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I'm totally new to modelling and 40k, a freind recently introduced me to it and I thought I'd give it a try.
I liked to look of the Tau and got a box load of em.
I started with the stealth team and it didnt work out that good, I'm in the process of trying to strip them!

Next was the Devilfish - and overall I am quite pleased with my first attempt.
I want to try object source lighting etc but I feel Im trying to run before I can walk.
I tried layering light on the front of the devilfish but it just looked a bit smudgy, I think maybe my paint was too runny? - it kind of pooled and ran..

I haven't done any highlighting in this model yet, that's next.

Would any be so kind as to offer C+C please?

Many thanks

I like how you did the lighting glowing around the tank. However the three color scheme of the fish plus the glowing blue light makes it seem very messy to me. Also, try to highlight the edges of the armor for some depth.

Thanks for the comments. Would you recommend then for the future that if I was to do source lighting then stick to only 2 colour schemes?

sorry mechaEmperor I must disagree with you, I don't think having all those colors on there makes it too busy at all. I rather like it actually. The main gun ( I don't play tau so I don't know the name) could use a bit of work though.

romizzi wrote:Thanks for the comments. Would you recommend then for the future that if I was to do source lighting then stick to only 2 colour schemes?

Honestly, source lighting like that just is...a little much.

I can understand that you're trying to show it's a "bright light in the dark", but the Tau are practical and highly experienced in ambush tactics--they'd likely have filters to prevent light from seeping out in such great quantities that it would give their positions away.

I would have had it just around the view slit and the millimeter or so area surrounding it.

Thanks for the comments guys. Yep the pilot/driver needs plenty more work.

For realism, I agree the light would be filtered out or not there at all. The idea was to just lighten it all up to make it more pleasing to the eye, rather than just all camo - seemed a bit dull, if practical. I was actually going to do something similar with the engine ports/vents too!

I might throttle back the lighting then, leaving it bright just by the window, and put a darker blue for highlights.

Honestly if you do a basecoat of the "primary" camo color, then wash it down with black or brown you'll get a lot more definition and it makes the colors less dull.

Put down the next camo color, repeat the same step, and then keep doing it as necessary.

Alternatively: you could do the camouflage as similar to the 'whitewash' that the US and Germans gave their tanks during the Battle of the Bulge, where it's a very watered down, translucent shade that looks hastily applied.

You should consider fully painting it... and some highlights would do well.
Don't try to paint the highlights thin though... you'll fix that later by painting the actual colour of the part on it...

Like this:

(you really can't see the green on the second picture... must be the bad quality because I can see the green on Paint)

Thanks for the advice, I'll give highlighting a shot and post another pic

This is with some highlighting (my first time highlighting btw!). it's not tidy, and I haven't touched it up as suggested yet. Just posting to give an impression.

Is that a Rancor next to the devilfish in that one photo? Those are cool!

Good luck with your painting. Best not to rush it... maybe practice basic techniques before trying blending and such.

Well, it definetly makes a diffirence... maybe you should make the highlights more visible.

HUGE difference! I definately like the paint job in the second one much better, but the lighting of the photograph is much better too.

Also, nice Rancor. Still got mine at my parent's house somewhere in the attic.

Excellent start! Try some Simple Green to strip your stealth team.

Thanks for the response guys!
Yeah its an original rancor - Im a star wars nerd :-)

The stealth team is stripped now, I used Mr Muscle bathroom cleaner - it unstuck the glue too so I've taken advantage of the opportunity to magnetise the weapons. Since I've never played the game before I want to be able to swap stuff round as I learn new techniques.
I'll probably re prime the stealth team this weekend and and have another bash next week.

As for the fish - I think I've gone as far as I can with it at this early stage in my hobby, I'll try a few of my other models to build up some practice and experience.

I'll post pics as I go