M3A1 Half-Track

[wererbob]

This project started with a New Ray Classic Tank model. Well model might be a bit of a stretch, more of a New Ray toy.

I needed a troop transport for a Warhammer 40K army I was working on. Even though the New Ray models are really cheap their details are OK. So I picked up 10 half tracks in hopes of modding them. :)

Painted up the 1/2 track in a german-ish gray color to differentiate it from the M3A1. Thought it looked OK but could use something more, so I encased it in armor.  Sort of looked like germans captured a 1/2 track and up-armored it so painted up a PAK35 to complement it.

Hope people enjoy it.

[The Big Gimper]

Hi Bob:

Welcome to BTS.

Very nice job on the M3. Hope to see more of your work.

Carl

[apophenia]

Nice concept. I like what you've done with the stepped-up roof  :)

[GTX_Admin]

Very nice.  Welcome aboard too.

[wererbob]

Thanks guys.

[Doom!]

Sometimes the little things make all the difference. Well done!  :)

[Brian da Basher]

Mr WereBob now that's what I call making an entrance!

You executed this excellent half-track with full-bore talent!

You'll find lots of good company here!

Brian da Basher

[finsrin]

All mentioned above.
Such an original bash concept.  And I'm a half-track fan anyway.  Would not have thought of doing one like that.  Hatch over driver, supply bags, gas cans and all the rest is cool.   

[Jeffry Fontaine]

This project started with a New Ray Classic Tank model. Well model might be a bit of a stretch, more of a New Ray toy.

I needed a troop transport for a Warhammer 40K army I was working on. Even though the New Ray models are really cheap their details are OK. So I picked up 10 half tracks in hopes of modding them. :)

Painted up the 1/2 track in a german-ish gray color to differentiate it from the M3A1. Thought it looked OK but could use something more, so I encased it in armor.  Sort of looked like germans captured a 1/2 track and up-armored it so painted up a PAK35 to complement it.

Looking good!  We always need more armor model subjects so this is most welcome! 

Did your half-track start out as the old 1/35th scale Tamiya kit or was it another brand?  The little 3.7PaK looks neat.  Did you check to see if the on-vehicle mount for the 3.7PaK would work on the half-track? 

[Rafael]

Great conversion, Bob!!

And a great idea to put a roof over your troops.

Is that a Bolter on the roof mount?

If you have more WH40K stuff please, post them, it's nice to have things from gaming universes too

Rafa

[ChrisF]

I like it !

And i agree with Raf.. If you have more 40k bring it on !

[stevegallacci]

Interestingly, the Germans did use some captured M3s as nebelweffer vehicles, with carrier/launcher hardware built in to the sides

[wererbob]

Did your half-track start out as the old 1/35th scale Tamiya kit or was it another brand?  The little 3.7PaK looks neat.  Did you check to see if the on-vehicle mount for the 3.7PaK would work on the half-track?

The 1/2 track is a classic tank model form new ray toys. Not really a model more of a toy. I built a custom mount as the classic tank model didn't have any mounting equipment. I'm a little limited on what I can do as far as details go. It needs to be durable enough to be transported for table top gaming. BTW this 1/2 track hit the gaming table tonight defending my 'what if' universe from all manner of alien (Tyranids to be precise).

Is that a Bolter on the roof mount?

They're 50 Cal guns (heavy stubbers in my world). I took the Bolter and Multilaser off and replaced them with something semi-historical for the picture. Did not wanting to drag my  40K sci-Fi conversions onto a perfectly respectable what-if forum. :) The weapons are actually on magnets so they are swappable. The armor itself is attached with clips so I can revert back to a standard 1/2 track if I feel like going open topped.

I've modded around 50 vehicles for my 40K army. I'm in the process of revisting the collection and looking at ways of improving it. Sometimes that means mods to make the model more WYSIWYG. Other times it's improvements for the sake of realism or using painting techniques I didn't know about when I started modding.

I'll dig up some pics and post them since people are interested.

