Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Howdy, everyone. I signed up just to ask this question. Hoping to get some ideas.

I really like the look of the Tau models, except for the Crisis Battlesuits. They're boxy and ugly and I hate the awful looking chicken feet. I know I'm not the only one who has this opinion, so I'm hoping someone out there has found a good source of alternative models.

I've checked out Heavy Gear: Blitz, and those models are great... but, as seen in the first picture, a bit too small for a Battlesuit... supposedly the older Heavy Gear models (in the second pic) were bigger, but I don't where I'd get access to those.

Anyone have any other ideas? I'm seriosuly considering just going with the Heavy Gear: Blitz models despite the size. That's how much I hate these chicken-footed things.

You could go for the Forge World Crisis suits. They're slightly more expensive then the GW ones, but they're so much better: they're nicer from an aesthetic point of view, and they're much more poseable.

that green and white suit on the bottom is a tau crisis suit of some variety, i'm sure of that.



the forgeworld ones DO look amazing.

Honersstodnt wrote:that green and white suit on the bottom is a tau crisis suit of some variety, i'm sure of that.

Yes, it's a regular Battlesuit. It's there for size comparison with the Heavy Gear model next to it...

Also, I was aware of the Forge World models. They are a little better looking but still not as good as the HG stuff, IMO.

Thanks for the suggestions, though. Anyone have any others?

Am I the only one who really likes the look of the VX8s? They're one of the main reasons for my next army being Tau, as soon as I can justify the cost.

unfortunately, the older HG models are pretty rare. they were only available for a year or two (the time 1st edition was around, HG tends to play the lets make a new edition double-dip game *VERY* frequently) and were made by rafm. the one in the pic is the heaviest class of gear (kodiak variant of the grizzly) for the northern faction and is bigger slightly than a tau suit. the medium sized gears (the hunter and jaguar classes along with their variants) would still make good crisis suits. the lighter scout gear (the cheetah) would make a decent stealth suit size-wise. the southern army has variants that also match the descriptions above, physically having more curved surfaces to the north's angles. they stopped making them when the minis industry switch to nonlead minis and the price of white metal was too high to continue at the old scale. they seem to be prized by current HG players for collections (I sold mine a few years ago for a bit more than i paid). at least with the HG models, they "look" like they deserve the jet pack movement because of their secondary movement systems (the roller skates on their legs that they use in the official game to move faster).

have you looked at the at-43 UNA vehicles? the tac arms and smaller walkers could be used for tau (although i don't personally like the look of the smaller walkers). other than that, you can still get some of the older Warzone Bauhaus walkers that might work well, but they certainly don't look like they have jetpacks.

i'm not sure of the size but have you looked at robotech macross toys? the valkyrie would make a good crisis suit armed with a burst cannon (the gu-11 gunpod) and missle launcher (underwing missles). http://www.robotech.com/store/viewproduct.php?id=259

The XV9s are not Crisis Suits but Hazard Suits: They are considerably larger.
I only use Forge World Crisis Suits and Broadsides, as I don't like the standard GW models for those either.
I considered using AT-43 Karmans as Xeno Allies, but they are a bit small as well. Some of the Cog models might fit as Vespid Crisis Suits.
Can't find them ATM, but there are collectible Mechas (from a PC game?) that had about the right size and looked interesting.

I am assuming the codex contains rules for the FW suits? I ask cause I like them too and have considered only ordering those for my Tau.

thegrav wrote:I am assuming the codex contains rules for the FW suits? I ask cause I like them too and have considered only ordering those for my Tau.

The codex doesn't, it only contains the rules for the standard suits and the standard armaments. As your just using alternative models there is really no drama about it, as long as you abide by WYSIWYG.

The specific rules for the new suits I believe are in IA8.

And the models you're comparing them to aren't boxy?

Agreed that the FW models are much nicer. You don't really need the rules for them, just use them as "counts as" so you can use them in other than Apoc games..

Yes, the ORIGINAL DP9 HG suits were larger - only about 20% though for the "hunter" class (I have the blitz version AND the original both sitting on my desk. They are getting used for power armour suits for a cyberpunk miniatures skirmish coming up).

They are still smaller than a crisis suit, though.

thegrav wrote:I am assuming the codex contains rules for the FW suits? I ask cause I like them too and have considered only ordering those for my Tau.

The rules for the FW suits are found in different books. The XV9 suit (as pictured) rules are in the IA - Apocalypse II rulebook, all the other variants are in the IA - Taros Campaign book.

Only the XV9, XV88 Broadside, Shas'o' R'Myr's and Shas'o R'Alai battlesuits are full resin products...the XV81, XV84 and XV89 all use the standard plastic Battlesuit with added resin bits.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, folks!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Anyone have any other ideas?

Cypher871 wrote:

thegrav wrote:I am assuming the codex contains rules for the FW suits? I ask cause I like them too and have considered only ordering those for my Tau.

The rules for the FW suits are found in different books. The XV9 suit (as pictured) rules are in the IA - Apocalypse II rulebook, all the other variants are in the IA - Taros Campaign book.

Only the XV9, XV88 Broadside, Shas'o' R'Myr's and Shas'o R'Alai battlesuits are full resin products...the XV81, XV84 and XV89 all use the standard plastic Battlesuit with added resin bits.

Cool Ty.

Hadn't really thought of using the Older Heavy Gears as Tau Crisis Suits, but an interesting idea so will have to find the blisters in the basement.

If nothing else use the current Heavy Suits and say they are experimental new suits. And just use the stats for the Crisis Suits.

Or build an Tau Army with no Crisis Suits instead use them as Stealth Suits.

You could look at 1/144 scale Gundam kits.

http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/cav/

here are some possible alternative models for tau stuff

sonofruss wrote:http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/cav/

here are some possible alternative models for tau stuff

I had looked at these, but... it says they are "N-scale." Isn't that, like, really small...?

Why not just GS and plasticard new feets on the models?

N scale is about 6mm, much too small unless the walkers are the equivalent of Titans.

N scale is 1:160 .

CAV minis are vaguely the right size for battlesuits. They're smaller scale but they're meant to be battlemech sized walking tank thingies.

Jack

Jackmojo wrote:CAV minis are vaguely the right size for battlesuits. They're smaller scale but they're meant to battlemech sized walking tank thingies.

Jack

If this is true then I'll definitely be going with this option. You wouldn't happen to have any pics showing scale for the CAVs, would you?

Kroothawk wrote:N scale is 1:160 .

That's about 10mm then.