Apologies for the shonky Photoshop job, but could something like this work?


Having a top (or front) plate that covers the turret attachment would allow add-on guns to be placed more variously. That way you could do different tops that share some of the same bits:

Artillery sprue
Top with scanner/targeter/radar at the front; option of missile rack, big gun, giant gun(?) or AA guns at the back.
Burny sprue
Top with fuel tanks at the back; option of flamey/chemical/gas-spewer at the front.

You could also (funds permitting, of course) perhaps do:
Command sprue
Top with big radar? Various different gun turrets/hatches/commander poking out of the top for the front? (This'd make a sort of 'spotter' vehicle without a gun, or simply different gun options).

Stowage/veteran sprue
Top with bags and boxes, various details; bits to stick on?

etc.

Basically, stuff to vary the plastic model on the sprue and make the most of it.

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Industrious, red-robe wearing member of the PCRC

I just played around in paint to make a much crappier version of what Apologist just posted.

So yeah, what Apo said. The original looks weirdly front heavy to me (but the gun is cool!)

edit: Looking at pictures of the Tunguska, it seems the logical place to put the gun is square on the centre of gravity. Not sure if that's practical for the mini though.

Looking good.
Think I prefer the AA turret over the back of the vehicle.

I'd note that adding a full plate top would increase costs a fair chunk, you're getting close to the point where you might as well make a full metal vehicle, in fact...

How about something like this, with a hatch or a radar dome at the front?

- Advantage, minimises extra costs.
- Disadvantage, you'd not have a "guide hole" for the AA turret to be centred on.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

Back definitely looks better. Guide hole is irrelevant or next to, we'll cope.

I don't think either the hatch or ball looks that great. It could be smallish if you like, but something more like the radar dish from this IMO:

I like concept 2 much better.

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Vanguard Miniatures

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If you put the turret at the centre, it looks like you could maybe make an indentation that would match up with the rear hatch?

edit: Dammit, I've been thinking about it too much. Now it looks to me like version 2 would tip backwards if it fired

The "ball" is based on a naval radar dome. Carbon fibre conceals the radar dish itself which is hidden beneath.
Could do a more traditional looking radar dish though.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

I would place them further back on the vehicles. Plus, while I like the design, it looks almost crudely alien in a way that I cannot really explain. Maybe an added radar dish like this one (the rectangular thing) would alleviate that.



Edit: I really have o learn not to write and submit before checking earlier posts!

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Nitpicks Knapsack (Scratchbuilding and 3D designing and printing and painting)

Concept 2 looks lovely; particularly as it gives the option to have the turret at the front, back or middle. I don't mind a missing guide hole.

I prefer the hatch to the ball, personally (radar ball looks a bit hightech compared to the gun), but presumably that's the sort of thing that's optional anyway?

A vaguely related pic I googled and then forgot what I was going to say about it:


+++Edit+++
I remember now – both this pic and the one posted immediately above have slightly larger turrets (in relation to the gun) than the concept image. Could you enlarge the central bit, as though there's a cab with someone in there?

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Industrious, red-robe wearing member of the PCRC

My guess is that the rivets on the cannon are too much. I think this is what make them look that crude. their rear part also need to look less like an extension of the cannon and more like the chamber and loading/casing ejection mechanism.

Less rivets, more "functional" details. Maybe the ejection ports could be at the rear, and the chamber could get slightly larger, with a more detailed port when the ammo belt enter the chamber ?

Real world guns have much, much smaller barrels than grimdark sci-fi guns. I'm not sure, but my impression is that AA guns of the type tank-mouned autocannons have a ferocious recoil as it is. Not sure if that's the reason the turret is so big or if that's simply to fit in more targeting equipment.

Am I the only one who'd like to see a central turret?

Yeah, I was aware it was based on that, I just don't like the aesthetics of it.

Though if anyone's not familiar with them in future, they might be confused why there's a disco ball on top of the tank.

Here's a central turret concept. I think I've worked out a way to mould the two components economically and keep to the cost limit I have in mind.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

That one gets my vote