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.

 Insurgency Walker wrote:
I'm like the historian of chimera conversion kits. (I'm also surprised Benny hasn't found this picture.) Either way I'd dig a throw down against the Tau, found my LR exterminator to boot. Look out! That kit has been boxed up for years.

I haven't seen the Blood and Skulls Industry Chimera conversion kit completed, only saw it available on eBay...

The completed eight wheel kit with Pegasus hull & turret looks more like the German Boxer or Marder APC, excellent work sir!

Although i do like the look of the 8-wheel kit it is a bit pricey for me; also i find the Chapterhouse kits look more like the M8 Greyhound or Canadian Forces AVGP

I got one of the Agrius kits, had hoped to build it before thanksgiving but life has been busy. I got an extra Agrius light turret to place on this 8 wheeler. Though I might just use a bog standard chimera turret. The Agrius turret is large enough to cover the rear deck hatch which breaks the functionality of the model......ggrrrrrr. As a straight 8 wheel up grade it's not to pricey but add in the hull top and turret and it gets expensive.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I originally got hyped for wheeled conversions for desert warfare operations so the return to Taros is the perfect reason to finish those projects.

I look forward to seeing lots of cool sci fi military hardware rumbling across the desert!

 kestral wrote:
I look forward to seeing lots of cool sci fi military hardware rumbling across the desert!

The original concept for my wheeled vehicles comes from the American-built M8 Greyhound, which was fielded by the French Foreign Legion in Indochina:




Using an eclectic selection of resin bits, I assembled my version of a buttoned-down Armageddon armoured personnel carrier:



Keep up the great work kestral and Insurgency Walker !!!

That is a neat assemblage of bits. I like the lascannon hatches particularly.

Continuing to post the Tau Forces, we have - Auxiliaries!

According to the Ordo Xenos 32 species fought on Taros in the third Intervention. Some of these were formal allied contingents, such as the To'ok, some were integrated members of the Tau Empire, such as the Kroot and Vespid, some were basically mercenaries, and some were part of trade delegations and the like who simply got caught up in the fighting.







None were as infamous as X'xlal and Chuma, who might be described as a winged insect with a flamer accompanied by an aquatic hippene mammal with a jet pack. The two were said to be the last of their species, survivors of Exterminatus, though that may have been Tau Propaganda. Regardless, they shared a bond of implacable hatred for the Imperium. Loosely affiliated with the Crimson Sky hunter Cardre, they were eventually the subject of large imperial bounties....

I'm loving all this fluff made rule that you are doing. Where is all this info coming from? The Imperial Armour book? If so, I really need to read more carefully. I really like that you are making all these Xeno allies.

The fluff is an extension of the Imperial Armor book, 30 years in the future. A few characters are the same, such as Nymus Dree, but most are invented, as is the entire Mord Rinn Sept, and the notion of Taros becoming a backwater of the Tau Empire.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Col. Helstrom is a character of I-Walkers from the Argos Campaign: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/524342.page

Thanks for the explanation, it has such background and depth it was hard to tell if you were creating the story yourself or getting it from somewhere.
That Argos campaign looks fun and interesting.

kestrel,

Those are some unique conversions you have built there.

Cheers,

CB

Thanks! The bug is actually partly a cast of an actual (dead) dragonfly....

Painted up the rest of I-Walker's Mantic Mules.

These three I did with wash for a dirty,dusty look. I think they will be a utility vehicle that turns up on both sides of the conflict.









I'm kind of flipping through my hobby projects at a furious rate - should settle down and work on something more substantial.

Those are some cool armoured vehicles, i went through and voted for each photo!

Those mules look great!

Thanks!

So, the great Taros Painting Weekend has been scheduled, the goal being to paint as much of I-Walkers's Imperial Guard as we can, especially the tanks, while watching tank/desert/war movies. I've always wanted to do the speed painting an army in a weekend challenge, and this seems a good time and good excuse.

