Tim's Menagerie of Models...Finally! An update-Savage Orcs, Tomb Kings, Dreadfleet!

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**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Tim's Menagerie of Models...NOW with more of everything(not just Tau).

They were rebels. Outcasts. Vagabonds. The workers of factory Q'ula had had enough. Enough of the caste system. Enough of the "Greater Good". They saw it for what it was: power play. So,one day, during their break, they struck. Led by Que'na, they swiftly broke into the shipping room of their factory, donned the armor they had made making, grabbed some weapons, and swiftly overwhelmed the factory security...

3 hours later, the factory was theirs. All was quite as the 2,000 Earth caste workers tended to their wounds, and watched for any approaching hostiles. They had also managed to hack their way into a small section of the factory, and managed find a stock of 9 battle suits, fully built. And, thanks to the knowledge that they had gained while handling the parts, managed to figure out how they worked. It wasn't stealing; after all, they had built them, hadn't they? They had poured their time and energy into them, had they not?

Hello everybody, this is plog is here to track the progress of my Tau Earth Caste army. I am going for a green and white scheme, with glass bits/visors painted electric blue, and sept symbols painted red, since that seems like an "earthy" color scheme. Anyways, here are my pictures!

Bleached out photos of my Devilfish( I will have 4 of these total.)

My Pathfinders...I am very happy with the black-lining.

My Firewarriors...These have been blacklined since I last took the photos.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Here are my blacklined Firewarriors, as promised!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

sc0ttfree wrote:Looking good!

However as much of a pain in the ass as this will be i think you should start with a black basecoat to fully bring out those black lines and darken the model slightly. This way you dont have to worry so much about lining the models and it looks more natural and less cartoony

Thanks for the advice! I am going to start basecoating in black, since using white makes it take less time per model, but it also makes blacklining very difficult.

Has anyone ever tried to paint the parts of their figures on the sprue? Because I am trying it with the backpacks for my Fire warriors, and it is much easier than having to paint them as they are on the figure. It also makes some of the hard to reach places more accessible.

I am working on the next bit of the back story, I just need to get it refined more and I will post it.

Here is a picture of the PF unit(it is almost finished, I just need to go through and clean some things up a bit).

And a picture of my three WIP Fire warriors.

Does anyone else notice that the Dakka Dakka image uploader seems to mess with your pics, meaning they look really, really pixely?

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

The Devilfish is all done except for some minor clean up work, and I made some good progress on my Firewarriors last night.

I decided to do several layers of drybrushing on the underside of the Devilfish, to make it look as though it is covered in concrete dust.

Do the Firewarriors seem to be lacking something? I cannot shake the feeling that something about them looks wrong.

C&C welcomed!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Yggdrasil wrote:I like the idea of renegade Tau... And your explanation with the "lowly" Earth Caste makes it more than "realistic"...

But I guess you should try and find a way to show they have turned from the Greater Good...
- Maybe find some new graphics & iconography, demonstrating they utterly cast aside the Tau culture?

- I cannot quite remember the distinctive feature of the Earth caste, but aren't they supposed to be smaller & more squat than the Fire Caste, just like the Air caste Tau are sleek & tall?

- I guess that having trophies in the form of "loyalist" Tau Fire Warriors would be a bit too much?

- Maybe put some more "Earth-y" gear on them, shovels, ropes, etc...

Anyway, nice idea!!! Will follow the thread!

I may be doing some more details on them, I just need to find things like shovels. As for a T'au symbol being burnt, I am going to be making two flag bearing troopers, and I may try to freehand that onto one of the flags. I could not think of a way of making them smaller and more squat, so I left them as they are, but any suggestions on how to make them so would be appreciated!

Look for an update tomorrow!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

I got the banners made up! I also did some more work on the Firewarriors, and did some wear and tear effects on the Devilfish.
I want to freehand a T'au symbol being burnt on the banners, but I need to get a hot orange and a hot yellow, since I only have earthy oranges and yellows at the moment.

