Zebraoutrider’s Astra Militarum Tank Rescue, Recovery, Repair, Repurpose and Recommissioning Workshop
Leman Russ Battle Tanks x2 Stygies VIII Pattern - repair, repurpose and reconstruct
On the work bench are two Leman Russ Battle Tanks with Stygies VIII turrets (cost (£21 each via eBay). These are the old LR kits with converted Forge World Vanquisher turrets that appear to be shortened to the standard battle canon length. The tank rears are missing exhaust pipes and storage boxes. When the conversion kit was available it cost around £18-24 RRP. FW tanks currently cost around £67 for a complete kit although the range has become limited. I’m going to remove the dozer blades and use a Kromlech rear power plant (£12) and a 3D printed large dozer blade (£4 each on eBay) to customise the tanks as sisters - ‘The Ram’ and ‘The Bull’. 
‘The Ram’ repurposed with large dozer blade and enhanced rear power plant and exhaust. The power plant was easy to attach once the old exhaust and barrel had been removed. A handle was added to the grill top and a cover for the side storage box was cut to size before liquid green stuff was used to fill gaps. The new dozer blade has the top removed with a hacksaw and reglued to the front of the dozer blade. The connection rods were reinforced with cut down extra armour panels and underside the discarded dozer blade was chopped up and repurposed with green stuff to add a further support to the large plough-like blade. The blade had to be cut down to allow the hull mounted bolter to fire and the tank driver to be able to see! Liquid green stuff came in pretty handy (x1 pot £4). Bolter barrel was bored out using a 3mm finger drill. Total conversion time taken 4 hours. 
I will replicate the initial conversion changes to the second tank - The Bull - in exactly the same way so that they will look like twins. I did contemplate whether to reinstate the Vanquisher cannon, but in keeping with the uniqueness of the vehicles and to fit in with the ‘ploughing’ capability of the tank, it would seem sensible to retain the shortened cannons. Each tank will be customised further with additional stowage and individual crew. Then the paint job decision...
Total cost of rescue and reconstruction (not including my time!) (£21 tank + £12 power plant + £4 dozer blade + £1.50 worth liquid green stuff and £0.50 of green stuff putty) = £39
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