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Hey guys,

sorry for not posting anything for a week. I... Well, my Kidney (Also know as the WARP) decided to spawn a Kidney Stone (A lesser Chaos Daemon). So I had to calm myself down, do all possible tests, go on land to do a CT scan that unveiled a 6x5x3.2mm Railgun round ready to fly out and all that shenanigans. I still haven't fired it, but I determined to go back to my regular schedule, which includes finishing my project.

Talking about Rail Guns, I started working on mine. I used a little bit of gravity, to make the paint crawl down the gun shaft.

 Da Stormlord wrote:
Looking good, your paint scheme is really interesting.

Thanks. My basic idea was 'tron' style army, but I kinda drifted away using neon and 'electric' paints. But, I do have fluff that will support it nicely. And I have another short story coming your way.

 bossfearless wrote:
Stardrop, if your XV107 is still in progress, might I suggest pausing for a moment and browsing Amazon for some option kits by Bandai or Kotobukiya? They make a lot of the optional parts that I use on my guys. For example, if you were to pick up a cheap, lower-grade version of Wing Zero EW or Deathscythe Gundam, you'd have a very badass set of poseable wings that would go well with your aesthetic. There are energy shields, battery operated rotating cannons, explosions and muzzle flashes, energy beams, everything you need to make that larger class of suit really intimidating.

I did quite a research on those kits, and there are a lot of interesting things to unique my army. However, I have to be really careful now, as I'm running out of budget (I know, $20 for a GunDam is not much at all) and I need to get new suitcase for my minis and some other things. We'll see. I can always get myself a XV-104 and go bad ass on that.

Today I have pretty much whole day for myself...
And my XV-25 battlesuit squad, led by commander wearing a XV-22 battle suit.


My God, that ShadowSun model is such a poor casting. I have real trouble painting it, because I don't know what to paint. I used my thinnest primer, and I really worked on the model to strip all the mold lines etc. ... We'll see how it turns out.



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So, after (quite a) few hours in the workshop, my StealthSuit team is assembled and ready.
7 member team is awaiting final coat of satin and some clear bases (provided that they arrive any time soon ).
Meanwhile, take a look at some photos.

Just went through the blog and I must say, i don't think you have enough drones

When I think about it, if I max out all 'fast attack' slots with drones, and add drones to all other possible units in army... I won't have enough Gun Drones.
Ah, well, I guess it is conversion time!


Thanks for following. I'm trying to do and post something every day, as I'm on a tight schedule (I need to finish painting & basing by 1st of October.)

Back on he track, with some RailGun updates.





I didn't waste my time and continued to work on my XV107. The body is completed and satin'ed. The guns are progressing fine, and I expect them to be done tomorrow.


Working on my camera\phone skills and figuring the best settings. Luckily, being a sound tech and working with light techs has it's benefits. I'll get some kick ass light for my light box. Meanwhile, here is one 'group' shot.

Working on the armory today, and making finishing touches.

I look at the cannons, and I can't help thinking they must be lime-flavored. Taste the rainbow, bitches.

 bossfearless wrote:
I look at the cannons, and I can't help thinking they must be lime-flavored. Taste the rainbow, bitches.

I did not think of that.
Thank you, Bossfearless.

No special updates. Just paint stripping / coating models.
I'm getting ready for the new Tau releases. I gonna give myself an allowance of $300 for that.

Beside all the small things happening today, I started working on my 'Shark' Air Patrol Squad.

I'll do my best to pain them today, and assemble the 'bomber unit', but I will have to wait for my magnets to come, in order to magnetize the thing and do the final, satin coat.



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Slow progress is still a progress. Today I took my time between things I had to do and did some detailing on weapon options for my Sharks. I started painting the models as well, but the bulk still needs to be done.


More stuff is on the table, ready to be photographed, but not before I sort out my studio.

Flyer craze pt.1 is done. Two Sharks are fully painted and satin sealed. And I also modified trays so I can fit my DX-4 Remoras on top of my Sharks.
This white looks super awesome, because it breaks the 'stealth electric' feel and announces the death on the horizon.







