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Ok guys,

So after the success of this project:
http://advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13149&start=20

I have decided to start my GD entry (well one of anyway;-) for the diorama catagory!! This, as before, will be a long and tortureous journey, but I thought that I would get it started now and hopefully build some base of input from the great guys here!!

SO, the premise is this:

Think Blackhawk down. After going to turkey last week and seeing the traditional housing style, and the addition of some great cardboard packing from the work computer I figured that I can do a stealth insertion drop into the suburban area of B'ahgd'ad;-)

Think wide un paved street with irregularly placed tatooine style with imperial twang buildings. Very civilian details such as water tankards and solar panels on the roofs with industrial air con and big satellite dishes- plus the possibility of a washing line or 2;-)!! 4 suits dropping down at various heights (possibly in a very matt black that I now have-stealthy!;-)- white or black??
with the lead suit crouched with telescopic antena (appleseed anyone?) peering round a corner at an injured hiding guardsman that has escaped his blown up sentinel in the middle of the street that the suits are moving over. The lead suit has his hand up SWAT style to hold the rest of the suits back, as though they are tracking the scout vehicle sentry stealthily!;-)
OR/ in addition
Rescuing an Aun from a downed escape pod (tigershark style). The pod I would modify from a Piranha.

So what do you think?;-)

Any input with images will be greatly recieved for mood shots, inspirational images and any other cool ideas that you want to throw into the pot!!:-)

I will post a mock up in the next few days!

cheers

The 'WX' class of suit!;-)

Cool idea,hope to see the mock up soon.


I voted matte black,but now that I think of it,a urban camo would be cool,someting like this perhaps:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?community=&catId=cat1300050&categoryId=400030&aId=2600031


Also wouldn't the lead suit look a little strange with his hand stuck out and holding the others back?

Awww, it´s a Tau thing? I was hoping for a Black Hawk Down theme with the new valk. Now THAT would look spiffing.

Oh, and puhleeease don´t call the city "B'ahgd'ad". There´s multiple reasons for this.

First one is obvious: Black Hawk Down was set in Mogadishu, totally different place, totally different war.

Second one may not be as obvious, but here goes anyway: Opinions are still out on whether "that war" was right or wrong in the first place, and you probably don´t want your diorama to be about that discussion, right? So set it in a random imperial or other location, but anchor it in 40K, not in contemporary earth battles.

Now, as for modeling ideas, how about getting some Tallarn to oppose your suits, they´re desert imperials after all, and they even have sentinels, if you want to go FW...
Also, definately stealth black, if you´re going for that special operative look, that´s just what the Shas´O ordered.

Good luck with this, looking forward to seeing what you make of it.

Hajullaf? If you get it you get a cookie.

sA

Oh please. hallujaF is way too easy. Backwards, forwards, it´s all the same.

<--- Wants a cookie!

Hiya guys,

cheers for the great input!
Of course, B'Aagh'Daad will not be the setting for this, purely put in for humour purposes;-) as i do understand the need for diplomacy in the greater scheme!;-)

Personally I would set it there, but they are my views and may offend. I think that 'for the greater good' would smack too much of irony;-)

Anyway, on to other stuff, I really am not keen on the Tallarn models/ design so would maybe go for Elysians at a push (also due to their diminuitive stature, it will heighten the size of the suits!) I think the contrast of high tech vs the rural mess will work well.

So the arguements are:
White- great sharp contrast, will show the suits off very well and indicates the Tau 'cleanliness'
Black- Matt for stealth, urgent 'crisis' missions, unique look and feel to models, ties to the theme.

Any more thoughts?

cheers
W

My thoughts,get cracking or I shall blow up your house with my mind!!!!!!


Oh and I would like a cookie,and oooh I would to see a horse drive a car!!!!


Ok now on to the helpful side,would the Tau suit not look strange gesturing in that manner?

Xan, if you REALLY want the cookie:



And also, consider this, Warhound:



Berlin Brigade Camouflage, used during the Cold War for British Tanks operating in Berlin. For obvious reasons, if fighting broke out, it was estimated that this Camouflage was almost invisible to the naked eye in a street at about 100 yards. Famously a Corps Commander was shown the camouflage, his response was "I can't see your fething tank, it must be a good idea."

