Monday, January 2, 2017

40K Renegade Schlepper (1/35 Renault UE Conversion)

So you know how some things just hang around your painting desk forever in a state of half-completion? Well, that's what this project was like for me. I reckon it was about two years from start to finish (!) but now it's done and I can move on.


I was at a local model shop one day and spotted an inexpensive Polish-made 1/35 kit of a funky little tankette, the Renault UE. After the fall of France in 1940, French UEs were pressed into German service, including as launcher platforms for the ubiquitous "Wurfkoerper" rockets. I decided to build the kit for my 40K Chaos Renegade army to stand in as a Manticore SP rocket launcher or even, with rockets removed, as a Centaur artillery tow.

I built the kit pretty much from the box with the addition of a few 40K gubbins like the searchlight (of course) and stowage, plus an Imperial emblem on the hull top, and the Renegade peeking out from the crew compartment. I also constructed a new supporting structure for the rocket array, since the kit version didn't look robust enough to stand up to gaming, and I wanted some flexibility in configuring the vehicle without the rockets.

Looks like my assembly of one of the Wurfkoerper racks was a bit wonky ;-)

In any case, the rack I built from plasticard slots in and out of the rear compartment quite handily. It's only the work of a few moments to switch off from the launcher vehicle configuration.

The other configuration for the vehicle is as a "schlepper"/artillery tow/light carrier.

I built an insert for the cargo compartment with a couple fuel cans, a lasgun, and a pack to represent random stuff that might be carried around.


The insert is built on a piece of plasticard that just slips into the bed. The rocket array replaces it in the bed if that configuration is desired.

So that's that - project completed. Good to get it out of the way, and I can only hope that it inspires other converters!

5 comments:

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Nice modelling
Somehow it looks more "at home" in the 40K Sci Fi setting than WWII France 1940!

Michael Awdry said...

That looks superb, great conversion.

Millsy said...

Worth waiting for! Absolutely marvellous...

Dallas said...

Thanks guys! @Geordie, I agree, when I saw the original kit I was struck by the "40K" vibe!

Greg B said...

Great work Dallas - we need to get those renegades out for a spin again soon!