I tend to cheat a little with the explosion effects, using 2d explosions over the 3d animation. Iv'e been working on incresing the use of 3d explosions, but I'm not sure how much of the alpha blending palette is divided between smoke and shadow. So I can't get subtle enough effects.
Personaly I quite like the renault death ani, Most WWI tanks ended quite unspectaculy with injured/dead crewmen broken engine/drive train parts.