Later adopted by every single British Tank, so that Soviets had no idea how many there were because all the markings and patterns were exactly the same.

Sorry, meandering tangent background. It's bloody cool.

sA

Cheers SA for the input.

I actually like that camo a lot- but it doesnt really fit with the mediteranian feel that I was going for- as you say- this was used during the cold war;-)

Any other ideas/ suggestions with the concept/ modelling ideas, context etc?

cheers
W

Ok, first, this is mighty cool.

Also, wouldn't white camo be better if the fight is taking place on Tatooine/Bagdad/Moghadishu?
Black camo would make it stand out a bit.

Also if you want to go for that Black Hawk Down feel then i would advise going for a Valk rather then a Sentinel. You could also make an imperial squad coming from the other direction and THEY could use the hand gestures.
Battlesuits clearly have com systems in them.

Personally I think that Digi camo looks rubbish. It works, but we want to be able to see your models, but make them look as if they fit in.

Anyway enough for now, but im overflowing with ideas so I think ill start on something similar when i have the time.

552

God, I completely misread your first post!

I just skimmed and thought "Urban...Stealth...Spec-Ops," -- to be honest I didn't even realise it was Tau. My apologies.

And I thought they were IG dropping from a Valkyrie! God I'm dumb. Sorry, that Camouflage is completely wrong for the suits -- the lines wouldn't work, the suits already have some geometry mixed in their curves, and that would just confuse the hell out of someone to paint, but it would make a very respectable camouflage. I see what you mean though -- that isn't dusty urban streets, it's more damp, leafy central Europe.

I dig the idea of the Black -> Stealth, but I don't think that it fits too perfectly into the whole... deserty town idea. However, that was still the colour that Special Forces used in the Middle East in contemporary times, and it's important for people modelling W40K to get over the fact that not every regiment has uniform/camouflage tailored especially when they go out to a warzone. However, this may be different with Tau, and the lack (?) of a sprawling, inefficient bureaucracy like the Imperium.

How big do you plan for the Diorama? It could open up very vast opportunities if it's larger vertically as well as X/Y dimensions.

Here's just a few 10 second ideas for you:

_ Suit sneaking up on a rooftop sentry, whose suitably casual, smoking a cigar, reading a book/holotape etc.
_ Make the opponents non-regulars. By what I mean, paint them up as very dusty Cadian 8th, for example. This will serve to highlight the prefessionalism of the Tau. Perhaps give the Cadians a couple of Khaffiyeh, reminiscient of the British Forces in Afghanistan adopting local culture.
_ Have the whole sneaking dread that the antagonists/defenders would feel - the ghosts of the night swooping down to mess them up good. For example, here or the one with the Guardsman cowering behind a statue as the HUGE tyranid swarms on it. I can't find that one, but you'll probably know it.

Anyway, I'll be of any use I can, this project sounds very interesting!

sA

I did have a sneaking suspicion that you had lost the plot there SA;-)

To answer, the dimensions are 30 x 30 x 30cm Maximum. This should allow for lots of inflight action etc ;-) I have to say that While I had not planned for so many guard to be on this piece, you have come up with some great ideas!!

The original idea as I say, was that this really is outer edge of a city area with the odd scout/ sentry post. The Sentinel was targetted by a drone and then the suits dropped into the zone and had to dispense of it before they could secure the landing zone for the rest of the unit/ force? They would then use the urban sprawl to hide until they got close enough to launch an assault on key locations.

I hope that makes sense and thats not to say that I dont like the ideas, just that I need to re-explain mine. This will be a very organic project so keep the ideas a coming!!!;-)

I COULD even have the lead suit coming down with the stealth black armour on (to neutralise the threat) being followed by his dayglow white brothers!?;-)

cheers
W

I would accually like to see sort of an Imperial camp ambushed by a group of suits,lots of chance to model tents and cowardly guardsmen.

