Masterclass books are outdated in terms of products and techniques. Since their release over a decade ago a lot of scale modelling changed, products improved etc. If you dont shy away from expensive books i recommend AK Interactives FaQ 3 for Tanks. (You dont need 1 or 2 as its the latest and most complete in techniques) and Ammo of MiG Enzyclopedia of Armour Modelling Techniques Book Series. Dr_Ruminahui, leoparden and Khulu 2 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/#findComment-6091542 Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoparden Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 On 1/29/2025 at 9:24 PM, Evil Eye said: I would definitely advise looking at general armour modelling guides and magazines! For reference material I'd suggest looking at interwar tanks; the period was filled with weird and wacky designs as the tank was still very new as a concept, and everyone was trying to see what worked and what didn't, and the combination of lots of time to develop things with no actual battlefield experience to prove what worked and what didn't resulted in some very...interesting concepts. A lot of 40K's more iconic tanks, especially for the Guard, draw quite heavily from the end of WW1 and the 20s to 30s for design cues, notably riveted construction, flat sides, funny weapon positions (notably the use of hull-mounted secondary weapons and sponsons) and often quite rhomboidal shapes. They were also mostly hand-made, as mass-production was only just becoming a thing, which somewhat fits with 40K's schizo-tech. Expand I got some more suggestions for scale modelling hobby input so I'm going to look into that more. I've started to look at the interwar period available online and that's indeed a rabbit hole of "ideas" of varying quality and execution :D I have more exploration to do. I also realize and have heard about the WW cues on the Imperial Tanks and that's why I'm leaning towards the combination of practical and odd - along with some "out-of-necessity" / ad-hoc addons and additions - that might not be the most durable and practical in the longer run. On 1/29/2025 at 10:18 PM, Brother Tyler said: You might also check out: Fine Scale Modeler's collection of guides for assembling and painting tanks Osprey Publishing's modelling guides (U.K. | U.S.) Scalecrafted.com's tank modeling guide Tank Magus's blog about modeling tanks (there are links to more useful information at the bottom) Expand I've yet to look through all your suggestions but they are most welcomed and on my list! On 1/30/2025 at 8:23 AM, Firedrake Cordova said: I think even looking at scale modellers, most of the resources are going to focus on painting and weathering the vehicle (e.g. Scratchmod's book and Vallejo's step-by-step tutorials). Maybe look at what companies like Tamiya make for scale models, and images of tanks from WWII? Although I think there's an argument that some of the things you mention would be carried internally to prevent loss or snagging? Expand I've been looking around for a while but assume I've been going at it from the wrong direction since I wasn't finding what I was looking for, the eternal issue with the internet I guess (knowing what question to ask). Going through the suggestions mentioned I did look more into for example stowage kits and it did bring me some good examples and some clarity so that was a good suggestion. I've yet to delve deeper into historic references though but it's on my list of things to do. Most things would probably be carried internally - yes. But depending on the specific situation I've understood that there are even real world examples of some of these things being carried externally due to periodical lack of logistical support. In some cases it would probably also be ok-ish to lean into the absurdity of the 30/40k universe and explain it with their odd relation to STC-creations (?). However externally I'm leaning mostly to smaller stowage (bedrolls, tools, small extra boxes/bags, maybe smaller vessels for different maintenance fluids) along with some packed up camo-netting for the recon elements of the army and probably track links - I might also replace some cabling with new wires made from brass wire to get those details to pop more. On 1/30/2025 at 10:02 AM, Bung said: To be honest, the Imperial Armour Masterclass books are outdated in terms of products and techniques. Since their release over a decade ago a lot of scale modelling changed, products improved etc. If you dont shy away from expensive books i recommend AK Interactives FaQ 3 for Tanks. (You dont need 1 or 2 as its the latest and most complete in techniques) and Ammo of MiG Enzyclopedia of Armour Modelling Techniques Book Series. Expand I realize this, but starting from what I already own is better than nothing and it's also the reason for my query to expand into something - more up to date :) I don't mind expensive books (rather the book funds go towards these than some codex I will never get to use the rules in before the edition changes yet again) and I've looked at your suggestions and honestly they might be what I'm looking for as a springboard so kudos to you! Firedrake Cordova, LameBeard and Brother Tyler 1 2 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/#findComment-6091694 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firedrake Cordova Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 (edited) Thinking about it some more, some of the WWII tanks had tool storage boxes or tool mounting brackets on the outside, and I know that a lot of the vehicles in the desert carried additional water/fuel strapped to the hull. I suppose the criteria for being strapped to the outside was "doesn't fit inside" and/or "can survive shrapnel/doesn't matter if it's damaged by it". Looking at pictures of my relative's ARV (M32 in US army speak), they didn't have anything obvious on the outside, but looking at images online, I found ones where they had coils of wire, and spare wheels strapped to them. Surprisingly, I didn't see any images of them with spare track links, although that's always a good one to include. One thing that's always useful and also pretty easy to model is tarpaulin - tissue paper folded into a roll, with some string near either end set in place with PVA glue. Ultimately, rule of cool wins over strict accuracy, anyway. Edited February 1 by Firedrake Cordova Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/#findComment-6091835 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Ruminahui Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 (edited) If you want historical pictures of "strapped on" equipment, you might want to look specifically at those from the WW2 campaigns in North Africa, where long supply lines and harsh conditions made outside stowage a common practice, particularly for the British and British Commonwealth forces. Edited January 31 by Dr_Ruminahui Firedrake Cordova 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/385196-resourcesreferences-for-hyperdetailing-tanks-more-specifically-30k40k-tanks/#findComment-6091960 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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