Here's the protype for the vehicle speed paint - just a section for approval before I clock myself painting the whole thing.



Recipe so far:
Wash with Agrax Earth Shade
Dry Brush with Reaper Terran Khaki.
Tracks, fuel tanks, other accents: Munitorium Grey. Need more of this, I'm almost out.
Utility Metal: Runelord Brass. Mine has some kind of jelling issue.
Lights - Craft Paint "Parrakeet" green.

Also figuring out a Rough Rider. Time consuming and annoying as a speed paint subject. Here's a WIP.


Basecoat White.
Nuln Oil.
Khorn red turban with Purple Ink.
Reaper Uniform Brown tunic/gloves, seraphim Sepia.
Leather - Mournfang Brown.

Horse:
Fill gaps with Squadron Putty.
Craft Paint Pewter Grey.
Dry Brush Reaper Misty Grey.
Mane and tail - Craft Paint Burnt Umbar.

Will get a black wash, then white detailing, kind of an apoloosa thing.

The Rough Rider looks better with some ink and the details done....

Test tank is done. Took me about 90 minutes. Used a LOT of ink. I forgot about a few power cables I was going to paint, but eh.







I'd like to do some quick rust effects on the exhaust. I think we should do everything en Mass in steps - all the wash, all the drybrush, all the tracks, do all insignia, etc. That way the army as a whole will be in the same place.

The forgeworld Vanquisher is a beautiful, beautiful model. Oddly though, it appears to have no forward vision blocks for the commander, which is unlike FW.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
The inking Agrax is the critical step and can't be rushed, though I might experiment with a larger brush.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Looks much better in this lighting.

Looks awesome, though it's actually a Conqueror turret.
I loved the idea of the assault tank when it came out in various editions. From its role as titan escort, to my vision of a tank that could deploy a bit more rapidly than the standard Leeman Russ. I was also inspired by the " less popular weapons" options from the WWII pacific campaign. The pacific became a dumpster for arms and munitions that didn't fit the perceived top tier capabilities used in the European theater. Things like the low level parachute bombs were cast off on the pacific theater then used to good effect when tactics were developed for their use. Come my little stubby gunned Conqueror, the Astra Millitarum may not want you but we have plenty of aliens and heretical cultists for you to crush right here in the Helstrom Imperial Guard Taros task force.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 kestral wrote:
The Rough Rider looks better with some ink and the details done....

"The soldiers who took up arms against the imperium and aided the Tau in the fighting on Taros often marked themselves with blue to show support for the greater good. I even heard that water was holy to the Tau, as they evolved from fish. Plus they have that whole blue skin look if you have ever seen them outside their armor. Anyway, we chose to mark our selves with red. Everyone thought we were being backed by Mars. I certainly didn't do anything to convince them otherwise."

Col Helstrom on discussion of action on Taros

Oops, I meant to say Conquerer! Great fluff on the red. Important speed painting discovery - small makeu up brushes put on wash REALLY quickly.

kestrel,

If you can do a Leman Russ in 90 minutes you will have your armies built and painted in no time.

I have not seen a painted Tallarn Rough Rider in ages.

Cheers,

CB

I hope so - on the other hand, I-Walker has a LOT of tanks!

In the meantime, War Material Loading for Taros:

The weakness of the first Imperial counter invasion.

Nice work there kestral.

Cheers,

CB

The first Taros war was actually very one sided when you come right down to it. As presented, the tau fought a masterful campaign against an ill prepared and technologically inferior (in many ways) enemy. The wide open desert and near complete lack of fixed points to be defended was perfectly suited to old school tau tactics. They retained air superiority and air mobility and thus the ability to strike anywhere at will. The Imperium's space superiority was miss used and contributed little. Their technology apparently mitigated their supply problems - you didn't see them dying of thirst. This time, with Taros being more developed, and the Imperium better prepared, it is certain to go harder.