Tomorrow I should receive my magnets, clear bases and new suitcase (and some more minis), so I won't have time to spare. I'm traveling home in 5 weeks and I need to have everything painted and based and packed. I'm trying to avoid carrying my paint lot with me, as it ads more weight, and I thing that for this edition (after they release new models) I'll be done with Tau for a while. I do have ideas for my next project, which is more fluff based, and which I will try to properly paint and base.

My clear bases from LITKO arrived today. This army is about to get invisible!

Models on clear bases KICK ASS! (Pictures to come)
What I want to show you now is this.


My army came in with BattleFoam PACK 720 bag. It is a good, purpose made bag. But ahead of me is a 5348 miles travel back to Belgrade, Serbia. And for that I need little bit more that a soft-shell bag. I did some research, checked forums, even talked to BF people to see what are the experiences and what is the easiest way to transport bag like that.

They all assured me it is fine to be brought on a plane, but I didn't want to risk it. I invested a lot of time/money and effort into this and I do not want to fail at the last stage. So, I got myself a hard-shell case. It is a SKB iSeries case, with internal dimensions of 22x17x12 inches.

Perfect fot a LARGE battlefoam tray and a codex next to it. With its external dimensions, it lies withing 'airline checked luggage policy (L+W+D=62" or less)'. So all I need is to put a TSA lock on it and check it in and not worry whether they will deny me boarding on a plane because I have a weird bag.





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XV25 battle suit ready!


Don't mind the big guy in the background.

Shas'O R'myr has joined the game!

Learning from my previous encounters with ForgeWorld models, I painted all pieces alone, and then started assembling the model, legs first. And it came out good!





Tomorrow I'm gonna touch up some details and satin the model. Wooohooo! Good Night!

Hey guys,

I'm back. I think I leveled up, as today I started working on my infantry models (and some small HQs).



I spontaneously started painting and it turned out just fine. Unlike all other models (battlesuits, flyers and tanks), for infantry I did not use glitter as a separate layer. So, basecoat and then..
Deep glitter blue, for pants and clothing. Complement of orange and red for comms and armor plates. Lime green for belts and guns. Dark metallic green for 'skin'. Drybrush with pure white.

I still need to work on my dry brushing, but I have a feeling that my Pathfinder squad will be a great work. Plus, clear bases are really making me happy, since I'm getting better and better in 'do not leave glue trail on the base'.



Here you can see Comm. LongStrike, Comm. DarkStrider and Comm. FarEye are discussing about the DropPod, spotted dropping from high orbit just outside the valley rim.

Few more models were completed today. Cadre FireBlade has joined the party, as well as the Fire caste eldar, Shas'ui "DeathBlow"



PathFinder squad is About to be deployed one of the following days (I estimate Saturday morning.)

PathFinder squad is on the table.


Clear bases are ever so mesmerizing! I can't wait to re-base all my models, and finish all the painting.






Also, I'm working on an article about Clear Bases. Just like a personal experience, pointers etc.

A guide to clear bases is coming up shortly.



P.S. As well as some Sniper Teams.

Can we get a few more angles on that heavy Fire Caste guy with the funky twin carbines? I'm intrigued and I may want to borrow some parts of the build.

 bossfearless wrote:
Can we get a few more angles on that heavy Fire Caste guy with the funky twin carbines? I'm intrigued and I may want to borrow some parts of the build.

Coming right up!


Meanwhile, my 200 magnets came in and I decided to implement one of the most ancient technologies available to us. WYSIWYG.


About a 40 minutes later, I had all my XV-8 weapon options ready for painting. In addition to that, all my HammerHead/Devilfish platforms got magnets for Seeker Missiles and my 'Shark' platforms are about to receive a 'Pusle Bomb' upgrade later today. It is about to get real!

Interesting idea putting them on clear bases, care to elaborate the thought process behind the choice?

