Hey guys, I'm starting on the world of vehicle custom. My first try is a tank for my soon Oktober Guard. I was around with 3 ideas, I hosted pics on image hack an add it here, so you can tell me what look better in your opinion. None of the pics will show a finished tank or colored. It'll be some pieces that I put together to hear you thoughts.

Please remember, is my first attempt.

This is the version that I like more. A chap mei 105 mm light gun on the back and a grenade laucher in middle of what could turn on a gun nest. Is some kind of Russian experiment for a fast support vehicle who has integreat artillery and heavy fire power.


This second possibility is a anti aircraft based on the ZSU-23 with mediu fire suport capability using the cannons of a SLAM.


This third version was really the first that came in mind. I have the cannons from the equalizer atached on a part of a Python ASP. Is an anti aircraft with small anti personell and anti low armor capability.


All coments are welcome. Ideas are also accepted.

Thanks in advance.

are you going to be attaching something on the side of the tank?
cuz if these three are your only choices, its seems like a huge conveyance
for such a small arsenal... but thats just me - i've never customized vehicles before

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Don my man,

First thanks for your attention. I wasn't thinkin' about attach any weapon more, 'coz I'm running for a most real look. I have some inspiration to do it in russian types like this:


If your suggestion was to put more armor in it, I was hit by this idea too. But at least more one or two well placed machineguns would give a good upgrade.

Hmh...
First of all - you've got toanswer yourself a question - "what is Oktober Guard?" Because this, will determine the shape of vechiclews.
As for me 0 I see OG as a group one step higher than Spetznaz. So - they operate in small, yet versatile and efficient groups, base more on mobility, surprise and excellent tactics. If so - they don't need supreme firepower, ALTHOUGH it would be welcome from time to time.

As so - they would rather need fast and quite well armoured personnel carrier, than a heavy tank.
All your concepts are good and functional for them (maybe the less functional is AA gun, as it is only double barelled). I would suggest - why not trying to make a multifunctional vechicle? If all weaponry don't require permanent attaching - you could make one chasis and 3 interchangable weapon systems. This would make a great multi-purpose vechicle in my opinion.
Although, I would leave this grenade launcher (or is it a machine gun?) in the front of the vechicle, so you will have additional extra space for other weapons.

And If we are talking about a single project - I would choose the first one. But that's only my opinion

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I personally like the first one the best though Leatherneck looks kind of lonely without a weapon in his hands. Overall though I wonder if the chassis you want to use to mount your weaponary is too big cause it looks huge compared to the aresenal its packing. Also if that gun is a 105mm shouldn't it be bigger? I like the idea of a an artillery piece but I think Ion brings up a good point in the conception of the Ocktober Guards military capability. These aren't really the guys you would expect to be giving you artillery support or anti aircraft support, really these guys are a behind the enemy lines type or a fast assault group. At least thats the idea I get from the GI JOE comics but hey you know the Russians they like their armoured vehicles and they like them in spades. But otherwise the vehicles look fine just being the artillery lover that I am I'd want more firepower. Though the Equalizer chassis I would think is versatile for a number of uses and it looks good how you're using it, I think I'd just want some bigger guns .
Keep up the great work though.

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I think Ion has a good point about them being kind of a fast attack group. I suppose it really matters what you want to go with on this vehicle. The first pic was cool but in my opinion there is to big of a hole in the middle with the guy and the gun. A well placed grenade in that big hole could spell doom. I like the second pic myself. Anyway you got some great ideas and I am sure you will come up with something very cool. Good luck!!!

I agree with both Ion and Brass Knuckle Chuckles. The Oktober Guard need a fast and efficient vehicle that would serve them best in a number of situations. My biggest beef both with our military and with the GI Joe universe is that while there are a lot of vehicles at our disposal, they all seem to be geared to specific tasks and not versatile enough for a special missions force. One should remember that unlike the US, the USSR and all of the incarnations that exist now after its dissolution have to make do with equipment that is both antiquated and seemingly unwieldy. While the tractor carriage could use some reinforcement both across its track profile and the forward driver's seats - armament and speed should be weighed as primary points. This vehicle woud need to easily transported in a airplane and by airlift (helicopter). I don't seriously see an 80mm or anything bigger being mounted as just ammo weight would decrease speed ( nevermind the mechanics and firing controls for the main gun). Personally I would suggest a rocket or missile delivery system as a primary power weapon and add a good number of hand-operated heavy machineguns with good firing archs to fully support the vehicle.

As far as open areas leading into the operation center of the vehicle, I'd like to point out the WW2 German self propelled 105mm WESPE had an open turret. While used out on the rural battlefields in Russia the vehicle was formidable, however, in the urban environments like Stalingrad and Leningrad - the open turret was suseptible to grenades, snipers and even Molotov cocktails.

I look forward to seeing the vehicle when you finish it!

You guys are giving me new perspectives. I like all points of view. I just attached the cannon that you can see on the first picture. Now I'm lookin' for machinegun turrets to add to him. I'll use the central hole like a gun nest, so you can direct your ideas to how reinforce it to not be vulnerable to grenade attacks.

I'm thinkin' this tank like a more heavy weight for OG. The next one will be a fast attack, maybe using the Wolverine chassis.

Thanks again for help and just don't stop.

Hmm to make sure a vehicle isn't vulnerable against grenades. Well I don't know how good this idea is against molotovs I remember reading about what the British did with their Saracen armoured cars while in Ireland. They put a steal mesh/bars of some kind to protect it against RPGs but I could imagine you could fashion something similar like a little cage to prevent grenades from getting thrown in.

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I have a new site for my table top tactical strategy role playing game for action figures and miniatures. There's also diostories there too! Check it out at: http://thewayofwar.net/