"Sci-Fi Tank - Inspiration?" Topic

cloudcaptain's Kerstonk! blog has me looking to carve up this old Tamiya M26 Pershing kit I have. I'm looking for some inspiration – does anyone have any links to any pics of some SF art or models of tanks (preferably tracked, since I plan on keeping the tracks and maybe accentuating them somehow). I have an image in my mind of the look and feel I'm going for but I need some visual inspiration too.

Tanks! ;-)

I "hovered" and modded a 15mm Sherman…see in Stargrunt Full Thrust yahoo group under Adrian's or Puyallup Wargamers…

Starship Modeler, though heavy on the ships, has all sorts of useful things for any modeller:

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Work In Progess is full of neat stuff:

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Other armor (real world) modelling info here:

missing-lynx.com

They're virtual, and they're spectacular:

3drt.com

Don't forget here:

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Good links! Thanks! Keep 'em coming. Found this one too:

aswars.tripod.com/index.html

What makes a good sci-fi vehicle? Weird shapes? Lots of extra stuff on 'em? Crazy bits? A theme? What's your take?

A tank destroyer with wood panelling? Or maybe it's Contact Paper.
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Rust, they left it out in the rain obviously.

Stinger Six, my personal take on SF tanks comes from being not only a scientist but a biologist; So what I look for is new themes on old forms based on new technologies, or even new materials allowing old technologies to be revisited.

My favourite tanks at present are the Scorpions from Command & Conquer 3: They have a three pod track system and the entire tank body rotates on top, like a modern excvator. The gun is technically fixed in the main hull, but since that rotates it has flexibilty. Also, the armour is curved panels of synthetic materials which always looks interesting.

Weird for the sake of weird does nothing for me, but strange or unusaul desing approaches do, if it looks feasible; Some of the newer GW IMperial tanks have that in spades, although rather retro. And the Tau are just brilliant for that.

Extra parts? The Renegade Legion illustrations showed an ultimate tank – Hull mounted main gun, turret secondary, plus radar domes, missile launchers and all sorts. Now, all on the one vehicle might not work, but cominations I do like; The Dictator tank from Reaper is a case in point, though I should sue as I designed one something like it years ago, and got it illo'd in an Issue of RAGNAROK too! Multiple wepons systems are rare in the Real World (TM) these days, but as we know conditions change and things have to cahnge with them; AFVs are no exception.

So, that is my take. Take it or leave it – You are the guy you have to please with your design:)

Covert Walrus, thats a great way to look at it – "New themes on old forms based on new technologies."

This has me looking at tank kit chassis and thinking about new technologies applied to them. Like how would future technologies apply to the suspension of a tracked vehicle, for example; how does the weaponry used in combat dictate the shaping of the armor; how does the presence (or not) and capabilities of infantry dictate the secondary weaponry of a tank? Things like that.

I've also been watching some of the DVD extras in the LotR films where the WETA workshop guys are talking about their work, and one idea that's stuck with me is when they said something to the extent that everything you see on a miniature has a rationale for being there and a story behind it. It explains some of the fantastic detail and paintwork they used.

So, I've got an M26 and a T72 chassis and a pail full of bits and thinking about these things.

Stinger, it sounds as if all you need is time and inspiration, as you certianly have the ideas.

Personally, if I was working on the T72 I would go for a rounded look – The turret cleaned up, some semi-automated APSW turret domes on the upper surface corners of the hull, and maybe smooth down the sides of the chassis like a moulded ceramic/composite armour hull.

The M26 Turret is a good starting place for modification IIRC with flat surfaces abounding; Maybe a box of AA missiles or a automated mortar depending on the larger threat in the combat area – Aerospace or infantry.

It seems to me that when you get advanced/fanciful stuff like grav tanks they eventually stop being tanks (that run over things) and turn into a low flying A-10/B-17 sort of thing with the hovering ability of a helicopter.

But that's just me.

Generally I think a tank should be built around it's main weapons and there should be a sense that there is room inside for a crew of at LEAST one guy. Also it should appear to be under a thick shell of armor either one piece casts or riveted plates, or mysterious segmented carapace like sections. No armor and it's more of a truck with guns than a tank.