 Knightley wrote:
Interesting idea putting them on clear bases, care to elaborate the thought process behind the choice?

Well, of course my liege.


I was in and out of the hobby since high school, but never really played the game (WH40K & Fantasy). Only recently I got the time/money/will to make a stronger bond with the hobby. And I decided to go with the Tau army. Huge number of Tau models come on fly bases which are clear. And I didn't like the idea to have mix of models that are on grass or sand and then models that are you 'flying' around. I know. You can base them as well, but I really liked the idea of models that 'blend' into any battlefield.
After seeing some other people placing their models on clear acrylic bases, I gave a deeper thought to whole idea of 'entire army on clear bases'. And after careful consideration, I came out with four major points 'FOR' clear bases.

Point One = It is awesome. My army can blend onto any gaming field and any piece of scenery.

Point Two = I'm still a beginner hobbyist. I know that basic basing is not rocket science, but I wanted my army to be good and complete.

Point Three = I work on remote location and in a few weeks time I'm supposed to fly back home to well deserved vacation, carrying my army. I'm trying to make as little leftovers as possible, due to the fact that I cannot take them home with me.

Point Four = It may be more expensive to buy an acrylic base then to base your model even with the simplest flock, but it takes a bit more time and may create leftovers. And time is something I do not have.

And my Spotters are up and ready for some sniper action!

You can buy glue that does not fog up clear plastic. I suspect you are using super glue and that is why you have the fog. I can't remember the glue type but I used to use it alot for canopies and windows on models. It will eliminate the foggy base anyway.

 Swastakowey wrote:
You can buy glue that does not fog up clear plastic. I suspect you are using super glue and that is why you have the fog. I can't remember the glue type but I used to use it alot for canopies and windows on models. It will eliminate the foggy base anyway.

Yeah, I use super glue.



Here is the Short Guide to Clear Bases. It is 99% complete, with pictures.

What size magnets are you using to do your Battlesuits? I am thinking of magnetizing mine, so I am curious.

Great paint jobs on your stuff, too!

 ZergSmasher wrote:
What size magnets are you using to do your Battlesuits? I am thinking of magnetizing mine, so I am curious.

Great paint jobs on your stuff, too!

Thanks. I have a lot more to do before I roll this army for a proper show-off.


Meanwhile, I use 1/8" diameter, 1/16" depth magnets. It is good, all around magnet. They are strong enough hold any XV-8 size weapon in place. Placing two magnets on an object can hold a Riptide size arm or weapon with no problems. For weapon turrets and bigger models, I recommend going with bigger sized magnets, while trying to keep depth do a minimum. For Tyranids, you might have to go with smaller size, like 3/32" or even 1/16" diameter magnets.

When drilling, I use two drill bits. I use 3/32" first, to make the hole, and then use 1/8" to expand the hole, but I do not go as deep as I did with 3/32". Reason for that is so that I create a small pocket for the glue. I also try to leave magnet in line with the model, or slightly above the model line. Depending on the part you are magnetizing.

One last thing when magnetizing is to make a magnet stick. Just all magnets, forming a stick. Keep your weapon options on one side of the stick, and then models on the other. That way, when you start working, you have smaller chance of missing the proper orientation, and sqr ing up.

Sorry for not posting stuff for the previous two days.


I'm back in program, with MissileSides ReArmed.


The previous owner did not assemble entire Seeker Missile, but rather just glued them to the back of the BroadSides. I dug out the bits, now magnetising and priming, and later durring the day... Painting! Stay in range. More hits are coming your way!



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Missile heads have been armed! Seeker missiles magnetized for some WYSIWYG action.





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Orange needs a second coat!

I needed to take a brake. Painting can be tiresome.


Green is done. Now I go into phase two, where I add power glow, fix the mistakes I made, touch up some details and varnish / base clear. It is gonna be awesome!

How do you find the clear bases and where did you purchase them from? I'm just wondering as I'm tempted to put my daemons on see-through bases but I'm still apprehensive. Nice thread by the way - like the paint scheme.