Author Topic: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis  (Read 12503 times)

Psyckosama

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Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« on: 25 January 2011, 21:38:08 »
Question, looking at these, how do you think they'd scale to Battletech and do you think they'd look decent painted up?


awclawson

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #1 on: 25 January 2011, 21:42:57 »
I think they would be good.  Are they plyable rubber?  I have some rubber spaceship type figures from a gum ball machine.  They painted OK but the paint will peel if they bend.


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Leonard Kerensky

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #2 on: 25 January 2011, 21:48:37 »
well, given what you have as a scale refrence (a quarter), i put that side by side with my metal Behemoth and my scratch built behemoth tanks and those look to be about heavy  or high end medium range scale wise.

paint'em up! it looks good to me, and should be more than enough to get the point across. (or at the very least a guass round between the shoulders of a mech)
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Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #3 on: 25 January 2011, 22:15:53 »

deathshadow

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #4 on: 25 January 2011, 22:18:15 »
The trick on rubber is to give them a coat of shellac first, then paint the shellac. There's a brand I use (can't find the can right now) that works great with just a thin coat.

It also helps stop the peeling if you alternate a quick pass of testors dullcoat between each color layer... this works with the 'very likely to peel' cheap craft paints too -- which is why I generally use the 49 cents a bottle walmart stuff.

See my crappy old Fire Falcon tutorial.
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Lord Cameron

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #5 on: 26 January 2011, 03:07:14 »
Question, looking at these, how do you think they'd scale to Battletech and do you think they'd look decent painted up?


well, given what you have as a scale refrence (a quarter), i put that side by side with my metal Behemoth and my scratch built behemoth tanks and those look to be about heavy  or high end medium range scale wise.

More like light or Med I would think.  :-\
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markhall

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #6 on: 26 January 2011, 04:44:27 »
I think they might work as Scorpions.
Or a Varient style of Scorpion.

Cergorach

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #7 on: 26 January 2011, 05:27:54 »
With a bit of conversion work they could make for a great (cheap) range of plastic BT (or sci-fi) tanks. Some plastic bits for missile pods or different/additional guns. Great for cheap local Militia tanks!

Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #8 on: 26 January 2011, 18:16:28 »
The trick on rubber is to give them a coat of shellac first, then paint the shellac. There's a brand I use (can't find the can right now) that works great with just a thin coat.

It also helps stop the peeling if you alternate a quick pass of testors dullcoat between each color layer... this works with the 'very likely to peel' cheap craft paints too -- which is why I generally use the 49 cents a bottle walmart stuff.

See my crappy old Fire Falcon tutorial.

They're actually PVC board game pieces. They probably have about the same consistency as the current line of plastics.

Question, looking at these, how do you think they'd scale to Battletech and do you think they'd look decent painted up?


well, given what you have as a scale refrence (a quarter), i put that side by side with my metal Behemoth and my scratch built behemoth tanks and those look to be about heavy  or high end medium range scale wise.

More like light or Med I would think.  :-\

Heh. One guy says light/medium, another says medium/heavy.  ;D

Great. Now I'm confused, but at least I know they ain't too small to use!

paint'em up! it looks good to me, and should be more than enough to get the point across. (or at the very least a guass round between the shoulders of a mech)

Or an AC round depending on era. I'll order some next week and see how they look painted up.

Which color you think would prime over the nicest?

I think they might work as Scorpions.
Or a Varient style of Scorpion.

I'm not sure. They look a big heaver than the scorpion, but to be honest, that was my first thought as well.

Maybe stat it something like this as default? http://www.classicbattletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=383.0

Make it like a Super Scorpion?

With a bit of conversion work they could make for a great (cheap) range of plastic BT (or sci-fi) tanks. Some plastic bits for missile pods or different/additional guns. Great for cheap local Militia tanks!

I'm always open to ideas. What suggestions do you have for modding them. I'd by them in lots of 25 so it's not like there isn't room to experiment!

Schottenjaeger

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #9 on: 26 January 2011, 18:43:32 »
I bought a stack of them. They paint up okay, and they're a dream to convert compared to most tanks that scale.
Paint sticks well, and with a little work they can look really good. Make sure to wash off the mold release, but that's a given. The material is a hard plastic that works well.

Couple warnings:
Flash. It's ugly, and the front underside of the tank needs serious file work to look good.
Scale: These things look like 20-tonners. They do scale well with Micro Armor models, but not so well with Battletech armor.

If, like me, you're okay with packing a full 2 companies of Scorpions, then go to it - with the ease of conversion, I made several LRM and RL/LAC-5 versions then used the leftover guns to make the new twin LAC5 variant and various other things. 
If you have the box set minis handy, the tank itself is about as long and deep as the body of the Catapult.
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LordChaos

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #10 on: 26 January 2011, 18:48:26 »
As a fan of the lowly tank, I'd be interested in seeing how they look next to btech tank or mech.  I could easily see myself ordering a regiment or so....
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Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #11 on: 26 January 2011, 19:16:32 »
I bought a stack of them. They paint up okay, and they're a dream to convert compared to most tanks that scale.
Paint sticks well, and with a little work they can look really good. Make sure to wash off the mold release, but that's a given. The material is a hard plastic that works well.

Oh! Got pictures?

Quote
Couple warnings:
Flash. It's ugly, and the front underside of the tank needs serious file work to look good.

How bad?

Quote
Scale: These things look like 20-tonners. They do scale well with Micro Armor models, but not so well with Battletech armor.

Yeah! Cheap Scorpions!  [rockon]

Quote
If, like me, you're okay with packing a full 2 companies of Scorpions, then go to it - with the ease of conversion, I made several LRM and RL/LAC-5 versions then used the leftover guns to make the new twin LAC5 variant and various other things. 