I also need to bounce an idea off you guys: I want to include Kroot and Kroot hounds in my army, but using alien mercenary's would not fit into my army theme. What if I used Firewarrior models, but with bare heads and minimal armor for the Kroot, and Drones with bladed attachments for the hounds? The Kroot count as models would have some sort of modified Carbine with some blades attached, and maybe smaller banners fitted onto their backpacks, samurai style? How would that work out? Please provide input!

Here are the pictures, C&C welcomed!

Should this guy have a Pulse rifle cradled in his free hand?

"I'm sick of this"
That was the thought running through the head of Mau'ke, a welder working in Skimmer sector 02 of the factory. He was slaving over a section of a Hammerheads railgun mount, sparks flying from his Gyro welder.
"Sick of the drudgery."
He picked up the section of the mount, and began carrying it over to be completed by a wire-worker.
"Why can't I make up my own mind about how to live my life?"
He handed the piece to the wire-worker, and slipped him a note. The worker read it, grinned abit, and handed it to the woker next to him, as Mau'ke walked back to his station. Overhead, a message from the Factory blared out, announcing that it was time for break, and a sqaud of fifteen Firewarrior security troopers came in, leading a small group of inspectors whose job it was to examine all the work that had been done. The workers bowed, but those who had recieved the note did it with a slighty ironic air. They then left for the break room.

The note continued to circulate among the workers as they walked to the break room, and soon everybody from Skimmer sector 02 had read it, and the note had been passed onto someone from Infantry Weapon sector 03.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Leonus wrote:Welding goggles and hard hats for everyone!!

Gathering Storm wrote:They look really cool and I like the backstory. However, I think you should paint a black line over all of the Tau sept badges in order to signify that they are rebels.

I think your leader should be similar tho Farsight in some of his beliefs and should also be in a Battlesuit (a tenth suit maybe).

Bigbadbear wrote:Heya, I just wanted to pop in and let you know I like what you're doing here! I like how you painted the wear and tear on your Devilfish - gives a great utilitarian (spelling?) every day kind of use.

About the count-as Kroot... how about making them look like factory workers that just came of the production line to join the rebellion? It would take some (a lot?) of converting, but I'm thinking about greasy jumpsuits, industrial welding machinery, that kinda stuff.

Death Gear wrote:Looks good so far

@Leonus & Bigbadbear: What about shaving the leg armor off of the count as Kroot, and giving them grease stained aprons and welding masks? Maybe give them some sort of modified Pulse Carbine that looks like a Pulse Shotgun, and giving them Monkey wrenches/welders slung across their backs?

@Deathgear: Thanks, man!

@Gathering storm: I was thinking of making Mau'ke into the leader, but he would be in a Battlesuit, actually, since that would fit into the backstory. I was thinking of cutting the T'au symbols off of their shoulder armor, but I find it to fit into the backstory better not to cut them off, as it is sort of an ironic taunt.

I will try and update this thread soon, but I just got another commission job in, so update may slow down a bit.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:
Mightmagic wrote:If the fluf from DOW DC is corect then the earth cast are the drones that serve as the fundament of the tau civilization. I doubt they are warriors as in a cast sociaiety cast don't change; a builder will be a builder and he will see him self as nothing more, becoming a worrior won't even cross his mind as
he a builder as his whole family had been.

But in the Tau codex there is fluff about those Tau who would become the Earth Caste defending Fio'taun against the plains tribes and air tribes of Tau, and in the old codex there was mentioning of Earth Caste workers fighting alongside Aun'shi when he and his body guard where cut off by orks. The Earth Caste can fight and the fluff supports this, it's just not their main purpose.

The Earth Caste are shorter in stature then the other Tau, their kind of like the Dwarfs of the Tau race. I would deffinitly try to do some converting to represent what they are like tools, their height, represent their caste symbol on their shoulder pads etc. but that's just me.

