13th Armoured Division Sable Knights - Commander Glofski’s Squadron
13th Armoured Division Sable Knights - “Big Joe” and “Little Joe” - Leman Russ Battle Tanks WIP
So, as “Eight Ball” is waiting for a base to be made – I’ve got some more Polyfilla on order, I turned to the next two tanks to join The 13th Armoured Division. “Big Joe” and “Little Joe” were also acquired cheaply through eBay.
I guess it’s me tuning in to my socially responsible and green motivation to recycle other people’s rejects. I have to see the potential for a refit or conversion. There are always Leman Russ tanks available to buy second hand, but many are overpriced under the misconception that they are painted “professionally” or well, but actually aren’t… obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I prefer to get those tanks that are imperfect and usually state that with some honesty.
So “Big Joe” and “Little Joe” arrived together again rather worse for wear. Not sure about an obsession to paint tanks dark green (like “Eight Ball” earlier) but these two were thick in layers of paint. Both had missing bits of track and cupola and crew. One was missing a side sponson and the other had a severely warped turret.
My bits box came in handy fixing these two up. Track guards on “Big Joe” helped hide glue-melted top tracks. Having bought so many new tanks over the years, I’ve got plenty of spare bits, although I admit it is a shame that the new Leman Russ does not include the tank accessories sprue, which you have to get separately from GW online direct.
“Big Joe” and “Little Joe” WIP. Both needed new tank commanders. “Big Joe” use parts from the Militarum Tempestus sprue including head and arm holding plasma gun, while “Little Joe’s” commanders’ head was an OOP Imperial Guard officer head and arms are Forge World Chaos Militia Enforcer parts. “Little Joe” needed a brand new turret, cupola and heavy blaster and a flamer for one of the side sponsons. “Big Joe” needed a brand new side sponson and I customised a unique dozer blade from a tank trap and pistons from the tank accessories sprue.
Both “Big Joe” and “Little Joe” had problems with their exhaust pipes. “Big Joe” had one missing which needed a replacement and “Little Joe” needed new tops to the existing exhausts – giving the opportunity to experiment and customise with two extended exhaust pipes made from round sprue discards. I’m assuming “Little Joe” has a super-improved engine hence the unique exhaust system.
Both have been painted in the urban camouflage paint scheme to tie in with “Eight Ball” and I’ve added transfers to “Little Joe” which includes a left over small homemade eagle transfer that I didn’t end up using on Glofski’s Leman Russ. Paint job is not finished yet on either tank, but painting and rebuilding them in parallel has been enjoyable so far.
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