From the sound of it the AC conversion is simple. Snip off barrels and use only the front half on the ones with the duel LACs. How did you do the LRM conversion? Did you relocate the MG? Got any pictures?

Quote
If you have the box set minis handy, the tank itself is about as long and deep as the body of the Catapult.

I wish I did...  :-\

*mutters about wishing the boxed set*

As a fan of the lowly tank, I'd be interested in seeing how they look next to btech tank or mech.  I could easily see myself ordering a regiment or so....

Yep! Another request for pictures!

Show us your conversions!  ;D

maddyfish

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #12 on: 26 January 2011, 22:24:37 »
I think those would look good painted. Also candidates for some kit bashing.
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greatsarcasmo

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #13 on: 27 January 2011, 02:08:13 »
100 tanks for... $33.00? Holy hey-zues! Anti-mech spam, here I come!!!
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Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #14 on: 27 January 2011, 18:03:04 »
I think those would look good painted. Also candidates for some kit bashing.

Yeah. I've asked Schottenjaeger to put up some pics when he has the chance.

100 tanks for... $33.00? Holy hey-zues! Anti-mech spam, here I come!!!

That's what I'm thinkin'!  [rockon]

Sockmonkey

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #15 on: 27 January 2011, 18:40:29 »
As long as it fits in a hex I wouldn't angst about them not being perfectly to scale.
For something smaller you could easilly remove the turret, cut the body into quarters, trim the cut surfaces down, and glue them back together. Shave the back and sides of the turret and glue it back on.
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Cergorach

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #16 on: 02 February 2011, 04:49:15 »
Any painted pics yet?

Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #17 on: 03 February 2011, 20:33:10 »
Ask Schottenjaeger. I haven't been able to buy any yet so they're his pics. I'm not about to go bug him quite yet though...

Fatebringer

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #18 on: 04 February 2011, 09:43:32 »
From the size reference, they do appear to be a littls small, but in any game, sub out what you don't have with what you do. I remember playing chess during lunch in high school with paper. We made a board with paper and pencil, tore rought shapes of paper and put letters on them to mark the pieces.

This would be so much more recognizable then that ;) But if your going to use them to proxy, make sure to mark them. I still can't help but thinking, just from looking at these, that you should cut Risk infantry soldiers in half and glue them to the tops to make tank commanders, maybe a head near the front for the driver ;) Make sure to match the colors  [brew]

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Grognard

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #19 on: 04 February 2011, 12:56:21 »
I picked up a company worth of these tanks.
I use them as generic militia Scorpions.
I have modded a few by adding the upper half of SRM/LRM launcher techs from MWDA minis as tank commanders.
I removed the MG off the turret, and moved it to the bow plate.
Additionally, I've pinned in a few antennas here and there.

One of these days, I'll try to create the Laser, SRM and LRM varients with the MWDA scrap I have laying about.
Modding these is VERY easy.

I havent' painted any yet, tho.

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Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #20 on: 04 February 2011, 19:34:56 »
From the size reference, they do appear to be a littls small, but in any game, sub out what you don't have with what you do. I remember playing chess during lunch in high school with paper. We made a board with paper and pencil, tore rought shapes of paper and put letters on them to mark the pieces.

This would be so much more recognizable then that ;) But if your going to use them to proxy, make sure to mark them. I still can't help but thinking, just from looking at these, that you should cut Risk infantry soldiers in half and glue them to the tops to make tank commanders, maybe a head near the front for the driver ;) Make sure to match the colors  [brew]

Or you can just use them as Scorpion and get "Ye Olde Death Swarme of Militia Light tanks"

Schottenjaeger

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #21 on: 04 February 2011, 19:59:01 »
Sorry it's taken so long, guys. GF's good camera is apparently broken, so I'm just gonna throw up some half-way decent cellphone shots. As you can see, the mini is a good scale. Apologies for the rotation - apparently Imageshack is convinced they go that way.

<edit: removed mucho fail cellphone pics>

And yes, that thar's a French flag, not Iraqi. Although the irony of the paint scheme has not escaped me...
« Last Edit: 05 February 2011, 06:59:20 by Schottenjaeger »
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Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #22 on: 04 February 2011, 22:33:58 »
fact it's a camera phone kills the detail, but that actually doesn't look half bad! :)

Schottenjaeger

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #23 on: 05 February 2011, 06:58:42 »
Finally - Got the camera running. Have some 10Mp goodness. The paint's not up to my standards, but then that's why 99% of my battletech collection just got stripped. :P Dratted flaky primer.

Anyway






Gallery of the shots
http://img528.imageshack.us/g/awesomescorpsandjenner1.jpg/

Minis are a 5e box set Jenner and Awesome - which is only slightly shorter than the standard pewter, and everyone should have at least one copy of that bad old girl.. Didn't include the LRM conversion in these shots. I can try other mechs and positions (within reason), but I don't have any actual Battletech vees (It's always been cheaper to pick up Starsiege and micro armor ^^; .)
« Last Edit: 05 February 2011, 07:00:13 by Schottenjaeger »
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Devens

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #24 on: 05 February 2011, 07:22:55 »
100 tanks for... $33.00? Holy hey-zues! Anti-mech spam, here I come!!!

At that price it would make fielding the entire Armor Brigade of an RCT affordable.

maddyfish

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #25 on: 05 February 2011, 09:01:01 »
Those look pretty good
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Psyckosama

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Re: Cheap Plastic Tank Minis
« Reply #26 on: 05 February 2011, 16:45:16 »
Thanks dood! These look great! I'd love to see the LRM version

Just one question... anyone who has Btech tanks able to point out a tank on tank comparison based on the pics?
« Last Edit: 05 February 2011, 17:50:26 by Psyckosama »

 

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