Also on a note for your story the Earth Caste are the scientists of the Tau race, the technology that the Tau use only exists because the Earth Caste creates it. In your story it seemed to me like they where depicted as ignorant of all the technology in terms of how it works or having to "hack" their way into a shipping room. I doubt that would be the case, since the Earth Caste members are the ones who designed the suits I'm pretty sure they (and those under them) would know how to use them right off the bat.

I like the idea behind it but as a fluff writer I think the story could use a little work and as a conversionist I would like to see more representation of them being Earth Caste other then their colors. To me they just look like normal Fire Caste with a differant paint scheme.

Also this has caused wheels to begin turning in my head about how I would do this OR how I would make an army of barbaric Tau using converted Ungors. Very inspirational

Converted ungors? Interesting.

So, since everyone wants me to shorten the figures, how should I go about doing it? Should I just cut some of their legs/arms off? I am really not much of a converter, so ideas would be appreciated!

Also, thanks for the fluff advice! I was just working with the fluff that is available in the army book.
More pics, including the now TOTALLY finished Devilfish, and I made some more progress on the firewarriors, though not much as we were busy all day yesterday. I got to my FLGS, and bought some Vallejo Light Orange and Flat Yellow for the flags, and after I had checked out, I realized both those colors have Cadmium. Riiiight. I am returning those, so it will be a while until you see the flags getting some love... Also, I am going to make a test model for my Count-as Kroot, hopefully today.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:Yeah awhile back there was a conversion tutorial in a WD on how to make alternate bare heads for Fire Warriors. The way they did it was to cut off the nose, smooth the area out with GS and put the Tau nose slit in between the eyes and of course it woulden't have the horns. looking at the new Ungors this may be a little harder and you would have to sand paper the fur away on the legs (not hard I've done it before) but it will still be fun.

I'm seriously thinking about making an entire Earth Caste army for WHFB using the Dwarf codex since they had guns and cannons and such plus it seems kind of fitting. And on the other hand you could do the plains tribes as counts as Empire.

As far as how to make your Earth Caste shorter I'll do some messing around with my Tau models and see what I can come up with for you. Oh also Earth Caste members wear their pony tails on the backs of their heads and very short. I also think that bionics would be more prevailant in Earth Caste members, accidents do happen in weapons testing and factory work

Oooh, bionics...now that has got me inspired! If I do bionics, I wil make them out of some loose Lizardmen spear shafts I have lying around, and put them on the count-as Kroot., since I like to imaging that they would be the ones using all the heavy/sharp machinery. Speaking of which, here is what I have gotten done on the count-as Kroot, I quite like the welding goggles, but I am trying to make up my mind on whether or not the modified Pulse Carbine, AKA "Pulse Shotgun" needs some work. Input would be appreciated here!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

I got the count-as Kroot modeled fully...and I really don't like it! I may just scrap the bionics idea, they need both hands free to hold the Pulse Shotgun, and I have no way of modeling a bionic hand. Any ideas, everybody? I like the way the copper wiring came out, but if I or any other person cannot think of a way of improving it, I will use Reprisals idea of a discontented Kroot tribe.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

I am just going to scrap the count as Kroot project, it is way to much hassle. To make up for that, I thought of an equally thematic idea that can be pulled off with less work: feral Kroot, using Kroot rifles modified to look like fighting staves, giving them some sort of blowgun as a ranged weapon, and giving them more skulls and such.

I also picked up a box of 10 Space wolves, just to give me something to do. I may sell these on eBay, or keep them as the start of a second army. One of the special weapons bearers has been magnetized so he may either have Wolf Claws or a Plasma Gun, and the unit leader has been magnetized so he may either have a power sword or a power fist.

The 4 SW that have some paint on them; the skin needs a wash and a final highlight.

The SW special weapon bearer with Wolf Claws.

The 6 SW that have not been painted.

And the leader with Power Sword:

With Power Fist:

And some homemade CoD terrain.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:Umm aren't Kroot already feral.....