Well, I have been pairing things down and have a selection of armor but probably need to nick a few more off the list.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

Nah, we can that many! A number of tanks I haven't seen yet there. What is the Chimera situation?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Actually I see - there are two variant chimeras in the mix I think.

The Imperial War Machine Gears up! 5 hours in 12 tanks inked and drybrushed!

Roughrider prep is the order of the day tomorrow morning, followed by tank detailing.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
13 Actually.

Progress has been made!

Looking good!

I really appreciate the snacks and enjoyed the conversation. Never really painted in company before, it was quite pleasant.

We spent some time talking about the campaign naturally, and I'll jot down some thoughts.

Fluff wise, the Imperium should have air superiority, since I don't have any tau flyers and don't plan to get any. The tau will, however, have strong air defenses, which will somewhat mitigate that. The Imperium is likely to field more armor, the tau will be more rag tag and bob tail and fielding more infantry.

I am going to do a tau improvised/auxiliary tank based on the Swedish S Type.

Probably use old Codexes as the base - Tau 1st or 2nd edition, the Imperial Guard one with Doctrines.

Each of us will write the rules for the new units/units not in codexes/conversions/units that didn't have rules at the time and the other player will set the point cost.

Game structure may go like this:

Player one writes the pre-battle fluff from their side. "Believing the imperium to be off balance, the Tau launched a flanking attack through the Ka'lun dune sea consisting mostly of devilfish mounted infantry. Their objective was reach the causeway, dig in, and cut the imperial supply line"
Player two writes the pre battle fluff from their side. "Imperial lighting recon planes spotted the rooster tails kicked up in the sand by the skimmer attack in time for reinforcements to be dispatched to support the blocking forces of the 4th regiment."
Player one then writes the scenario rules. After the battle, the roles reverse. Campaign is a set number of games, the fate of Taros decided by the number of victories on each side.


Terrain Idea:

Buy some stretchy, desert yellow cloth. Use that as a base, but also sculpt sand dunes out of foam and cover them with it, thereby mitigating some of the annoyance of painting, chipping, etc.

The IG tankers dream, no blocking terrain! If only the Tau didn't have those pesky rail guns. I think we are going to need lots of smoke markers, the line type you made for the car game and then arty shell puff balls.

The guard engaged in more preparation than they had in the first Taros campaign. Extensive training took place on the desert world of Armket. Here a Talarn regiment clashes in a training expedition clashes in an excercise against the Valarian 3rd Armored All Terrain Rangers. There was some question as to whether or not the Valarians would be included in the Order of Battle. Their sister Regiment, the 4th AATR, had been captured a decade ago by the Tau - and after years in internment camps, many had gone over to the Tau. The training was particularly "enthusiastic" with one fatality from a sentinal stomp in simulated close combat and a dozen sent to the infirmary. It was also marred by accusations of Valarian cheating, as the "Lucky 13" tank failed to register 4 laser destroyer hits and as many battle cannon impacts, rolling forward seemingly unstoppably. Eventually the Valarians were judged to have won the battle on ground occupied, and commissars and Referees separated the two groups after a fist fight broke out between the crew of the Lucky 13 and a Conquerer.































This was a training game for us as well, as we tried to figure out just what flavor of "Oldhammer" we wanted to use. I gave most of my guard Camoline, and found that this gave them about the resistance I feel infantry in cover should have. We ran light buildings as 3+ cover, which seemed good too, since you needed to flame or storm the buildings. We used the rule that a template that covered the whole building hit everyone inside while one that partially covered the building hit half of them. Given that we'll be using a fair number of buildings that are enclosed due to the terrain set, good building rules are pretty important, and I thought these were about right. We couldn't actually find the right edition of the rules, so we had to fiddle or fudge quite a bit based on memory. The 4th edition guard codex seemed a bit too restrictive in hind sight.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
It was great to see the newly painted tanks hitting the table. I look forward to painting more, especially some air power.

Great battle report and pictures. It was a fun read.