Tsarist Dreadnaught

[Sisko]

Once I finished my vampire ship, I looked at my bird of prey and the thought of all that masking and masking and masking, killed my enthusiasm for continuing it.

I will come back to it but for now it is time to get into something that I really have been looking forward to

Remember my imperial German land dreadnaught?

German Land Dreadnaught

Well it is time to build the tsarist opponent!

Already started. Got an Italeri 1/35 scale Js 2 kit, which is a dog of a kit. However it is going to be so heavily chopped and modified you wont even know.

Below is my progress so far. At the moment I am playing around with positions of turrets and layouts of the upper hulls.

I am looking at using the round cylinder type turrets much favoured by the early soviet tanks. The main turret will be a modified version of the JS 2 turret but will be larger and more boxy looking.

I will post progress pics as I go.

[Sisko]

Another shot

[wolfik]

that was my idea...no finished yet  
now...fill the areas between the cut hull  

[Rafael]

OooooH!
I only dare to say: Coño, Sisko!!! it hasn't started yet and already looks magnificent!!!

Rafa

[Sisko]

Thanks!!

This should not take as long as the german one but it will be awhile.    

[BlackOps]

Cool! looking forward to this one, I love the german one so this should be great!

[Sisko]

Actually I have.

It is about 30mm wider in the hull than the kit was. Was going to go wider but the hull is very short so it would have looked out of proportion.

Cant do to much about the upper hull at the mo because I am waiting on a big order from NKR models. A whole bunch of T-26 tanks with various turret configurations.

Also ordered some 1/72 scale tank packs and other greeblies to give the land dreadnaughts that lived in look.

If interested ! should have some updated pics this week.  

[Sisko]

Well made some progress on this beast but now I need to know what you guys think of the turret arrangement.

I have made a sort of bridge ala a ship of the line. The philosophy is that fire control for the main turret and various sub turrets would be conducted from this and one other post on the tank.

Also I blocked in the original turret to give it that boxy 20's – 30's soviet look. But as the soviets never existed in this time line it is even less modern looking than those designs. The bridge will be complimented with a couple of turrets at the back as well just because I can.  

Feedback is appreciated.

[Sisko]

side profile

[Rafael]

Looks Promising...... Menacing, unstoppable,.....still magnificent!!!!

Go on!!!    

Rafa

[nev]

It looks great, certainly got that 20s Soviet look, but 2 suggestions.

1)  It looks a bit front heavy, like its going to topple over.  Some more weighty bits at the back to counter-balance the weight and the look?

2)  As you're on the "land battleship" theme, how about replacing the single main gun with TWO main guns like a real battleship turret?

[Jschmus]

In the current FSM Reader Gallery, there's a monster tank built using (I think) a 1/72 tank and assorted parts from 1/350 ship models.  The main turret mounts three guns.

[cthulhu77]

It is a mighty battle tank, capable of defending the rights of the Tzar in all his glory against any and all repression !
  Maybe a smattering of smaller cannons along the back for a counterweight? Or some venting stacks rising up from the engine deck?  Whatever you do, it is going to be cool as get out, I have faith.

[Brian da Basher]

Woah Sisko is that ever cool!!! I think you've totally nailed that nice boxy look of pre-W.W. II tanks!

I also vote for more guns. I like the idea of having two main guns as on a battleship turret.

I can't wait to see more!

Brian da Basher

[BlackOps]

I think the bridge looks perfect. So far so good, I agree with the others that it is a bit front heavy at the moment but I also know that you have a long ways to go and plenty of time to balance it out. (Ya probably had that planned anyhow)