I am thinking feral as in "tribal". Sort of like savage orcs in the idea that they are brutal, hate technology, and are basically...primitive. To the core.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:Yeah sorry but I don't see a differance between what you're describing and actual Kroot

Also if you're going to have Kroot that hate technology and such you're going to run into a problem in that you've got Earth caste who ARE the technology wizards behind the Tau Empire and then Kroot who hate technology? Dosen't make sense.

I don't see why you have to have a special story for your Kroot. It's fluff that not all Kroot serve the Tau Empire exclusivly so have some of them work for your Tau.

I meant to say kroot with Fighting Staves and blowguns instead of Kroot Rifles, but yeah, I believe I will just go with regular Kroot, all this fluff+converting makes my brain hurt. I'm a painter first, not a converter or a writer! And thanks for being a consistent commenter, Warboss Imbad Ironskull (Wii!)

Does VMC Natural Steel seems to be really bad about not wanting to wash out of your brush? I had to get out dishwashing soap and warm water, plus a lot of elbow grease to dislodge the last few metallic particles.
I got some more work done on my SW. I am really happy with how the highlighting turned out on the pair of Wolf Claws. Comments, criticism, and input appreciated!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

I got some more work done on my SW, including taking the Wolf Claws off of the one guy, as I realized that they would be an illegality, and when I turned them and the light caught them, they looked like they had been glittered, as I had not washed the brush out enough after I used it with my metallic paints...:mad: And the VMC Natural Steel color is waterbased, so I do not know what is going on.
Got the markings done on most of them and the armor mostly painted on the 2 new ones.

And don't worry, I will get to work on my Tau soon!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

sc0ttfree wrote:I think you should fall back onto the counts as kroot built from firewariors, After all fluff wize it doesnt quite fit as well as taking away from the feel of the army.

I thought kroot dealt with the fire caste primarily with some dealing with the other castes, idk doesnt quite fit for me

What about CC firewarriors (Earthwarriors now i suppose) Keep the core of the firewarrior together but do some pose changing and weaponswaps (Im thinking Eldar or SM Swords)

Correct me if im wrong but the revolution started in weapon production factories, especially the firewarrior armour production. And for the most part the troops had to stay mobile to avoid a full fire caste strike. Idk it seems Fire warrior armour would be perfect for this and give the hardened heavy infantry look your going for

idk my 2cents

Hmm, I really like that idea! Of course, the arms holding guns would be difficult to repose, but I could probably do that. Thanks for the idea, man!

P.S. When are you people gonna comment on my painting? The fluff input is really appreciated, but I would like some painting advice/criticism to! Just a minor quibble, though.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

I don't have a painting update for you guys, but I did get a about 12 different symbols for the Earth Caste Rebel army. I need to choose which one to use, and I can't decide because I am pretty happy with them all! Which one should I go with?

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Morgrim wrote:I like 7. And looks like it would be fairly easy to paint too, which is helpful on these scales (large circle in symbol colour, two medium circles with basecoat colour, two small circles with symbol colour. Sure, you're waiting for it to dry in the middle, but if you're doing batch it'll be a lot quicker than detailed work).

I really like 7, so it looks like that will be my symbol. I will probably paint it on the banners/battlesuits/skimmers...which means I need to back and paint it on my "finished" Devilfish. Oh well, some things never change....

Edit: Oh, and the Count-as Kroot, AKA Earthwarrior, is being worked on today. I am using the FW as a base, but giving them modified lizardmen spears, no shoulder pads, no helmets, and some decorative cloth adornment. I should get pictures up later today.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Update time...

I got the Count-as Kroot (now EarthWarrior) worked on. I still need to add the cloth bits with epoxy/shave the shoulder pad off. I really wanted to make them sleeveless, but I could not think of a way to carve the cloth texture off of their arms with out turning the arms into match-sticks.

I have also got the symbol painted, albeit very roughly, on all the flags. And I have made some progress on the SW and the FW(mainly black lining/highlighting). It has been a slow week...C&C Welcomed!