Walking tanks are pretty cool with me. I doubt they are realistic since they would trample stuff instead of rollign over it but they ARE cool looking.

That's about all the advice I can think of.

Nod's stealth tanks from C&C were always a favorite of mine.

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Start where I did 31 years ago:

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Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Very cool:

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Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Someday I'm gonna build me a division of these lil' ole tanks:

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Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

And here:

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Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

That Mk XX Bolo isn't a tank, that's a land battleship!

Which is funny because I've imagined future or sci-fi tank warfare to be played out more like a land based naval battle. columns of tanks firing indirectly upon each other from miles away while on the move. Making use of drone spotters to direct the fire on the target, and having lighter vehicles acting as escorts. A silly notion maybe, but it's the way the navy has fought for a long time until fighters and anti-ship missiles came into the picture.

I like the round turret and the retro 70's look of the old T-62 and T-72 so I'm going to be doing something with that. And yes, smoothing and rounding off the hull and so forth is going in the direction I like. An extra weapon mount can go on there somewhere. I'm kind of taking a cue also from the stuff on the Makoto Kobayashi website – amazing stuff!

Ah Kobayashi, designer of the Octo tanks from Venus Wars. The monobikes as well, which brings me to something else.
Would you ride it?
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No…I wouldn't ride it (well, not above 5KPH). Can you imagine applying the brakes at speed? That little wheel on the front would instil no confidence in me.

The Octo, yes, absolutely! Straight down the Dallas Tollway… BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

BlackWidowPilot, having just got a copy of C&C:Red Alert 2, with its opening scene of Russian heavy tanks mowing down a "Welcome To Texas – Please Drive Carefully" sign, reading your missive inspires me to ask just what is it that makes it so attractive to drive heavy armour through the Lone Star State???

A public perception of it containing lots of wide-open, dusty plains. Perfect for dramatic images of rolling tank formations!

"BlackWidowPilot, having just got a copy of C&C:Red Alert 2, with its opening scene of Russian heavy tanks mowing down a "Welcome To Texas – Please Drive Carefully" sign, reading your missive inspires me to ask just what is it that makes it so attractive to drive heavy armour through the Lone Star State???"

Wellll…. since arriving here a year ago I can confirm that the natives have a thing for gummin' up the road with their oversized pick-up trucks despite the fact that slower traffic is obligated to stay the out of the fast lane so maniacal Northern Californian invaders driving Mustangs like myself can go from A to B at Bay Area-norm Warp speed, thus elevating blood pressure levels and fomenting further incentive for maniacal "Left Coasters" to continue our invasion of the hapless Lone Star State (MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!).

Such lumbering miscreants interfering with my Cthulhu-given right to challenge both the engineering parameters of automotive innovation and the very fabric of the time/space continuum with an '07 Mustang, thus inspiring such flights of fancy as a Bolo Mk XXXX "Derangus" flying down the Dallas Tollway at equivalent velocities… welll… perhaps now you get the idea!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Mark XXXX? that sounds more at home in outback Queensland…

"Wellll…. since arriving here a year ago I can confirm that the natives have a thing for gummin' up the road with their oversized pick-up trucks despite the fact that slower traffic is obligated to stay the Bleeped text out of the fast lane so maniacal Northern Californian invaders driving Mustangs like myself can go from A to B at Bay Area-norm Warp speed, thus elevating blood pressure levels and fomenting further incentive for maniacal "Left Coasters" to continue our invasion of the hapless Lone Star State (MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!)."

So true! My sister-in-law and her husband just moved to San Antonio. She's … not a brave driver. Nervous. Yet, all she can do now is complain about how pokey Texas drivers are!

Back on topic, look up "The Texas-Israeli War" some time. An odd, odd science fiction novel.

I know a 40K tank isn't the direction you want to be going in, I'm not big on them either. They look more at home in WWI than on any sci-fi battlefield. However I think if you haven't seen this already, this guys model project needs to be seen.

I lighted land raider. It's awesome for what he's done to it.
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