Legacy40k's Tau Prototype Army Painting Log

[Legacy40k]

I've gotten a lot of influence from Brickshelf as metioned here:
http://warseer.com/forums/showpost.p...0&postcount=65

Appleseed and various Gundam series' have also been great influences as well as other battle suit builders where I have taken some smaller ideas from multiple different people, refined them and combined them all into a single suit to make something new.

Sometimes it's just a matter of seeing a part in a new way like the flamers used on the Broadside legs above.

[Legacy40k]

Here is the build "Trilliad" I will probably change the head once I build one I like better.. or possible change this one.

[Kealios]

The Basecoated "Pulse" I'm not happy with the aesthetics of the of the missile launchers

What I think I would have done was placed the missile launchers in a horizontal pose, as they currently are, but instead of up high on the wings, which increases the height of the profile, I would have placed them on the shoulders on a bit of circular plasticard rod. This would place them in front of the jetpack, with an overall height still less than the head, so that plane would be aesthetically balanced, leaving the jetpack clear and uncluttered.

Basically, I'd pin the tube on the flat surface of the shoulder, right by where the squarish shoulder section begins (maybe just between that and the head). I'd make it about 1/4" long, but mounted at what, a 60 degree vertical angle, mounting the missile pods on top of that, coming just over the shoulders. Hope what I am saying is making sense.

Also, I have some questions about some of the bitz youve used (my apologies for my ignorance, as I am just getting into Tau and I havent opened the boxes that have just arrived):

What is the circular drum part that you've used on the Multitracker on the Pulse? That looks so Heavy Gearish, I love it.

What piece are you using on the Trilliad's head (the same on on the Pulse's back, between the jet packs)? I dont recognize that part.

Lastly, the jets on the Quadro - are those part of the bitz you got from the Hobbylink Japan site? Ive ordered quite a bit from them but nothing has been sent out yet.

Kealios

[Legacy40k]

What is the circular drum part that you've used on the Multitracker on the Pulse? That looks so Heavy Gearish, I love it.

What piece are you using on the Trilliad's head (the same on on the Pulse's back, between the jet packs)? I dont recognize that part.

Lastly, the jets on the Quadro - are those part of the bitz you got from the Hobbylink Japan site? Ive ordered quite a bit from them but nothing has been sent out yet.

Kealios

The drum is from the back of a burst cannon.

The piece on the trilliads head is from the Forgeworld Sash'O Myr HQ model, it goes on his backpack in the slots there.

The jets on the Quadro, and many of the other parts such as the bolts, missile tips and armour plating were all ordered from Hobbylink.. I think it took 2-3 months to get the parts... by the time I got it.. I'd forgotten I made the order.

I took the missiles off the pulse and replaced it with a single plasma to compliment the Trilliad's payload better. They worked well in game as a bodyguard for Farsight when used them last weekend. Pairing plasma with flamers also helps to offset the high cost of the plasma with the very low cost of the flamer.

[Legacy40k]

Here's the green squad hammerhead:

[sheep]

Everything looks great, the airbrush work on the hammerhead is fantastic.

Cheers

Sheep

[Legacy40k]

I've started work on painting the "Quadro" battlesuit now.

[Legacy40k]

I need to do a little bit of touching up and detailing on the suit still and the base needs to be finished, but for the most part.. this is it.

[Kasrkin 666]

Looks freaking amazing! Can't wait to see whats next!

-Sunny

[Legacy40k]

After a bit of a Hiatus, I'm back to working on this army again. I've been busy getting a commission job out of the way, but it shipped off yesterday, so it's back to old projects.

The time away from this army has given me some time to brew some new ideas in my head for battle suit designs. Before that though I want to get my new stealth suits finished up since I started them before the hiatus.

Conversion wise, they are pretty simple. I just filed and sanded the optics off the helmet to make it look like a solid visor. A simple change but I think it makes a considerable difference to the overall look of the model. I like sleekness of the older X15 metal suits over the newer X25 suits, too bad the metal is virtually impossible to convert in this case.

The command suit (pictured here) has had some minor work done on the backpack as well that is not being done to the rest of the suits. This is to help him stand apart on the table top, but also to show he is in a slightly upgraded model (probably why he dies last!, better suit!)

Any questions or comments, feel free to ask.

[Azriel45]

your painting is brilliant.

[Legacy40k]

i saw a cool hex pattern done on another mecha model a while ago. The person that did it created a stencil with an architectural template. I neither have the template, nor a large enough surface to use it on anyhow, so I've attempted to add the hex pattern free hand.

I think I need a bit more white still to help counter the abundance of red.

[MF3000]

I hated the Tau suits; until now.

This is an awesome work.

sj

[vyper]

I've just go to pop in and say, amazing stuff!

I'm very impressed indeed, I can't wait to see it all together.

[Flying Toaster]

You should get together with some mates and have a giant robot rumble! Last suit standing!

[Legacy40k]

I hated the Tau suits; until now.

This is an awesome work.

sj

Thanks! I have to agree.. I hate the basic suits as well.. or more acuratly.. the lack of pose ability in them. But, the forgeworld suits showed that they can be cool!

[Geckilian]

All those suits of yours are an inspiration, and one of the reasons I now have a Tau army. Cheers, and I hope you continue to make a variety of suits.

[heiconic]

Excellent conversions and painting, but why all the hate on the Sentinels?

[Rick_1138]

Those designs are mega.

i too am a big fan of Shirow Manga, and i do have a box f tau to make...hmmmm

[Legacy40k]

Excellent conversions and painting, but why all the hate on the Sentinels?

I got a couple of Sentinels in a trade, but they turned out to big so horribly painted (the assembly wasn't great either) that I wouldn't be able to use it in my guard army... so... I used it for something where it didn't need to look as good and broken parts wouldn't matter.