Earthwarrior:

The flag is still being worked on...

And my SW Blood Claws. I think they are coming along quite nicely!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Here is a quick update: Got some more work done on the faces last night. For the amount of effort I put into them, I think they look quite nice, since all I did was basecoat scorched leather, highlight with VMC pale flesh, wash with a 50/50 mix of badab black/scorched brown, then painted over that dwarf flesh, then I just kept adding dwarf flesh mixed with successively larger amounts of white/VMC pale flesh. Easy as pie!

Aaand I got some work done on the banners and FW's themselves. I do not have any pics, but I have made some progress on the EarthWarrior; he has been given a hood and a head.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

I got some minor progress made on the EarthWarrior. I have only given him a hood...Yep, pretty embarrassing.

Would a Battery pack on the spear work out? I am trying to make the spears a ranged and melee combo, so I figured they could be some sort of conductor for a powerful electric blast.

Please comment, guys & gals! That is why I am posting this stuff, after all.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

No Tau update today, I have been busy working on my SW's and schoolwork. Thankfully, the 6 SW are nearly done, they just need to have their bases drybrushed, plus I need to get a few details finished on them. The 2 I am showing here are done, minus the base drybrush.

(the following text is copied from my Blog, which can be found here> http://blackdogpainting.blogspot.com/" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> http://blackdogpainting.blogspot.com/ )
"My latest marketing ploy is this: I bought the BEAUTIFUL Island of Blood High elf wizard, which I am going to paint up to my highest quality. I will then take it to my FLGS, and put it in the display cabinet, with a little card/brochure thingy next to it. Hopefully that will generate some interest among the local gamer crew, as every time I go there, I see many bare plastic/metal army's."

^Thoughts, guys?^

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Yggdrasil wrote:I think that most players that don't paint their armies are quite the youngest, so probably won't ba able to afford commissions!!

On a personal point of view, I ever only play with whatever minis I have painted... No bare plastics / metal for me!!!

Sadly enough, I am the youngest gamer that frequents my FLGS that I know of, and all of the unpainted army's are owned by 20-40 somethings. People are lazy here in the states...

I sometimes play with unpainted, though I always make sure that the unpainted/WIP section of my army is very small.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Yggdrasil wrote:Ok, then it may seem to be a good idea... Most people by their 20s or 30s get to :
1. Have a girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/etc...
2. Find a job ;
3. Eventually, have children.

Which are 3 very good reasons to keep them away from your paint desk!!! I guess this could explain most of the hobbyists playing with unpainted minis...

So I'd suggest you to begin with VERY low commission prices... Especially at your FLGS, where people can get to give you the minis without paying for shipping, you could make yourself a nice advertisement campaign...

After checking on your website, the prices seem a bit high... I don't know much about usual ones, but you have to be ready to bargain your skills so that people would be tempted to do so...

I don't know, I guess even I could be tempted for something close to 10-15-20$ for a 10-men squad! Who wouldn't want to give it a try? Then, as you improve and get to be known as skilled, fast & reliable, you could slowly raise up your prices!!! You probably won't make a living through this, but it could help!!!

That's just my opinion anyway...

Weirdly enough, my prices are really cheap when compared to the prices of most studios; the biggest studios charge you $4.00 for a basecoated, and then dipped, model.

Sad thing is, I live about 45 minutes from my FLGS, and only get there once a month, if I am lucky.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

I finished on of the Space wolves. I know, it is sad I am proud of that, but I have gotten almost nothing done painting wise this week, I have been feeling burned out. I did make a lot of progress modeling the earthwarrior, and will get pics up soon.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Got some more work done on my Tau Earthwarrior. He is now ready for a paint job, and I am thinking of making the cloth parts white with red markings. I may also do electricity effects coursing across the blade. Any comments/input on the cloth idea?

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Mega-update!
It has been a beautiful day. I got up at 10:00 AM, mosied around, and at around 2:00, I got a pleasant surprise in the mail: my High Elf Mage! getting that made me feel pumped, and I have really done nothing more than paint, do my school work, and eat 1 meal today. Ah, the life of the nerd.