Mate, I lose it all the time when I get enthusiastic. I was painting some of my Guards today, and I had a few of your ideas running through my head.

You only need a few guard, but I think you have to clearly establish the balance of power. Tell me if I need to explain this next bit more clearly, I'm just literally thinking out loud.

Well, you think about it like a Tyranid invasion. You have the unsuspecting PDF going around their daily business like "Oh hey sarge, yeah I got this strange hayfever..." and the like -- when suddenly BAM, a trillion gaunts come streaming through the stratosphere, and just muller the PDF where they stand. Overwhelming, unsuspected, infinite force. Is that what you're looking for? Or, are you looking for a surgical strike deep into Enemy lines? Because these ideas will be crucial to explain the background and 'story' (if you can say that) of the diorama. If you have a whole barracks of Guards, and maybe 4 Suits, then you imply a surgical drop. If you have... maybe 8 Suits, and a sentry or two, you imply the invasion. Don't ask me why, and you're free to disagree with me. But you'll get the clincher in how the forces come together in the diorama, and the ratios.

Peace.

sA

@ Deff: I've seen that before. Ever seen the Open Comp. Joe Tomaszewski (that man's a marvel) diorama, of the Imperial Camp ambushed by the giant Squiggoth? AWESOME. The guard were so enigmatic and interesting -- men cowering, smoking, one with a grenade pin in his mouth. It's things like these that help give the extra character to models, and surely win prizes.

sA

If it is set in a desert then the camouflage would be near enough to the T'au sept colourings.

Ok, so here is a rough mock up- and I mean rough!;-)

This is purely a loose layout with built in scale registers. As you will see, the cardboard packing has created a very natural effect of the 2 layer square house that is so reminiscent of mediterrainian style housing. They are slightly too tall at the moment. Ignore the bases and the xv88- they wont be there;-)

For the tech detailing please note the boiler on the side of the house- this will be accompanied by reaver titan exhaust vents for ventilation/ extraction, TV satellite dishes, washing lines, solar collectors, but all in an imperial styling. Think out skirt Guev'esa town being reclaimed in a civilian uprising?

There are some shots of the drones that I made and cast also- just because I keep forgetting to post them;-)

Once again ignore the photography, this is purely a sketch;-)











Has anyone got any inspiration shots that they think would help?

Oh, and by the way, I have put a ruler in there for the dimensions, but I may not make this actually square/ cuboid, it may be off set, at an angle etc for extra detail, it will need to be viewed from all angles and a snap shot, but with one view in mind when it comes to telling the story from the authors point of view;-)

cheers

W

I see how it will work now and can't wait for the real thing.



When you say inspiration shots you mean like guys in swat tactical armour and such and of mediterrainian houses and such right?

"Hold back bitches!" (Obviously he wouldn't say that.)


"Over thar!" (Pointing works with three fingers, doesn't it?)


"Hurr!" (That's the only size I could find it.)

Peace.

sA

THATS more like it!;-)

Yes guys, start thinking of the Tau suits as the US troopers inserted into the hot zone to either:
Extract the Aun and O' from the crashed pod
OR
Just be skirmishing into sentry territory (ie the blown up sentinel in the middle of the street with cowering pilot plus upto 6 other guard raising the alarm/ fighting off the intruders?

I am thinking at the moment that the pod may be too big to squeeze on, although I could have it come on crash through the back right corner wall and then en-bed itself in the opposite wall?

cheers
W

oH and one other thing- have you guys seen the new Applseed & ex machina? They hold a lot of influence on how the suits will have character/ interact.

Great find on the combat signals by they way! exactly what I was trying to describe;-)

cheers W

I personally think that it will be a better idea just to have them skirmishing, perhaps near a comms post or something, of the Guard. If you're trying to tie too much objective into the piece, in such a small area (I mean, thinking about it, the suits would be spread over a wide area, to pincer), such as putting the crashed pod. I think the smashed up sentinel is a much better idea.

sA

On the hand signals side of things....
I hope this works otherwise i'll look like a fool.
Its really far out at the side. What happened with this blog, why is it soooo far sideways??