Engel's Tau Diary

[Inquisitor Engel]

Well, rather than start a post for each suit, I've decided to create basically a diary of my Tau exploits.

First up is my Commander -

Upon my trip to the UK, where I participated (and was generally mauled all around) in the Dysartes tournament, I picked up a large amount of Forge World Tau suits. Along with 4 XV-89's and an 84, I also picked up Shas'O'R'Myr's battlesuit, which was just too gorgeous to ignore. In the process of making him my own, I did a couple of suitble conversions.

I swapped out the twin plasma (which found its way onto one of his Shas'vre bodyguards) for a Melta. This is due mainly to his role as a General and Commander than his fighting prowess. Another slight conversion is the moving of the head back, so that his head would fit into the helmet, rather than simply sit inside the body and give a view.

The army, known as the Dyn'Ken'rai'Shas'Kau'ui is used primarily in the taking and holding of cities, although night warfare in thick jungles also favour the Dyn'Kau'ui.

Without further ado, I give you Shas'O'T'au'Dynerah'Aloh'Kais.






The writing on the shield says his full name and 'The dawn brings hope.' Took a while to write, but I think it worked out very well.

The white in the centre of the T'au symbol has been made a little clearer since the pic was taken.

[Inquisitor Engel]

Second up is the first of the Shas'ui in the battlesuits.

Just a simple XV84, nothing special just assembled in a neat pose as it comes before.

If you can ever get your hands on one of the FW suits, do it. The posability is awesome, and reminds me why FW gets my money from time to time.

Anyway, Shas'Ui'T'au'Por'Nan'Savon.





Yes I know I posted this one a couple of days ago, but for the sake of complacency, here it is again.

[Inquisitor Engel]

Third suit done, with their Shas'vre up next in an XV87 with a couple of modifications.

I've toned down the highlights, and made them a little more consistent with a 25/75 mix of Shadow Grey and Space Wolf Grey mix, which seems to suggest just enough depth and shading to be worth it. It's also quite easy to do.

Anyway, here's Shas'Ui'Dal'yth'Se'hel't'che'an.




I like his pose especially.

[TitusAndronicus]

I really like the blue paneling on the white. Looks sharp. Go sign my card you meanie!

[lord_blackfang]

Do you have any plastic Stealths to post?

[Davian]

Very nice color scheme, and the paint job looks nice, though it's hard to pick out some of the details due to the pictures. I've already got one of the Forge World suits, and I've been resisting the temptation to get more to replace the rest of my suits. Seeing these just slid me a bit more in that direction. It's nice to see that you can put them on the smaller, normal-sized battlesuit bases and still manage to give them good poses...

[x-esiv-4c]

Brilliant work engel! Well done!

[Phyros]

Whoa! Looks kick ass! Can't wait to see more.

[Pertinax]

They look a bit, er, grey to me. Will you be adding more writing and "barcodes" to make them stand out a bit?

And why sort of bases would you be looking at putting them on? Standard green, or something more exciting?

[Inquisitor Engel]

They look a bit, er, grey to me. Will you be adding more writing and "barcodes" to make them stand out a bit?

And why sort of bases would you be looking at putting them on? Standard green, or something more exciting?

Yeah, I can't seem to find any transfers, so there's no lines or writing. I'll be adding that last of all, that way I can keep some consistency and such.

The bases will be ruined city, but bases are always the last thing I do.

[Pertinax]

FW do a Tau transfer sheet, in both white and black.
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/transfers.htm

[Alekenisis]

Oooh, me like the conversion work on the Commander. The 'sunken head' thing really emphasises the Mecha flavour of the Tau, what with it being really a head in there - very cool!

Nice paint job, too, Engie. Although criticism coming from my corner is pointless, if I *could* offer some comment i'd quietly state that the highlights on the knee pads are a little too sharp, and that a slightly darker colour might look a little more...natural. Having said that, it's damn fine as is, and it does look nifty given a) the Stylised-Mecha look of the Tau (particularly these!), and b) may be pass-off-able as wear 'n' tear chipping paint off such areas.
If you get what I mean.
But I like them.
Muchly.
I do.
True.

[Heero-Severus]

Im liking the FW commander, ive got one and shall be converting him also. But in the style of "mon'tau" and maybe some minor khorne influencing!

[VanDoo]

They're very nice. If I ever start a Tau army, I'll get a FW battlesuit for my Shas'O. Really like your paint scheme.

[Inquisitor Engel]

I undercoated the Crisis team's Shas'vre today, he's in an XV84, with the Missile pods, though I'm using them as a unique (earlier issue) single, than a twin linked. Plasma still on one hand, and a target lock on the other.

It looks better than it sounds.
Before I post him, I thought I'd show the two bodyguard Shas'vre for O'Dynerah, unpainted. They're very nice, and I find their poses are about as dynamic landed as the others are in flight.

Also, more proof that the FW suits can well-utilise their SUPERB dynamicism on a regular 40mm base, even when they're landed.



Yes, that's a twin linked plasma, but again, just an earlier issue rather than a twin linked. It shows some progression.



I just like this one's "just landed" sort of pose.

These guys don't have names yet though.

[Easy E]

I like the strak highlights on the knee pads. As you said, it brings out the Mech influences. I also like the head modification on your commander.

The new poses look nice as well. The head on the second suit one looks a bit off.

[Inquisitor Engel]

The new poses look nice as well. The head on the second suit one looks a bit off.

Now that you mention it, in the photo it does.

The head is actually parallel to the bottom of the base, but in relation to the braced "just landed" body, looks upwards. Photographed at a downward angle it does look a tad off, the final ones will be at a better angle to demonstrate.

[Shas'o'Fior]

must...have....FW....suits....so...awesome...

[Negafex]

they look very cool, i really like the blue, what color is it?

[Inquisitor Engel]

they look very cool, i really like the blue, what color is it?

Just Shadow Grey over a black undercoat. The highlight is a 50/50 Shadow Grey and Space Wolves Grey mix, though I'm experimenting with different levels as I go.

The problem with such dark suits on these is that I then have no idea how to make the Stealth suits more stealthy!