So, I got a TON done today: The 2nd FW unit has pretty much been all finished, the Earthwarrior has been basecoated, AND I got started on my "publicity stunt". You know, the High Elf Mage from Island of Blood that I am going to put in my FLGS display cabinet.

With the Mage, I am going for a creamy white/red look. Most of the metal will be gold, and all the gems will be purple.

C&C asked for!

I painted one half of the FW's helmets green, just to add some variation and interest. What do you guys think?

And I also got some work done on the Earthwarrior.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

The white on the Mages cape is finished, and the red on his robes are also finished. The blue gems need some more work, the white dots are a little to big on some of them.

I am have a bugger of a time trying to highlight the face; there is so little skin showing it is hard to hit any small details. Any tips/hints on how to paint something like this?

C&C welcomed!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

@Yggdrasil: Thanks! The Earthwarrior is coming along nicely. On the general Tau front, I have managed to get some free hand symbols paint on the sides of the latest units helmets, and I must say, my freehand has improved a fair amount. No pictures, sadly, but I should have some up when my mom gets back, as she borrowed my camera.

BTW, what does Yggdrasil mean? It rolls off the tongue wonderfully.

The gemstones have been worked on on the Mage, the skin has been worked on, and I have generally made good progress, considering the fact that I am a little tied up with commission work and the like ATM.

I am quite happy with the energy swirling around his feet.

C&C welcomed!

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

Ifalna wrote:Tim, that looks awesome.

If you stick that in your flgs with an advertisement, it should get some interest going. It was the first step I took and has helped a fair bit. Best of luck!

Thanks! It is always nice to get positive comments.

Quick question for you guys: My Birthday is coming up soon, and i am trying to decide what to ask for: I am greedily looking at the full set of Isalnd of Blood Skaven, which I have found on eBay for $40, from multiple sellers. Or, I could get a box of river trolls for my WHF orc army( which I have been meaning to photograph and put up here soon, though be prepped for some not-so good paint jobs, it was my 1st army
). Or, I could buy myself 2-3 Tau Battlesuits. What do you guys think?

_Tim, questioningly.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

@Yggdrasil: I see what you mean about the cape, I have been considering going back over it with white, then giving it a bluish wash, then slowly layering white back on. On the robe, the contrast is not quite as stark as it looks in the photo, I was using a borrowed camera so the photo came out to dark. I will have to go back in and retake some the the photographs.

The ribbons do need a a bit of work, I am just having trouble figuring out how to get the transitions between the washes and highlights smoother on such a small surface area. Blending is tough.

**Some_Call_Me_Tim?**

GAHH!

The High elf Mage is giving me nightmares. I have, in the last 3 days, tried 4 different ways of shading/highlighting the stupid ribbons on the model, and no matter what I do, they still look like crap. So, as there are now 5 layers of paint, not including washes, on the ribbons, I am just either 1: going to have to strip the that part of the model, or 2: just toss the model in the bin. I cannot strip the model, as stripping it would most likely break the ribbons/staff. So, it looks as though I will have to go with 2. It sucks, but it s just not worth my time/sanity/eyesight to keep slaving away over such a small, yet crucial, bit of a model.

I also reviewed all the painting projects I have that are still ongoing.
My WHF Orc army: I still have to paint 8 savage orcs, and base 7 already painted ones.
The SW project
The High elf Mage project
My Tau army
My CoD terrain
Aaand the runebound commission.

I am going to have to give the SW project the chop, and the High elf Mage project the chop. The runebound commission is almost done, and after that, I may just give Blackdog Painting studio the chop also. I really have managed to take to many things on at once, and this painting service thing is making me pretty burned out, as so far I have painted about 50 figures that are 1/2 the size of a Night Goblin, twice as slim, and have no raised details, so that is rapidly sucking the joy out of painting.

_Tim, choppingly.