[wererbob]

A shot of the various parts removable parts of the M3A1:
Armor-less M3A1 with a gas mask wearing driver
Armored roof with 2 magnetic weapon mounts
Windshield armor and gun mount for when going topless
PAK35
Heavy bolter (40K Sci-Fi weapon)
50 Cal
Multilaser (40K Sci-Fi weapon)



Unfortunately when I find an improvement for one of my models, it means I have to make that same mod a bunch more times. :)

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Did your half-track start out as the old 1/35th scale Tamiya kit or was it another brand?  The little 3.7PaK looks neat.  Did you check to see if the on-vehicle mount for the 3.7PaK would work on the half-track?

The 1/2 track is a classic tank model form new ray toys. Not really a model more of a toy. I built a custom mount as the classic tank model didn't have any mounting equipment. I'm a little limited on what I can do as far as details go. It needs to be durable enough to be transported for table top gaming. BTW this 1/2 track hit the gaming table tonight defending my 'what if' universe from all manner of alien (Tyranids to be precise).

That plan certainly gives you a wide selection and some modularity to tailor your game pieces for a specific mission, task, or campaign.  Makes perfect sense! 

[GTX_Admin]

Nice set.

[Brian da Basher]

Holy cow! He's building an army!

Brian da Basher

[wererbob]

I can try denying building an army but the pictures tell the truth.





These are my versions of heavy tanks (Leman Russ) in 40K. The Russ has a rule called 'lumbering behemoth' and I can't think of a tank the embodies that like the Lee . I've removed the lower guns and replaced them with Heavy Bolter (Sci-Fi) and the upper turret gets various 40K main tank weapons. The main problem I have with these is the size of the turret, it's too small to hold really big armament. I'm debating building custom turrets.

Yes I've got a vehicle addiction ........ they tell me that admitting that is half the battle. :)

[Feldmarschall Zod]

Sweet half tracks and Lees.

[ChrisF]

He's clearly crazy... But i think i speak for everyone when i say he's our kind of crazy

 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

All you need is a figure with the likeness of Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) from Sahara for one of your tank commander figures/game piece.

[wererbob]

All you need is a figure with the likeness of Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) from Sahara for one of your tank commander figures/game piece.

There is a commander mounted in the hatch of one of the tanks, he's a Commissar of the Imperial Guard, 1st Hoira division. In addition to being an excellent tanker he immediately executes anyone who even thinks of retreating. Not sure how favorably that compares to Sergeant Joe Gunn but he's open to being called Commissar Gunn.  Has nice ring to it. :)

[wererbob]

I do love tanks and history teaches us you can't use shermans to beat an enemy with superior technology without a 10 to 1 ratio.





These are my fast tanks, Hellhound variants in 40K. For game play purposes they're faster and more lightly armored than the  main battle tanks. Yeah Shermans being lightly armored compared to the Lee might not be realistic but hey in my universe they are. They really haven't had much done to them, a new paint job and a barrel mod.

I'm unhappy enough with these that I'm going to have to do some major mods. In the 2nd picture the first tank is hellhound which shoots flame, second is a bane wolf which shoots poisonous gas and third is a devil dog which shoots motel metal. They really need somewhere to store the ammo fuel, I added a regular oil drum to the rear but it's just not cutting it for me. I need to scratch build fuel trailers, a fair bit of work. Where does a guy gets 10 sets of trailer wheels at a reasonable price? :)

[wererbob]

Even more 1/2 tracks, seriously who doesn't love a good 1/2 track. :)





First off I'd like to apologize. When I was designing weapons for these I was spending a lot of time playing 40K, hence the ridiculous weapon sizes. If that big gun ever fired it would shred that mount and / or flip the truck.

These 1/2 tracks are the artillery wing of my army and they're still a WIP. To start with I stripped the original model's AA armament. I painted the 1/2 tracks in my standard Charcoal Gray paint scheme. I installed a largish magnet in the 1/2 track to allow me to mount various artillery options into the common chassis (magnet makes also allows for a nice smooth weapon traverse which is cool).

I need to go back and scratch build weapon system for them to replace the current ones. The lack of realism pains me. :)


Well that's the main body of my 1st Hoira Guard army. 20 x 1/2 tracks, 10 x Lees, 10 x Shermans. They've been fun to paint and mod. I still have plenty of modifications to do. Hopefully I'll end up with a few what-if models out of it.

[GTX_Admin]

No need to apologise - we still love them!